Bounty Head Bebop Comlink
Role Playing Games => Vampire The Masquerade => Drakilian's Games => Side Quests => Topic started by: Drakilian on July 29, 2015, 05:45:17 pm
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"You and Husayn will kill Gabor for putting this price on my head. Don't look so surprised, Husayn told me everything before he attacked. Then you will let Husayn go free of his debt to me with my blessing."
1199, February 5th, 11:40 PM
Krondstadt,
Domain of the Dark Lord Anton Petrov Veranin
It has been 11 nights since Husayn's death, 8 nights since Kiril's annointment by Boukephos at Sofia, 7 nights since Anton has returned to Krondstadt in the company of a rebuilt Desiderio, a grieving Basilio and an incomprehensible Boukephos.
Even now that Boukephos dwells within his city, Anton cannot remember the slightest thing about the man. He's been rather secretive, Anton can barely remember anything about him at Kiril's coronation. All that he can truly recall is something like a living avatar of the abyss coming to Sofia. He can remember the fear, respect and abject awe in the faces of the other kindred of Sofia as they layed eyes on whatever ancient horror came to grant Kiril its blessing.
Basilio says Boukephos is keeping himself hidden from everyone because he does not yet believe it is time to introduce himself to his great grandchilder in full. Anton could say little of the matter, for some reason he had no inclination to do so.
At Krondstadt much the same happened with the Teutonic Order. The knights there bowed the knee to Anton, and though Anton knows they will still not follow his orders, he knows he is safe of any machinations that they may have had planned to dethrone him.
Ancients really can work wonders.
Boukephos is still in the city - despite the fact that the elder seemingly has the ability to take himself anywhere in the world, it seems he has been staying here for the time being. Every Cainite in the city can feel it.
In the days Anton has been back at his city he has been given time to arrange matters for his disappearance, manage his ghouls, hear about new events and deal with his other princely duties.
Soon, however, he must leave to accomplish the task Basilio gave him. Husayn may be dead, but Gabor still lived. It was the loyal child's duty to end the threat to his master's life.
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Anton rises from his seat, and raises his hand, drawing one of the Shades he keeps in his sanctum to him.
"Bring me Joseph." He commands, as his hand touches the darkness from the abyss.
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The shade flits away into the darkness, through the hidden door out of Anton's haven and upstairs, where brother Joseph stood guard. The ghoul was busy "overlooking" father Damien's confessions, likely to make sure the father did not take advantage of his powers of confession. Save what he would tell Anton, of course.
Though he would never admit it, Father Damien was much less of a holy man than Joseph or Thomas. He was much more likely to abuse his power, and the Beast given to him by Anton's blood posed quite the temptation.
The shadow passes on the message to Joseph, making shadows gather into the shape of words in Latin along walls illuminated by a nearby torch.
The monk descends. Soon after having sent his message, Anton sees him enter through the door.
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"Brother." Anton states, letting his voice guide the blinded monk.
"I have been given Lord Basillio's final request; eliminate his foe, Gabor the Tzimisce. You are to accompany me."
"The trip shall be long, but eliminating Gabor shall be swift. He is in Constantinople, though obviously still wishing to return to Sofia. He will not have planted roots there, though he shall likely know that someone is coming for him. Bring provisions, candles and a criminal who has not paid his due. I shall make arrangements for the time we are away."
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"Constantinople? Brother, that is nearly three months away by the fastest ship in the most favourable seas. You will be abandoning your seat for over half a year. Are you sure of this? Basilio could find someone else."
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"Brother, Gabor is a kindred who betrays his mission, and dared to strike against those of the Via Noctis. He must be eliminated, by my hands, no one else." Anton states.
"But fret not, it will not be nearly that long, I suspect. It is good. This will be your first voyage into the abyss." Anton states.
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Joseph looks confused, and rightfully so.
"Voyage into the abyss? What do you mean, brother Anton?"
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"Among mystics, there exists a ritual beyond that of drawing forth shades, or peering into the darkness. It is the act of physically moving through the abyss." Anton explains.
"I trust that of the abyss mystics among us, one of them has seen Constantinople, and would grace us with a short trip."
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Joseph appears displeased at the thought of wandering the abyss. Familiar as the ghoul was with Obtenebration, it was still a disconcerting power. Wandering the place form whence it originated was not truly a welcome repast, and would perturb even many Lasombra.
"Is there anything else then, brother?"
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"Steel yourself for the journey, brother. It is a gift for a job well done while I was away." Anton states.
"Now go, I must convene with Desidrio."
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"What happened in Sofia?" Joseph asks uncertainly, his curiosity plain.
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Anton nods.
"I suppose you should know. Gabor, the kindred we are to exterminate, had Husayn try and kill Basilio. He failed, due to his warning, but fell in the fight. That is all." He explains, keeping Kiril's action hidden.
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"Why would Husayn do such a thing?" Joseph asks, confused. Their friendship was not a secret.
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"I believe Husayn felt honorbound to fulfill his contract, and acted even against his own wishes." Anton says, "It is something to learn from, Brother. No matter what, we are bound in contract to Christ. Even if his service requires us to do what we can not want, we must act."
"That is what sets us from the rabble. The pact we of the Via Noctis have made is what we keep to. We always defer to it, and we sacrifice ourselves to further Christ's goal."
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"I... I see. Thank you brother."
Joseph leaves the room, soon Desiderio wanders in, almost as if he hadn't been called. The mystic was still Anton's superior (and given the difference in age, might very well be his superior forever). At the very least, he was a powerful enough elder within Anton's city that the knight have been much more uncomfortable if the mystic wasn't his own mentor, and the one who had introduced him to the Via Noctis.
Desiderio eyes the shadows that infest Anton's lair. He'd been impressed with his pupil's progress in working with the abyss. Anton was much younger than Desiderio, his mind still free of the cobwebs of generations.
"Joseph said you needed my help, Anton?"
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"Yes, Lord Desidrio. Basilio has ordered me to eliminate Gabor, the tzimisce." Anton explains to his mentor.
"As such, I have two requests I must make of you. The first is simple. While I am gone, I will need another to take control. I can think of none other then you. No one else has the same vision that you have taught me." Anton states. While other vampires might worry about handing over control to an elder, Anton does not worry. Desidrio seemed to have no interest in rulership. The only fear would be that he rejects the request.
"As for my second, I must ask if it would not be too much if you could transport Brother Joseph and I to Constantinople. I do not wise to leave my position for such a long time, even in the hands of one as capable as you."
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Desiderio looks displeased.
"You cannot pass on the duty to anyone else?"
Clearly Anton's intuition was correct, the Mystic had no ambitions to rule. Likely the day-to-day tediums of ruling interrupted his own studies into the abyss.
"As for your second request, you will not need to worry about that. You will have a way back from Constantinople, though Basilio wishes to take you with him to experience the sea for the first half of the trip. We all feel the call of the earth's abyss, the never-ending depths of the ocean; black, cold and humbling, as close to our home as we can find here. Basilio wants to share it with you, at least until Constantinople."
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Anton nods. While it is not preferable, seeing the sea would be useful to understand the true abyss. One day
"None that I can trust, Lord. Especially not for this length of time." Anton states. "Krondastant will be the home of the Via Noctis. I can not leave it in the hands of any other."
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Another hum of dissatisfaction.
"Very well, I shall watch over Krondstadt while you are gone. Is there anything else?"
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Anton nods.
"Thank you, Desidrio. And no, that would be all."
The next step is too bring in the Fathers. Father Damien will not be an issue, but Thomas must be watched over.
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Joseph brings in Father Thomas first, father Damien is out in the city and is much farther away.
The man enters, dressed in priestly robes whilst sporting a golden cross and fine leather sandals, along with some other accessories of worth. He has a fiery look in his eye but having gone through priestly training Anton recognizes it as one of the many expressions priests would adopt to help carry their lordly message.
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"Father Thomas. You should know not to bring a cross into this decadent room." Anton states, quickly removing his darksight, before countinuing.
"Brother Joseph and I shall be leaving Krondast for a time. Lord Desidrio will make sure everything is being done properly, during my absence."
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"Apologies, brother Anton."
The father quickly puts away his cross, though Anton still feels rather uneasy. All his brothers and priests still wear crosses, even Joseph. They just make efforts to hide them from Anton.
"Of course brother Anton." The priests says, not quite getting the message behind Anton's declaration. The man would admit he was corrupt when Anton died of old age.
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"Good." Anton states. At some point he will have to fix this issue, but not now.
"He will be me, and I expect you to treat him as you treat me, Thomas."
"That will be all."
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Thomas leaves and Damien soon comes after, in much more ragged and threadbare but still proudly worn robes. The man was happy to be a servant of Christ, and did his service as well as any could hope for. Anton passes on the same message to him and the priest departs in turn.
Is there anyone else Anton would like to see?
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OOC: I hope not! XD
Finishing his buisness, Anton heads to his sire. Brother Joseph should be ready for the travel soon.
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Looking about for his sire Anton finds out that Basilio had left already, headed for his ship - the Dark Lady - which had taken anchor waiting for him in the far away port city of Constanta.
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Realizing this, Anton goes to find Joseph, and inform him of their current passage to Constantinople. They need to be ready for a trip to Constanta as well.
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"We will not walk through the abyss?" Joseph asks, confusedly, though Anton notes with a hint of relief.
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"Unfortunately not, Brother. We will head to Constantinople by boat, accompanying Basilio on the first part of his journey." Anton states.
"Lord Desidrio will be taking care of things while we are gone."
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"And the trip to Constanta?"
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"We should leave promptly. Lord Basilio will meet us there."
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"Ah. Well then, I suppose it is time..."
Joseph stands, already in his travelling robe. Anton, despite his horrendous perception, notices the tip of a sheathe poking out from under Joseph's robes.
Again he wonders when Joseph became a swordsman. He certainly fought better than most other warriors the Lasombra had dealt with.
On the way to the castle stables Anton finds himself intercepted by a rather unnerving yet handsome man dressed in the finery of a spanish lord. The few others out right now appear not to see him, and he seems indistinct even to Anton.
Anton soon recognizes him as one of the servants Boukephos keeps with him, though he does not know the man's name.
"Great-Grandchilde Anton," The man's voice is sly and low, with a low rasp to it, like that of a man whose voice was taken from him.
"I have been informed that you are ready for travel. I will take you to Constanta, and reunite you with Basilio."
Joseph gapes at the man, and Anton might find it hard not to do the same. This most definitely was not Boukephos - perhaps a possession of some sort?
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Anton is certainly surprised by his Grandsire's possessed servant, though more so by his apperance rather then existance. Lord Boukephos has shown a mastery of Dominate far greater then that of Basilio or Anton.
"That would be greatly appreciated, my lord." Anton states.
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Boukephos waves a hand towards the shadows cast by a nearby building.
"Through there is Constanta. Till next time, Anton."
With a brief smile, Boukephos' servant steps into a nearby shadow and disappears.
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Anton nods, thankfully, and heads towards the Shadow.
"We are truly fortunate, Brother Joseph. You get to travel the Abyss anyways." Anton says, glad.
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Brother Joseph grimaces.
"It seems I will."
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"Do not fear, Brother. The Abyss is terrifying only to those who lack resolve. If you are certain in your path, this shall be no danger." Anton states.
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Joseph's grimace doesn't waver for a second, but he follows Anton when the Ashen Knight steps through the alley's shadows and into the Abyss.
Wind howls across an endless plain, entirely shrouded in darkness.
To one unaccustomed, the Abyss breathes a corrupt malice one would imagine to be found only in Hell. Anton can feel Joseph undergoing that realization when he steps in, can feel the trembling as fear overtakes the monk.
Ancient death fills the air, an empty world that has never known life and yet hums with cold malice surrounds the two travelers. Shadows streak across the endless plain, invisible, as much a part of the world as they are living beings.
In Anton's eyes, the plain is a blindingly bright, warm, glowing land that fills him to his very core. He breathes in the stuff of shadows, his dead lungs rejoicing in the feel of the void.
Shadows cling to the knight, and many eagerly crowd the entrance from whence he came. They crawl about him like eager pets looking for affection from their master. None come near the monk, though it is clear he senses their presence, for he almost collapses from fear.
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"Do not fret, Brother Joseph. There is nothing to fear here, it is our rightful place." Anton states.
"Do you feel the pull of the Abyss Brother? Breath it in. We must bask in the darkness The Lord granted us."
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Joseph speaks hesitantly, his voice weak and almost lost in the shifting darkness.
Shadows edge closer to the monk, sensing his reluctance and his fear, relishing in his pain.
"If this.. if this is a place of the lord, then it is only that which he has forsaken, brother."
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"And what am I, Brother? What are all those of Caine?" Anton asks, gazing the endless light of the Abyss.
"Us of Caine have been forsaken from the Lord's kingdom. But we do his bidding, and make sure the world is ready for his return.
"The abyss is our home, Brother. It is where we belong. We are forced outside these shadows for a singular purpose, that of redeeming His flock."
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Brother Joseph does not reply just yet. His unspoken response is clear, though Anton knows he would never say it aloud.
"You've been forsaken brother. I have not."
Shadows revel in the tension between master and slave. They sense bloodshed, so eager are they to mete out death - or be in its presence.
After a moment, Joseph speaks - "We should leave soon brother. This realm is grows weary of me."
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Anton smiles.
"Yes, I suppose so." He states, and then silently whispers the city's name.
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A moment later Anton and Joseph both take a step out into an unfamiliar alleyway. A hapless drunk groans briefly on the ground besides them both, but his eyes to not open.
The abyss creaks open once more and shadows cry out in glee as they see their freedom at hand. Darkness prepares to enter the world beyond the gate, only to be held back by prison's grasp. Shadows scream at the injustice.
As the two things step through the gate back to their world, silence once more falls upon the eternal plain.
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Anton looks to Brother Joseph, before kicking the drunk lightly, and staring into his eyes.
"Lead us to the Docks." He commands, forcing his will upon the sinner.
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The drunk is shaken awake by Anton's boot. He reaches to the side for a rock to (try to) bash in the vampire's skull but is instantly locked in by Anton's eyes.
He gets up and begins walking away.
It doesn't take Anton long to get to the docks, the abyssal portal had deposited him very close by - it's a short 30 second walk for him to find his master's ship. Of course, there is absolutely no doubt as to which of the ships is that of his sire.
The figurehead is that of a ghostly woman carved from ebony-coloured wood wearing a dress that seems to flow freely in the ocean breeze. Anton suspects that the visual illusion is merely (if such could be said of such artfully beautiful decor) the product of shadows made to play around the woman's figure.
On her expertly carved head lays something like a delicately woven wreath that seems to breathe and grow and live even while being carved of the same wood that makes up her figure. No doubt another product of shadowy illusions.
Her face is imperious, proud and beautiful, with eyes that seem to draw the gazer into the depths of the abyss.
The ship itself seems to have been carved from the very same wood as that of the figurehead, the ship being entirely black and almost impossible to see in the night, visible only to Anton because of his special visual prowess. The thing is a sleek and powerful affair, reminding the Lasombra of nothing more than the shadows he sometimes communes with from his dark realm. Of course, a Lasombra's ship should specialize in nighttime raids.
The Dark Queen, Basilio the Elder's flagship, lies in wait.
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Anton smiles as he looks upon the Dark Queen in her beauty. It certainly seems more impressive then almost anything Lord Basilio has displayed before. Truly a masterful ship, simply from the outside.
"It is almost certainly a frivolity, this ship, Brother, but it is truly impressive." He remarks, before looking to the drunkard.
"It would likely be rude to bring such a stain onto this ship." He says, before gripping the drunkard by the shoulder, and turning him around towards the knight.
"Leave to the church and confess your sins. I do not have time, nor jurisdiction to grant you direct access to the Future Kingdom." Anton commands, and then proceeds to gead onto the ship.
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The drunk stumbles off into the dark, incoherently mumbling as he does so.
"What ship, brother Anton?" Joseph asks, unable to the see the flagship - despite its size - in the dark.
He, however, follows without question when Anton starts walking. When they are 20 feet from the ship, Joseph gasps in realization - then quietly says, almost to himself - "A pirate's ship from hell."
Looking towards the gangplank, Anton sees Basilio personally waiting for him, a sorrowful smile across his face.
"Good to see you again Anton. I trust your journey was a safe one?"
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"Of course, sire." Anton says with a smile. "A trip through the abyss can never be unpleasent for one of it's own."
"Come, brother. There's nothing to fear here." Anton says to the monk, as he walks up on the ship.
"I knew not that you had such a vessel, Basilio. It is truly magnificent."
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"Thank you Anton, the Dark Queen was my sire's flagship before it was my own. It's undergone modifications to make it more effective in modern combat but the figurehead remains."
The Lasombra motions for his childe to follow.
"The entire thing was carved from the trunks of trees soaked in the abyss for a year. The shadows sucked the life out of the wood, leaving it blackened and dry. It took some work re-hydrating the wood enough for it to be used in construction but I feel it was well worth it. You should feel at home aboard it."
If Anton looked back, he would see the look of despair on Joseph's face.
"It's manned by a team of extremely old and experienced ghouls, the captain being myself and my sire before me. Some of the ghouls on this ship - the ones who have survived the ages and battles - are even older than I am. Treat them with respect."
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"It's manned by a team of extremely old and experienced ghouls, the captain being myself and my sire before me. Some of the ghouls on this ship - the ones who have survived the ages and battles - are even older than I am. Treat them with respect."
"Truly?" Anton asks rehthorically, surprised. Rarely does one see kindred older then The Eldest, all the more so ghouls.
"I suppose the Dark Queen holds much history. One of the few times I regret not focusing on studying auspex." He then adds.
He then looks around the boat, and then out to the sea.
"You already know this, my lord, but I have never been out to sea. I am glad my first voyage shall be here, on the Queen, for it has been said that the Sea is the closest to the abyss one can get in this world."
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"Indeed, it is only a pity we may not dive to it's very depths and see if the Abyss truly joins with our world. Terrible things inhabit the waters of this world my childe, it is why we must go out onto it so well armed in darkness."
Basilio leads Anton on board the ship. The wood, unlike that of a normal ship, does not creak under the waves or the strain of the Ashen Knight's weight. The entire thing is as silent as it is invisible.
On board the ship the crew is already hard at work preparing for takeoff, each of them moving with a surhuman speed and strength that Anton could not hope to match, with the practised ease of centuries. Even as they reach the back of the ship, where a powerfully built Black-skinned man waits for them, the crew finishes their work.
"Anton, this is the First Mate of the Dark Queen, Ekenedilichukwu, Eken for short. He has served on this ship for the past 1439 years."
Eken nods his head slightly to Basilio, his arms behind his back and small smile playing on his lips, he does the same (the nod slightly lesser) for Anton. No notice is given to the forlorn Joseph.
"Evening Captain, childe, where are we off to this fine night?"
The man's voice bears no hint of an accent and he speaks with a sophistication rarely seen of the savage races of the Africas. Of course, there are methuselah younger than he is, he has had an inordinate amount of time to learn.
"Constantinople Eken, my apologies for making you wait out here for all these years, it is time we take back to the seas."
"A pleasant prospect Captain, I shall notify the crew. Your cabin's been set up."
"Wonderful, thank you."
Basilio then takes a moment to stare out onto the sea from the heightened position. Anton sees that he has his Darksight active, and then looks for himself.
The sea shines with an almost heavenly light, rays bursting out of a crystal ocean, constantly moving and swaying in a wondrous canvas of interplaying light and mild darkness.
