Fiction:War of Vampires/The Quest

"Well I need you. And you'd better know that I'll come get you, whatever it takes."

Clothovera's friends would not allow Zran Kar to take her away unpunished. Embarking on a quest to rescue the young witch, they would find more than they hoped to as they discovered the ramifications of Zran Kar's actions and the existence of vampires, all which dated from thousands of years.

=To the Sovereign=

Embarking on the Mission
The sound of polish meeting blade edges could be heard throughout the abode of the as the two  exiles,  and Kanna, prepared themselves for the trek ahead. Backpacks filled with supplies rested on their backs as their thoughts laid with the journey that awaited them, although Hachi found his thoughts significantly divided; Clothovera remained prominent within his mindset. Nyakik approached the duo, holding Alhazred on her mouth. The book had a grim look, still feeling guilty for everything that had transpired in the last few days, and took responsibility on ensuring that his witch mistress was saved no matter what. never cared for Alhazred's well-being, but she did.


 * Alhazred - Are you all ready to depart?
 * Kanna - Even if I wasn't, it wouldn't change anything. I just know that no matter how prepared we are, we're gonna get jumped along our path.
 * Hachi - ...Thanks, Kanna, real confidence booster.
 * Kanna - My apologies. Yeah, I'm ready.
 * Alhazred - Good, then let us revise our plan of action... Wait. Where is the witch?
 * Kanna - ...I thought you knew.
 * Alhazred - Ugh. Find her, we can't waste time.

The Sea Witch had locked herself in her room inside her cave ever since Zran Kar took Clothovera. The whole incident hit hard extremely hard, for she had felt like a part of her had been taken away. She was also unaware of Zran Kar's control over the witch girl, so as far as the Sea Witch was aware, Clothovera had deliberaly delivered herself to the Simulacrum. Kanna approached the Sea Witch's room while Hachi had gone to look outside of the cave, and the former character let his hand knock on the sorceress' door several times in a four-note pattern.


 * Kanna - Sea Witch? You in there?
 * Sea Witch - What do you want?
 * Kanna - You all packed up? We'll need to leave soon. ...You okay in there?
 * Sea Witch - I ain't leaving to nowhere.
 * Kanna - May I ask why?
 * Sea Witch - Why would I leave?
 * Kanna - Why wouldn't you?
 * Sea Witch - I have no reason to leave. If you want to go because of Clothovera then suit yourself. I'm staying.

Kanna groaned and folded his arms, resting his head upon the door that separated them. He gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes as he did, tapping his foot. Behind his mask, he wore an agitated, frustrated expression.


 * Kanna - Open the door, Witch.
 * Sea Witch - Leave me alone.
 * Kanna - You're being immature.

Hachi entered the cave once more to see Kanna at the far side of the main hall at the Sea Witch's door, and soon approached him when he saw Kanna leaning against the door. Hachi looked visually tired and worn - a result of having not slept for the last few nights - and soon stood beside his fellow Lagosi, calling out to the Witch within her room.


 * Sea Witch - She betrayed me, Kanna. With a demon. A demon!
 * Kanna - Hachi, tell her what you told me.
 * Hachi - She didn't betray you, Sea Witch, she... S-She was tempted by the demon, and s-she got mind-controlled.
 * Sea Witch - That's nonsense. That greedy little half-human did it because she wanted it... Now I get reminded why I never got too attached to people.
 * Hachi - I was there, I saw it! She couldn't do a-anything!

There were a few moments of silence before the door was unlocked from the inside, and it slowly opened to reveal the Sea Witch. Her expression was gloomy and her eyes were reddened and tired, tears still visible on her face. The Sea Witch had never cried for anyone before, but now, she was running out of tears to shed for Clothovera.


 * Sea Witch - ...Are you sure?
 * Hachi - Don't you trust me, Sea Witch? Why would Clotho ever betray you if she wasn't being mind-controlled? You're the best teacher she's had.
 * Kanna - If you're not going for Clothovera, Sea Witch, at least come for the young tyke.
 * Sea Witch - ...It hurts so much...

The Sea Witch grabbed Hachi and put him against her in a hug as she began crying again. Hachi gasped as he was embraced by the Witch, and his mind immediately flashed back to thoughts of the girl they loved. Allowing himself top open up, he returned the hug that the Sea Witch placed him into, and started to tear up and cry alongside, sobbing gently on the Sea Witch's shoulder. Kanna, meanwhile, took Alhazred from Nyakik's mouth and placed him on his belt.


 * Alhazred - Well, that you are all here, let's revise our plan. Since we don't know where Castle Nightshade is, we should first visit the . One thing I know is that vampires love elven blood the most, therefore the chances of finding a direction from there are the highest.
 * Kanna - Ugh, the Sovereign is full of snobs, though. 
 * Alhazred - Elven snobs. To get there, we must go north. I believe there's a shortcut next to the mountains of Ar-Klith which should let us skip a fair bit of walking. The only downside is that we'll have to traverse through several caves.
 * Kanna - We live in a cave, Alhazred, I'm sure we'll be fine.
 * Alhazred - Fair point.
 * Sea Witch - You all better be right about this...or I'm never cooking for you again.

Hachi chuckled at the Sea Witch's comment, his reddened eyes blinking softly, and Kanna nodded to acknowledge the Sea Witch and Alhazred. Hachi looked over towards Nyakik and gestured towards himself, crouching onto a knee so that the familiar could rest upon his furry shoulders. Nyakik placed herself on top of Hachi's shoulder, letting out a sigh as she did.


 * Nyakik - At least there is no turtle waste involved this time.
 * Hachi - We can't guarantee anything, Nyakik.
 * Nyakik - Let us go. I want my Clothovera back where she belongs, letting me sleep on her legs and stroking my back.

The First Attack
Hachi, the Sea Witch, Kanna and Nyakik departed north, led by Alhazred's guidance. By following his directions, they would first go through the city of Mirrasian before progressing northeast at the direction of the Ar-Klith Mountains. Mirrasian was the seat of power of Prince-Governor Khensu, one of the Merovar sultan's youngest sons, and the region was known for being used by multiple factions as trade routes. Hachi's team had no business with Khensu himself, so they merely kept walking through the roads at the city's proximity. The sun was setting, and as they progressed, Kanna could notice Alhazred appeared to be growing weaker. The text on his pages began turning into gibberish and his eyes lost their colouration, while he could be heard panting. Kanna stopped and made a gesture with his hand for the others to cease as well. After having the rest of his team stop, Kanna knelt onto a single knee and detached Alhazred from his belt, resting him on the ground and glancing at him with a mixture of concern and confusion, tilting his head as he examined the book's status.


 * Kanna - Are you alright, Pages?
 * Alhazred - I feel weak. Disconnected... Drained...
 * Kanna - Got any ideas why?
 * Nyakik - Are you tired of giving us directions?
 * Alhazred - Possibly... Zran Kar is the source of my power. Being discarded, I fear that... I actually have a limit now.
 * Hachi - We can't stop here, the longer Clothovera's--
 * Kanna - Unless you have something helpful to say, keep your mouth shut. Pages, what is it that you need? Sleep, drink?
 * Alhazred - A few hours of rest, I think. I wish I could be your map through the whole trek but... I really need to rest.
 * Sea Witch - Fair enough. We can probably find the mountains without you.
 * Kanna - Don't worry, you've done a good job, Pages. You take a nap, we'll continue onward.

Kanna lifted Alhazred and placed him back upon his belt, looking toward the Sea Witch as he did with an unsure expression. Hachi groaned and looked away from his team, standing ahead of them, with a frustrated and agitated display painted on his face, as bright and noticeable as the stars in the night sky. It was clear that he grew impatient, and constantly worried.


 * Sea Witch - It's getting dark. Do you guys wanna take camp here or go to the city?
 * Kanna - We're at risk if we camp out in the open, so I think we should go find a place to rest in the city.
 * Sea Witch - To the city it is.
 * Hachi - Do we have to stop?
 * Kanna - Look kid, you need to sleep. You're not thinking straight.
 * Hachi - W-What? W-Who knows how much d-danger Clotho's b-being put through! And you want to sto--
 * Kanna - You're starting to piss me off.
 * Hachi - Urgh...
 * Nyakik - We rest. Then we continue. Clothovera would have preferred this.
 * Hachi - R-Right... Sorry...

The team made their way back through the road and entered one of the gates of Mirrasian. Even though it was getting dark, the city was still active with Merovar merchants, and creatures of all kinds could be seen walking around, from elves to orcs and beastmen. At the center of a plaza, a large statue of a pompous-looking Merovar carrying a staff could be seen. That was a statue of Khensu himself, his egotistic nature clearly visible as he had erected a statue of himself on his city. And it was obvious that the citizens did not care much for their ruler, as the statue was vandalized to some extent.


 * Sea Witch - Heh. I remember being here when that statue was built. Khensu actually posed like that several days in a row because he wanted it "to be just like me in every aspect".
 * Kanna - Eh well, he sounds like a pleasant guy for sure.
 * Sea Witch - I shot a water jet at it and broke one of the horns. I've never seen a Merovar get so angry in all my life.
 * Kanna - I would've pissed on it myself. In fact...
 * Sea Witch - Hey. We shouldn't get in trouble with the guards. At least not today. We gotta find an inn so we can rest for the night.
 * Kanna - Grr, fair enough. Who knows, maybe afterward we can come back here and give Khensu a little "tribute" in his name.
 * Hachi - ...You're not talking about "that" are you?
 * Kanna - Hehehe.

The Sea Witch scoffed and then looked around, looking for a place to stay. However, a few moments after, the sound of screaming was heard from the market as a group of individuals of multiple races, all wearing black cloaks, suddenly arrived into the city and began attacking the population. There was one thing they all had in common with each other, and it was that they all had large fangs. The Sea Witch looked at the scene in surprise while Nyakik let out a hiss, gripping tightly on Hachi's shoulder. Hachi growled and placed a hand on his blade, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of the fanged creatures, and he clenched his artificial fist as hard as he could as he struggled to hold himself back. Kanna, meanwhile, had already drawn both of his blades from their sheaths and rushed past panicking, screaming civilians in order to take swipes and slashes at the cloaked figures. As they were slashed, Kanna could see how their blood was blackened and their skin was either too dark or too pale for individuals of their races. City guards quickly came to the aid of the population, attacking the invaders with longswords, scimitars and spears.


 * Guard - Evacuate the area! Vampires are attacking!
 * Vampire - This city belongs to the Countess!
 * Kanna - Bite me!
 * Vampire - With pleasure!

Kanna ignited one of his blades with a magical fire and slashed the air, sending cinders and embers at his opponents and standing his ground. He swung his blade in circular motions in his hand effortlessly, a grin across his face as he met eyes with several of the vampiric attackers. The Sea Witch created large stakes out of water from her and began attacking the vampires, stabbing them at their chests to hit their hearts. When they died, the vampires screamed as their skin burned away in instants, leaving nothing but a dark skeleton behind. Hachi grunted as he sliced through the limbs of several vampires, finding it difficult to bring himself to kill them, and instead sought to incapacitate his attackers, dismembering their legs and arms. Kanna proceeded to throw himself forward in spinning motion with his fiery blade held in front of him - he tore through squads of vampires with terrifying proficiency, igniting their bodies and striking at their hearts in a single assault.

At this moment, an almost demonic roar was heard as a large creature flew through the sky and then landed on top of Khensu's statue, causing the head to crack. A creature who looked like a bat-shaped chunk of rock, it let out a howl which took the team's attention before swooping down at Hachi and Nyakik's direction.


 * Nyakik - Gargoyle!
 * Hachi - Gar-what?!
 * Nyakik - Rock bat monster!

Hachi's eyes glanced upon the monster that headed towards their direction, and he took the opportunity to throw himself out of its path while he had the chance so as to avoid being damaged by the creature's swooping motions. Hachi crashed into a stall as he evaded the attack, and kept his sword held firmly in his hand now that he was separated from his two other team mates. The gargoyle hit the ground, causing a loud thud and sliding through the floor before turning itself back to Hachi. It charged at the Lagosi's direction with its claws prepared to strike at him once he got a melee range.


 * Hachi - How do I kill it?!
 * Nyakik - Hit it until it dies!
 * Hachi - It's made of rock! My sword's gonna break before then!

Hachi continued to attempt to evade the creature's strikes, almost dancing as he tried desperately to avoid getting sliced by the monster. When he found an opening, he dashed beneath the gargoyle's reach and managed to get behind it, where he proceeded to leap onto its back in an action perhaps caused by the heat of the moment. The gargoyle began thrashing as Hachi landed on top of it, and Nyakik barely managed to keep her grip on the Lagosi boy as he was swung around. Out of the monster's mouth, it blasted an electric breath in front of itself, likely out of frustration and anger.


 * Hachi - Can't you do anything, Nyakik?!
 * Nyakik - What do you want me to do? Claw it? And break my nails?

Screaming and struggling to stay on the creature's back, Hachi raised his artificial fist and sent it slamming down onto the back of the gargoyle's head in hopes of cracking its skull, if it had one, to potential pieces, or at least deal some damage to it in order to weaken it. He continued to punch and slam his fist onto the gargoyle's head, finding it tougher to hold on as the demon frenzied. The gargoyle's head cracked and it let out a pained screech as one of its horns was sent flying. The creature began thrashing less and less as the continuous blows harmed and stunned it. Hachi continued to slam his hand into the creature's head until, eventually, it ceased struggling altogether, allowing him to leap off of its back and take a desperate breath in order to calm himself and his nerves. His fist appeared cracked slightly, damaged by the consistent collisions with the rock flesh of the gargoyle creature. The gargoyle fell and its body crumbled into tiny rock pieces, and Nyakik fell on the ground, panting from all the shaking. The Sea Witch and Kanna meanwhile had successfully killed all the vampire invaders alongside the guards, and the avian woman walked over to Hachi and Nyakik.


 * Sea Witch - You okay, kids?
 * Hachi panted - ...Could... b-be better...
 * Sea Witch - At least the vampires are all dead. The guards said we can rest on the city for free as a token of gratitude.

The Sea Witch let Hachi and Nyakik rest as she walked over to Kanna, taking him away and whispering so that they could not be heard.


 * Sea Witch - Did you also hear them saying "For the Countess"?
 * Kanna - I'm glad I wasn't the only one who heard it. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
 * Sea Witch - I am. And I hope we're both wrong. Otherwise we're in way deeper shit than we thought.
 * Kanna - I don't think the poor kid could handle that.
 * Sea Witch - Don't tell him. I can barely handle it myself.
 * Kanna - Hmph. Now you see why I don't revere gods or spirits - they're far too eager to place their noses wherever it doesn't concern them.

Meeting the Paladin
Two days later, Hachi, the Sea Witch, Kanna and Nyakik had progressed a fair bit of land on their way to the Ar-Klith Mountains, briefly using Alhazred as a map before allowing him to rest once more. As they ventured farther away from Khensu's province, the cities became smaller in size until they looked like villages, though it was clear that even at the outskirts of their territory, the Merovar Dynasty still had a strong presence for many travellers and merchants could be seen. The team stopped at a village to rest for the night again, with the Sea Witch going to look for an inn while Hachi and Kanna were left by themselves outside. Kanna leaned against a wall, appearing to clasp something in his fingers - something that appeared to smoke, like a cigarette, which he had lit with just a miniscule ember from one of his fingers. Hachi looked down at the ground, quiet, with Nyakik on his shoulders. The older Lagosi of the two let out a deep exhale and threw his cigarette away, a discomforted look on his face.


 * Kanna - The merchant that gave me that piece of crap deserves to get his arse kicked.
 * Nyakik - Why put something so fetid on your mouth?
 * Kanna - Hm? Well, you see, I don't exactly know why. I haven't had one of those things for... years. I guess I just wanted to see if they got any better.
 * Nyakik - Well stop it. I do not want this smell on my fur.
 * Kanna - Learn to speak with some manners to your elders and I might not put it up your arse, house pet.
 * Nyakik - You are not my elder, bunny person.
 * Kanna - If I'm not your elder, then clearly I'm not a Lagosi either.

Before Nyakik could say anything else, her expression suddenly underwent a massive change. Her face became static, and almost like a machine, she turned her gaze to Hachi. Her eyes began glowing as she kept her eyes locked on the Lagosi in complete silence. Hachi blinked slowly, ignorant to Nyakik and Kanna's discussion prior. However, he could feel the change in Nyakik's mood as he would have otherwise heard her retort to the older Lagosi's comment, and he turned his head slightly to look in her direction, curious but not exactly eager. He appeared miserable.


 * Hachi - What's wrong?

Nyakik tilted her head and spoke, though it was not solely her voice speaking. Instead, there were two voices. Nyakik's... and Clothovera's.


 * Nyakik - I know you're in there...
 * Hachi - ...Nyakik, I don't appreciate your games.

At this moment, a yell was heard from inside the inn and the Sea Witch threw herself out of the doors. A gremlin-like creature of about a meter in size was holding on her head tightly and biting her in the beak, causing the avian woman to shake her arms in a combination of confusion and anger.


 * Sea Witch - Get it off! Get it off!

Kanna's head transfixed on the Sea Witch and the problem she was facing. While restraining a bout of laughter in response to the Witch's flailing, he grabbed ahold of his sword sheaths and approached her with haste. Hachi's attention turned away from Nyakik and looked towards the bird woman and her gremlin nuisance.


 * Kanna - Hey Sea Witch, looks like love at first sight, eh?
 * Sea Witch - Shut up and get this thing off me!

The masked Lagosi stepped forward and lit an ember between his fingers, getting closer to the Sea Witch in hopes that the critter would notice the magic flames spouting from his hand and retreat, as most animals would have done. He continued to chuckle and giggle as he saw the Sea Witch's struggling. The creature, a Sarigandac, turned its attention at Kanna and jumped off the Sea Witch, leaping at the Lagosi's own direction. Meanwhile, Hachi could notice individuals with black cloaks jumping to the top of several roofs, surrounding the town square they were at. Vampires were attacking this village.


 * Hachi - It's happening again!
 * Kanna - C'mere!

Kanna drew one of his swords, its blade doused in pyromancy, and slashed at the gremlin with a single, fierce swipe performed in a horizontal motion, spewing fires and cinders. Hachi stood to his feet and drew his own sword, and took glances at the black-cloaked individuals that surrounded the square, baring his teeth and snarling quietly. The Sarigandac was effortlessly cut in half by the swipe, and the Sea Witch panted and held on her knees as she looked around, watching the guards at the village arriving to combat the vampires who began attacking the population. One of the vampires on the roof was pierced through the heart by a bolt of light, and the group could hear a booming voice chanting in a language unknown to any of them. Around one corner came a fully armed human, one hand carrying a sword blazing white, and the other wreathed in the same white flame.


 *  - Back to the shadows, you damned, wretched monsters!
 * Sea Witch - Hey, look at that geezer.
 * Kanna - A human around these parts? One that uses magic? It's only Tuesday and I'm beginning to see weird shit.

As they noticed his magic as the larger threat, the vampire horde concentrated their attacks on Bastion, attacking him with their swords, blasts of dark magic or their fangs. Meanwhile more Sarigandacs hopped through the streets, scaring and terrorizing the population before going at the group's direction. The sight of more of them caused the Sea Witch to yell out. Bastion chuckled as the vampires surrounded him, planting his sword tip first in the ground. Looking up, he shouted in that same ancient tongue as a wave of light radiated out from him, scattering and burning the vampires. His armour had proven enough to ward off fang and sword, but the vampires' magic was still taking effect. The city guards joined Bastion and attacked the vampires with their ow swords and spears, penetrating their chests and destroying their hearts while the Sea Witch released a torrent of water through her hands at the hopping gremlins, causing them to get blown back and be scattered.


 * Sea Witch - Kill them kill them kill them!

Kanna placed a hand against the ground and closed his eyes. As Sarigandac launched themselves towards him and the Sea Witch, a semicircular bubble of fire erupted from the ground and surrounded the two of them. When the gremlins unwittingly collided with the bubble, they were reduced to cinders and dust. Hachi, having not been the primary focus of the attack, swiped at any passing vampires with his blade, hoping to dismember them. Nyakik, who had so far remained silent, blinked as she seemingly got back to her senses, putting her paws on her head in dizziness. As she looked around, she noticed the vampires being killed or incapacitated, and tilted her head at the sight of Bastion.


 * Nyakik - That man is familiar to me.
 * Hachi - Huh?
 * Nyakik - He has fought alongside Clothovera at one occasion. Two years ago, I believe.

The vampire horde had been reduced to either skeletons or dismembered individuals who retreated back to the shadows, while the Sarigandacs had either been turned into ash by Kanna or drowned by the Sea Witch. Nyakik walked over to Bastion and sat in front of him, looking at him in the eyes.


 * Bastion - Hm, I remember you. Where is the little witch, now that you mention her?
 * Nyakik - Clothovera has been kidnapped by a demon. We are on a mission to rescue her.
 * Bastion - I see. In that case, I suppose a Paladin's abilities would come in handy. Mind if I join you?
 * Sea Witch - Who're you again? Is that you, Norrigan?
 * Bastion - My name is Bastion, I'm a Paladin, and that's about all you need to know about me.

Kanna approached the human with a raised eyebrow beneath his mask, placing his swords back in their sheaths. His arms folded over his chest, and examined Bastion up and down, both impressed and intrigued by the man's abilities.


 * Kanna - Now hold your horses, 'Bastion'. You and Nyakik know each other?
 * Nyakik - Bastion and Clothovera killed bandits together once.
 * Kanna - That right? So, what, are you an ex-boyfriend or something like that?
 * Bastion - I'm going to assume that was an attempt at humour. Either way, if there's a demon involved then a Paladin will get involved too, sooner or later. And where the girl is involved, I'd rather it be me than one of my brothers or sisters- they don't take the time to soul-search before they stab witches.
 * Sea Witch - Hoh. Well, pleased to meet you. I'm the Sea Witch of the South and I'm Clothovera's teacher.

For a moment, Bastion's eyes glowed brightly, and when they returned to normal he nodded in reply.


 * Kanna - Kanna. I'd give you a fancy title but I don't have anything like that. Well, there's "Headhunter" but I think that doesn't capture me as well as it should.
 * Nyakik - And this smaller Lagosi is Hachi. He is Clothovera's love interest.
 * Bastion - Hah, a noble goal indeed. Never enough love in this world, if you ask me.

Hachi glanced towards Bastion with an acknowledging nod, before returning to looking at the ground beneath his feet. He had not bothered to speak much for a majority of the day, as Kanna would have likely shut him up for anything he wanted to spout and whine about regardless. Before anything else could be said, a roaring sound was heard from the skies. A large silver-plated creature flew over the village, letting out a second roar before it flew away, disappearing into the dark sky.


 * Bastion - Hm, that's a tad new.
 * Kanna - Never seen a dragon before?
 * Bastion - My job is to kill evil, not scalies.
 * Alhazred - That was no dragon... It was a Silver Gargoyle.
 * Kanna - Whatever it was, dragon or not, I think it just made the entire village shit itself. Can't be too hard to see why.
 * Alhazred - Silver Gargoyles are the guardians of Castle Nightshade. For one of them to be here, it means only one thing: Varelos von Dalverat knows about us.
 * Bastion - Well shit. Wait… do you happen to know which demon kidnapped the girl?
 * Nyakik - Zran Kar.
 * Bastion - Right. Well, dying isn't that fun a prospect, but hell this is going to be fun.
 * Hachi - Fun? Sure, fun, because Clothovera can possibly be dead by now.
 * Nyakik - If she was dead, I would also die. She is alive.
 * Bastion - And if she's alive, she can be saved. That's enough reason for me to have a go.
 * Sea Witch - I don't know about you guys but I'm off to the closest bar I can find. I gotta drink to forget those gremlins. Ngh, I think it tried to hump me.

Shadows of Senateca
Weary from their last battle with the vampiric hordes, hungry and thirsty, the heroes wandered through the wild jungles of the Tropical Lands in search of refuge. Their destination was one of the few isles of civilisation in the South: the Snakeblood Wilds, a harsh yet strangely hospitable place that provided refuge to the nation of humans known as the Freelanders. In their radiant cities of gold and limestone, the party sought to find refuge, away from the omnipresent vampire threat, and, if possible, restock their supplies. After a long and arduous voyage through the Snakeblood Wilds' dark wetforest pathways, riddled, as it would be expected from a place with that name, with all sorts of serpents and other reptilian creatures, the party at last reached one of the Freelander cities: Senateca, the Aureate Fortress of lord I'kan the Golden. Bright and lavishly opulent even by Freelander standards, it was akin to a massive ingot of solid gold; a gigantic conglomeration of illustrious ziggurats and pyramids, shining brightly in the southern sun, it stood as if in defiance of the Wilds' savage nature, challenging its near-indominable power. As the adventurers approached the gates, they were met with the obsidian spears of the city guardians, clad in gold and with jaguar masks hiding their faces. Although their expressions were concealed, it was evident that they did not like the newcomers one bit.


 * Guard - Halt, in the name of I'kan the Golden.
 * Sea Witch - I knew we should've gone west at the last turn.
 * Guard 2 - Who are you?
 * Bastion - Now where's a convenient Chantry when you need one? My name is Bastion, Paladin of the Choir of Angels.

Hachi reached for the hilt of his eastern blade, although he was swiftly calmed by a pat to his shoulder, the elderly Lagosi standing beside him giving him a cautious glance - an indication that he should not get involved with the imminent process of convincing these "wildmen" to allow them passage.


 * Guard - Huh. I heard of your kind. Self-righteous, aren't you? And what about you, fluffballs?
 * Nyakik - You are rude.
 * Guard - You are furry.
 * Nyakik - ...That is not wrong.
 * Kanna - We're travellers. We mean none of you any harm, we've come by to rest for a while and restock on our exhausted supplies. We're on a quest, an urgent one.
 * Hachi - Whenever I run into any humans, they're always quick to comment about how they don't like something about foreigners. Whether it's ears, fur, faces...
 * Kanna - Ssh, give it a rest. They're guards; it's their job to be inquisitive.
 * Guard 2 - A quest? - the jaguar-masked warrior became slightly concerned, before turning to his companion and whispering to his ear - The vampires, he means? I heard these bloodsucking leeches are in our city as well...
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, it's related to vampires. From that, I take you've been attacked.

Bastion's eyes flared brightly for a moment, before fading to normal.


 * Guard - Not yet, but there are rumours. You may proceed, travelers. May Asv-aldz grant you fortune.
 * Sea Witch - Sure, sure.
 * Bastion - Angels' grace.
 * Kanna - Thank you. We'll be sure not to cause any trouble. Isn't that right, Hachi?
 * Hachi - Yes, yes...

The guards lowered their weapons and opened the gates, allowing the heroes to proceed into the city itself. Inside, it was even more unlike the citadels of Imperial humans than it was from a distance: open, free, and bustling with travelers and wares from all races and cultures. In the center stood the pyramidal palace of lord I'kan himself; the golden city's ruler stood atop a large stone platform on top of his residence, watching his subjects from afar. The Sea Witch, not having visited human settlements before, looking around with a raised eyebrow. Nyakik remained on Hachi's shoulder, delivering glances around herself as she was not used to this kind of human architecture. Hachi took quick leers in each direction, astounded by the diversity present within the walls of the city, while Kanna kept his guard raised and stayed close to the group, pulling Hachi by his shoulder so that he would not risk getting lost within the crowds.


 * Kanna - I get an eery reminder of the Merovar and everything that's unhealthy about them. Only places I've seen that bustled with so much variety were Merovar caravans, after all...
 * Sea Witch - Where's the inn in this nonsense?
 * Bastion - I get the feeling it would be best for my sanity not to attempt a soul-search around here. We should be gone from this place as soon as possible. I don't much like the thought of the Vampires being given more time than necessary.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, you got a point. But we've been travelling for a few days now, we gotta resupply and take a breath.
 * Kanna - Keep on your guard. In these crowds, I would not be surprised if there are Vampires watching our every move. It's easy for them to remain hidden, especially in such a diverse crowd.
 * Bastion - If there are Vampires here, my presence is anathema to all beings of evil. Most likely they will stay clear of me.
 * Kanna - Or they'll attack you first.
 * Bastion - After all that walking, I'd like that.

After looking around, Nyakik signaled to the team and pointed at the direction of a building located close to the lord's palace. By its appearance, it appeared to be an inn.


 * Nyakik - I believe we should go there.
 * Kanna - An inn. Alright, but try not to talk to anyone. We don't want to attract attention to ourselves. Especially the angel guy.

Bastion simply nodded and trudged off in the direction of the inn. The team pressed on and moved through the crowds of traders and bystanders (some of which appeared suspiciously pale) into the small tavern that stood in the shadow the pyramidal ziggurat that served as Lord I'kan's residence. In comparison with the monumental stone temples, palaces and courts that dominated the city's architecture, the inn was quite plain-looking; made from wood and thatch, it was quite simply built, without any architectural idiosyncracies or oddities. The Sea Witch looked around carefully as she made her way to the inn, keeping to herself as she could. Kanna rested a hand upon one of his blades while he kept Hachi and Nyakik close to him, with himself standing near the Sea Witch and keeping a careful eye on the people in their surroundings. The weather of the Tropical Lands, as well as the insects, were beginning to agitate him as much as his paranoia for Vampires was.

In front of the tavern there were a couple of tables and the bartender's stand; the owner of the building too stood there, looking at his guests with visible suspicion and annoyance. A heavy-built, large man, dressed in a leather apron and a brown skirt, he waved, inviting the heroes - though without much enthusiasm.


 * Bartender - Hey. Come here.
 * Sea Witch - Eh?
 * Kanna - Ah, a tender. I could do with something strong.
 * Bartender - What do you want, strangers? A bed for a night? Drinks? Food? I have everything you need, right here.
 * Sea Witch - That sums it up nicely, I'd say. We want all of that.
 * Bartender - Huh. That's going to be expensive. How much money do you have?
 * Sea Witch - Oh. Okay then. Bit rude... Do you lot have any money?
 * Bastion - I assume you take gold?

As Bastion says this, he pulls a small bag from his belt, tossing it up to make the coins inside jingle.


 * Kanna - You're willing to waste gold? I have bronze pieces on my person and some other trinkets I won't be needing.
 * Bastion - Coin is coin, we'd be trading the same value regardless.
 * Bartender - Fifty golden pieces... of gold? Are you kidding me? - the bartender laughed - Gimme ninety, then we'll start talking.
 * Bastion - Your culture and mine seem to place very different values on gold.
 * Kanna - Fifty golden pieces of gold and a Lagosi bard for every night we stay here. This little guy can dance however you want him too.
 * Hachi - ...What?!
 * Bartender - And where are you? In a Freelander city. Pay me now or begone.
 * Nyakik - I dislike this person and his smell. Let us leave this place.

Kanna grumbled and leaned over the counter, eyeing the human with evident discontent. With a bestial snarl, he reached over and tugged on the tender's collar, pulling him closer so that they may see eye to eye. His tone expressed clear dissatisfaction and was also, to an extent, frighteningly aggressive.


 * Kanna - Listen, human. You may not know it, but you are in danger. A lot of danger. And we have travelled a very, very long way so that we may stop it and ensure that you and the rest of your dirty, hairless kind can continue your trade. We can leave and you can risk your life trying to survive the night, or we can come to a reasonable agreement and make sure you live to see tomorrow's daylight.

Bastion reached out and grabbed Kanna by the scruff of his neck, pulling him back a bit.


 * Bastion - The fact that someone makes you lose what little faith you have left in your own kind doesn't give you the right to interfere with their affairs. He's not worth wasting your time on.
 * Bartender - I still have not recieved my money.
 * Sea Witch - I'm going to turn this guy into a chimp.
 * Bastion - With that attitude, even the Angels' Grace doesn't explain how you make any money at all. If you can stomach this guy's attitude I'm more than willing to pay for the lot of you.
 * ??? - What is transpiring here? Commoner, do you not understand who are the guests you have just met?
 * Bartender - By Asv-aldz...

The bartender's face immediately froze in terror as he heard a lordly voice, both refined and powerful, coming from behind the inn. With a loud smash, the doors of the inn opened fully, and from them appeared a tall young man dressed in golden robes and with a spiked crown on his brow: Lord I'kan of Senateca, the Golden Loremaster. Behind the lord were two of his guards, similar to the soldiers that protected the city gate but wearing much more armour and with more amiable expressions on their faces.


 * Sea Witch - Who this.
 * Nyakik - ''This person appears important.
 * Bartender - I- I... my Lord, this... this was a misunderstanding of my part... I do not understand these... visitors were your guests of honour...
 * Bastion - And here I thought my faith in my fellow man couldn't drop any faster. If nothing else, that alone is impressive.
 * I'kan - Enough groveling. In normal circumstances, I would make you pay reparations to my guests, or even sentence you to execution, but, to your luck, I am merciful today. Begone. - having admonished the bartender, the lord turned away to the guests, his face immediately turning into a smile - As for you, heroes of the Forgotten North, the Isle of Fire and Brimstone and the Fog Forest, I will provide you much better accomodations than this. Guards! Lead these esteemed guests to the Palace of Senateca. Tonight you and I will have a feast.
 * Sea Witch - ...Well. I don't know how you're aware of all of that, but I'm up for a feast.

The new guests of lord I'kan walked through the limestone stairs of the Freelander ruler's massive residence. Although the path to his guest room was long, most of his visitors couldn't do anything but admire it; it was a marvel of architecture. Adorned with magnificent statues of serpents and gods carved from jade, intricate symbols and hieroglyphs inscribed on its walls, the interior of the Palace of Senateca was the symbol of the Freelanders' wealth and power, or rather the wealth and power of I'kan himself. Soon the heroes ended up in the guest room, a rather large and elegant hall with a tall ceiling that made it resemble an Imperial chapel. The similarities with northern human architecture did not end here; the furniture, the statues and other decorations that marked the room too seemed to be more fitting for a l'Ammanori nobleman's house or a residence of an elven lord, rather than anything built by the Tropical Lands' inhabitants. It was evident that the Freelander ruler wanted to impress his visitors.


 * I'kan - And, here you are! As you can see, the accommodations are more than fitting from the people of the north like you. Take your seats and enjoy your stay, heroes! The meals will be presented soon.
 * Sea Witch - This is a pretty... pretty place you got here, sir.
 * Nyakik - I wish to claim it as my own.
 * Bastion - You normally receive this sort of welcome?
 * Sea Witch - I'm usually welcomed with spears and pitchforks.
 * Kanna - Hmph, it's different from Lagosi architecture, for sure. Quite different. For one, we have lower ceilings and less doors. As for your question, Bastion, whenever I'm in a group we're usually greeted with hugs and kisses. From bloodied swords and dark magic casters, that is.
 * I'kan - That, my friend, is exactly why you are welcomed here so heartily! I have long been a benefactor of heroes and adventurers of all kind, and, as I must say, I have heard of your ventures many times. You, the Sea Witch! I heard that you once ventured far to the north where you saw the hellish armies of Abyssus gather for the heart of their cruel god, battling them with naught but your own spells and curses and hexes? Is that true?
 * Sea Witch - It is, yeah.

