TVC - Chapter 49 - Geheimnisnacht

[Simon von Carstein]

Simon staggered to his feet "Make Graveclaw's death as slow and unpleasant as possible." he commanded as Jerek recovered and started after Graveclaw heading for the roof. Various other vampires some of them his grandgets rushed out the door to cut off the strigoi.

Simon rushed up to Lesa "You can rest now if you like I will finish up here." he said concerned

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

"Finish up?" Lesa said, head snapping round at him, "have you gone insane? Not to be blunt Simon, but if I am struggling to control these energies, they would tear you apart, even with that damn ring. I suggest you continue with the ritual and I will direct the energies. As they begin to siphon off then it will become possible for you to take over."

 

[Simon von Carstein]

"Siphon off?" said Simon looking amused "No! The energy build up is a neccessary part of it. When the ritual reaches the point of no return it will be more explosive than hundreds of kegs of gunpowder!" As they were arguing the vessel glowed a luminous green as suddenly lightning from the sky struck it. "Its already started?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" snarled Simon as crackling green energy shot across the room disintegrating everything it touched. A massive shockwave blasted upwards through the tower blowing the various vampires off their feet and hurling the mortal cultists across the room.

By some miracle Lesa was still standing holding on for dear life as power was in danger of overwhelming even her and then suddenly the power seemed to lessen. Simon clambered back to his feet "You can start to let go now." he said "the vessel is taking over your role." The vessel was continuing to glow but in flashes a strange whirring noise came from within. The energies now confined within, doing what no one could be sure. he looked up around them. The abbey had taken a lot of damage from the force of the blast and he could see the structure had been severely weakened. "Time to go! everybody out!" he cried out.

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

Lesa staggered back as the overwhelming power finally disappeared, sucked into the strange vessel that appeared to be at the heart of the ritual. She was weary beyond belief and for a moment felt as if she was going to collapse there and then. Before she could rest however the surrounding alls started to crack and fall.

Time to go! everybody out!" Simon bellowed. Shaking her head to clear the fog, Lesa felt a supporting arm wrap round her waste.
“Come on Mum,” Requrah said, “let’s get you out of here.” As she pulled her mother towards the exit, there was no disguising the look of anger Requarah casted in Simon’s direction. Seeing Lesa’s surprised expression she shrugged her shoulders,
“Typical Carstein. You risk his life, and save his damn ritual and you don’t even get a thank you. If it wasn’t for you he would have lost his chance……..” The words seemed to make sense, but there was something else that Requarah was not saying. However before Lesa could question here further, the walls of the Abbey started to come down.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Karl turned and strode swiftly away after a quick word with Akarin, the Baron and the Assassins made their way out quickly from the crumbling structure.

Akarin however made a quick gesture at Silibar and the two headed towards the Lahmians.

Reaching Lesa Akarin helped support the weakened mage.

"The Baron sent us back to assist, sadly we can not shadow travel here...not with that." he glanced back at the vessel "thing making the winds of magic so turbulent."

"Less talk, more walk boss." Silibar quipped as he leapt out of the way of falling debris.

"Yes quite." Akarin agreed as they made their way towards the exit.

 

[Knightofni]

Saul frowned in disdain, this didn't feel that well planned, if he was honest it was more like haphazard guesswork; He tried to shrug but it hurt too much so he gave up on that. Instead he swept his gaze around the room one last time, seeing the abbey's walls begin to shake violently as massive cracks filtered through the stonework.. time to go.. Saul spun around, wincing slightly, and moved towards the exit as swiftly as his battered body would allow him.

As he walked past the exhausted form of Lesa, being supported by Requarah, Akarin and another Assassin, Saul nodded tersely to the younger Lahmian; the ruined side of his face just visible under his hood of shadow.. Requarah's earlier bravery, which borderlined on dangerous stupidity, had won the Lahmian a grudging respect from Saul; a respect which conflicted with his customary dislike for her bloodline but it was refreshing to see a Lahmian who was prepared to risk her own neck.

