No sensation of magic breaking beneath. No sensation of any barrier shattering. Just scale pierced, and then, her foot was caught in meat. They had made the incorrect presumption then. This monster's ability was natural, strange as it was, and Ilena retreated instantly at that, using her other foot to launch away from the snake as it smashed its head against the ground, then bucked madly to rid itself from Dragan, before it finally settled for slamming the swordsman into a mountain, sending an avalanche of stone tumbling down.
Conveniently, forming a bridge. Inconveniently, incapacitating one of them.
Most irritatingly though?
Displaying an amount of strength that Ilena had once considered insignificant.
Amethyst eyes sunk into the shadow of her wide-brimmed hat, an animalistic growl seeping from within her body. But the foe before her was gargantuan and, more importantly, living. She had tasted its blood, sweeter than anything else she's had all day. Energizing, but not fulfilling enough. So...
"We're leaving." A high-pitched shriek sounded, equal parts command and challenge, and Ilena bounded off, headed at an angle for the Cathedral. Luna was fast, but Ilena had always be the wilder child, as agile as the beasts she melded into her flesh, and she sought to draw the attention of the camoflaguing monstrosity, this snake-headed feline.
And so long as it was distracted properly, her two Exsanguinating Skeeters could descend upon Dragan, pulling him out the rumble and flying him over to Luna.
Aleksiya sighed heavily. As irritating as the priestess's attitude was, she would never consent to simply abandoning her. That, and these vile things were an eyesore.
"Very well, as much as it pains me to make considerations towards that woman," she commented with a pout, as further circles of light condensed ice at their centers, "She had best be thankful."
With that, the balls of ice were sent whistling through the air, hurtling towards their targets. This time, rather then specifically targeting the head, the diminutive vampire instead was more choosy. After all, simply targeting the head was clearly not enough to cripple these unpleasant abominations, and so instead she selected points of structural weakness.
Ancient kneecaps shattered and came apart, sending legs flying off and causing the dusty walking dead to hit the ground. Heads sailed into the air, leaving flailing corpses to bump into each other before toppling over. All the while, Aleksiya glanced with no small amount of jealousy at the scythe in Giselle's hands.
When she was better fed, she'd definitely show off her far superior scythe!
Still, for the moment, Aleksiya didn't want to spend too much time lamenting her own state. Rather, she focused instead on pelting the undead with ice bullets, tearing through their decrepit flesh and dusty bones in order to rip them to useless pieces scattered across the floor.
Perhaps her feelings or irritation were pushing her to be even more thorough, one particular undead being unlucky enough to be shredded by several balls of ice being dispensed in rapid succession, falling apart into an unrecognizable pile of desiccated flesh and organs.
It wasn't simply a longing to feed and regain her power.
It seemed his hunch was wrong. The beast's defense was natural, and his magics weren't recovered enough to wear its body down. Unfortunate. More unfortunate was the fact that this single thought was all Dragan had time for before he was uncermoniously smashed into a mountain, crashing to the ground as he gasped in pain and lost his grip on the beast's back. He was so weak and starved as to not be able to react to such a move in time? How vexing. A creature such as this would have been nothing to any of the vampires present in their prime.
Of course, the more immediate concern was the pain in his chest and back. A cursory inspection revealed that his plate had dented inward on both sides, but was still usable for the immediate moment. Considering all the other damage it had suffered already, that was a miracle in itself. He'd have to find a competent smith as soon as possible once he made it out of here.
Dragan struggled to pull himself up to one knee, planting his blood rapier in the ground to brace himself. As Ilena made the call to leave, he couldn't help but agree with her, despite how much he hated the thought of simply fleeing this fight. As it stood, this was but a distraction to their main mission, and further conflict would gain them nothing.
As a result, Dragan didn't struggle when his compatriot's insect minions began to pick him up and drag him back towards the bridge, silently nodding his thanks in her direction.
It felt like a test of her hope -having been killed once already by a band of paladins and feeling the despair of that desperate moment, only to be now thrown into another fire before something horrible only because of her weakness. Surely this was by Ichor's design, and was meant to assure the goddess of her determination and ability. Years of idle surety in her past unlife was exactly why she was twice-dead, wasn't it? As much as she wished to prove herself, intelligence was as much a proof of capability as muscle, and wisdom was telling her that Ilena was right.
She nodded -if only to herself- and for a moment prepared her lithe legs to sprint away before pausing in wait for Dragan. Luna resented that the powers of her old god left her, whose absence meant she no longer had the ability to mend Dragan's wounds. She extended a hand towards the knight, absent-mindedly considerate even as she realized the knight might take offense to her sympathy.
"If Ichor is yet guiding us, and the Church is where she has pointed us to, then surely it is also a safe haven. We must swallow our pride for some days still. Let's go," she said, eyes chained to the feline mutant in wait for its next savage move.
