@VismarConda let's out a deep throaty laugh, thinks down at the bar table for a moment, and laughs again.
"You'd like to hear my story huh? I've been around for a few years that's for sure. You'll have to do with a piece of my story..."
~
"Back in time on the world of Sairubatta, when the seasons came in full swing and the trees grew true- I was only about 600 years old since my maker set me loose. I was young and hungry for blood. My tastes had evolved from that of the poor, straight to kings and queens. I preferred women's blood, but the adrenaline in men's during or after a battle gave me more power. Finally after tiring myself out on the many small hunts around the city of Davura (the 5th biggest city on Sairubatta,) I turned to the war for greater feeding.
As you may have guessed by now, I am what they call in standard English... a vampire. But probably not the one you're aware of- I am a Rasluka vampire, one of the only types to drink and eat food and stay out in daylight.. however daylight does take a toll on me, often it takes twice the energy to function, and it brings on the need to shield my skin, and feed a lot sooner.
As I was saying, I turned to the war, and army for the delicacy's of blood. So I enrolled In Davurian- West Ranks. Our enemy, the Die Skull barbarians held sway over the Davurian lands for hundreds of years until modern society grew into the great city we knew. Davura wanted the outer regions, but that was met with great hostility by the Die Skulls, so war broke out.
The night I arrived to the front line with a small outfit of mortal men who looked worried. Probably worried that the army has been out matched by the ferocious barbarians, as of recently. I just wanted to feed... and I did. The next day we were sent out across a large field to get to the tree line and set up our next base camp. Except the enemy had other plans; plans to drive us back and into the yawning grave. The battle was rough and many died on both sides but we pushed on. We wore plated armor which I had no taste for as it slowed me down and limited my field of vision and motion.. so I held up behind a great tree as arrows and cries of agony both shot back and forth in the air. I took my armor off and grabbed my sword and advanced. I advanced with the turning of day into night. I charged with the dusk and all the fury of Hell. Chopping down enemy's left and right, luring them away from the field enough to injure them and feast on their blood, giving me greater vigor... nothing ever tasted so good.
Of coarse since then I have tasted the most unimaginable blood from a variety of creatures and humanoids. I was young at this time and this was the best so far.
Dusk turned to night and now I really had the advantage over all on the battle field. My teeth led the way to the so-called 'battle heroes' and I took their lives after I took my drink. Undoubtedly with my help we surpassed the tree line within the next few days, and on the forth (with our new camp set up,) we stormed the Die Skull's outpost. We came with sword and shield and flamed every hut and outpost with people in it- the rest we would inhabit. Naturally I got in deeper in the encampment before the others and slayed and fed, slayed and feed, gaining a power I would ever be chasing after the war... at least until I grew up more and started traveling other planets and dimensions.
I pillaged until I heard cries... not cries of fallen men, but children, then a woman- it was coming from one of the huts, so I walk up cautiously. As I do, a man named Liswarg Samula- one of the more fierce, smarter, and faster men- runs up behind me and tosses a torch on top of the huts roof setting it a flame. So I run in to see what was going on. A young girl- and what I believe was her mother, sat in front of a young boy (younger than the girl,) lying on the ground and he looked very ill. His mother dabbed a wet cloth on the boy's forehead in between pleads of mercy from me. I was a cold killer, but I was not going to kill women and children unless they deserved it. I knew Liswarg was not all right in the head and probably even heard the innocent cries before he tossed the torch, so I knew I would be met with adversity If I tried to save the family and he saw. Never the less, I carried the boy out of the burning hut in my arms and yelled at the other two to leave "NOW!"
~
Conda slams his fist down on the bar table, rattling the empty wine bottle a little. He squeezed his fist. Eyes on fire in reminiscent clarity. He glances over and see's both fear and interest somewhere in Vivi's white eyes. He focuses back at the table and packs the pipe bowl with more tobacco and lights it.
"Puff." And continues...
~
"Finally we get out of there just as a wood log falls down into the middle of the hut. I hand the sick boy into the mother's arms and tell her
"Get out of here, they're coming- And tell your war chief the Davurian's plan to take your town in the next fortnight."
And so they run away with the other's from the encampment, plus a few warriors. I turn Back to Liswarg and he's screaming at me as he assumes a battle-ready stance with me.
"What the fuck are you doing Avren! No survivors! Never! You're going to pay for this!!" He screams at me.
I'm far from scared, in fact pretty amused. He charges, swings, I parry and kick him to the ground, but he doesn't fall completely, instead stumbles back. I lunge with my sword and stab at him under the armor plates at his armpit. I did hit him but he grabs the hilt of my sword before I can retract. He pulls me to the ground with him and we exchange punches. He is more protected, but he will tire sooner and I have speed. I break loose to bring my sword over my head and I follow through with chopping his right arm off at the elbow. Liswarg lets out a tortured scream which brings a smile to my face. I pull out my knife while he's wallowing over his arm, and bring it down square into his neck. He's dead, and the women and children are safe to flee at least for a couple minutes.
I fall back on a bed of dead leaves and the wind blows a cool breeze over my face as I look up into the sky, trying to count the squawking birds, bringing my breathing into a calm state. Finally the rest of the Davurian men run in on the camp, flailing more torches and swinging swords at those which haven't escaped yet... it's a pity, but there's nothing I can do to save them now..."
~
Conda gently tamps his pipe and licks his lips.
"Well Vivi, that's a piece of my story. Thanks for listening; all the talk of blood and swords probably isn't to your liking but I thought it would be a good example of who and what I am. Despite what people think, I'm not all bad...I just don't have the same empathy that most people do."
Kanaconda sits, and listens to the stormy wind hitting the tavern outside, hears the gentle breathing of the girl beside him, and listens to the sands of time...