At this, Bastion turned to look at the Sea Witch from under his helm.


 * Bastion - And I wasn't invited? Rude.
 * Sea Witch - Look for an elf named and complain to him, not me.
 * I'kan - And you, Bastion the Paladin? Have you not fought monsters and demons as well in the deserts of the Sea of Sand and in the plains of Mannazia? I've heard that... woman mention you.
 * Bastion - Which woman are we talking about, exactly? There's been more than a few.
 * I'kan - I can't remember her name. That... Imperial. What was her name? Jeniqua... Jessamine... Jessica...
 * Bastion - Oh, her. Out of professional curiosity, how did you come to meet her?
 * I'kan - We're old friends. We've helped each other on several occasions.
 * Bastion - Inquisitors make friends? I mean I've heard a lot of cult ramblings but THAT is heresy.

With that, Bastion chuckled a little. Kanna folded his arms, an impatient expression beneath his iron mask as he tapped his foot infuriatingly, while Hachi stood half-asleep, day dreaming with thoughts filled with melancholy. Raising a closed hand to his muzzle, Kanna coughed to grab attention, a discomforting chord to remind the party of the urgency of their situation.


 * Bastion - Banter aside, the furry thing is right. We don't really have time to stand for ceremony, so while we appreciate your hospitality, the sooner we are done here the sooner we can be on our way. No offence, of course.
 * I'kan' - Ah, so be it. I shall leave the stories for later then. I remember... Jessica telling me about how you faced the god of fire and brimstone on the isles to the South. To have faced such power and survive! That was quite valiant of you. When she returned from... a trip, she took time to tell me about all your deeds - and now, here you are, almost as she described you... if slightly more attractive. Hachi, a brave Lagosi warrior; his sword is short, yet he wields it with finnese! The Sea Witch, queen of spells of all kinds, beset by monstrosities of crystal! Nyakik, familiar of the witch-in-training, Clotho- wait a moment. Creature, where is your mistress? I have not seen her in the inn.
 * Nyakik - She was taken away. Our mission is to save her.
 * Hachi - We would not have come here otherwise, whoever you are.
 * Servant - Master, here is the food you have requested. Roasted iguanas, maize flatbread, cocoa brew-

The group of I'kan's personal servants, all wearing short skirts and carrying various foodstuffs, approached the table. All well-trained and fiercely loyal to their master, they stood unflinching, and were almost identical - save for the man in the front, who was unusually lanky and of a dusky complexion.


 * I'kan - ...Yes, yes, put it here. - with a gesture, I'kan commanded his servants to give the guests their meals and then continued to speak - By Asv-aldz! Who took her away?
 * Nyakik - ...Vampires did it.

Hachi growled and maintained a quiet, restricted manner. He looked away from I'kan and silenced himself for several moments, before contemplating it necessary to add to Nyakik's answer. While he kept his eyes away from the eccentric and regal human lord, he spoke, sadness holding his words like an embrace.


 * Hachi - ... Zran Kar. A being called Zran Kar. He took her and... made her his own. And there was little, if anything, that either of us could do to stop him. We're going to get her back...
 * Nyakik - That is not relevant to this man. Vampires did it.
 * Hachi - No, but it's relevant to me! ... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you...

Bastion simply rested a hand on Hachi's shoulder to shore him up.


 * I'kan - No, no; by all means, continue... Zran Kar, you say? Analuhati himself? So... so the rumours are true. The bloodsucking bat-fiends are rising again...
 * Servant - I would not believe these strangers, my lord. - the dusky-toned servant protested against Hachi's warnings - The boy's clearly in love. He does not think clearly. A Simulacrum? Here?
 * Bastion - Love is blind, but a fool is deaf to words of warning.
 * Kanna - You had better pay attention. I do not wish for a re-enactment of the Lympharian incident at Kinotyjikaanan. The boy knows what he saw, while you, serf, have seen nothing. And if dear I'kan knows of our ventures, then the boy's words are even more likely to be true.
 * Servant - But that is... nonsense! My Lord, you should not be listening to them! Definitely not! Sir, you of all us should think coherently! Vampires are nothing but a myth! A legend!
 * Sea Witch - Hoh. No offense, I'kan, but your servant either lives under a rock or is an idiot.
 * I'kan - Or... worse.
 * Servant - What are you saying... master?

At that, Bastion's eyes glowed bright under his helmet. Nyakik looked at Bastion and then back at the servant, letting out a hiss as the her fur puffed up upwards.


 * I'kan - Yes, paladin. Do that... glowing thing.
 * Bastion - Might I recommend you take a few steps away from the lad, Mr. I'kan?
 * I'kan - ...Yes.

At that, Bastion put a hand on his sword's hilt.


 * Servant - No... that is... the paladin's... fine, fine! Your suspicions were correct... but I... I wanted to protect you, master! She... her armies will soon rule the entire world, and these heroes... their fate is sealed! If you sided with them... a terrible fate would await you, master! You'd be better off as a bloodkin than a corpse! Think of the boons of this state? Immortality! Power over life itself!
 * I'kan - I do not want to hear any more of your lies, bloodkin. Finish him, Bastion.
 * Servant - No... please... have mercy... my death will change nothing... My masters will have the world and we will... prosper...
 * Bastion - Face. Your. Reckoning! BIAH MICMA!

Bastion's eyes glowed bright, as a large hammer formed of some glowing material appeared in front of him. Taking the hammer, he swung it under-arm at the servant, launching him up into the air. Reaching out, he summoned a spear of light behind the servant, calling it forward to spear him through the heart.


 * Bastion - I got bored.
 * Servant - For... Zran... Kar...

His dark soul incinerated completely by Bastion's powers over the light, the vampire servant fell on the ground, lifeless, his body quickly rotting and then, turning into ash. I'kan, with a face of confusion and fear, slowly approached his former serf and looked at his charred remains in terror. Slowly, the horrifying feeling of revelation came upon him; he was not safe. No one was. The vampires were everywhere, and they were coming.


 * I'kan - Asv-aldz take my soul. If one of my closest servants was... a bloodkin, then what about the city itself?
 * Kanna - Told you.
 * Sea Witch - They're everywhere. From here to the Dynasty to probably everywhere else, really.
 * I'kan - Surely, they wouldn't attack the Freelanders, would they? Senateca is protected from all sides by impenetrable jungle... where would they come from, the sky? Vampires... cannot fly... can they?
 * Sea Witch - They're bat people, genius.
 * Bastion - I hate to tell you, but we walked in without a hitch. There's nothing stopping a Vampire from doing the same.
 * Kanna - For all you know, all of us could be Vampires and you wouldn't even know it. Well done, hairless monkey, you just invited a bunch of blood-sucking maggots into your palace for dinner. ...No, we're not Vampires, I was kidding. But you can see where I am getting at.
 * Messenger - Lord I'kan, lord I'kan! - a terrified, badly bruised Freelander stormed the room, breathing heavily, his eyes filled with terror. ...There is something in the sky! Dragons and Kelodhros... but... pale... scales... eyes... red...

The messenger collapsed and fell on the floor, making a loud thud as his body met the limestone of the guest room. Bastion sprinted over to the messenger, his hand wreathed in a halo of light as he pressed it to the fallen man's chest, sending a pulse of celestial energy into him to restore him. There were no more words said afterwards. Quickly and without delay, both I'kan and his guests left I'kan's palace and escaped to the streets of Senateca. The first thing they saw was darkness. Dragons, vampiric dragons - wyverns,, and even , it seemed - flew above the city, blotting out the sun, their bodies twisted and contorted by dark magic. Their visage, a living nightmare. Their numbers, uncountable. At the head of this malevolent flight was a massive, pale who exhaled sand and chanted words of power as he flew. With its brutal and hoarse voice, it roared a terrible battlecry, loud enough to make the very walls of the city, shudder.


 * Sand Drake - Come, minions! The target is here!

As the team left I'kat's palace and got back into the streets, they could watch as the Sand Drake landed on top of a house, causing a massive thud and sending dust flying across the air as he did. By its immense size, this wyvern was clearly an adult, and his pale skin and noticeably large fangs were clearly visible. The dragon put his head back for a moment before letting out a deafening roar, sending individuals, debris and parts of nearby ceilings flying from its sheer magnitude. The Sea Witch's eyes widened as she watched it, while Nyakik attempted to hide herself behind Hachi's head.


 * Sea Witch - T-that's a bloody Sand Drake! Those things don't exist out of the desert!
 * Hachi - Not just any mere Sand Drake; a Vampire! The Vampires have converted dragons?!
 * Kanna - We're going to require much more than a mere stake and holy water to deal with this thing and it's... friends. What do you suggest we do?
 * I'kan - I... I think I have an idea.
 * Sea Witch - What's this now?
 * I'kan - When that... Justina last visited my city, we had an... agreement. I gave her some information on her... quest, and she in turn provided me a magical necklace that, as she says, allows me to communicate with her over distance. Provided that she and her Inquisitors are not far away, I could call her for help. She only left a day or two ago... she can't be that far away.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, better than nothing, do that quick!
 * Kanna - In the meantime, we should help in getting the residents evacuated and prevent as much damage as possible. Although, I do not know how long that Sand Drake will keep itself occupied. We'll have to take our chances.
 * Nyakik - Indeed.
 * I'kan - The warriors of Senateca will stand with you. - I'kan pulled a long, shining obsidian spear from his waist, waving it - As will I! It is my duty as ruler of this city to protect it from any intruders, whether they be human, dragon, vampire... or vampire dragon.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, thanks, now call the fasci-I mean, inquisitors.
 * I'kan - Yes. Just keep them off me.

The Sand Drake's draconic servants attacked the city and the population, with some of them going at the team's direction, carrying their weapons as they approached them. Kanna nodded and drew his Jiatanai blades, allowing them to flow with his combination of magics before dashing into a crowd, his precision unchallenged as he swung his two swords, either igniting their vampiric nemeses with fire or freezing them in place with ice. Hachi, too, drew his blade and stood firm, positioning himself in front of I'kan defensively.


 * I'kan - Now... concentrate. - I'kan held the necklace in his hand and raised it until he could see its azure glow clearly - I have to make this thing work somehow. What did this woman say? Whisper her name? What was it? Jessamine... Jacqueline... Juliana... What was her name again?

The Sea Witch charged at the vampiric dragons and threw blasts of salty water from her hands, each shaped like the pointy end of an arrow for the purpose of piercing through their scales. Bastion attacked them with his blade while Nyakik hissed on top of Hachi. The Sand Drake made his way down from the building where stood and looked over at the team, a grin forming on his face.


 * Sand Drake - There she is. Retrieve that cat, my servants.
 * I'kan - ...Juliette? Janine? Jasmara?

Hachi snarled viciously as Kelodhres Vampires approached, although it did little to keep the opposition away from him as he was but a mere Lagosi child, a mortal in the eyes of the bloodkin. However, whatever Kelodhres stepped too close found at least one of their limbs, protrusions or other appendages dismembered from the rest of their body, with Hachi remaining adamant. Yet only he could last for so long against the wrath of dragons. Nyakik aided Hachi by throwing pulses of psychic power at the dragons who attempted to attack him, while the Sea Witch tore another one of them to pieces through a magical jet which pierced its body. Guards who attempted to attack the Sand Drake found themselves either crushed under his feet or hit by his terrible sand breaths, which ate away their armor and cut through their fleet on direct hits.


 * Hachi - Hurry up! We can't do this all day!
 * I'kan - Well, you can help! You were with her! You remember her name!
 * Hachi - Jamima, Jessequanda, Janna, Janice... Jav-- Javina! It was Javina! The brown-skinned woman with the hat and the thighs! And the chest! ...And the legs!
 * Nyakik - I am telling Clothovera.
 * Hachi - It helped me remember, didn't it?
 * I'kan - Yes! Javina! Ja-Javina...

I'kan whispered, a look of desperation on his face. As he spoke the last letter of the Inquisitor's name, the colour of the necklace's gemstone began to change, first turning from azure to radiant sky blue and then passing through all the hues of the rainbow until it finally ended up hot pink. The gem began to glow, and I'kan felt his mind connecting with the Inquisitor's, his thoughts penetrating her own dreams and aspiration. Overtaken by fear, unable to focus, I'kan only managed to concentrate enough to relay one word to her: "vampires". Once he was done, the necklace became heavy and dull and fell from his hand, its power apparently exhausted. As the dragons closed around Hachi and I'kan, from some distance away Kanna released an open palm and spew forth a roaring beam of pyromancy-induced flame, intending on perhaps scorching the draconic bloodkin that sought to take Nyakik as a Simulacra had done Clothovera. Hachi remained firm, but his posture began to faulter as the enemies became many.


 * I'kan - ''It is done. She will likely come soon enough, but I am not sure if her help shall save us... or if we survive until that.
 * Bastion - It's coming this way!

Channeling his energy, Bastion summoned his hammer and grasped it as the Sand Drake approached the team with his head raised. He looked down at Hachi in specific, his eyes piercing and his voice demanding.


 * Sand Drake - Give me the cat, child, and your death will be swift.
 * Hachi - You're going to have to come and get her! I'm not giving her up and you can think again if you think I'm going to let you kill me that easily!
 * Sand Drake - Then become one with the sand!
 * I'kan - Well said, my friend! Attack- RUN!

Winding up, the Sand Drake released a breath of sand at the team's direction. The Sea Witch's eyes widened as she threw herself out of the way while Bastion did the same at the opposite direction. I'kan rolled away and hid behind a large stone pavilion, hiding beneath its heavy roof. His eyes were almost tearing; fear had paralysed him, made him an animal. To admire the deeds of heroes and to write tales of their adventures was one thing, but to fight alongside them? To the young lord, it was nothing short of terrifying. Hachi threw himself in the direction that the Sea Witch had taken - he may have been headstrong but he was not entirely stupid - and he kept a fair amount of distance between him and the vampiric Sand Drake. Mustering what Source powers he could, Kanna launched rays of ice at the dragon, sheer cold pounded against its scales yet incapable of piercing them.


 * Kanna - If you're not going to fight, monkey, then run and don't get in our way! We'd rather that if you die, it's not actually our fault!
 * I'kan - I... I am not a hero like you, no. I was never born for battle or bloodshed. Golden courts were my arenas of honour, politics my fields of battle. I... I dreamed I could be like you; and now, my dream is right here, manifested before in my eyes - in form of a cruel, dark nightmare. But... if I am to die alongside you, then I... I will do my best. - I'kan raised his spear, rather fond of himself. Long speeches were always his specialty. - Axa'n ta la'kama!

Bastion charged at the Sand Drake's legs and attacked them with his hammer in an attempt to trip the enemy, but the dragon responded merely by kicking the paladin away. The Drake glared over at Kanna and sent his mouth at his direction, in an attempt to crunch and perhaps devour the Lagosi elder. I'kan stood up, his face now an expression of great - if false - confidence - aimed his spear and tossed it right in the heart of one of the draconic minions of the Sand Drake, shouting and hollering as he saw it penetrate the vampire wyvern's scales. Screaming in agony, the small Kelodhros fell on the ground, lifeless; quickly I'kan ran to his fallen foe and grabbed his spear from its twisted body, watching corrupted vampiric blood dripping from it. A hopeful smile appeared on the lord's face. Whether his first victory was by his skill or just by luck, he could stand his own in a fight.

Kanna allowed another pulse of cold ice to launch from the veins of his arm, throwing cryomantic energy directly in the Sand Drake's jaws while leaping back to avoid becoming its next meal. Hachi maintained distance between him and the colossal wyvern, fearing its awesome, terrifying mass and power, and refused to allow harm to come to Nyakik's way. He stayed back, watching Kanna distract the beast. The dragon groaned and shook his head as ice hit his throat, while the Sea Witch created a large spear out of her water magic. Thrusting it, she began stabbing the dragon across the chest, trying to hit his heart but failing to due to not being sure of where it was. The Sand Drake thrashed in place before letting out a roar, the word Egredere! blasting itself out of his mouth as an invisible force threw the team away from it. The Sea Witch was thrown like a ragdoll, screaming and cursing as she did while Bastion was launched right into a building, crashing into a wall and fall one knee into the floor. Hachi slammed against a wall with his back, causing him to slowly peel from it and collapse weakly onto his front, grasping ahold of his blade tightly. Kanna, while attempting to maneuver himself to land on his feet, was thrown through a fence and found himself grinding to a halt in a heap of swill and mud, shared by the native swine of the region. He spat out whatever waste was in his mouth and shambled to his feet gradually, groaning.


 * Kanna - Now that one hurt... That one hurt a lot.

I'kan continued to fight the dragons where he stood, faring fairly well with his obsidian spear; while intended originally to be a mostly ceremonial weapon, it was nevertheless a surprisingly potent weapon when it came to fighting vampires - was it perhaps because of the silver ornaments near the spear's tip? Nevertheless, as the battle raged on, he grew weary.


 * Sand Drake - You invoked the wrath of the wrong dragon, mortals.
 * Sea Witch - Where's your damned inquisitor?!
 * I'kan - She should come any second now. Jaleiah, where are you, where are you...
 * Hachi - It's... I-It's... J-Javina!

Suddenly, a thundering sound of gunpowder exploding rang from somewhere near the city gates, followed by the clatter of feline claws on limestone. The first thud was soon followed by another, and another, accompanied by loud clangs of what seemed to be a large, heavy mace - and the agonising cries of fallen vampires. This symphony of battle slowly moved closer and closer, and the defenders of the city cried out - the reinforcements had indeed arrived.


 * Guard - By the Serpent, they are here! - one of the still standing Freelander warriors shouted, his voice filled with both happiness and anger.
 * Guard 2 - Who? Vampires?
 * Guard - No. The Empire!
 * Guard 2 - ...What's the fucking difference?!
 * Javina - The difference is that I am going to kill you, instead of them.

One of the riders revealed herself, riding atop what seemed to be a large, horse-sized barded cheetah in the tongue of the Empire, such beasts were called faeles. This was of course no-one else but the infamous herself; looking with a slightly arrogant, yet friendly smirk on her face on her former companions, she reined her steed and directed it to them. However, she was not the only Inquisitor that had answered to I'kan's call; two companions followed her. The first was the teenage girl that Javina found and took as her companion during her visit of the Sprak Island, Feli. Although blind and short, she nevertheless managed somehow to maintain balance on her pony and followed her new mistress without hesitation. While she had no weapons, the backpack she carried and the bags on her mount's sides seemed to be full of various equipment; Javina had apparently trained her to be her squire.


 * Sea Witch - Oh great. She is your reinforcements. Thanks but I'd rather fight just vampires.
 * Nyakik - The unpleasant woman is back.

The other companion Javina had brought with her was, on the other hand, a full-fledged Inquisitor like her, the one the heroes did not recognise. A man concealed in a combination of robes, an overcoat plated with Mannazian steel and iron, with thick pauldrons adorning his masculine shoulders. A hat, much like that of his fellow Inquisitor, sat upon his head while he swung his mace in each necessary direction, breaking the draconic bones of his enemies and smashing their scales into fragments. His features were human, particularly strong, but his skin appeared almost stone-like at first glance - dull and greyish, much like that of a dwarf. , an Inquisitor Paladin and the demise of many elves.


 * Javina - These are the... aliquams I told you about, Alfgund. Do not underestimate them. They are remarkably resilient.
 * I'kan - Oh, thank Asv-aldz, she is here! Save us, lady Desertsun!
 * Bastion - Well met, Inquisitor.
 * Sea Witch - This is only going downhill.
 * Alfgund - They must be tougher than they appear at first glance if they have survived for so long without aid from our order. But while they may be resilient, they are definitely playing upon the defensive; it is they who are being suppressed, not the parasites.
 * Javina - Your reasoning is sound. That is where we come in. Arya, stand!

The Inquisitor's faeles stopped in her tracks and her rider jumped into the fray, wielding her trademark scimitar as well as her pistol, loaded with silver bullets.


 * Javina - What is going on, I'kan?
 * I'kan - Vampire... dragons, my lady. Vampire dragons everywhere!
 * Alfgund - Then I suggest you remain indoors, mongrel, before you end up getting crushed between the toes of one of these salamanders. Or underneath my mace, hehe.
 * I'kan - Bah. Imperials.
 * Sea Witch - In case you humans are completely blind, we're in a war zone here! Get to fighting!
 * Javina - Truly so, witch.
 * Alfgund - I firmly agree with the shapeshifter, princess. Allow us to sever our conversation with the Freelander dogs until later; right now, my blood is boiling and I need to let off some steam.

The Sea Witch channeled magic around herself, and a sphere of energy surrounded her body. Within moments, this sphere grew in size and eventually broke, and the Sea Witch roared as she shapeshifted herself into her dragon form. The Sand Drake let out a snarl and him and the Witch began brawling while Bastion channeled his own magic and attacked the enemy dragon's legs once more. Javina aimed her pistol and attempted to pierce the Sand Drake's skin with her silver bullets, accompanied by the strikes from I'kan's spear. Alfgund glanced towards the Sand Drake and stretched an arm in its direction, a wide smile appearing on his face as his fingers made slight, twitching motions. The ground rumbled momentarily beneath the feet of the party before the Sand Drake found itself beset upon by sharp, piercing spike formations that ruptured from the earth underneath it.

The team's attacks caused the Sand Drake to flap his wings and throw himself back. Attacks done with silver weapons did the most damage, yet he was still standing and now appeared enraged. Going into the air, the Drake initiated a dive at the team's direction, launching a breath of sand as he did. The ground beneath him, and any unfortunate man or woman caught on the breath's way, were completely eviscerated. The Sea Witch's eyes widened as she threw herself to the side to evade the attack, although her dragon tail was hit and immediately severed from her body, causing her to scream in agony. Bation also moved out of the dive's way, barely getting out of the sand breath's range.


 * Alfgund - As much as I hate to say it... Evasive maneuvers! Now!

Alfgund launched himself from where he stood, his concentration broken as the Sand Drake made its assault. His body made a thud as it threw itself through the air and collided with the ground, while Kanna and Hachi also swiftly maneuvered out of the blast's range at the cost of Hachi's metallic hand losing several of its artificial fingers. He winced in pain, as despite the arm's false nature, he could feel a firm connection to it.


 * Hachi - Agh! ...D-Damnit!
 * Nyakik - This is why I always ensured Clothovera that venturing into the Sea of Sand was a bad idea!
 * Javina - Gah! We can't continue fighting like this!

Javina rolled around while evading the vampire dragon's deadly breath and firing at him, her silver bullets creating large flaming scars on the Drake's pale skin. Suddenly, as she fled from the avalanche of sand, her eyes turned to a massive, spire-like structure on top of a large temple pyramid, gilded with various precious metals... including silver. It seemed that the Freelanders' love for opulence could serve them well.


 * Javina - ...A tactical solution is required. Yes! ...Shapeshifter! Fly higher! Paladin and the lagomorphs, follow me! Alfgund... break stuff.
 * Sea Witch - Can't you see I'm in pain?!
 * Alfgund - Did I honestly require your permission to do that? You knew I was going to do it anyway, princess.
 * Bastion - What is your plan exactly?
 * Javina - Lure that... thing at the spire, you light-lover!

Javina quickly ran to the direction of the temple and began climbing its ledges, until at last she was near its spire; she was quickly followed by I'kan and the others. As the Sand Drake finished his dive, he landed into the ground, sliding across it as he turned himself back at the team's direction. The dragon's claws destroyed the ground beneath him while his body collided and crumbled buildings until he finally stopped in place. Bastion shrugged as he followed Javina while the Sea Witch shapeshifted herself into a tailless raven, taking flight. Hachi and Kanna nodded to one another as they followed Javina's path without hesitation, refusing to stay behind and allow themselves to distract the Sand Drake much longer. As the Kelodhros bloodkin attempted to follow the group to their destination, they found themselves battered and thrown off as Alfgund secured their rearguard, standing triumphantly with his mace in hand and a grin perched on his face like a crow.


 * Alfgund - If you're trying to give me a bad day, parasite scum, you are going to have to try! Harder!
 * Javina - Yes. Fly higher!
 * Sea Witch - Quit the vagueness!

The Sand Drake took flight again as the Sea Witch began circling the top of the spire. The wyvern's expression was of pure and clear rage at this point.


 * Javina - Yes, leech snake. Come here.
 * Hachi - Are you insane?!
 * Sand Drake - Die, insolent!

The Sand Drake flew at the direction of the spire, exposing his vampiric fangs as he soared through the air. The Sea Witch at the top let out a terrified screech as she saw the dragon come at her direction.


 * Javina - Possibly. Now, stun it. Quickly!
 * Kanna - Alright, but first you gotta cross your fingers. Good luck and all that, after all!
 * Sea Witch - Do something!!
 * Javina - Pheonas protects.

With his Jiatanai clenched tightly, Kanna stepped forward and watched the Sand Drake's approach, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated the closest, most vulnerable spot available to strike from the distance he was at. Utilizing the knowledge from his previous ventures - prior to his exodus - Kanna lifted an arm and swiftly swung it, launching a single blade at the Sand Drake's trajectory, wishes and desires of luck coursing through his heart.


 * Kanna - ... Oh shit, this isn't going to work, why did I do that?
 * I'kan - It will. It always does. You are like that, yes.
 * Kanna - Can somebody please get the hairless monkey to a safe location before he ends up giving me a headache? Or a seizure?

Kanna's blade flew at the direction of the dragon, who was too enraged to evne notice it. And eventually, the team could see the beast screaming as the Lagosi's blade pierced through his eye socket, causing him to squirm and lose his balance. The Sea Witch attempted to take distance, but the Sand Drake vampire caught up to her as he crashed into the spires, its pointy end piercing through the wyvern's body and skewering through his back. The dragon let out a loud, demonic roar which caused the entire city to shake as his scales began burning away, until nothing but his skeleton remained on top of the spire. the Sea Witch, unconscious, fell a short distance away, reverting back to her Bizargar form. Hachi rushed to the Sea Witch's assistance while Kanna took a swift glance at the dragon's remains before looking back at his hand, nodding his head with an impressed statement written upon his face. Hachi knelt onto his knees and looked over the Sea Witch, searching her body for wounds and injuries, while Alfgund remained fighting the Kelodhros bloodkin, ensuring they would not get to the team's position with an evident eagerness. Kanna looked to Javina and shrugged his shoulders, smiling widely.


 * Kanna - Who knew?
 * I'kan - Sacred Asv-aldz. ...This... this is going to be the greatest story I have ever written. To fight alongside you... it has been an honour, heroes.
 * Javina - For me, it was mostly a chore.
 * Kanna - A chore eh? Well, spirits forbid you actually do something useful, that would just be an ordeal, wouldn't it?

Kanna's blade eventually fell down from the dragon's skeleton, falling a close distance away. Bastion walked over to inspect on the Sea Witch as well, and both him and Hachi could see she was heavily bruised and all the feathers on her tail were missing.


 * Hachi - Bastion, you start healing her, I'll see if I can wake her up. She's took a lot of damage...
 * Bastion - So be it.

Kneeling down, Bastion began pumping his energy through the Sea Witch's body to heal her while Nyakik looked over at her from Hachi's shoulder. Hachi raised a hand and stroked Nyakik's fur, looking at his own damaged limb from their encounter with the Sand Drake. Only a single finger and a thumb remained upon his artificial arm, damaged by the sand breathe of the vampiric creature, and he closed them with an ounce of agitation. He looked towards Javina and growled, speaking with an absence of sympathy or recognition for her efforts.


 * Javina - ...Now, can anyone explain this whole ordeal to me?
 * Hachi - Zran Kar... and the vampires took Clothovera. We're going to get her back, wherever he's taken her! These damned parasites aren't going to separate me from her a second time!
 * Javina - You're lovestruck, aren't you? - Javina smiled and laughed heartily as the rest of the vampires fled in panic - That's quite amusing. The vampires' uprising, on the other hand... a grave threat to all races of Koldenwelt - mankind included - is what it is. What happened in Senateca will happen again and again and again, provided that we do not act against it.- Javina plunged her scimitar into the ground - You can count on my blade in your quest against them... even though your ...love is probably dead already, we can at least bring righteous retribution upon her captor. Hmph. Love.
 * Nyakik - If she was dead, I would have vanished.

The Sea Witch, after being healed by Bastion for several moments, finally woke up. Holding on her head, she looked lazily around.


 * Sea Witch - Urk... I'm never coming back here...
 * Javina - Congratulations, witch. I am in your team now, as is that... companion of mine. Smile and wave, Alfgund. This is going to be interesting.
 * Sea Witch - ...No you're not.
 * I'kan - And a story to behold. What I saw today... what I witnessed... shall become the greatest saga ever told. The tale of love, duty and vampires. Young Freelander girls shall adore my work.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, I don't care. Hachi, Kanna, cat, Bastion, let's get out of here.
 * Kanna - On it. But... let's have the Inquisitors tag along with us. If we're heading so deep into enemy territory... we're going to need all the help we can get.
 * Alfgund - Oh yeah! Let's get a party started, princess! Ladies!
 * I'kan - I shall make sure you will have all the accommodations you need this night; beds, food, drinks. You shall love Senatecan iguana stew with cacao beverage...
 * Sea Witch - By the Great Water Beast, I hate all of you.

Arrival at the Mountains
One week had passed since the incident at Senateca, and the Sea Witch's team had finally arrived to the mountains. Taking the path instructed to them by Alhazred, they would supposedly get to a shortcut to the Dryadali Sovereign in a matter of a few more days. The magic book himself, though, had gone completely inactive for several days now, his formerly living traits having disappeared. The Sea Witch jumped from rock to rock as they made their way up on a mountain, her face being unpleasant and annoyed. Bastion trudged along, taking the mountain one step at a time while avoiding the Inquisitors as much as possible. Hachi followed close behind, having remained quiet after the vampire assault at Senateca with minimal utterances of words, while Kanna trekked beside the Sea Witch and occasionally lent her a hand if he felt she required it. Alfgund, however, kept a wide grin on his face and appeared to be enjoying the ascension, somehow retaining strength even after an entire week of travelling on his feet. Javina, who for the majority of time had remained silent, followed the rest of the team as well, but remained separate from it, keeping her distance accompanied only by Feli. While the stoic Inquisitor showed no signs of weariness or annoyance, it was obvious to those who knew her that she was not exactly pleased with the current destination of her mission; beneath her collar, she quietly cursed to herself in Alhassan, and her mouth contorted into an angry snarl.


 * Nyakik - How long until we get to the shortcut place?
 * Sea Witch - Hell if I know.
 * Alfgund - Oh, princess, do you not enjoy the open, mountainous air as I do? ... Oh, how inconsiderate of me, you people of the desert do not have mountains to appreciate. How boring.
 * Javina - You do realise where we are going, Alfgund?
 * Sea Witch - Why are you even here? Why are you still following me?
 * Bastion - I stopped trying to understand Inquisitors a long time ago. They tend to just go where they please, and don't really care who they annoy along the way.
 * Alfgund - ''We go wherever we feel we are required. Yes, Javina may be a persistent nuisance at times when she fails to understand exactly when to keep her tongue to herself, but we will all have to stomach her until these ghastly Vampires have been dealt with.
 * Kanna - Oh boy, am I excited.
 * Sea Witch - I don't need her, and I don't need you either. If you're going to stick around then shut up before I throw you both off the horizon.''
 * Alfgund - Certainly, as you wish for it.

Alfgund continued to smile in a rather boyish manner that seemed somewhat out of place with his rough, almost-stonelike physical exterior, with his tough, dry and grey skin being a result of sanctioned magical practices - practices that were known to harm the condition of ordinary humans. He continued onward, keeping quiet aside from the occasional heavy breath. Javina remained quiet, watching herself being discussed without showing emotions outwardly.


 * Sea Witch - Kanna, is Alhazred still... inactive?
 * Kanna - Well, nobody else is speaking but us lot. Urgh, I never felt this concerned for a book before. I can barely even read mainland books here.
 * Nyakik - I believe Alhazred may be dead.
 * Kanna - Well aren't you a ray of sunshine.
 * Bastion - Part of me would very much like to believe that is so, but the rest of me is thinking about the girl.
 * Nyakik - That is not very nice of you. He is my friend and surrogate brother.
 * Sea Witch - He's what now?
 * Nyakik - He is Clothovera's magic book, I am Clothovera's magic familiar, we are essentially siblings.
 * Kanna - If he's your 'brother', then you can carry him then.
 * Nyakik - No.
 * Kanna - Could throw him in a river and see if that wakes him up. I know that it'd wake me up. And probably piss him off. ... Yeah, let's not try that.

At this moment, Nyakik's ears twitched and she turned her head forward, letting out a hiss and clenching tightly on Hachi's shoulder.


 * Nyakik - We are not alone here.

Bastion's eyes flashed bright as his hand snapped to the hilt of his sword. Hachi's dull, dim eyes widened slightly as he reached for the handle of his blade, while Kanna's ears merely perked and he kept an inquisitive, attentive stance, slowing himself down as they travelled so that he could pay more attention to his surroundings. Alfgund soon came to a stop as he bumped into Kanna's rear and looked into his surroundings with his greyish eyes.


 * Alfgund - Whatever's the matter? ... Trolls? Ogres? ... Elves?
 * Bastion - Spontaneous demonic incursion?
 * Javina - Prepare yourselves.

Ahead of the team, they could watch as something happened to the air. A misshapen, liquid blob appeared, floating gently. More liquid dripped from it as electric shocks were emitted from it, and the sky above the team, and only above the team, began turning red. It was almost as if the world was bleeding. Javina slowly unsheathed her scimitar and entered a battle stance, breathing deeply. Her golden eyes moved quickly from tree to tree and from rock to rock, as if they were searching for prey. Bastion pulled his helm from his belt and donned it.


 * Bastion - This is probably the twentieth most disturbing thing I've seen on this plane.
 * Alfgund - ... I do not believe this is the fault of elves. Maybe. ... Actually, probably. Probably elves.

Alfgund swung his morningstar and grasped it tightly within his hardened palms, while Kanna unsheathed both of his oriental blades and prepared himself to arcanise them with his magical assets should he need to. Hachi slowly drew his sword from its hold and shuffled into a combat stance. While his face appeared dull and devoid of emotion other than lament, Kanna was evidently reluctant while Alfgund raised his eyebrows in surprise. A pair of long, slender arms appeared out of the blood blob, grabbing its sides and stretching it. Coming out of it was a very tall, bizarre creature with several sets of pitch red eyes. It glared at the team with no visible expression as it otherwise lacked a face, though it could be heard letting out a low-pitched hiss.


 * Sea Witch - What the hell?!
 * Nyakik - That is... a Blood Elemental!
 * Bastion - Native, planar or undead?
 * Nyakik - Planar.
 * Javina - Killable.
 * Kanna - Ugly.
 * Alfgund - Bloody hell...