Outside the Abbey, he found Trinity in conversation with another unknown von Carstein.. Saul's lip curled slightly in distaste, he saw no reason to become acquainted with such lowlifes but then Trinity was always more sociable than he was. He extended his hand and waited for her to take it, feeling the coolness of her skin as she did.. Saul's burgeoning anger dissipated rapidly. He was more than relieved to see that she hadn't been seriously wounded in the battle, a few shallow cuts and emerging bruises littered her visible skin but nothing worse than that.

 

[Simon von Carstein]

Simon was the last to leave slowly backing away as the vessel slowly appeared to melt into itself and glow even brighter.

Simon shielded his eyes as he became aware of a figure in the centre of the energy. Before he could get a proper look the field of energy turned opaque and began to expand outwards destroying everything in its path.

Seeing the danger Simon turned and ran as the Abbey collapsed around him.

The other vampires moved away to a safe distance as Simon leapt out and turned as the expanding field of energy swallowed up what remained of the Abbey.
.................................................................................................
Meanwhile in Altdorf clouds of smoke wafted above the city as hordes of zombies moved through the streets eyes glowing as they hunted for fresh prey. The young couple watched shaking with fear from an alleyway. "Shhhhhhhhhhh!" said the young man patting the young woman on the shoulder "I think we're alright for now they're moving away towards the palace." The young woman continued to shake "I don't understand why......... are...... they...... rising.... up..... like..... this?" The young man pointed up to the sky "Its that blasted moon you can bet that has something to do with it!" he said clenching his fist "This is the night of Geheimnisnacht what better time?!" he stepped back to avoid a rat which fled away from the crowded streets "even the rats are running. he commented as another rat appeared followed by others and then even more until they surrounded the pair.

The eyes of the rats gleamed and then on mass they threw themselves at the man and woman clawing and biting. "NO GET OFF!!!!!!" the man cried out pulling at them but for every one he dragged off another three latched on. The young woman screamed for the last time as they were both overcome.

High above the clouds of smoke lingering over the city. The Moon of Morrslieb shone down malevolently.
.................................................................................................
At the ruins of the Red Abbey Simon laughed triumphantly "DO YOU SEE?!!! NOTHING CAN STOP THE RESURRECTION!!!!! NOTHING AND NO ONE!!!!!!!!!!!! AND ONCE NAGASH IS OUT OF THE PICTURE THE VON CARSTEINS WILL DOMINATE THE WORLD. ALL WHO OPPOSE US WILL PERISH LIKE DRY LEAVES IN A HOT WIND!!!! CHAOS, ORCS, ELVES, DWARVES AND MUTATIONS!!! ALL WILL BE DESTROYED UNTIL THERE ARE ONLY HUMANS LEFT BOWING AT OUR FEET LIKE ALL GOOD VASSALS SHOULD!!!!!!!!!"

From the field of energy came a cry, a scream of something being reborn.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Karl was standing near Saul when the scream emitted from the energy field, he took half a step forward appearing hesitant.

"Father?" he said softly as he waited to see what would happen.

A few feet away Akarin left Lesa with her daughter and strode a few steps forward a faint smile on his lips as he stared ahead.

"The true master...the one count comes." he whispered.
Only Silibar heard the Assassin speak and he lost his usual grin for a moment frowning in expectation.

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

As Lesa listened to Simon's rant, she knew her worse fears were likely to come true. Simon was mad with power, and no doubt his newly ressurrected master would the same.

Not if I can help it she thought darkly. She had already done enough damage to this world, if only the Council knew the truth. Once Vashanesh and his followers had helped destroyed Nagash, if that was even possible, then somehow, someway, she would stop the Carsteins from destroyed what was left.

"What do we do now?" Requarah whispered to Lesa. Thinking for a moment Lesa finally shrugged her shoulders, moving over to sit down on a broken piece of rock,
"Watch and wait I suppose. I wouldn't try and get between the Carsteins and Vashanesh. No doubt they will be fawning over him for a while."