"Have you ever seen such beauty, Anton?" Basilio says, his voice strained.
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Anton gives a slight nod in defference to the aged ghoul. Someone so ancient must certainly know much about the clan and it's art, even if a savage. Certainly worthwhile bringinging it up on the journey.
"Only in the abyss, Basilio." Anton replies curtly, taking in the scene. He's begining to understand why he feels the pull. It's marvelous, before they even enter the depths.
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"Then let us find peace amidst the waves of the Black Sea, so named for it's particular darkly imbued water. Even in the brightest of days its depths are black as our nights."
The following few weeks are spent in pleasant discussion and philosophy with Basilio and some of the members of the crew, most notably the ancient savage Eken, taking a quick but not urgent route to Constantinople.
Basilio seems to understand his childe's need to hurry, even though he clearly does wish to enjoy the trip personally.
Perhaps 10 days into the trip, when feeding had begun to become a worry - on a night where the moon was well-hidden, Anton watched as Basilio orchestrated a fatal raid on a nearby Italian vessel headed to Constantinople.
The Dark Queen sneaked right up next to the ship without a soul aboard the other noticing a thing. The crewmen boarded with a habitual silence that would make Heldric jealous and captured the merchant ship without ever having to draw a blade. The crew of the ship is currently in the stocks, to be sold into slavery somewhere in Byzantine and be used for feeding purposes.
Is there anything Anton should wish to do in particular during his trip with Basilio?
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As the nights go by, as Anton becomes slowly accostomed to life on the ship, he recognizes his need to act. This may be the last time he sees his sire in many years, and certainly one of the few chances he will get to see the ship. But talking to The Eldest must wait. The most important always must.
He first heads to the first mate, the savage. He's withstood the test of time, something very few kindreds manage. His knowledge might be invaluable, even if tainted by a scorched mind.
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From Anton's various observations he's deduced that Eken enjoys spending most of his time on a wooden-backed chair he places at the edge of the stern of the ship, where he spends long periods of time staring at the figurehead and keeping a passive eye on his crew.
He's to be found in his usual space when he goes to check.
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Anton nods to the savage, as he puts down his own chair by his side. Perhaps the first step in not looking down on the savage is just that, not looking down. He then sits down.
"Greetings, Enken." The lasombra says, looking at the ghoul with a mixture of both confusion, respect, and revulsion.
"I had not introduced myself properly, before. I am Anton, prince of Krondast." He then adds.
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The ghoul looks at Anton with disdain.
"It's Eken, little one. Not a difficult shorthand, please do try to remember."
Not a good start.
The ghoul reaches below his seat and draws a tankard, into which he pours something from a stoppered bottle whose powerful smell immediately strikes Anton as being rum.
He drinks from the tankard, looking at Anton expectantly.
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OOC; goddammit just because I cant name people doesnt mean anton cant. XD
Anton nods.
"Yes, Eken, I apologize. My hearing has never been very good." Anton says, before looking at the tankard.
"You run a proper ship, Eken. I doubt most, if any, Kindred can claim such impressive handling." He says.
"Lord Basilio stated that you have been around for almost 1500 years." Anton says.
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Eken scoffs,
"I doubt most, if any, Kindred actually have the balls to wander the high seas. Excuse my language, but frankly other than you Lasombra there are very few of the undead in these waters - except for the occasional Mariner or Ghost Ship. You're the kings of the seas partly because you're the only ones who care for it, really - no one else considers it worth the risk of hunger."
He nods his head at Anton's mention of his age, then takes a deep, deep swig of his tankard.
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Anton winces a bit from the savage's wording, unused to such base words coming from a ghoul. It's certainly a different situation now. Had it been in Krondast, the ghoul would have had to be roasted alive. But here isn't his place, and at least the savage apologized for it.
"Yes, the lack of Kine to feed from certainly poses a danger, though I do wonder how satiating fish is. As a mortal, in the monastery, we were mostly fed fish, chicken if lucky. Certainly not something I miss once I was changed." Anton says with a nod.
"Though I suspect that in the near future things might change. Controlling the Ocean means controlling trade, in this world."
He then looks at the ship and the well trained crew.
"When did you first set out to sea, Eken? Was it with Basilio's sire?"
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"By all accounts, it's absolute trash," Eken says in reply to Anton's mention of fish.
"Though he'll kill you if you even imply he'd do such a thing, Erasmo said it was worse than drinking the blood of rats."
Another swig. For a second, Anton gets the impression the ghoul is drinking so deeply because he dislikes him. Of course not, that couldn't possibly be the case! Anton is so likeable!
"No, not with Erasmo, but with his sire before him."
Wait a second - that's not right. Rusty gears start turning in Anton's head - Anton is of the seventh generation, Basilio is of the 6th generation - so if Erasmo is his sire, he has to be 5th. Which would make Erasmo's sire... Boukephos? Could this man have served under that ancient black god?
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Anton's rarely seen intelligence quickly makes the deduction, which quickly makes Anton furrow his brown in surprise.
"Wait, you served under Lord Boukephos?" Anton asks, awe from the possibility slowly eroding the dislike of the savage.
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Eken shakes his head.
"Not so, I suppose Basilio has never told you? He was originally of the 7th generation, he earned his current proximity to Caine through the diablerie of a Tzimisce elder - yet another reason they hate him so greatly. Erasmo's sire was one of Lord Boukephos' esteemed - and perhaps his most noble - childe, Marcellus Rufus. Not to speak ill of Zarathustra or Goeffrey, of course, but Marcellus was a miner slave for barbarians before he was turned, he learnt suffering well."
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"Huh." Anton mutters as he hears the sudden revealation.
"So you first set out with Lord Marcellus? Was he on this very ship?" Anton asks, curiosity driving him.
"And he was a miner slave? I always thought the Lord was born noble." Anton then adds. The Via Noctis requires it's desciples to be from the dregs of the earth first, so a Lasombra such as that is not improbable, but for Marcellus, the childe of Boukephos (OOC: Who Aman knows nothing about and would love a quick description so his questions dont sound lime those of an ignoramace,), that was unthinkable.
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Eken waves his hand about - "The ship is constantly remade and reconstructed. It's changed greatly over the years but the bones of the hull and the figurehead are indeed the same ones that Marcellus originally constructed with the help of Boukephos."
Eken plays about with his now empty tankard, before adding some more of the sweet-smelling rum into it, emptying the bottle he'd brought out.
It then occurs to Anton that the rum must not be purely rum at all - for a ghoul as old as Eken no liquid could possibly give him any sort of pleasure - save, of course, for that one special make that only the dead can offer...
He starts speaking loftily, as if telling a great tale.
"Lord Marcellus was born as the son of a roman merchant family. He grew bored with the urban lifestyle and decided to join the roman military but he was inexperienced in the basic three areas -gambling, drinking and whoring. He soon found himself indebted, addicted to wine and with many rivals for the favor of a particular courtesan.
With the foolish assumption that his family name would protect him, Rufus was caught by surprise when his enemies decided to consolidate their power and caught him. He was sold into slavery to the mines of Las Medulas, everyone believing that he had been slain by a barbarian raid.
Although most slaves succumbed to the heavy tasks and the cruel taskmasters, Rufus thrived, holding himself against the mythical tales of conduct of his family, refusing to die like a slave. This mindset proved to be his salvation, when Boukephos visited the mines and was impressed by his noble bearing and his concentrated mind."
Eken sets the bottle down and starts drinking from his tankard again.
"You shouldn't be too surprised. The old ones may be akin to gods, but you were all mortals at some point."
He sets aside the tankard, half empty now.
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"So when did Marcellus bring you to the fold?" Anton asks, wondering.
"And did you know Basilio from before the dialberi?" He then adds, betraying his interest in the topic. "What happened?"
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Eken downs the rest of the tankard so fast Anton wonders if he even has a need to swallow.
"Marcellus bought me and 99 other slaves to serve as the crew to this ship."
Strange - there are only a few dozen crew members on this ship, and none of them as old as Eken. What happened to all the others?
"Of course I knew him before the diablerie, I'm more than twice his age! It nearly drove him mad it did. The woman he killed - a right vicious bitch - well, she didn't quite die. Stayed in his head, tortured him for years, he nearly killed himself. You won't see the scars anymore - he crafted them away - but he threw himself into a fire after 40 years of dealing with her, tried to burn the pain away. Erasmo and I saved him, of course. It got bad enough that we tried to get Boukephos to fix him up, but the old man either couldn't or wouldn't do it.
The real scary times came when she would fight with him over control of his body. You'd see him jerk around and shake and sometimes even fight his own shadows for control. Left him a changed man."
Anton wonders briefly where Basilio had learned to flesh craft - he has never displayed the skill - but remembers he must have gotten it from... Whoever this woman was.
-
Eken downs the rest of the tankard so fast Anton wonders if he even has a need to swallow.
"Marcellus bought me and 99 other slaves to serve as the crew to this ship."
Strange - there are only a few dozen crew members on this ship, and none of them as old as Eken. What happened to all the others?
"If you don't mind me asking, Eken, what happebed to the others? And when did you rise to be the overseer of the whole ship?"
"Of course I knew him before the diablerie, I'm more than twice his age! It nearly drove him mad it did. The woman he killed - a right vicious bitch - well, she didn't quite die. Stayed in his head, tortured him for years, he nearly killed himself. You won't see the scars anymore - he crafted them away - but he threw himself into a fire after 40 years of dealing with her, tried to burn the pain away. Erasmo and I saved him, of course. It got bad enough that we tried to get Boukephos to fix him up, but the old man either couldn't or wouldn't do it.
The real scary times came when she would fight with him over control of his body. You'd see him jerk around and shake and sometimes even fight his own shadows for control. Left him a changed man."
Anton wonders briefly where Basilio had learned to flesh craft - he has never displayed the skill - but remembers he must have gotten it from... Whoever this woman
"I never saw Basilio shake like what you described..." Anton says, furrowing his brow. "Did he overcome her spirit, then?"
"So when Basilio devoured her, he learnt the tzmisce's fleshcrafting?" He adds.
-
"They're all dead."
Eken places his empty tankard down to the floor of the ship and looks away from Anton, out into the sea.
The moon was out in full tonight. Anton would have preferred the pure darkness reminiscent of the Abyss but even he cannot deny that the moonlight ocean aboard the comparatively diminutive vessel was stunning.
"I became first mate after the fourth first mate was eaten by sharks."
He reaches out to the railing, grabbing hold of it and breathing in deeply.
"I know what you're thinking, and I know what you're going to ask. Why, out of those 100 slaves, am I the one still here, living, breathing, talking to you?"
He lets out his breath.
"You know what i've seen kill more of my kind than anything else in the time i've been alive? It's not pirates or raiders or lupines or sharks or fire or whatever the hell's out there killing vamps and their servants like they'll never get to do it again. It's suicide. At one point or another, we get bored with life or are so sad about the thing we call life right now that we just give it all up. The blood messes with the mind, and we weren't meant for the Beast your blood gives us. We weren't meant to still be able to love and feel pain and be human the way we are, yet still deal with your dread curse.
It's a hell of a deal to be given, especially for the strong and the ambitious. When they realize this is all they'll ever get, when they realize they hate what their life's become - they decide to move on to the next one. They know it's there, after all."
Eken plays briefly with his hands.
"You know why i'm not a vampire, despite the fact that I'm older than some of your best known elders? No ambition. No desire for power or control. No need for anything like that. You Lasombra only embrace the most ambitious, the most power-hungry, the worst of the worst, the best of the best, whatever the hell you want to call it. I never had any of that. The ones who did, they died early. The first four first mates."
The big man leans back into his chair.
"The one before me - eaten by sharks, remember? He jumped into the water, got devoured by those monsters that always follow us around. He probably knew what would happen.
I was just a deckhand, but all the more qualified men were dead. I was given the position, I never took it. I'm used to it now but that's the key to living forever Anton. You can't want anything more out of life, because you'll never get it."
"I never saw Basilio shake like what you described..." Anton says, furrowing his brow. "Did he overcome her spirit, then?"
"So when Basilio devoured her, he learnt the tzmisce's fleshcrafting?" He adds.
"Yeah, eventually. Think he managed to overcome her about twenty years before he sired you and Kiril. You know, I think he struck a deal with her in his head to do what he did. Can you tell me what city she used to be Prince of - before another Tzimisce took her place?
Yeah, he learnt it - and quite a few other things as well. Seems right that he never told you about it. He tries not to use those powers, says it gives her a stronger hold on him."
-
"No ambition?" Anton asks, practically unable to understand such a thing. "No hopes, dreams? Nothing? At this poiny you may be one of the strongest ghouls around. Youve had enough time to do anything you'd want. Literally anything. How could you possibly not want anything?!"
-
Eken chuckles to himself, "Maybe I've just given up in a different way than they did."
He smacks his own knee, adding a sense of finality to what he says next - "Enough of this, will you answer my question or not?"
-
Anton considers for a monent.
"Bistritz. Basilio must have had some connection with Lord Radu at some point, and it's certainly not Sofia." Anton answers.
-
Eken shakes his head.
"She was Prince of Sofia. Sometimes I think the reason Basilio loved it so much was because she did as well. Might be the reason he intended to leave you know."
-
"Then how could Gabor come to power if Basilio already removed the Tzmisce?"
-
"You think it is an easy task to seize a city in the heart of Bulgaria when all its residents despise you? Gabor rose to the occasion as the terrible lady's childe and held the city long as he could from the good Prince."
-
"I suppose." Anton replies.
"So Gabor is of the 7th generation?" Anton then asks.
-
Eken shrugs,
"How should I know? Generation is not something freely bandied about, Anton. Too many temptations offered that way. Why the interest?"
-
Eken shrugs,
"How should I know? Generation is not something freely bandied about, Anton. Too many temptations offered that way. Why the interest?"
"Mostly to know if I could control him." Anton replies, and then looks at Eken, and pauses.
"And certainly, the temptation is there." Anton then retorts.
-
Eken closes his eyes and lays his head back against the railing.
"A lot of elders you respect would be disgusted with you, they'd tell that by giving into that temptation you would damn yourself worse than anything god could ever have done. That you'd stain your soul black with evil. That you'd be a worse monster than Caine was when he killed Able. They'd be full of shit. Just trying to scare you out of it because they want to keep their power to themselves."
"Basilio might have different thoughts on the matter though. He's more likely to tell you the truth than even Boukephos would. Speak to him about it sometime."
-
"Eken, my entire purpose in unlife is to become the most vile of creatures, to remove any trace of humanity left in my blood. I am damned, Eken, and the words of those Elders would simply spur me onwards." Anton says simply, without any trace of happiness or sadness from that fact.
"The only question now is whether or not it would be worthwhile to do so, and if it will not distract me from the path, and I suspect that Basilio will hold that answer." Anton says.
He then looks at the Ghoul, and nods.
"Thank you for entertaining my questions, Eken. It was certainly enlightening, in many ways." He says, having finished what he set out to do. Assuming Eken has nothing else to say, he'll head to Brother Joseph (OOC: to finally listen to his backstory. XD)
-
Eken shakes his head.
"No one wants to be a monster Anton. Not really, in the end. But do as you will, it was a pleasure speaking."
Searching about the ship, it is not long before Anton finds brother Joseph clinging to the sides of the ship at the center, heaving and retching over the rails.
-
"Brother." Anton says, a slight chuckle following.
"I know little of such things, but I can only assume watching the sea shake would only worsen your conditon."
-
"Oh no", brother Joseph says bitterly.
"It just makes - ugh, eurgh!"
Joseph heaves over the side of the boat again. It has not been a pleasant trip for him.
It occurs to Anton that Joseph's constant seasickness means that he might have been vomiting out whatever blood Anton has given him. Perhaps this is contributing to his current, terrible condition?
"Everything better, bro- ugh - brother."
-
"Well, the ocean is particularly beatiful tonight." He says, as he steps over to the rails, side by side with the monk, tearing off a bit of skin by his wrists.
"Drink, brother. This should ease your sickness."
-
Joseph lets himself collapse to the ground, sitting with his back against the rails, sweating profusely from his unwilling efforts just at the moment.
"Could you give me a second brother? I'd rather not heave away your gift mere moments after it is given."
-
Anton nods.
"I suppose I should ask Lord Basilio if he knows of any remedies for your illness." Anton states.
"But drink. I wish to speak to you now, and I can hardly do so with you vomiting constantly. My gift will hardly be wasted."
-
Joseph drags himself along by the railing and drinks feebly from Anton's wrist - though he almost seems to grow stronger as he suckles from Anton's arm.
When done he sits back and speaks, his voice not quite as weak, not quite as rasping as before. He sits with his head back to the wood of the rails.
"To what do I owe the pleasure brother Anton?"
-
Anton smiles.
"The gift is for your performance during my brief visit to Lord Basilio." Anton states. "You did quite well, brother. There are none I know who would have done better."
-
Joseph nearly chokes on his laughter,
"Performance? Brother, I didn't say a word!"
-
"Brother, it matters not if you spoke, or if you sequestered yourself, hidden. It is actions that matter, it is the fact that you did not shy away from your responsibility." Anton says.
"I know you still question this path, the idea that the good Lord has sent the Kindred to drive back his flock, as wolves hunt sheep. And that is not a sin, to question our purpose. It is only a sin to ignore it." He says, and then turns around.
"Follow me, brother." He says, heading to his cabin.
-
Joseph stumbles along after Anton, keeping hold of whatever he can to stay upright when he inevitably begins to shift and tumble on the deck.
-
Anton considers taking the longest possible route to the cabin, but decides against it, and slowly walks to the cabin, allowing Joseph to keep up pace.
Once inside, he'll take a seat, and instruct Joseph to do the same.
"Brother, do you know why I have taken you here?" Anton asks, rehetorically.
"As a rule, I do not take an interest in Kine, the children of The Lord. I do not care for their loves, hopes, dreams and past. All that matters to me is that they put trust in the Lord. Anything else is trivial. I am not their Shepherd, I am their wolf. And the wolf does not befriend the herd."
"But you, brother, you have proven yourself worthy of attention. As Someone willing to do his duty without complaints. So now, I believe I must look away, and deal with who you truly are."
Anton then pauses.
"Now, brother, why did you not wish to kill the wolf?"
-
Joseph looks at Anton a long time before responding.
"It did not deserve to die. Brother Anton, that wolf was no monster, it was a pure creature of God pressed into service to one. It was sad and twisted and broken. But it did not deserve to die."
The connection here is not lost to Anton.
-
Anton nods.
"I can see why you would think so, brother. But you fail to understand. The wolf was corrupted, tainted by the Caninite's orders. If you ever learn the way, you should talk to my steed. Then you could understand. They take after their owners. The wolf may not have been evil, but a knife that has tasted blood will taste it again, brother, and there was nothing you could do to change that."
"The Good Lord gave the Kine the chance for redemption, not the animals. They do not have that ability. They do not get that chance."
-
"What chance do any of us have then, when we are so bound?" Joseph asks quietly.
-
Anton shakes his head.
"I can not tell you the way, brother. You must find It yourself." He expresses.
"Perhaps, even, there is no way. But you must look for it, all the same."
"When I was damned by Basilio, I searched for an answer. I was a priest who wanted to bring religion to these pagan lands. The Lord gave me my wish, but I had to sacrifice everything else. The Lord brought you into my service for a reason. Pray that you find it swiftly."
"Who were you, brother, when Lord Basilio took you? Perhaps that will help you find your way."
