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Role Playing Games => Vampire The Masquerade => Drakilian's Games => Side Quests => Topic started by: Drakilian on July 06, 2015, 10:55:03 pm
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1199, March 4th, 10:43 PM
Shaasburg,
Domain of Lucien, Queen of Sandor
It has been three days since Lucien returned to his home, 8 days since Kupala's night. The weather returning had been pleasant and he'd made good time, no doubt an after-effect of ridding the land of the corruption plaguing it.
Ennius reported nothing of note on Lucien's return, the noblemen were kept placid and his domain remained unharmed and unaffected by anything resembling Barabus; Lucien is certain of his safety - for now.
Rising from the sarcophagus that was his place of rest, Lucien is ready to begin a new day.
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"Ah, a new night." Lucien thinks to himself as he rises from his sacrophagus. He walks up to a nearby mirror, crafted from bones to make sure he looked flawless.
Then he went out to find Ennius.
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The Ventrue stands guard outside Lucien's room, wearing his full knight's regalia. He bends the knee at Lucien's appearance.
"Good evening my lord."
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"Good evening." Lucien replies with a smile. He was in a unusual good spirit this evening.
"Ennius, we are going to need a beastmaster, do you have anyone you know that would be preferable? And with beasts, i ofcourse mean fleshcrafted wolfs."
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"I'm afraid not my lord, perhaps Adrian would know?"
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"I was hoping to avoid him." Lucien says with a somewhat disappointed look. "Oh well. If he's needed whining wont help."
"Is the wolf experimented on still alive?" He asked with a curious tone.
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"It has not been touched since you have left, my lord. It should still have preserved its indomitable hatred of you and its health."
It occurs to Lucien that he's been making quite a few beast-like creations that really hate him lately. Better not let this one get away too.
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"Good." He replied with a smile. "It shall be my personal pet. Well, after binding it to my blood. Enough foul beasts have escaped my grasp with their hatred of me intact haha" he laughs at his words.
"Send word for Adrian, then go to the wolf. I shall have you help me calm the beast down while it drinks my blood."
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Ennius looks at Lucien askance.
"I have no ability to calm down animals, my lord. It will bite off your arm if you try to feed it your blood."
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"Presence does not work on animals?" He asked in surprise. "Well that complicates matters. Well, after sending a messenger to Adrian fetch me some dried pork."
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"You intend to inject your blood into the pork?"
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"Yes." Lucien replied matter-of-factly.
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"Dried pork wouldn't take, fresh pork with your blood mingled into the real blood would be more effective."
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"I see. Well, aquire some then. And send for Adrian." And with that he waved him off, and went to find the dog he aquired from Radu, now named Count Fluffy the first.
(Who is fully bloodbound and looks like the cuddliest cutest dog ever by now if thats okay with you. He will also have razor sharp teeth.)
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Count Fluffy the first lays by Lucien's feet in his chambers when Adrian arrives, looking somewhat irate.
"You called, Lucien?"
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Lucien raises a eyebrow at the missing word Lord.
"Should be a lord in there somewhere.." He thinks to himself. "Ah well, it is of no matter."
"I did." He replies with a smile as he gets up from his bone throne/chair. "I am going to take a pack of wolfs and fleshcraft them into horrible warbeasts, but i need someone to look after them. Hence i called for you, fear not, i will not have you performing this demeaning task but i rather hoped that you would know of any who might seem fitting for the task."
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Adrian takes a thoughtful stance.
"I know many, but none who would work for a fledgling prince. Most vovoides do the crafting themselves. Perhaps a notable Vovoide's disliked child or a skilled ghoul could be bargained for. What do you have in mind, exactly?"
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"Someone to take care of the beasts, managing them and aquire more should the need arise. In short, someone knowledgable. Both in animalism and viccistude."
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"There could be such young fledglings out in the world who have yet to find themselves, though a man of Tzimisce blood would be most preferred."
Adrian considers something a second more.
"Have you given any thoughts to spawning your own childer? You are a prince now, head of your own domain, you have the right."
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"I already told you of my desire to make my own childer in the near future, but the person i choose will trained from birth..."
He consider his options.
Then he clapped once. "Very well, find me such a fledgling."
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Adrian looks at Lucien with disdain, as if he was about to tell Lucien some rather unpleasant things that would not end well - but he seemingly reconsiders and says with a smile; "Of course lord Lucien."