Bastion unsheathed his sword part-way, then thought better of it and reseated the blade. Cracking his knuckles, twin halos of light formed around his clenched fists. The Blood Elemental let out another hiss as it pointed a finger at the team's direction, blood dripping out of its body. Immediately after, cloaked vampires began appearing from behind rocks and boulders, all accompanied by deformed-looking dogs.


 * Javina - Feli! Enchanted bullets!
 * Alfgund - You pesky devil, you rotten imp! ... Please do not touch me.
 * Sea Witch - Kill it kill it kill it!
 * Feli - Right away, lady!

Without any further thought Bastion threw himself at the nearest vampire he saw, his fists creating a bow-wave of celestial force before them. Alfgund maintained his distance from the Elemental and instead turned his attention to the vampires and their canine acquaintances, swinging his arm in one direction to bash an assailant or so away from him with his morningstar. With uncanny speed, especially for someone blind, Feli reached for her backpack and tossed a small pouch that glowed faintly in the moonlight to Javina. The Inquisitor promptly caught the pouch and then grabbed her pistol, loading it with silver, glowing bullets - a pleased smile on her face. Kanna glanced towards the Blood Elemental with disgust and tinges of fear, quivering where he stood, while Hachi froze in place.


 * Hachi - ... Fuck that.
 * Kanna - Well somebody has to distract it! ... Preferably not me!
 * Bastion - So how does that thing attack? I'm guessing it's some form of blood-themed planar slime, anybody know any specifics?
 * Nyakik - All I know is that it enjoys ripping the skin out of people.
 * Bastion - So, physical attacks?
 * Nyakik - I do not know, you ask him.
 * Javina - ...And while you paladins are talking...

Javina raised her pistol and then fired at the vampires repeatedly, the enchanted silver bullets glowing as they tore through the air with wicked howls - The Inquisition gets things done.


 * Alfgund - Hah! How very typical of you, princess; preferring to attempt to get missions done swifter without savouring the thrill of meeting your enemies eye to eye! Or in this case... eye to many more eyes.
 * Javina - Shut up and kill people.

he Sea Witch threw gushes of water at the vampires and their dogs to keep them at bay and dismember them while the Blood Elemental itself merely stared for several moments, before crouching and then leaping high into the air. It fell into Hachi's direction, reaching over one of its long, sleek hands with the clear intention of grabbing him. Bastion turned on instinct, throwing out a hand that glowed bright. A shimmering barrier of celestial energy surrounded Hachi just as the elemental went to grab him. Hachi swung his blade as he leaped in a backwards bounce, squeaking as the beast's monstrous hand approached his frail, fragile and furry flesh, and he barely landed on his feet. He began to pant as the creature had him in its sight, although as it had attempted to grasp ahold of the Lagosi, Kanna took his chance and initiated a rear offensive; with a fiery blade, he made an attempt to slash the creature from behind. The Elemental's body was pierced by Kanna's blade, causing it to let out a screech and release a blast of blood at the Lagosi elder, drenching him. Blood also fell on Alhazred, who was at Kanna's belt, and once it did, the book suddenly returned to life, letting out a yell.


 * Alhazred - Blood! More! Feed me more!
 * Bastion - I hope I misheard that!
 * Kanna - ... Go and get it yourself!

Kanna leaped from the Elemental and began smearing the blood on his face and in his fur over the book's cover, while keeping his eyes firmly planted on the Blood Elemental. The blood that had been spilled was hot and steaming - it was lucky that Kanna had managed to avoid his fur becoming singed and damaged. Alhazred let out what could only be described as pleased moans as the Elemental turned around and attempted to strike at Kanna with its long arms. The Sea Witch used her magic to manifest a spear from thin air and struck at the heart of a nearby vampire, lifting it from the floor before throwing its burning corpse away. Having expended her pistol's ammunition, Javina pressed onward and charged into the fray, spinning and rolling almost like if she was dancing as she swung her scimitar.


 * Javina - ...I have a bad feeling about this.
 * Bastion - You say that like there are times Inquisitors don't have bad feelings about things. Hey, cat! Any idea what a concentrated blast of celestial energy would do to that thing?
 * Nyakik - How am I supposed to-
 * Alhazred - It will be most effective!

Kanna cringed as he smeared the blood over Alhazred's "flesh" although he retained his focus and threw himself backward from the Blood Elemental, swinging an arm with its hand grasped around the hilt of a fiery blade as he made a swift retreat, firm on keeping away from the entity and its long, spindley arms. He did not know what was more disgusting; Alhazred's sudden behaviour or the Elemental. At that, Bastion stepped back from the melee and drew his hands together over his chest. His cloak started to flutter slightly, as some of the tarnish and wear on his armour started to fade. The outworldly entity let out a hiss as it appeared to prepare an attack against Kanna again, before it immediately stopped on its tracks and launched itself at Hachi's direction again. Using one hand, it slapped the Lagosi into the floor, launching Nyakik into the air before she fell a good distance away, letting out a pained yelp as she hit the floor.


 * Bastion - By the lords Solar…

Hachi gasped for breath as he hit the ground, wincing and squeaking outwardly like a vulnerable animal. The strength of the Elemental had overwhelmed him and he has misjudged its capability severely, resulting in his fall. He could only look up at the looming creature and attempt to raise his sword against it, growling as he tried to shuffle back, away from its vicinity.


 * Hachi - Get it the hell away from me!
 * Bastion - By the knights Planetar… By the choir Deva…

A faint halo formed around Bastion's head as glowing, feather-like motes floated around him. As Bastion continued his chant, a ring of twelve swords materialised around the elemental, slamming point-first into the ground. Celestial energy flowed between them, forming a magic circle to keep the elemental in place.


 * Bastion - If I go through with this, it'll burn out all my power for at least a few days, possibly weeks. If you have any other plans, now would be the time.
 * Javina - Do try. I would like to see the tricks you paladins can do.

Javina smiled as she continued cutting through the blood elemental's vampiric minions, distracting them from the rest of the team. The Elemental let out hisses as it found itself trapped. It opened a hand and out of it, a beam of blood-red energy was launched at Bastion's direction. Meanwhile, while the team was distracted, one of the rocks in a distance broke down, revealing a gargoyle which let out a roar before rushing over at Nyakik, grabbing her and holding her tightly.


 * Hachi - Nyakik!
 * Alfgund - A new challenger has appeared!
 * Javina - Alfgund! ...Break this!

The Lagosi and the human both made a rush for the gargoyle, with Hachi running an exhausted sprint while Alfgund dashed in seemingly peak condition, even after having held off squads of vampires. He leaped and raised his morningstar, while Hachi tripped and landed onto his chest, just short of the gargoyle's vicinity. The gargoyle let out a breath of lightning at Hachi and Alfgund's directions as it crouched and then took flight, taking Nyakik with it.


 * Nyakik - H-Hachi!

Hachi leaped into the air as electricity powered through it, while Alfgund had taken some damage from the strike while attempting to maneuver around it, resulting in him landing on his knees and groaning as a scorched, smoking wound was left around his chest and left shoulder. Kanna grumbled to himself impatiently and charged the Blood Elemental, his sword brimming with fire, and aimed to strike its upper area, albeit cautious of its extensive limbs. The Sea Witch's eyes widened as she began throwing water blasts at the gargoyle, but it was already too far away to be hit by them. What remained of the vampire forces began teleporting away as the Blood Elemental was hit by Kanna's blade, letting out a blood-curled hiss as it was hurt.


 * Bastion - By Elysium, face. Your. Reckoning!

Above the elemental, a ring of pure white formed in the air. The glowing motes surrounding Bastion collected together into two small, floating wings, as a lance of celestial energy arced through the ring and into the elemental. Smaller arcs of energy lashed out of the ring, some were caught by the twelve swords containing the spell, others slashed through vampires, while any that struck the team poured life energy into their bodies, literally causing wounds to close before their eyes. Bastion held the spell for as long as he could, although it caused clear and obvious strain on his body. The Elemental let out a screech as part of its body was severed, leaving only its head, torso and one arm. It fell into the ground, pained, as the blood blob ahead of the team slowly vanished from sight. Javina stopped for a second as she began watching Bastion perform his magic; although she attempted to hide her emotions and maintain the outward image of stoicism, it was obvious to everyone that she was in awe.


 * Javina - Hmph... Impressive.

Bastion's halo and wings faded as the ring closed, and the ring of swords crumbled into shimmering dust. Uttering a grunt of pain, he sank to one knee though he kept on hand on his sword, in case the elemental rose again. The Sea Witch let out an angered groan as she walked over to the Elemental and began stomping its head until it was crushed under her foot, causing the Elemental to turn itself into a blood puddle. The Witch proceeded to clench her fists and bash the bloodied ground beneath her.


 * Sea Witch - They took the cat!

Kanna watched as the Sea Witch battered the bloody remains of the Elemental with an expression that conveyed partial disgust before looking towards Alhazred, strapped to his belt. Reaching for the book, he raised him from his waist and lifted him to eye-level. Kanna watched as the Sea Witch battered the bloody remains of the Elemental with an expression that conveyed partial disgust before looking towards Alhazred, strapped to his belt. Reaching for the book, he raised him from his waist and lifted him to eye-level.


 * Kanna - ... Blood? You said you wanted blood, right? Like... t-that thing's blood?
 * Alahzred - Any blood... I finally realize now. I am a creation of Zran Kar. Therefore, I run on blood. Feed me and I will regain my power.
 * Javina - Vampire books. ...Great.
 * Alhazred - Correction. Demon books.
 * Bastion - Ugh, don't get any funny ideas while I'm drained- mine will still burn you.
 * Alhazred - Fool. Feed me your fallen enemies' blood, not your own.

Coughing harshly, the paladin staggered to his feet. His stance was as steady as ever, but he was obviously fatigued by his exertions. Kanna looked towards the puddle of blood left by the demise of the Elemental and approached it, grasping Alhazred loosely before he leaned onto both of his knees and began rubbing Alhazred's "back" into the blood, cringing ever more as the taste of iron was left on his tongue.


 * Kanna - Oh, goody... I found my new hobby... Ugh.
 * Alhazred - Oh. Ooooh, yeees... Yes, delicious... I can feel my power returning. And I can finally see where we are. We have arrived to the shortcut.

Alhazred turned his eyes to the direction he meant, and the team could see a large entrance into the mountain's interior. Without saying another word, Bastion stomped off towards the entrance. Behind the group, Hachi kept quiet, his eyes to the sky as he reached out in a futile effort, even though there was little there. Even if Alhazred was 'alive', they had lost the company of yet another member of their group, another memoir of Clothovera - a fact that brought Hachi almost to quiet tears.


 * Javina - I shall repeat my statement. I have a bad feeling about this.

Filled With Vermin
A few minutes had passed since the team entered the so-called shortcut Alhazred talked so much about. Having just lost Nyakik to the vampires, at least some of the team now had even more reasons to press forward. The Sea Witch led the way while looking around, and the cave appeared rather mundane in appearance save for the skeletal remains of what could be presumed to be adventurers who ventured into it in the past. However, the most they progressed through it, the more it shifted from a regular cave into what could be described as a ruin. Bastion kept his cloak about him as he intently focused on the floor in front of him, breaking only to take the occasional glance at Hachi. The gesture would be almost imperceptible under his heavy helmet where it not for the shift in his body language every time he did. Alfgund's interest rose the cave walls gradually merged and morphed into what remained of structures, grinning with satisfaction at the discovery they had come across, even if it mattered little in relevance to them. Hachi kept his head down, staring at the toes of his dirtied feet with each step he took, while Kanna kept beside him and kept looking onward, observing his surroundings curiously. Javina walked softly, so as if not to activate any hidden traps or to provoke any monstrous creatures that - she was sure of that - crawled somewhere nearby. Her steed and pet, Arya, was at her right side, Feli riding her; it seemed that the massive faeles shared her owner's suspicions, given how hesitant it was and how she growled at every shadow. Still, the loyalty of the beast to her mistress was too strong and Arya continued to follow Javina along with her squire.


 * Javina - Now, I am not paranoid, nor am I saying that there are probably monsters here... but there are monsters here.
 * Feli - Why do you think so, mistress?
 * Javina - Because I said so.
 * Bastion - And that is why Inquisitors and Paladins don't get along.
 * Alfgund - There are monsters everywhere, all around. But you should not fear them, for there is little reason to fear when the stalwart Alfgund is here!
 * Sea Witch - Pff. Shut up, all of you.

The Sea Witch groaned and paid no attention to the path ahead until she suddenly felt something strange upon taking a step: her foot pressed down, as if she had pressed a button. Out of a wall, several javelins were blasted into the team's direction, and the Witch let out a yell as one of them flew over her head and shot straight through her hat.


 * Javina - Told you.

As soon as the javelins launched free, Bastion threw himself in between the trap and the rest of the party, trusting his armour to take any hits that came. Kanna raised his blades and slashed the air while kicking Hachi onto his back, outside of the trap's vicinity. Alfgund raised his buckler to absorb the damage of whatever came his way, groaning towards the Witch's direction. Kanna raised his blades and slashed the air while kicking Hachi onto his back, outside of the trap's vicinity. Alfgund raised his buckler to absorb the damage of whatever came his way, groaning towards the Witch's direction.


 * Alfgund - It may not be my place to say such given how I have a reputation for... collateral damage, but would you mind watching your step?
 * Sea Witch - Watch your mouth before I sew it off, monkey! Damnit, book, what is this place!?
 * Alhazred - The fastest way to Purity's Apogee.
 * Sea Witch - Fastest way to-... Wait a moment. What?!
 * Alfgund - Purity's Apogee... Elves?! You're taking us to the elves?!
 * Alhazred - Were you not paying attention all these days, human?
 * Kanna - Err, Pages, I know you've been out of it for a while so I'm not gonna lump all the blame onto you but... we're heading north. Purity's Apogee is west.
 * Alhazred - I'm aware of that.
 * Sea Witch - Yo'ure purposely sending us to the opposite direction!!
 * Alhazred - I know what I'm doing, Witch. Trust me.
 * Feli - Purity's Apogee? It sounds like a nice place...
 * Javina - No. It is not. Now, Feli, you just reminded me... we're going into Sovereign territory. Hand me knives. Lots of them. Chakrams, too. Be careful when handling them; they may hurt you, or you might hurt them... and there are only nine chakrams left in my pack. Nine! Nine! Nine! Nine! Ahem- - Javina coughed - Nevermind.
 * Bastion - Trust is a rare thing in this party, it seems. For what it's worth, if you say you know the way, then I believe you.
 * Javina - I don't trust that conversing tome, personally. But hey, nobody listens to me, so we'll probably die a terrible death.
 * Alhazred - That is- watch out!

At this moment, another trap seemed to have been activated, and an enormous axe, easily larger than a human adult, appeared from the ceiling and was launched at the team's direction. As with before, the Paladin's first instinct was to tackle anyone threatened out of the way.


 * Alfgund - Step aside!
 * Javina - Feli, stay still!

Alfgund threw his arm and smacked the Sea Witch with his buckler, throwing her to the floor and out of the axe's path, before he leaped back and collided with a pile of rubble, watching as his hat was skewered by the edge of the colossal axe. Kanna and Hachi had been out of the axe's vicinity, although he still nonetheless held the younger Lagosi close to him as he saw its emergence. Javina stepped away almost by instinct while clenching her scimitar, breathing heavily. Her eyes flared with both fear and anger as she began breathing heavily, looking at the massive weapon.


 * Javin - Arya, that extends to you as well!
 * Sea Witch - Whoever built these seriously didn't want anyone getting in.
 * Alfgund - May I make a suggestion, aliquam? Perhaps I should tread ahead of the party, considering that you are holding our only navigator and this ruin appears to have each and every corner of itself rigged.
 * Sea Witch - What did you call me, you little shit?
 * Javina - That is Imperial Standard for "a very nice and admirable person definitely deserving of respect and absolutely not an ethnic slur".
 * Feli - Really? But isn't it-
 * Javina - Be quiet, Feli.
 * Alfgund - Excuse my manners and excuse the 'princess', I meant not to offend. But these ruins are unsafe and we should not risk our only means of getting out. ... I am curious as to who it was that rigged this place, however.
 * Sea Witch - Bah. Fine.

Alfgund stood to his feet and approached his ravaged hat, brushing the dirt off its material and examining the extent of the damage - he groaned in disappointment and threw the headwear from his grasp, allowing all to see his long, ravishing dark blonde hair that had been previously hidden, contrasting with his dulled and dry skin. He walked ahead of the Sea Witch and nodded to her with a grin.


 * Alfgund - As I said, there is little to fear when the stalwart Alfgund is here!
 * Kanna - At least he's not trying to burn us alive.
 * Javina - Yes, instead he will draw the attention of those who are.
 * Bastion - A feather for every time an Inquisitor spoke like that…

Time passed as the team progressed more carefully than before, and they could easily see this cave system was practically littered with traps. Arrows, bolts, javelins, axes and spears were just some of the devious constructs scattered in this place, and eventually, they could all clearly see they were inside man-made ruins. Ahead of the team, they actually found a piece of architecture which was peculiar to say the least: a statue of a rat, holding what looked like a jar filled with a strange, putrid-looking liquid.


 * Feli - Rats! That's a giant rat!
 * Bastion - If the decades have taught me anything, it's never to be the first to put your hand in a jar of viscous fluid.
 * Javina - Your power of observation is indeed beyond limits, paladin.
 * Bastion - Next time, try to make one of those barbs stick.
 * Kanna - I liked it better when I was the only one trying to be sarcastic.
 * Alfgund - Curious, indeed. I have heard tales of giant rats, particularly in the bedtime stories of Mannazia, where they are said to prey on the children who misbehave. ... If anything happens while we are here, do not let rats eat me.
 * Feli - ...These aren't tales. I remember them eating my brother when I was a child. I-I still can hear him screaming...

At this moment, the sound of steps and rabid growing was heard coming out of several burrows around the ruin as entities entered the 'room'. Very large rats, each a little taller than half a matter from head to feet, arrived and glared at the team. Their skin looked wounded and diseased, their teeth appeared almost blood-drenched and their eyes were as black as the darkest night. Bastion drew his sword in one stroke, immediately stepping to the front.


 * Javina - ...Excellent.
 * Alfgund - There is little to f-fear... when the stalwart A-Alfgund is here... A-Aside from rats! Rats!
 * Bastion - And if the stalwart Alfgund falters, the unyielding light of Elysium is right behind him. Or in front of him, in this case.
 * Sea Witch - Oh Gods, I think I'm going sick...
 * Bastion - Then sit this one out.

Feli ran to Javina and tried to hide behind her back, frozen by fear. Alfgund drew his morningstar and gripped it tightly in both hands, glancing to the massive, bestial vermin that had come to greet their presence. Alfgund gritted his jagged teeth and lowered his brow, while Kanna pushed Hachi, who was in no fit state to fight, aside and towards the Sea Witch, standing in front of the two of them with both blades in hand. The rats screeched at the team and leaped at them, their jaws open so that they could dig their teeth into their flesh.

Bastion let the rats close their teeth on his armour, putting his faith in the layered steel to protect him while he laid them out with his longsword. The rats were easily killed as the sword cut through them, but as they died, more of them emerged or fell from the ceiling, and immediately charged or leaped at the team.


 * Alfgund - ... T-The stalwart Alfgund does not faulter... especially not in the face of a rat! Or ten rats! Or a hundred rats!

Alfgund swung his morningstar, empowering his strikes with momentum, and aimed to slam, smash, and crush the skulls and bones of any direrat that had gotten close to him, with the occasional magic-induced launching of nearby debris and rocks. He appeared visibly disgusted by the expression on his face as he spilled rat blood. Next to him, Javina cut through the hordes of rats with her scimitar, spinning in arcs and circles, while setting their furry bodies on fire with her torch. Arya, striking at her side, bit and clawed at the beasts - while feeding on their flesh - providing support to her owner.

One of the rats landed on top of the statue, and a clicking sound was heard as the statue's arms moved forward, tilting the jar and causing the liquid within it to pour down into the ground. Both the Sea Witch and Hachi could feel the liquid touch their feet, and as it did, they both could feel it burning them as if it was acid.


 * Javina - Quickly! Get away from that thing!
 * Sea Witch - Ah, ouch, shit, I'm so mad right now!
 * Hachi - Ngh, ngh! D-Damnit!

Hachi grabbed the Sea Witch and pulled her back while Kanna looked towards the rat statue and scowled towards the rat that had landed on top of it, one of his blades ignited with fire while the other frozen with ice. Alfgund continued swinging his morningstar, splattering rat blood over himself and others disgustedly. The rat showed no fear of Kanna and leaped at his face, its claws visible as it intended on scratching him.


 * Alhazred - I would suggest progressing as we are obviously being swarmed right now!

Kanna growled and launched his fist forward, punching the rat square in its face while his arm was enveloped in a layer of hot, steaming flame, passing the ignition onto the furry fiend and setting its fur alight ... while blood dripped from the scratch marks the rat afflicted against his unprotected torso.


 * Kanna - I ... I hate rodents.
 * Javina - Aren't you a rodent yourself?
 * Sea Witch - You heard the book. Screw this place.

The Sea Witch put Hachi under her shoulder and stormed out to the path ahead. Alfgund nodded and turned to Javina, making a gesture with his head as if to urge her and her companions towards the path, before turning fully and rushing ahead to accompany the Sea Witch and Hachi. Kanna remained to the back of the group, giving them some time away from the rat swarm as he blasted them with a concoction of flesh-melting fire and painfully cold ice. As the team ran, the swarm of rats went after them, seemingly never-ending in size even though the bodies of their dead brethren littered the room behind them. The team would eventually get into a larger room filled with the same rat statues, except they were all far larger in size. Apparently a dead end, this room was also filled with the same rats who glared at them with looks that could murder. And on top of a ledge stood one particular rat who seemed larger than the others and sported a dark brown fur instead of the others' gray colouration. And unlike the others, this rat spoke.


 * ??? - This is the fate you have sealed when you entered our lands, blood-sucking leeches. Today your hearts will be gnawed out by His Highness' royal general.

Alfgund's eyes widened and he stepped back, a bead of sweat dripping down the hard, rough surface of his face as he observed the gargantuan, talking rat, his face caught in an expression of confusion and unnerving. He gripped his morningstar tighter and shuddered, his eyes meeting with that of the "royal general".


 * Alfgund - A talking rat... with the voice of a man... This means that they are intelligent, they can think like we do! What in hell's name does this mean?!
 * Alhazred - I see. We are in the lands of the .
 * Sea Witch - Tere-what?
 * Royal Vermin General - Terefah. A slur used by the filth from the surface to describe us. You have nerve sporting such vocabulary in my presence, vampire.
 * Javina - Seriously, Alfgund? We've faced demons, Lympharians, vampires, Idkin, undead, these... creatures in the Darkvale... and you are surprised by Pheonas-damned talking rats?
 * Alfgund - It is true, while they may not be as strong as Lympharians, or as fierce as demons, or as unpredictable as Idkin, rats... these rats... are everywhere. They live beneath our noses where we are unable to observe them, and worst of all, they... they never end. There will always be rats!
 * Sea Witch - I think you need to shut up for a moment and realize that rat just called us vampires.
 * Javina - I blame Alfgund. He's just as pale as one.
 * Alfgund - At least I don't suck upon the vitality of others, princess. ... Us, vampires? Does the rat's eyes betray him?
 * Kanna - I think this means that the vampires are here. Or were here, at least.
 * Royal Vermin General - This is not the first time your disgusting kind comes here, seeking to feed off rat blood. You will fail like the others. We will devour you alive, filthy surface-dwellers.
 * Alfgund - Vampires? VAMPIRES?! Us humans may be regarded as being filthy, ignorant, destructive, violent, racist and intolerable, but if there is anything we are not, then it is parasites!
 * Javina - Not sure about them, though.

The Royal Vermin General's fur shook upwards as his body was surrounded a dark, flaming aura, and let out an echoing screech, and as he did so, all the rats int he room charged and leaped at the team's direction. Far more rats than even trained soldiers could handle on their own. The Sea Witch's eyes widened as she launched blasts of water at them, but she could already feel their claws and teeth digging into her skin as there were just too many of them. Alfgund slammed his buckler into the rats that had come close, throwing them off their feet and away from him, but it was not long before he could feel the painful, burning sensation of gnawing at his clothing and flesh. As tough as it was, his hide was not resistant to the penetrating jaws of vermin. Kanna, his swords flaming, danced and sliced the air in circular motions, trying desparately to discourage the approach of the rats.

Hachi, meanwhile, did not even draw his sword and had resorted to simply trying to punch and throw the rats away from him with both his organic and his wooden fists, an expression on his face that displayed great sadness and lament.


 * Javina - What's up, rodent?

Javina laughed quietly at Hachi's frightened facial expression while she plunged her sword into one of the rats' twisted, diseased flesh. Immediately the Inquisitor pulled her blade from the corrupted rodent's body and struck again, killing yet another Terefah. And another. And another. Sweat was pouring off Javina's brow now; she was growing weary, and it was becoming more and more tiresome to fight. Suddenly, an idea sprang in the Inquisitor's mind as she turned to her squire and called her.


 * Feli - What?
 * Javina - Pass me the torch.
 * Feli - But... didn't you command me not to t-
 * Javina - Did I not say that clearly? Pass me the torch.

Complying silently, the young girl searched in Javina's backpack for a long, elaborately decorated wooden rod and tossed it to her mistress, who caught it and then looked at the item closely. A slight smile appeared on the Inquisitor's face as she began reminiscing.


 * Feli - ...How are you going to ignite it, mistress? Mistress?
 * Javina - Carlini.

Javina laughed wholeheartedly - somewhat uncharacteristic of her usually - as the torch suddenly burst into flames - something brighter and more fierce than natural flames, in fact - that made the rats back off. With a wide, malevolent grin on her face, the Inquisitor began swinging the torch like if it was a mace, instantly setting dozens of Terefah on fire. The rodents froze as the rest of the party watched the scene with both surprise and awe.


 * Javina - Burn! Burn! Ha! Burn! Glorious, is it not? Truly, there is beauty in fire and light...
 * Feli - Carlini? What does that mean?
 * Javina - ''...Nothing.'

Javina quickly repelled the question as she continued incinerating the marching rats, her laughter becoming silent for a few moments before resuming shortly afterwards. The Royal Vermin General jumped down from where he stood and approached the team menacingly, his mouth filled with what looked like dark magic in the form of electricity. As he prepared to leap at their direction, though, another individual appeared in the battlefield, causing all the rats to stop what they were doing to stare at him. It was a dwarf, wearing a helmet which covered his head except for a huge beard and carrying a mug of alcohol.


 * ??? - Hey. Hey. HEY. Stop fight.
 * Javina - I don't fight. I burn! Haha- wait, what?

Alfgund threw a rat from his shoulder and kicked another off of his leg as he turned to face the dwarf, an eyebrow perked as he loosely held his morningstar, a mix of rat blood as well as his own drenching his hands and robes. Kanna punched a rat away from his vicinity and turned to the dwarf, although he said nothing, merely watching the dwarf's actions while Hachi glanced at the character.


 * Alfgund - Who's this? Did a dwarf follow us into the ruins while our backs were turned?
 * Royal Vermin General - ? What are you doing here?
 * Clamak - Was passing by. Heard fighting, came to investigate. Why?
 * Royal Vermin General - Filthy vampires attacking us again, that's what. Take off your mighty axe and aid us in slaying these beasts.
 * Clamak - Hm. These no vampires though.
 * Alfgund - ... The dwarf's wearing a helmet and his beard obscures his eyes yet even he knows we are no parasites!

Clamak approached the team and one by one, he looked into them under his helmet. He drunk from his mug as he did, inspecting each one of them, his view becoming locked for a few seconds when he passed his eyes through Javina.


 * Clamak - Hmmmmmmmm. No. No vampire.

Kanna cautiously stepped towards Clamak - his eyes locked onto the great, big bushy beard that the dwarf sported - and he reached out a hand, tapping him on the shoulder so as to grasp his attention.


 * Kanna - Sorry to interrupt, but you and fluffy over there were talking about vampires. They came here, didn't they? And attacked your people?

Javina nodded.


 * Clamak - Hmm. Yes. But you. No fangs. Not vampires. General, you brash. Not ask before attacking.
 * Royal Vermin General - We do not accept any intruders in the . Remember that.
 * Clamak - You. Lagosi. Tell Clamak why you here.
 * Kanna - We're on a quest, you could say. To stop the vampires from attacking people. We're on our way to try and find out why they are acting so aggressively and get them to stop it. ... We had to pass through these ruins since it was apparently a shortcut.
 * Clamak - Ah. You. Friend. Follow. Clamak take you to exit.
 * Royal Vermin General - ...W-wait a second! Clamak! The Vermin King will not be pleased by this!
 * Clamak - Tell King Clamak is in official business.
 * Alfgund - You see, Javina, this is why trying not to burn aliquam allows you benefits. They are much more willing to assist you if they are not on fire.
 * Javina - Hmph. Very well, dwarf. Arya, Feli, follow me.

The Terefah all began backing away as Clamak started walking away, beckoning the team to follow them. Kanna nodded and grasped onto Hachi's shoulder, assuring him that danger was no longer present, and they moved behind Clamak, following his lead closely while Alfgund sighed and smiled, placing away his morningstar and stepping beside the Sea Witch, brushing dirt, blood, and mottled fur out of his long strands of hair. Javina whispered the name of her former companion once again as the fire in her torch quelled and vanished, following the dwarf reluctantly.

Clamak led the team through the caves for several hours, always warning them of where the traps were and keeping anymore rats from ganging up to them. It was clear that while his vocabulary was limited, the dwarf had good intentions. The team would eventually get to a point with two paths, and the sound of low-pitched roaring and growling could be heard coming from the left. Clamak immediately took out his immense axe and turned to the team.


 * Clamak - Was fun talking to you. But you go now. Take right path. I go left.
 * Sea Witch - What's that sound coming from the left path?
 * Clamak - Maulers. Clamak had no good fight in while. Will have fun in there. You. Good luck in quest.

Alfgund bowed his head to the dwarf and smiled contently, saying little else as it was evident to him that actions rather than words meant more to Clamak's understanding, thus he moved on and trekked ahead of the group. Kanna patted Clamak's shoulder out of a sign of respect and also did as he was told, holding a weakened and quiet Hachi under his arm closely. Feli mounted Arya and soon caught up with the rest of the team, once again walking by Javina's side.


 * Kanna - We'll make sure the vampires know what it's like to get a pain in the neck, trust us.
 * Clamak - Good. Now, you go.
 * Feli - ...Mistress...
 * Javina - What is it?
 * Feli - So what is "carlini" exactly? Is that what they call fire where you were born?
 * Javina - Shut up.
 * Alfgund - Hmph. No. "Carlini" is definitely not fire. ... Or anything else, for that matter.

Countess or Witch
As usual, snow fell at Castle Nightshade, lair of the Nightshade Clan. At the throne room of the castle, the new countess sat down, surrounded by her subjects who desired to serve her, and some of them just desired her in general. Clothovera, the new countess, now sported clothes compared to those formerly worn by Count von Dalverat, but obviously adapted to her much smaller height. Her eyes were pitch-purple now, always luminous and leaving a lingering aura around them, and two visible fangs stuck out of her mouth at all times. Around her, the Alpha Succubi made sure to give them company, with wrapping her arms around the half-elf's neck from behind in an embrace,  sitting next to her and  wrapping her arms around one of her legs, also resting her head on it. The half-elf girl who formerly could not even start a conversation with someone now had the three most beautiful women in Koldenwelt as her personal brides... even though something in her mind just made her refuse to go "any deeper" than this.

Nosfer served his new mistress wine as the doors to the throne room opened. Entering the room was a gargoyle, the same gargoyle who had taken Nyakik from Hachi and the Sea Witch's team days prior. Holding the magic cat by the skin of her neck, the gargoyle eventually threw it into the ground, and Nyakik grunted as she collided with the red-coloured tapestry which went from the throne to the door. The Countess and her servants all turned their attentions to Nyakik as she slowly got back up, with the gargoyle emotionlessly turning around and leaving from where it had arrived.


 * Alles - Ooh! Kitty!
 * Nosfer - Idiot gargoyle... You are supposed to put Golem's meal at his den, not at the throne room.
 * Clothovera - This is not Golem's meal. I ordered the gargoyles to bring this creature to me.
 * Anian - What shall we do with it, dear countess?
 * Clothovera - ...Leave me. I wish to speak with this creature alone.
 * Hamoins - So I can't pet the pussy. Boring.

Nosfer bowed to Clothovera as he turned around and made his way to the exit, while the Dalverat Sisters did the same. As they rose to their feet, they made sure to pass their hands through Clothovera's body before walking away one by one, with Anian closing the room's colossal doors behind her as she was the last to leave. Now only Clothovera and Nyakik stood in the room, and the countess stared at her former familiar with a mildly annoyed expression while Nyakik glared back in visible anger.


 * Clothovera - Now, what to do with you... I wanted to do something but I forgot what it was.
 * Nyakik - Clothovera... Look at what you have become! This is not the girl I was bound with at birth!
 * Clothovera - Shut up, cat. I'm thinking.
 * Nyakik - No! No, you shut up, you wretch! Your soul and mine are linked, we are practically family! How could you turn your back on me like this? How you turn your back on Hachi and the Sea Witch like this?! They were the only ones who showed any degree of caring for us in years! And you turned your back on them out of lust for power! Your mother always taught you to not fall for the temptation of power yet you just did that! Whoever you are, you are not my Clothovera!

Clothovera barred her teeth at Nyakik's comments before her eyes widened and she suddenly let out a yell, holding on her head and shaking it in an agonizing manner. Nyakik's own eyes widened as she took a step back, not understand what was happening before Clothovera's screaming ceased and she rose, making her face visible again. The purple shading of her eyes had disappeared and they appeared to be back to normal, tears pouring out of it as she stared at Nyakik before suddenly throwing herself from her throne at the cat, wrapping her arms around her and breaking into tears, much to Nyakik's confusion.


 * Clothovera - N-Nyakik!!
 * Nyakik - W-what...
 * Clothovera - I'm s-so sorry! But I can't fight it! H-he controls my mind, Nyakik! Z-Zran Kar controls my mind!
 * Nyakik - Clotho... I may have been a bit too harsh right there.
 * Clothovera - I-It's fine, I deserve it... I-I had you k-kidnapped because she was u-using you to spy on Hachi and t-teacher.
 * Nyakik - She?
 * Clothovera - T-the Countess... T-that evil side who follows Zran Kar! I m-managed to take over m-my mind temporarily to c-convince her to do this... b-but she's just too strong... Z-Zran Kar's power is too strong...
 * Nyakik - Calm down, Clotho. I am here now. Hachi and the Sea Witch are coming. They are going to save you.
 * Clothovera - I'm s-sorry... I'm s-so sorry... S-she's going to a-abuse of you... and I won't b-be able to help... b-but at least you're safe here...