-
Joseph lays his head down on his shoulder and closes his eyes.
"I was a sworn brother of the knight's templar."
He breathes deeply and shakily for a second, before continuing.
"I have been butcher and priest and brother and servant in God's name, brother Anton. I have killed more men than I can count. I fought in the last years of the first crusade and butchered the Saracens in the name of our good Lord. I helped seize Jerusalem and bloodied its streets with the life of the... the infidel."
It takes a good second for Anton to realize Joseph is crying.
"I was a warrior of renown. I was admired. People called out my name in appreciation. I was one of God's chosen, they said. Do you know what it is to be known only for the pain and the suffering you've caused, when you were supposed to be a good man, Ashen Knight of Sofia?"
-
Anton looks at the monk, and waits in silence until the monk calms down. He puts hs hand onto the monk's shoulder, letting his icy hand cool Joseph, and then speaks;
"Brother, I was a child questing for the good lord before. I was to bring the glory of God into this world. Now I am a damned monster. I had dreams of bringing everyone to the Lord with love. Now I bring them back with cruelty. When I first turned, I thought the same thoughts. I was to be a good man! I was a good man!"
"But now I understand the truth, Brother. There are no 'good' men in this world. There are only those who follow The Lord, and those who run against him. If you did what the Lord wanted, then you are good. Even if you do it kicking and screaming. It matters not what you did, but for who, brother."
"Who did you kill for, Brother? Yourself? Or for God?"
-
Joseph shudders at Anton's touch.
"I killed for whatever would give me cause, brother."
-
Joseph shudders at Anton's touch.
"I killed for whatever would give me cause, brother."
Anton shakes his head.
"And then, Broter Joseph? After you killed for nothing, brother?"
And before letting the Monk answer, the Ashen knight countinues;
"Was that why you gave up on fighting with the blade, brother? Because you feel hiding from it shall redeem you?"
-
"I swore to never rip another innocent soul from its flesh," he whispers, his voice barely coming out as a croak.
-
"And how do you determine their innocence, brother?"
"When we were attacked by the archers, you did not fight. Did you think them innocent?"
-
For a second Joseph looks menacing, despite his condition. His face contorts itself with something evil and Anton sees a monster lurking within the brother that he'd never felt a whisper of beforehand. Black rage is in the monk's voice when he answers Anton, a fact as surprising as it is unsettling.
"You cannot possibly understand the tempt - " the rage is not long lived. In but a few seconds and a few short words Joseph seems to remember who he is speaking to, he almost visibly deflates. He does not finish his sentence, but it does not take much effort for Anton to realize what he was about to say.
"Temptation."
-
Anton looks at the Templar, and softly replies.
"And you think that absolves you of your duty?"
-
"My duty is to my oath." Joseph says, in a manner that makes Anton think of a well-practiced speech.
"Everything else just... Happens."
-
For the first time this night, Anton replies sharply, words laced with disapointment.
"Your duty is to the Lord. There is no other duty. None. Our existance is to the Lord. Nothing else."
-
For what feels like the longest time Joseph says nothing. He just sits there in the dark with Anton, the only sound in the room being that of the waves outside the ship lapping at the hull of the Dark Queen.
"Yes, brother Anton", he says, his voice heavy with resignation.
-
Anton sighs softly, and let's things settle.
"I apologize, brother. I understand that this is an important matter for you. But it can not become something above the Lord, brother."
-
"Of course."
Joseph's reply is soft and tired. Anton knows the brother hasn't slept since they took off, using Anton's blood to sustain himself as he was too sick to sleep.
Remarkable that he was so sleepy now.
-
Anton nods.
"You are a good servant, brother. You serve faithfully even when you do not agree with the preceedings. Perhaps the reason why you fell into my service is to learn this. There is only one thing that matters, brother. Don't forget that."
"Now, sleep, brother. Sleep." Anton says, his gaze leading to the sick monk. He intends to catch him as he falls, and put him down in his bed.
-
The monk nods off at Anton's command, and his lowered into his bed in his surprisingly comfortable, if enclosed, quarters in the Dark Queen.
-
Anton smiles, and leaves the monk to his long awaited sleep, as he heads over to his sire. It's time to discuss strategy.
-
A crew member directs Anton to the top of the crow's nest, where Basilio sits idly watching the stars.
Having climbed to the top, Anton is acknowledged by his sire - "Evening, Anton."
-
"Lord Basilio." Anton replies, looking at his sire.
"How is your return to the seas going?"
-
Basilio shifts to give Anton some more space - the knight is placed somewhat precariously at the moment - and answers.
"Pleasantly enough. It's been a long time since i've been out sailing. How about you, Anton? I don't think you've ever taken to the seas as one of our kind before."
-
Anton gladly takes up more space, his balance has never been especially good.
"Not in this, nor the last, sire. But it has been pleasent. I am glad that you took me along."
"However, I fear that I must think about my purpose even at this juncture. While I have no doubt that I shall succeed, I wish I had more information as to who Gabor is, aside from an angry tzimisce elder."
-
Basilio ponders the statement for a moment.
"He was the last prince of Sofia, before I forced him out. Is there anything specific you should like to know?"
-
Anton nods.
"The simplest would be to know how you forced him out, my lord. Eken told me about his sire, but did not tell me how you displaced him, my lord."
-
"Ah... he did now did he?" Basilio says, bristling at the revelation.
"If he did, then you should know that, having destroyed his sire, he was aware of my personal power. After eliminating most of his servants, turning his puppet king against him and personally entering the city with my own men", Basilio gestures to the crewmen of the Dark Queen, among which Anton recognizes the old captain of the city guard, "he rapidly fled to save his own life."
-
Anton nods.
"And is his attempt with Husayn the first you've heard of him since, lord? I need to know how I will identify the fleshcrafter."
-
"You should know it is almost impossible to identify a fleshcrafter. They change faces so often, and remember that Gabor is likely in hiding. This, however, should help you -" Basilio passes Anton a folded piece of paper.
-
Anton takes the folded piece of paper, and quickly reads it.
"Thank you, Basilio."
-
The letter reads as follows:
My brothers,
This missive comes from I, Husayn Al-Fatin, of the bloody diplomat's fame. If you are reading this then my assignment in Sofia was a failure and I have been killed by my friend Basilio the Elder.
I beg that you follow our clan's ancient traditions regarding the failure of an assignment and the destruction of one of our own on these matters - that you honour Basilio's survival and let him be as is demanded by Haqim's and the terrible Ur-Shulgi's own words, which are heard eternally as law.
The bearer of this letter has come to kill Gabor, the man who hired me to kill Basilio. I beg of you that you aid him in locating the Tzimisce, as one last favour to bring some measure of honour to my memory. I do not ask you to kill Gabor, merely let this agent of Basilio's find him and bring to him his deserved fate.
Praise Haqim,
Husayn Al-Fatin.
-
Anton looks up from the letter, to basilio.
"It is unfortunate Husayn fell, Basilio. Truly unfortunate." Anton says heartfelt-fully.
"But yes, this should certainly help in that regard."
"Now, Lord Basilio, may I speak candidly with you?" He then asks, and pauses. Assuming the Lord nods, antonll continue.
"Eken mentioned the fate of the former prince of Sofia, Gabor's sire. I have no issue with it. We are monsters, there is no sin for the children of Caine. In fact, I wish to know more about the process. The act is not generally taught and explained, of course."
-
Basilio leans down, eyes closed, and murmurs - "Yes, yes it is."
At his mention of Gabor's sire, the captain of the Dark Queen looks at his childe suspiciously.
"For what purpose?"
-
Anton scoffs.
"For what other reason could there be? I am heading to attack a tzmisce elder. There are few greater chances for this."
-
Basilio's look turns dark.
"You choose a dangerous path."
-
"I have not chosen anything, lord." Anton replies.
"I know nothing aside from it's benifits, and a slight hinting of the dangers. Understanding is what I look for and only from there can I choose."
-
"Surely Eken told you what happened to me after drinking of her blood?" Basilio says, his voice strained.
"I have never made so great a mistake as I made when I decided to take her soul for my own. It broke me, Anton, and I am not a weak-willed fool. Our curse.. or blessing, or whatever you will call it, it was granted with the outcome in mind that we should never die, for our suffering must be prolonged as much as possible. Thus my suffering in tasting of her heart's blood was magnified a thousandfold, as was hers. Still she dwells within me, us both suffering the ignominy of death and eternal, cursed life. I know the temptation Anton. There is nothing sweeter than the heart's blood, and nothing that grants greater power besides.
But sometimes... power is not worth it."
-
"Surely Eken told you what happened to me after drinking of her blood?" Basilio says, his voice strained.
"I have never made so great a mistake as I made when I decided to take her soul for my own. It broke me, Anton, and I am not a weak-willed fool. Our curse.. or blessing, or whatever you will call it, it was granted with the outcome in mind that we should never die, for our suffering must be prolonged as much as possible. Thus my suffering in tasting of her heart's blood was magnified a thousandfold, as was hers. Still she dwells within me, us both suffering the ignominy of death and eternal, cursed life. I know the temptation Anton. There is nothing sweeter than the heart's blood, and nothing that grants greater power besides.
But sometimes... power is not worth it."
Anton nods slowly.
"Why did Lord Boukephos not help you? It can not be far from his powers." Anton asks.
-
"Perhaps it is, perhaps it is not. Matters of the soul and madness are not realms easily delved into, and certainly not issues easily resolved. Nonetheless, if he could have helped me, Lord Boukephos saw correctly in his righteous wisdom that I had gravely sinned against God, myself and all our kind. I deserved whatever pain I suffered. That is the path you choose in Diablerie."
-
Anton holds himself back from scoffing.
"Lord, there are no sins left for us damned." He mutters, but shakes his head.
"I will have to take what you said in mind, however. If the cost is higher then the gain, then it wouldn't be worthwhile."
He then pauses for a short moment, gazing out to the sea.
"I dont understand how you can still feel that God cares about our sins, Basilio." He says, shaking his head.
-
"If we were irredeemable Anton, we would be dead. Life, even that spent as a vampire, is proof that we still have a chance at redemption - whether we choose to seek it or not."
-
Anton shakes his head.
"Sire, we are dead. This is no life, no chance for redemption. We only move to prop up those who can still return. It is God's gift that we can do even that." He says, looking at the dark sea, thinking of the Abyss.
"And anything we do can not be judged, as we have already been given the final judgement."
-
"My heart may not beat in my chest, and my lungs may have no need to draw breath, but I am alive Anton. Perhaps my feelings of pain and love and joy are muted, felt only as dead memories from my time as a mortal, but they are there. I think. I hunger. I kill. I am alive still, Anton, or at least I should like to think so, no matter that you might think me a fool for it."
One of Basilio's fingers twitches, and shadows shift into aesthetically pleasing shapes throughout the darkness, a quaint little display in Anton's darksight.
"Tell me I have suffered final judgement when I rest in the depths of hell, but not before then my son. Enough of this, I do not wish to fight with you now. You asked my opinion of the matter and I have told you. You will suffer for what you wish to do, more so the more powerful the vampire is. Not only that but you will suffer alone, for I can do nothing and I am not sure I should if I was capable."
A sigh then, clearly a practiced gesture.
"Is there anything else Anton?"
-
Anton shakes his head.
"I do not find you a fool for that, Basilio. I believe you are wrong with the whole of my being, but there is nothing but admiration towards you in my mind. A difference of opinion won't change that." Anton says softly.
-
Basilio says nothing, accepting the comment in tacit silence.
-
After a moment, Anton then countinues.
"Sire, are there any lasombra in Constantinople that I should meet? I feel that my disconnection with the clan will hurt me in the long run."
-
Basilio wonders idly for a moment.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Some of our fellow shadow workers live in Constantinople. Gabriella of Genoa. Magnus, scion of the Patriarch Michael. The priest Alfonso, to name but a few.
Though I feel you should know by now that all the most trustworthy aid you will ever receive comes from the blood. Your line and your elders will aid you far more than those linked to you only by the blood of Lasombra himself. Few clans share the strict hierarchal structure and unity of the Tzimisce or the Tremere. We have something like it but a clan formed entirely of the ambitious is like to a backstabbing here and there."
-
Anton nods.
"I am not one who will commonly ask for help, Basilio." He says with a short chuckle.
"But a singular Lasombra Controlled City in the middle of a war between the Venture and Tzmisce will not last long, especially if it never garners outsider support. I already plan on gaining the Venture Jurgen's support to keep the Black Cross at bay, but the backing of the bulk of the Lasombra would certainly aid in this matter."
"And if I wish to transform Transylvania into a truly God fearing land, I have no option but to make my enemies feel comfortable around me." Anton says with a grin.
"Hmm... The priest would probably be the hardest to convince to support me, but would perhaps be the most important. The Church might be, ironically, my greatest foe, as they actually care about the means." Anton then says, thoughtfully.
"What are the others? The scion, and that of Genona. Have you ever spoken to them?"
-
Basilio shakes his head, "You will never unite the Lasombra, and certainly not in a bid to hold a single city in transylvannia. My own motives for taking it were... less than ideal. You'd be better off seeking help from Michael, if the good Patriarch even deigns to hear your voice, by pledging yourself to him. Jurgen is also a good bet; perhaps one well pursued in future ventures. In a decade or two I could arrange an invitation for you; I expect him to launch an invasion of Transylvania before the century is out."
It almost boggles Anton's mind to hear his sire speak in such long terms - it takes him as second to realize just how young he is compared to these ancient beings, for whom time must mean little indeed.
It was often said among the undead that the best laid schemes took centuries to hatch - but when they did, they struck almost infaillibly. Entire cities taken in a single night, their holders killed by their own servants, destroyed by enemies forgotten ages ago, only for them to be destroyed in turn by their own long-forgotten rivals.
It is a dangerous game to play, scheming among the long dead.
"Magnus is a very old monster, no rival to Boukephos but powerful enough that he might compare to one of his childer. Even he bends the knee to Michael, however. His sire, Ectoris, was leader of Constantinople before Michael, controlling the city through the cults of Aphrodite some thousand years ago.
When Michael, the Dracon and Antonius arrived in the entourage of Emperor Constantine the Great, Ectoris engaged in an ill-advised attempt to hold Byzantium against them. He mobilized his pawns and even made threats against the person of the emperor himself.
Magnus saw the writing on the wall and betrayed Ectoris and the rest of his consanguineous siblings. He staked them all before they rose for the evening and destroyed all save Ectoris, whom he presented to the Triumvirate along with his his professions of loyalty and his promise that he would help to evangelize the city. He was elevated to a Scion family under the purview of Michael. Do not expect loyalty to the clan from one such as him, and never for him to turn against Michael, though perhaps for him to give you Michael's ear. He also happens to have quite a bit of influence with the orthodox church.
For that matter, Gabrielle and Alfonse are both bishops. You won't find many of our kind without ties to the church."
-
Basilio shakes his head, "You will never unite the Lasombra, and certainly not in a bid to hold a single city in transylvannia. My own motives for taking it were... less than ideal. You'd be better off seeking help from Michael, if the good Patriarch even deigns to hear your voice, by pledging yourself to him. Jurgen is also a good bet; perhaps one well pursued in future ventures. In a decade or two I could arrange an invitation for you; I expect him to launch an invasion of Transylvania before the century is out."
Anton raises his brow.
"A single city? Basilio, you did not raise childer with such minimal ambition." He remarks, grinning before hearing the line about Jurgen's planned invasion.
"Why?" He asks, annoyed. That would not do well, he would almost certainly take over Krondast instantly. Definitely important to befriend him then. Far more important then Anton thought.
"Magnus is a very old monster indeed, no rival to Boukephos but powerful enough that he might compare to one of his childer. Even he bends the knee to Michael, however. His sire, Ectoris, was leader of Constantinople before Michael, controlling the city through the cults of Aphrodite some thousand years ago.
When Michael, the Dracon and Antonius arrived in the entourage of Emperor Constantine the Great, Ectoris engaged in an ill-advised attempt to hold Byzantium against them. He mobilized his pawns and even made threats against the person of the emperor himself.
Magnus saw the writing on the wall and betrayed Ectoris and the rest of his consanguineous siblings. He staked them all before they rose for the evening and destroyed all save Ectoris, whom he presented to the Triumvirate along with his his professions of loyalty and his promise that he would help to evangelize the city. He was elevated to a Scion family under the purview of Michael. Do not expect loyalty to the clan from one such as him, and never for him to turn against Michael, though perhaps for him to give you Michael's ear. He also happens to have quite a bit of influence with the orthodox church.
For that matter, Gabrielle and Alfonse are both bishops. You won't find many of our kind without ties to the church."
"Both a disgrace to the line and a symbol of our strife." Anton says with a nod. Definitely someone Anton should become acquainted with, though he would have to watch for duplicity of the nth degree.
"Who is Michael?" Anton then asks, not knowing much of kindred outside the line.
-
"It has been an ambition of his master and perhaps one of his own for a while now. His rival, Rustovich of the Tzimisce, has been standing Vovoide among the Vovoides for the past decade in anticipation of it. Let no one say any such thing out loud, of course."
At Anton's mention of Krondstadt - "Why of course, Krondstadt would be his staging ground for the attack, the base of operations. I've already made plans for what to do when the time comes of course, you need not worry yourself about it just yet."\
At Anton's displayed surprise at Michael, Basilio raises an eyebrow in incredulity.
"Surely you jest? I've spoken to you personally of Michael, his fame and infamy crest just below that of the clan founders, he is perhaps one of the most powerful Cainite alive who is not a direct childe of Caine, in personal strength he rivals Boukephos and in allies he has empires! Michael, the Patriarch of Constantinople, counted Arikel's favourite childer! Leader of the famed Triumvirate that rules over the Jewel of the East, lover to the dreaded Dracon and the deceased Antiorix, known as Antonius the Gaul.
He thinks himself an Angel - Michael, the very right hand of God himself! His glorious empire raised around him as a symbol of the greatest cainite prosperity, his Dream, the dream of his triumvirate, the dream of his manifold followers, to show that we are more than the devils we have made ourselves into."
-
"It has been an ambition of his master and perhaps one of his own for a while now. His rival, Rustovich of the Tzimisce, has been standing Vovoide among the Vovoides for the past decade in anticipation of it. Let no one say any such thing out loud, of course."
At Anton's mention of Krondstadt - "Why of course, Krondstadt would be his staging ground for the attack, the base of operations. I've already made plans for what to do when the time comes of course, you need not worry yourself about it just yet."\
"Of course, Basilio. I shall just carry on consolidating my control over the city..." Anton nods, as his mind sets off in thinking on what to do to acomplish that.
"Surely you jest? I've spoken to you personally of Michael, his fame and infamy crest just below that of the clan founders, he is perhaps one of the most powerful Cainite alive who is not a direct childe of Caine, in personal strength he rivals Boukephos and in allies he has empires! Michael, the Patriarch of Constantinople, counted Arikel's favourite childer! Leader of the famed Triumvirate that rules over the Jewel of the East, lover to the dreaded Dracon and the deceased Antiorix, known as Antonius the Gaul.
He thinks himself an Angel - Michael, the very right hand of God himself! His glorious empire raised around him as a symbol of the greatest cainite prosperity, his Dream, the dream of his triumvirate, the dream of his manifold followers, to show that we are more than the devils we have made ourselves into
"Ah, the founder of the 'dream." Anton says, nodding his head in rememberance. "A silly attempt to achieve my same goal, a perfect society. I doubt they understand the need of the Wolf in society, of the monster, but that is irrelevent for now. I will certainly have to interact with them in the future, far more so then most other groups."