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Lucien smirks at him. "Now leave me Adrian."
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Adrian does so without further reply. Lucien might feel some unease at Adrian's happiness - such a task was far below the knezi, it was doubtful his intentions were pure.
In fact, Ennius says as much when the Tzimisce is gone - "I do not trust my lord, neither should you."
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Lucien smirks at Ennuis. "Fear not Ennius. I have no intention of trusting the man. I simply gave him a task that was beneath him to see how he would fare. Call it a game of wits if you will."
"I know Adrian resents the fact that i was made prince and not him and i get the feeling his childer resents the fact that they are the servant of a servant when in their opinion they should be the servants of a prince."
He patted Count fluffy the first carefully.
"But to make a move against Adrian requires a reason, and a good one at that. I have no doubt that My Lord Sandor would disown me should we kill him without just reason. Thats why we need him to make the first move."
He smiled wickedly this time.
"To see how far he is willing to go."
Then a look of remembrence came upon Luciennface.
"The meat, do you have it?"
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"Yes, a live pig shall be brought in shortly. It will have to at least seem alive if the wolf will kill it."
Ennius then pauses for a second.
"Adrian is not stupid, Lucien. He won't act against you directly, but you've given him an opportunity to plant a spy in your ranks, to sabotage your animal ghouls, and to perhaps send an assassin after you; all of which he can now do without having any blame cast on him, for you have asked him to hire a Tzimisce Fledgling. If I were him I would ask a Tzimisce who despises Sandor to send me his most gifted childe. You would be amazed and happy with the quality of your servant, right up until he killed you in your sleep with the aid your own supposed ghouls. He would be blameless.
Neither do I believe you are personally powerful enough to defeat Adrian, especially should he be aided by his personal ghouls or his childer. He is older than you."
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"So you think i made a misstake did you?" Lucien replies thoughtfully. "Well, i do appreciate your input, as always." He smiled at him.
"Now, our unfortunate fledgling will undergo a thorough 'evaluation' lasting three days which he will conveniently forget. Sandor will be notified on who actes against him in the shadows, really its a win win." He shrugged.
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"Of course there's always the chance he just gives you the most horribly incompetent minion he is capable of finding," Ennius adds.
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"Then our beast gets to go hunting." He shrugged. "It is of no great importance."
"Anyway, enough plotting for now. Lets visit our wolf."
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Ennius looks like he has more to say, but instead frowns and follows Lucien.
The beast has been kept caged down in the castle dungeons. From the blood and feathers around its cell Lucien guesses that it has fed mostly on chickens since its imprisonment.
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"Oh, look at the cute puppy." Lucien says while admiring his work. He then fleshcrafted his throat to make barking and growling easier. (To make the animalism roll easier)
Then with a series lf growls and and barks he says to the wolf "If you are a good boy, and drink the blood presented to you, you will get to hunt again." (Hes using feral whispers)
If the wolf complies he will fleshcraft his hand so it will start bleeding lightly and throw some blood into the cage.
If not he, plan b is just as viable (pig mixed with his blood.)
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The wolf lunges at him through the cage.
Die, Die, Die, Die, Die its already rather significant growls and barks testify.
(Fleshcrafting his throat would not make the roll easier).
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"Thats quite impossible." He barks back. (Forgot about that)
Then he turns to Ennius. "Oh he hates me alright. All he does is repeating 'die'. Such irony."
"Oh you are a hateful one. I love it." He barks to the wolf. "You must see how pointless it is to lounge at the bars by now. You will not penetrate them no matter how much you try. Calm down."
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The wolf snarls and backs into the cage.
Lucien examines its body. It's been well-fed here, it might not be hungry enough to accept the pig from him - certainly not if the pig was already dead.
"We could always put a sleeping poison or paralytic into the wolf's water, he would be more tranquil for you." Ennius suggests.
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"I suppose that would work. But where is the fun in that." Lucien jests with a smile.
"Good boy." He tells the wolf. "Now, be a good ferocious killing beast and i will release you back into the wilds in three days. All i require of you is to drink the blood presented to you. Howl if you accept." He barks at him.
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The wolf looks at Lucien suspiciously, then howls, backing further into the cage.