Akyasha had walked into a trap of sorts. She recognized the corpse as dressed as a sort of doctor, one could say but she did not recognize thr creature that had wrapped it's unholy mitts on her. It squeezed her tightly so she couldnt escape before her vision faded and she came to wake somewhere. The cleric wasnt sure where though. It was familiar but alien.
The vampire had further questions as she was being pelted with words from a woman in similar garb as the corpse. She introduced heraelf as Est and even helped Akyasha to her feet, though her head was spinning as she tried to comprehend what exactly she had seen before. She put that thought to the back of her head for the moment.
"Greetings, Miss Est." The vampire said, looking at the woman as she continued to introduce herself. I am Akyasha, Devoted Servant of the Goddess Ichor. Though, I suppose you've deduced as such. Please call me Akyasha."
Akyasha looked around the cathedral and, specifically the rats before her. A light smiled turned into a light frown as she pondered her current situation. Several thoughts ran through her head but she decided to reserve judgement. "Apologies for my delayed response. I believe I've merely been attempting to comprehend my situation and my stark lack of blood has been clouding my judgement a small amount."
Akyasha looked around her surroundings a bit more, focusing on the bright light for some seconds before facing Est again. "I must say, I hardly believe I'm still in Alavaris. After all, it's much too bright to belong to the home of my kind. Rather, it feels like I've been spirited away by some mischievous rat that clings to ladies far too tightly." The Vampire said with a small smile crossing her lips as if she were talking about an adorable child. "Would you perhaps know of how I've come to be here, Miss Est?"
Location: Alavaris Gatehouse @VitaVitaAR@Click This Undead fell beneath their assault, though it would leave the pair feeling quite drained themselves. The undead may not have been individually strong, but slowly, and surely, their numbers were starting to weigh on the two as they spent their already weakened strength to fight off the creatures…but fall the undead would regardless, until all around the pair was quiet again.
If they so happened to poke their head up the stairs, they’d find themselves standing atop the wall a short climb later, and it, seemed to at least, be blessedly free of any mindless undead not tethered to Ichor and in the distance, across the road and various buildings they could easily see the cathedral in the distance, imposing, high above the rest of the city as though looking down upon the both of them and the city itself.
But of course, they would not dare to leave one of their own behind. Besides, the most important thing it seemed…was that the defensive wall, was not unoccupied. The two vampires could immediately tell - there was a human here, and he was making no effort to hide himself.
“...I was wondering what the undead were wailing about, but instead of a monster I find two who appear to be hapless girls that have stumbled into this wretched place.” A masculine voice made itself known to Giselle and Aleksiya. He was standing not far from them, at just the edge of the wall facing the Cathedral. “Yet you are neither hapless nor simple girls, are you? You’d already be dead if you were.” The man was dressed in a long coat, and seemed quite tired. Vials of fresh, red blood seemingly hung from his coat alongside what was a very bright, very obvious lantern that illuminated the area around him. “Ah, sorry. Lucky you ran into me instead of my partner. Unlike her, I’m much more open to negotiating. Don’t mind me, I’m simply looking for a vermin that escaped our trap.”
Well, it seemed at least if nothing else, humans still survived. He might make for a somewhat easy meal, too. He didn’t seem all that strong…but then again, to be up here and seemingly be completely unharmed walking among the undead that had been here, or perhaps, unnoticed meant he likely had some tricks up his sleeve.
Location: Alavaris Cathedral @Psyker Landshark@Asuras@Erode Taking a blow to ones pride was always a brutal moment. Even more so for such creatures as vampires. The beast before them was as of now, still beyond their capabilities, whatever this creature even was. Perhaps there would be some way to incapacitate the creature, but for now…perhaps this was the smartest choice.
The trio fled, using the path the creature created when it shook both its body free and smashed Dragan into the wall. Not wanting to let its prey go, however, the beast shrieked and would initially give chase, pouncing along the stony road and reaching for the vampires with its long neck, attempting to swallow Dragan, the slowest of the bunch to flee in its massive maw only to just barely, barely, fall short as it hissed and shrieked, its lunch managing to just barely escape from it. Why it didn’t follow into the cathedral ward and the city proper was perhaps, something to be found out shortly.
The trip to the cathedral was, thankfully, much easier once they had gotten away from the rotten mess of the lower slums and once they had passed the wall that separated the Cathedral from the rest of the city things became…much quieter. Howls of the animals below quieted, almost as if something was blocking the sound. Not a single creature could be seen be it insect, beast, or undead. The three vampires would quickly know the reason, too. It was faint, but they could definitely feel it.
Ichor’s power seeped from the Cathedral still. Faint, weakened, but still it beat and this place, was thus, sanctified ground for those undead of her brood and her children.
A safe haven.