Nyakik put a paw on Clothovera's shoulder and looked straight into her eyes. The small familiar too was starting to tear up, and she smiled.


 * Nyakik - Do not worry for me. As long as we are together, I will be fine.
 * Clothovera - N-Nyakik... I'm so s-sorry...

The two of them cried in there for several more minutes until the Countess side of Clothovera's personality took over again. As "something" in her mind suddenly refused to use Nyakik as a spying tool, she instead merely ordered the cat trapped in a cage and kept in the dungeon. It seemed that at least some of the original Clothovera was still there, fighting to regain control over her actions, but as she said it herself, Zran Kar's influence is just too strong for a mere mortal to overcome.

=Vampire Lords and Hunters=

La Petite Mort
Hours had passed since the team separated themselves from Clamak until they finally saw light at the end of the tunnel, as well as a cold breeze. Finally leaving the caves of the Vermin kingdom, the team found themselves at the side of a cliff overlooking a snow-covered forest, with a road in a distance. It was dusk, and a thin layer of snow fell from the clouds above their heads. The Sea Witch took out a deep breath, alleviated from finally leaving the rat-infested cave and quickly made her way down the cliff to the road's direction, beckoning the team to follow them. Bastion pulled his cloak up tight around him, and whispered a prayer to the Choir as he followed the witch. Hachi kept quiet as he had done for much of the journey, not particularly pestered by the cold weather as his kind were adapted to otherwise arctic conditions, and as such Kanna was also largely unaffected although he nonetheless appreciated being free of the presence of rats. They followed the Sea Witch while Alfgund skipped ahead of them almost excitedly, humming a traditional Mannazian folk song to himself rather loudly.


 * Alfgund - Snow! Wondrous snow...! I always enjoyed Mannazian winters, the cold soothes me ever so splendidly. Are you not rejoiced by the snow?
 * Kanna - Where I come from, it snows all the time.... I haven't been there in a while.
 * Javina - Not exactly. Snow is cold, wet, blinding, and it looks like parboiled rice.
 * Alfgund - And yet it appears far more enticing than you ever would, princess.
 * Javina - Since when do I care about what men think of me? Hmph.
 * Sea Witch - What way now, Alhazred?
 * Alhazred - Ahead, we will encounter a structure. Enter it.
 * Sea Witch - Are you really sure of what you're saying?
 * Alhazred - Yes. I've told you already, Witch. You can trust me.
 * Kanna - What kind of structure are we looking for? A shack, a fortress? You're gonna need to be a bit more specific Pages.
 * Alhazred - A chateau built into the face of the nearest mountain.
 * Bastion - Then let's be off. The Angels will wait but the girl won't.

As the team headed to the road and walked upon its many brick-layered path, they heard the forests filled with the sounds of songbirds and wild deer, with Kanna raising an eyebrow at the apparent tranquility of the locale while keeping an arm wrapped around Hachi, keeping him close. As they traversed further, they would also see furry, small bats that resided within the trees, and up ahead they were bound to come across a large, wide set of stairs that appeared to ascend upwards upon a slope, carved into the very foundations of an apparent hill. And there were many rows of steps, more than they could count.

Standing besides the steps was a figure, laying down beside the steps with a hood obscuring their facial features and various robes hiding away their body. They made no effort to hide themselves, however, only the details beyond their humanoid outline. They wielded no weaponry and bore minimal equipment, provoking Alfgund's suspicion. Bastion's eyes glowed bright under his helm, while his hand moved to his blade beneath his cloak. Javina's reaction was similar; with a swift gesture, she commanded her pet to remain vigilant, while unsheathing her own blade slowly.


 * Sea Witch - Up there?
 * Alhazred - Yes.

Alfgund lifted an arm and urged the team to maintain their distance, and narrowed his eyes towards the hooded figure, his brow lowered considerably as he stepped towards them. A firm hand clasped to his morningstar, Alfgund remained stalwart and called out towards the obscured figure.


 * Alfgund - You there!
 * ??? - Hm?
 * Alfgund - Who are you, what are you doing there? ... What and where is this place?

As Alfgund spoke his words, the figure raised to their feet, stumbling slightly as if uneasy, and lifted their hands to their hood, grasping its sides tightly. In a single, swift motion, the figure lowered their hood and exposed their face for the party to see; a woman, young and delicate looking, with short blonde hair cute into a bowl with tattoos and facial features that betrayed a Mannazian heritage.


 * Woman - Can't you see I'm on my break? I hardly get enough rest as it is without a bunch of strangers throwing questions at me.

Bastion stepped forward, raising a hand to wave down Alfgund.


 * Bastion - On break from what, my lady?
 * Woman - A break from work, of course! It gets hot working in a crowded place like that, so I like to come out here and rest in the snow for a while until I'm cooled enough to go back inside. You try working even two hours in that place!
 * Sea Witch - What place is this exactly?
 * Woman - Huh, you mean you don't know? Bizarre, I thought everyone knew of La Petite Mort, it's certainly got a reputation. ... It's just up all of those stairs if you want to visit, although I should warn you, it's not exactly fit for all crowds. Especially children. And priests.
 * Sea Witch - Le who?
 * Bastion - Oh. Wait, we're here?
 * Javina - ...La... Peti... ALFGUND!
 * Bastion - Furthermore, by work do you mean work, or work?

Javina turned to Alfgund suddenly and then stared at him, her face contorted and twisted from anger and shock - though perhaps something else also. Feli looked at her mistress in confusion, her blind eyes watching her innocently.


 * Feli - What is "La Peti Alfgund"? Small Alfgund?
 * Sea Witch - What the devil is going on here?
 * Bastion - How blunt would you like me to be?
 * Sea Witch - I don't like vagueness.
 * Bastion - It's a brothel.
 * Javina - ...What in the name of Pheonas are you leading us to?
 * Sea Witch - ...Alhazred!!
 * Alhazred - Yes, it is a brothel. And you are going to enter it if you want to get to Purity's Apogee without having to travel all the way to the west for over a month.
 * Alfgund - A brothel. ... With women. And drinks. And more women. To think, I would finally be able to have someone else rest my lap for me... Er, my apologies. I meant to say, thank you for your information. It is very much appreciated.
 * Woman - Yeah well, as a waitress it's kind of my job to promote the place. It's noisy and it's loud, but it's not all bad. Just be mindful that everybody there has travelled a long way to be here.
 * Alhazred - Now, if you would kindly progress.
 * Sea Witch - Ugh... I'm too old for this crap.
 * Bastion - I do wonder if the proprietor is home.

Alfgund nodded and trudged onward, making his way up the innumerable steps that would surely require more than a few tens of minutes to ascend entirely. Kanna frowned as he saw that, while he had acknowledged the news, Hachi remained stoic and not even slightly excited by the course their venture had taken them, before also ascending the steps behind the Inquisitor Paladin. The Sea Witch also made her way up, and as she passed by Kanna, she put Alhazred on his hands, as if she had grown tired, or irritated, of having to carry the talking book around.


 * Kanna - You know, Pages, for a book you're certainly bad at reading people.
 * Alhazred - Your point being? I know what I'm doing.
 * Kanna - Oh I don't doubt you, Pages. On the contrary, I have full faith in you.
 * Alhazred - This is no time for sarcasm, Kanna. Get to the brothel.
 * Kanna - That wasn't sarcasm.

As he climbed the steps to the brothel, Bastion uttered a prayer of warding- not against disease, but to shield the party's minds. Javina scowled and began ascending the steps of the house of vice, muttering something to himself. Feli and Arya followed their mistress. It would take the team an estimate of half an hour to ascend the steps entirely, with Alfgund naturally having taken the lead with a hint of an eager step, although he remained close and considerate of them nonetheless. As they reached the top, their eyes would be treated to yet more snow, which appeared to have increased somewhat in its velocity, and the visage of a rather large, gothic structure that somehow "merged" into the rocks and material of the colossal mountain it had been established upon; a chateau indeed, with most, if not all, rooms lit and a number of clothed, and unclothed, figures remaining outside, seemingly unconscious.

At the grand and glamorous entrance to the structure, two pairs of armed guards - three women and a rather effeminate young male, all dressed in furred, iron armour - had taken up the responsibility of "bouncers", effectively. Their eyes met with those of the party and they cautiously held their weapons, although they remained where they stood. The group could hear bellowing laughter from within the walls of the chateau-turned-brothel, La Petite Mort.


 * Bastion - Some come for pleasure, some come to forget pain. Funny that this is where our path would take us.
 * Sea Witch - You've been here already?
 * Bastion - I think so. Either way, I was referring more to myself and the rabbit than my past.
 * Javina - "Disgusting" would be a more appropriate word. Walk faster, Feli. I would much prefer to leave this hellhole behind me.
 * Alhazred - You will enter this hellhole now. You should probably leave your feline outside. We want to make a good impression.
 * Javina - Very well. Arya, stay there! On the first sign of any trouble, eat everyone.
 * Kanna - We'll only find more pussies inside. ... Alright, that was a bad one. Sorry.
 * Sea Witch - Don't make me pinch you. Let's get this over with.

Bastion rolled his shoulders, and took off his helmet. Clasping it to his belt, he slapped Kanna on the back and did his best to fake a smile. With something indiscernible behind his eyes, he stepped up to the door. Alfgund and Bastion approached the entrance, only to be countered with two of the armed guards using their spears to form an 'X' with their spears, crossing them to prevent entry. The effeminate male glanced towards the two of them before looking over the rest of the party and grumbled, stepping forward and keeping a hand on the scabbard that held his curved blade.


 * Guard - I'm afraid that you'll have to hand your arsenal to us if you wish for entry. No blades or shields or any equipment designed for doing harm unto others are allowed within this establishment at the request of the Red Countess.
 * Bastion - Alhazred, will we be using this exit or another?
 * Alhazred - Do as he says.
 * Bastion - Answer my question, please.
 * Alhazred - Do as he says, human. You will not lose your equipment.
 * Bastion - I know we won't, because I have the ability to manifest a circle of protection that is inviolable to all except myself. If we were to use this exit, I would create said circle to protect our equipment.
 * Sea Witch - Just give your sword to the girl already.
 * Guard - You need not worry of theft or destruction of your equipment, dear knight. On the contrary, by the morning your gear should be cleaned and polished, and will be returned to you once you wish to leave. Our services ensure the utmost dedication to our visitors.

Bastion simply shrugged, unclasped his sheath from his belt, and let the sword drop to the snow.


 * Bastion - Metal is metal, and I never doubted your service. I was merely asking for the sake of convenience.
 * Javina - Wait a little. This will take some time... - with a rather painful sigh, Javina handed the guard her black scimitar, while continuing to stare her in the eyes, and then disclosed her trenchcoat, revealing a massive collection of knives, chakrams, shurikens and other throwing or melee weapons that she carried with herself. - Take that.

The guard nodded and lifted the blade, with Kanna groaning as he removed his Jiatanai swords from his belt along with Hachi's own and handing them to the rest of the guards, who nodded in respect to the party. Alfgund was apprehensive, although he soon handed his rather heavy morningstar to the guards - two of them required to carry it - and then his shield. And shortly after, his steel knuckles. The Sea Witch had no weapons on her person and simply made her way inside.


 * Guard - Please, enjoy your stay. And remember, feel free to make donations as you please, we would never charge for your entertainment although our establishment does survive from charity.
 * Bastion - I assume you take most standard denominations?

The guard nodded with a smile before standing aside and allowing the group passage into the walls of their establishment, with a guide - a small girl with tidy, red hair and a rather thick, red coat - standing behind them to lead the team within and ensure they would not become lost. Alfgund swiftly grew somewhat tired of the rather ornate and fancy architecture of the insides of the chateau, as while its gothic and archaic nature appealed to him, its patterns and decoration, which were primarily inspired by elven and Manorian art movements, did not.

Soon, the guide would lead the group to a hall, filled to the brim with men and women from across the continents - humans, elves, goblinoids, beastmen, orcs, and everything in between - and multiple counters to supply drinks, games, and other forms of entertainment. At the far side of the hall, beyond the crowd of people, were a collection musicians playing their respective instruments to fill the hall with grand music and an atmosphere while scantily-clad women in corsets surrounded and teased them. The Sea Witch glared at the interior of the building for several moments before slapping her own eyes with her hands. A magic light came out of her palms and once she put her hands down, the team could see she no longer had visible eyes.


 * Sea Witch - I refuse to look at this for even one more second.

Bastion took her hand in his on the assumption that this had made her blind.


 * Javina - For once... I agree with you... - Javina's grumbling slowly became more and more audible as sweat began puring off her head and face - ...Disgusting depraved harlots with their corsets and their garish outfits and their hourglass figures and their generous bosoms and their magnificent... - Javina looked around, swallowing her saliva - ...Never... mind.
 * Bastion - Are you alright, Inquisitor? For a moment I thought I heard you say something that didn't involve snark or declarations of heresy.
 * Javina - ...Yes... I am perfectly fine... - Javina looked straight into Bastion's eyes before turning her attention towards the rest of the chateau, her gaze switching erratically between the dancers, the walls, Feli, and the rest of the party - ...Very, very disgusting... - Javina lowered her voice to a whisper - Mmmph... big... bouncing...
 * Bastion - In that case, once we have found the witch a seat, you and I shall go on a sight-seeing tour. Wait… I just suggested going somewhere with an Inquisitor.
 * Kanna - We should take a seat... somewhere. It's easy to get lost in a crowd like this and we wouldn't want to end up separated. I suggest the bar, everybody who wanted to get drunk probably already is and have ended up outside in the cold. Or in a bed somewhere. Not like I give a toss.
 * Sea Witch - Might as well use this as an opportunity to rest. We did walk a lot to get here. Just as long as I don't have to watch the indecency.
 * Alfgund - I would inquire if such a place possesses showers... but even then, I imagine they are as unclean as the rest of this place. ... Bar. Yes, let us go to the bar. I need to clear my head.
 * Kanna - Alhazred, what should we do from here once we manage to get a seat?
 * Alhazred - Look for the so-called Red Countess. She has information about the Nightshade Clan which is of use to us.
 * Bastion - Angels of the Choir! I suppose I'll be best equipped for that duty.

The look in the old Paladin's eyes shifted somewhat, although for good or ill could not be told.


 * Javina - ...I can come with you. I am... experienced when it comes to dealing with this kind of situation, after all...
 * Bastion - With all due respect *cough* I believe it would be best to send the person whose mind is not distracted by *cough* womanly assets.
 * Javina - ...What... are you... suggesting?
 * Kanna - Or we ask the staff and not act like madmen. Come on, I'm getting tired of standing up and I need to get something down my throat. ... Unlike the rest of these girls who I think have had more than enough.

Kanna shoved through the crowd of people to reach a counter at the far left corner of the hall that happened to be attended by an wearing civilized and sophisticated clothing tailored specifically for its size, handling the delicate and fragile glasses with its huge fingers with surprising proficiency. Hachi followed, barely glancing at the rest of the female staff, and sat beside Kanna. Alfgund groaned and followed, resting his elbows on the counter and appearing surprised at the bartender's racial status. Bastion led the witch to the counter, guiding her to a seat. Once she was seated, he turned his back to the bar, leaned back and rested his elbows on the counter. His eyes glowed once more, as he started to scan the bar and building as a whole.

At a distance, an extremely tall individual leaned against a wall, even larger than the minotaurs in the hall, his or her body completely covered by tattered robes. At their side was an immense, decorated, macrabe-looking greatsword which was also against the wall, and while the team was too far away to see any of the figure's body, he still looked at them curiously, his single, red eye focused on Hachi and the Sea Witch.


 * Javina - ...What is this?
 * Sea Witch - What is what? Get me some water, be useful for something.
 * Kanna - Hey, big, dark and ugl-- I mean bar-keep, we'll have a glass of mineral water and some Sohitarian ale if you have any of that.
 * Alfgund - I'll take Königruhmstadt olive ale. 
 * Oevrumine - ... Coming. Right. Argh, urgh, nurghargh... What was the word? ... Up. Yes, up.
 * Bastion - Burning wine if you have it. Or what is it milk-drinkers call it, brandy?
 * Javina - ...L'Ammanori Sangria, please. Wait, no, no... Araq. Merovar Araq. Yes...

The Oevrumine slammed a glass to the counter, smashing it into pieces in his grasp, before pulling out another one and handling it with a much more laxed motion, shrugging his shoulders. He filled it with sparkling water before passing it to the Sea Witch and began to handle the drinks for Kanna and Alfgund enthusiastically. The Sea Witch drank from her water while the robed figure grabbed their soldier and began walking away, using the large blade as a walking cane until they disappeared on the crowd.


 * Oevrumine - Not often. We. Get. Oomans here. Oomans, oomaghk... Hyman. Human. Humans. Yes, humans. Humans with Empire. Rare sight. Did not. Think. Oomans from Empire would. C-Come here.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, whatever. Where's this Red Countess gal? We gotta see her.
 * Oevrumine - Red. Countess. ... Unable to see. Visitors. Busy. Always busy. Likes. To be. Left arragh. Aronkh. A-Alone, me thinks. Alone.
 * Kanna - We really need to see her. We have business with her, it involves the Nightsha--

As Kanna spoke, he suddenly found himself falling towards the ground, his stool having collapsed. As his side slammed the ground, he looked up to see a rather burly, tall elf with messied blonde hair and a lack of upper clothing, his eyes reddened and cheeks rosied from having ingested perhaps one too many ales. Blood from Kanna's cheek was spilled onto the elven man's fist.


 * Elf - You-- You're all with the E-Empire, aren't ya? You're all 'ere to... t-to shut this p-place down! Bastards! Go fearmonger s-somewhere else, nobody wants y-your kind here!
 * Sea Witch - The hell is going on?!
 * Javina - ...Look who's talking...

Bastion stepped up, placing a hand on the elf's shoulder and invoking a calming aura.


 * Bastion - We're here to enjoy the company just like you. Go back to your drink, find a nice girl to spend the night with. He's not worth the trouble.
 * Elf - How 'bout you fuck off back to your mud hut in the Empire, mate!?

The elf swung his head forward and collided with Bastion in a sudden movement, moving swiftly and spryly even if he did appear drunk. Grasping a glass bottle from a nearby patron's hand, he slammed it against his knee, shattering its base and leaving him with a sharp object for him to swing at the group, with another two elves emerging behind him to back him up, tattoos covering their pecs and muscles as they growled towards the group.


 * Alfgund - Oh, how typical. How utterly typical. I blame Javina.
 * Bastion - There's no point in all this. Just go back to your table.
 * Sea Witch - As soon as I get my eyes back I'm gonna kick your asses!
 * Javina - ...Go away. Go away or else...
 * Elf - We aren't leaving here, we're going to make you sure I-Imperial types don't start burning this place down! You and the sand ape! Y-You can... You can go back to the Empire!
 * Javina - ...Be quiet, aliquam. Do you understand who are you talking to?

With a tired sigh, Bastion grabbed the hand holding the broken bottle, stepping forward and twisting the wrist to bring it behind the elf's back, then pulling up sharply to stress the shoulder joint. Then, almost nonchalantly, he pushed his foot into the back of the elf's knee, forcing him down. The Sea Witch smacked her own face once again, creating magical light on her palms until her eyes reappeared once again.


 * Bastion - I am a paladin. That makes me the nice guy. She is an Inquisitor. That makes her not so nice. Considering that I am currently in a position to wrench your arm off, who would you rather deal with right now?

As Bastion restrained the elven assailant, one of the elves behind him clenched a fist and swung the entire length of their arm to sock Bastion in the back of the skull, while Alfgund grasped ahold of the stool he had been sitting on a moment prior and swung it with ease, smashing it into the face and torso of the otherwise restrained elf in Bastion's grasp. Kanna stood and wiped the blood from his cheek, checking his jaw for broken teeth.


 * Kanna - Son of a bitch.
 * Bastion - Do you mind? I'm in the middle of a negotiation here.
 * Sea Witch - No one calls me an Imperial and gets away with it!

Bastion simply sighed and let go, instead deciding to make his way towards the nearest girl not currently doing anything of importance and stopping only to grab a mug of burning wine. Once Bastion had let go, Alfgund took the opportunity to grasp ahold of the injured elf and lifted him over his head before turning around and launching the figure across the counter and into the many glasses of ales behind the Oevrumine, who ducked out of the way accordingly. Before the conflict could go further, Alfgund was soon dropped to a single knee, his own arm held behind his back in a rather discomforting manner, and what appeared to be a heel digging into the back of his leg; a woman, with fiery red hair and decorated in an oriental dress, held Alfgund at her mercy.


 * Woman - I von't tolerate fighting on my premises, do you understand? If you vant to fight, you can fight outside in zhe snow, but do not try and damage zhis place zhat I have spent many years building.
 * Bastion - You know what? I think I have been here. That voice is familia-oh shit, wait, that’s good, but still shit.
 * Sea Witch - Who asked your opinion?... Wait. You that Red Countess gal?
 * Woman - It depends vho is asking and vhat business zhey have here at La Pezite Mort. If you come here to fight, I am afraid I must ask all of you to leave at once.
 * Sea Witch - I'll take that as a yes. Alhazred, wake up!
 * Alhazred - I am paying attention, Alvinian. I am always paying attention.

Javina closed her mouth, her gaze fixed on the woman. The Inquisitor's breath hastened.


 * Javina - ...That is... getting problematic...
 * Bastion - Bastion of the Choir. Currently seeking information on how to access a certain castle, and very glad to not be bound by a vow of chastity right now.

All of a sudden, the woman pranced back, allowing Alfgund to stand and adjust himself accordingly, wiping his clothes and laxing his shoulders as he turned to face her. Her eyes had widened considerably and she bore her teeth, hissing at the Sea Witch's words in a rather hostile and considerably uneasy manner. Her fingers twitched and fidgeted.


 * Woman - ...A-Al... A-Alha... E-Excuse me. V-Vhat is your business here... e-exactly? V-Vhy did you vish to... t-to see me?
 * Sea Witch - You talk to her, book. You wanted to see her.
 * Alhazred - Red Countess, we have matters related to the Nightshade Clan to discuss. Now, if we could talk in private, that would be good.
 * Javina - ...Private. Yes...
 * Red Countess - ... Nightshade Clan. Zhe Nightshade Clan. ... So it appears zhat I veally cannot escape zhem, it appears. Come, zhen. Let us talk in my office, vhere it is quiet and vizhout extra ears.
 * Alhazred - Lead the way.

The Red Countess shivered and gracefully walked through the crowd towards a passageway at the far side, guarded by a pair of tall, rather tall and heavily-armoured women of an unknown species, as their faces and heads were hidden beneath intimidating helmets. Alfgund cracked his neck as he followed her, beginning to regret more than before having to leave his morningstar at the door, while Hachi looked over the wound on Kanna's cheek as they both followed suit. The Oevrumine continued his service, kicking the drunken elf away from his stall in a rather casual manner. As he followed the Countess, Bastion pressed his hand to Kanna's cheek to heal it with a small burst of celestial energy. He then followed the alluring woman, keeping his gaze just below the waistline. The Sea Witch kept close to them as she followed, con fused by what was goping on. As the team walked, Alhazred whispered at Kanna's ears.


 * Alhazred - Keep alert. This woman is our ticket to the elven capital, but I believe she may be a vampire.
 * Javina - Vampire, demon, undead, I don't care. All I care about now is leaving this ungodly place. - Javina walked behind, staring at the woman's back, followed by the confused Feli - ...Damnation...
 * Bastion - What a shame, you were enjoying the sights not too long ago.
 * Javina - ...I have no idea what you are talking about...

It would not take long before the group had managed to reach the proclaimed "office" of the Red Countess, which in turn required traversal upon a rather innovative piece of machinery that appeared reminescent to a primitive elevator. Her office matched the gothic aesthetic of the rest of the brothel-chateau - dark and gloomy, with a single window at the opposite end of the room that had been tinted black, and various cages that both rested upon the floor and dangled from chains from the ceiling, and numerous doors that probably led to other sections of her quarters. In the center of the room, a large, impressively-crafted desk of darkest mahogany, adorned with a variety of macabre features. The Red Countess sat upon a throne-like seat behind her desk and placed her elbows upon it, glaring towards the team as once they had all entered, the door behind them shut seemingly without intervention. Worryingly, it had locked itself without physical intervention as well.

Tapping the forehead of an elven skull upon her desk, the Red Countess wore an agitated expression. Javina watched the countess with an unnerved expression on her face, confused and breathing heavily. Almost by instinct, she tried to search for weaponry in her coat, becoming even more distressed as she realised that she was now effectively defenseless - almost defenseless.


 * Red Countess - So... Vhat exactly did you come here for?
 * Alhazred - I will be blunt for the sake of not wasting either your or our time. We are in a mission to go to Castle Nightshade to save a dear friend, and hopefully put an end on the vampire attacks happening across the world. I don't know who you are, but my pages claim you are linked to the Clan somehow.
 * Red Countess - And how exactly can I trust you? You come here, bring vith you Imperials and a paladin, cause trouble vizhin my home... Even if I vere to believe you, it vould be too dangerous for me to go zhere. I am a mere simple voman, after all.
 * Alhazred - The Imperials and the paladin are under my care. I am one of Zran Kar's great eldritch tomes, and I do not lie. I do not ask you to take us to Castle Nightshade, instead I want you to take us to Purity's Apogee, capital of the Dryadali Sovereign.
 * Red Countess - Y-You are VHAT?!
 * Alhazred - I am Alhazred, eldritch tome of Zran Kar. Your reaction to me quite clearly proves how you know about the Clan.
 * Bastion - I'm obliged by vow to believe everything at first mention, but even I didn't believe it at first.
 * Red Countess - A-Al... A-Alhaz... A-Alhazred... Z-Zran Kar... F-Fine. I know of zhe Clan. A lot of zhe Clan, aczually. ... Vhy do you vish to go to Purity's Apogee? I have not left my chateau in many ages, I have found no need to do so.
 * Alhazred - We will go to Castle Nightshade from there, for I'm sure that the capital of elves is the best way of getting information about vampires. Vampires love elf blood, after all.
 * Javina - Stop hiding. Stop concealing your form behind that dress. Reveal yourself! Show us who you truly are!
 * Alhazred - Settle down, human. I am negotiating.
 * Red Countess - No, no. It is... It is fine. I suppose zhere is no use hiding now zhat you have all probably managed to figure out my conneczion by yourselves.

Within instants, the red-headed human that had been sitting before them vanished. The magic surrounding her form dissipated before the team's eyes and her true, rather astounding and succulent form had been exposed; a Succubus that towered over them, with crimson red hair and equally red eyes and lips, with rather skimpy clothing adorning her hourglass figure, a particularly tight corset perking her breasts. She glanced towards the team coldly as dark magic evaporated around her, and Kanna and Alfgund's eyes widened in surprise while Hachi looked away.


 * Red Countess - Now zhat is more comforzable... Hmm. I cannot risk leaving my home, zhere are many who vish me dead and many of zhem happen to reside vizhin Purity's Apogee and beyond. I am afraid zhat I cannot help you and I cannot take you zhere.
 * Alhazred - ...I was correct.
 * Sea Witch - Shit shit shit shit Succubus!
 * Bastion - I wouldn't mind staying for a while longer.
 * Javina - I will impale you up-

Javina covered her mouth suddenly, chastising herself silently for letting her emotions take over. At this moment, another figure appeared behind the team, seemingly coming out of the shadows. The robed giant, still using his sword as a walking cane. His raspy voice was heard, one which both the Sea Witch and Hachi could recognize.


 * ??? - Vhat do you seek at Castle Nightshade? Is it her? Zat little pest who took ze throne?
 * Sea Witch - ...Wait a moment. That voice...
 * Hachi - ... You! You! You, you, you! YOU!

Kanna almost stumbled as Hachi pushed him away, almost throwing him to the floor before rushing at the obscured titan's direction, his wooden fist clenched tight as he made an attempt to leap the desk that the Red Countess sat behind... to be followed shortly by the aforementioned Succubus clinging onto the Lagosi's organic arm and launching him across the room, away from the ragged giant. Javina simply turned to the strange creature and fixed her eyes upon him, a fire once again igniting in her gaze.


 * Red Countess - You vill NOT fight upon my premises!
 * Bastion - Am I missing something?
 * Sea Witch - I know your voice... Varelos von Dalverat!!
 * Alhazred - Settle down!
 * Sea Witch - Kill him! Now!

The Sea Witch's arm was engulfed in magical water which was launched at the robed figure, cutting through his robes and revealing part of his body. It was the greatly weakened and partially blinded ex-Count of the Nightshade Clan,, who stumbled back as he was attacked by the Witch. Bastion grabbed the Sea Witch around the waist and wrestled her back. His eyes glowed brightly as a faint halo formed around his head, though after a moment his expression softened.


 * Bastion - That's enough, all of you.
 * Sea Witch - Get your hands off me, human! Varelos! Where did your demon god take my student?!
 * Varelos - Agh! Urgh...
 * Alhazred - I said, settle down! There is something wrong here!
 * Sea Witch - The fact you're not all killing this bastard, that's what!
 * Bastion - By the Choir, shut your mouth! You seem to forget I can literally SEE THE EVIL IN PEOPLE'S SOULS! Vampire or not, there's not a shred of it in him. Well, not more than usual anyway.
 * Sea Witch - Like I give a damn for your Choir!
 * Javina - ...Much as I loathe to admit it, the paladin... has a point. This creature might prove useful...
 * Alfgund - ... Sorry, what were you all saying?

Alfgund turned to the group as he managed to draw his eyes away from the enticing cleavage that the Red Countess had been gifted with and observed the situation, seeing Hachi collapsed at the far side of the room and the Sea Witch restrained by Bastion, along with the towering Varelos. He thought for a few moments.


 * Alfgund - ... Could somebody care to explain what's happening?
 * Red Countess - I zhink it does not need saying zhat I definizely refuse to help you now. You come here, vizh your Imperials and your paladin, damage my properzy and zhen dare to attack my fazher! You should all be ashamed.
 * Bastion - I'm the guy trying to STOP people from damaging your property and attacking your father, remember?
 * Sea Witch - Your father is attacking the world and you're just another one of his lackeys! Give me my student back!
 * Varelos - Urgh... Sea Vhich, I am not your enemy. It is not me who is leading zhese attacks.
 * Javina - ...What?

Hachi stepped to his feet and clenched his fists once again, budging past Alfgund and Bastion as he stood in front of Varelos and glared upwards, snarling angrily, although Varelos could quite clearly see the stream of tears that slithered down his cheek. Hachi shuddered as he approached the gigantic vampire, shivering as he got closer.


 * Hachi - If it isn't you, then who is it? Who was it that took... t-that took her away? You had that thing do it, you had Zran Kar take her away for yourself! S-Say it!
 * Varelos - She is. I am not Count anymore, boy. I was thrown aside, and replaced by zat girl. Ze half-elf witch.
 * Bastion - WHAT THE HIGH AND HOLY FUCK?
 * Sea Witch - ...I ain't buying that shit.
 * Bastion - Well it's my job to buy shit the first time it's shoved in my face, so keep talking vampire.
 * Javina - ...Yes. - Javina stared at Varelos in disbelief, trying to read the bat creature's emotions and feelings - ...Continue.
 * Kanna - Hachi... Hachi get away from hi--
 * Hachi - Lies! That's lies! Lies and you know it! Y-You... Y-You're lying! You're a liar, a... a-a l-liar! P-Please... t-tell us the truth... I n-need to know w-what you've d-done to her!
 * Bastion - Hachi, he's not lying. It hurts me too, but he's not lying.

Bastion let the Sea Witch go and walked over to Hachi, placing his hands on the Lagosi's shoulders.


 * Javina - Yes. Look at his face. He speaks truth.
 * Varelos - Boy... Hachi vas your name, right? I am not lying. Look at my state. Do I look like I am in ze position of leading anyzhing? I lost my power, I was discarded by ze god I followed all my life, and all of my vampire family is under mind control. Zat girl is Countess now, and she is leading zese attacks.
 * Alhazred - I knew there was something wrong the moment I noticed your appearance.
 * Javina - How did the Simulacrum claim the girl? For all her... qualities... she is no demon. No monster. Merely an aliquam.
 * Varelos - I know not ze reason behind it. It happened all so sudden. One moment, Zran Kar appeared and presented her to me. Zhen, he had her pummel me into ze ground and throw me off my castle.

Hachi groaned, biting his lower lip as he struggled to hold back an onslaught of salty tears to the point that he had bitten into it and caused a line of blood to drip down his chin, before dropping to both his hands and his knees in front of Varelos in a sobbing, crying heap of blue fur, attempting and failing to speak through his condition. Bastion kneeled down and wrapped an arm around Hachi, trying to comfort him.


 * Hachi - ... I-It's not true... I-It c-can't be... W-Why... By the g-gods, why... w-why can't she be l-left alone...
 * Sea Witch - Damn everything... I'm gonna rip Zran Kar's head off next time we see him!
 * Bastion - Hachi, listen to me. This world is a bitch, it torments us at every turn. But when we finish this, when we rescue her, all that pain will turn to joy. All that hatred burning you up will turn into love.
 * Varelos - I vish to make him pay as much as you do. He has enslaved my family and separated me from zhem. If you are going to Castle Nightshade, zhen allow me to go with you.
 * Javina - Can you fight?
 * Varelos - I may be veakened, but I am not defenseless.
 * Javina - Very well. - the Inquisitor nodded, then turned to her comrade in arms - Keep an eye on him.
 * Alfgund - You watch him! Unless you really can't bring yourself to take your eyes away from the woundrous bosom of the Countess, princess.

The Red Countess arose and approached Varelos, eyeing him with a look of disbelief on her face before she reached out and grasped his hand, raising it to her face and nuzzling it. She inhaled deeply and looked up towards her father, exhaling after a few moments.


 * Red Countess - Fazher... You are still veak. And zhere are zhose zhat vish to have you dead, fazher, and zhey reside upon zhe path to zhe castle. I urge you, fazher, vait and zhen ve vill strike, in our own time.
 * Varelos - ... I cannot vait any longer. My children... your brozhers and sisters... zey are being slaughzered by Zran Kar's orders. I must put an end to zis even if it kills me.
 * Javina - Such selflessness, from a vampire?
 * Bastion - Not the strangest thing I've seen, to be perfectly honest.
 * Varelos - Your stereotypes are not true, human. Is it really evil for me to vish for the safety of my family? For zheir survival? Are you really zis selfish?
 * Javina - ...I suppose not.
 * Dragostea - ... If you vish to fight, fazher, zhen I have no choice but to lend myself to you, and to zhem. I promised zhat ve vould take back zhe castle, zhat ve vould return home... Fazher, I have not been home for millennia.
 * Bastion - I have one question for you, vampire: recent events prove the Nightshade Clan has been capable of launching this kind of attack for a long time. Why haven't you? What kept you in your castle?
 * Varelos - For vhat purpose would I attack ze world?
 * Bastion - Probably the same purpose they are now.
 * Varelos - Ugh. You humans are all blind fools. I have no desire for conquest, or destruction. I merely vish to have my children survive. You all deem me evil, demonic, and ozher slurs because of vhat my body is made of. But ze fact dark magic flows through my veins does not mean I am as bad as ze Adversary.
 * Sea Witch - We'll get Clotho back... and we'll make Zran Kar regret being born... Welcome to the team, Varelos. I guess.