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"Ennius, it appears the wolf is just afraid and deals with it by hate. I struck a deal with it which it could not decline." he said to the knight.
"It will drink my blood, and in turn i will release it. In 3 days, now go fetch me a bowl." He waved the knight off with his right hand.
Then he turned to the wolf. "You made the right choice." He said with an alluring smile. "Im guessing you know by now, that i am not human. There is no heart beating in my chest, i draw no breath. So believe me when i say you cant kill me, trying to do so, will only cause you pain in the likes which you have never felt before. But i am not without mercy. You are a hunter, the hunt is within you. Your very being. I will let youbof your cage to hunt tonight." He smiled at him.
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The knight soon returns with a smooth wooden bowl carved from native transylvanian oak.
The wolf stays where it is in the back of the cage.
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Lucien fleshcrafts his arm, sacrificing a few drops into it, then puts it into the cage.
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The wolf stays right where it is, at the back of the cage.
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"Drink." He says to the wolf. "It will give you strength. It willl make you powerful."
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The wolf still does not move.
Lucien begins to realize that perhaps the wolf intended to lure him into the cage.
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"Better luck next time. Which brings me to the question lf the day.."
Lucien shifts to horrid form.
"Do you believe in monsters?"
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Lucien's bones crack and shift into the place of his horrid form, the transformation taking a good ten seconds.
While the form itself does not scare the wolf, the transformation certainly does. Nothing should be able to do that.
Lucien sees the beast back into its cage even further, if that was possible, while a whine escapes it's throat. It's head comes down, its ears flat against its skull.
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Lucien smiles, a truly horrifying sight. "Good." He says, letting one of his claws slide across the bars..
"Now, i suggest you drink. Before i come in there and force it down your throat."
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The wolf moves forward reluctantly, and laps briefly at the pooled blood in the bowl before retreating back.
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"Good little pup." He says to the wolf.
Lucien thinks of any area that is large enough to allow the wolf to run around, but prevents the wolf from escaping.
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There is Lucien's own castle.
However, he suspects his servants would simply never tire of complaining about the fact that they were being hunted down through the corridors and eaten.
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The thoughts of servants running around screaming almost make Lucien giggle in delight. Almost. The whining that was bound to come after made him shiver. Yuck. Whining.
Eh it was of no consequence. Tomorrow the wolf would be more blood bonded, it shall hunt the pig then.
"Good boy. " He said to the wolf. Then turns to Ennius. "Make sure he is hungry when i realise him in the courtyard tomorrow."
Then Lucien wonders if anyone would miss that servant, the one that brakes his stuff around the castle and always put stuff where it does not belong. (Is it okay if i invent a servant like that?)
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(If a servant like that had existed, Ennius would have already done him in, so that's a nope. Though you could always specifically import in an incompetent servant for those purposes).
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"Oh, and Ennius. Bring me a incompetent servant. The wolf needs to test his wings so to speak."
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Ennius leaves, sending out men to choose whichever servant Ennius considered most incompetent. Likely it would scare the other servants into performing better. Or running away. Really, the odds were cut in between. Certainly Lucien's service would improve, at least, what remained of it.
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Lucien waits.
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After about 20 minutes of loitering around in his own dungeon, giving his future wolf dirty looks, Ennius comes by with two guards restraining a servant (who Ennius no doubt claimed was stealing stuff).
Ennius dismisses the two guards, who look back nervously at their master, the servant and the wolf.
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"We must make an example of what happens when you steal in my castle. But im not without a heart..." he smiles cruelly. He geatures to the first guard "bring him a sword and a shield." You" he gestures to the other guard. "Lock down the courtyard."
Then he turns to the unlucky servant "and you, you will fight for your life. Survive and you walk out a rich man, free from any service you have to me."
Ofcourse, Lucien were lying. Should he actually manage to kill the wolf he would take its place. He needs a new fleshcrafted schlatza. Though he found that scenario very unlikely.
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The servant looks at Lucien like he's insane (because he most likely is) and immediately makes a break for it. Ennius grabs him by the arm and stops his flight but he struggles madly all the same.
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Lucien smiles, a truly beautiful sight.
"Or perhaps... you would like to go without any defense or sword?" He raised a eyebrow.
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The servant stops struggling, though he gives Lucien another look and both fear and hatred.
"Why? What did I do?!" He cries out.
