Post: #1

Simon arrived back at Drakenhof in a foul mood dismounting from Daredevil he strode to the throneroom ignoring the wight guards. Approached by Lucius and Akarin he stopped "I hope you have better news than I have gentlemen!" he spat "I assume that the attempt to rescue lord Cromwell failed my lord?" replied Akarin "and you'd be right Akarin. Mostly due to the antics of those fools who refuse to see the big picture and would place themselves against me and my attempts to bring a little order to this world. Many of them are plotting now." Akarin grinned "Do you want me to dispose of them when they come back?" Simon smiled at the idea "not yet I may still need them." he said "place Sylvania on a war footing. Nagash's lackey are loose out there I doubt they'll come here as they don't have the power to beat me here unless Nagash himself comes." Akarin nodded and left the room. "My lord while you were away we captured an intruder in the grounds." announced Lucius "he seems to be a magic user of some sort. I've had him locked up until you could question him yourself." "Good show Lucius. Bring this intruder up to me now and bring your branding irons just in case."

Post: #2

The air was oppressive in its stillness. The heavy pall of black magic played along the senses, repulsing the soul. Two wolves stalked, hidden by the darkness, shrouded by the magic which permeated the lands, chilled the soul, and resonated through their bones. They were massive beasts, their ancestors having been corrupted by the vile magic that clung to the soil like a fetid rot, a cancer which engorged itself upon the fear and despair of the living, waxing in power and damning those that dare impugn upon its presence by warping their bodies, minds, and worst of all, their souls. But these wolves were not of the living. Far from being cowed by the powers which coursed through thrice accursed Sylvannia, they were animated, invigorated, saturated by the morass of inexplicable evil wrought of the black magic. Their gait was steady, as sure as it had been in life it was now in undeath. They too prowled the lands as their ancestors had done, hunting not for the carnal impetus of hunger and starvation which drove their living brethren, but for the dark designs of their masters.

They sniffed the air in a perverted parody of the living. Their pray was close. He did not carry the same pall, the same taint as the lands of their birth. Their was something inherently wrong with the creature which had eluded them thus far. The creature was infused with light, not uncommon within the foolish peasants or valiant witch hunters which dared soil the lands of the great Von Carstein’s with their unworthy presence. But more so then the others, the light burned sharply, the likes of which would be found in an zealous priest, staunch of faith and unyielding in their trust and piety to their god. Such an individual would be dangerous walking the lands of the undead, such faith, such purity was the bane of those who courted with the powers of darkness. But it was not the light of the creature’s soul which intrigued the lupine beasts, it was the insidious darkness which the light harbored. Wreathed, interwoven within the pillar of light were cancers, tumors of darkness. Such was the extent to which they infested the pillar of light, one questioned whether the light had emerged from the darkness or the darkness had spawned from the light.

Some of these cancers called to the darkness of the surroundings, speaking in hushed tones to the ambient black magic, flirting with the spirits of the damned, seducing the frivolous magiks which coursed through the air. Others were darker still, greedily sucking at the light, a parasite seeking to leach its host of its strength. Some were lighter, possessed of shadow aura, not truly evil but self seeking, concerned with their own goals above all else. And then there were those which were clutched closest to the heart of the pillar of light, they were pitch black, voids which even the other cancers recoiled from.

The wolves glanced about with sightless eyes, witch lights burning in their empty sockets before padding off in search of their enigmatic prey.
------------------

He held his breath as the undead wolves passed, wisps of shadows in the virulent night. The Green Witch cast her baleful gaze down upon the blighted lands, the black magic which saturated the earth rousing to her call. The repugnant energies clung to him, clawing it his being, raking his soul with ethereal, icy talons, gouging out his hope and drowning him in despair. He would not relent. He would delve into the light which burned brightest in the deepest darkness, hope, joy, the fruits of the human soul.

A malicious, triumph laced howl sounded in the darkness, slicing through the night sky with malignant purpose. The leaves rustled.

“You should not get your hopes up.”
--------------------------------------

Their prey was close. Oh so very close. The flickering light of his soul which had eluded their preternatural senses, had blazed brightly, a gleaming torchlight in the pall of darkness which lay heavily across the lands. The lupine beasts disposed of all stealth, the hunt was in full swing and it was only a matter of time.
------------------------------------

A pitch black feline sauntered through the psychologically oppressive foliage, the decaying leaves causing the skin to crawl. The cat seemed to not have gotten the memo informing him that gravity was in effect, as he simply began to levitate off of the ground, inverting himself and gazing intently into the young man’s eyes.