-
Basilio lays back again and closes his eyes.
"Most likely. Michael has followed his dream for many millenia, and unlike most elders his age he hasn't slept for most of that time either. He guards his empire most jealously. It would take a disaster of truly proportions for something as great and influential as what he's built to be destroyed."
Back to playing with shadows.
"Try not to get too hung up on the trappings of power Anton. I nearly destroyed myself seeking it, and would have lost everything for it if it weren't for Husayn's sacrifice. Even then, I feel i've lost just a bit more than I can stomach."
Basilio takes a breath and blows it out slowly, his breath coming out as a black shroud that begins twisting itself into shapes above them, mostly abstract. He then says, in a softer tone, "I would have deserved that death a hell of a lot more than Husayn ever did, i'll tell you that at least. Bloody fool, throwing himself over the edge like that."
-
Basilio takes a breath and blows it out slowly, his breath coming out as a black shroud that begins twisting itself into shapes above them, mostly abstract. He then says, in a softer tone, "I would have deserved that death a hell of a lot more than Husayn ever did, i'll tell you that at least. Bloody fool, throwing himself over the edge like that."
Anton stands in silence, letting his sire compose himself.
"His fate was certainly less then he deserved." Anton says quietly, in agreement.
-
He then turns to leave his sire, but quickly remembers another question.
"Sire, how do you take care of the ghouls with sea sickness? Brother Joseph is fairly ill because of it."
-
"Ah, that's a simple enough endeavour. How far have you advanced in the art of Domination?"
-
"I have studied the first two arts, Basilio." Anton states.
-
"Ah, then you are not nearly so advanced as is necessary - well, a simple thing to note is that as you become better versed in the art of Domination you will be able to command more and more of your subjects. At a certain point you will be able to command not only their minds and souls, but their bodies themselves. I can command a man's heart to stop beating, his eyes to stop seeing, his lungs to stop breathing. Similarly, I can simply order away any feeling of nausea on the sea. Few ghouls have it, their constitution usually being strengthened by the blood, but i've had to do it in the past. I can do it for Joseph as well, if he requires it."
-
"I would be most grateful, sire. He is a good servant." Anton says
-
"Then it shall be done. Is that all now?"
-
"Then it shall be done. Is that all now?"
"Yes. Thank you Basilio." Anton says, and begins the trek back down to his cabin.
-
April 2nd, 11:02 PM, 1199
Constantinople,
Domain of the Michael, the Father
It has been a long and impressive journey for Anton, time spent with Basilio and Eken and Joseph has provided him with a great many opportunities to learn and teach alike, yet all journeys must come to an end, and the end of this one is not long in coming. Basilio's Dark Queen has travelled the distance from Constanta to Constantinople, the Jewel of the World, and in record time too.
Though they arrive at the dead of night, the Dark Queen moving smoothly and unseen through the black waters, Constantinople is still busy and crowded, its streets humming with life and lights, its powerful, thick stone walls shielding the various grandiose, impressive structures that make the city famous. Though his perception is rather lacking, even Anton cannot fail to see the spires of the imperial palace, home of the byzantine emperors. He cannot fail to be moved by the magnificence of the Hagia Sophia, perhaps one of the most astounding examples of Byzantine architecture.
Basilio looks out to the city with a smile reminiscent of how one might look upon a long-lost lover.
-
Anton, seeing Constatinople as if by day, still strains his eyes to take in the view. It's shocking. To see people move around at night, to see a city bigger then even sofia... Its unsettling.
"What is this?" Anton simply mutters, shocked.
-
"Home".
The ship, despite its most questionable appearance and the most secure nature of the city, finds a dock quickly, almost as if guided to port. Men greet Basilio, Eken, Anton and Joseph as they step off with familiarity, many greeting Basilio with smiles. Among them is a man who looks vaguely familiar and extremely proud. He greets Anton after warmly greeting Basilio; "Good to see you again master Anton; how is Heldric doing? I haven't spoken much with my childe in recent times, leagues of sea standing in the way and all that."
-
Anton squints slightly. His perception isnt that bad, is it? Heldric is a nosferatu, his sire shouldnt be... Oh wait, obfuscate.
"I can only assume he is doing well, lord." Anton says, "I havent been in contact with many of us since the Passage. Princedom steals much time, unfortunately."
-
Malachite gives an easy grin that nonetheless unsettles Anton, his memory recapturing that terrible rictus grin back in the depths of Bhuda-Pest.
"It should, it is good to know you bear the burden of princedom well. My apologies, Basilio and I have some business to discuss."
-
"Of course, Lord Malachite." Anton says, as he turns to his sire.
"Farwell sire." Anton states, "I hope you enjoy your travels."
Assuming there is nothing else left to say, Anton'll first head straight to the Assasins. Theyll know he's here, even if Basilio had cloaked them in literal darkness. But if Malachite knew, then so do Husayn's brothers, and the sooner they realize that they arent to kill Anton, the better.
-
Instructions from his sire give previously lead Anton to a resplendent building that appears to be the turkish embassy. Within he asks after a "Shabah", supposedly the envoy of Alamut in Constantinople. A mention of Basilio's name is all he needs to secure an audience with the diplomat.
He is brought to a fine, ornate room decorated in a style most unfamiliar to him, Joseph looks around with a combination of admiration and unease.
"Are you sure this was the right choice Anton? Walking into the lion's den and begging it not to eat you?"
-
"These are no lions, brother. And it is safer to know that you are dealing with the assasins then to meet one whilst you sleep. We are safest where we actually know to be cautious."
-
"Hmph", is all Joseph can seemingly muster, keeping quiet and looking uneasy. It's practically his natural state at this point.
"My apologies for the wait", A woman covered in a full-body black veil had made her way into the room unnoticed by the oblivious Anton.
"We like to count Basilio as a friend of turkish empire, his work with our own Husayn Al-Fatin has been excellent in forming ties between Sofia and the East. We graciously accept his envoy."
Not a hint of emotion in her voice, just the calm, mannered air of the consumate diplomat. Anton might wonder if that would change when she found out Husayn was dead?
Unless they already know.
-
Anton nods.
"Are you the Shabbah?" He asks in his normal tongue. Perhaps they dont know he knows arabic. Camt hurt to keep that a secret.
"I have a message from Husayn." He says, taking out the small paper, and handing it over to the woman.
Once he sees that she read it, he'll say,
"Husayn's loss to us was a blow. Basilio cared for him deeply. I am deeply sorry we could not subdue him fast enough, madam."
-
The second the words "Husayn"s loss" pass through Anton's lips, he notes the slightest slump of the Shabah's shoulders.
"Fariq..."
Anton hears a thud from beside him. Turning, he sees a man of middle-eastern descent removing a bloody knife from Joseph's back, Joseph himself having slid to the floor with the slightest sigh.
"You filthy Farking shit!" He yells in arabic, at the same time moving to draw a second blade from it's sheathe.
-
Anton, not speaking Greek, guesses that what the Arab said was not friendly, and tsks.
"I'd expect you to want to honor Hakim's final wishes, Fariq." He says, bending down to inspect Brother Joseph, as he attempts to summon dark steel to block off the Assasin. Attacking him would be silly.
"Shabba, please calm down your friend." He says simply.
-
Anton sprouts 4 dark Steel Tendrils around Fariq, each seizing an arm or a leg, locking him into place. The assassin struggles briefly but cannot break it's grip. Clearly he is not exactly an assassin of Husayn's caliber.
Joseph wheezes weakly, still alive but obviously not in the best condition (or fully conscious). Understandable, there is a small but very deep cut at the small of his back that went directly into his heart, a death sentence had he still been entirely mortal. As it is, however, Anton doubts he will be able to recover without some serious assistance - a clear but foul-smelling liquid oozes from and coats the edges of the wound (along with copious amounts of blood).
The Shabbah immediately begins speaking in a sharp and furious manner in a strangely language similar to arabic but unknown to Anton, though again, no fury is visible in what Anton can see of her veiled face. Fariq struggles again briefly but soon hangs his head, answering back in a subdued manner - though the tension in his limbs suggests that he does not think this is over by the smallest stretch of the imagination.
The Shabbah speaks again to Anton, "Fariq understands, you may release him. He will also provide an antidote for the poison coursing through your servant's veins."
-
Anton looks at Fariq, and nods, raising his hand. The tentacles quickly release their hold on the assasin, though they stick close.
"I understand your wish for vengeance, Assasin, but it would be best to direct it at the one who ordered Husayn, rather then the ones he loved. Husayn was the second kindred I ever met, and one of the only three whom I would have ever trusted with my life. I wouldnt have walked in here if I didn't believe in him." Anton says.
"Now, I expect you'll remove the poison from my servant. I'd hate for my realtionship with the Assamite clan to take a turn for the worse."
He then turns to the Shabbah.
"I trust that," he says, motioning to Fariq, "will be the last attempt I need fear?"
-
The Shabbah nods.
"Of course, Husayn's wishes were clear, as were Haquim's."
Her voice is tense and just a hint of displeasure seeps through, though whether it's directed towarda him or Fariq is unclear.
She barks out a short command and the assassin gets down on a knee, looking up to Anton with unquestionable hatred, and removes a vial from a pouch. He wipes some paste into his fingers and digs them roughly into Joseph's wound, making the monk squirm and moan in pain on the ground, writhing about in a pool of his own blood. Getting up Fariq carelessly wiped his hand on his pantsleg.
The Shabbah seemingly takes no issue with this.
-
Anton lets his tentacles grasp Fariq yet again.
"I expect respect given to my servant, Assasin." Anton states, calmly, before standing and looking at the Shabbah.
"Can we talk, civilised? My sire had a wonderful relationship with your clan, I wish to countinue tbat trend."
-
Fariq does not fall so easily as prey to the tendrils this time (expecting them), and moves out of the way of all but one which snags him by the ankle. It dissipates however, and Fariq pulls himself free.
"What the hell was that? You're lucky I don't kill you now for what you did to Husayn you worthless Farkboy! You try to attack me after I HELP you!?"
Again, the Shabba interrupts furiously. Anton notices a bloody dagger at her side and deduces that she destroyed his tendril.
Not completely on his side then.
She points to the door and Fariq angrily exits the room.
The Shabba resumes conversation with Anton as if nothing unpleasant had intruded on them.
"You ask too much. None of Haqim's children will treat the servants of their enemies with respect if they do not desire it. Why do you continue to taint the halls of our haven?"
Not quite welcome either, it seems.
-
"I am here because I wish to find a way to repair this break with your clan. Because I wish to pay Husayn Al-Fatin the respect he deserved, and I want to make sure his sacrifice isn't wasted." Anton says.
"I am no enemy to the assimite clan, unless you make me one, Shabbah."
-
"If you were an enemy to our clan," the Shabbah sits down.
"I would have helped Fariq kill you. This is no place for threats, and I will consider further ones a sign of disrespect. Speak reasonably."
-
"I meant no disrespect, Shabbah." Anton says, pouring some blood into Joseph to heal him, and then sits down as well.
"I understand that Husayn was very important to those here. I again wish to stress how applogetic I am for what happened. He deserved better."
-
Joseph groans out some rather undiplomatic and un-monkly turns of phrase after receiving a revitalizing dose of blood. He shuts his mouth right quickly on remembering where he is, though Anton can only imagine what he's currently thinking.
"Yes. He did."
The unspoken statement niggles at Anton, and sets his thoughts ever so briefly back to that terrible fight with the master assassin down in Basilio's Labyrinth.
The Shabbah says nothing else. There is no mistaking her hostility for anything else, though she has the grace to not have kicked him out yet. Perhaps giving him a chance to get to the point?
-
Anton nods.
"I did not, however, come here to ask forgiveness. I have come here to eliminate the person who put the contract on my sire's head, on Gabor. He hides here, like a rat, in constantinople. Husayn's note stated that I should ask you for your assistance."
-
The Shabbah sits carefully still, and then, speaking calmly but still struggling to hide her amazement at the request - "Husayn overreached."
-
The Shabbah sits carefully still, and then, speaking calmly but still struggling to hide her amazement at the request - "Husayn overreached."
Anton shakes his head.
"Husayn understood how important Basilio's alliance with your clan is, Shabbah. He spent decades of his time sinking resources and effort to build confidence with Basilio's court. Now Basilio's childer are princes in transylvania. This would be a way of rekindling that time. Husayn's final request to you was to keep his work intact. To not let his years with Basilio be a waste. Please let that request be fulfilled." Anton says.
"I ask for little. Simply for your help in identifying Gabor's current haven. That is all I ask for, to rekindle that trust. For us to be able to work togheter yet again, Shabbah. Something I suspect is easy for assasins as skilled as your clan are."
-
"You would ask this of us seconds after giving us news of an elder's death?"
The word "fool" was not said, though heavily implied.
-
"You would ask this of us seconds after giving us news of an elder's death?"
The word "fool" was not said, though heavily implied.
"I would not dare attempt to manipulate you by hiding such things." Anton states simply. "That would be an insult to Husayn's memory."
-
The Shabbah is silent for a moment.
"How did he die?"
-
"He fell in battle from his own wounds, Shabbah. He... He went as far as a kindred could go to accomplish his duty."
-
The Shabbah whispers quietly as if to herself, "not far enough".
She turns, clearly signalling ending the meeting, and motions for Anton to leave the room. Clearly, the Shabbah is done with him.
-
Anton stands, and silently summons a tendril to carry Joseph as he walks out.
-
As he reaches the door, the Shabbah says aloud - "Gabor has taken residence near the Hagia Sophia, though he cannot enter its hallowed walls without retribution. He provides Michael with artistic playthings in exchange for the right to feed and stay within his city. Do not come back."
-
Anton nods.
"I hope one day we can work past this, Shabbah. Thank you." He says, with a nod, and heads out. Once he leaves the embassy, Anton'll check up on his monk.
-
Brother Joseph can move on his own, though he most clearly would rather not.
He also curses in a most unmonkly way when they leave, showing off quite a soldier's mouth with a large vein of colorful language, cut off by a final groan - "Argh that hurt..."
-
Brother Joseph can move on his own, though he most clearly would rather not.
He also curses in a most unmonkly way when they leave, showing off quite a soldier's mouth with a large vein of colorful language, cut off by a final groan - "Argh that hurt..."
Anton cuts him off.
"Watch your words, Brother. You are still mortal, even the crimes of God's forsaken can not push you." Anton states, and countinues onwards further away from the Turks, and more towards the Princedom (and the lasombra traitor).
"The forsaken are cruel. But they should not have attacked you, brother. You are far more then just a simple servant."
-
"No, I am also a penitent mass murderer. Clearly I deserve some more consi" - Joseph breaks off into another coughing fit.
Anton heads off to the seat of Michael's power in Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia, among the greatest cathedrals to be constructed in all of Christendom.
(http://www.teslasociety.com/pictures/Roman%20Empire%20Images/RomanEmpire3.jpg)
When he comes to the great edifice he is nearly brought to his knees by the very air of spirituality and holy power that surrounds the building. It burns and eats away at the horror within Anton. It lays him out bare to the judgement of heaven. It ignites in him the memory of fear, and fills him with disgust. For the briefest moment, Anton hates himself. For the briefest moment, he wants to welcome the sun.
Joseph feels it too, Anton can see, though not nearly to the same degree. The benefits of still being mortal, perhaps.
He wonders to himself - how can Michael possibly stand to make his home near the holy land?
-
"Truly amazing." Anton says, breathless, striving to keep his focus. "This could be Krondast, brother."
-
"But it won't be, will it Anton? Is it not you who says we play the role of monsters for God?"
-
"But it won't be, will it Anton? Is it not you who says we play the role of monsters for God?"
"We are the monsters so that this can come into fruition, properly. Without the taint our kind gives off. Without the flaws we bring into all things."
"Krondast will not be this. Krondast will be pure. But this is the closest I have ever felt, brother. There is nothing I can compare it to."
-
"Basilio once told me that the holy city of Acre was so blessed that none of the damned could even enter it's walls without bursting into flame. Is that the perfection you see Anton?"
-
Anton nods.
"That would certainly be ideal." Anton states.
"Acre is a city of purity." Anton says. "Have you ever been there, brother?"
-
"Yes, Basilio had be as an agent there to keep track of the city's doings for him."
Joseph coughs a bit, "It was difficult. Even a simple ghoul I could not stay there for more than a few days at a time, I would frequently become violently ill."
Then a bit of silence.
"So your ideal world is one in which you are dead, Anton?"
-
"Yes, Basilio had be as an agent there to keep track of the city's doings for him."
Joseph coughs a bit, "It was difficult. Even a simple ghoul I could not stay there for more than a few days at a time, I would frequently become violently ill."
Then a bit of silence.
"So your ideal world is one in which you are dead, Anton?"
"I am already dead, brother. Damned." Anton says, with a sad smile. "My ideal world is where my damnation had purpose, acomplishment."
"That's the only thing left for me, brother. I will gladly walk into the sun if it perfected God's plan."
-
Joseph shakes his head, "your heart may no longer beat but you most certainly still live brother."
-
Joseph shakes his head, "your heart may no longer beat but you most certainly still live brother."
Anton shakes his head.
"I may walk, I may talk, I can even breath and make my heart beat. But that means nothing. Life is the ability to move foward, beyond the mortal shell. Our curse is stasis. There is no redemption for the vampire, brother, and so there can no life in it as well."
"But you can not understand this, brother. I am attuned to the Abyss. When I walk through, they greet me as a long lost child. No life comes from the Abyss, Joseph. No life comes from me."
-
Brother Joseph takes this in for a second, then says - "As long as your soul can still be separated from your body, I'd say you've room left to die a little more brother. Stasis is a form of life, no matter how unpleasant."
-
"I do not know if one who is not quite dead is alive, brother. There is more to life then death."
-
"Is there really? How much of our lives do we spend in fear of death, hiding from it, ignoring it, wanting it, giving it? I have never known anything that could dominate my being so much as its end."
-
"Truly?" Anton asks, earnestly.
"As a mortal, I never thought about my death. Never gave it more consideration then as simply the path to the Kingdom. Now, my passing has been what consumes me. Didn't think I'd go out like this." Anton says, barring his fangs.
-
"Thought you'd die with a blade in your hand furthering God's cause? Or in your bed, with your wife and your children by your side, a cross around your neck, a priest blessing your service?"
Jodeph has to give a tired smile at the stark contrast of his own words.
-
"Nothing so detailed, brother. I thought of my death in abstract, with knowing I did my best for the Lord, and that'd I'd be welcomed by Him."
"Arrogant thoughts." Anton says, shaking his head. "I was so sure of myself, brother. That I wouldnget personal attention for what I had done. For what I would do..."
This... Living death, is fitting for that, brother. I would never have repented for that. Never realize it." He says.
-
"But you are still a man of God aren't you Anton?"
Joseph takes a step toward the Hagia Sophia and holds his arms out toward the magnificent structure.
"As a man of God, or perhaps a tool, would you rush to the defense of the Hagia if you saw it burn?"
-
Anton looks at the building.
"I hope so, brother. I hope so."
-
"Kill the artist but save his work then?"
Joseph shakes his head a little, "A monster with a heart of gold, Anton."
The monk's smile lets Anton know he's joking.
-
Anton nods.
"I suppose so, brother." He says simply, and begins walking towards the Prince's haven.