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Lucien gives him obvious look. "You stole."
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The man exclaims some unimportant things about how "he didn't do anything" or "this is wildly unproportional" or how "you're a monster". Disregarding the man's petty "reason", Lucien has Ennius give him his sword and shield, shoving him into the cage with the weapons.
The man immediately curls up into a ball, using the shield to protect himself from an attack that never comes.
That's because the second the cage opened, the wolf within made a mad dash for the exit, bursting through the cage and blazing down the hall. Ennius, the cumbersome knight, moves far too slowly to catch the beast.
It occurs to Lucien that fully blood-bonding the wolf would have made interactions much more amenable. It did hate him, after all.
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"There he goes." Lucien says as he watches the wolf run away. "Oh well, we shall hafto accomodate a new one." He shrugs.
"Kill him." He gestured to the sevant.
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Ennius seems rather aggravated, possibly because the servant already has his sword and shield, so killing him would have to be done barehanded.
The wolf, meanwhile, gets through rather easily - the guards at Lucien's estate not quite willing to stop it, as well as having not been ordered to.
Ennius backs the man into the cell, where, desperate, he attacks Ennius - hacking away the Ventrue's arm. The sword does nothing, of course, and the man simply drops his weapons in terror and begs for mercy. Ennius' aggravation settles, now that he can use his sword again.
Cleaning his blade on the body afterwards, Ennius says - "Perhaps it would be best to wait for the trainer, as originally planned. You do not seem to have a connection with animals, my lord. Enough of your escaped creations are out there already."
Lucien might almost wince at the mention of Barrabus.
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Lucien did wince. Slightly. "Ugh, dont remind me of that bastard. He'll gets what coming to him soon enough."
Then he thinks for a few moments. "Perhaps that would be for the best. Oh, and bring me a new subject. A strong one."
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"Man or beast?"
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Lucien shrugs. "Surprise me."
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Ennius leaves the castle, and Lucien, alone once more. Does the master of Shaasburg have any other business to accomplish?
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Nope!
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Several hours later, while Lucien boredly does literally nothing, Ennius returns to the castle with 4 huntsmen - one of whom is injured - and three heavily injured and bound wolves.
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"Oh my. Quite a sight to behold." He says, clearly happy that he got 3 wolfs this time. "Now, it seems you just made my evening far more pleasant, and i will gladly pay extra this time." He practicly beamed. "Ennius, pay the men extra. Especially the wounded one. Make sure they know how glad i am."
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Ennius summarily pays the men and tells them to wait outside of Lucien's courtroom.
"My lord, perhaps it would be best to create a Beastmaster through use of a hunter? He can help us trap down Barabus, and with time and training he will become rather competent. When Adrian sends his we can compare."
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"Yes, i've already considered the idea." He replied graciously, pouring up a glass of blood in a goblet. "Did any of the men strike you as they would be willing to go tje extra mile?" He asked as he gave the goblet to Ennius.
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Ennius shrugs.
"The one who captured the third wolf was the one who was bitten. We didn't really need that third wold and I said so. He's a rather aggressive hunter."
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"Indeed." Lucien replied with a thoughtful look."Stupidity is not a virtue. And the other two?"
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Ennius shrugs again.
"They did their jobs."
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"One part brave, three parts fool." He mumbles. "Bring me the wounded one. Send him to my work room.
Note: the official work room, not his private one.
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"Of course Lucien."
Ennius leaves, while Lucien walks down the halls into his workroom, a small, official looking room that the Tzimisce doesn't actually use that often.
Ennius knocks on the door soon thereafter, bringing a man with a freshly bandaged shoulder with him.
"Darius Vasile, my lord."
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Lucien writes on a sheet of paper, taking a minute to reply. Then he puts everything back in its place.
"You captured a third wolf, after being told it was not needed. Why?" He asked with a voice that sounded like i accustomed to giving out orders, while his body language was relaxed. "You're not in any trouble mind you, quite the opposite really." He added to make the man lower his guard.
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"There was another nearby, we had to opportunity to provide more."
The man falls to a knee, kneeling before Lucien with a grimace from the pain of shifting his position.
"It is our duty to provide as much as we can to our lords, is it not?"
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Lucien smiles before replying. "Your lord." He corrected. "And you are correct. It is your duty. But is also your duty to go the extra mile? To put yourself in harm's way in order to prove yourself the wolf, rather than the sheep? I think not young master Darius."