“You’ve let the cat out of the bag.”

For all of his poorly timed puns, the obnoxious feline was correct, and he did not have much time to finagle a way out of the situation.

I don’t suppose that you can be of any assistance.

“Now, now interfering wouldn’t be any fun. As far as you’re concerned I’m just along for the ride.”

The foliage burst apart to admit a slavering, lupine beast who gave a fiendish howl, his eyes gleaming with sadistic glee.

Post: #3

Deciding to seize her opportunity to speak with Simon in relative privacy before the rest of the council would arrive at Drakenhof, Helena once again solidified inside the throne room, her champion Andreasse at her side along with several skeletal spectre-warriors. This was not a threatening gesture though, as the spirits brandished no armaments.

After greeting her host, Helena bowed her head slightly forwards and said with a hint of an apologetic tone,
-"Lord Simon, I am afraid that I arrived too late to help turn the tide against the forces of Nagash. My direct intervention would not have saved the Violet Citadel nor it's master, Vekarin. Instead I wielded protective magic to ward yourself and the rest of the council to the best of my abilities, in order for us to regroup here relatively unscathed."

Changing her tone of voice to a more darker one, she again fixed her eyes on the vampire lord and continued, inevitably revealing that she had heard what he had said to his subordinates,
-"But please, do not think of me as your enemy. To bring order into the world is what I aspire to do, like yourself. However, we are creatures born out of the unnatural darkness. I cannot see how our kind could ever install true order and harmony to this existence. By wielding our powers, whatever our intentions may be, we spread the stuff of darkness, death and despair. These will lead to terror... to anarchy... which in turn will open another door for the greater evils of the world to enter from. Be careful with how you would go about achieving your goals, lest your perceived order turns into Chaos."

Helena ended her little speech with another respectful bow.

Post: #4

Simon listened to what Helena had to say and finally spoke "Helena despite our differences I do not regard you as an enemy. Being a friend of Lesa makes you my ally. However I do not agree with you that we are creatures of darkness. We are humans as we are meant to be and when I'm finished we will be the only Gods left controlling this world."

Post: #5

The cell emanated a foul, repugnant odor, the stench clinging to his clothing, curdling the air and permeating his mind. It was not simply the physical reek, but the virulent tang of black magic which seeped into the soul and coiled within the bones. It was nauseating, sickening, repulsive to his very being, for here, at the root, the wellspring the vile taint which hung heavy over the accursed lands of Sylvannia, he could find no reprieve from its omnipresent corruption.

Corroded manacles bound his wrists. A heavy chain ran above his head, fastened to a mighty iron spike which pierced the stone wall.

“What happened to that cheerful fellow in the woods?”

“Do not mock me.”

The heavy thuds of footfalls echoed down the corridor. A pale skinned vampire strode into view. The creature’s features were cast in aristocratic light, bellowing the vicious monster which lurked beneath such a visage.

“Who are you speaking to cur?”

When the prisoner remained silent, the vampire snarled before smiling cruelly.

“No matter, Lord Simon will loosen that tongue of yours. He wishes to see you, immediately.”

The vampire entered the cell, tearing the chain off of the spike with frivolous ease, before half leading, half dragging the prisoner out behind him.

“You see, you had nothing to worry about. Extraordinary service, they don’t like to keep their guests waiting. “
---------------

A vampire entered the throne room a chain clasped firmly in his hand, a prisoner in tow. He bowed before addressing his master.

"Milord, I have brought the intruder as you requested."

Post: #6

From the shadows stepped the eternally Grinning Silibar.
The tall vampire looked at Simon through his usual slitted eyes and give a bow
"Ah Count" he murmered in a pleasant voice.
Seeing Helena he tilted his head
"A ghost? Well hello to you ghost!"
He turned back to Simon but before he could speak another vampire entered the room with prisoner dragged behind him

Silibar stayed silent and watched with his permenant smile.

Post: #7

Mircea tossed aside the corpse of one of the servants, he wiped his lips clean of blood before he entered the throne room. anyone could see he was plainly healing from the wounds he suffered earlier, new flesh pulsing to close his wounds in his chest and throat.

''I apologize for my absence'' he said. ''However my own health was more important at the moment.''

Post: #8

"No apologies required brother." replied Simon turning to look at Lucius and the prisoner "Good work Lucius stay here. I may need your services." "I hope you can explain your presence here! Otherwise I'm going to have you tortured and killed. I've been having a few set backs and the last thing I need is loose cannons roaming around."