-
Anton feels increasing amounts of shame and hatred and pain moving forward until he finds that he quite simply cannot come within 20 feet of the Haga Sophia. He literally cannot will his limbs to move any closer to the church, so holy is its atmosphere.
How the hell can Michael make his home here?
-
"I... I think we need to meet with the Betrayer first, brother Joseph." Anton says, quickly walking back away.
He'll head to the lasombra guy who Aman forgot his name. That guy prolly knows.
-
It takes some asking around for Anton to be told where the Bishop Magnus is.
"In the Haga Sophia", confused (and scared) passerby tell him, pointing out the building Anton is so close to.
"He lives in the basement with some of the other priests."
-
"Hmph." Anton mutters, before looking to Joseph.
"Are you stable enough to go there?"
-
Joseph looks at Anton, confused.
"What do you mean?"
-
Joseph looks at Anton, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Go to the basement and arrange a meeting with the Bishop for me." Anton states.
-
A lingering look by Joseph before the ghoul goes off to do his given task.
Anton draws a good many looks as he waits outside from passerby, his Nosferatu-like attractiveness and evil abyssal aura would have probably gotten him burned at the stake if Joseph didn't come back so soon.
"The bishop says there's a side entrance through the sewers, he also says that what you're experiencing is perfectly normal and that none of the dead can enter the Hagia Sophia."
Anton cannot help but feel just the slightest bit disappointed. So he's not good enough... But that's to be expected isn't it?
-
A lingering look by Joseph before the ghoul goes off to do his given task.
Anton draws a good many looks as he waits outside from passerby, his Nosferatu-like attractiveness and evil abyssal aura would have probably gotten him burned at the stake if Joseph didn't come back so soon.
"The bishop says there's a side entrance through the sewers, he also says that what you're experiencing is perfectly normal and that none of the dead can enter the Hagia Sophia."
Anton cannot help but feel just the slightest bit disappointed. So he's not good enough... But that's to be expected isn't it?
Anton nods, and begins to walk.
"This reaffirms it." he says simply. "There are no exceptions, all are damned, brother."
-
"Well..."
Joseph pauses for a second,
"Ahh... Nevermind."
-
"Well..."
Joseph pauses for a second,
"Ahh... Nevermind."
Anton looks at the priest.
"Speak, monk. I do not keep you around to agree with me."
-
Joseph shrugs,
"Michael is said to be able to go in."
-
Joseph shrugs,
"Michael is said to be able to go in."
"Truly?" Anton asks.
"That is certainly something to look into."
-
Joseph leads Anton down what appeared to be a sewer but really is a simple ladder that leads down a wonderfully neutral smelling tunnel, which is also wonderfully dry. At no point does Anton encounter guards of any kind.
He eventually arrives at a heavy oak door, still having not encountered anyone or anything. He is about to raise his fist to knock when none other than Malachite materializes in front of him and says "What business do you have with the Patriarch, Anton?"
Of course the old Nosferatu probably already knows.
-
Anton looks at Heldric's sire.
"I am here to pay my respects to the Prince of this city, Lord Malachite." Anton says.
-
Malachite stands with his hands crossed behind his back, his posture straight, his chin high and his chest out. A hideous soldier with a frightening gaze and more than a touch of rictus.
"And that's all?" He says, his characteristic demeanour broken by a single raised, questioning eyebrow.
-
"Well no. I will be asking for permission to stay and feed for a short time, as I have further buisness aside from simply dealing with the kindred who dared to try and kill my sire." Anton says. If the nosferatu knows, honesty will keep from him being upset. If not, well, Malachite is Basilio's ally as well, and would hopefully support him in a feud.
-
Malachite examines his fingernails for a second before replying, "Your feud with Gabor is your own. The Patriarch accepts that since Gabor sent an agent to do the deed, Basilio may send one in turn. You are otherwise alone, and will receive no help from your side or his contacts. This is His judgement. You may go."
-
"Please send my thanks to the Patriarch." Anton states.
"And, Lord Malachite, do you know if The Patriarch truly can enter the Hagiah Sophia?"
-
Malachite looks at Anton oddly before replying - "Of course. He is Michael, no holy place could refuse him."
-
Malachite looks at Anton oddly before replying - "Of course. He is Michael, no holy place could refuse him."
"How? Does he not feel the rejection like the rest of us?"
-
"Rejection? God could never reject his favourite son."
For a second Anton does not understand, and Malachite recognizes it in the young Lasombra.
"Anton, Michael is... he is more than many might think he is. Exceedingly powerful - yes. Ancient - Yes. But a mere vampire? He ascended long ago, with the making of Constantinople and the rise of the Dream. Michael... he is a fallen servant of god Anton, one of his favourite sons, and he repents on Earth with his work here."
-
"Yes, I gathered that, Lord Malachite. I do the same, it's our purpose." Anton says, forcefully. It's His purpose.
"But that... That doesn't allow us onto holy ground, or even close to it." He says, hiding his annoyance from his face.
-
Malachite smiles, "You don't understand Anton. He is not one of Us."
-
Malachite smiles, "You don't understand Anton. He is not one of Us."
"Is he not one of Caine?" Anton asks
-
Malachite shakes his head, "Not anymore."
-
Malachite shakes his head, "Not anymore."
Anton sighs.
"Lord Malachite. Stop speaking in riddles. What is he, then?"
-
Malachite sighs, with audible exasperation, "He is a servant of god of course! His most favoured son!"
Anton's extensive religious knowledge tries to sort through these words then - was Malachite suggesting Michael was Jesus? No, of course not, that was ridiculous. Lucifer then, God's favourite who fell for his pride and became Evil itself?
Joseph speaks up then - "You don't mean to say that Michael believes he is truly... truly Michael do you?"
Then the thought pops into his head - Michael the Archangel, the one who threw Lucifer down from the heavens and, if Abyssal lore was anything to judge by, sealed him within the Abyss with the other fallen angels. That Michael? Michael never fell, he was never a vampire, he was never a - Anton's doubts fade away as he remembers the hatred and disgust he felt for himself near the Haga Sophia.
Could it really be?
-
Anton frowns in confusion. It fits... It solves every questiom, but... That can't be right? Could it? Perhaps, but if it could... Then what would that even mean? Michael never fell, he fought against Lucifer and threw him down himself! It goes against all of the Church's teachings!
But that would solve the question. Solve why Anton couldnt go in. It'd reaffirm his conviction, that the Kindred are flawed. It'd save him from questioning his own beleifs entierly.
But that's not Anton's way. He doesnt accept to make his life easier. He could never.
"Lord Malachite, what do you even mean? Michael, the archangel, oversees the sun, the rays we all fear and hide from. Could the Patriarch ignore even the sun? Michael, the archangel, could never be brought down to this earth. Itd be an affront to everything!"
-
"It is not for us to question", and Anton finds himself agreeing almost implicitly.
He sees the same compliance in Joseph.
"If that is all -" and Anton feels as if it is, indeed, all, "I have other business to attend to, as do you."
-
Anton nods,
"Uh yes, that is all, Lord Malachite. Thank you for your time." Anton says, walking out in a daze. Michael is truly Michael? The implications are startiling.
-
Once outside, Joseph speaks up - though he does so in a low voice, and with careful examination of their surroundings.
"He has to be mad."
-
"I suspect, that the further we look into this matter, the deeper it gets. We should not let it distract us." Anton says simply.
"I will need you to aquire me a building. Preferably abandoned and in the outskirts of this village."
-
"Village?"
-
"Village?"
"Perhaps a metropolis would be a better fit, yes."
-
"I doubt I will find any buildings abandoned save perhaps one in the poorer districts of Constantinople, will that suffice?"
-
"I doubt I will find any buildings abandoned save perhaps one in the poorer districts of Constantinople, will that suffice?"
Anton nods.
-
"Anything else before I leave?"
Assuming Anton says no, Joseph will go do his duty. Does the Lasombra have any plans now that his ghoul is gone?
-
"Meet me at the residence of Alfonso." Anton states to his departing ghoul, as he heads to the Priest.
-
Bishop Alfonso of Venice lives in the Latin quarter of Constantinople, a district of the city that Basilio informed Anton was primarily under the influence of the Lasombra families. He makes his Haven in a fine house in the protected enclave near the Gate of Saint John de Cornibus. Looking and feeling for all the world like an armed miscreant (and a particularly evil-minded one at that), Anton is immediately denied entrance to the protected area by the city guards - they use several words to tell him he is not allowed in the area, many of them hurtful.
-
Anton looks angrily at the city guards.
"Is this how you greet a Templar?!" Anton asks, inquitively. "I am here to speak to Priest Alfonso, on behalf of Basilio of Sofia. Inform him at once."
Should the guards look reluctant, Anton will glare at them impetuously.
"Or would you rather I inform the Knights of your ill bearings? I suspect it would be ill advised to keep me waiting."
-
The men of the watch seem to be cowed by Anton's fiercely intimidating nature - whatever loyalty drives them to the city does not appear to be enough to challenge the darkspawn's claims. He passes through relatively unmolested.
He is stopped again near the house that the Bishop claims at his own - though this time Anton suspects he is stopped by the bishop's own ghouls, far less likely to let him by as easily as the city watch had.
-
It's terrifying how far he's fallen. Years ago, he'd of walked in with praises and cheers. Now only with turned faces and quivering legs. No matter. It's the Lord's work, no matter what form it takes.
"I would like to speak to the Priest. I come as the Childer of Basilio the Eldest, formally of Sofia." Anton states.
-
One of the guardsmen enters the house to verify Anton's allowance into the house. He returns outside momentarily, and the two men who protect the main entrance respectfully allow the Lasombra into the house. He is greeted at the door by a man wearing exquisitely fine robes that seem to evoke the wealth and sophistication of Venice yet compete with the culture of Constantinople. He greets Anton with a fleeting smile and the follower of Night catches the slightest hint of a rapacious soul in the gesture.
"Evening, Anton is it? A pleasure to make your aquaintance! I have heard great things of Basilio and his line, I trust that you carry on your clan name well."
The bishop gives the slightest of bows to acknowledge Anton.
-
Anton nods, and returns the bow with a simple one.
"I have heard much of you, Bishop Alfonso. Your work with the Church is inspiring, of course." Anton says, nodding.
"In fact, when I was ordered to visit Constantinople, one of my first thoughts went to visiting the gate of Saint John de Cornebus in Latin quarter. We lasombra truly understand the important things in this world."
-
Alfonso makes a flippant gesture, "Yes, the gate, of course - but there are surely things more worth the attention of such industrious individuals as ourselves, yes? Might I tempt your vices, lord Anton?"
With an almost seductive smile the Bishop gestures for Anton to follow him.
-
Anton furrows his brow, but follows, nonetheless. There is no such thing as sin for kindred, but what would a bishop be doing in his own home, Anton must wonder.
-
The bishop leads Anton down a stairwell into the lower reaches of his fine manor. A step through a well-built, solid and decorated door leads Anton to the next room.
Were he still mortal his breath would have caught in his throat.
Perhaps a dozen of the most beautiful men and women Antkn has ever seen in his immortal life lay sprawled naked about the room. The smell of blood hangs thick in the air, sweeter than honey to Anton's depraved senses.
He watches as a man lays a woman across his lap and slowly pulls her head up to his. He opens a mouth revealing small but prominent fangs that sink into her neck - even as she does the same and reachs up to nip at his. As the two abandon themselves to their passions the Bishop speaks up again; "shall we dine"? He asks invitingly.
It is a good thing Joseph is not here. Such a travesty might tempt even the pacifist's well-trained blade.
-
"Bishop, who are these kindred?" Anton asks. "Are they all your childers?"
-
The Bishop takes a seat and gestures, a... obviously mortal woman crawls seductively into his lap, and pushes her head into his chest.
"No, of course not. Pets and playthings, and the friends with who I share them with."
He gives Anton a measured look.
"Tell me, can I count you a friend Anton?"
-
Anton frowns.
"I find such things hard to measure as there are very few whom I would consider friends, Bishop. Can one befriend others who hold such separate views?"
-
Bishop grins, then pulls the woman further up to him. He runs his nose along the nape of her neck, seemingly to her absurdly great pleasure, breathing in deeply as he does so.
"Ally then? The two words have so little to differentiate the two in our society's wouldn't you say?"
-
"It depends, bishop. To a friend, I would help. To an ally, I will trade, yes?" Anton states.
"May we speak in more... Proper grounds?"
-
"What grounds are more proper than those that celebrate our nature?"
He motions to a seat in front of the bishop, where another woman (and a man) both croon seductively. Whichever he prefers, it seems.
"Come. Deal with me, Ashen Knight".
-
"I will not join in the corruption of mortals, Bishop Alfonso. There is no sin for kindreds, yes, but mortals must be shephered to glory, not to the same fate we share." Anton replies.
-
The bishop slides his hands down the woman's midsection. In undue pleasure she moans and grinds her hips against him.
"You're no fun Anton! These mortals have made their choice, in a way, I feel no need to deny them."
-
"I tend towards gloom, bishop, not pleasure." Anton retorts.
"It matters not if mortals choose sin or not. We must force them to accept God's dominion. That is our role as Kindred, Bishop. Nothing more, nothing less."
-
"So shall we be shepherds or tyrants", the bishop asks, looking at him through thinly lidded eyes.
-
"We are to be terror, Bishop. Nothing more. Nothing less."
-
"No room for pleasure?," he says, as the woman on his lap squeals in exactly that.
-
"No room for pleasure?," he says, as the woman on his lap squeals in exactly that.
"The greatest pleasure must be to serve the lord, Bishop. Not to debase his flock." Anton argues. "Play with His monsters. Dont touch his children."
-
"And what you do? It's just an incorporal tickle now is it? Oh yes, your... Habits are well known, Ashen knight. I thought you would jump at the chance to indulge your vices."
-
"And what you do? It's just an incorporal tickle now is it? Oh yes, your... Habits are well known, Ashen knight. I thought you would jump at the chance to indulge your vices."
"It is no vice, Bishop. I take no pleasure in tormenting the Kine. It is my duty." Anton states cooly.
"But I would not balk at the chance to purify that which has been tainted."
-
"Take your pick", he says, his voice a whisper, gesturing to the others in the room for Anton.
-
"They don't usually survive." Anton states simply. Should the Bishop not balk at this, he'll proceed to surround a couple of mortals who appear particularly decadent, and make sure the good lord hears their screams. Then, of course, make sure they never sin again.
Should any be particularly decadent (like, a serial rapist corpse Farking jew), he won't let through the gates of heaven. He'll let him live.
-
Anton ends up choosing an absurdly attractive man with delicate hands and a chiselled jaw who just kinda seems like a huge asshole. Something about his voice.
There really wasn't much more to go on, clearly everyone in that room deserved cleansing, but if he had to pick one...
The other ghoul's and vampires watched on with sickening glee at Anton's... Methods. Some even appear to be aroused by it. Even the man who Anton is torturing seems to enjoy it.
Until, of course, Anton slits his throat and his wrists and lets him bleed to death.
Anton cannot help but feel indignant when the bishop slaps him enthusiastically on the back - "Excellent show! No wonder you find such excitement in it!"
-
"Can you sense any excitement in my being, Bishop?" Anton asks, turning from the dying sinner, to face the bishop.
"It's never been exiting, Bishop. Never."
-
"Tell that the purpose in your eyes", the bishop says, grinning.
"There is no greater excitement than that which is found in certainty, in fulfilling what you know is your purpose. You possess all too much of that, Anton.
I've seen you at your finest now, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. What would you have of me, Cruelest one?"
-
"The Heresy has ties with the Venture, yes, Bishop?" Anton asks. Assuming he nods, Anton'll countinue.
"My city contains the retinue of the Black Cross. I need some way to deal with them, Bishop. I have interest in gaining connections with them. Right now, they let me lead due to backroom deals I was not privvy to, and strength I do not have. I need more then just that."
-
The Bishop shrugs his shoulders.
"I am afraid I can offer no succor their. Lord Jurgen is a player and influence of his own, I have no power over him - not does my sire, if I felt so inclined to help you that I would call on him?"
-
Anton nods.
"Unfortunate, but understandable." Anton says simply.
"Is there any chance I might dwell here in the Latin quarters during my stay in Constantinople, Bishop? I feel that I would prefer it."
-
"Do as you please, but be careful of the other kindred on my territory. I do not control them and any grudges they might have towards you."
-
"Do as you please, but be careful of the other kindred on my territory. I do not control them and any grudges they might have towards you."
Anton nods.
"Many thanks, Bishop." Anton states. "Now, I must take my leave."
Anton then leaves the den of sin, hopefully to find Brother Joseph.
-
Anton meets Joseph back near the Hagia Sophia.
"I've found us a relatively stable building", Joseph says.
"Though not much more than that I'm afraid."
-
Anton nods.
"We've been granted stay in the Latin Quarter, though I feel that there might be enemies lurking even there." Anton states.
"We shall go to your building. I had wished to go visit the Bishop of Genona, but that shall have to wait. We must prepare." Anton states simply, heading to Brother Joseph's building to prepare.
-
Joseph stands in place for a second, then jogs up after Anton.
"Prepare? Prepare for what? How'd you get us into the Latin quarter?"
-
Joseph stands in place for a second, then jogs up after Anton.
"Prepare? Prepare for what? How'd you get us into the Latin quarter?"
"Prepare for Gabor's final death, Brother. I talked to the Bishop Alfonso, perhaps after our affair with Gabor I shall take you there."
-
Joseph hesitates,
"Anton, are you sure about this?"
-
Anton looks at the monk.
"About what, brother?"
-
"The taking of Gabor's soul... I fear for you, brother."
-
"The taking of Gabor's soul... I fear for you, brother."
"Do not waste your fears on me, brother." Anton says softly, before smiling.
"Though I certainly appreciate it. As for Gabor's soul, well.. I know not, yet. There are many things that make me fear the concept, and many more beliefs that it is the only way to acomplish my goals. I know not yet."
-
"What if it changes you?"
-
"That is what I fear the most, brother. But as long as my heart is held by my Duty, I should not fear any change in it. Everything must be done for the cause."
-
"And if it changes you... Too much?
What then? What if the man who comes back is not the one I have come to serve?"
-
"Then I will have failed, brother." Anton says simply.
"But I won't. That I swear to you, brother."
-
Joseph nods - then his eyes widen, "Wat-"
A searing pain spiderwebs up from Anton's side when an inconspicuous passerby slams a knife into Anton that burns, lifting him slightly off his feet and depositing him gently back down. The man fades away into the crowd flowing out from a nearby tavern, Anton can't keep track of him.
Joseph is holding onto Anton, trying to reassure him that he will be okay, telling him to hold on...
Or at least, he thinks that's what the monk is doing. He blacks out before he can really make sense of the words.
-
"But what about Gabor? We cannot leave him here, he made an attempt on your life?
You can kill him then. I won't risk Anton's life on something like this - not now. Besides, it'll take him over a week to recover from the attack-",
"And you think he will be content with that? He-"
"Hush now. He stirs..."
Anton opens his eyes to see Basilio and Eken standing over him.
From the feel of the place he's inside Basilio's cabin within the Dark Queen
-
Anton groans.
"I didn't know a dagger could hurt so much." Anton mutters, looking around the room.
"Where is Brother Joseph?"
-
"Daggers? Not so much, but one coated in an Assamite's venomous blood can weave a symphony of pain.
Joseph is keeping track of Gabor. The man hasn't led this haven yet, I suspect he has fortified the place. Against my probable arrival."
-
"Assasimite?" Anton mutters, angrily. "I was hoping that I could fix that break in relations. Unfortunate."