"Are you willing to be the wolf? To become the real hunter rather than the hunted? I jest not when i say that all humans are sheep, but are you willing to go beyond that?"
This is all metaphorical to Lucien. The moment Darius stepped in Lucien took a liking to him. He shall become more than what he is. Hell, ln time he might even make him his childer. That is the presence the man had him.
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The man looks up, inspired by Lucien's greatness.
He stands, fist proudly slamming against his chest, and declares.
"Yes, my great lord Lucien! Of course!"
"Not the brightest one is he?" Ennius mutters under his breath.
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Lucien raises a eyebrow questingly at Ennius. Then he smirks at the man and disregards it as jealosy.
"So be it." Lucien replied with a smile on his pale face. His eyes seemed to measure the mans very soul.
Then a curios look came upon Luciens face and he asked "Do you want to live forever?"
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"Of course! To live forever would be to serve my great lord forever!" The man declares with certainty.
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Lucien smiles. "And so it shall be." He said and for the first time in this conversation he stood up from his chair. Took a nearby goblet he had prepared in advance with some of his blood
"You now, enter the realm of hunters master Darius. There is no longer any going back."
He gave him the goblet. "Drink." He ordered.
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"Uh, what?"
It appears even Darius' absurd enthusiasm has its limits. Mainly, when asked to drink a goblet of unidentified liquid that appears to be blood.
Ennius rolls his eyes.
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Lucien smiles again.
"You said you wanted to live forever. This the key to living forever. And no, you no longer have a choice in the matter Master Darius. I am true to ty my word. Drink, and you shall be granted power. And become the wolf."
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"Ummm..."
Ennius crosses his arms and speaks out loud now.
"The lord said to drink, Darrius."
The huntsman's eyes briefly flicker over to the Ventrue and back to the cup. He licks at his lips nervously and takes the cup into his hands, bringing it swiftly up to his lips and downing the whole thing as fast as possible.
His eyes widen back in shock as the blood courses through him - the cup clatters to the floor as his hand releases it in a shock, and he gasps briefly for air like a man near drowned, staggering back into a table and clenching the edges of it as hard as possible. There's an audible crack as the wood snaps under the strength of his grip.
"What..."
Darrius moves without difficulty now, Lucien surmises that his wound has more than likely finished healing.
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Lucien smiles at the man. "You did not expect that did you?" He smiles. "Perhaps now you understand i am no mere mortal."
"You thought i was just spouting a bunch of nonsense were you?" He laughs. "Now... now you are a servant worthy of me."
"You are stronger, faster and your wounds will heal at an incredible speed, though dont take unneccesary risks. A arrow to your heart will still kill you, even if age will not."
"Now tell me my servant... how do feel? I want to know exactly how you perceive your change "
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"I feel... glorious my lord! What would you have of me for this great boon?"
Ennius can barely hide his incredible disappointment.
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"This man is an idiot." Lucien thought to himself.
"Thats.. all you have to say describe it?" Lucien says with a slight disappointment. "Eh. It doesn't matter."
"The wolfs will undergo a similar experience like you, albeit a bit more forced. You will care for them when i am done." He says.
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"Sounds great lord!" Darius says exuberantly.
"Can he go now?" Ennius practically pleads.
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"Ennius, call in a servant to get him a room. Make sure the servant knows to get his things moved here." He said, and with a wave he let Darius know they were done for the moment.
OOC: Fast forward a week?
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1199, March 7th, 10:33 PM
Shaasburg,
Domain of Lucien, Queen of Sandor
It's been three days since Lucien decided to ghoul Darius and put him in charge of training his first few wolves of war.
In that time, Lucien has managed to fully solidify the bond he's placed on Darius, as well as bond the wolves (having learned from the last time that no, you can't convince wild animals it's a good idea to drink your blood, especially when they really really hate you).
In that time, Ennius has also informed Lucien that there have been reports of a wild fleshcrafted beast wreaking havoc on the border villages of Sofia - and yet, none of the Tzimisce vovoides united in their hatred of the city's Lasombra Prince - previously Basilio the elder, though Lucien has heard tell that Kiril has taken his place, blessed by one of the shadow-workers' Black Gods - the one known as Boukephos - have claimed responsibility (publicly OR privately).