Javina looked at the vampire, watching his emanciated, warped frame. She smirked half-heartedly and offered the count one of her gloved hands.


 * Javina - The Inqusition honours its allies, Count, their... nature notwithstanding. From this moment on, whither you - we - go, I will go too.

Varelos looked at Javina for a few moments before approaching one of his nearly-skeletal hands and shaking hers. Once he did so, he turned his view back to Dragostea.


 * Varelos - My dear, are you sure you vant to be part of zis? You have no obligation to.
 * Dragostea - Fazher... I have not been home for many zhousands of years. I vant to return you to your zhrone because not only vill it protect zhis place... but because you are my fazher. And, as you know... I have a score to settle.
 * Varelos - I understand completely.
 * Alhazred - Varelos, do you or your daughter have the power of sending us to Purity's Apogee?
 * Varelos - Dragostea should have enough power to create a portal. Vhat do you zhink, dear?
 * Dragostea - Of course I do, you really do not have to ask. But, I believe zhat it is a good idea for us - all of us - to rest for zhe night first, to gazher our strength and prepare ourselves. Ve vill set off tomorrow.
 * Varelos - Indeed. None of us are in a good physical or mental state right now.
 * Javina - Staying in this disgusting place for a night? ...Damnation- hic! Pheonas-cursed araq... ugh... - Javina looked at Dragostea, her body shaking from the alcohol - I need more drinks...

A Visitor at Midnight
Within the dark and gothic yet wide and spacious confines of the luxury bedroom that he had been granted to sleep in as a gift from Dragostea, Hachi slept upon a bed fitted for a king, allowing him to attain a great deal of comfort physically, although inside his chest he felt his feelings swirl and spin uncontrollably, even in his sleep. He breathed quietly, muttering to himself as he stirred in his unconscious state, utterances regarding his one true love and the land where he once found home.

It was quiet and he was alone, as everyone else had been granted separate bedrooms. Hachi, while he always valued and greatly appreciated the company of others, had thought prior to sleeping that he would prefer to be alone from this point. None of the others would be able to fill the gaping hole in his heart. The silence ceased, though, when a tapping noise could be heard at the room's window. Something was hitting it from the outside, seemingly wishing to get inside. Hachi's eyes slowly - reluctantly - opened and he turned, rolling across the sheets to view the darkened window of his room. He exhaled, agitated, and turned to try returning to his sleep. It had been a better time for him when he was not awake. But as he closed his eyes, he could hear a voice calling for him. A voice which was very familiar, and wanted.


 * Clothovera - Hachi...
 * Hachi - Clotho... I'm glad that at least, when I'm asleep, I can still have you... Sometimes, I forget you're even gone...
 * Clothovera - Hachi, open the window! I don't have much time!
 * Hachi - Open it yourself! ... CLOTHO?!

With that, the sheets were ruined as Hachi bounced from the bed's mattress and threw himself towards the other side of the room, towards the window. Urgency ringing in his head, he lifted the window as swiftly as he could, sweating while having forgotten to put at least some clothes on to cover himself. As the window was opened, a cold breeze hit Hachi's exposed body, and a dark fog entered the room. This fog began taking shape in the center of the room, until Hachi could identify what it was supposed to be: it looked like a ghostly version of Clothovera, her face locked in a desperate expression. Hachi could clearly see her vampiric fangs, pitch-purple and royal outfit, proving that she had, in fact, become a vampire. As she manifested on the room, she immediately began tearing up.


 * Clothovera - H-Hachi... I've f-finally found you!
 * Hachi - C-Clothovera...! Oh... I see w-what this is. It's a dream, isn't it? Yeah, I'm just dreaming of you again...
 * Clothovera - No! I'm using what power I can to talk to you from Castle Nightshade. I wanted to see you...

The phantom approached Hachi and placed one of her hands on his cheek. Despite not being entirely solid, Hachi could still feel Clothovera's palm and fingers stroking his fur. Hachi raised his head to look into her eyes, his own glimmering as he felt her touch upon his flesh and how, after so long, he could feel her skin on his once more. A tear or two streamed down his cheek as he leaned forward and made an attempt to kiss Clothovera, wrapping his arms around her tightly to draw her in close. Clothovera's own eyes closed as she was taken by Hachi, but before their lips could touch, her head phased through the Lagosi's body. After all, this phantom was not fully physical. A disappointed look on her face, Clothovera leaned her head back and looked at Hachi in his eyes.


 * Clothovera - Hachi... I'm trying my best... but Zran Kar's power is too much for me to handle... I'm already struggling to send this ghost to talk to you... I can feel the Countess slowly taking over again already.
 * Hachi - The Countess... So, it's not you whose controlling all of these vampires... Zran Kar is using you to do it for him. That bastard! ... Clothovera, I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you better, back there I mean... Back at home, at the cave...
 * Clothovera - Ssh. Don't worry about it... I took Nyakik away from you because the Countess was watching you through her... and she told me you've become saddened... depressed...
 * Hachi - Nyakik isn't wrong, I miss you Clotho... I miss you to the point that it hurts... It hurts, Clotho, it hurts all over. Every moment of every day, I can feel it. It's the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life, Clotho, nothing up til now has ever felt this bad... this wrong.
 * Clothovera - I miss you too, every moment I manage to think by myself... but please, don't be depressed... don't feel so down... If you give up, then what hope do I have?

Hachi looked away for a moment, passed Clothovera and towards the wall at the far side of the room. Thoughts rushed through his head, her words having struck him and rendered him silent for the moment, and he remained static with his arms wrapped around her. When it felt like his grip had loosened, Clothovera suddenly felt herself closer to Hachi than she had been previously as he raised his head and looked towards her again. He wiped away the tears he had been crying.


 * Hachi - You know what, Clotho... You're right. I've been an idiot to have given up hope this quickly, to think that I would never see you again or rescue you from Zran Kar, from the vampires...

Hachi raised his fist and clenched it tightly, shaking as he felt the pain that had been causing him his catastrophic heartache begin to vanish, dissipating into nothing as he felt it becoming replaced with something else. Something that burned, but did not harm, and he began to crack a smile - a smile that Clothovera recognized, one that would always warm her heart no matter what.


 * Hachi - So... that's exactly what I'm gonna do! I'll travel across the continent just so I can see you, hell I'd cross the entire world if I had to! And nothing - vampires, gargoyles, even gods - are going to get in my way and stop me! I'll keep looking up and think of you, Clotho, because you're not really gone! You're always with me! In here!

Hachi looked to Clothovera and grasped what he could of her hand, placing it up his furry, fluffy chest, directly over where his heart resided. It began to pump faster as he looked to her once again, grinning with nothing but confidence, his sadness having been washed away. Tears could be seen coming out of the phantom's eyes as Clothovera smiled happily, watching Hachi's speech. Her cheeks became rosy once more as she slowly approached him, attempting to give him another kiss. However, before she could get up to him, she stopped on her tracks and looked downwards.


 * Clothovera - ...Wait. Why are you naked?... Who is this "Dragostea" woman on your mind?... Is this a brothel?! Are you in a brothel with a Succubus?!
 * Hachi - ... Y-You're in skimpy clothing with lots of Succubuses! ... Succubi? Yeah, Succubi. A-And it's not what it looks like, Alhazred led us here!

Before Clothovera could say anything else, she suddenly put her hands on her head and began screaming, stepping out of Hachi's grasp as she began growing and screeching.


 * Clothovera - Aaaah! Nnngh!... Your world will bleed! You will never defeat my master! You will never defeat me!
 * Hachi - Clotho? ... No, that's not Clotho anymore. Heh, well, since you're here, I think this is the best time to tell you that I'm coming for my woman, Countess... And I'm coming for Zran Kar!

Clothovera's mouth stretched open, with her letting out a roar as her fangs became visible. After a few moments, the phantom dissipated, turning back into the same fog it was before until it disappeared completely. Hachi looked towards the window after watching the visage of Clothovera dissipate before his eye, although he did not find himself discouraged or saddened. Instead, as he looked towards the full moon, he found himself encouraged, empowered by a sense of renewed purpose as he stood there naked, his lower features left to dangle in the cold breeze.

He wore a smile on his face, wide and proud, as he folded his arms and watched the night sky. He raised a fist and clenched it tightly, his hair and fur blowing in the breeze, before he closed his eyes and fell back to the bed he had been sleeping upon prior to the visit, prior to this bizarre and surreal experience. He fell asleep within moments, and could only dream of her.

The Vampire Killer
The following day, it was finally time for the team to move on. Varelos and Dragostea awaited the team outside of the brothel, and the Sea Witch let out a yawn as she made her way to it. Dragostea adorned herself with red and black clothing, including a veiled hat to hide her devious eyes and a thick, heavy coat decorated with manticore fur - her clothing was both exquisite and expensive. Kanna lazily leaned against one of the exterior walls of the brothel, his eyes half-open beneath his mask, while Alfgund had an eager sprint in his step, smiling widely as he made his way outside to feel the cold air brush against his skin. Hachi, however, was nowhere to be seen. Javina slowly stepped through the brothel's gates, barely managing to keep herself together; she was obviously weary and suffering from a hangover. Feli and Arya followed her closely, looking at their mistress warily.


 * Javina - Uh... what happened... last night... where... is my... money... ugh... can't... remember...
 * Feli - Mistress? What is wrong with you?
 * Javina - ...I don't know...
 * Feli - Erm... I heard one of the women say something along the lines of "the female Inquisitor tasting good"... what does that mean exactly? Is that-
 * Javina - WHAT?! - Javina suddenly regained her lucidity and stared at Feli with the gaze that was both pained and full of anger - Repeat that- or... no. Don't...

Javina breathed heavily and began muttering - praying quietly to Pheonas as if to ask for forgiveness. Alhazred rested on Kanna's belt, appearing still asleep when the Sea Witch arrived to their location, looking around with a raised eyebrow.


 * Feli - She also said that "the Inquisitor lass moaned lik-"
 * Javina - BE QUIET, FELI!
 * Sea Witch - Where's Hachi at?
 * Kanna - I don't know, I wasn't sleeping with him last night. Perhaps he's overslept, or... maybe he's not in a good state. I don't know. The kid's going through a hard time.
 * Alfgund - Ah, the wondrous breeze of the mountains should cure any ill feeling, whether it be that of torn heart or head! But, I say we grant him an extra few minutes to his privacy. From what I understand, he has not been faring all too well as we have.

Varelos approached the team wearing the same tattered robes as before, but with some extra clothing added to it due to the Sea Witch having damaged his robes the night prior. His face was blocked by a hood, though he still showed discomfort on his face.


 * Varelos - Vhen ve get to ze capital, perhaps ve should buy us a... parasol.
 * Dragostea - It is good to see zhat you have all enjoyed the services zhat my home and office provides, some more zhan ozhers it appears. Once ve are all here, I vill conjure the teleportazion spell and ve vill arrive at zhe elven city as you desired. I vill varn you, however... keep to yourselves and try not to attract attention.
 * Sea Witch - Better wait to say that once Hachi's here.
 * Varelos - Make sure to teleport us to outside ze city, dear. Ve don't vant to scare ze population by appearing out of thin air.
 * Alhazred - Hmhmm... Hm? Are we ready to go? Where is Hachi?
 * ??? - Sorry to keep everyone waiting, I had to get ready!

From behind the group, a familiar voice rang from an even more familiar figure; Hachi stood upright and tall, his short blue fur and his long strands of blonde hair flowing with the arctic breeze as he stepped into the outside. He had his arms folded and across his lips was what appeared to be a smile, wide and proud, while he walked with joyous steps - a contrast to the days prior, where he had spent his journey quiet and sulking. As he stepped outside, his eye immediately drew themselves towards Dragostea's visage, although he said nothing while his smile grew a little wider.


 * Sea Witch - Hey there, what happened? You're all cheerful all the sudden.
 * Hachi - Hm? Oh, err, I had a comfy bed and slept well! Yeah, that was it. Heh, you look surprised to see me happy.
 * Sea Witch - Well yeah, you've been gloomy for a month now.
 * Hachi - Ah, but that's the past so it doesn't matter now, does it?
 * Kanna - I don't like this. Who are you and what have you done with the little tyke?
 * Varelos - ...Are you ready to go or not?
 * Alhazred - Yes. Do not waste time with such things.
 * Dragostea - Ah, ve are all here at last. Allow me a moment so zhat I may concentrate and grant us passage to zhe city's exterior. It is not easy transporting people from one part of zhe vorld to anozher.
 * Varelos - Take your time, my dear.
 * Alhazred - Hm. I may require more blood soon. Make an effort to get me so... or perhaps, the Red Countess would like to lend me some of her own.

Alhazred turned his eyes to Dragostea as a smirk grew on his face, with the Sea Witch looking at him in confusion and disgust. Dragostea paused for a moment as Alhazred's remark struck her ears, a faint gasp being heard from beneath her veil, before she brought herself to raise her arms and place the tips of the fingers of both of her hands together, as if she was praying. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, uttering various words in the Old Tongue while the others watched or heard. Alfgund tapped his foot in the snow while Kanna looked up towards the sky, with Hachi's eyes firmly fixed upon Dragostea - or rather, her chest. Javina watched the ritual closely, her eyes fixed on the same place as Hachi's were. Varelos crossed his arms and looked down, while the Sea Witch leaned on a wall to wait for the Succubus to be done.

Soon, the feeling of snowfall and icy air vanished within an instant, the dark, clouded skies of the mountain replaced with a clear blue; Dragostea almost stumbled from her balance as her feet touched the earth, and Alfgund had fallen upon his back, Kanna atop of him while Hachi fell on his head. They had arrived, with the group having materialized outside of the walls of the grand, regal state known as Purity's Apogee. Colossal walls sealed the city from the outside, with only equally large gates allowing from entry, and elven warriors perched themselves atop of the walls in the roll of sentries; wyvens, ridden by warriors, could be seen streaming across the sky in wondrous displays while the elven sentinels wielded a combination of longbows, shortbows and pikes. As Dragostea had managed to bring them to one of the many overgrowing forests that resided outside of the walls, they had managed to avoid detection. For now. Javina shivered, instinctively swallowing her saliva. The Sea Witch's eyes widened as she found herself on top of Hachi, looking at the city's walls and the wyverns in the sky. She had never ventured into the west, and as such, this sight was new to her.


 * Javina - So... we are here now, Alfgund. In the heartlands of our greatest foe.
 * Alfgund - Is that fear I hear you proclaim, princess? Does the elven vermin cause your heart to faulter, your bravery to wither? How childlike.
 * Javina - On the contrary. It makes me angrier.
 * Varelos - ''Zis is not ze time for racism, humans. Ve are going inside now... Hm. Vhy are ve going inside again?
 * Sea Witch - Good question... Alhazred?
 * Alhazred - Varelos, Clothovera is as powerful as you now. This means we need a weapon capable of fighting you if we want to restore her back to normal.
 * Varelos - ...You mean... agh.

Dragostea grumbled to herself as she moved, gesturing for the team to follow while she picked up her coat and dress to avoid it becoming muddied and dirty. She led them to beyond the trees of the woods and beyond the sight of the small regiment of elven warriors that maintained the security of the gate that would allow them entry, and she turned to the group, eyeing the Inquisitors primarily.


 * Dragostea - Remove your clozhing. Zhey vould recognize the gowns of the Inquisizion should zhey see zhem. But do not allow yourself to be disarmed.
 * Alfgund - Urgh, how pitiful.
 * Javina - ...In a second.
 * Sea Witch - Heh. I'm all good. My clothing serves for everything.

Javina slipped from sight and vanished in a puff of smoke. Alfgund groaned and removed various straps and belts that had been adorning his armoured trenchcoat before placing them across his waist and legs, his possessions stored within size-appropriate pouches and pockets, and slinging the coat from his shoulders, letting it drop to the ground. Beneath his coat, he wore a tight-fitting, padded black vest with more straps adorning his torso and arms, and he picked up his coat and folded it neatly - he had a rather athletic, masculine form typical of Mannazian warriors, although his skin was particularly dry and stonelike in certain places across his arms and chest. He slung his folded trenchcoat beneath his arm and sighed, unamused and dissatisfied with having to alter his appearance so as to avoid compromising their mission.


 * Alhazred - Once we are inside, look for information on vampire attacks. A shop or tavern, maybe.
 * Alfgund - A tavern. I'll be needing one, I don't think I could go without a drink.
 * Sea Witch - And so we come to the capital of the greatest elf nation in the world, so we can get drunk again. This trip sometimes.

As Alfgund was getting redressed, a puff of smoke appeared once again, revealing a cloaked, androgynous-looking figure clad in laminated, vaguely elven armour - her (or his) face concealed by a white cowl.


 * Javina - The locals know me. I'd rather opt for a full disguise.
 * Alfgund - I would rather opt for killing as many as I can, but that is why I am not given the capacity for stealth. Urgh, come on, let us get this over with. Hopefully, if we are fortunate, this should not take as long as I believe it will.
 * Alhazred - Move on then.

Dragostea led them upon a road of bricks, each decorated with elven inscriptions and art, as they approached the guarded gates of Purity's Apogee, its gargantuan walls towering over them like giants and hiding the contents of the innards of the city from the eyes that were outside. After several minutes of walking, they were met by the guards, consisting of various elf races, who eyed Alfgund with suspicion yet refused to act upon it, keeping to themselves. An Aithrena elf adorned in golden, light armour, accompanied by two soldiers strapped in silver, stood between them and the entrance to the city.


 * Head Guard - Hold!
 * Sea Witch - Hey. Let us pass, pal. Don't be rude to tourists.
 * Head Guard - My apologies, but a procedure we must undertake. We cannot allow terrorists beyond our walls, thus we must be sure to establish trust. There are many who claim to be tourists and yet are often not.
 * Sea Witch - ...Wow. And I thought this place was supposed to be peaceful.
 * Alhazred - Do as he says, Alvinian.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah yeah, I get it.

The Aithrena approached the Sea Witch and brought a dagger, its blade glimmering, from his belt; before she could react the guard grabbed ahold of her wrist and dealt a vertical cut across her palm, the wound glowing golden while blood dripped from it. The Aithrena then stepped back and looked to the rest of the party.


 * Head Guard - All tourists are required to wear a golden mark upon their body as a sign of recognition. Those foreigners without the mark are disallowed from our ancient walls. Should you wish to leave, the mark will fade by itself once you have travelled too far beyond our home.
 * Sea Witch - Ow. Rude.
 * Javina - Very well.

For the following minutes, the team were dealt golden scars across their palms, much to Alfgund and Kanna's dismay although Hachi appeared largely unfazed, almost ignorant of the stinging pain of the cut. Dragostea also found herself unaffected by the pain, if a little irritated, although she would go on to lead the team beyond the guards once they had all been marked and into the proud, archaic elven hub of the Sovereign.

There were many buildings and roads across the stretch of the city, its size much larger from within than it had appeared from outside, perhaps due to the perception of the walls or some arcane magical effect. They were greeted with the sight of towering, sky-rending monuments and palaces in the distance all around, with a complex series of roads and streets allowing them to navigate and travel through the hub, much more complex than that of most Imperial and Lagosi cities. It was almost as if the city had been designed to be a masterful work of ornate, elven art, and it would be easy for a tourist to become lost. Varelos admired the city as he looked around, being interested in architecture for a long time while the Sea Witch eyed the city, losing some grasp of her directions due to its size.


 * Varelos - A beautiful city, zis is. Nozhing unexpected considering its creators.
 * Sea Witch - Hell, where do we even begin here?
 * Alfgund - Ugh, the damned elves must always abandon the matter of efficiency for the preference of art, no matter what it is they find themselves building or doing. It is difficult to believe that such egotistic creatures even function as an advanced society due to the amount of evident flaws in their ego.
 * Sea Witch - Quit your egotistic talk, human.
 * Dragostea - Come. I know vhere ve vill find talk of the Countess' assaults should she have attacked zhe Sovereign. Vhile I may not visit often, I know my vay around.

Through the winding streets and roads of the artistically-crafted, decorative city Dragostea led the group, trekking past countless elves and other tourists that flooded the city, witnessing the occasional group of soldiers that perched themselves around the ancient monuments of the elves, with a particularly colossal structure - seemingly shaped of marbel and other royal materials - extending beyond the clouds, giving the city the impression of a finely painted sun dial when observed from above. Soon, the group came to a stop after what seemed much like an hour of walking, and chanced upon a large, spacious tavern that as well-adorned as everything else regarding the city. The Sea Witch panted as she noticed the tavern and quickly made her way inside, followed by Varelos who kept his face cloaked at all times to not attract the attention of the elves.

Dragostea looked uneasily towards the humans of the group before entering behind the Sea Witch and Varelos, with Hachi and Kanna walking together as they entered. Alfgund spent a moment to shudder and plan ahead should anything go wrong before joining them. Inside, the patrons of the bar stood rather than sat, with tables lacking seats dedicated to holding drinks and other possessions, and the surroundings looked almost as expensive of those of Dragostea's own establishment, with tiled floors and walls, pillars to hold the ceiling and upper floors, paintings upon the walls and statues planted across the rooms for visitors to admire. The Sea Witch walked over to the barkeep of the tavern, an Erylia Elf who carefully cleaned several cups, followed by Varelos who took a seat next to the Witch.


 * Erylia - How can I help you?
 * Sea Witch - You can serve us and my buddies over here. Gimme some water, will you?

Alfgund approached the barkeep and glanced towards them, visibly agitated, his paranoia of elfkind causing him to sweat and breath heavily. He refused to look the barkeep in the eyes as he made his order, with Hachi and Kanna beside him while Dragostea stayed at Varelos' side.


 * Alfgund - I'll have... what she's having. Water.
 * Kanna - I'll have the heaviest thing you have that won't end up killing me.
 * Hachi - Milk!
 * Javina - Merovar Ara- - Javina suddenly closed her mouth shut, the painful (and/or pleasant) memories of the last day flashing in her mind - No. Water. Yes.

As their drinks were served, the Sea Witch looked back at the Erylia, who eyed the people with a curious look.


 * Erylia - You're not from these parts, are you?
 * Sea Witch - Nope, we're... hm. Travellers. Yeah, travellers.
 * Erylia - Oh, I see. Visiting? Restocking?
 * Sea Witch - You could say that. Tell me... have there been any vampire assaults around these parts lately?
 * Erylia - Have you not heard of the assault of Umbral Refuge?
 * Alfgund - Vampires attacked the Derevar? They have nerve, I must say, for the Derevar are... well, I had better hold my tongue. We both know enough of the Derevar to see why it would be a courageous move to strike them.
 * Erylia - Well, they did. Soldiers were talking about the vampires being under a great white dragon who... well. Tore the place apart. They're still not sure how many died in there.
 * Varelos - ...
 * Dragostea - Fazher...
 * Alfgund - A great white dragon? A Light Drake, mayhaps? Did the military manage to defeat it and spare the Refuge?
 * Erylia - They did, somewhat. The Black Manhunter and the Wyvernlady supposedly warded it off, but they didn't kill it. A shame, really. The Derevar are not so bad once you get used to them, but I get the feeling they died by the thousands that day...
 * Alfgund - ... I would not expect less from the Wyvernlady, however. A more than decent warrior fit for the title, I must say. I have had the pleasure of meeting her in person, I would have you know. I... came from one of the villages she liberated from the Empire in the Eastern Plains.
 * Erylia - I see. yeah, the Wyvernlady is an admir-
 * ??? - Everyone hold still! Fangbane is right outside!
 * Erylia - ...Oh no.
 * Varelos - ...Oh no.
 * Dragostea - ...Oh no.
 * Alfgund - Fangbane?
 * Hachi - What's "Fangbane"?
 * Alhazred - Oh yes.

Before the Erylia Elf could respond, the doors of the tavern were kicked open. Entering the establishment was a Derevar Elf, followed by multiple other elves of different races, all of them wearing trenchcoats filled with daggers and knives, their belts holding urns of water and each of them having a whip on their person. The Derevar who kicked the doors open wore a hat which obscured some of his face and he slowly made his way inside, the people who were drinking at the tavern all backing away intimidated by his presence, including the Erylia barkeep. The Sea Witch looked at the new arrivals with confusion while Varelos' single good eye widened, and he made extra effort to hide himself in his robes. Dragostea shifted uncomfortably and turned herself to look away from the Derevar, lowering her head to obscure her face even moreso. Kanna glanced towards the elves and cocked an eyebrow while Hachi refused to take his eyes off of them, his mouth opening in surprise as he looked upon them.

Alfgund remained vigilant and refused to turn, continuing to drink his water while he began to sweat more than he had before. Javina rose up, unsheathing her blade, and looked at the new visitors uncomfortably. The Derevar walked around the tavern, looking at the citizens in it one by one, including the team. As he did so, he played with a knife, passing it through his fingers repeatedly. As Javina rose, the Erylia barkeep hushed at her, whispering.


 * Erylia - What are you doing, girl! Get down!
 * Alfgund - Javina, place the blade back. We don't want trouble. Not now.

Once several moments of silence passed, the Derevar suddenly grabbed three of his knives and swiftly threw them at his right, hitting the head, neck and chest of a Hikamera Elf who was drinking in a distance. The Hikamera let out a demonic scream as fangs appeared on his person, and his skin burned away as his heart was pierced by the knife. It was a vampire.


 * Javina - ...Intriguing.
 * Alfgund - ... By the Stormfather... 
 * Dragostea - ... Him.
 * Erylia - ...M-mister, I-I...
 * Yurthez - Next time, pay attention to who you let inside your bar, fire elf. It might save your life someday.

Kanna turned back and continued to drink from his cup, passing an eye towards Dragostea and Varelos with uncertainty as he took a considerable gulp, and Hachi continued watching the figure in awe, drinking his milk without making time to savour it. Alfgund shuddered and turned his head only slightly to observe Yurthez, the most intimidating Derevar that he had ever perhaps come across. Before the Erylia barkeep could say anything, Yurthez turned back and began making his way to the exit. However, he eventually came to a halt, remaining in silence for several seconds before taking his whip and launching it at the team's direction. The whip wrapped itself around Varelos' neck and Yurthez pulled him forward, causing the vampire lord to fall on the ground, revealing his face in the process. The Sea Witch let out a startled yelp and fell down from her seat, while the civilians around the bar began making their way out.

Alfgund threw himself from the bar and placed his hand into one of the pouches strapped to his legs, drawing an alchemical bomb from its contents and lifting it to hold it tightly within his palms, eager to throw it although making sure the Derevar could see it. Kanna drew both of his blades, but before anyone could do anything, Dragostea removed herself from the bar and walked slowly towards the Derevar, eyeing Yurthez from beneath her obscuring veil. She had an angered and uneasy tone to her otherwise sultry voice as she spoke out to him.


 * Dragostea - Yurthez Bertonius. Let my fazher go.

As the team raised from their seats, the elves of Fangbane rushed ahead and took out silver-plated blades, keeping them at their necks. Several of them surrounded Dragostea, while others surrounded the team.


 * Yurthez - You've got nerve coming here, demon.
 * Varelos - Aack! Aaah!
 * Yurthez - A lot of nerve... after what you've done to Umbral Refuge... after slaughtering my people like pigs.
 * Dragostea - Ve had not come here to cause plight, Yurthez. Zhat is not vhat had happened in zhe slightest, as amusing as zhat sounds. Let my fazher go and I vill explain, should you care to listen for once.
 * Javina - ...Listen to him. Listen to him for your own sake.
 * Varelos - Hhck, damned silver barbs!
 * Yurthez - Why would I bother listening to you lies, you damned blood-drinking scum?
 * Alhazred - All of you, stand down. Let me talk to him.

Dragostea snarled before stepping back, her eyes meeting with Yurthez' as she did before she glanced towards her father, his neck constricted by the Derevar's whip. Alfgund struggled to urge himself not to lash out at the elven assailants, while Kanna continued to drink what he had ordered minutes prior, paying close attention.


 * Yurthez - You have 5 seconds before I kill you all.
 * Alhazred - My name is Alhazred, and we are a group who seeks the Coronaira Whip.

As Alhazred spoke, Yurthez froze in place and his eyes widened. Remaining in silence, he glared at Alhazred's direction once more, his tone suddenly becoming almost concerned.


 * Yurthez - That name... why do you seek the whip?
 * Alhazred - Varelos von Dalverat is no longer Count of Nightshade. He has been deposed and replaced by another, more vile vampire lord. Zran Kar, the simulacrum. Look at Varelos' state, he would never be able to lead a large attack force.
 * Yurthez - ''How can I believe you? How can I know you're not merely another pawn of Varelos trying to ambush me?
 * Alhazred - Arrest us. Take us to your headquarters. Aim all of your most potent weapons at our hearts. But allow us to talk about this.''
 * Sea Witch - Ah shit.
 * Javina - ...Great.
 * Alfgund - I had not come here for this.
 * Dragostea - If it allows us access to zhe Vhip, zhen zhis is all necessary. Especially if it saves my fazher.
 * Yurthez - Keep your damned mouth shut, slut. Bring the chains!

The members of Fangbane all disarmed the team of their weapons and chained their hands with enchanted, silver-plated chains all connected to one another before urging them to follow him. Varelos was forced to walk with Yurthez' whip still wrapped around his neck, while the members of Fangbane always kept their weapons close to the team's body in order to attack them in the event that they attempted anything. As they went outside, the elves in the city could all see Varelos' face, the whip choking him as Yurthez used the opportunity to humiliate him in public.


 * Dragostea - Damned Yurthez! Zhis is not necessary! Ve did not attack your people! Please, spare my fazher of zhis abuse, he does not deserve zhis!
 * Yurthez - Shut. Up.
 * Varelos - Dear, please... calm down. I'm fine. It'll all be over soon.

It would take about twenty more minutes until the team was taken to a rather modest-looking building on the outside, but once they were forced inside by the Fangbane operatives, they could see the place was far larger than it looked. Appearing almost like a dungeon decorated with sigils, the team followed Yurthez down a staircase, passing through more Fangbane members along the way. They could watch as the elves sharpened their weapons, reloaded crossbows, and the sound of whipping could be heard in a close distance. Eventually, the operatives forced the team inside a room, dried blood quite visible in the floor as they could see several holes on the walls, all of them being crossbows primed to fire as soon as someone gave the order to. Forced to sit down, Yurthez walked over to their front and crossed his arms.


 * Yurthez - Welcome to the interrogation room. Now, start talking.
 * Javina - The dungeons of L'Ammanori... are much, much worse...
 * Dragostea - Alha-- Zhe book has already told you zhe truzh. Ve vere not responsible for zhe attack upon zhe Umbral Refuge and zhe Derevar, ve vere not even aware until ve got here.
 * Yurthez - You think I'm an idiot? Varelos took the Whip from me years ago. If anyone knows where it is, it's him.
 * Varelos - You're mistaken. I do know vhere Mortium hid it. I ordered him to not inform me.
 * Yurthez - ...You told Death to hide the Whip from you? Why even?
 * Varelos - So if I got captured by you, you would never get ze information out of my mind... How unpleasant zat we, now, require zis information if we vant to survive.
 * Sea Witch - That's a damn stupid idea, Varelos.
 * Varelos - Shut up, Alvinian.
 * Dragostea - Yurthez, if ve had vanted, ve vould have attacked zhis city long ago, long before you vere even born. But ve haven't, because my fazher is no longer on zhe throne over our kind. He kept zhe vampires in check. Zran Kar now holds zheir reins.

Yurthez grunted and walked side by side, appearing impatient and agitated. He turned his eyes back to the team.


 * Yurthez - Where did you get that book? The one who called itself Alhazred.
 * Sea Witch - It belongs to my student, a girl called Clothovera. Zran Kar kidnapped her and turned her into a slave of his.
 * Yurthez - Alhazred... that name was engraved on the Whip...

Dragostea cringed as the name "Alhazred" was mentioned between the Sea Witch and the Derevar, her ears ringing with the name and causing her to wince and shudder. Alfgund appeared visually irritated, groaning as interrogation went on, while Kanna and Hachi sat with curiosity, the latter's ears perking as he heard Clothovera's name mentioned.


 * Alhazred - I led this team here because I expected you to know where the Coronaira Whip was. But if neither if you do, then we'll have no choice but to confront Clothovera without it. And that's going to be... difficult, to say the least.
 * Yurthez - What's your plan, exactly?
 * Alhazred - We plan to assault Castle Nightshade and free Clothovera from Zran Kar's control. The Coronaira Whip was going to make that severely easier than I had imagined.
 * Yurthez - ...You all say these things, in front of me, in front of my men and surrounded by weapons. I see Varelos' look and it looks like a sick, rotten dog more than the man who killed my family centuries ago. I'm going to ask you: are you really telling the truth? Can I really trust you?
 * Hachi - I don't know who you are, and I don't know why you hate the vampires more than anyone else and why they hate you or any of that. I'm confused by all of this. All that I know is that Clothovera - the love of my life - is in danger and being controlled by some god somewhere, and I want to go save her. And saving her does not involve hurting you or any of your people.
 * Varelos - I know a vay to convince you, Yurthez. My blade, take it.

Varelos unsheathed his sword, Bertonius' Demise, and threw it in front of Yurthez's feet. The Derevar looked at Hachi and then turned his attention to the macabre-looking greatsword, the same weapon used to slay his ancestors, taking a moment to inspect it and think about what was happening. After several moments, the Derevar let out a heavy sigh and signaled to his men, who started removing the chains from the team and freeing their limbs.


 * Dragostea - Zhank you, Yurthez. For once, you can see reason vhere it resides, and liszen to it as vell. ... It is not just your people in danger, Yurthez. Not just zhe Derevar, or zhe Sovereign, but zhe entire vorld.
 * Javina - Even us.
 * Yurthez - Urgh... It took long for us to do anything about the vampires, and now this happens. Damned lazy, ignorant Uroboros. You all, if you're going to attack Castle Nightshade, then I'm going with you. I'm going to make sure you prove what you've said.
 * Sea Witch - You people are really annoying, forcing yourselves into my expedition!
 * Alfgund - Ah, how wondrous. I am reminded of a man I had come to befriend some time before now, a knight from a land long gone. Visonia. If he were here, he would be sure to claim about the benefits of our jolly cooperation. The more the merrier, I would say.
 * Sea Witch - Visonia? I know the guy. Got himself killed by a huge, serpentine dragon.
 * Alfgund - ... Then from now on, I cooperate in his memory, although I had never thought I would come to cooperate with the likes of... elves. Twice, for that matter. We should head upon our path as soon as possible.
 * Yurthez - Get your sword, Varelos. I don't want to touch it.