"I'm not willing to let Gabor live, Basilio. Nor to let anyone but I deal with him." Anton states. "It matters not if the assasimites harbor a grudge as well."
-
"Considering one of them just about killed you without you of Joseph even seeing the man, I think it matters a great deal", Basilio says rather angrily.
Eken stays silent and watches Anton.
-
"Considering one of them just about killed you without you of Joseph even seeing the man, I think it matters a great deal", Basilio says rather angrily.
Eken stays silent and watches Anton.
"Not for this, Basillio. Not for what you asked me to do." Anton replies.
"They'll think I fled with you, away from here, Constantinople. I will be here for only one more night, before desidrio returns me to Krondast. They won't have another chance."
-
"You can't even walk!" Basilio exclaims, "you expect to kill one of my rivals? Alone? I've already lost..." Basilio's voice trails off.
"No. You will not go. My word is final, even if I need to twist it into your mind," Basilio storms out of the room.
Eken stays behind, his eyes still on Anton.
-
Anton looks at Eken.
"I can not return in failure, Eken." He says simply.
-
Eken waits a moment longer, then nods. He steps over to the desk in Basilio's cabin and takes a seat. He reaches under the desk and drags out a heavy chest, and unlocks it. He pulls out a massive old wooden mug from inside the chest then closes it quickly before Anton can see what else is in there.
He throws it to Anton - who cannot catch it. Still, it lands by his head.
Ennius leans back into his chair and props his feet up on the chest.
"Fill the mug with your blood."
-
Anton frowns, but follows the black man's idea, slowly moving his arm over the mug, and biting it.
-
Anton feels uncomfortable as the Beast starts clawing at him, as much of his remaining blood leaves his body and goes into the mug.
Eken stands up then, with a groan, and walks over to Anton. He picks up the mug and sets it on the stand, then pulls the desk chair beside Anton's bed.
He pulls up his sleeves and sits back down, resting his hands on Anton's stomach
"You're going to make me a promise now, and if you break it I'll probably kill you."
-
"Which is?"
-
"That you'll have your memory of this event altered so that Michael was the one who healed you."
-
"That you'll have your memory of this event altered so that Michael was the one who healed you."
Anton looks incredibely confused.
"Why?"
-
"No explanations before you agree. Besides, it won't matter much will it?"
-
Anton nods.
"I suppose so."
-
Eken lays a hand over Anton's wound and closes his eyes.
Much to Anton's surprise, a third eye shoots open on Eken's forehead, massive and red and, until then, completely invisible. Anton feels power begin to flow through him, his wound knitting itself closed, the poison clearing from his veins.
By the time Eken is done, Anton is completely uninjured. Not even a scar remains from his wound, like there would normally be.
Eken looks very pale and very weak. He reaches over and downs the whole mug of Anton's blood almost instantly.
"About six hundred years ago I caught Michael's eye. He found me to be a fascinating mortal, moreso because I refused an offer to be sired by him. He taught me Valeren, the Discipline of the Salubri - both the Warrior and Healer paths. I would continue to keep this a secret. You will tell no one. Now go. You have maybe an hour before Basilio returns and looses us all into the city."
Eken gets up and leaves through the cabin door.
-
Anton nods, not bothering to worry about what he just heard. He'll be forced to forget it anyways.
He heads off the ship. He needs to find Brother Joseph, they have much less time then expected. He'll move quietly through the city, keeping to the edges hidden with shadows.
-
Summoning nightshades and boosting his Dexterity with what little blood he has left, Anton manages to sneak off the ship without being noticed - or if he was, the ship's ancient crew leave him be.
After refilling his massively depleted Blood Pool on helpless city-folk, Anton makes his way back to the Hagia Sophia.
The moon will set soon. He judges that he has less than an hour of night-time left. Less than half an hour before Basilio figures out he's gone too.
His senses not being the most acute, Anton is unable to spot Joseph anywhere nearby. Perhaps someone else might have?
-
Anton quickly heads to the sewers. If there is one person who'd know where anyone in this city is, it's Malachite
-
Just as Anton considers summoning tendrils to help him lift the heavy sewer grate, he hears a voice come from behind him.
"Need a hand?"
Malachite is waiting for him, standing with his hands behind his back, chin up - all tall proud military strength.
-
"Ah, Malachite, wonderful." Anton says. "My servant has gone wandering. Would you happen to know where he is?"
-
"Does Basilio know you're here?", Malachhite says, pointedly ignoring Anton's question
-
"No. But it should not matter, Sir Malachite. I have a duty."
-
"A duty to your sire, yes?"
-
"A duty to myself, Malachite. I agreed to do this. I shall do this."
-
"And if I should decide to bring you back to Basilio?"
-
"I doubt I would be able to stop you, Malachite." Anton admits.
"But I would certainly try."
-
Malachite cocks his head.
"And why would you risk fighting me and my three children to honour your sire in a fight he would be furious if he knew about it?"
Anton's eyes inadvertently dart out, searching for the Three - Malachite's infamously ugly childer who he kept as retainers in Constantinople to help him with his duties. Andreas and Heldric had originally been intended to be a part of the Three, but Andreas made mistakes and Heldric proved more promising than a simple servant.
Naturally, he sees nothing, but he knows they could be standing less than a hair's breadth away from him, fangs at the skin of his neck, blades hovering in front of his eyes. Each of them possessing the same epic strength Andreas has displayed.
The odds aren't looking too good.
-
"I'm not doing this for Basilio to pat me on the head, Malachite. I'm doing it since I must do it. I have an obligation. I don't care if I'm hated while doing it or not."
-
Malachite takes in Anton's words, and then nods.
"It is good that you have such purpose. Basilio has raised you well, and might resent you for it. I trust you will keep Eken's secret?"
-
"Of course." Anton states. "I don't understand the need for it, but the words will never leave my lips."
-
"I would explain but it would really be a waste wouldn't it? My Three will find you when you're done, if you're still alive. They will make sure you don't run, and I will join them then to take your memories. Good luck."
Malachite gives Anton directions to Gabor's haven, and then blinks out of sight.
-
"I will be returning to here afterwards. There is no need to fetch me." Anton says to the watchful eyes 100% left behind.
He'll then proceed to brother joseph, feeding on the way, and doing the requisite things you do before attacking an elder that rivals your sire. (Bloodboosted stats, nightshades, shroud, and dark steel tentacles coating the body)
-
Anton succeeds in summoning a wide variety of abyssal entities and tools to help him in the coming battle, including two ephemeral beings that hang listlessly in the air like clouds of ink in stagnant water. They follow him, floating along with deceptive speed through the shadowed tenements of Constantinople's infrastructure.
-
Anton smiles softly at his shadows, as the abyss, and all of it's denizens, comfort him, reaffirming his conviction and zeal.
He quietly hunts foward to Gabor's haven, sending one of his shadowed to bring Brother Joseph to his side. He needs the pacifistic monk for whatever Kine Gabor has corrupted.
-
Anton does not find Joseph outside Gabor's abode.
(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/assassinscreed/images/8/86/Rich_district_of_Constantinople_by_Olivier_Martin.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120831203357)
The place is located in part of the famed city's rich district, normally a bustling area at all times of day. Tonight it is silent and empty - Anton feels ill at ease, even cloaked as he is in his shadows. The building he is looking for is conjoined to two others, all owned by the old prince of Sophia. If Gabor has guards watching from the walls, Anton cannot find them.
-
Anton sends his shadows to search the walls. They are probably more reliably quiet and perceptive then him anyways
-
The shadows writhe up the building and pour in through the windows. Anton closes his eyes and wraps himself in darkness, keeping his attention focused on the hearts that he sent into the manor.
After about three minutes he feels one of the hearts stop beating. He feels the other react at the first's destruction, and within another minute it comes back to him. He feels the shadow transfer images into his mind. A bloody hallway, bodies slumped in the corridor. A mangled scream that cuts off almost as suddenly as it started. A sudden flash and terrible heat. Flight, back to the master.
Anton opens his eyes and looks at the building through his changed eyes, taking note of the smoke that has started to rise from the rooftop. Strange.
-
"Fire. Of course, Gabor is a Koldun." Anton internally mutters, thinking. His servants did not see any ghouls or childer aside from their killer, which suggests a small amount of guards, if any.
What and how many entrances arr there
-
A very large number, the building is more ornate than secure.
-
Anton sends off his wave of shadows to cover him, as he moves to enter. Gabor already knows he is here. Making a scene won't matter much.
He'll have two of his nightshades form togheter into an illusion of a Hungry Shade, and the others into his replicates, as he heads inside.
-
As Anton's shadows pour into the manor, he marches up to the front entrance and strikes it once, then twice, then a third time - the manor door splintering with each hit. Another strike snaps the lock and then Anton kicks the doors in, his shadows silencing everything for him.
He hears a chittering sound inside and then a sudden squealing. He notes that his remaining heart has captured a deformed, insect-like thing with its tendrils. As he walks past it Anton summons a long hand-and-a-half blade and as he walks past it he casually cuts the thing in half.
Other than the small ghoul his entrance goes seemingly unnoticed.
If Anton didn't know any better he'd say the place had already been raided.
-
"Disgusting things." Anton mutters, encased in his darkness. It is weird that there was only that, however. Certainly should have far more. Did Basilio already send the crew? No, Gabor would not be around in that case, most certainly.
Knowing that Gabor is [wherever his heart sent], Anton heads there, letting the darkness envelop everything, and heading foward. He'll have his heart set behind him. Cant let that get destroyed as well.
-
Moving through the Manse, Anton encounters the bodies of several more slain ghou's - they appear to have been butchered by an exceedingly skilled swordsman, the nature of whom Anton cannot be certain. He follows the trail of blood and bodies to the smell of smoke and burning. He comes across a hallway filled with raging flames that pushes him back as surely as an impenetrable wall. This must have been where the blast that destroyed his heart came from.
-
Certainly not the work of Basilio's crew, Anton realizes. But definitely an attack on the fiend. He walks around te flames, trusting in his nature to extinguish any flames that come close. He keeps the heart in close contact, letting it look for his foe (specifically, moving blood), while he keeps his shadows following.
-
Anton backs away from the fire, struggling all the while to keep his fear of the fiery death in check.
He finds another hallway that runs parallel to the first just a few meters away, and goes down that instead - aiming to traverse the burned area and continue to investigate.
It is for his disappointing lack of perceptive skills that he does not notice the heavyset schlacta covered in grease and small clay pots standing guard outside a wide set of double doors.
The thing runs into Anton's phantasm and then beats itself, breaking the clay pots and setting off a sudden explosion, destroying the shadows Anton had summoned (save for his tendrils), and blocking off this second hallway.
-
(OOC: including the heart?)
Anton quickly turns away from the fires, and looks for another path, while resummoning his nightshades, and then, if time permits, his shrouds.
-
(Heart's fine, since it wasn't what triggered the explosion and Anton kept it behind him).
Anton finds no third hallway that would allow him passage through the fire - howevwr a quick search uncovers a stairway upstairs. Moving quickly up the stair he finds a hall that runs, judging from the smoke pouring up through the floorboards, on top the second burning hallway,
Running down the hall while resummoning his nightshades, Anton skids to a stop. This second hall appears to also be a balcony overlooking the centre of the manse; and there he sees....
Oh God.
Joseph hangs, nailed to a wall with what seems to be splinters of metal, a broken hilt jutting out from his right knee. His abdomen has been split open, and his organs lay in the grass before him. His ribs have been spread like a flower in full bloom, revealing his heart - which appears to have stopped beating. Blood is everywhere.
A short, severe looking Bulgar wearing fine clothing and a bear fur cloak stands in front of Joseph, seemingly alone in the room. His long hair is streaked with grey, his brown eyes glower beneath bristling eyebrows and his moustache is carefully groomed. The overall effect is that of barbarian royalty. He is armed with a dagger and a sabre.
He is untouched by Joseph's blood.
-
So that's what happened to Brother Joseph...
Disgusting fiend. But reacting in pain would be what the Bulgar would want. It's what Anton's emotions would want. But they never held any control over Anton, not now, not ever. Give the fiend no satisfaction. Anton makes sure to act first (with willpower).
Anton quickly lets his nightshades shift, focusing two on creating the illusion of Basilio (two of them, separate parts of the balcony) while letting the others coat Gabor. The tzmisce will want revenge, which will mean he will focus on his nemesis first, hopefully. After, he'll let his own tentacles attack, as he summons other tentacles onto the bulgar, to grab and contrict him. Whatever shrouds he has (if he has?) are also sent to suffocate the fire koldun.
-
Gabor looks up at the Anton and his phantasms.
"So you've finally come, eh you bastard? It was stupid to send in this fool alone. Send in a single man to kill me? He was one of those vaunted crew members of yours wasn't he? A waste."
Anton is surprised to hear the resignation in the Bulgar's voice.
"I'm so happy I could cause you this last bit of pain before you hand me over to Noriz like you did Demenaus."
As Gabor speaks Anton acts, summoning four tendrils around the Tzimisce - only to watch in stunned silence as the Tzimisce draws his weapons and moves with stunning speed and power, weaving around the attacks and dissipating each of the things with a single cut of his blades - which Anton notes are red-hot.
Having destroyed the tendrils, Gabor leaps up from the ground floor to the second floor, his hand grabbing the railing and splintering it when he throws himself over, landing with a roll by the nightshade Anton had made of Basilio. With a roar Gabor stabs through the shadow, the nightshade recoiling from the heat of the blade.
"More tricks? Where are the assassins Basilio? Where's your obsidian fist? Your crew? Did you come here alone? Do you think so little of me?"
-
Seeing his dark steel destroyed as if an afterthought, demontrating a clear superiorty of strength, ancient gears turn in the Ashen Knight's head. For he was not always under the tutelage of the Abyss, nor always banished from the Above. Before the Lord brought him to Via Noctis, his mentor always had said;
"Et Fortier Nobis" Together We Stand
If Anton would want to defeat Gabor, his personal strength won't be enough. Not nearly.
He'll quickly move his shadows, now to form two hungry shades from the abyss, to try and slow Gabor down. His heart will summon tentacles as a matter of course, as well as shrouds to aggravate the fiend. Anton wil head to Brother Joseph.
-
At the appearance of the two hungry shades, Gabor takes pause. Levelling his sword and eyeing the two demons carefully.
The nightshade attacks Gabor with tensrils that the Tzimisce swiftly evades, before spinning and chopping the tendrils with his sword. The tensrils dissipate as they would have had they been real, and Gabor presses his attack against the illusion, temporarily foiled by Anton's efforts.
The Lasombra leaps down while Gavor is distracted, summoning a shroud as he jumps to muffle his fall.
He steps across the room to Joseph's still warm, dead body, and sinks his fangs into his own arm, then pressing the bleeding wound up to Joseph's lips. Blood begins to trickle into Joseph's throat...
"What's this? Ha! Oh the arrogance, he didn't even come himself!"
Gabor practically appears behind Anton, and smacks him across the face with the flat of the burning blade, the near-molten metal searing his flesh, tearing him from Joseph.
"What are you then? An apprentice? His welp? A fitting end for you then, to die to my sword."
Gabor raises the burning blade, and then brings it down. Anton is certain that he is to meet his lord when a sudden blur flashes into the way of the blade, and Joseph, ruined body and all, appears, gripping the hilt of the broken sword with both hands, holding the burning sword back, struggling with the clearly more physically powerful Gabor.
-
Anton tenses, his hand instantly raised to the burnt flesh, knees on the floor. He looks to the monk, and feels the pangs of guilt instantly. This... it was wrong. Sure, he could rationalize it all away. He was considering doing so already, even before this. He needed another to pursue his goals, and it could never have been someone corrupt. A foundation so fragile in the begining would of had to fall. And anyways, the Monk had already shown his sins, which he could not, would not, ask forgivness for.
But that was not what was not weighed out before. This was an act of desperation. But it was done.
With Gabor held up by the exTemplar, Anton summons his darksteel to envelop the Tzmisce, to restrict his everymove, and to squeeze the unlife out of him. Now.
-
Shadows spring to life, coming from the Tzimisce himself this time! Tendrils come from his nostrils and the folds of his clothing and immediately grab at his arms and his legs.
Gabor jumps back and destroys the two tendrils that sprouted from his nostril with a quick swipe that singes the hairs of his eyebrows, and makes to cut away the rest of the tendrils when Joseph rushes him with his broken sword, metal bits still embedded in his joints grinding away at his flesh as he moves.
The templar moves with a fierce brutality that Anton would have never expected of the pacifist monk. He has the practiced stance of one who fights not with graceful movements, but with deadly efficiency.
Joseph stabs at Gabor while the Tzimisce makes to cut away a tendril that is envelopping his left arm - Gabor's blade darts abruptly away from the tendril and catches Joseph's broken hilt of a blade, while he flips the similarly fire-touched dagger in his constricted hand and then throws it through the tendril, destroying it in turn.
Joseph swipes at Gabor again and the tzimisce drops to the ground, simultaneously cutting away at the tendrils binding his legs, and then rolling out of the way when Joseph brings his broken sword down onto the space where he'd been so hard that he shatters the delicate, blood-covered tiling.
As Gabor rolls over he puts a single hand to the floor and twists himself upright in one swift motion, rotating as he does so and bringing the sword rapidly down towards Joseph - only to have his killing blow stopped by Anton's tendrils; new ones having been summoned to stop the bulgar's devastating attack.
Seeing that Gabor is unable to keep up with the attack being carried out on him, Joseph takes advantage of the moment and stabs at Gabor with his broken sword like it was a dagger.
The bulgar sidesteps the thrust and steps close inside Joseph's guard, at the same time letting the tendrils constrict him and forcing his burning sword onto his left arm. The templar attempts to move around Gabor and put him back in front of the dagger, following his movements with a practised eye, but the Tzimisce's weaving proves too fast for him.
The burning blade sears Gabor's own flesh, which initially seems to be a good thing - until Anton sees that Gabor lets it sink so far into his own arm that it burns the tendril holding his left arm in place - destroying it. Gabor's left arm then darts out and he seizes Joseph's clearly visible heart through the flowered ribcage he'd made of Joseph's chest, ripping it out without so much as a moment of hesitation. Joseph, deprived of the seat of his vampiric power, collapses on the spot, paralyzed.
With a rapid movement Gabor makes to spear Joseph's heart on his burning sword - and Anton acts again, throwing nightshades forward to confuse the swordsman while new tendrils form to grasp and then break his left arm. Before they can do so, however, Gabor... melts. The Tzimisce turns into a pool of blood before Anton's very eyes, and the tendrils splash uselessly through his now liquid form. The sword also falls into the pool of blood, which sizzles violently and creeps rapidly away from the blade.
-
Anton moves in quick, grabbing the molten blade, and quickly trying to melt the blood. He'll direct his nighshades to move along, along with his heart to direct it's own tentVles to harass the Tzmisce. He womt be getting away.
-
Anton runs after Gabor as the Tzimisce flees the scene, only to skid to a stop when the Tzimisce suddenly reforms in a crouched position and sweeps Anton's legs, tripping him up while reaching for the sword. The Lasombra reacts in time to jump over the sweep and roll away, dropping to a crouched stance with the molten blade at his side.
Gabor smiles a vicious grin and continues his mocking; "Did Basilio even teach you how to fight, childe?"
Nightshades come down from the ceiling and surround Gabor in a swirling, confounding black storm while Anton leads in with cut levelled at the vampire's chest.