Dragan, Luna, and Illena would not be entering through the front gate. Rather they would be entering through a side hall that was used in the past by those of clergymen to enter into the building unseen. Up the stairs, through a few large backrooms of libraries and study halls and soon, out into the main cathedral hall which thankfully seemed just as grand as it had in the past.
The worship hall was as large. Grandiosely built to satisfy someone's hubris. Against the far back wall, was the carved image of the Goddess Ichor. It stretched all the way from the floor to the ceiling high above, her stony visage looking down upon all in the hall. Long, flowing hair carved into the stone as her arms wrapped tightly around a depiction of the Violet witch and the Vampire Queen. The witch knelt next to the Vampire Queen, cradling her head in one arm and in the other held a bowl, the liquid pouring into the mouth of a depiction of the Vampire Queen as the Goddess embraced the two tightly. Under the Vampire Queen skeletal hands and figures began crawling their way out from under the bed upon which she lay.
In front of the statue was an altar at its base, and on the altar…was a still mostly fresh body.
Wait.
No, they were still alive. Barely, if you count being ‘undead’ as alive in some fashion. No, this wasn’t just a normal person. It was a thrall and she seemed to be passed out, slumped over the altar.
On the altar was what seemed to be an oversized heart with a dagger plunged into it. A satchel with several vials of fresh, human blood were within just enough to satiate and definitely help with regaining their lost power.
A thrall, here, of all things? And she didn’t seem to be doing to well. Did this mean a vampire still lived and this was their servant?
As they settled into surroundings that appeared safe, the shadow-witch waved at her minions once more, sending them off into the rest of the city to fill their stomachs. Five long bounds brought her towards the satchel where she had smelled the blood, and she immediately uncorked one such vial, downing it all in a single gulp. Delicious. But only in the way that anything would be delicious to someone thirsting. The heart looked edible as well and she pulled the dagger out of it, sniffing at residue left on the blade to see if she could identify it. Dragon? Giant? Or something less common than either?
“Luna,” a gesture towards the collapsed thrall. “Please.”
Luna mused to herself that, were she still alive, she might have been gasping for breath then. Their escape complete, and their safety secured, Luna's body relaxed, her shoulders loosening in the soothing presence of her patron goddess long before they reach the main interior. As they tread through the halls, she remained quiet and reverent, recalling the old days in which she'd visited this holy site. Within the main room, her red eyes glimmered before the sight of Ichor's stone grandeur, and pious appreciation filled her still heart.
She rushed up alongside Ilena, and knelt beside the collapsed thrall, briefly looking over them before gently turning their body over, cradling them in her arms.
"Perhaps, their task was to deliver this meal to us. They are weak, dying," Luna said, looking into the thrall's shut eyes. "I've nothing to help them." Luna looked up to Ilena and Dragan, as if searching their expressions for any sign of a solution. She set the thrall down, leaning their back against the altar, and took a vial of blood for herself. She too downed the vigor in one swift gulp, and exhaled satisfactorily as she felt renewed power well from within her cold veins.
She touched her fingers to her lips, reveling in the taste. A great deal of self-control reigned in her desire to consume the rest, and leave Dragan starving.
"The heart may have been cut out within the city itself, to ensure freshness. I hope that they might awake, so that we can ask questions."
Fighting the shambling hordes of the fallen undead together with her lordly companion was but a trifle for Giselle. But even a trifle was no minor thing for herself and probably Aleksiya in such a deprived state, though having an enduring weapon that didn’t actively use her own blood helped wonderfully in that regard. Once she had reaped the mindless undead and found the upper levels free of offending hordes, she was nonetheless glad for the momentary respite.
The white-haired vampire couldn’t help but to remain a tick annoyed at the tardiness of a certain overly-religious redhead, though.
It was perhaps because of her drained state that it took an extra mite of time for her to realize that the two of them were not actually alone atop the ramparts. Poising her weapon to strike at the new figure, her eyes slightly widened in mild surprise as she beheld a man, and a human, at that. Nonetheless, she flicked her scythe back into a defensive position, even as he spoke. Giselle still had no clue as to the political and cultural landscape of this new era, after all. Certainly, she did not jump to thinking of him as a quick meal as some of her peers might.
“Indeed, and likewise. I would not have expected to find a simple human here, but if you were merely one, you would already be dead if you were.” She gauged the man as she parroted some of his words, albeit in a diplomatic manner. The man seemed exhausted; Giselle ventured it was from fighting against the selfsame hordes that had been giving them trouble. More intriguing, and far more interesting, though, were the red vials of what obviously had to be blood adorning the sides of his coat. Combined with the mention of a partner, she was very curious who this man was, and all the more so his partner. What did he mean by vermin, though? Was he referring to that beast’s screeching from earlier?
