TVC - Chapter 44 - Nuln

[Knightofni]

Saul glared at Lesa.. she was beautiful yes, but she was still a Lahmian and as such was as arrogant and as untrustworthy as all her kind. When he spoke, his tone was not polite..

"I was not aware that this coalition was by invitation only.. too easily do you place your own concerns over those of others without cause or reason.." he gestured to Vrakian.. "this man is no lackey of a few self-satisfying whores.. I know only what I see but he is no lapdog." He glanced around at the assembled vampires with unfriendly eyes.. Saul had never been blessed with the art of rhetoric but something inside of him felt the need to speak..

"You are all so quick to see enemies in your allies.. have we not enough enemies already without imagining new ones. I was under the impression that this council was for those who would stand united against a common enemy.. not so that it could lord it's own self-importance over others."

The angry words came thick and fast, Saul was barely able to think them through.. they came from the heart rather than the head.. he looked back at Lesa..

"I brought this man to your home because, like so many of us, he found his way to the council.. by chance, by fate or by fortune; and I believe he has much cause, as much right to fight this war as any of us."

Saul stopped speaking and waited for the inevitable death-sentence..

Way to go get yourself killed...

 

[Get of W'soran]

Akarin held out his hand as if he held a glass
"Here! Here!" he said causing a few people to look at him with annoyance.

"But Saul I am sure that Mistress Cromwell means no offense, she is perhaps merely worried over the Lahmian covent, they are a bunch of sneaky ones and I would know!" he said laughing lightly.

"You where right to bring him here, now take a seat both of you, I'm sure someone will bring you both up to speed." he said pleasantly hoping that Saul's outburst wouldn't lead to the vampire's death or worst more arguments.

Then turning away he waited for someone to come up with an answer to his previous question.
Although he awaited the inevitable outburst from the council.

 

[Lord of Ravens]

Peter walked towards Saul and the newcomer, and stood by the Brettonian's side. Sensing the gathering tension in the air, he addressed the Council, "Lords and Ladies, as I see it, we are fighting a losing battle. We need every, and I mean every ally we can find. We should be appllauding Saul for finding more help, not accusing him."

Out of the corner of his mouth, he added to Saul, "Yet another one you owe me."

EDIT: Ninja'd by GoW

 

[Ghouly]

Graveclaw walked over to the newcomer leaning downwards he sniffed the air "ssssssssince when do Lhamain'sssss let Ssssssstrigoi join their Brothels" Graveclaw announced to the council. Turning back to Vrakian Graveclaw glared at the Smaller Strigoi "Where'sssss your clawssssssss runt" he growled.

 

[Gree]

‘’Oh, all sorts of things here and their’’ Serpino smiled.

‘’Thank you my friend’’ Vrakian said to Saul, nodding to him.

‘’As for you, a runt? I’m afraid I did not degenerate along with my brethren after the when Strigos fell, I did not have to drink the blood of the dead and mutate at all’’ Vrakian replied.

 

[Ghouly]

Graveclaw looked at Vrakian blankly at the mention of the unfamiliar name "Sssssssssstrigos what that?" he asked genuine confusion was on his face.

 

[Gree]

‘’You are of my bloodline, yet you know of your true homeland? Strigos is the original kingdom of the strigoi, I thought that was common knowledge, tell me how exactly old are you?’’ Vrakian asked in some confusion.

 

[Ghouly]

Graveclaw thought for a moment "Raze'kharn turned Graveclaw eight hundred and fifty yearssss ago". A savage grin crossed his face as he remembered a happy memory "Then Graveclaw ate the bassstard ssssssome sssssix hundred yearssss ago".

 

[Gree]

‘’Raze’kharn eh? I remember him, how odd of him to make new gets, he must be especially cruel then………let me tell you this my friend, the Fall of Strigos happened over two thousand years ago’’ Vrakian stated.

 

[Count Erick]

"Oh come now, do be specific." said Hati, smiling back at Serpino. "You now have me terribly interested. Surely you must have some goal or achievement you are trying to reach, or perhaps a particular area of study?"

 

[Get of W'soran]

Akarin looked at Hati speaking with Serpino raising an eyebrow
Is she Flirting with him? he thought to himself.

Turning his gaze upon the newcomer he tilted his head
A Strigoi who doesn't look like a beast? Interesting...still inferior but interesting.

Akarin sighed feeling faintly annoyed
We are never even going to get to the Palace...how long have we been in Nuln already he thought miserably.

 

[Gree]

‘’Oh, I made just that sort of speech to our friend Akarin here before you came in, my dear’’ Serpino mentioned. ‘’I am but a scientist seeking the truth of everything, in other words I reach for perfection. My desire is to find the secrets of magic, the realms of Chaos, and the understanding of the universe, as well as the Elixir of Life itself.’’

''Because of that I don't think I can really limit myself to one thing, I have all eternity to study that, being a vampire and all that, however currently I am focusing on the magical arts and technology.'' Serpino explained.

 

[Count Erick]

"Indeed, how fascinating. I suppose with all eternity stretched out before them many immortals would walk a path of knowledge. Tell me, have you made any studies in biological processes? For me at least that is a subject which I might be able to converse with you with any understanding."