As he unwrapped the whip from Varelos' neck, the vampire lord took his sword back and sheathed it once again, looking at Yurthez with an apprehensive expression. He did not know how to reac tot having to work with him either.


 * Yurthez - How are we getting to the Castle?
 * Varelos - Vell... ze easiest route now vould be going to ze Sea of Sand, zen going north. Ve can get zere by going alongside Merovar caravans, probably.
 * Sea Witch - Oh, come on! Anything but the desert!
 * Javina - Are you afraid of the heat, sorceress?
 * Sea Witch - Yes? I'm a water witch, you damned idiot.
 * Alfgund - The Sea of Sand... urgh, one will never see a more wretched hive of scum and tyranny. Hopefully, we can cross the Sea without having to wander upon the walls of feces that are the cities of Alhassal.
 * Javina - That is a funny way to pronounce "Mannazia".
 * Yurthez - So be it. We depart tomorrow. Now, get out of here. I don't want to lay my eyes on you more than necessary.

The Bride of Venom
Countess Clothovera rested her head on her a hand as she sat upon the throne of Castle Nightshade. As usual, her Succubus brides were present, hugging themselves to her and passing her hands through the girl as they could, but much to their collective annoyance, Clothovera never gave them the opportunity they really wanted. At a corner of the room, Nyakik laid trapped inside of a tiny cage, asleep. There was not much the cat familiar could do at this point but observe her corrupted summoner. Minutes passed, though, and the air inside the room felt heavy as both Clothovera and the Succubi noticed a presence making its way to her. A shade took the form of her master, Zran Kar, and all the vampires immediately raised from their positions and bowed to him.


 * Clothovera - Master.
 * Anian - Lord Zran Kar.
 * Alles - What may we do for you, sir?
 * Hamoins - At your full disposal, my king.
 * Zran Kar - Hm hm. Girls... settle down. I have come to... speak to my pupil.

The Succubi nodded and took a step back, while Clothovera took a step forward to the Simulacrum.


 * Clothovera - My master... I'm following your instructions, but I've had losses.
 * Zran Kar - Worry not about such for... I have planned this... at some point, they will break... and they will surrender to you...
 * Clothovera - What brings you here? What may I do for you?
 * Zran Kar - I come... with gifts, my dear.

A black vortex appeared at Zran Kar's side, and from the floor rose an intricately designed, macabre-looking staff, decorated with vile-looking spikes and thorns. Zran Kar took it on his grasp and swung it, leaving a dark trail as it passed through the air. Clothovera and the Succubi all looked at the item in awe, unsure of what it was.


 * Zran Kar - This... is the All-Knowing. One of my personal artifacts and one... of my most powerful staves. For your servitude, I gift... the All-Knowing to you...
 * Clothovera - Master... I don't know what to say. I am unworthy of your kindness.
 * Zran Kar - This staff was once... used to fight those deemed "gods" by... the races of this world. Make good use of it, my dear.

At this moment, the darkness of the room grew even further as Mortium, the Grim Reaper, emerged from the shadows. Zran Kar turned at the wraith's direction, giving him a fang-filled grin.


 * Mortium - Master Analuhati. I have the soul you requested.
 * Zran Kar - Excellent. Let us commence... the ritual, then.
 * Clothovera - Ritual, my lord?
 * Zran Kar - All of you, watch. Especially you, Dalverat Sisters.
 * Alles - Oh?

Clothovera and the Succubi all stepped up to watch the two Simulacrum up close. At Mortium's hand was a dark-tainted soul, which Zran Kar placed his wrist over. Using one of his claws, the vampire god made a wound on his own wrist, and blood began pouring out of it directly into the soul. Below them, a pool of Zran Kar's blood began growing, and the vampires could all watch as something seemed to grow out of it. Soon, the soul vanished from Mortium's grasp and a gasp was heard from the blood pool as a humanoid form raised from it.

The vampires all looked as the blood vanished, making the thing beneath it visible. It was a purple-haired Succubus, one that Anian, Alles and Hamoins could easily recognize. The Succubi all screamed as tears formed on their eyes, and they threw themselves at this purple-haired female, much to Clothovera's confusion. It was.


 * Hys - Ooh... my head...
 * Anian - Hys! Hys!
 * Alles' - Waaah! Hyyyys!!
 * Hamoins - Little sis! LITTLE SIS!
 * Hys - Ooh?... My sisters... why are you crying? I was just sleeping one day and then I woke up now... didn't I?
 * Anian - My dear... Do you not remember your death?
 * Hys - ...I died?

Zran Kar looked at the scene, still grinning to himself until Clothovera called out for his attention once more, now holding the All-Knowing on her grasp.


 * Clothovera - A new Alpha Succubus, my lord?
 * Zran Kar - A dead one... but I have decided to bring her back... and give her another chance. Use her as you... seem fit, Clothovera. Use them against... your enemies... the ones who seek to save you.
 * Clothovera - Yes... The Sea Witch and Hachi's so called "team". I will crush them under my foot. And I could easily use this new Succubus for this.

And so Clothovera plotted. As Hys' still naked body was trapped to the floor by the embraces of her sisters, Zran Kar and Mortium both left the room. However, there was something different between Hys and her sisters, as well as Clothovera and every other vampire in the Clan at the moment. Her eyes were not shining in red, hypnotizing light.


 * Hys - ...Where is Varelos? Who is this girl?

=Into the Desert=

Orcish Problem
The sun was very slightly visible at the horizon at the dawn of the next day. Leaving Purity's Apogee behind, the team now focused on getting to the Merovar caravans which would take them to the Sea of Sand. To get to the Merovar as fast as possible, they opted for taking a shortcut through a forest located near the elven capital. The air was humid and the immense trees blocked the sun under them, with the Sea Witch cherishing the environment for reminding her of her original home. Varelos and Yurthez kept a good distance from each other, with the Derevar Elf taking the lead and walking ahead of the team as they ventured deeper into the woods. Dragostea moved beside her father, having removed the veil that obscured her face as the many branches and trees above their heads filtered out the sunlight although she kept it at her side. Kanna walked at the Sea Witch's side while Hachi and Alfgund moved as a pair, with Hachi occasionally turning back to take brief glances at Dragostea's assets in a perverted, rather boyish manner.

Javina treaded through the wildlands with a slow and careful pace, minding her every step as her black boots disturbed the swampy forest floor. Her eyes, however, were fixed not on the ground but rather on the dark canopies that rose ominously from it like dormant titans - paranoia permeating her gaze (as always). Her pet was likewise poised, ready to strike.


 * Sea Witch - How long until we get to these caravans?
 * Yurthez - About half an hour.
 * Sea Witch - Gah.
 * Javina - Remember our business in the Freelander kingdoms, Alfgund? This place looks a lot like their Snakeblood Wilds, doesn't it?
 * Alfgund - The similarities are not lost upon me, yet I must say, princess, that the number of snakes by comparison is far more comforting. I can at least tread several steps without worry of a venomous leech or a suffocating boa.
 * Javina - The lack of these vermin does not mean such places can't be dangerous. Just look at these trees. - Javina pointed at a large, ancient oak with gnarled, twisted branches - One, two, three, four. And that's just one tree.
 * Alfgund - We are locked in the eye of a conflict, circled by bloodthirsty parasites and their vile serfs, and you find yourself fearing for trees? Oh, princess, how irrational her passing has made you, can you even touch upon a sense of comfort at all?
 * Javina - Do not speak of her.
 * Feli - Of whom?
 * Javina - Do you wish to know?

At this moment, the whole team could hear a powerful, thunderous impact deep into the forest, the sound of panicked animals being quite evident. Yurthez's eyes narrowed as he rushed ahead, followed by the Sea Witch and lastly by Varelos, who gripped on his blade. Hachi attempted rushing alongside the others although Kanna grasped his shoulder and pulled him back, bringing him and the younger Lagosi to the team's rear to ensure they could avoid being flanked. Alfgund grinned widely as he walked on at the team's center, twirling his morningstar eagerly, while Dragostea moved as swift as her father did, staying close to his side.


 * Alfgund - Enough, princess. We have... other matters to attend to.

After a few moments of going ahead, Yurthez and those who followed him could find the source of the sound: a fallen tree. It did not appear to have been the work of lumbers for the trunk was intact, save for what looked like immense claw marks on it. Additionally, it had not been cut down. It had been entirely ripped out of the soil, with its roots fully visible and broken.


 * Dragostea - Vhat in zhe name of... Zhere are so few zhings zhat I know of zhat are capable of zhis display of strength and accuracy. Minotaurs, largely.
 * Kanna - Well. At least we're not alone in the woods.
 * Yurthez - Oh great. Just great.
 * Alfgund - I could do that while dreaming!
 * Dragostea - Quiet. Ve do not vish to attract attention to ourselves.
 * Sea Witch - What lives in this region exactly?
 * Yurthez - It's supposed to be deserted. Only animals are supposed to live here... Well, a long time ago, I heard of orcs using these woods as a hideout. But they're supposed to have left by now.
 * Hachi - I don't think even orcs could do this. They're strong, but they're not stupidly powerful. Not like this.

The sound of footsteps was heard coming from nearby bushes, with leaves rustling and shaking near the team. The Sea Witch frowned as energy manifested around her hands, preparing to strike at whoever or whatever was approaching. Alfgund clenched his fists and tightened his grip around his morningstar, while Kanna and Hachi both drew their blades in preparation, Kanna manipulating his magical abilities to generate a cold, ghostly aura around his swords. Dragostea remained vigilant, her hands filled with a darker, much more malign icy magic than that which Kanna used.


 * Dragostea - You had all best be prepared.
 * Kanna - Yeah, because I'm going to walk into a big dark forest totally unprepared for danger. Especially since there are vampires around. Of course I'm prepared.

Eventually, the intruder finally revealed himself. Standing before the team was... a blue skinned goblin wearing an animal skull for a hat, followed by two more goblins who looked almost identical to the first. They were mere s, who stared at the team in confusion.


 * Goblin - Blehh! Uglies!

Dragostea relaxed her shoulders and giggled to herself quietly, the magic within her palms dissipating as she laid her eyes upon the goblins. Hachi placed away his sword while Kanna lowered his blades to his sides, and Alfgund laughed heartily, holding his chest as he bellowed.


 * Dragostea - Tell tales of orcs, and ve end up vith goblins. You have a knack for exaggeration, Yurthez.
 * Javina - Yes. Uglies.
 * Sea Witch - Who you calling ugly, ugly!
 * Goblin - Hheck! You! Beak!
 * Sea Witch - You're a beak!
 * Alhazred - Above you!

As they were distracted by the goblins, the team did not notice the immense, tall humanoids on top of the trees who jumped down at their direction carrying equally immense battleaxes. The creatures' eyes shined in an intense red as they grinned, revealing their large fangs... and tusks.


 * Dragostea - Get back!
 * Javina - See? I was right!

Dragostea threw herself back, narrowly avoiding the edge of one of the creatures' battleaxes, before unleashing a bout of cold, dark cryomancy from her fingertips in the direction of the fiends. Kanna shoved Hachi away and was thrown to the floor by the tremendous force of one of the tusked creatures, his blades barely countering his assailant's battleaxe. Alfgund threw his morningstar in all directions, striking surrounding trees in a wild frenzy. The Sea Witch threw herself to the side while Yurthez jumped out of the way, while Varelos was struck on his chest by one of the axes. A closer look revealed the green skin of the attackers: they were all orcs. The goblins quickly panicked and fled while they attacked the team, one of them stepping back from Alfgund's attacks before lunging at his direction axe in hand. Another one, struck by Dragostea's ice, staggered back before also leaping at her direction, aiming to cut her in half.


 * Vampire Orc - Die for the Countess, traitor!

Dragostea moved swiftly and gracefully through the air, moving to affront the orc that sought to strike her and in doing so managed to evade the axe in its hand. Stretching out her long, diamondlike claws, she sent them forwards, penetrating through the vampire's flesh and bone with ease; she had stabbed the creature in the neck, her hands hidden with a black, cold energy.


 * Dragostea - How can you expect to defeat me? You are not even of pureblood.

Alfgund felt the axe's edge dig through his trench coat and into his pec, and while he winced and staggered, he took the opportunity to slam the creature's head as hard as could with his own before swinging his morningstar in its direction. Kanna still struggled with the orc on top of him before Hachi dug his blade into the vampire's side, piercing through the beast's ribcage. Yurthez sent his whip at one of the orcs, the silver-plated bars shredding through the vampire's skin and causing him to let out a blood scurled scream while the Sea Witch unleashed a powerful gush of water at the direction of another orc, blasting him into a tree. Varelos took out his greatsword and confronted the orc attackinh him, maneuvering himself out of his axe's range before delivering a stab at his chest, piercing his heart and causing the vampire enemy to burn down as he died. As the enemy was killed, Varelos looked down at his skeletal remains with apprehension. He had never killed another vampire before.


 * Dragostea - Fazher, vhat is vrong? You should not stand still for too long, it makes you vulnerable to attack.
 * Varelos - ...I am not used to killing my own children.
 * Javina - Slaying kin. It pains even the blackest of souls.
 * Dragostea - Zhese filzhy creatures are not your children. Zhey are leftovers and slaves. Hmph, instead of killing your children, you vould razher abandon zhem, I suppose.
 * Varelos - Is zhat what you zhink?... So be it.
 * Sea Witch - Ah shit, what is that!

As the orcs fell to the team's attack, the sound of powerful impacts were heard again, this time several more than a single one. An angered, growling noise was heard as something stomped its way to their direction, and it would not take long before they could actually see the trees being tore out of the ground. Javina loaded her pistol with a silver bullet and shot it right into the heart of one of the vampiric orcs; the shell howled as it pierced the air and then ignited in the beast's body, incinerating his flesh.


 * Dragostea - Vhat, you care more for zhese imitators zhan you do for your actual family? Is zhat vhy you did not visit me for 15,000 years?
 * Kanna - Hey, here's an idea! How about we get out of the way of whatever's coming towards and, you know, survive? To me, it sounds like a perfect plan! All in favour say aye!
 * Javina - Aye.
 * Sea Witch - Aye!
 * Alhazred - Aye!
 * Yurthez - Vurdalak!

Tearing the trees apart was a gigantic, bat-like monstrosity, veins visible on its dark purple skin as his luminous red eyes caused an immense sense of dread upon the team. Running on all fours, using his huge arms to propel himself faster, the immense demon leaped at the team's direction and sent a powerful punch, hitting Varelos and Dragostea across their faces with enough strength to sent them both flying backwards. Alfgund threw himself back as the colossal fiend made its presence known and he stretched out an arm, attempting to manipulate the ground beneath the Vurdalak to form a mat of spikes. Hachi hid behind Kanna, who in turn, leaped out of the Vurdalak's path of destruction with Hachi in tow. Dragostea collided with several trees, breaking through several of them, and collapsed some distance away from the team, groaning and grunting.

The Sea Witch let out a scream as she fell backwards, trying to get a safe distance away from the Vurdalak as he watched Varelos collide against a tree, crunching sounds being heard coming from the vampire lord. Yurthez gritted his teeth as he gripped on his whip, maintaining some distance from the beast before it let out a deafening, demonic roar which shook the ground around the team.


 * Alfgund - The brave and stalwart Alfgund does not cower from the likes of parasites, no matter the size or form!
 * Javina - Yes, Alfgund! Keep them distracted! - Javina started searching her pockets for one of her chakrams - Now, where was it...

Grasping ahold of and proceeding to shake several grenades upon his belt, Alfgund launched them at the gigantic vampire after backflipping away from to it maintain distance. It was several seconds before the grenades exploded with an ear-rending sound, launching shrapnel of steel and iron at the beast. Kanna and Hachi held onto their ears, sensitive to the destructively loud noise of the explosions. Yurthez shielded his eyes while the Sea Witch put her hands over her ears. As the dust settled, the team could see the Vurdalak had used his wings as a shield, with shrapnel stuck on them but none of them appearing to have dealt much damage to the immense creature. As he revealed his face once more, his several rows of teeth were visible as he spoke.


 * Vurdalak - I thirst for the blood of meddlers.
 * Javina - Drown in your own then.
 * Alfgund - Meddlers? Meddlers?! We are no mere meddlers, leech; we are the demise of the Countess and the lord she praises, your death brought unto you by the likes of the Imperial Inquisition and the might of Mannazian soil!
 * Yurthez - Would you shut up? We're in serious trouble right now.
 * Vurdalak - Humans... always so fond of your speeches. Words mean little when there are none to hear them.
 * Javina - Chakrams, on the other hand...

While the pureblood vampire was distracted with Alfgund and Yurthez, Javina charged at him and launched a large, ring-like silver disk - a weapon common in her nation - into the monster's chest. The weapon spun in the air, shining brightly and making a distinctive, almost demonic noise - resembling both the screech of an eagle and the howl of a desert wind - before finally tearing into the monster's warped, dessicated flesh. The Vurdalak let out a grunt as the chakram dug into him, though it was not capable of penetrating the beast's muscle enough damage his heart. The vampire grabbed the object and crushed it on his grasp, giving Javina an annoyed look.


 * Vurdalak - Are you done, human?

As the Vurdalak kept its glance fixated upon the team in front of it, it had not noticed a particular figure that had also taken to the trees, much like the orcs; this figure, however, was lithe and slim, perhaps even elven, and armed with a shortbow rather than any kind of battleaxe. A dark, ghastly aura suffocating the figure's arrows, the Vurdalak felt the membranes of its wings - and the flesh at the base of the wings - pierced and penetrated from the rear, while his heels were also targeted by the archer's shots. The demon gasped as he turned around, and out of his mouth, a vortex-like blast of dark magic was launched out of his mouth as he roared at the mysterious attacker's direction. The figure swung from the trees to avoid the blast of dark magic, although the Vurdalak had achieved success in striking something; the branches and leaves that kept the sunlight dimmed were obliterated by the beast's dark magic, allowing sunlight to pour onto the undergrowth. Alfgund rushed at the beast now that it had its back turned and leaped, raising his morningstar high above his head as he aimed for the Vurdalak's spine. As the sun touched the Vurdalak's skin, the demon let out a low-pitched hiss as he shielded himself before moving away back to the shadows. Steam came out of the Vurdalak's body once he was exposed to sunlight.


 * Alfgund - None to hear my words indeed! Especially not you!
 * Javina - And thus does the truth's radiance wash away all lies and all deception. - the Inquisitor leaped the pureblood monstrosity and plunged her blade into its chest, a wicked grin on her face - Numquam cademus! Alhassal-en kharadan!

Alfgund missed the Vurdalak, slamming his morningstar into the ground where it had stood moments prior. As he attempted to stand upright, he winced and looked down at his leg as he found his thigh subject to an arrow, its head dripping with dark energy. He growled in irritance, and he looked above towards the leaves and branches.


 * Alfgund - Not you...

The Vurdalak let out a growl as Javina attacked him, still not enough to dig through his thick hide as he grabbed the Inquisitor's head and began crunching it on his grasp like an insect. However, the demon let go of her once Yurthez's silver-barbed whip hit the creature's fingers, causing it to let out a shout and throw himself backwards, pushing Javina away from him in the process. Varelos slowly tried to get back up, but fell to one knee, being incapable of moving forward.


 * Javina - ...Arrgh... - Javina quickly regained her poise, stood up and looked at the demon hunter, nodding to him - That was... close. You have my thanks... Derevar.
 * Yurthez - Don't just charge at it. It usually takes me 15 men to take one of these down. 5 to kill it, 10 to die trying.

From the treetops, the elven figure made a descent, landing beside Alfgund whom the figure proceeded to shove aside. Standing in a crouched position, the elven figure, obscured by camouflage and a stealthy gown of forest materials, fired dark magic-enchanted arrows at the Vurdalak once again, aiming for his eyes and jaws. Kanna sheltered the Sea Witch and Hachi, not attacking but rather preparing himself should he have to. The Vurdalak was hit by the arrows, but as the dark magic flowed through his body, some of his wounds closed. The demon let out a low-pitched laugher as he lunged at the elf while Yurthez began throwing several knives at the beast's back and spine.


 * Yurthez - Did you never fight a vampire before?! Damned Aithrena!
 * Alfgund - Damned elf! ... The trees! Rain light unto the undergrowth and douse the beast with the sun!

The Sea Witch nodded as she created water jets on her palms, launching them at the trees in order to destroy the leaves above the team. Kanna opened his palms and stretched out his arms, unleashing twin beams of fire at the leaves and branches that obscured the sunlight. Hachi could only watch, for he lacked any means of ranged attack, while Alfgund threw a couple of shrapnel grenades at the Vurdalak's feet to distract it from the rest of the team and the elven figure - a womanly Aithrena - leaped back to fire normal, unenchanted arrows at the beast. The Vurdalak hissed louder and more intensely as sunlight began pouring into the forest due to the destruction of the leaves, steam coming out of the demon's skin. The Sea Witch looked at the elven woman and raised an eyebrow.


 * Sea Witch - Hey. I know you.
 * Javina - ...Who are you? Name yourself, Dryadal.
 * ??? - I suggest you focus on the bigger game, monkey. My name matters little should you die soon after hearing it.
 * Yurthez - You just won't keep quiet, will you? I have to do everything myself.

Sending his whip at the Vurdalak, Yurthez caused one of the barbs to get stuck on the creature's head. In a swift pull, the Vurdalak let out a blood curled scream as his eye was gored out of his head, causing the monster to throw himself back, hitting the floor and thrashing in place due to the pain.


 * Javina - ...I approve of this.
 * Yurthez - Shut up and kill it already!
 * Alfgund - It shall be the brave and stalwart Alfgund, agent of the Empire and paladin of the Inquisition, to deliver the killing blo--

Before Alfgund could finish, he saw the Aithrena standing close to the Vurdalak, firing arrows into the beast's face and neck in quick succession between each shot. Kanna rushed towards the Vurdalak and launched multiple streams of fire at it, growling as he attempted to torch it into oblivion. The Sea Witch leaped at the Vurdalak, firing jets of water at wherever Kanna was not scorching while Yurthez threw multiple knives to keep the beast down. Javina pointed her pistol at the beast and unloaded it, finishing the Vurdalak with a barrage of silver bullets, while Arya leaped and clawed on him.

An outworldly scream came out of the Vurdalak as all dark magic on his body exploded in a shockwave which knocked the team away, the demon's skin burning into ash, leaving nothing but a skeletal carcass behind. The Sea Witch fell on her head, letting out a muffed swear once she stopped rolling backwards. The Aithrena landed elegantly upon all fours, unaffected by the flow of dark magic although she was knocked back by the force at which it was released. Alfgund slammed into a tree while Kanna was thrown into Hachi, flooring the two of them against the undergrowth. Dragostea approached the group from the rear, growling as she adorned her blackened veil to protect herself from the sunlight the team had let shine onto the forest.


 * Yurthez - Hmpf. You'd all be dead if I were not here.
 * Dragostea - Yes, ve know. Zhat is precisely vhy ve brought you along, Yurthez. You have zhe most experience at fighting vampires... and being a genizal wart about it.
 * ??? - Another vampire!
 * Sea Witch - Hey! Calm down there. That one's with us.

The Aithrena took a cautious step back, aiming her shortbow at Dragostea, who merely glared towards her disapprovingly without so much as garnering magic. After a few moments, the Aithrena lowered her weapon and stood upright, glancing towards Alfgund, who soon came to stand as tall as he did before, albeit appearing somewhat ravaged.


 * Alfgund - , the pain you provide to my rear is much more than simply intolerable.
 * Sea Witch - Ah yeah, that was your name. Met you at the Golden Necroplace.
 * Khadya - Necropolis. And I remember your face, too. Game beyond your years, but your experience shows.
 * Sea Witch - Are you calling me old?
 * Khadya - The eldest are always the wisest. Someday, I too hope to become as wise as you. ... But not today.
 * Sea Witch - ...Stop calling me old, brat. What are you doing here even?
 * Khadya - I was abound to ask the same of you. And why you happen to be travelling in the company of vampires. You have not become vampires, to my knowledge.
 * Sea Witch - Long story. Short version is that my student got kidnapped by evil vampires and we're going to rescue her. These two with us are good... kinda. They don't want to destroy everyone, at least.
 * Dragostea - Ve are on a mission to reclaim vhat vas lost. Before now, elf, zhe vampire race vas novhere near as hostile.
 * Javina - "Nowhere near as hostile"? You had slaughtered innocents for generations!
 * Dragostea - A few eggs are required to cook an omelette. True, zhe vampires preyed upon people even before now, but zhey never tried to take over zhe vorld for zhemselves. You and your kind vere cattle to us, but ve did not hate you. In fact, my own vork place, zhe very establishment you had come to rest vizhin, vas built out of my own generosity for ozhers.
 * Yurthez - Ahem. In case you've forgotten, we're still half an hour away from the caravans.

Yurthez turned back, putting his whip on his belt before walking off. Using his sword as a walking cane once more, Varelos limped after the Derevar without saying a word.


 * Dragostea - ... Zhere is no time to vaste. Elf, ve understand should you vish not to accompany us, but ve need all zhe help zhat is possible. Zhere are great challenged ahead, vizh enemies zhat threaten zhe face of zhis vorld.
 * Khadya - I've already seen the damage your kind has been causing. Even my own people have been subject to it, as you have probably seen. If it means stopping this tide of chaos, then I will gladly come along, so long as you can guarantee that my efforts are for something rather than nothing.
 * Sea Witch - Clothovera's life.
 * Javina - Whether shall she find salvation in life or in death.
 * Sea Witch - Up yours.
 * Khadya - The young halfbreed is subject to the bloodshed wrought by these parasites? ... She does not deserve such a cruel fate. I cannot abandon such innocence, it would be injustice. I shall accompany.
 * Sea Witch - Welcome to the team then. At least I know you're not incredibly annoying.
 * Khadya - Tis a shame that you retain the foul apes in your company, however.

Khadya turned and walked away from the group, heading in the same direction as Varelos and Yurthez, before being followed by Dragostea. Kanna once again stood beside the Sea Witch and sighed, placing a hand to the mask that obscured his face. Hachi, meanwhile, had to be urged to move along for his eyes became fixated on the glorious behinds of the elf and succubus ahead of him, his hand held by Kanna. Alfgund, a look of displeasure on his face as he removed an arrow from his thigh, groaned and followed the team from the rear. Ahead of the team, Yurthez turned his gaze to Varelos, who limped behind him.


 * Yurthez - Why didn't you fight back then, huh? You better have a good reason.
 * Varelos - Have you ever had to kill a Derevar, Yurthez?

Yurthez looked at the vampire, an expression of surprise on his face. He merely turned back forward, preferring not to say anything.

Lovable Wife
The sun poured down at the team's backs as seven days had passed since their battle with the Vurdalak. Now using the caravans of the Merovar as a faster way of getting to the Sea of Sand than just walking, there was not much to do other than stare at each other, the sky or the sand. The forests of the west gradually turned into nothing but a literal sea of sand, with extremely hot days and extremely cold nights. At the seventh day, the caravan stopped to rest at nighttime and the team was allowed some time for leisure and dinner.

Allowed to use one of the Merovar's tents, big enough to fit the entirely of the team, the Sea Witch sat on the ground while waving a hand in front of herself. Yurthez had his eyes closed and his arms crossed while Varelos remained by himself at a corner of the tent, not having spoken since the team met Khadya. Hachi sat beside Dragostea, who remained at the opposite side of the tent to Varelos, and Khadya leaned against the side of the tent, her arms folded and head pointed towards the ground with closed eyes. Alfgund had placed his trench coat to his side and had taken his shoes off, revealing his muscular, athletic build and the large patches of dry, stonelike skin across his form. Kanna sat next to the Sea Witch, half-asleep and drowsy. Javina was sitting in a lotus position away from the rest of the team, on the far corner of the tent. Surrounded only by candles and burning incense, she whispered a meditative prayer to herself quietly, her hands clenching a marble rosary and her eyes closed.


 * Javina - To Pheonas the Five-Faced, the one who is free yet in chains, the one who is god yet on earth, I devote this solemn prayer. Grant us hope in the darkest of hours and salvation in the world of corruption. May our enemies falter. May we stand. May the world's tyrants choke on their esurience. May our spirits remain free even in chains. Multiply our virtues, and forgive us... forgive us our sins...

After several moments of silence, though, a dark presence was felt by the most magically adept members of the team. Almost instinctively, Yurthez's eyes darted open and he reached his hand for his whip.


 * Yurthez - There's a vampire outside.
 * Javina - ...Are you sure about that? - Javina had awakened from her meditation - Here?
 * Dragostea - Vampires zhis far out? Outside of zhe valls of zhe Dynasty? I find it hard to believe, but... Nevermind, it is a story for anozher day. Yurthez, you vant to sort it out, or shall I?

Before Yurthez or anyone else could react, a figure made its way inside the tent. It was a stunningly beautiful woman, with horns upon her head as well as wings, with a light purple tone on her hair. A Succubus, but not like Dragostea. She was more. An Alpha Succubus, one of the matriarchs of the Nightshade Clan. Varelos turned his head to the Succubus, and once he did, he gasped and his eyes widened.


 * Varelos - ...No... Impossible...
 * Hys - My Count! I've found you!
 * Yurthez - Hold a moment the-

The purple Succubus rushed inside the tent, knocking Yurthez off his feet as she tackled Varelos, pressing her mouth against his in a passionate kiss. The Count squirmed and slightly struggled on her grasp, mostly out of discomfort of her squeezing him than anything else. The Succubus' tail waved around cheerfully while the Sea Witch looked at the scene in confusion.


 * Javina - ...The Bride! - the Inquisitor jumped to her feet and grabbed her scimitar, pointing it at the succubus - her eyes gleaming and burning - S-such-...

Javina's gaze was instantly fixed on the new arrival, her entire body shivering and shaking. And not just because of her hatred of vampires. Hachi leaped from where he sat and skidded across the ground, his eyes widened as he laid them upon the Hys, the glamorous purple Succubus, while Kanna grasped ahold of his legs in an attempt to pull the young Lagosi away. Alfgund reached for his morningstar, although he became unfocused as he observed the Succubus throwing herself upon Varelos, for his eyes became fixated upon her almost instinctively. Khadya, however, passed a glance and rushed to find her shortbow.

Dragostea, meanwhile, was wide eyed, her mouth agape in disbelief as she saw what everyone else happened to be seeing.


 * Hys - Hmm, my dear... Oh? Is that little Dragostea I see? Look how much you've grown!
 * Yurthez - Listen here you-

Yurthez let out a yelp as Hys let go of Varelos and pushed him into the ground again, this time leaping into Dragostea and pressing her mouth, as well as torso, against the younger Succubus'. The Sea Witch's face showed a great degree of disgust while Alhazred, strapped to Kanna's belt, had a wide grin on his face. Dragostea muffled as Hys kissed her, falling onto her back with her wings flapping in a struggle, although she shortly began to embrace the woman atop of her and responded, kissing back as tears streamed down the length of her cheeks. Hachi continued to watch, a wide grin across his face, while Khadya had to resort to grasping ahold of Alfgund's morningstar so he would not lash out.


 * Kanna - What the-- ... Am I in Hachi's dreams right now? I am, aren't I? Goddamn kids. What a sick fuck.
 * Sea Witch - Sea Witch's getting upset!
 * Varelos - Hys, my love... How? How are you alive?
 * Yurthez - What in every dark god's name is going on here?!
 * Javina - How bea- disgussssting...

Javina's face turned into a grimace as she turned away from the sight - but allowing herself to look back periodically. After several seconds, Hys leaned back from Dragostea, a cheerful expression on her face as she then turned her head to Hachi.


 * Hys - And who is this adorable bunny?
 * Kanna - Hachi, turn your head now! Run! Run as fast you-- You're not going to run are you? Goddammit.

Hachi perked an eyebrow in surprise and sat back, his cheeks becoming reddened as Hys turned her attention towards him. Kanna looked away, groaning in disgust while Khadya was practically wrestling with Alfgund. Dragostea laid against the ground, looking up at the ceiling of the tent, speechless. It would only take an instant until Hys pressed her mouth against the Lagosi child's. The Sea Witch let out a scream and put her hands on her face, while Yurthez's expression at this point showed a combination of disgusting and frustration.


 * Javina - ...What is happening here?
 * Sea Witch - The death of my sanity, that's what.
 * Javina - ...I am inclined to agree. - Javina looked at Hys again, holding her breath - ...umph. ...D-d-d-disgusting c-c-c-creature...

Hachi closed his eyes as he was placed into the Succubi's passionate and loving embrace, while Alfgund, without his morningstar, had finally managed to wrestle himself free of Khadya's grasp. He watched, envious and agitated, but knew little of what to do from there, for the Succubus had clearly meant little to no harm. Moments passed until Hys finally let go of Hachi, allowing to fall down beneath her and turning herself at Varelos' direction, giggling and putting a hand over her mouth.


 * Varelos - Dear Hys... How are you back? Please tell me.
 * Hys - My love. I was brought back. Brought back by Anahulati and Mortium. They wanted me to serve under that girl, and for some reason, every one of my sisters and kids now worship her. When I learned they got rid of you, I could barely believe it.
 * Varelos - ...So you are not brainwashed?
 * Hys - No... At least, I don't think so.
 * Dragostea - ... You're back... I-I c-can't believe it... You're back...
 * Hys - I was technically sent here to assassinate you all... Of course, I'm not gonna do that. I'd never lay a finger on my dear husband or his new friends.
 * Yurthez - Bah.
 * Hachi - Y-You can lay as many f-fingers as you want on me...
 * Kanna - Wow. This is actually happening. I swear I'm dreaming, this is far too surreal. I'm dead aren't I? The Succubus came in and killed us all, now I'm dead, right? I'm just going to go with that.
 * Javina - K-k-keep watching h-her... she is gorg- I mean, greatly s-s-suspicious... I... I'll just... keep watch on her.

Hys giggled as looked at Kanna and gently passed a finger through his mask, before turning back to Varelos.


 * Hys - What do you plan to do, my love? Allow me to help you.
 * Varelos - Ve are going back to ze castle to reclaim it. But you cannot come vith us, dear. It vould get too much suspicious from ze Countess.
 * Hys - Awww... But I want to help!
 * Hachi - Let her help! She can help as much as she li--
 * Kanna - Shut. Up. And let the adults talk.
 * Alhazred - I know how you can help, miss Hys. Be our eye inside the castle. Be a spy, and tell us what the Countess has in mind for us ahead of time.
 * Javina - ...Wait. Can we risk using her? Shall her disguise be compromised, she might fall under the vampire god's sway like her sisters.
 * Hys - Oh! Good idea, mister... um...
 * Alhazred - Alhazred.
 * Hys - Eeeek! Scary name! Scary name!
 * Alhazred - ...Huh?
 * Dragostea - Zhe name... Zhat name has become legend amongst our people, book. A symbol. A symbol of fear, of violence and deazh. Zhere vas a varrior once, long ago, vhom vielded a golden vhip and laid vaste to many of our kind. Zhe first vielder of zhe vhip ve are looking for.
 * Alhazred - Huh. And I was named after him? Zran Kar has an odd sense of humour.
 * Hys - I'm gonna go back to the castle now before the Countess starts complaining. I'll roll around the sand a bit to get bruises and pretend you guys beat me up. But before I go...