“Hunters, then.” She paused, before adopting a slightly apologetic and pained look. “Ah, where are my manners? I am Giselle de Farry. You have us at a slight disadvantage here, ser…” Whether he supplied a name or not, she continued on, after giving Aleksiya the chance to give her own introduction if she wished. “I am curious about that partner of yours, no less than those vials of yours.” Frankly, the both of them needed the blood, but they would be negotiating from a very disadvantaged position if she didn’t want to take it by force of arms, something she’d quickly pondered and dismissed as a last resort.
Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
“We would have use for some of those vials, if you can spare them,” she finally said, after a moment’s pause, before glancing at her smaller companion. “In return, we could assist you in locating this vermin you seek, within the best of our abilities.”
They'd managed to retreat in good order, and now found themselves on far safer ground. He'd been here before, of course. Centuries ago, back when he'd first explored the world as a fledgling vampire. And now he returned once again, no more powerful than he was when it all began. Full circle. At least he could begin to remedy that in part now. Dragan took a single vial of blood, and with very great reluctance, only a single vial. It wouldn't do to leave any more vampires starving should they make it to the cathedral, of course. He doubted the three here would be the only ones called.
Dragan uncorked the vial and sipped slowly, relishing the taste of fresh vitae after so long in torpor. He could feel a small measure of his strength returning to him. Not nearly enough, of course. But anything was better than nothing. When the vial was drained, he set it down and looked to Luna and Ilena, pondering the situation before them.
"The thrall will likely awaken on her own in time. I don't much care to interfere with another kindred's servant. Some don't take kindly to such, and it would be poor manners after they so generously provided us with fresh blood. In any case, I believe we ought to give thanks to Ichor for our deliverance, before anything else." With that said, Dragan faced the image of the goddess and knelt down, murmuring a prayer under his breath. It seemed old habits died hard for a former paladin.
Just where was that religion-obsessed bonehead, anyway? Was she too busy praying? Respect for Ichor was one thing, but her utter zealotry was another entirely. Frankly, Aleskiya wouldn't have been surprised in the least if Akyasha was off expressing her love of Ichor at the most inappropriate time and in the most inappropriate way. Her frustration was growing the more they waited. She was so hungry, too... those undead had been nothing but trash, but it still took some energy to destroy them.
Which made it a blessing, perhaps, when the man with the highly recognizable vials of red emerged. It was Giselle who took the lead in speaking to him, and while Aleksiya did not doubt her own abilities to speak in a convincing way to humans she simultaneously did not have any issue with allowing Giselle to take the lead in those negotiations. There was no doubt in her mind that the man was some manner of hunter, and while that did not exactly raise fond memories in her mind at the same time he had yet to act with any form of hostility.
Thus, there was no good reason to pay him any. With that being said, if he proved to be a threat, Aleksiya would hardly have an issue with draining him dry. But pay violence to violence. Wickedness to the wicked.
If he would simply share some of his vials of blood, then there would be no issue.
In fact...
"I am Aleksiya Ravennart," the Rime-Winged Vermilion Angel introduced herself with a curtsy, "And I shall share my compatriot's offer. Share with us some of those vials, and I will offer my assistance."
There was no way to stop herself from speaking with some level of self-assuredness. After all, she was quite sure she would have absolutely no issue dismantling whatever manner of creature that this vermin the man sought was. With that being said, however, she would be able to do so much more effectively with at least some blood.
“Hungry?” Est picked up the umbrella…and then skewered a nearby rat on the end. The beast squealed and squeaked in pain as the woman would bring it up, holding it towards Akyasha. “Well do eat up. Your kind will need all the strength you can get, hm? Consider it a thanks for at least giving me a small respite from this boredom of mine.” She completely ignored the questions asked otherwise, choosing to instead keep her eyes lingering on Akyasha.
As much as she preferred not to feast on such adorable creatures, Akyasha was indeed quite hungry. Besides, it was probably more pure than some human blood she’s ingested in the past… And this one seemed to be dying anyhow, the way it was skewered. “My thanks.” She gave a small prayer for the rat before bringing it to her mouth and sinking her fangs in, drinking up the blood. After she was finished, she set the poor thing down and gave another small prayer for it. It wasn’t often that she did this, but it was her first meal since waking up and the thing was squealing. It was the least she could do, probably. “How bored have you been, Miss Est?” Akyasha asked, looking towards the woman that had gave her a meal. “That you’re entertained to see a Cleric of Ichor?”
“Ah? What are you praying over a little rat for?” Est replied, once again not bothering ot answer Akyasha’s question in an amused tone. “Its nothing but a tool for you, hm?” Still the rat was rich with fresh, warm blood, and as Akyasha would sink her fangs into its flesh she would feel even a small part of her power return as her stomach was filled with the warm, life giving blood. Perhaps she could finally make use of her Ichor granted abilities once more.
“It only felt right to give a prayer, though, perhaps someone in what seems to be a cathedral to rats dislikes a prayer from a Cleric of Ichor?” Akyasha said, a small edge to her words though it was mostly to see if Est would give a reply to what the cleric has directed toward her. Still, she was happy to get a meal. The blood warmed her body some and she wondered if she would be able to summon some of her adorable Gorebats. It was hard to judge since she was not as strong as she once was.