 

[Simon von Carstein]

Simon watched with glee as the great field of energy slowly started to implode leaving scorched earth in its wake. There was almost nothing left of the Red Abbey.

As the energy slowly died down the assorted vampires could see a figure standing in the centre of the destruction.

THEN came a great flash of light so bright that for a second it appeared to be daytime.

As the darkness returned the vampires looked to the hauntingly handsome being standing there. For the first time in history a master vampire had returned from the great beyond.

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

Lesa waited...........and waited.......and waited for someone to actually say something. The Carsteins seemed be in awe of the figure who now stood there. Finally she could wait no longer,

"Is anyone going to actually greet your Master, or do you plan to stand and stare for the rest of the night?"

 

[Get of W'soran]

Akarin sneered slightly at the Lahmian's voice but it was not his place to speak in the presence of the Count unless addressed.

Meanwhile Karl raised an eyebrow at Lesa.

"Now, now Mi'Lady be patient, allow us to enjoy our moment." he murmered pleasantly before turning his head slightly to see Emilie walking towards him.

As the Baroness siezed his arm she stared ahead at the figure and hissed
"It worked!"

Karl nodded.
"Quite, I had thought to allow him the first word being the Count but perhaps the manners of court are to be abandoned...he is no doubt feeling somewhat shocked."

The Baron suddenly grimaced.
"And he probably doesn't know about Isabella."

Striding forward swiftly Karl felt his lips pull into a smile at the sight of Vlad.

"Father." he said warmly giving a formal bow "Welcome back to the world of the living...such as it is."

 

[Simon von Carstein]

Vlad breathed out heavily glancing around confused and unsure. His eyes gleamed as Karl approached. "Karl? It is you isn't it? he said "What is happening?" he sank down to his knees. "Why do I feel so drained?

Simon approached "Perhaps I can explain everything." he said looking concerned. "But first we must get you back to Drakenhof and into clothes befitting your status." nodding to Karl he and his uncle grasped the arms of Vlad and helped him to his feet. Karl removing his own cloak and wrapping it around his father as a coach pulled up. The two helped the older vampire inside. Simon shouted back to the other vampires "Return to Drakenhof at once. The Count is among us once again."

 

[Gree]

The Shade had been amused by the sudden burst of power.

So Vashanash is back then? I might as well let Mircea come to the fore again, with a little lapse in memory of course.

With that the Shade withdrew, surrendering control of Mircea’s body back to him once again, retreating into the deepest crevasses of the Vampire Lord’s soul. The Carstein suddenly regained consciousness in time to see Vlad.

‘’Lord Count? You have returned to us?’’ Mircea said in a shock.

 

[Knightofni]

Saul glanced sideways at Trinity; his slightly bemused expression mirrored by her own.. all the hard work, all the fighting and that was it?.. Saul shrugged, with these von Carsteins it was easier to accept that none of them ever did anything conventionally.

Return to Drakenhof at once.

Well since you asked so nicely. Saul extended his arms and muttered a few words under his breath, as he did so snaking tendrils of dark shadows were drawn and fashioned by Saul's magic until they coalesced into the shape of a black horse.. Usidaen. He turned to Trinity and gestured for her to get on the horse, she backed away and Saul grinned; whether it was her lack of faith in him or the horse, it amused him.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Akarin walked along side Micrea giving him an odd look.

"Of course Marshal...the Ritual went as the Co...as Lord Simon planned." he said slowly before glancing away "I'm going to go ahead with the Assassins to Drakenhof, I'll leave a handful behind to make sure that the rest of our family find their way safely."

Akarin strode of a short distance to give the instructions to Silibar who would pass them on to the lesser Assassins before they both vanished in a bloom of shadows.

______

Akarin arrived in the shadows outside Drakenhof.

Glancing up at the darkened castle he smiled, soon it would be filled with the Glory of the old days...with Vlad's return a Golden age was descend on the Kingdom of the von Carsteins.

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

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