Post: #9

The unholy aura which clung to the flesh of the masters of undeath made his skin crawl, his psyche recoiled from the horrific beings whom he stood amidst. Despair flooded his mind, for what could he do? What reprieve was there to be found, what solace in a land so tainted by darkness?

“There exists no line between divine inspiration and sadistic compulsion, betwixt enlightenment and damnation.”

Now is hardly the time for your riddles. If you will speak, do so plainly.

“Very well. Darkness and light are simply two sides of the same coin, so are death and life.”

And how exactly is that suppose to help me?

“These same creatures which you detest, which repulse your being, may be of utmost assistance. All you need do is tread carefully, he is a Von Carstein after all.”

“Milord…”, he bowed in deference to puppet parody of life which sat before him.

“I did not mean to intrude, I simply come in deference, seeking to assist milord Von Carstein in whatever he deems appropriate. I am well versed in knowledge regarding the spawn of Chaos, daemons. I have traveled far and gleaned many of their secrets, which I may put to good use serving you”, he said in respectful, albeit anxious tones, the unholy aura of the throne room making him profoundly uncomfortable.

Post: #10

"Of course you did!" said Simon moving to his throne not even bothering to look at the prisoner. "I do so hate crawlers who have the arrogance to believe that I'm stupid enough to believe that would help me for no reason or reward." Glaring down at the prisoner he continued "I am not my uncle Konrad. I will not be fooled or manipulated by flattery so I suggest you answer the question again this time truthfully or Lucius here will have to question you himself."

Post: #11

It was hours later that the Duke and the rest of the Council finally arrived at the gates of Drakenhof. As the guards attempted to bar their path, they caught sight of Lesa and immediately drew back, no doubt under orders from Simon. The rest of the Duke's army had still not joined them, he had explained enroute they had been left behind to ensure the had travelled to the Citadel. Now deep in the territory of the Carsteins, he had found it prudent to leave them behind once more.
Dismounting the Duke ordered his men to wait, causing looks of consternation among them.
"Milord, the Carsteins cannot be trusted, they will -" Raising his hand the Duke cut them off,
"I know full well of what I walk into Leon. Do as I command." Walking to the Duke's said Lesa looked up at the massive champion,
"You have my word of your Lord's saftey. For his actions today, I promise that." The Blood Dragon looked less happy to accept the word of a Lahmian, but he nodded slightly. Unsheathing his sword, he passed it to the Duke,
"It would honour me if you took this in place of the one you lost. Just in case." Accepting it with gratitude the Duke sheathed the blade at his side before following Lesa into the great castle of Drakenhof.

*****************************

As they entered the main hall the site of a human grovelling before Simon met them.
"You shouldn't play with your food Simon," she said, a smile showing the humour behind her words. In truth she was glad to see he had survived, though as she caught sight of Mircea disappointment showed plainly in her face. He was one vampire she would have happily left to the tender care of the Dread Lords.
"Though he needs little introduction, may I present the Red Duke. I have given my word he will be welcome here, as his intervention at the Violet Citadel is the only reason why we are not dead, so to speak." Walking forward the Duke looked at Simon in the eyes.
"Count Simon von Carstein. I had thought you dead, but then that seems to be a common occurrence of our kind. I would have it known that my alliance with your predecessor was not one of common goals, but simply a means to cleanse the taint of Katrina Moulan from my line. I hold no enmity towards you, the question is do hold any for me?"

Post: #12

Simon turned to face the Duke "you can never keep a von Carstein down. My family has a habit of coming back in more ways than one. I am prepared to put all past emnity behind us in exchange for your support against Nagash."

Post: #13

You whoreson, you new very well that he react this way.

“Me? Why I’m just a meek little kitty., and didn’t your mother ever tell you not to talk to strangers?”

Your twisting tongue will be my doom.

“And your touching sincerity would be icing on the cake of damnation.”

We shall see soon enough.

“Milord, I cannot say with any degree of veracity that I do not seek something in return, but this does not diminish in any way the fact that I seek to serve you. It is not by mere happen stance that I attained such knowledge regarding the foul scions of the Dark Gods. No, I sought it out, fervently. A shaman informed me that I had been touched by creatures of malign intent, daemons. At…at times they haunt my dreams and plague my waking steps, and I have sought the knowledge which would free me from my dreadful curse. Within your company, milord, are a great many powerful scholars and adepts of the magical arts. So to does Drakenhof Castle boasts a hoard of arcane lore which rivals any in the Old World. This does not diminish in any way the usefulness I pose to one such as yourself, the esteemed Count of Sylvannia. I humbly offer you, milord, a new means, a new vector with which to expand your power, a new means with which to combat the dire threat that Nagash poses to you all”, he ended bowing respectfully to the assembled vampire lords.