“Huhu, would you go to the temple of another god and pray to a different god? I would! I would find it ever so humorous.” Of all the questions she decided to respond to, it was that one. “Speaking of humor, it was quite funny watching those two attempt to capture me, of all people. Have you run into them? A man that looks like he’s seen far too much and a young girl that swings around dangerous weaponry too much.”
“Hmmm.” Was the Cleric’s reply to the woman’s response. Really, it what she should have expected. “And no, I’ve only seen my own two companions, though if they were chasing you, they’re probably not too far from where they are.” Hopefully, the two hunting Est were only hunting her and not on the lookout for Vampires of all sorts. She wouldn’t have to worry too much though. The two that were with her were fairly crafty at the least. “Why were they trying to capture you?” The vampire asked, expecting well enough that she would not get an answer.
“You don’t sound worried. Hubirs? Or ignorance? Likely Ignorance.” Est laughed, leaning on her umbrella. “That girl swings around a sword that contains the power of the Old Light. Vampires like you should very much be wary of her. A little rat like myself though? It was quite a pleasant experience when I wasn’t almost cleaved in twain by it, huhu.” A complete avoidance again. Seemed she wasn’t interested in answering probable important questions.
“I don’t try to worry. Worry leads to bad decision making when in bad situations. If, at the moment, there were a couple coming to hunt someone, I’d have naught to worry of. After all, it’s you they are after. For now, at least.” Akyasha said, smiling ever so friendly. “But, I still wonder, why is it they are after you? You must be a somewhat dangerous thing if they are hunting you like that.” The Cleric then looked at the woman’s clothing. “Like a thrall of Lord Estime.” She was really hoping to get an answer to one of her questions at least.
“...Huhu…” Est smiled. “Why are they hunting me? You ask the silliest questions.” The woman smiled, a wide, full toothed grin as Akyasha would quickly find the womans umbrella being pointed right at her chest. “Does anyone need a reason to do something? I could hunt you - kill you - right now for no reason and no one would even know. You’d just…pop, poof. Vanish. A little feast for my pets, chewed down to the bone unfit for a mongrel to play with.”
The umbrella lowered after a few long seconds.
“Lets just say those followers of the Old Light and the Serpent have no love of little vermin running around and leave it at that.”
“Old Light and the Serpent.” Akyasha repeated back. “I see.” That was a better answer than she had hoped. She didn’t flinch at the woman bringing the umbrella up. No real reason to. If she was brought back by Ichor’s will, then there would be little reason for her to die here. Still, she wondered if it were time to leave. She doubted her two companions were missing her, but she should probably return shortly… Which left her with another question. “Where exactly are we? Are we still in Alavaris?”
“I do believe you’re in a cathedral, or do I need to check your eyesight?”
“In Alavaris.”
“Well where else would you be?” Est replied as if this answer was obvious. “There’s no other city like this, after all! Or…oh dear, oh dear you’re so lost you don’t even know where in the city you are! Its okay, big sis Est will take care of you if you want to stay here~”
If Akyasha were a less kind Vampire, she would likely swear at this woman by now. “It doesn’t look like anything that would belong in the Alavaris I know, so of course I wouldn’t think we were still in the city.” The woman said, smiling still. “What Vampire would worship a god of rats when we have a wonderful mother to pray to?” The vampire, looked Est in the eyes. “Besides that, there’s a light much too bright to belong in Alavaris.”
“Is there? It looks normal to me.” Est replied with a frown. “Perhaps you’re simply dreaming or seeing things, hm? Or maybe you should go outside and take a look or yourself, hm?” Est smiled, holding her umbrella and pointing towards the large double doors at the end of the Cathedral. “Go on…I might be a savage little rat, but I assure you…I would never lie.”
Akyasha narrowed her eyes. Trying to assess this woman before sighing. “Very well.” The cleric said before turning towards the double doors. She hesitated a small bit and took a breath before cautiously opening the doors.
The doors creaked open, their old, creaky hinges swinging slowly as the vampire would push them open. A stream of light filtered through the crack, slowly illuminating the area immediately within. It was oddly not hurtful to Akyasha, even as weakened as she was. As the doors would finally swing open fully Akyasha would find herself stepping out on a balcony.
And below her?
Was the city of Alavaris.
As pristine and flawless as the day it fell to the Hundred Paladins.
Above, a moon broken thrice, hung high above illuminating the land below with a bright light.
Est would follow slowly behind her.
“Now, I wonder whose dream this is?” Est said with a chuckle. “Mine? Yours? Or perhaps neither? Well, it doesn’t matter, little vampire. You should leave, this place isn’t for your kind. You’ll find the exit back in the Cathedral. Just pray to your goddess in front of the statue and you’ll be back.”