 

[Gree]

‘’I’ve actually done some preliminary work on some humans and orcs, I’ve always wondered how exactly greenskins reproduced, but I had to put it off for a few centuries, right now I’ve decided to master each discipline before I move on to the next.’’ Serpino commented casually, his posture betraying nothing.

‘’Do you have biological experience in science?’’

 

[Count Erick]

"You might say that." said Hati elusively, moving closer to him and keeping her entrancing eyes locked onto his.
"Perhaps it would be better to say I have biological experience from...well, from experience. Testing and experimenting in my own way." She giggled, but then her face became quickly serious.
"You remind me in many ways of the progenitor of our race. He fancied himself a kind of scientist, trying to bend nature to his will and remold the world to his ideals, but his pet projects got a bit out of control." Hati smiled.
"Still, he was a brilliant individual. He often remarked that he had done more to remold our flesh then we could learn the mastery of in a thousand years. I've never liked not knowing things, especially when they have to do with me." she said, a burning desire thinly cloaked in her eyes. "I'd wager my body contains more wonders for you than any orc's."

 

[Gree]

Miles away, in his laboratory, Serpino grinned. This was going quite fine. Two can play at this game. Maintaining the perfect, friendly smile on his servitor-clone’ face he replied.

‘’Really?’’ Serpino asked. ‘’That sounds fascinating, I would love to share your secrets, I would also dearly like to meet your progenitor, it would be a most informative meeting, tell me my dear, is it possible to contact with him?’’ he asked

 

[Count Erick]

Hati's face became concerned.
"I'm sorry, but at this point a physical meeting with him would be impossible, and while you may be able to contact him through some magical means, I dont know what kind of reaction you would get.
Our progenitor is over four thousand years old, and imbued with the powers of Vampires and Werewolves. He is also, completely insane, and I doubt he would look kindly on someone trying to steal his secrets. He was not a very pleasant man.."

 

[Gree]

‘’Oh dear, that is quite unfortunate, for such a man to be locked away by his own insanity and have such knowledge to lost…..ah well, no use crying over spilt milk’’ Serpino gave a friendly chuckle.

 

[Count Erick]

"He is locked away by more than his insanity." said Hati with a viscous grin. "We saw to that... In any case, I am glad that I might have piqued your curiosity, I have heard that the attentions of intellectuals change with more frequency than the tide (Tzeentch being the prime example). Perhaps we could come to some kind of agreement in our mutual quest for understanding in the area of my kind?"

 

[Gree]

‘’Area of your kind? I would be delighted to learn more about your kind, I don’t think I’ve ever met a werewolf before, I would be happy to establish a communiqué with you if you wish?’’ Serpino offered politely.

 

[Trevy the Great]

Vekarin's gaze turned slowly to Vrakian as he called out Vekarin's name. It was many centuries ago that the name Vehki-Rhan was lost to time, not remembered by a world quickly growing out of the ways of ancient Lahmia. The man's face a familiar, a relic of a bygone era that pierced through the ages, holding the proud lines of that ancient city like a canvas holding an oil lacquer.
"Iiti em hotep," Vekarin began, "You are a resident of the Great City."

 

[Evanm7]

Rick tapped Vaskatchi on the back.
"Hey, deal with this. I'm no diplomat. I'll go tell Jason about our progress."
Of course, Rick had no intention of doing that yet. The Beast Within wanted blood.
With that, he speed-walked away, jumping into a alley. He flipped, grabbing a roof ledge, pulling himself up onto the rooftop. Rick whipped out the Shadow Armor, sliding it on. A few words activated it, camaflouging the skin tight fabric. Rick jumped from rooftop to rooftop, then rolled down next to a beggars bed. The Vampire knelt down, awaking the poor man. The beggar woke up promptly, feeling a hand on his shoulder. He turned around, just seeing air.

Then he felt fangs bite in his shoulder, and all went black. Rick stood up, then whispered anceit words of shadow. Tendrils of Blackness, turning into a carriage. Rick put on the Shadow Armor, the Dread scale, and whispered a ritual of the uncontrolled winds. The Shadows contained within the carriage melted, turning it into a invisibele, Etheral, carriage. He jumed in, and sent his will out driving the carriage to Lesa's palace.

******************************************************************************************
Five mintutes later.....

Rick strode in the Lahmian hall, found Jason, and told him of their progress.

 

[Gree]

‘’You are correct,’’ Vrakian replied. ‘’Do you not remember me? You once tried to have me imprisoned,’’ he reminded the Blood Dragon. ‘’It was so very long ago, but I can remember it quite clearly.’’

 

[Count Erick]

"A communiqué you say? Certainly! Tell me, have you any lodging here in this city?"

 

[Gree]

‘’It’s a rented place, 34th Main Tuetenburg’’ Serpino calmly rattled off one of his spare storage facilities, it would not do for her to discover the main lad, he was still running his experiments.

‘’It’s quite a delightful place really, I had to move around a lot in order to find something that made me feel quite snug and at home.’’