Gabor steps back, though the molten blade slices open the front of his tunic and sets part of it on fire.
"It seems not! Let me teach you something he should have taught you long ago then!"
The heart's tendrils reach forward and try to slide around Gabor's body and anchor him in place, but Gabor moves too quickly for the far weaker tendrils to even hope to catch him.
"One of the cardinal rules of vampiric combat - never get within brawling range of a fleshcrafter."
Gabor dives onto his knees and slides forward on the blood-slickened floor. In a panic, Anton brings the molten blade down on Gabor's head only to find that the Tzimisce has already reached up expectantly to catch his arm, the other darting out for a quick punch to Anton's knee that completely destroys the joint, fusing flesh and cartilage and bone together. As Anton registers the pain from his now ruined leg Gabor stands and then strikes Anton square in the chest open handed. Anton's whole chest implodes as his ribs are forced inward, piercing his own heart and making him lose half of his remaining blood!
"Because even if you win, you lose," Gabor whispers.
-
Anton looks to Gabor.
"Your sire clearly didn't teach you well either." He says, holding back the pain as he boosts his strength hy three, applies his potence, and heals a sliver of health, before biting down on Gabor's neck.
-
Anton lunges forward, fangs sprouting from his mouth with a wet hiss, and Gabor smirks - making to step aside as he's done every time so far - but the Tzimisce has forgotten one of his opponents.
Anton's Heart has its tendrils slam into Gabor from behind, stopping him from moving back and throwing him off balance. Anton's nightshades immediately begin swirling around him and Gabor, confusing the off-balance Tzimisce. Anton seizes Gabor and feels the elder's hands grip him, trying to violently fling him aside - but Anton holds on with the desperate need and strength of a dying man, and forces Gabor down, momentarily overpowering him. His fangs sink into the Tzimisce's neck, and Anton feels his beast rage at the sweet taste of elder blood. A pounding sensation fills his head as he feels himself slipping out of control, letting the Beast take the reins...
Gabor flails wildly at Anton, now panicked as he feels his lifeblood being forcefully drained from his body. With his fleshcrafting he removes the whole left half of Anton's head, including a significant part of the jaw, in his effort to remove the Cainite's death grip on his neck. He digs into Anton's body and arm and muscles, causing horrific damage and pain that the beast guiding Anton ignores in the unstoppable force that is its hunger. The Beast would feed.
It is not long before Gabor's vicious assault weakens, and not longer still before the warrior Tzimisce can do nothing but feebly claw at Anton's ruined skin, leaving long claw-like marks in the Lasombra's skin.
However, as the fight ends, another begins - this one deep within the recesses of Anton's soul...
---
An arena of sorts - it's really the best Anton can do to describe it. A massive, flat stone circle suspended by chains that lead off into the endless void above.
Below the platform, a sea of liquid fire rages with the fury of an ascendant. Hot, angry, endless....
Gabor stands opposite to Anton, on the other side of the platform. He holds a chain - further inspection reveals that the chain is really a leash for a massive, indescribable monstrous creature that sits contentedly by his side.
Looking down at his own hand, Anton sees he carries his own chain, and at the end of it he sees a similar looking monstrosity, though this one snaps and bits and pulls at the end of its chain. Strangely enough, Anton isn't even conscious of the effort of holding it back.
-
Anton gazes at Gabor, silently trying to assess the situation. The last he remembers, Gabor's lifeblood entered his veins. The rest, blank, as if it didn't continue. Certainly, he must of succeeded. This is nothing like the abyss.
"You lost, Gabor." Anton says coolly, gripping the chain.
-
Gabor, in turn, looks at Anton incredulously.
"You killed me."
He says the words not with finality, nor as a statement of fact, but with an almost childlike surprise.
"How could you kill me?"
-
"Your time was over, Tzmisce. The Lord simply granted me the hand in your execution."
-
Gabor's blank stare snaps onto Anton.
"I said you killed me shadowling. I never said I was done!"
Gabor flicks the chain so that it whips at his Beast, and then runs towards Anton, his unchained arm changing into a bone-sword as he does so.
-
"This... Is not what I had expected." Anton mutters to himself, watching Gabor closely, and summoning his own hand-and-a-half blade. "It's certainly shouldnt be another senseless brawl... It's something more then that.."
-
Gabor closes the distance between himself and the Lasombra in an instant, bringing his arm down with seemingly reckless abandon. Anton knows better, having already been personal witness to Gabor's martial mastery, and keeps a close eye out for the trick, when it comes.
Putting his blade up to block the blow, he catches the subtle shift of Gabor's movement as he pulls the blade back slightly and slides the tip under Anton's guard. Though he sees it coming, Anton can't match Gabor's savage speed and strength.
Just as the boneswordarm is about punch through Anton's ribs, the scene shifts once again...
---
Anton lets out a savage shout as he clashes with the large black crewman yet again.
The man - he can't quite remember his name, something like Ethan? Ekan? No, it was Eken. That's what those other men had called him, anyway.
The man fought like a demon, easily Anton's better. Basilio's assault on Sofia had been swift and unexpected. Noriz had betrayed them, the damned evil bastard was making his way up to Castle Sofia even as Basilio's crew held up Anton and his guards.
The Lasombra's blade weaves a storm that Eken answers with perfect form and composure, even as Anton's ghouls are slowly, systematically cut down by Basilio's crew.
Cursing, Anton disengages and runs. He has to make it to the castle, the Dacian didn't stand a chance against Noriz AND Basilio.
---
Gabor stumbles back and brings a hand to his right eye, as if he'd been struck. After a moment's examination Anton realizes that a long cut has been scored across Gabor's face. Looking down at his sword, he sees it bloody.
Looking over to his beast, he sees that it has also scored a victory against Gabor's, it's clWs bloody from a painful-looking swipe delivered to the other's face.
"STAY OUT OF MY HEAD!", Gabor screams. The two Beasts seize each other and roll around the arena, snarling and biting at each other. Gabor renews his assault, and Anton recognizes the fury in Gabor's swordplay - he had just enacted this combination of stances and strikes himself, moments ago, in a vision.
-
Knowing the technique, Anton tries to focus, trying to use his knowledge of the attack to exploit it.
-
Knowing every attack Gabor is about to make in advance helps Anton match Gabor's speed and strength and, for the second time, the Lasombra gets the better of the Tzimisce.
Weaving through four of the warrior's attacks, Anton sidesteps a lunge and brings his sword down with terrible force onto the Tzimisce's hamstrings. As the sword touches flesh, the scene once more shifts....
---
Anton slams the door shut, and immediately triggers the trap before slumping against the heavy reinforced iron portal. He feels a dull thump and then the heat from the explosion behind him. A few of the crew members soon have their screams silenced, though he knows better than to hope they were killed. Somehow Eken was keeping the weaker members alive, despite everything he threw at them not one had died yet. Not even from the consistently incredible mortal wounds Anton would dole out so liberally.
Still, this would delay them long enough for him to help, Anton shakes himself back into a state of concentration and takes off running through the castle halls, down the winding labyrinth and into the luxurious apartment suites hidden deep below Castle Sofia.
"Anton"
Anton stops short at his sire's voice.
"Demenaus? Thank Caine! My sire, I am ever at your..."
From the darkness ahead steps a demon dressed in blood and shadows. Black skin, with terrifying wings outstretched behind him, shadows pouring off the dark angel like air off dry ice. Lesser demons lurk hungrily behind the demon, the only indication of their presence being the subtle shift in temperature, the changes in the absence of light and the dead feel in the air. The demon's mouth is covered in sweet, sticky blood, his fangs freshly wetted.
Anton feels his sword grow heavy in his hand, even as he brings it up, point facing Basilio.
"You should run."
Anton steps forward, pulling back his blade and launching his attack.
---
Anton gasps in sudden, unexpected pain and his arm involuntarily jerks back, missing Gabor's hamstrings by a wide margin but shredding his right calf.
Anton looks and sees that in his lunge, while Gabor missed Anton himself he managed to run through Anton''s beast. Looking down, Anton sees a hole in his midsection - right around where his beast had been stabbed.
-
Anton shrugs off the pain and thinks quick. He managed to hurt Gabor before, why did this attempt fail? It's certainly not lack of skill. Nor a trick of obfuscate.
He heals the pain, and charge after Gabor. This is a metaphysical fight over the soul. He can't use Gabor to fight Gabor. He must defeat him as Anton.
He attempts to summon tentacles from the abyss, as he attacks, fighting as Anton would.
-
Anton's beast turns towards Gabor and vomits shadows onto the Tximisce. Tensrils form among the shadows and wrap around the warrior, even as he struggles to leave the shadows.
Gabor's beast takes advantage of the moment to snap at Anton's own beast, going straight for its throat.
Once more, the scene shifts...
---
Anton takes another step back. His frustration grows.
The moment they crossed blades it was evident that Anton was the better fighter. Faster, and far more skilled with the blade, though he couldn't match the demonic vampire's strength. But none of it mattered, for all of Anton's skill he could do nothing against Basilio's shadow, which leached his strength and stole his sight. He could do nothing to fend off the arms that gripped him in the dark, whose grip survived even the edge of his sword.
Every moment of combat has been a constant retreat, Basilio was untouchable. He needed something more.
Anton turns a corner and climbs up a flight of stairs, racing desperately to the ground floor of the castle even as Basilio follows close behind. He surprises a night watchman who remained oblivious to the fighting and jams a dagger through his eye, picking him up, carrying him and draining him as he runs.
He throws the body at Basilio, the elder having caught up to him while he regained some of his resources. Basilio bats aside the corpse and leaps through the air at the Lasombra. Anton dives through the doorway into the kitchen and throws open the oven, where hot coals still burned. Picking up a short shovel kept near the thing, Anton shovels burning coal directly into Basilio as he crosses through the doorway, immediately following up with a cut from his sword.
Incredulous, Anton watches as The shadows around Basilio harden into an obsidian shell, stopping the coals outright, before disappearing when Anton cut down with the sword. Basilio catches the blade with his bare hand - not, not quite bare. A crunching is heard as Anton's blade crashes against that same obsidian shadow. Shadows form around the sword and trap the blade in obsidian, even as Basilio moves in close to punch Anton in the chest and face - so fast that barely any force could have been put into the blows. Yet from the stinging pain he feels, Anton understands that force was not the goal - small obsidian needles formed in front of Basilio's fists and his punches drove them into Anton's flesh, in this case his eye and his heart.
Stumbling back, Anton picks up a hot fire poker and renews his attack, this time without an eye. Basilio stops the hail of blows with his strange defense and tendrils erupt behind him, seizing him before he can run.
Anton hangs his head as the tendrils fully tighten their grip on him, and Basilio comes closer, a massive executionner's axe forming in a single hand.
"I told you to..."
A look of anguish overtakes Basilio's face.
"Run", he whispers. Basilio drops the axe and then stumbles back, even as the tendrils holding Anton in place vanish.
For a moment Anton doesn't understand, but then it hits him.
"Demenaus... You're still there aren't you?"
No answer
"Demenaus, I will avenge you. I will slaughter the traitors that led this demon to our doors. I will reclaim Sofia. I swear it. You will have your peace."
Nothing. Basilio begins shaking.
"Goodbye, master".
Anton runs.
---
Anton isn't sure how, but somehow he's appeared in front of his beast, and he is holding an obsidian two-sided spear inside Gabor's beast's mouth, keeping it from closing its jaws on his own beast's throat.
Gabor screams, and for once Anton hears genuine despair in his voice.
"Damn you! Not after the hell you've put me through Basilio! Not like this!"
-
Anton looks to Gabor, almost pitying the fiend.
"This way will grant you far less pain then that of the Good Lord's abyss. Consider this a present from Him. A chance to give actual meaning to your unlife."
"This is a gift." Anton repeats, perhaps more in an attempt to convince himself then the Tzmisce. His dark steel will make short work of Gabor. Anton begins to form another spear of shadows, to pierce the beast himself. Anton must be in control.
-
"Keep your hell-given gift and let me die," Gabor pleads.
-
"Keep your hell-given gift and let me die," Gabor pleads.
Anton looks at the pleading Gabor.
"I can not. You don't get to choose to be the left hand of God. No one does."
-
"Of course you do!", Gabor cries out, even as his powerful bones snap under the strength of Anton's tendrils, even as his beast is cut down.
"You're making that choice right now, to believe that God is right, to believe that you matter to him, to believe he wants you to punish me. I've been punished enough damn you, I sought retribution and now I am dead. You say you are the left hand of God? You are an arrogant fool! It is not for you to judge me, it is for He! How can he do that if I am not let to di-"
Right around then is when Anton's spear pierced Gabor's throat.
The Tzimisce looks at Anton with hatred and fear, even as he is killed for the second time.
As Anton watches, Gabor dissolves into a puddle of blood, which then slowly climbs up the shaft of Anton's spear until it reaches his hands. It envelops his body, and then crawls into him through his nose, his mouth, his ears...
---
Anton drops the incapacitated elder to the ground. Before leaving he had captured one of the vovoides that betrayed the Dacian to Noriz and Basilio, one of Noriz' own legion.
He looks at the four assassins gathered before him in the Turkish embassy within Constantinople.
"I want Basilio of Sophia dead. This is your payment, an elder of the Transylvanian holds".
A Cainite that Anton recognizes as Fariq speaks up - "I'll take it. Never liked him anyway."
Anton looks at the young killer, then let's his hand drop to his sword.
The handsome man with the kind eyes who Anton recognizes as Husayn follows the motion, as does the Shabbah. The other two - Fariq and an unknown, do not.
In an instant Anton's blade flashes out and he cuts down Fariq and the other younger assassin. Husayn and the Shabbah drop into defensive stances and fall back as Anton begins a terrifying series of attacks. He notes the Shabbah begin to falter, but Husayn keeps step with him. In a motion as casual as swatting aside a fly, Anton slides his blade under the Shabbah's guard and rips it savagely upward, knocking her sword aside and nearly decapitating her, leaving her head hanging by a sliver of flesh alone.
Husayn takes Anton's measure once more, then disappears. Anton senses him reappearing at his back and spins around, sword moving to catch Husayn's before it could strike him - only to find that the Assamite has begun to bleed a terrible acidic mist that burns and melts through Antln's very skin. Anton pushes himself off the ground and stabs at Husayn's chest but the Assamite moves around the blow and strikes quickly, breaking Anton's swordhand and then his spine. Anton falls to the ground, supporting himself with his good hand.
"You. You will take the contract."
Husayn looks at him, incredulous.
"He crushed me like a bug. He would have torn those other three apart. You will take the contract. Take your payment."
Husayn gives Anton a long look then.
"He must have done much to earn this anger you feel towards him, Basilio."
"All of that and more."
---
Anton wakes to a terrible pain suffusing his body. Obsidian spears hold him down, and all of his joints have been fused together. Basilio stands over him, in the same terrifying battle regalia he had used when fighting Gabor and killing the Dacian.
A hungry shade made physically manifest into the shape of a 9-foot tall wraithly-knight holding a massive, wicked two-handed axe stands over Anton.
"Anton, is that you?"
Basilio's voice has never been more menacing.
-
Anton looks up at Basilio.
"What are you doing here?" Anton asks, turning his head trying to find Basilio, he then remembers.
"Brother Joseph. His heart needs to be put back to place."
-
"This is no time for willful ignorance! Answer me, am I speaking to Anton, or to Gabor?"
-
"It's me, of course. Anton." Anton replies, indignation in his tone
-
Basilio looks ahead, behind Anton then. Relief visibly fills his face.
"Thank you Eken, once again you prove yourself invaluable."
Basilio snaps his fingers and the spears pinning Anton to the ground dissipate.
"Do you have enough blood for healing? I'm afraid Gabor damaged your body rather horribly, but since you killed him you should be able to heal your wounds. Oh, and you might want to hide your face, most of it appears to be gone. Frankly, I barely understood what you were saying just now. Did you mention Joseph?"
Right about then, Antkn hears a door slam open, followed by Maleki walking in, seemingly alone.
"Basilio, I come under the authority of Michael to place Anton under temporary arrest."
The room goes silent.
"What?"
"You heard me. Anton has to be judged for the willful murder and diablerie of Gabor, who was under Michael's protection. I am to bring him to Michael for judgment."
Basilio flares up at that, "What the hell do you think you're doing Maleki?!"
"I am doing the task assigned to me," Malachite answers back.
"Your assigned task? Fark your assigned task! We all know that Michael's been nothing but a figurehead since the Dracon left, he's gone Farking insane, you've been running this city for years in his name! If you do this you don't get to lay the blame at Michael's feet!"
As Basilio speaks his shadows flare and the manifested Hungry shade shifts restlessly, it's massive armoured body creaking and grinding against itself.
Maleki responds calmly.
"Basilio, I bear you no ill will. I do not want to fight you, and the Lord knows I would not wish your shadows or Eken over there on my worst enemy. But I will do the task assigned to me."
Then, in a quieter tone, "even if I have to die trying".
The tension in the burning remains of Gabor's mansion is so thick it could be used to put out the fire. Things look like they're about to turn very ugly, very fast.
-
Anton tries to heal his face, mainly to speak.
"Gabor removed Joseph's heart. It needs to put back."
"And it is fine, Basilio. I wish to speak to Michael in any case."
-
Anton can just barely regenerate a small piece of his tongue. Going through Gabor's memories he finds that it takes an extended amount of time to heal fleshcrafting wounds.
Seemingly not caring even the slightest bit about Joseph, Basilio immediately replies - "Anton, do you know what the punishment for diablerie is? It's death by sunlight. It's always death by sunlight. Everywhere. If you see Michael, you are going to die. I am not letting you get killed like a damn fool!"
-
"Basilio, it is a game Malachite must play. If what you say is true, then I have nothing to fear with your protection. I want to see Michael." Anton says, adamant.
-
"You'll never see Michael!" Basilio hisses through his teeth.
"Michael is gone, Michael is mad, Michael is dead, take your goddamned pick! No one but his servants have seen him in decades and all we know is that he believes he's the archangel Michael himself! Maleki does it all, he rules Constantinople now."
Seeing Anton's obstinacy, Basilio steps back.
"I would have never granted you freedom if I knew this was what you would do with it."
-
"Then we have nothing to fear from Malakei's judgement." Anton retorts.
-
"You've learnt nothing Anton," Basilio says, a dark glimmer in his eye.
Nonetheless, he turns, and motions for Eken to follow. As he passes by Maleki, the tension reaches its peak. Maleki stands perfectly still as Basilio passes him by, and doesn't say a word. A cloud of darkness coming off Basilio edges towards and around the nosferatu, Basilio's lips move silently, and Michael's Chosen stiffens.
When they are gone, Maleki relaxes.
"Your sire is one scary bastard. When he gets into a mood like that... ha, reminds me of the Dacian. He was a lot less scary before he went off to Transylvania, you know that? I swear sometimes that that country killed off what was left of the happiness in him. Anyway, come here, look into my eyes, don't resist."
-
"You could have picked a better time, Malachite. Or Malakei, I suppose." Anton replies, looking at the nosferatu
-
The next few seconds are a blur for Anton. When all is said and done, Anton no longer remembers Eken's involvement in his recovery, and rather remembers Michael's voice, a bright light and a soothing hand being laid down upon his soul.
When he regains consciousness, he is at the pier (unharmed) with Maleki, near the Dark Queen.
"This is where I leave you. May the winds fare you well Anton."
-
Anton nods.