“Whose dream?” Akyasha questioned herself. She had many thoughts but, really, she didn’t really think she wanted the answer. She gazed upon her city. It’s splendor. But, really, she knew this wasn’t real. There was no way. The darkness was the real world. “Alright. Perhaps I should be going.” The Cleric said as she entered the Cathedral again. Her stride brought her in front of the statue. “We shall see each other again, I feel. Perhaps we can chat over a tea, or something of the sort?” With that, she started a prayer to Ichor.
Est was gone by the time Akyasha would find herself speaking. Where she went to was unknown…but perhaps, to the city below. As Akyasha would kneel in front of the statue, she’d begin a prayer. As she’d close her eyes, darkness would once more envelop her, and in the distance she could see a faint, red colored star acting almost as a guide of sorts. Should she follow it, Akyasha would find herself back in the same alleyway she had been in earlier.
The body however, was gone.
And in its place was two rats, recently deceased.
A little note was left behind scrawled in neat handwriting.
For my new friends friends.
Akyasha took up the note and read it. She wondered if she had mingled with someone or something she shouldn’t. Still, she had a meal for her companions. She took the deceased rats in hand. She remembered where they went at least so she took her steps in that direction and pondered on those two the Est had mentioned. “A man that looks like he’s seen far too much and a young girl that swings around dangerous weaponry too much, was it?” The cleric recited Est’s words from earlier. Perhaps they were people to be wary of.
“Humph.” The man smiled faintly at Giselle's reply, seeming if nothing else amused by her ssass as she’d parrot his own words. “Rikard, if you must have a name to call me by. As for our quarry…well, your offer is appreciated but I fear the vermin has already slipped from our grasp and has fled the city to elsewhere like the coward it is.” He’d stuff his hands into the pockets of his coat, frowning perhaps, over their request of the vials.
“So unfortunately, I do not believe there is a deal to be made here.” He’d say, glancing towards the direction the two vampires had come from. “Unless there is perhaps some other information you can spare for me…say like where the vermin may have escaped too?”
And this, would be where Akyasha would find herself stumbling onto the small group of vampires and a human, catching just the tail end of the conversation of Rikard asking about where a ‘vermin’ escaped too. His eyes landed on the Cleric of Ichor with a mild disinterested stare, at least, until he saw the rats she was carrying.
“...and it seems as though you might have some information indeed.”
As the vampires took to making themselves at home in the cathedral, the fresh blood from the vials were as sweet as any candy from the old era. Dragan would find his wounds mending from the boost in power, even if it was simply a small amount as flesh knit together and wounds closed. Illena would find her spent power returning and Luna would feel her own powers strengthen.
The heart before Illena was a mystery. It smelled not of beast, man, nor otherwise. In fact, there was a faint divine scent coming from it. Curious. The dagger itself too, was equally as mysterious. Curved multiple times, the blade was reminiscent of waves but colored a sickly green. The hilt was otherwise plain, save for an inscription in some language Illena was not familiar with. It too, had some sort of latent power but it was either too spent or faint for her to gauge beyond the fact it was not Ichor’s power.
Luna cradled the thrall in her arms, and once doing so they could finally get a decent look at the weakened thrall. Long, black hair and a cloak that covered most of her body. Her dress was otherwise a simple, if somewhat form fitting suit with pristine white gloves. As the vampire did so, she’d feel the woman’s body shudder just slightly, eyes opening weakly as she’d gazed up at Luna.
“Ah…it worked…” Her voice was raspy, tired. “Oh, thank Ichor…ah…at least this…cowardly, masterless Thrall…could be of some use…” A coughing fit. That was unusual. Usually the moment a thrall’s master died they too, would shortly follow unless picked up by another vampire. Either that, or turn into simple, mindless ghouls unless they could find some manner of otherwise sustaining themselves. A gentle hand reached up, touching Luna’s cheek. “Please…the heart…Ichor has…use for it…it belonged to a great serpent…find the other lords…use its blood…bring them here…”
This also meant that no, without some other intervention this Thrall was likely to die very shortly. It was a wonder she was still alive in the first place. It would be a trifle for one of the three to take her in.
But perhaps neither wanted too.
Dragan knelt and prayed as this was happening, and it seemed Ichor would deem fit to reciprocate communication, at least in a small way. Above the sermon hall they found themselves in, above was a second floor with a balcony that overlooked this one. Opposite of the statue, above the door that led out of the cathedral and onto the main road, a red light would blink into existence, filtering into the sermon hall from between the cracks in the door just right to illuminate the Ichor’s visage.
He would remember that it was a balcony that overlooked the main Cathedral Yard, though the fact there was a light coming from there would be odd, considering their situation.
The heart of a great snake, and a ritual dagger that stank of something divine, something not of Ichor's domain. Her 'father' would no doubt be pleased with these gifts, but as for Ilena herself? The shadow witch toyed with the dagger briefly, allowing it to spin from one digit to another, before flipping it hilt-first towards the former paladin.