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"We must leave tomorrow evening. Prepare a letter to Kiril of Sofia that we will be visiting his domain for a short period." Lucien orders Ennius. "Bah i really need to arrenge for a childer for times like these.." He shrugs.
Lucien considers what he knows of Boukephos
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"At once sir, i'll send a messenger summarily."
As for what he knows... well, literally nothing. Lucien has never heard of Boukephos before, he knows only that the name sounds important and that he seems to be a methuselah of great power.
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Lucien then waits untill they are ready to leave.
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Preparations are quickly completed. A messenger is sent ahead of Lucien's travelling company (composed of Darius, a squad of ten paid guardsmen, the three barely-trained but at least bonded wolves, and Ennius).
It is a quiet trip.
March 13th, 5:34 AM
Sofia,
Domain of Kiril, the Anointed
Arriving at the city, Lucien is impressed by the architecture and strength of Sofia - it is a powerful city; it has to be, being the capital of Bulgaria.
Leaving behind Darius, his guardsmen and his wolves Lucien enters the city with Ennius and begins heading for the keep at the center of Sofia, where Kiril no doubt resided.
He, however, finds himself quickly greeted within the city walls by a young man with quick-looking eyes.
"Excuse me, my mistress should like to have a word with you, sir."
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"Indeed. And may i ask who your mistress is?" He asks with a surprised smile.
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"Amalia, of Thrace", the young man says, his eyes darting about, his movements seeming strangely slow in comparison.
"She is an ally to your friend, Prince Kiril."
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Lucien ponders what he knows about this Amalia.
politics, politics and more politics. How annoying. his forehead wrinkles slightly at the thought of it. But he quickly steels his resolve. You need to play the game.
"Very well. But you have me at a slight disadvantage here. I am weary from traveling and would not want to meet anyone looking like a dirty peasant. Perhaps tomorrow evening?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.
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"Unfortunately she wishes to tell you the news herself now. Please, if you will follow me."
The man takes off immediately.
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Lucien shrugs and follow the man.
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The man leads Lucien through the city, to the Church Sophia - a wondrously built church that serves as the center of the city's religious powers.
Opening the door within, Lucien sees a woman wearing simple, draped robes, kneeling deep in prayer. Her black hair is worn curled atop her head.
At the sound of the door opening she turns lifts her head from prayer and turns to face Lucien.
Amalia's pallid face exudes the beauty of a marble statue: cold, austere and implacable; Lucien dares say he could not have done better himself. Her dark eyes, however, seem to be filled with a humanity almost... unbecoming of one of the dead.
Her voice as she addresses him is warm and full of welcome.
"Welcome to Sophia, Prince Lucien. It is a pleasure to welcome you to this city's hallowed halls in lord Kiril's absence."
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Lucien smiles, a very beautiful sight indeed. He intends to use his sex appeal bonuses to make the womans disposition of him better.
"Amalia of Thrace i presume?" He asks looking straight into her eyes and maintaining his smile.
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"Indeed, Prince of Shaasburg. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Lucien notes that while her voice is warm, her eyes still manage to send shivers rolling down his long dead spine.
If this is a kind woman, she does not feel kindness towards him.
"I assume you have come here for Prince Kiril's company, yes? I must regretfully inform you that he left to deal with a threat within his territory some few hours ago. Do you intend to catch up with him?"
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Lucien feigns surprise. After all it most likely is Barabus and Lucien does not wish the woman to know the history there.
"Yes, i intended to visit him. If he left a few hours ago i should be able to catch up to him. So i would say yes, i do intend to."
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"I can lend you a guide then, someone who knows the path Kiril has followed." She mentions.
"You can find him at the gate from which you came in."
From the finality in her tone it is clear she wishes for him to leave now.
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"Thank you milady." He nods his head at her then leaves. He immedietly heads for the gate after.
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Daedalus finds a pale, sweaty-looking older man waiting to guide him to Kiril's current location.
The group sets off, leaving Sofia shortly after their arrival...
1199, March 14th, 2:57 AM
Outskirts of Sofia, at the base of mount Vitosha.
Domain of Kiril, the Anointed
The first thing to strike Lucien about the village is just how horrendous it smells.