Hys reached her hands, grabbing both Varelos and Dragostea and giving them both a tight, mutual hug. Varelos was caught by surprise but a smile grew on his face, and he put his own arms around both his bride and his daughter. Dragostea smiled warmly and closed her eyes, brought to tears as the three of them embraced in a family hug that had been deprived for many, many millennia. Hachi sat up and watched the hug, smiling himself as he observed their heartwarming, if brief, reunion, still feeling the sensation of Hys' kiss upon his lips which added to his smile. Alfgund settled and was content to watch, huffing and laxing his shoulders.


 * Javina - ...You and us... we are not so different, after all. - Javina looked at the couple with a somewhat surprised look. - ...Maybe I was wrong. Darkness... it does not equate heartlessness.
 * Hys - Well... I'm going now. I'll see you all soon. And don't worry about me, I know how to take care of myself.

Hys delivered a wink at Javina's direction before extending her wings and levitating to outside of the tent, until she disappeared from sight completely. Varelos let out a long, content sigh as he walked over to where he was sitting previously and sat down once again, with a cheerful, relaxed expression on his face. This time, however, he found Dragostea curled up to his side, exhaling heavily and her hands wrapped around his torso. Hachi smiled and laid down, closing his eyes and also sighing contently, although for reasons differing to those of the Dalverat name.

Alfgund sat and shoved Khadya away from him, pulling a small notebook from one of the pouches on one of his many straps and belts. Kanna grumbled and folded his arms in annoyance, a palm against his face. After everything that had happened, the Sea Witch merely shrugged and covered her eyes with her hat so she could go to sleep. Yurthez let out an annoyed grunt as he sat down, with nothing to do. The thought of being around all these vampires but not be able to kill them bothered him severely. Khadya approached Yurthez and sat by his side, huffing also in irritance as she polished one of the hunting knives that would have usually been strapped to the side of her waist. Whilst many would find the mere presence of a Derevar unpleasant, it appeared that this mattered little to her, for Yurthez was the only one of the team she could identify with, for he too was an elf, albeit different to her in a large number of ways.

Coven of Glass
Three days passed since Hys' visit to the team. It was daytime as the caravan moved on, the team sitting on the back of a Merovar carriage. The Merovar talked and laughed among themselves, mostly ignoring the team due to a combination of not wanting to get involved with their business and intimidation from how some of its members looked like. The Sea Witch waved a hand in front of her repeatedly as she groaned and sweated from the heat while Varelos stared at his own hand, which had exposed to the desert's sun for too long. The vampire lord's hand had been stripped to the bone, though it bothered him less than one would expect. Dragostea sat beside her father and glanced towards his mutilated hand with evident discomfort upon her face, reaching out to bring it out of the sunlight. Alfgund too suffered from the heat, using his inquisitorial hat as a means to fan and cool himself, while Hachi and Kanna sat beside one another, discussing the events of the night three days prior. Khadya sat beside Yurthez, her eyes analysing the Derevar repeatedly in silence. Yurthez eyed Khadya in silence as well, though he preferred to keep his eyes away from the team. Javina looked from the caravan into the desert sky, her eyes locked into introspection.


 * Alfgund - It is an honest wonder how men reside within these lands. The air is as dense as Alhassal culture.
 * Sea Witch - This place is hell. Kanna, freeze me or something.
 * Kanna - Yeah, I feel like I'm going to keel over. It's like standing in a volcano's backside. Far too hot.
 * Hachi - Not as hot as that succubus those few nights back, hehe.
 * Kanna - Will you shut up about that? We're going to rescue, you know, your girlfriend.
 * Hachi - ... P-Please don't tell her about that. She'll kill me before the vampires do!
 * Javina - You're obsessed over her, aren't you? - having suddenly overheard the Lagosi's discussion, the Inquisitor turned to them, with a sarcastic smile on her face - That's the... tenth time I heard you talking about her this day, and the sun hasn't set yet.
 * Hachi - Yeah, w-well... I-It was out of the blue. It's not e-every day that happens.
 * Dragostea - You do not hear me and my fazher conzinuing onward. As joyous as zhe occasion vas, zhe conversazion has grown stale.

Varelos glanced at the Hachi and let out a quiet chuckle before looking back forward.


 * Varelos - Young love is a beautiful zhing.
 * Javina - Beautiful?

The Inquisitor raised her eyebrow.


 * Javina - In times of peace, perhaps. But not on the field of battle. What I see now is weakness gnawing at the Lagosi's heart.
 * Hachi - W-Weakness? ... It's Clotho that drives me onward, she doesn't make me weak. It's the opposite! She gives me the strength to keep fighting!
 * Javina - Women like her also make people do... stupid things. And in times like this, we cannot abide stupidity. Tell me, what do you care about more? The safety of your... girlfriend... or the fate of the world you live in? I see it in your eyes now. You'd gladly trade the latter for the former.
 * Hachi - What, and you haven't loved before? You've always been stone cold and blank like a rock? ... She is the fate of the world we live in, and saving her means saving everyone else. That gives me another reason to keep fighting, rather than just because I was told to like you.
 * Javina - But will you have the strength for the final measure? Are you certain your girl is not beyond saving, and if so, that you will be able to save her? I saw countless innocents fall prey to darkness. For them... death was the only release.
 * Hachi - ... No matter what, I'll find a way to save her. I won't sacrifice her for the world, or the world for her; I'll find a way to save both, and I won't stop until I do, even if it means I end up dead. There are always options other than death.
 * Javina - Trust me. Sometimes, there aren't. Love... it blinds you to reality.
 * Hachi - You've loved someone before? That's hard to believe. I wonder who the poor guy was.
 * Javina - That's... not for everyone to know. - Javina turned away from Hachi slowly and returned to her place, gazing into the burning desert sky - "Poor guy." Huh...
 * Alfgund - I loved. Once. It is true, I would have done stupid things to feed my quench for affection, but alas... I was left with a foul taste in my mouth.
 * Yurthez - I'd love if you all stopped talking about this.

All of a sudden, the team were met with the sight of a Merovar, doused in blood and deep, mortal wounds, being flung into the entrance of the carriage to fall limp onto the floor, a golden dagger residing within the merchant's chest and a slit across his neck. Blood squirted from the corpse and Kanna and Hachi's ears perked as they became aware of the sound of metal clashing against metal outside of the carriage, and Khadya went for her shortbow. Alfgund flung himself from the carriage to investigate... only to be greeted with the edge of a golden shortsword grazing his cheek, its handle held within the grasp of a catlike humanoid wearing decorative armour.

Ankhori. Khaepsha-Ultan was here.

The Sea Witch let out a yell as she flung herself back up, and Yurthez immediately reached for his knives to throw them at the Ankhori attacking Alfgund. Varelos' eyes narrowed as he gripped on his greasword, getting in front of Dragostea to shield her from potential attacks. The Merovar outside of the caravan attempted to protect it at all costs, fighting the Ankhori assailants by dual-wielding longswords with scimitars and using their body flexibility to evade their blows. Javina drew her blade.


 * Javina - Them.
 * Ankhori - The Phararch demands the spilling of your innards! Your sacrifice!

Alfgund raised his morningstar in an attempt to slam his Ankhori assailant, although the warrior stretched out a hand and opened his palm, releasing a telekinetic blast of force that launched Alfgund some distance away before lunging for the human warrior. Khadya rushed out of the carriage and began firing her arrows, piercing several nearby warriors that were distracted by the Merovar, although she was also met with Ankhori archers. Varelos charged at the Ankhori and sent his greatsword at his direction, aiming to slash him across the torso with it while the Sea Witch created a jet of water from her palms to blast at him. However, due to the heat, the Witch's powers were severely weakened.


 * Javina - Do you know who you face? The Desertsuns have battled against you for decades, beasts.
 * Ankhori - Desertsun! You will burn, as have all those you and your lineage have murdered!

From a distance, several Ankhori archers, the heads of their arrows steaming with fire, launched their missiles at the carriage the team had been travelling within. Alfgund attempted to manipilate the earth at their feet, although all he could find was sand - a magical art he had not mastered. From the other side of the carriage, the group watched as daggers and shortswords pierced through the materials; Khahurnim, dressed in basic armour and covered in scarring, were attempting to flank the team. Yurthez growled as he sent his barbed whip at the Ankhori invader while the Sea Witch let out a yelp as she noticed the daggers entering the carriage's walls.


 * Sea Witch - Why the hell even!

Javina took her torch and began to wave it in front of the invading felines, while swinging her scimitar in arcs - cutting down through the Ankhori attackers. The barbed whip pierced the Ankhori's skin, although the creature growled as it struck him and he reached to grasp ahold of the weapon, resulting in him yelping as the silver barbs dug into his paw and letting go. Kanna leaped, bursting through the carriage's ceiling, and swung his swords in all directions, knocking away and slashing at the Khahurnim slave-soldiers. Dragostea groaned and unleashed a sphere of dark magic, blasting away several Ankhori as she stepped out of the carriage, her veil and heavy clothes protecting her from the sunlight.


 * Dragostea - Vacate zhe vehicle!

Varelos leaped out of the carriage in front of Dragostea, swinging his massive, macabre weapon at the invaders while the Sea Witch struggled to cast her magic, too dehydrated to create water. Yurthez ran outside and kept whipping both Ankhori and Khahurnim, aiming at the unprotected parts of their bodies. As an Ankhori soldier attempted to flank the Sea Witch, Hachi launched himself in front of it, knocking away its weapon with his blade and slashing at the feline's legs, knocking it down before kicking it away. Dragostea's claws tore through the armour of their enemies as if it were paper and rended their flesh and bone, while Alfgund used his morningstar to crumple and crush his foes. Khadya leaped around, flipping and backflipping, as she launched arrows at the warriors who sought to execute them from afar. Kanna, meanwhile, dived to assist the surviving Merovar.

A dark energy manifested on Varelos' hand in the form of a sphere which he then launched at the Ankhori, and once it it hit them, an explosion of dark magic blasted them back and sucked the life out of them. The vampire lord panted heavily, the attack clearly sapping some of his own energy.


 * Sea Witch - Hell, we're not gonna last too long here. This is why I hate the desert!

Soon, more Ankhori began to emerge, followed by their Khahurnim serfs. Alfgund and Kanna found themselves resorting to fighting back to back as they slammed and slashed at their foes, while Hachi ensured to protect the Sea Witch at all costs as she could not protect herself. Dragostea and Khadya attacked their targets from a distance with dark magic, although it was clear the battle was beginning to take its toll. However, in the midst of the bloodshed, as another several squads of Ankhori warriors charged to tackle the group, the team watched as from seemingly nowhere, pillars of fire burst forth from the ground, surrounding and engulfing the Ankhori, charring them and turning them to crisp before their very eyes. The Sea Witch's eyes widened at the sight of the flames while both Yurthez and Varelos took a step back in surprise.


 * Kanna - ... That wasn't me.
 * Yurthez - Keep your eyes open.

More pillars of fire were launched from the earth, piercing and melting through Ankhori and Khahurnim soldiers. Dragostea's eyes widened as she shifted herself to her left and looked beyond the horizon, for she could feel, deep within her, a familiar presence - a presence that Varelos could recognize as well, while Yurthez could only know that such presence was vampiric in nature. Upon the horizon, sat upon a troupe of desert horses that appeared Alhassan in origin, were several figures in decorative, feminine veils.


 * Dragostea - No... Not her. Anyone but her. How could she find us in zhe middle of zhis vasteland?!
 * Varelos - Oh! My dear!
 * Yurthez - More vampires?
 * Javina - Her? Are you talking about...

Javina's body shivered slightly. As a denizen of the desert, she knew full well of the demons that called it home. Soon enough, the group were met by the horse-riding figures, with a tall, winged figure sat upon the most impressive of the desert horses, wearing a decorative and eccentric headset and skirt while a patch covered her left eye; smiled widely beneath her veil and cackled, her horse standing upon two legs as she greeted the group. Kanna took a step back while Alfgund trudged a foot forward, and Hachi and Khadya's eyes were drawn to the succubus and her posse of vampiric followers.


 * Aurora - Nhamastei from zhe Coven of Glass, travellers! And velcome to zhe Sea of Sand!
 * Javina - Yes. Her.
 * Sea Witch - What the hell?
 * Varelos - My first daughzher!
 * Alhazred - Wait up, Varelos. She might be under Zran Kar's control.
 * Aurora - How joyous it is to see you once again, fazher! ... And how tragic zhat you have brought along zhe vench zhat is my sister.
 * Dragostea - Ve are not sisters.
 * Yurthez - Who do you side with, Succubus? Are you under Zran Kar's orders?
 * Javina - You expect her to tell the truth?
 * Aurora - Analuhati's orders? Vhy, I have not been graced vizh his presence for millennia. And zhere is little need; I fulfill zhe vishes of my fazher even today, after so long! Is it not vonderful?
 * Javina - ...Can we trust her?
 * Sea Witch - Hey, how about we, you know, KILL THE CAT PEOPLE FIRST?!
 * Javina - ...I'm in.
 * Aurora - Of course! Coven, let us dance!

Javina turned from the graceful desert succubus to the invading Ankhori and then resumed cutting them down while setting their furry coats on fire. Aurora and her vampiric followers, some of which succubi themselves, leaped from their horses and engaged the Ankhori, with Aurora unleashing streams of fire at their assailants, which Kanna also participated with. Hachi sat with the Sea Witch, striking at any enemy that strayed too close, and Khadya fired at Ankhori archers and Khahurnim dagger-handlers. Dragostea stayed away from Aurora while blasting bursts of cold, dark magic at the feline creatures, freezing and shattering them within instants. Yurthez launched knives and whip strikes at the Ankhori while Varelos swung his large blade at the enemies, using whatever strength he could muster to sever their body parts. All of his movements caused his cloak to fall from his head, revealing his weakened appearance to Aurora.

Aurora turned and gasped as she watched the cloak fall from her father's face, struck at the extent of the damage afflicted onto Varelos and left in shock for several moments while her vampire assistants countered the Ankhori. Soon, the Khaepsha-Ultan warriors retreated, their numbers severely reduced, although not before Aurora and Dragostea unleashed blasts of dark magic at them. Once the last of the Ankhori and Khahurnim escaped from the team's wrath, Aurora rushed to her father's aid, while Dragostea kept her eyes turned away from them. Hachi's eyes, however, remained fixated on Aurora. Varelos stumbled in place before walking over to Aurora, putting his skeletal hands on her cheeks as he inspected her. A smile grew on the old vampire's face.


 * Varelos - You really aren't hypnotized. Zese are splendid news.
 * Aurora - Fazher, vhat is zhis?! Vhat has happened to you? Did Dragostea hurt you?
 * Dragostea - Eat a stake.
 * Varelos - No, my sweet. It vas Zran Kar. He betrayed us, deposed me and enslaved a girl to serve as my replacement. Your brozhers and sisters have all been brainvashed into his slaves.
 * Javina - ...How did she escape being dominated?
 * Sea Witch - Good point. Both her and Dragostea escaped Zran Kar's mind control somehow.
 * Alhazred - I speculate Zran Kar's hex may have had an area of effect, and both were outside of it. But it wouldn't explain how the orcs at the Western Forests got dominated... Urgh, this almost looks like he left them free on purpose.
 * Javina - He has a plan.
 * Aurora - Hmph. It vill be his greatest mistake, in zhat case. Nobody desposes of my fazher and gets avay vizh it.
 * Dragostea - I've said zhis already, no need to repeat. Hmph, I suppose you vill be useful somehow, should you keep your mouzh *shut.
 * Aurora - I have more to contribute towards conversazion zhan you do, believe it or not. I'm not as cold as a frozen rat's asshole for starters.

Javina watched - confused, infuriated, angry and infatuated at the same time - as the two beautiful succubi argued, taking note of every word and every movement of their pale figures. From the expression on her face, it seemed that she was on the brink of biting her own fingers.


 * Javina - ...Pheonas smite me. Two of them. Two of them...
 * Sea Witch - What's up with you two?
 * Dragostea - Nozhing is "up wizh us". We simply... do not see eye to eye.
 * Aurora - Suck Derevar essence, vizch! I am at least fazher's favourite.
 * Dragostea - Perhaps in your dreams. Zhe heat appears to have had a bad effect on your zhinking.
 * Varelos - Girls, girls. Please. I have no favorites. I love all of my children equally.
 * Aurora - Is zhat vhy you exiled Dragostea from home vhen she challenged you?
 * Dragostea - Hold your tongue before I take it!
 * Yurthez - Ugh. Would you all shut up? Help the Merovar up so we can get back on our track.
 * Khadya - As amusing as it is to watch, I am inclined to agree with the Derevar elder. We cannot waste time, for otherwise, more of those felines may arrive.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah! And I need water!
 * Varelos - Aurora, come vith us. Help us retake Castle Nightshade. Your siblings and your mozher are all in danger.
 * Aurora - Mozher... Of course, fazher! It vould be my honour to retake zhe Castle and fight zhe god zhat seeks your destruczion!
 * Dragostea - Just shut up and get back on your horse already.
 * Aurora - Vhy don't you go ride one?

Aurora whistled to her vampiric posse as she climbed back upon her horse, with her group beginning to assist the Merovar in recovering and settling down - an odd sight for those that know the hostility of vampires. Hachi continued to eye Aurora before Kanna grasped the scruff of his neck and dragged him away, and Alfgund scratched the wound dealt to his cheek before going to assist in anything that required heavylifting. Dragostea remained close to her father and cleaned her fingers of Ankhori blood via licking them, and Khadya kept close to Yurthez, shaking her head with folded arms. The Sea Witch resumed in waving the air in front of her while both Yurthez and Varelos went over to help the Merovar.

Alhazred, at Kanna's belt, however, appeared apprehensive. He felt as if something horrible was about to happen.

Death's Wrath
The month was coming to an end as the team finally parted ways with the Merovar caravan. Getting sufficiently to the east, they now made their way north by foot and horses. According to Varelos' estimates, they would arrive to the mountainrange where Castle Nightshade was located in a few more weeks. As the endless seas of sand were very slowly replaced by more earthly terrain, a sandstorm began raging, causing the team to lose some of their visibility. The Sea Witch covered her eyes as she kept walking forward, keeping close to the others while Yurthez held on his hat so it would not fly away. Varelos rode on one of the Coven of Glass' horses, holding on his cloak as the sand made it hard for him to see with a single eye. Aurora rode near the front of her team, with her posse of vampires trekking behind her, while Dragostea had been deprived of a horse and was forced to walk like the others. Kanna carried Hachi upon his back while Khadya stayed behind Yurthez, keeping her eyes squinted and covered so as to avoid the sand. Alfgund used his buckler to shield himself from the sand, although was somewhat weighed down by his own mass as he trudged through the sand. Javina, seemingly unaffected but the wave of sand, strode atop Arya through the desert, followed by Feli.


 * Sea Witch - My damned eyes, I'm so glad we're getting out of th-
 * ??? - Help! Someone!

At this moment, a cry of help ahead of the team. A familiar voice, heard by some of the team by now, though it affected Hachi, the Sea Witch, Kanna and Alhazred the most.

It was Nyakik's voice.


 * Hachi - Nyakik? ... Nyakik!
 * Kanna - Wait, Hachi! It could be a trap!
 * ??? - Hachi? Is that you! Get me off this cage this instant!

Kanna groaned and rushed ahead, attempting to follow the voice where it called out to them, while Hachi rode Kanna excitedly, his hands covering the elder Lagosi's eyes. Dragostea eyed the Lagosi and grunted, following them alongside Alfgund and Khadya.


 * Hachi - Hurry Kanna! Nyakik could be in trouble!
 * Kanna - Get your hands out of my eyes!

The sandstorm slowly dissipated as ahead of them, they could see a plain region and a tiny cage at the very center. Nyakik was trapped in it, reaching a paw over to the two Lagosi as they approached. Hachi leaped from Kanna's back, knocking him to the floor, and rushed towards Nyakik with an eager bounce in his steps, his eye focused on Nyakik and the cage she was left within. Kanna coughed as he sat up, spitting dirt out of his mouth before he also rushed behind Hachi, while Alfgund and Dragostea kept their distance from the spectacle, watching outside of the vicinity and just outside of the sandstorm.

The Sea Witch also ran, getting close to the two Lagosi until she came to a halt. As soon as Hachi got to the cage, it vanished. An illusion, disappearing right before his eyes. A mere distraction, taking the team's attention away from what really awaited them here. Behind the Sea Witch, a tall, cloaked figure emerged from the sand, two glaring red fireballs for eyes as he wielded an immense scythe. And with a single slash, the team watched the Sea Witch's head fall out of her shoulders, and her body then fell forward, lifeless.


 *  - Surprise.

Hachi and Kanna's eyes widened as they watched the decapitation take place, their mouths dropping in utter shock and disbelief as they watched her blood spill onto the ground. Alfgund found himself stunned due to the simplicity of the kill, and Khadya shielded her eyes as it happened. Dragostea stepped towards her father, a cold sweat dropping down her face as her teeth clattered together. Javina froze in disbelief.


 * Dragostea - ...
 * Kanna - Sea... S-Sea W-Witch...
 * Varelos - M-Mortium...
 * Javina - ...The Crone herself, here? ...how...
 * Mortium - Your meddling has gone too far, false Count. You and your friends will be buried beneath the sands of this desert to never walk the earth ever again!

Mortium's skeletal wings opened as he swung his scythe once again, sending sand across the landscape in an explosive eruption. Varelos and Yurthez both stepped back, clearly intimidated, not knowing how to deal with this situation. Kanna leaped back, tugging on Hachi to bring him with him, and Alfgund grasped ahold of several grenades before shaking them and launching them at Mortium, although despite his valiant act he found himself trembling, uneasy as he was affronted by Death itself. Khadya froze and fell to her knees in silence, while Dragostea stayed close to Yurthez and Varelos.


 * Alfgund - ... Our quest ends here?
 * Javina - No... It does not have to end like this...
 * Varelos - My old friend... please...
 * Yurthez - Death. I knew I would have to fight you one day.
 * Mortium - Bertonius. I have thirsted for your soul for too long!

The explosions from Alfgund's grenades seemingly did nothing to the Grim Reaper, going through his body as if he was not even there. Yurthez let out a growl as he launched his silver-barbed whip at Mortium, only for the Grim Reaper to extend his hand and grab it. Yurthez's eyes widened as he a grin grew on Mortium's skeletal visage, before he pulled the whip into his own direction, throwing Yurthez forward and making him fall flat into the sent. Putting his scythe over his head, Mortium then sent it down, causing it to dig into Yurthez's spine. The Derevar let out a pained scream as his soul was sucked out of his body until he finally went silent.


 * Alfgund - By the Stormfather, we have been condemned!

Hachi growled and drew his sword, much to Kanna's dismay. While Mortium's back was turned, Hachi rushed to attempt flanking the Grim Reaper, while Kanna groaned and mumbled profanities to himself as he ran behind the Lagosi and fired streams of magic, both fire and ice, although in truth both of them trembled with fear. Kanna almost tripped as he ran, while Hachi rolled and made an attempt to slash the Simulacra from behind. Kanna's magic hit Mortium's back, causing the Grim Reaper to flinch and turn himself. Hachi could see his sword passing through the Simulacrum's body as he looked down at him and reached his hand, grabbing the Lagosi boy by his head. An excruciating pain hit Hachi as Mortium devoured his soul from his body.


 * Alhazred - Hachi! No!

Hachi's body dropped lifelessly, his body colliding with the earth. Kanna flipped back, panting and gasping with widened eyes, sweat dripping from his fur while his magic began to fade in and out of existence. Alfgund stepped back, the massacre before his eyes causing him to shudder and pause in his step, dropping his morningstar.


 * Dragostea - F-Fazher... F-Fazher v-vhat do ve do...
 * Kanna - H-Hachi... O-Oh, H-Hachi...
 * Varelos - Ve... ve fight. Zat's vhat. A Dalverat does not run avay from battle! All of you, use magic! It's ze only vay your attacks vill hit him!
 * Javina - Almighty Pheonas... - Javina stared at the scene in disbelief - ...So it all ends... like this? Struck down by the hand of a demon?

A sphere of dark manifested on Varelos' palm which was then thrown at Mortium's exploding against the Reaper's head and causing him to stagger backwards. The skeletal wraith turned his head to Varelos in clear anger, his hypnotized eyes burning more intensely. Dragostea nodded to Varelos and extended her sharp claws, garnering dark magic between her long fingertips before launching streams of dark cryomancy at the Grim Reaper, using her wings to remain mobile and hard to hit. Soon, Aurora and her vampire accomplices appeared through the sandstorm and, leaping from her horse, Aurora sent spires of fire in Mortium's direction, her fingertips engulfed in flame. Mortium hissed as his free was engulfed in dark lightning and he pointed at the Succubi. he launched the Finger of Death at their direction, hoping to hit them but mossing due to their agility.


 * Dragostea - So you finally decided to lend a hand!
 * Aurora - I didn't see you doing anyzhing!
 * Varelos - Stop fighzing zis instant, you two! Ve're in a life and deazh situation!

Dragostea and Aurora groaned to each other as they continued to launch the extent of their magic towards Mortium while trying to maintain mobility, causing plenty of their attacks to miss the Grim Reaper and strike around or behind him. Alfgund attempted to conjure his geomancy, telekinetically launching rocks and stones at Mortium's direction, having perhaps forgotten about his morningstar. Khadya, meanwhile, remained quiet and watched. Stones collided and broke against Mortium, who was knocked forward slightly before turning his gaze to behind him. Noticing Kanna not attacking, the Reaper levitating to his direction and with a swift strike, slashed the Lagosi elder at his throat... but his head was not severed.

Kanna was launched against the ground, grasping his throat and looking at the blood upon his hand - a minor wound that missed any vital components yet still damaged the flesh. He panted and sighed in relief before looking back at Mortium and unleashing a trio of fireballs from his palm, at the same time crawling back to avoid another strike. Mortium staggered back, letting out a groan out of both pain and confusion.


 * Mortium - You... Why can I not reap your soul? You are not a mere mortal, are you?
 * Kanna - W-What are you d-doing...? W-Why didn't you kill me?!
 * Mortium - You tell me. What are you?
 * Kanna - I... I'm a Lagosi! Can't you see that?! I'm as mortal as anyone else! I'm not your plaything!
 * Mortium - ... I will deal with you later, entity.

Turning back, Mortium focused his sight on the Succubi above him. Most specifically, Dragostea. In a span of a second, the Reaper disappeared from where he stood and now floated next to Dragostea, a fang-filled grin on his skull as he glared at the Succubus. Dragostea's eyes widened as she saw Death right beside her, and as agile as she was, she was utterly incapable of garnering the speed to attack him then and there. Even with her mastery over cryomancy and her natural affinity for the dark arts, she felt a cold, damning shudder slither down her spine, and she gasped quietly, a cold tinge to her fearful breath.


 * Dragostea - Not here... Not like zhis...

Mortium raised his scythe, and struck. The sound of flesh being penetrated was heard... yet Dragostea felt no pain. Something was between her and Mortium now, the Reaper's scythe penetrating his chest, piercing through his heart. Varelos von Dalverat shielded his daughter, pushing Mortium back as he could, gasping in pain as his life came to an end. however, his expression did not appear frightened or pained. Instead, he was content with himself.


 * Varelos - Drag... ostea... I'm... sorry... for everyzhing...

With his last breath, Varelos pushed Mortium away from the Succubus, and his flesh burned away. The cloak he wore was taken by the wind as the vampire lord was reduced to bones which fell down into the sand, lifeless. Dragostea's eyed her father's remains and watched his cloak flutter into the wind in absolute silence, the sounds of people panicking and lamenting around her appearing to fade out to her. Aurora crashed into the ground near her father's bones and sobbed, screaming as tears exploded from her eyes and she clasped the dust left by the vampire lord, watching it trickle through her fingertips. Dragostea stood still, as if paralyzed, and watched Mortium back away from Varelos' last shove, dark magic dissipating from her hands.


 * Dragostea - Fazher... Faz... her...
 * Aurora - He's dead?! He... H-He's DEAD?!! D-Damn it! Damn it, damn it, D-DAMN IT! ... Y-You killed him! Z-Zhis is Y-YOUR fault, Dragostea!
 * Alhazred - Varelos... This is bad. We have no way of defeating one of the twelves gods in battle like this... What hope is there for us now?
 * Javina - This... is not a god. There is no god... but Pheonas... and I am His warrior! Alhassal ak-ar, Pheonas er-tan!
 * Mortium - Join your god beneath the earth, human!

Slowly, Javina stood up and leaped at the dark Simulacrum, swinging her scimitar wildly. Her eyes, mad from fury, were devoid of all hope; her charge was a move of desperation. Javina's strikes all passed through the Simulacrum's spectral body, and it would only take a moment until Javina felt the pain of a blade hitting her neck as Mortium launched his scythe at her direction. The Inquisitor fell without a scream or even a whimper, her lifeless body hitting the ground with a loud thud. Alfgund watched on as the Inquisitor was felled in a single swoop of Mortium's blade, and yet, while he knew that her loss was a symbol of his own condemning, he felt little. He was not left in shock, or horror, or any state that could be called remotely negative; if anything, deep within himself, reluctantly, he felt something that he could only identify as contentment. Maybe even satisfaction.

Suddenly, blood spilled onto the sand as Dragostea stood over the weeping Aurora, forcing back tears in her eyes as she looked down at Varelos' remains. Aurora gasped and looked up at her sister, holding her cheek as it stung from Dragostea's slap, and wiped away the tears that streamed down her face. Their eyes met, and there was silence for some time before Dragostea spoke up, her tone quiet like a whisper.


 * Dragostea - Look at zhe state of you. Fazher's favourite daughzer is bawling on zhe sands and zhrowing zhe blame at ozhers like a child. ... He died prozecting me, yes. Zhat killed him.
 * Aurora - Bizch! Do you feel nozhing?! Fazher died before your very eyes and you feel nozhing!
 * Dragostea - Aurora, you are vrong. I feel somezhing. Somezhing cold. And vet. I feel angry, Aurora. Sad, upset. But most of all, angry.
 * Aurora - At least ve can... agree on somezhing...
 * Dragostea - Aurora, fazher vouldn't have vanted zhis. He vould have vanted us to be safe, to run away and not look back.
 * Aurora - ... A-Are ve going to do zhat...?
 * Dragostea - Hell no.
 * Mortium - Worry not, wenches, for you will meet your father again soon. In the grave!

Aurora clambered to her feet, wiping the tears from her lone eye as she looked towards Mortium and the colossal scythe held within his grasp. Dragostea turned her attention towards the Grim Reaper and stepped forward, mustering dark energy across her body as she began to hiss and snarl, with spheres of dark magic culminating from her ghastly aura. Aurora, too, glared at Mortium and garnered dark magic within her claws, black flames beginning to erupt from her own aura.


 * Dragostea - Mortium! I vill make you eat zhat scyzhe!
 * Aurora - Ve vill make you eat zhat scyzhe!
 * Mortium - Die for the Countess! Die for Analuhati!

Mortium's skeletal wings extended once more as he quickly flew at the sisters' direction, preparing his scythe to strike at her. Extending and flexing their vampiric talons, two streams of dark magic - cryomancy and pyromancy - were sent forth from the sisters' fingertips and began to mold and twirl around one another as a single attack, aiming directly for the skeletal figure ahead of them once he had strayed into their vicinity. Pillars of fire erupted around Aurora while the sand began to freeze at Dragostea's feet, the two vampires screeching with the intensity to burst eardrums. Mortium was hit by the attacks and forced to halt his charge as he was staggered back, letting out a pained hiss. Something about the Succubi's attacks caused the Grim Reaper to lose his focus.

Dragostea grinned, exposing her fangs, as she dashed to her side and sent bubbles of dark ice at Mortium, while Aurora flew opposite to her, surrounding Mortium from both sides, and launching bursts of intense flames at the Grim Reaper, never losing mobility. Their attacks were coordinated between one another without even speaking or gesturing, and the two of them were so fast that the sands beneath them was kicked up and sent into the air. Mortium let out a loud groan as his cloak was set on fire, causing the Grim Reaper to be set alight. His skeleton wings flapped as he swung his scythe, trying to hit at least one of the Succubi.


 * Dragostea - You vill pay for your betrayal, Mortium! You and every ozher pawn of Analuhati!

With her claws engulfed in dark magic, Dragostea flew forward, narrowly avoiding the edge of condemnation that the scythe wielded, and made an attempt to scratch the skull that was Mortium's face. As she made her front assault, Aurora moved to flank the Grim Reaper, and unleashed an unrelenting spiral of dark, magical flame at Mortium from her palms. Despite their sudden burst of energy and their agility, it was clear that, slowly, they were beginning to tire from expunging and utilizing as much essence as they were using. Mortium let out a loud yell as scartch marks were visible in his skull, and the Reaper staggered back, holding on his head. After a few moments, he showed his face once more, though it appeared different.

The hypnotizing flaming eyeballs he possessed were gone.


 * Mortium - ...Where am I... What is this? Why am I on fire?
 * Dragostea - Aurora, help me finish him! He's staggered, now is our chance!
 * Aurora - Fazher's girls vill have zheir payback!
 * Mortium - Hm? Aurora and Dragostea? My, I have not seen either of you in years.
 * Dragostea - Do not give us zhat! You know vhat you have done!
 * Alhazred - Succubi! Cease attacking! I believe you may have helped him regain control of his mind!
 * Mortium - What is everyone talking about?

Dragostea and Aurora stopped in their tracks, watching Mortium apprehensively as they stepped away from him, eyeing his movements and the scythe between his skeletal fingertips. Mortium could see from the looks on the Succubi's faces that they were angered and exhausted, their eyes darkened as if they had been crying. Kanna limped towards the scene, rubbing the wound on his throat while Alfgund remained vigilant, clasping his grenades with precaution.


 * Mortium - ...Wait. Now I remember... Analuhati took over the minds of everyone at Castle Nightshade. He put a girl in charge and kicked Varelos off the castle.
 * Dragostea - Yes, and you killed him, Mortium!
 * Mortium - ...Did I?... Oh dear, I did... I also killed a lot of others too, it seems. But it is not your time yet.

Mortium levitated down and his scythe disappeared from his hands, being replaced by another object: a bell. Energy flowed through the bell as Mortium rang it, and one by one, the members of the team were brought back to life, their body parts being put back together and their wounds being healed. The Sea Witch gasped as her head returned to her body, and both Yurthez and Hachi groaned as they slowly awoke once again. Varelos' flesh reformed around his bones until the vampire stumbled to get back up, looking at his own body in surprise.