"Take it," she rasped. She would let it drop even if he did not.
The serpent's heart, she kept in her hand for a while longer. Plump still, fresh still, and reminiscent, in a manner, of that feline-serpent they had encountered on the way there. It could not have been that creature's heart though, not unless it possessed multiple. Too large to belong to giants, too small to belong to humans. Regardless, Ilena lifted her cloak to the side and slipped that heart into her fabricated form.
"Your piety shall be rewarded," she spoke, setting aside for a moment the idea that other lords have survived, have revived. "Do you wish to join your master, Thrall? Or be reborn again, under the servitude of another?"
Luna allowed the dwindling thrall to touch her cheek, albeit briefly, before softly taking her hand and pulling it lightly away. The tenderness of the dying woman was a welcome feeling after eons of sleep, but at the same time the gesture was unsolicited, and by a servant no less. She nevertheless held the woman still, and followed her words towards the heart Ilena held up until it disappeared into blackness.
"Other lords? Were they awoken here in Alavaris as well?" Luna hummed, then turning her eyes to the cathedral's entrance. "And you... where did you come from? How did you even survive?" The vampiress listened to Ilena, and promptly squeezed the thrall more tightly -possessively. She offered Ilena a wholly lighthearted glare -almost pouting- and retorted.
"She will not die! Such a dedicated servant could never be discarded. Look at her," she continued, "She has surely gone through quite the ordeal just to rejuvenate us. And... all without drinking a single drop herself; otherwise she would not be in this state. To say nothing of completing it without a master. Tell me thrall, what is your name?" she asked.
As his companions bickered over the fate of the thrall, Dragan murmured quietly in prayer. The familiar practice, in life and in death, centered him. Ichor saw fit to reverse his fate after what should have been his true death, and for that, he would be forever grateful. To say nothing of his centuries of service in her name already, of course. As the vampire lord finished his prayer, a sensation bid him to look up.
A red light came from the doorway leading to the cathedral yard's balcony. A sign of the Goddess's favor, perhaps? Dragan stood, placing his helm back onto his head as he looked to Ilena and Luna.
"Enough." His voice rumbled as he gestured up towards the balcony door. "I agree with Ilena. For leal service, we ought to reward the thrall with the fate she wishes for herself. Should she want to continue to serve, we will allow it. Should she desire the peace of the grave, we ought to allow her to make that choice." He stared Luna down unflinchingly. Of course the bloody siren would choose to be obstinate now and disregard a loyal servant's choices for her own wants.
"In the meantime, it seems we are beckoned. Join me if you wish, or continue to debate over the thrall." With his piece said, Dragan leapt up toward the balcony, extending a hand to crack the door open and see what the source of the crimson glow was.
"Ah, Aleksiya. Giselle." Akyasha said as she made her way through the places of carnage the two had left behind to find them talking to... A human? Hmm. She had to wonder if he was the man Est referenced earlier. And what was that he mentioned? Vermin escaped? Ah, he seemed to want her to tell him about the rats location. Est probably would have been long gone by now right? Well, she wasn't exactly sure why this guy wanted to catch her... Friend? "I did chance an encounter with some rats." The Cleric said as she showed off her bounty. "And perhaps caught sight of some shadows, though there's a large skeletal giant of some sort that way, though assuming that you're here at all, perhaps it would be a fair match for you."
Akyasha walked her way up to Giselle and Aleksiya and held the rats out to her comrades. "Anything else that went that way is probably long gone. Wish I could have caught more of these." Akyasha seemed fairly truthful about it. After all, Est was hopefully and likely long gone by now, right? "What has you chasing after vermin is a place like this?" She had to ask, curious about the situation.
Giselle couldn’t help but to frown, a slight expression of annoyance momentarily flashing through her face as the human man began to respond in the negative. Alas, the more he spoke, the bigger the impression she got that this Rikard was not speaking of the giant skeletal beast. If it was shrieking and coming closer, how would hunters lose track of such a quarry?
She was loathe to do nothing, but if that was his answer, then so be it. There were far too many unknowns to go about making enemies this early on in the game, and she wasn’t in the habit of making enemies without good reason to begin with. That had been a great part in keeping her lands prosperous and untouched for centuries, until the death of the era brought an untimely end to even that.
Thankfully, the two of them got their lucky break when a certain priestess unexpectedly showed up, seemingly no worse for the wear as she almost casually sauntered up to their conversation. Immediately catching the dead rats that she held by their tails, she arched her eyebrow at Akyasha, even as Rikard spoke again. Surely he wasn’t looking after literal vermin? No, obviously not. Something larger, and associated with rats, then. Now, what sort of entity associated with that might still be alive? She pondered the question, even as she continued on.