"Send my thanks to the Patriach, Malakei." Anton says, heading onto the Dark Queen. He needs to check on Brother Joseph and Basilio.
-
Eken greets Anton at the ship. Anton feels the strange need to thank Eken for something, but he can't quite think of why.
The large black ghoul sits idly by the gangplank, sipping something from a mug.
"Still alive I see?"
-
Anton nods.
"Yes. Was the monk brought on board?"
-
Eken shrugs, "What was left of him. Basilio was going to let him burn but I pointed out that Joseph had been embraced, he put two and two together."
-
"I appreciate that, Eken." Anton says. "Where would he be?"
-
"In the hold. Basilio's in his quarters, beyond pissed."
-
"In the hold. Basilio's in his quarters, beyond pissed."
"He was wrong about the dialberie, Eken. I feel very little change, except in strength. It... grants a different feel for the word. I see more now."
"I can not understand his anger."
-
"He thought you were going to die. In fact, you should have died, Gabor is a swordsman of great renown and his skill with the blade surpasses most."
"The soul is always weak in the first few days after diablerie. Gabor has not adjusted to his surroundings yet. You will get to know him very well indeed soon enough."
-
"Yes, brother Joseph helped in that regard immensely." Anton says.
"I suspect that Gabor will find my will tougher to harm the longer he stays, as well, Eken."
-
Eken simply shrugs.
-
Anton nods, and heads on further into the ship. He'll head to the monk's chambers.
-
In the ships dark, rather foreboding hold, Anton moves to the medical room - where Joseph is sprawled out, his mangled body covered by a blanket. The room smells of blood, which Anton deduces comes from the heated pitcher by Joseph's bedside.
"Why did you do it?" He asks, his voice coming out as a weak, gurgling wheeze.
It seems Joseph has recovered enough to speak, if not move.
-
Anton sits down, silent for a moment.
"I needed you." He says quietly.
-
Joseph doesn't say anything for a while.
"Did she survive?"
-
"She?" Anton asks.
-
"There was a girl... she was young... struggling... they brought her in for him. I followed."
Anton notes the sinking of Joseph's posture as he realizes the girl probably died.
-
Anton shakes his head.
"I didn't see her."
"Gabor will not be able to ruin the Kine any longer, brother."
-
Joseph doesn't say anything for a while then.
"I... I do not think I can find it in my heart to forgive you for this."
-
"I will never ask for it." Anton replies. "There is nothing worse then what I have done to you. But I needed you."
"I, we, have work to do, brother. Much of it."
-
"You needed me," Joseph says.
"You don't anymore. Let me die."
-
"You needed me," Joseph says.
"You don't anymore. Let me die."
"Joseph, I didn't bring you here just to eliminate a vampire. I need you to help me bring forth the Lord's kingdom. I can not do it by myself."
-
Joseph struggles upright - what must be a terrifyingly painful effort given his condition - and he grabs Anton's hand, his grip weak as a kitten's.
"I should know better... I know you, I know how cold your heart is... but I beg you. Please, I beg you Anton. Don't do this. Not to me. Not now."
Something within Anton resonates with Joseph.
I was a most hated enemy, and you damned me in the worst possible way. I thought you did it because you hated me... but no, you're going to do it to your closest friend too, aren't you? You're doing to him what would hurt him most.
I thought Basilio was a demon. I wonder if he knows what he's raised.
-
"I don't do this because I wish to. I do this because I must." Anton says, forlorn, in reply to both.
-
Blood tears flow down Joseph's solid features, crystalline in Anton's Darksight.
"I did not deserve this."
He grips Anton's arm slightly harder.
"I did not deserve this," he whispers a second time.
But neither did you. Is that it? Is that why you are so cruel? God hurt you, so you hurt the world?
What arrogance.
-
"I know, brother. I know." Anton says softly.
I do not hurt the world, Gabor. I heal it's wounds. For god.
-
Joseph lets go of Anton, and slumps back into the bed. It seems he has nothing more to say. Perhaps not for a long time.
-
Anton nods, and heads over to Basilio.
-
On entering Basilio's quarters, Anton is greeted coldly by his sire.
"I see you are still alive. It's a shame, you so clearly want to die, yet death seems to elude you."
-
On entering Basilio's quarters, Anton is greeted coldly by his sire.
"I see you are still alive. It's a shame, you so clearly want to die, yet death seems to elude you."
"I had no intention of dying, Basilio."
-
"I didn't know you'd become so well-versed in deception. Can't be one of Gabor's traits, the man was insufferably honourable, if a twisted sort of honour."
He calls ME twisted? This... this murderer would mock me IN DEATH?
Anton's hand twitches and darkness coalesces into a blade in his hand.
Gabor's fury sends fire through his veins. Normally Anton would have an easier time resisting but... somehow, his beast just feels stronger. As if it's receiving assistance from something else. Or someone.
Words that are not his erupt from his mouth in a terrible scream.
"I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU BASILIO!"
In a terrible effort of will Anton opens his hand and drops his conjured blade. He forces Gabor back down but the effort leaves him on his knees, struggling from the pain of bending his fused joints.
Basilio doesn't say a word.
-
"Er, uh..." Anton says, clearly embarassed by the display.
-
"It's only going to get worse you know."
Gabor is repeating a mantra in Anton's head - nothing but the phrase "Iwillkillyou" again and again and again and again.
-
Anton nods.
"Eken has told me. I'll control him. I know control."
-
Basilio lunges towards Anton, a hand seizing him by the neck and slamming him against the wall of the cabin - as he does this wings sprout from his back, his flesh turns black, his eyes turn red. Death and power flow off him in a wave, and the boards beneath his feet darken in his presence. His teeth remain a brilliant white that stands out starkly against his now all-black body.
"You know nothing".
Basilio's voice carries with it more power than any scream or command could have.
"You know nothing of control, of dominance, of destruction. Basilio lets Anton go and he falls to the ground - collapsing, unable to keep himself upright for his wounds. A tendril summoned from nowhere snaps Anton's head up.
"You are blind"
Anton's vision - darksight and all - is gone.
"You are deaf"
Anton's hearing goes as well.
You cannot move
At Basilio's mental command Anton's mutilated muscles go slack, and he finds himself no longer able to move.
This is dominance Anton. You are weak. Your will is weak. It's why you turned Joseph. It's why Gabor will destroy you.
Gabor's voice joins in then,
Oh, he searches for me now. He wants to find me. Perhaps he can weaken me if he does so - I wonder what he'll have to break inside of you if I hide myself well enough? He uses the Dacian's power to search your mind, do you know that Anton? A terrible risk for him.
-
Anger, something rare to Anton, swells up.
"No, I do not have such failings. I am stronger then what you give me credit for. I killed Gabor in the flesh. I overcame his soul and his beast. Can you not beleive that I will defeat him once more?"
-
I don't believe you beat him the first time!
How do you not yet understand? He LET YOU KILL HIM!
-
What? Why?
-
A closed room, locked, solid, impenetrable.
A mental fantasm created by Basilio.
"He cannot hear us here. He has full control of your body right now, it's why I disabled you.
How could I raise such an arrogant childe? Gabor is centuries your elder, did you really believe you overcame him through sheer strength of will? He could have crushed you like an insect, from the moment you started fighting to the end. I didn't think of it till that temper tantrum, but it's obvious now.
He knew his days were numbered. He didn't have the strength to kill me then, certainly not now that i've struck a balance with the Dacian. He could have killed you but then i'd have just killed him in turn, nothing truly lost to me. But no, he didn't do that did he? He fought you, made every pretense to make the fight seem legitimate. He held back every step of the way, I promise you. Then he fought you again, in your mind, and again he let you win. Gabor's fury, his implacable strength of will, his stubborness - do you really think you could beat that? Of my two childer you are the weaker willed one, and even Kiril wouldn't have lasted a second against the fury that Gabor could unleash on him.
Gabor wants to use you. He let go of himself just now, his temper is legendary, but he revealed his hand. He wants to stay within you, learn what he can of me, and one day he will seize your body and use his mastery of the blade and your mastery over darkness to try and kill me once more. All gambled on the idea that I won't kill you because you're my childe."
-
OOC: shitsnacks ha ha
Anton stays silent.
That's...
I understand, Basilio. Anton says, resigned.
-
"It's a brilliant scheme. It's been made all the more infuriating by the fact that he is right.
There are counter measures that can be taken, but they must be taken right away. I'm going to show you how to fly, then i'm going to throw you into the Abyss. Boukephos is waiting for you in Kronstatd. I am unable to lock Gabor down without destroying your mind, but Boukephos might be able to weaken him for a time. I hope, at least.
It is called Wings of the Fallen, it harnesses the power of the most dangerous abyssal entities."
-
Anton nods.
"I appreciate this, Basilio."
-
Anton jerks up as his vision, sight and hearing are restored to him, afrer a brief conflict of wills with Anton where he is sent retreating.
Another ruse?
He was protecting you! For a second I thought he would keep your consciousness alive and destroy everything else on your mind. Perhaps he didn't seem the risk worthy, or he was unable.
But now, where are we?"
Looking around, Anton cannot help but smile in warm relief.
The Abyss.
-
"The Abyss, Gabor."
Anton then begins the ritual to summon his dread wings. He needs to find boukephos.
-
Anton finds that he needs not summon darkness here, in this realm from where he draws his greatest power. Rather, it simply comes to him, coalescing on his person at the slightest whim. It is with ease that he commands the Abyss - but it is with unease that he notes the presence of... others. He can feel it, he is not alone here, there are other things that dwell in the depths of God's Prison.
He runs through the ritual that Basilio gave him, and he closes his eyes. Shades of large, powerful wings form on his back, and the shrouds give them substance. Then, on some impulse, he reaches out towards one of those unseen things in the shadows, and he plucks.
The wings on his back turn real as something's outraged scream shakes the Abyss. The darkness around the Lasombra grows excited, even as Anton feels the power of whatever being he robbed just now envelop him.
The ashen knight leaps into the air and flaps his wings. He goes soaring through the abyss, and in his darksight, he flies through a sky that glows as brighter than the sun on its hottest day, a sky filled with the glorious promise of the Lord.
He even feels Gabor settling in contentedly in the recesses of his mind during the idyllic flight.
-
Anton shakes away the bliss of the Abyss. He needs to find Boukephos, which means reaching his city.
Anton looks to the other fallen. Perhaps that is how he must find them.
-
Anton senses an infinite number of the beings in the darkness, each stirring at his presence. Only one actively seeks him out, a furious power coming off it - he surmises it is the one whose broken wings he stole.
-
All of a sudden, it feels like something grabs a hold of Anton, stopping him midflight. He struggles briefly, only to explode out into the chill night air over Castle Kronstadt, high over the city of the same name. Disoriented, he briefly loses control of his wings and starts to plummet to the ground - but he quickly gathers his senses and spreads out his ephemeral dark feathered wings and catches himself before he can hit the ground, the momentum from his fall carrying into an increasingly fast horizontal glide that ends up spending him back into the air.
-
Regaining his balance, Anton quickly flies down to the Church, his haven. He doesnt really know how to call for Boukephos, but either Disidrio will know, or Boukephos will sense him here.
-
Anton lands atop the church Steeple, and is unwittingly reminded of Steepleton. What is the mad mage up to nowadays?
He makes his way down and is almost about to open the church doors, when it occurs to him that whichever of his priests is handling the church right now might not react so kindly to his current demeanour.
-
OOC: man I was so confuse when you wrotw steeple, ha ha.
Anton wills away the wings, letting them dissapate backninto the shadows, as he heads inside.
-
Right as he lays a hand on the church door, he hears a snort and a shuffle - Fantoma, his most loyal and invisible steed! He hasn't seen or heard her in ages, what could possibly be causing her to stir now? The sound seems to come from the church's stables.
-
Anton furrows his brow. His horse is insanely ignorable. It must take something inordinately perceptive to even know to bother her.
Anton heads to the stables, preparing to draw out his beast to speak to the Horse should it ne meccesary.
-
On entering the stables, Anton sees a short man wearing a plain robe, his head shaved bare, pale olive skin.. He gently strokes Fantoma's mane and the ghoul horse shifts again, nuzzling the man affectionately. Anton is astonished - while he hasn't seen her in a very long time, Fantoma was never affectionate to strangers, and tended to terrify them.
-
"She's a good horse." He says, looking to the man. He's clearly a kindred or a ghoul, but he does not seem to be one of the Black Cross.
-
"She is, if a vicious one. It's a shame you spend so little time with it."
Fantoma snorts affirmatively. The man seems to be unfazed by Anton's intimidating nature.
-
"She was a gift from my sire. For some seemingly supernatural reason, I fail to keep her in mind, like I had then." Anton replies.
"There are others who I also seem to be unable to remember. Would you please remind me of your identity?"
-
Boukephos raises an eyebrow, turning to look at Anton for the first time he can remember.
"Should I be insulted my own great-great grandchilde does not remember me?"
-
Anton internally breathes a sigh of relief. If it wasn't boukephos, then it'd probably be an assasimite assasin.
"I apologize, Lord Boukephos, but your appearance seemed blocked from my mind. It is good to have the honor of seeing you once more."
-
Boukephos makes a dismissive gesture, "Don't be ridiculous, i'm your blood, not your Lord."
-
Anton nods.
"It's a term of respect, Boukephos, but of course."
"Have you enjoyed Kronstadt (close enough?)? I was proud that you decided to stay here."
-
Boukephos shakes his head, "It is a term of subjugation. Respect is wordless. It has been a stay like any other, Jurgen's knights in that Teutonic Hold keep trying to send little spies into this church to find out what has happened to you, do you know that? I've even taken your guise and negotiated in your place for them several times. They are unsettled by something - nay, excited would perhaps be a better descriptor."
-
"Really?" Anton asks, astonished. It's only been a month. "I am thankful, of course, though I thought Desidrio was taking charge here." Anton says.
"Yes, Basilio told me that Jurgen shall be invading Transylvania in a century or so. It seems off that they'd be already excited for that, however." Anton states.
Anton doesnt even bother to wonder how Boukephos could take his form. The elder is of immense power probably. Having a few levels of obfuscate would not be difficult for him.
-
"It is not my concern," Boukephos shrugs.
"Simply something I noticed. They have offered their knights to help guard the city walls in case of danger in an attempt to covertly seize control of your military capabilities, you told them you would think about it."
-
Anton nods.
"I'll have to arrange a meeting with Lucita soon, I suppose." Anton states.
"May I ask you a question, Boukephos? Before we get to what brought me here?"
-
"Anything"
-
"You clearly beleive differently from me as to the purpose of us, the cursed."
"The Lord has cursed us for a reason, clearly. The Heresy claim it's a blessing. Basilio beleives it to be no different then the mortal goal. What do you see it as?"
-
"Our condition? It is a byproduct of the curse given Caine by God. Caine grew lonely in his eternal exile and sought to create eternal companions and loved ones with whom to spend the rest of his unendable existence with. Those friends and lovers grew lonely in turn and created their own children from those they loved and cherished and respected the most as mortals. Those children fought amongst each other and grew hungry for power, and they created their own brood in turn and slew their fathers and mothers with the help of those children. Our father, Lasombra, was among them, though I was not alive when he did his wicked deed - for our father never made a single childe who he deemed worth keeping until Montano, and thereafter myself and Gratiano, and some few others. Caine was furious at the death of his children, and he smote each of his traitorous grandchilder with a terrible curse that can be felt through the blood to this day.
You wish to know what I think about our curse, Anton? It isn't God who cursed us. God cursed Caine. Then Caine cursed his lover, and his friend, to heal his heart. Then they cursed our founders, to heal their hearts. Then those founders cursed me, to further their ambitions. I cursed my children out of respect, and a desire to see them not die. My children embraced for a variety of reasons. Basilio embraced you out of pragmatism, and came to find love. That is what the curse is, not some directive of the Lord, but a product of our weakness. Something that was given to you by your sire and your sire alone, for selfish reasons - yes, even the curse I passed on myself. That same power, to curse someone to your own fate - it lies in your hands as well.
But you should know that, shouldn't you? You embraced Joseph for the most selfish reason of all, the same reason Caine first passed on his curse."
A pause then, "Forgive me, I shouldn't have intruded. Your guilt lies close to the surface of your mind."
-
"Do not apologize." Anton says, shaking his head. "I know my failings, it does not hurt to hear them."
"But thank you, for that. It is... something to think about. I would love to discuss this further, but... The time is late. Sunrise is in but a short while." Anton says. He is then silent for a moment.
"I am here, of course, to ask you for assistance with the soul of Gabor. I do not want to be the cause of my sire's death, Boukephos."
-
A pause then, "Have you spoken to Basilio about his Diablerie of the Dacian?"
-
"Yes." Anton replies silently, knowing to what Boukephos is referring too. The methuselah did not think well of dialblerie, at all.
-
"Then you know that he and his sire came to me, and they begged me to save him."
-
Anton nods.
"Yes, and I know you refused him." Anton says. "But I am not asking for my own sake, at least not wholly for it. Replace his control with something worse if you feel the need, Boukephos. I will not be the killer of one of my blood. Not my children, not my sires."
-
"But you have already done that, don't you see? By your refusal to see Kiril's blasphemy, you do nothing to prevent Basilio's future rage. By your refusal to see your own blasphemy, you damn Joseph. By your refusal to see your weakness, you damn yourself and you let Gabor own you. You've already killed your blood, you've already killed the soul in your children, would you ask me to go back in time and change your decision? Such is not within my powers.
Or no, I shall stop feigning the fool - you ask me to excise Gabor from your soul, yes? To chain his influence? I will not do that. Basilio asked the same, he told me the Dacian would kill everyone he loved once he seized control, and I told him that I knew, and that was his burden to bear. I do the same to you.
Understand that I did not know Basilio would reconcile with the Dacian as he did. I thought he would go mad and have to be put down. His recovery was miraculous. This is the punishment for the greatest crime we are able to commit, Anton. It is kind compared to the punishment Caine doled out to his most beloved grandchilder."
-
"Caine did not punish his grand-childer for killing his beloved's enemies. He punished them for rebelling against those who cherished them. And even to them, he did not make them destroy themselves. Lasombra could not see his own reflection. He was not cursed to kill those he cared about."
"I did not kill Basilio, I destroyed his foe. I was foolish in thinking I could control him, yes. But it is no way comparable to the betrayal of our sire."
-
"But you did not destroy your foe, did you? You gave him safe haven within yourself. It is your responsibility to deal with this, Anton. If you are too weak to handle the punishment for your crime, then you do not deserve to be Lasombra."
-
"I do not see why it is a crime, Boukephos."
-
"It is the most evil thing any being can do to another. It is cruelty and evil on a scale that I cannot condone. It comes with a well-known price, and seeking out others to save you from your own weakness is a sign of unworthiness."
-
"Then at the very least, I destroyed my sire's foe." Anton says, and then pauses.
"If so, Boukephos, then I will not countinue to ask for you to cure me. I ask for your advice. Tell me the how, then perhaps I shall acomplish it. Is this too much to ask for?"
-
"That," Boukephos says, "Is between you and the man whose soul you tried to destroy."
-
"You will not assist me in this at all then?" Anton asks.
-
"It is because of our shared blood that I do not destroy you," Boukephos says in answer.
-
"It is because of our shared blood that I do not destroy you," Boukephos says in answer.
"It is because of our shared blood that I ask of you this. Why Basilio sent me here."
"But I understand. Thank you for acting in my stead while I was away, Boukephos."
-
"Yes," Boukephos replies.
-
End Sidequest