 * Varelos - ...I live once again?
 * Sea Witch - Oh god, please, I never want to die again, it's horrible.
 * Javina - ...So that's how she feels...
 * Aurora - Fazher!!
 * Dragostea - Varelos!!

Both Succubi flew down and tackled Varelos into the ground, wrapping their arms around the vampire lord. He smiled as he looked at his children, passing his hands through their hair as he realized he had his second eye back again. Kanna smiled slightly as he noticed Hachi awakening before turning back to the other, the younger Lagosi holding his head in pain for a moment while Alfgund rolled his eyes upon noticing Javina waking up again. Mortium levitated to Varelos' direction and bowed to him.


 * Mortium - My Count.
 * Varelos - Old friend. It is good to see you again.
 * Mortium - Analuhati must pay for this transgression. He must pay with blood.
 * Aurora - Oh, ve vill make him pay vith far more than just blood, zat's for sure.
 * Khadya - Now that Death has regained his sense, perhaps he can aid us in our quest now.
 * Yurthez - True. Death, where is the Coronaira Whip?
 * Mortium - Hm? Bertonius... I see. You want to use the Whip against Analuhati. Fair enough, that is after all its purpose.
 * Varelos - Vhere is it, Mortium? Vhere did you hide ze Vhip?
 * Mortium - At the Underworld. The Whip is at the Underworld.

Hachi let out a yelp as he turned to the team's direction, walking over to them and sittind down next to Kanna.


 * Hachi - Underworld? B-but I was just there... t-there's nothing but bones there... Not even the funny kind, either.
 * Varelos - If zat is ze case, zen ve must go to ze Undervorld and take ze Vhip.
 * Mortium - I must warn you all, the Underworld is not meant for mortals. If we are going to visit it, we must be brief, or your lives will be taken away and your souls will be removed from your bodies.
 * Alfgund - The brave and stalwart Alfgund does not cower from skeletons!
 * Sea Witch - If it means saving Clothovera, I'd go all the way to the Void if needed.
 * Javina - So shall it be. Pheonas keeps me.

Mortium looked at the team and nodded at them, raising his scythe and making a slash in the air. A portal manifested itself, and Mortium beckoned the team to follow him. One by one, they made their way inside... to visit the land of the dead. They would get the Whip and leave as soon as possible, or they would remain there for good.

The Coronaira Whip
As the team traversed through the portal, their bodies felt light as they were blinded by an intense darkness. Upon regaining their senses, they found themselves floating inside of a force-field, with Mortium holding his scythe in front of him and seemingly leading the way. Looking around, the team found themselves in a barren, darkened wasteland, stormy purple skies above them releasing ethereal thunderbolts at the landscape at random. Not a single living thing could be seen except for armies of skeletal creatures who seemingly wandered around aimlessly, sometimes by themselves or in groups. This was the Underworld, the plane where Mortium stored the souls of the deceased. Dragostea appeared unnerved somewhat, her claws twitching in anticipation for an attack, while Aurora drew her blades and kept them at her sides, snarling with one eye focused on the spectres outside. Alfgund clasped his morningstar as he watched the surroundings around them, pounded its head lightly against the palm of his other hand, while Kanna and Hachi stayed close, the former's eyes tied onto the latter with caution. Khadya walked beside Yurthez, quiet, with her eyes glancing towards the floor. Javina looked around nervously, her eyes darting from place to place and from one skeletal crature to another - fear engulfing her usually calm and collected mind. For all her knowledge of things both immaterial and material, she was powerless now in this realm of death and oblivion.


 * Mortium - You are the first mortals to ever... "visit" the Underworld.
 * Sea Witch - I'd say it is an honour but I want to get the hell out of here as fast as possible.
 * Alfgund - In Mannazia, my people claim the Underworld as many things. A hellish scape of land, a realm of paradise and utopia, a kingdom for the brave departed. In truth, this place is only a single thing. ... Spooky.
 * 'Feli - '...'Scary.''
 * Javina - Skeletal.
 * Mortium - Hellish. Heh... The Underworld was not always like this. When it was first conceived, it was a radiant landscape.
 * Javina - Like the death gardens the Hallowed priests speak of?.. - Javina looked at Mortium tentatively - The land of light and peace?
 * Mortium - Yes. Some of that is still around. But the realm in nearly all of its entirely fell into disarray. Do you want to know why?
 * Javina - ...Surely it cannot all be that dark?.. the light of Pheonas must find a way to shine... even here.
 * Mortium - Hundreds of thousands of years in your past, your world was inhabited by immortals. Beings I could not reap. I created the Underworld to give them a resting place, and how did they thank me? They never died. The Orichalcum Elves, the ancient Dragons, the Ingentes Marinis, the Ordnung... they all refused to die. And so the realm fell into disuse. And my disdain for them grew. Now, in the current days, the souls of those I did manage to reap must stay here and pay for their ingratitude.

As Mortium's voice elevated, an ethereal thunder fell down into the force-field, causing an immense explosion noise. None of them felt any damage due to the force-field, but the noise caused the Sea Witch to let out a started screech and Varelos and Yurthez' eyes to widen. Khadya shifted her head and crouched for a moment, while Hachi clasped onto Kanna tightly, jumping into his arms for comfort. Alfgund merely staggered at the thunder, scratching his head once the initial shock had come to pass, and Dragostea and Aurora both looked upwards, somewhat fazed before returning to a more relaxed state, albeit their shoulders raised rather than laxed.


 * Mortium - I care not. The most nobles of beings and the worst criminals of ages all share the same fate: they die.
 * Alfgund - And that is why we must not waste the precious time our ancestors have granted unto us, such as our freedom garnered by our Stormfather! ... Will this place grow well once again? Will there ever be a time where the dead can rest rather than wander?
 * Mortium - I did say, a part of the old, radiant Underworld still exists.
 * Hachi - All these skeletons... These are all the people that have died over the ages? They... They don't look like normal skeletons to me.
 * Mortium - These revenants hold the souls of the deceased. Each of them lives in their own little world inside their heads... Ah. We are almost there. Gaze ahead, and pay your respect for the creator of death.

Soon enough, the team's eyes laid upon the "creator of death" that Mortium spoke of; a colossal, centauroid exoskeleton, outsizing any other giant that the team has ever laid their eyes upon, laid still and cold across a vast expanse of sterile land, stalagtites and stalagmites as large as towns spawning from its bone matter. The face of the enormous corpse looked away from the team, looking out into the distance towards the horizon of the Underworld, while its upper body was shifted forward and its legs folded beneath it, as if it had collapsed unto itself. Each part of its spine could have been used to build settlements upon, each rib enough to found a cave. Javina said nothing. She just looked, tormented, at the monstrous creature, shivering in horror.


 * Varelos - ...Mortium, vhat is zhat?
 * Mortium - The Old Dead One. Yach'sephulchiuratanai, the Primordal Death. Creator of mortality, and my "employer".
 * Kanna - Looks like he's been out of business for a while.
 * Hachi - Whoa...
 * Mortium - When the Phoenixes died, the Primordal Death rose and gifted Koldenwelt with mortality. He was one of Isiris' oldest children, and one of the greatest, yet he felt sorrow for his actions. And so he commited suicide, and now serves as ornament for the realm of the dead.
 * Javina - What a... terrible... fate...'
 * Mortium - He is among friends now. Among like-minded beings. Not often I could reap the soul of one of Isiris' children.

Mortium let out a cackle before shaking his head.


 * Kanna - So, what's on his corpse that we need? Why are we going there?
 * Mortium - You will see.

As the team floated in front of the Primordal Death's titanic corpse, they could see skeletons moving through the holes of his body, moving around erratically and almost in an energetic manner. Some of the larger parts of the corpse held immense dragons made of bone which turned their heads to the team as they made their way up to the Primordal Death's head. One thing they could take glimpses of were the skeletons' eyes: always reddened, burning as they stared at them.


 * Kanna - Well that's absolutely horrifying, I think I'd like to stop dreaming now.
 * Alfgund - I have thought of that prior, Lagosi. And as much as I had tried, each attempted concluded with a single result; one cannot wake up.''

As the team finally arrived to the top of the giant's body, Mortium levitated them up to the creature's back before finally dissipating the force-field around them, causing them to fall harmlessly into the ground. In front of them, the team could see what looked like a broken, battered shrine of sorts, with an immense lump of viscous-looking objects laying in its center. The Sea Witch looked at the lump with clear disgust while Yurthez, Varelos and Alhazred became increasingly agitated.


 * Hachi - I don't like where this is going. Not one bit.
 * Dragostea - How depressing. Zhis place... all zhe vampires zhat ve have killed upon our journey, have ended up here. In a shithole.
 * Aurora - Vhat is zhe purpose of zhis?
 * Mortium - Sepulchrus! Your brother is here. Awake.
 * Kanna - Oh great, we're having dinner with the family, it seems.

At this moment, the viscous lump began moving, with an immense, fanged skull and large, skeletal limbs growing out of it. Looking more closely, the team could see the viscous things covering this entity were in fact souls. The skeletal behemoth towered over all of them, displaying a set of chest armor covered in more skeletons which let out low-pitched moans and weakly moved their arms aimlessly as he looked down at the team.


 * Kanna - Well, I am now able to confirm that there's a copious amount of shit in my pants. I say we run away now so I can change. Neat-o.
 * Khadya - I am not alien to the realm of necromancy, thus the sight of the long dead standing to attention does not bother me... but this is something other entirely.
 * Javina - Hm... Alfgund.

The Inquisitor nudged her comrade-in-arms slightly.


 * Alfgund - What is it? Now is not much of a good occasion, as one should be able to see.
 * Javina - ...If that is the final resting place for all dead... do you think she is here? Do you think we could find her?
 * Alfgund - If she resides here, her flesh has most probably decayed beyond recognition. If that is such a case, then I doubt one such as you would be interested in discovering where she spends her eternity.
 * Javina - How dare you speak of her that way! She was one of us! Our comrade!
 * Mortium - Ah, Sepulchrus. It has been a long ti-

Flaming, red eyeballs ignited on Sepulchrus' skulls, all of his skulls, as he lunged forward and opened his hand. His fingers, gigantic in size, wrapped themselves around Mortium and squeezed the Reaper in them. The Sea Witch, Yurthez and Varelos all stepped back as Sepulchrus then put Mortium over his head and launched him away with tremendous force, causing the Grim Reaper to disappear among the stormy clouds of the Underworld. The gigantic skeleton turned this his hypnotized gaze to the team.


 * Sepulchrus - I am Sepulchrus Domini. Ruler of the Underworld. Lord of all graves. Analuhati's faithful! Your intrusion in my realm is intolerable!
 * Alhazred - Oh no.
 * Dragostea - Damned Analuhati! Alvays a step beyond ours!
 * Aurora - Zhis is not good. Skeletons do not suffer to flames as flesh does!
 * Yurthez - Ugh. Just what we needed. Focus!

Sepulchrus raised his immense right hand, each finger shaped in the form of a scythe much like Mortium's as he sent it down at the team. The Sea Witch leaped out of the way, firing blasts of water at the skeleton while,Yurthez rolled forward, sending his whip at Sepulchrus' legs. Varelos lunged forward, holding on his greatsword as he slashed at the giant skeleton, and unlike when the team fought Mortium, they could see their non-magical attacks impacting against Sepulchrus' body. Aurora closed her eye for a moment and dashed forward, aiming for Sepulchrus' legs much like Yurthez and swung her blades, boasting dark magic from their edges. Kanna drew both of his blades and kept to the rear, while Hachi moved forward and attempted to flank the giant skeleton lord, skipping and hopping. Khadya raised her bow and attempted to fire, only to watch as the giant skeleton's bones made her arrows useless.

Sepulchrus looked over his shoulder and lifted one foot to crush Aurora and Yurthez under it, though his movements were far slower than Mortium's and the two had enough time to evade it. And also unlike Mortium, Sepulchrus was unflinching, the team's attacks breaking off several shards of bone from his armor but not causing any true reaction from the Revenant himself. The skeletons strapped to Sepulchrus' armor began screaming in unison as dark energy flowered through the grave lord's body, being then launched at the team's direction in the form of a wave of darknes from his hand.

Dragostea growled as she stretched out an arm and a blast of ice, infused with dark magic, shot forth from it in an attempt to freeze parts of the slower skeleton lord ahead of her. As Aurora's swords clashed with Sepulchrus' bones, they broke easily, shards of them piercing into the skeleton lord's armour; in a matter of moments, the shards ignited with fire and Aurora leaped back, cautious of Sepulchrus' movements. As Hachi flanked the colossal skeleton, he made an attempt to strike at his opponent's ankles. The Sea Witch and Varelos were hit by Sepulchrus' wave of magic, letting out pained screams as they were launched backwards, rolling through the skeleton-ridden floor beneath them. Sepulchrus began shaking himself as his soul cape began being set ablaze by Aurora's attacks, though he slowly found his legs more and more frozen from Dragostea's magic.


 * Sepulchrus - Defilers of the dead! You are all scum! You think yourselves fit to simply take what the dead keep? Do you not respect the ones who came before you?
 * Javina - How did the blood god even take control of that creature?
 * Alhazred - You underestimate Zran Kar's power, human... The Whip... I can feel the Whip... It's so close...
 * Kanna - We're hurting him but he's taking it all like it's nothing! That guy's a tank!
 * Sea Witch - At least our attacks are hitting him! Keep attacking!
 * Varelos - He cannot move vell now! Aim for his head!

Javina charged her pistol with silver bullets and joined the combined attack at the death god. The Sea Witch's eyes shined in blue as vortexes of water grew out of her hamds and were launched at Sepulchrus' head, while Varelos launched spheres of dark at the giant Revenant. Yurthez, having no magic, merely launched knives and his silver-barbed whip at the immobilized demigod. Khadya threw both of her hunting knives at the Revenant, aiming for its flaming eyes, while Hachi rolled away from the creature and watch its action from a distance. Kanna threw his hand forward and launched spikes of ice at it, while Alfgund went in to try and deliver several strikes with his morningstar, aiming for Sepulchrus' legs. Aurora continued to watch while Dragostea fired balls of dark energy at Sepulchrus' head, forced to move in order to escape Sepulchrus' line of fire.

The skulls on Sepulchrus' armor all began screaming once again as the Revenant growled out in pain from the attacks, becoming increasingly disoriented. The continued punishment on his legs caused him to fall down on his side, causing an immense thud as he was left vulnerable.


 * Alfgund - All succumb to incapacitation! ... Such a dreadful yet magnificent spectacle, and an acquaintance of Death; we should not aim to kill such a thing! Merely knock it from its slumbering state!
 * Varelos - I highly doubt killing zis being is possible.
 * Yurthez - Hit him a few more times across the head. That should wake him up.

Alfgund nodded to Varelos and Yurthez and grasped ahold of several grenades upon his belts, detaching them and proceeding to shake them before launching them at the direction of the gigantic Revenant. The sword shards lodged within Sepulchrus detached from him and flew, unguided, towards the hilts within Aurora's hands, forming back into the ornate blades they were prior. Khadya stood aside, waiting for the chance to grasp her knives from the Revenant's skull, while Dragostea moved in and clawed at it with her long, diamond-sharp nails.


 * Dragostea - It is not zhe dead zhat hurt, but zhe living!

Yurthez sent his whip at Sepulchrus while Varelos struck him with his blade, and the Sea Witch kept blasting jets of water at the death demigod's head. The screaming of his skulls continued until they ceased, and the infernal eyeballs present on Sepulchrus' various skulls vanished as he let out a loud groan.


 * Sepulchrus - Ghhrrr... Enough... Enough of this. You are giving me a headache.
 * Varleos - ...Sepulchrus Domini?
 * Sepulchrus - That is who I am... Mortals? Why are there mortals here? How did you get here?
 * Kanna - How about you ask your brother? He's about 500 miles away from here, I'd say. You took him on a nice trip.
 * Sepulchrus - Dhelgatros?... Why are my legs frozen? Whoever of you who did this, undo it this instant.
 * Dragostea - Say please first, since you are zhe one who made zhe first shot.
 * Varelos - Do vhat he says, Dragostea.
 * Dragostea - But fazher... No, you are right. My apologies.

Raising an arm and opening the palm at its end, Dragostea's movements caused the ice to thaw and shatter from around Sepulchrus' legs, releasing them from her magical grasp with a deep, irritated sigh. The grave lord rose to his feet, his enlarged hand digging into the ground and then sending a mass of skeletons into his chest, as if he was shoving them into place before Mortium reappeared into the sky, somewhat dizzy in appearance.


 * Sepulchrus - Dhelgatros. Why are these mortals here? What happened?
 * Mortium - Analuhati possessed you and me both, Sepulchrus. He needs to be punished. These mortals will be the ones to do so.
 * Sepulchrus - Them?... If you say so, brother.
 * Hachi - So, what? Not even a "thank you" or a "sorry"? Wow, rude.
 * Sepulchrus - I... suppose I should thank you, mortals. Now, what do you want?
 * Yurthez - To fight Analuhati, we need the Coronaira Whip. Death says you have it.
 * Sepulchrus - Hm. Yes. If that's so, then you shall have it.

Sepulchrus lifted one hand before sending it at his own chest, caving a hole through his armor, much to some of the team's disgust. After several moments, his hand re-emerged, carrying a relatively normal-sized golden chest. Yurthez, the vampires and Alhazred could all feel their hearts suddenly racing as they all felt an immense power coming from the chest.


 * Dragostea - Is... Is zhe vhip vizhin zhat chest?
 * Kanna - By the way you lot seem to be reacting to it, it sure seems to be. Perhaps one of you vamp guys should go take a look.
 * Yurthez - Are you stupid? The Whip belongs to me.

Sepulchrus allowed the chest to fall down into the ground and Yurthez quickly made his way to it, forcing it open. With some difficulty, the chest was opened, and a ray of light was fired out of it directly upwards, causing the team to be forced to shield their eyes and both Mortium and Sepulchrus to take a step back. Resting inside the chest was a golden whip, with a lash appearing to be made of pure energy and a decorated, archaic-looking handle. It truly was the Coronaira. For the first time since they had met him, the team could see a smile growing on Yurthez's face. Khadya peered over Yurthez' shoulder and perked her brow, nodding in an impressed manner as her eyes gazed upon the ancient whip. Alfgund also peered over Yurthez' other shoulder, glancing at the weapon before shaking his head and clasping his morningstar close to him.


 * Javina - Imagine this power inside the Inquisitorium's vaults...
 * Yurthez - Don't make me kill you, human.
 * Javina - ...No. I was just... thinking. Feel free to take it.
 * Alfgund - A nice asset to our arsenal, yet it is not a mace like mine.
 * Dragostea - It vould be vise to vatch zhe Derevar closely from now on. Vizh zhat veapon, he could turn on us and kill us as he pleases.
 * Kanna - You don't trust him?
 * Dragostea - How can I trust a man who takes so much spiteful pleasure in killing our kind?

Yurthez raised the whip to over his head and then struck it against the ground, causing a thunderous, radiant light to blast for a split moment, feeling almost as if the team was in the presence of the sun itself. Upon taking sight of this, Alhazred's eyes suddenly widened as he let out a loud gasp.


 * Alhazred - My whip! Coronaira!
 * Javina - ...Your whip?
 * Alhazred - It's all coming back now... My whip! Mine!
 * Kanna - Whoa there, calm down. How can it be your whip? You're a book.

Mortium levitated up to Kanna and reached his hand, grabbing Alhazred from his belt and lifting up to his eye level, as if he was inspecting him. After a few moments passed, a mocking grin grew on the Grim Reaper's face.


 * Mortium - So that is why I never reaped your soul. You never died, did you?
 * Sea Witch - The hell are you on about? That's my student's book.
 * Mortium - This is no book. This is . The Wielder of the Whip of the .
 * Javina - In a book.
 * Alhazred - Kormacvarah... Yes. I remember that name now. Gazing upon the Coronaira once again... It has sparked my innermost memories...
 * Mortium - Analuhati said he had claimed your life. But you are not dead, he turned you into a book of all things.
 * Hachi - Alhazred? ... He erased your memories, by the sound of it. Turned you into somebody... something else and had you passed down through Clotho's family.
 * Javina - I wonder what kind of book I would be...
 * Sea Witch - Toilet paper.

Varelos and Yurthez both looked at Alhazred in disbelief. Varelos realized this book was the being he feared the most of all his life, and Yurthez realized this book was the entity his family line hoped to honour. Both of them were frozen in place, not knowing how to react to this discovery.


 * Dragostea - ... O-Our greatest nemesis...
 * Aurora - Z-Zhe a-ancient enemy of... a-all v-vampires...'
 * Dragostea - I-Is a b-book?
 * Alhazred - I was not always a book. I used to be a member of a great race of warriors from the forests of the west. We were known as the Kormacvarah. Zran Kar hoped to destroy us, and so I created the Coronaira in hope of putting an end to him, long before vampires even existed. I was one of the legendary, using the Coronaira to combat the forces of the Void and of Zran Kar... but in the end, he defeated me. He humiliated me. He turned me into this book... and seems to have wiped my memory clean in the process.
 * Kanna - Are you able to turn yourself back? Isn't there a spell inside of you that can do that?
 * Alhazred - No. I was transformed by Zran Kar himself. The only way of reverting me back to normal would be by having him do it himself.
 * Hachi - ... I'm sorry, Alhazred, if that helps anything.
 * Javina - I concur. Your fate is undeserving of a warrior.
 * Mortium - The Dawn Wardens... Hmm. Considering you helped free me and my brother from Analuhati's control, perhaps... I could allow you to visit them.
 * Alhazred - What do you mean?
 * Mortium - Remember the radiant part of the Underworld I mentioned? I keep the souls of the Dawn Wardens there. At least, the ones I recovered.
 * Hachi - The Dawn Wardens?
 * Alhazred - A team of the old world's greatest warriors, united by the ancient dragon to combat the forces of darkness. Ah, the times we had together. I'd love to talk to them again.
 * Javina - Warriors? What warriors?
 * Alhazred - Why don't you find out for yourself? Take us there, Grim Reaper, if you please.

Mortium nodded while Sepulchrus turned back and made his way back to his resting place. The Grim Reaper raised his scythe in the air and a flashing light blinded the team. This blinding sensation lasted for several moments... until they found themselves in an entirely new environment.

Dawn Wardens
The team found themselves in what appeared to be a gigantic dining hall. Its walls were decorated in gold and silver, and instead of skeletons, they could see the ghosts of actual people wandering these halls, laughing and seemingly eating together. Sepulchrus was nowhere to be seen, and Mortium stood behind the team, urging them to go on ahead. As they arrived, two individuals appeared to be closer to them than the other: a couple, composed of a tall man and a shorter woman with a hat so large it obscured her face completely.


 * Alfgund - ... That individual, the one of height and scale accompanying that obscured woman. He... He reminds me of someone. Someone who came to pass long ago, many eons before even my father's father's father was conceived. ... But surely, it cannot be.

The tall man wore heavy black armour, crafted with a combination of human and elven structural and decorative design, and his hair - a fiery red - was braided along with his beard. At his side, alongside the woman with the black hat, was a colossal zweihander, words inscribed across its gargantuan blade and handle in what appeared to be proto-Mannazian and elven, Alfgund barely able to read even the simplest aspects of it. The tall man was muscular and athletic, and he could be seen laughing with his arm perched upon the woman's shoulder.


 * Alhazred - Ahmalhrich! Clotholaire!
 * Javina - Ahmalhrich the Great!

Javina bowed to the human warlord in prostration.


 * Alfgund - ... T-The Stormfather?!
 * Ahmalhrich -  ... And thus I spoke to the elven bastard, "your ears may be longer than my own, but my sword's even larger!" ... Hm? Somebody called my name?
 * Clotholaire - Oh, would you look at that. It's the Grim Reaper, and he brought friends!
 * Alhazred - Clotholaire, you old hag. It's me, Alhazred?
 * Clotholaire - Alhazred? What in blazes happened to you? You look like a book!
 * Ahmalhrich - You know, Alhazred, when I had claimed you a bookworm, I did not mean for you to become such quite so literally. ... Although I must say, you're a far more interesting book than most I've read and thrown away, ahah!

Slightly below the elf and the human was a short, malformed figure clad in dark robes - draconic, animalistic, yet with burning yellow eyes that betrayed both the brilliant mind and the dark madness that craved within the being's mind. Cackling, laughing, and signing nursery rhymes in an ancient, evil language that bore some resemblance to the tongue of the Klaxxa, it walked around, seemingly not noticing the visitors.


 * Zantastele - I have a dolly, a dear friend with whom I go... beautiful dollies, yes, yes, fæger, fæger, fréawlitige searwes...

Alfgund dropped to his knee and clasped his morningstar, placing its head upon the ground in front of him while he held its handle in both hands, his eyes and face directed to the floor. He uttered several sentences in Mannazian while in Ahmalhrich's presence, who observed the Inquisitor with some curiosity before scoffing, amused. Stepping towards Alfgund, Ahmalhrich reached out a hand and grasped onto the collar of the Inquisitor's trench coat, lifting him up and eyeing him closely.


 * Ahmalhrich - And what do you think you're doing, child? Does this place appear a church to you, a place for clerics and druids and the likes? ... Do I look like some pansy cleric to you, boy?!
 * Alfgund -  ... N-No! N-No, S-Stormfather! ... N-Not at all!
 * Ahmalhrich - "Stormfather"? What sort of name is that? It's Ahmalhrich, or if that's too difficult a mouthful call me "Ahmal".
 * Javina - ...Ahmalhrich the Great. Yes. Would that be a fitting title for you, illustrious one?
 * Clotholaire - Oh, dear, be nice to the boy. He's trying to pay respect to you.
 * Sea Witch - ...Wait. You're Clotholaire? THE Clotholaire? Patron mother of all witchcraft?!
 * Clotholaire - That's me! Clotholaire Moirai Stormsword at your service!
 * Sea Witch - ...Moirai?!
 * Hachi - M-Moirai?!
 * Ahmalhrich - By my legions, are these children going to continue acting like they've stumbled upon celebrities? We are people too, not gods or stuck-up elves, no need to praise us as such.
 * Alhazred - Did you already forget we were once the greatest warriors of the world, Ahmalhrich? Your actions aided in the foundations of the Empire of Man, and Clotholaire is seen with immense regard by all witches all over Koldenwelt.

Clotholaire let out a giggle, putting a hand over her mouth as she crossed her legs. Ahmalhrich chuckled as he let go of Alfgund, causing the Inquisitor to fall onto his back. He walked back to Clotholaire - his wife - and wrapped his arm around her shoulder once more, allowing it to slide down her side before grasping ahold of her rear, his hand out of the team's sight. Kanna groaned and rolled his eyes, glancing to Hachi who appeared to be staring at the witch, his mouth agape in a combination of shock and surprise.


 * Mequelet - ...The Empire of Man? ...Please, tell me that's not that I'm thinking about.

Out of the shadows appeared a tall, rather imposing, yet also somewhat graceful elf woman clad in heavy armour and carrying a massive, monstrous sword that writhed in her hand. Her eyes, brilliant golden yet also somewhat sorrowful, gazed at the new visitors with surprise and slight confusion.


 * Mequelet - ...Who are these beings, Ahmalhrich? - Mequelet raised her sword in confusion - Shall Fellcraver Purified strike them down and take their souls or are these ones carrying in their souls the message of peace?
 * Ahmalhrich - How should I know, long-ears? Heh, go ahead, children, tell us of your names so that we might address you properly. And hope that you address us as people and not idols.
 * Alfgund - ... A-Alfgund. A-Alfgund S-Stonesoul, o-of the E-Empire of--
 * Ahmalhrich - The Empire of Man, yes I know! Grah, back when I roamed where you came from, we did not waste our time on picking petty fights with the elves and others when we could be busy doing whatever it was we wanted to do.
 * Mequelet - Humans? Intelligent enough to form an empire?
 * Javina - ...Yes...
 * Alhazred - Yes, Mequelet. Humanity is free and has its own empire now.
 * Mequelet - ...So... you were right then, Ahmalhrich. - the elven maiden turned to the human - ...Your people truly are better than we thought you were.
 * Javina - Much better, shall I notice.
 * Mequelet - What happened to my people? I can only hope that they have not repeated the same mistakes I did.
 * Alhazred - Elvenkind? As diverse and spread as it always has been.

Hachi kept his eye fixed upon Clotholaire, scanning her physique without the Stormfather's notice, and he began to go red in the face, blushing severely as he check her body from afar. Kanna glanced at Hachi once more before raising a palm to his masked face and sighing heavily. Clotholaire looked down at Hachi and giggled once more. Her appearance was much like Clothovera's, except she was much more... gifted.


 * Clotholaire - And who is this boy who stares at me almost as if he was a smaller, furry Ahmalhrich?
 * Hachi - H-Ha... H-Hach... H-Hach... H-Hachach...
 * Alhazred - Hachi. One of my companions.
 * Clotholaire - You have adorable companions, Alhazred. I heard there were bunny men in Koldenwelt now but I didn't think they were this cuddly-looking. If I could touch things, I'd give you a hug, little boy.

Hachi smiled faintly to himself at Clotholaire's words and blushed further, hiding his face in an attempt to cover up his affection in a boyish, childish manner. All the while, Ahmalhrich laughed once more and faced Mequelet before turning to Javina and eyeing her, scoffing to himself as he approached her and leaned in close, his eyes meeting hers.


 * Ahmalhrich - Back in the days before empires and kingdoms, mankind were liberators; warriors of freedom and virtue! And what have they been reduced to as of now? Always desiring to come to loggerheads with the elves, an old yet befriended enemy! Oh, why, sweetheart? Why must the children of our people be so damned stupid? ... And brown?
 * Javina - ...Ahem? What was that supposed to me? ...I'm sorry, Ahmalhrich, if I do-do not share your fervour, or your... erm... Humanity, you see, is trying its best, but without the paragons of yore we cannot truly, erm...

A chuckle came out of Yurthez before he came back to his usual stoic stance, much to Varelos' humour. In a distance, a roar was heard as an immense red dragon suddenly stood on his hind legs and opened his enormous wings, letting out a fire breath at the air. The dragon laughed loudly as he seemed to flex his muscles, and a crowd beneath him cheered loudly as well.


 * Sea Witch - And what's that guy?
 * Clotholaire - Oh, that's just being silly again.
 * Sea Witch - Great Clotholaire, I currently teach one of your descendants. Her name is Clothovera. The resemblance between the two of you is frightening.
 * Clotholaire - Oh? See, Ahmalhrich? One of our kids is this bird woman's student! What is she doing?
 * Sea Witch - Witchcraft, of course!... But terrible things happened. Zran Kar kidnapped her and turned her into a brainwashed servant. We're on a quest to save her.
 * Clotholaire - WHAT?! That bastard!
 * Ahmalhrich - Zran Kar... I remember him. He has returned to do what he had once done to my dear wife. My, if Mortium would allow me entrance to the world above, I would accompany you. Or even defeat that fool once more as I had done all those long aeons before.
 * Alhazred - Heh. This Lagosi boy? Her boyfriend.
 * Clotholaire - Oh? Is that so, now?
 * Hachi - Y-Yeah, w-we... W-We were-- I-I mean, are! We are in love! ... T-That's why I n-need to go f-find her... a-and find a way to help her... Y-You know, to free her and... a-and stuff...
 * Ahmalhrich - Hah! He speaks as if an elf had grasped ahold of his dear tongue, and yet he speaks of feats that require spine! I like this boy!
 * Javina - ...Yes, yes...
 * Zantastele' - I have a dolly... ...dolly...

The mad Ordnung suddenly woke up, watching the visitors.


 * Zantastele - ...Wait. I don't remember building these dolls...
 * Varelos - Zhat one looks like Nosfer.
 * Sea Witch - Who you calling a doll, you plush toy?
 * Zantastele - You... you're not dolls? Who are you then? Are you ghosts? Animals? People?
 * Clotholaire - We're all ghosts, Zantastele. This is the afterlife.

Clotholaire leaned down on Hachi, a genuine smile on her face.


 * Clotholaire - Teehee. I can see genuine love a mile away. This descendant of mine truly means the world to you, doesn't she?

Hachi looked to glance at Clotholaire and smiled, his face now entirely red, nodding as his smile crept across his lips. He felt speechless as she approached him, yet he did not feel so much scared as he was pleasantly surprised and unknowing of what to do or say in the presence of such a graceful, elegant individual before him.


 * Hachi - S-She does... S-She is the world t-to me... a-and if we don't save her, t-the world will fall to Zran Kar and the vampires!
 * Clotholaire - Then I wish you luck. I wish you all luck on your quest, and everything after it. Bring Zran Kar down at all costs.
 * Alhazred - You don't have to say that twice, Clotholaire.
 * Ahmalhrich - Hah, if she doesn't have to, then I will! All of you, every single one of you! Elf, human, beast! I cannot say for sure whether this will be the most vital quest of your lives, and I cannot say if this quest shall be your last, but you promise that on behalf of I, Ahmalhrich Stormsword, you deliver Zran Kar his demise!
 * Alhazred - Don't worry, Ahmalhrich. We will make Zran Kar regret every action he has ever done.

At this moment, Mortium approached the team, gripping on his scythe.


 * Mortium - Your time runs short. It is time to leave, before your souls are taken away.
 * Mequelet - Safe travels, mortals. May the winds of Iria guide you upon your path to victory.

Hachi looked towards Clotholaire, saddened at the thought of having to leave and glanced towards the floor, sighing deeply. Alfgund continued to stare at Ahmalhrich, who rested his gargantuan zweihander upon his shoulder, and proceeded to smile as the Stormfather's words encouraged him and irked confidence once again. Khadya nodded to Mortium, saying as little as she ever did once they had encountered Death, and Dragostea and Aurora also acknowledge Mortium's words. Kanna placed a hand on Hachi's shoulder before bowing to Clotholaire and Ahmalhrich respectfully.


 * Clotholaire - Take good care of our girl, boy! Otherwise I might even haunt you!
 * Sea Witch - I've had my deals of exorcising ghosts already! Don't you dare!
 * Clotholaire - Hahah! Goodbye!
 * Javina - Farewell, Ahmalhrich the Great. May you... rest in peace.
 * Hachi - Hehe, w-well... Don't worry, I'll look after her! I'll make sure she gets home safe and gets to be happy once again!
 * Ahmalhrich - Haha! Before you leave, dear friends and descendants, I shall treat you to a joke from the mouth of Ahmalhrich himself! Ahem, what does one do should they find a herd of gargantuan mammoths coming over a mountain?
 * Kanna - Dunno, what does one do?
 * Ahmalhrich - One swims!
 * Kanna - ... Let's just go already.

Mortium created a new portal and beckoned the team to pass through it. Once they did, the great, heavenly hall of the Dawn Wardens was replaced by a new sight. They could all feel a breeze as they realized they were finally back at Koldenwelt. A cold breeze, for they were now at the Polar Lands, to make their way to Castle Nightshade.

=The Assault of Castle Nightshade=