“You do know that most mortals would be terrified in the presence of such mighty beings, yes?”

No sane being which walks the mortal plane can inspire such terror as the otherworlds beings which conspire just beyond my conscious mind.

Post: #14

Helena briefly introduced herself to the Red Duke and greeted her friend Lesa with a bow and a few words. Andreasse mimicked her every movement but did so in complete silence. After this, she turned towards the human captive who had just confessed to being touched by Chaos and said, with a faint smile on her features,

-"How amusing. Just before now, I shared with lord Simon my concern of the ever-watching malice that festers in the far north and mere moments later, one of their slaves appear and offer his assistance."

Post: #15

Cerberus staggered into the throne room, the unconscious vampire flung across his right shoulder, hanging limp, and the Necrarch leaning against his left shoulder for support. He slowly slid the vampire from his shoulder onto the floor before shouting to be heard by the many vampires which now clustered the throne room.

“As amusing as this is, we have many that require urgent medical assistance…”, when none of the assembled so much as twitched he hissed, his voice carrying undertones of indignation, “IMMEDIATELY!”.

Post: #16

''I see to remember you from somewhere, no matter, we will be able to help him'' Mircea said, summoning an attenant necromancer. After a few seconds a robed man entered and took the Necarch from Cerebrus's hands.

''And I as for you'' he turned to the other human. ''I would remind my brother that letting a man possessed by daemons is never a very good idea, I would kill him now quickly, beofre anythign else happens.

Post: #17

He remained unmoved, silently daring to hope. Silently wishing.

"I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you. The Dark Gods do not so easily relinquish their toys, and after all I highly doubt that those creatures within you would so readily allow your death when it could ruin so many of their convoluted machniations."

Post: #18

Listening the Simon's words the Duke nodded,
"I too do not wish the return of the Dark Lord. I will join this council." Suddenly the doors opened once more as two crimson armoured knights came in, carrying the prone body of Victarias between. Immediately Lesa rushed cover, directing them to a low divan where they laid her down.
"She is gravely hurt, but with blood she will recover. Simon, I assume you have a few spare mortals?"

As she finished speaking a pulse of magic carried through room, the taint of death stronger than any of them had felt before. With a cold feeling in her gut Lesa knew what had happened. Nagash had finally regained his crown.

Post: #19

"Possessed?" Geralt spoke unbidden, no doubt having overhead some of the coversation going on. Sweeney Todd was delayed by the wait for Mrs. Lovette and the forces under her control to arrive and regroup, and only now did he and his small retinue enter the throne chamber of Drakenhof.

Geralt hand rose as fast as lightning to behind his right shoulder where his swords were strapped like quivers of arrows to his back. He immediately unsheathed one of his blades, Moonfang carving a luminous arc through the air until it came to rest with its point to the grovelling man and its owner in the half-crouch of his combat stance. As a witcher his life was dedicated to the slaying of monstrosities, and the foul spawn of Chaos were a sizable chunk of those. He pierced the man with a stare that contained every last ounce of malice he had, for he knew that daemons in human skin were the true danger to sanity and order. The only thing stopping him from beheading the man with one swift stroke was that he knew the daemons within the man would only be released by the death of their mortal pawn.

Whispering to Mrs. Lovette Todd addressed Lesa

"Perhaps we may be of assistance?" He said, gesturing to the broken form of Victarias. Mrs Lovette began to rummage for one of her pies, but it was just then that the air suddenly pulsed with a distant but incredibly powerful surge of dark magicks. To those who knew of Nagash what had happened was unmistakeable. Todd's face twisted into an unreadable mask.

Post: #20

Dythor could hear... something... his eyes opened, but he didn't see. Where am I?!
Who are you?!
I'm Dythor.
No you're not! I'm Dythor!
Sadly, you're wrong. I'm Dythor. You're Dythor. There's another one around here somewhere. Ah, here he is.
Howdy.
There can only be one Dythor!
Well, there's three of us, now shut up, puppy.
Stop the system from breaking you, other me! Relinquish your power zero!
My what?
Don't let them take your mind.
He can't do that. He isn't strong enough.
We'll see about that, Dythor!
Dythor roared as his body jumped to life. Whatever had been going on in his mind was making him furious. He couldn't see. Blood clouded his vision, but he lashed out into the thin air, his hand impacting with what felt like a wall.
Yes! They mean to cage you! Destroy them all!
Destroy who?!
Everyone!