The past week or so of travel had been uneventful. Lucien's rapid pace had set him to gain slightly on Kiril, day after day. Darius estimates that they are only about 40 minutes travel behind the Lasombra Prince at this point.
Approaching their destination the wolf had been first to notice it, Darius and the men following soon after. They pulled their shirts over their noses and tried to take only shallow breaths for a while - but the smell has persisted with a terrible relentlessness, only getting worse as the vampire lord's caravan approaches what's left of the mountain village.
The howls of wolves and other scavengers had set the men on edge as they drew closer to Aleko (Ennius told Lucien the name some time ago).
"My lord," Ennius says, riding across from Lucien.
"There are men running from the village. Our own guard appears to be terrified."
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"Confirm its barabus then ride like the wind to catch up Kiril, tell him the situation here." He says grimly. "Stop the wagon." He orders. "But before you go, order the men to fight to the death with him. It would be annoying if the demon possesed them."
He then stepped out of his wagon and looked at the village.
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"Of course sir."
Ennius hails the two guardsmen and they begin to run from him as surely as they ran from the village. He stops them cold with his voice and starts questioning them though.
"A massive monster, with bulging muscles and black veins just ripped us to pieces. Shadows and black ooze are fighting, 4 of us were torn to shreds, Gerald impaled, the captain beaten down, they're all dead, they have to be", one of the men says, panic plainly visible on his face.
Lucien notes with some distaste that the two men have soiled themselves.
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"I've heard what i needed to hear." Lucien says with a slightly disgusted face. Then he glances at Ennius "order the men to get away from here, this is not a fight they can win. Darius will take temporary control while we battle."
-
"My lord! I must refuse, the captain of this squad can do his part, I must come with you to hunt this mighty beast I have heard so much of!"
The damned fool actually whistles to his wolves and starts charging towards the village, the things follow him with surprising loyalty (perhaps they wish to eat him?)
Ennius grits his teeth.
"We don't have time my lord, the situation appears dire. I suppose we will have to punish the fool at a later date."
Ennius rides forward on his charger, drawing his cavalry sword and maneuvering his horse with his feet as he loosens his shield from his back.
Following quickly after his most loyal knight and his most stupid ghoul, Lucien traverses the ruined village, the smell of death weighing heavily on him. He hears whispers travelling through the air, unable to make out the words but discomforted by them all the same.
It isn't long at all before they arrive at the village square, but the second they do Lucien instantly feels a powerful regret for every single life decision he's ever made that has led him to this particular moment.
Horrifying otherworldly darkness - more than Lucien has ever seen any Lasombra summon - fill the square, enough to drive an inlking of fear down even him. Things move and shift in the darkness, tendrils that whip and lash viciously at unseen monster. The whispers are much louder here, Lucien can start making out some of the words - he doesn't like any of them, of course.
Scanning the scene, he quickly locates Kiril - the Lasombra stands proudly and defiantly with his two servants, Carinus and Sherazhina. Three tendrils move out of his clothes visibly protecting him. Darkness surrounds him and Lucien cannot help but admire the Lord's power.
However, his attention is rapidly drawn away from his old companion and brought with utmost attention the the monster whom he stands in front of so defiantly.
It stares back at him.
Barabus.
Darius has stopped a good 50 feet away from Barabus, along with his three wolves, and he stands with his jaw wide open, frozen, unable to speak.
Ennius has pulled in his charge and partially lowered his weapon, just long enough to mutter the words, heard by Lucien ever so acutely, more a statement than a question - "What the Fark is this."
While his features might resemble the old Barabus - before Lucien ever touched him - this Barabus is massive. Large to an inhuman degree, he towers over Kiril and 7 or so dead or dying, armoured men who lie in almost a circle around him. His body oozes black blood from cuts that he doesn't seem to notice, and he is restrained by tendrils which he doesn't seem to care about. He is completely naked, and this serves to outline the terrible, strained black veins that stand out on his body like tight cords. His lips and teeth, visible in a snarl, are black from bloody drool. As he tenses at Lucien's approach, he sees the man's horrifyingly large and powerful muscles ripple, not an ounce of fat on him.
He might be beautiful if he wasn't so terrifying.
Returning to his senses, Lucien realizes the voices are whispering something - this time clearer and louder and with more enthusiasm than ever before.
KILL THE SHAPER. KILL THE KNIGHT