“Perhaps an exchange of information for the vials will be in order, then,” she concluded diplomatically, shooting Akyasha a look that was intended to request her to acquiesce. “What did your encounter with these… rats look like?” Nonetheless, she took a rat for herself with a nod, though she refrained from partaking of it immediately.
When Akyasha finally showed up again, Aleksiya couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, arms folded across her chest. She spent all that time, wasted all that time, to find some rats?
What drivel was this? What utter nonsense. She wasted their time for some rats?
The small blonde girl huffed, but at least in this case the waste of time was potentially fortuitous. This hunter, Rikard, had deigned to be uncooperative, but just as he stated he was willing to potentially part with some of his blood vials for information on 'vermin'. And lo and behold, here arrived that obsessive priestess carrying vermin with her.
If not for this stroke of luck, the diminutive vampire would have expressed her irritation with the priestess far more vocally. But, for the moment, she chose to hold her tongue.
If only for now.
"Indeed, I'm rather curious, myself," Aleksiya commented, cocking her head to one side as she fully turned to face the fanatic and her collected rats.
Akyasha was slightly taken aback. She had just returned but instead of being glad of her return one questions her and the other disparages through looks and then questions her. No, perhaps she should have known better. "Well, if you don't want your meal, you don't need to have it." Still, their questions where hanging in the air. "I'm really not sure what you want me to tell you. I stayed behind to see what was chasing us in case it would be able to follow us further. On my way back to meet up with you two, I saw some rats. Interested, I followed. Caught some rats and might have seen some shadow out of the corner of my eye as I said prior." Might as well protect Est a small bit. She had no idea what was going on between the two. "If something was that way, it might be gone by now."
Rikard didn’t seem too impressed with Akyasha’s response. Really, how tiring this all was. He knew that she had a run in with what he was hunting. She likely knew it as well, even after having just shown up. There really was no reason to refrain from telling him when they could instead, be friends. Unless of course, this particular one decided she was friends with the vermin itself after an encounter with it…hm, perhaps…
“...then it seems I won’t be giving these up after all.” Rikard replied in his usual tired seeming manner. “It’s unfortunate, I would have much rather had a…working relationship, of sorts. Shame really.” The human would reach into his coat, slowly pulling out an object. A globe, consisting of multiple rings within rings and inlaid with blue gems, and in the center was a small glass globe of water.
For those in the know, it seemed like it was an Armillary sphere, though the usage of one in such a blackened sky seemed difficult to determine.
“Now then, if there will be nothing else I should take my leave. I’ve overstayed my welcome.” A faint, blue colored light could be see shining from within the glass sphere within as the rings slowly started to shift and move. “But a word of warning, vampire.” He narrowed his eyes as he turned to leave. “The Vermin we hunt is not your friend.” Assuming the other two had nothing else to say, soon, Rikard would have disappeared into the shadows of the city.
At least, if nothing else, getting to the cathedral proper would be a simple matter for the three. Across the hallowed ground of Ichor, the stagnant quiet as they’d travel across the cathedral’s front lawn and gardens, an unseen wind blowing through the trees withered branches as they’d walk up the front steps.
The door creaked open, and they would find themselves inside the cathedral, bathed in the blessed red light of Ichor…
“A-ah…please do not…concern yourself with me…” The Thrall choked out, her hand losing strength as Luna held her. “My former…master stripped me of my name for incompetence and cowardice…” She’d turn her head briefly towards the altar and statue. “I…have only lived by Ichor’s will…so that I may use my pitiful life to set in motion your revival…” She turned her head towards the red light upon the upper floors. “...she…wishes to speak with you all…when the other three arrive…soon, very…soon…”
The Thrall fell quiet, the womans weakened form falling limp in Luna’s care. If she wanted to claim this thrall as her own, it would really be a simple task. All she had to do was in some manner, mark the thrall as her own, take her for herself either through a blood ritual or even something simpler, though she likely did not have terribly much time on her hands to do so, nor would it seem she would immediately be able to.
As Dragan leaped up to the balcony above, extending a hand towards the door the crimson glow grew more and more intense as he reached towards it. The warm, familiar light was something any vampire should be familiar with as it embraced him.
The comforting warmth of Ichor herself.
The doors creaked open, revealing a landscape beyond that was the city they were familiar with, but…off. The balcony itself seemed far too high, and the ground below seemed far away as the cathedral loomed over the city. In the red sky beyond, he could see giant creatures, trapped within swirling red storms that reached to the heavens. Monolithic stones inscribed with alien, ancient letterings dotted the city. In the sky, high above, a single bright star far, far away, the color of crimson which seemed to color this entire world in its light.
And this, would be what Akyasha, Giselle, and Aleksiya eventually would stumble on once they had arrived at the cathedral. Hey, perhaps, had a few moments to speak with their allies they had not seen in ages, but they likely should not keep Ichor waiting too long...
