Fantasy World Creations

"Never before have I felt such comfort at night...if only I could feel such comfort elsewhere once again."

The confinement had not been pleasant, but Vladimir had gotten the compensation he desired. The irony of it all was a thing of beauty, but everything, all that happened, kept him feeling confined. He had gained his freedom, killed the man who had held him. Yet, he still remained the result of an experiment; he was tainted beyond repair thanks to that bloody wizard. However, it was useless to despair. He was what many dreamed to become, so even if it wasn't HIS dream, he should make the best of it.

At least that was his intention, but he soon realized it was harder than it seemed. He was unable to walk comfortably in broad daylight; he became ill, and even wounded, when he came in contact with symbols of purity. And then there was worst part, the thirst. He did not crave blood so much get sick without it. There was no unholy frenzy when he went without the drink, but the weakness was unpleasant to say the least. It was obvious that discretion was his ally now. He would never have a normal life again. The only relief was that there was no one else involved in this change, no abandoned or threatened family to unnerve him even more. Solitude was possible, and with how things were, quite likely. But was it the right thing to do? Turning his back on the world in self-defense felt so...cowardly. Sure, he would not be welcome at first glance, he probably wouldn't even be accepted after the second glance, but history has always shown that oddities, such as how he was now, went mad without any prior guidance. His former captor was proof enough of that. And that was one thing he did NOT want to mimic.

Vladimir shook his head, throwing himself from his reminiscence. Do not think of the past, Vlad...today is a big day, and that sob story won't help you right now. You've traveled decades, across many lands, taken in only to be thrown aside under superstition. But today, today you've found a new chance at a home. The rumors speak strongly of how open minded this place is, how backgrounds and ethnicity meant nothing compared to one's moral standing and will. Yes, today, after countless years of wandering, you have a chance to start your life again.

And so Vladimir Ludwik knocked on the doors to the Guild of Galas'nor, anxious and hopeful.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/throndir/Portraits/Silver%20Arms%20Racist/FPortrait136_M.jpg)

For once the guild hall was actually quite relaxed and solemn. It was always like this every evening when there wasn't a large party or gathering the day before, and it was times like these that Annia treasured greatly. Of course, so too did many other guild members who enjoyed the time of the day when people would start preparing for the night. They went about their business; reading, playing cards, or the occasional dialogues between the individuals. Usually one of the door guards would be posted at the door. But this time, Golas, one of the door guards scheduled for that evening, had some sort of 'business' to attend to during the entire evening, the night, and possibly all of the next morning as well. The ever so accommodating Annia who didn't even have the inkling to ask where he was going had volunteered to take one of the shifts in his place.

She looked at the flute she had carried, only moments before was she clumsily blowing through the instrument. She could play, but not very well. Thankfully the others in the hall didn't seem to mind, and she did try her best to make the sound discreet. She had received the flute from a boy named Gael, and ever since then she had kept the instrument hoping to one day play the flute as skillfully as the young bard. However, her meanderings were soon interrupted as someone knocked on the large guild hall doors.

Dark clothed, tall, a medium build. She had already seen the figure in the distance as the light of the setting sun illuminated the courtyard in an orange glow, but she figured that it was probably just another guild member coming home, or perhaps just finished a mission posting. It surprised her that the man didn't just open the magical doors. Surely he was a guild member too right?

The paladin stood up as she placed the flute back into a small pouch. It didn't take her long to get out of the small alcove meant for the door guards which had a decent view of the courtyard beyond their doors. Making her way to the large doors, she lightly pulled on them; it was enough to trigger the magic in the doors to let them open. There stood before her was the dark clothed man, the orange glow of the setting sun tinting his skin, though it was still easy to tell that he was pale.

The knight furrowed her eyebrows.

"Are you alright?" She asked, worried about the man's complexion.   

Vladimir watched the doors open automatically, a little bit surprised. Magically locked...well that's promising security.

Vlad smiled lightly at the question, "I have honestly asked myself that question for years." He chuckled, "Yes, I'm as well as I can be." He looked up toward her, holding her gaze to speak plainly. This allowed her to see his face more clearly, pale yet flawless, which he knew would seem odd to her at first glance. It was risky, but he learned to be upfront about himself. The past taught him that hiding never helped, and often made things worse. "I have traveled many years looking for a home, and for a while now I have heard rumor of this guild. Good rumor, that they judge character more than they discriminate the being themselves." He paused to let the full effect of the small statement sink in. "How true is this rumor?"

He studied the woman before him. Her stance was disciplined, and her gaze was straight, discerning but merciful. A very uncommon quality. He knew the answer before it was spoken, Yes, it is true. The question now is whether he was given the answer. He was sure he was already under suspicion, why wouldn't he be? He was a suspicious character. She already spotted that he was odd, and the question he posed already told her he was unwelcome elsewhere. My fate is in your hands. Do as you will. I know trust is not so easily won.

He held his gaze, his luminous green eyes staring expectantly back at the woman. Though the gaze was hardened, there was a very subtle pleading look. I am tired. That is all that it said.

As the person before her looked up towards her, Annia couldn't help but admire the man's flawless features. True, he was pale, but his hair was smooth, though strangely white in color. His eyes were a deep green, and it was easy to get lost in those strangely mesmerizing orbs. He had an air of nobility, though Annia wondered if that was just because of the man's features that made her think that way. Yet for all the perfectly chiseled features of the man and the lack of any sort of blemish, something looked off.

The man looked human enough, though there was something that him seem different. Annia shook her head lightly, for all she knew perhaps the man had some blood of a foreign race running through his veins. Or perhaps the man had went through some mystical and life-changing event. Annia almost smiled as she came to realize that out-of-the-ordinary things like that was almost a common-place among her guild members. A fact that she had started learning slowly the more she got to know the myriad of individuals who were part of the guild.

"I have traveled many years looking for a home, and for a while now I have heard rumor of this guild. Good rumor, that they judge character more than they discriminate the being themselves. How true is this rumor?"

The man had paused then, as their eyes met and locked. Annia couldn't help but notice that wearied look in his eyes.

"The guild has some of the strangest people you'll ever meet." Annia said chuckling softly. "Come, and perhaps you can tell me your story."

Annia didn't think it was any breach of security even though the stranger before them was new. She knew the guild's defenses had its own eyes. With that she pulled on the doors a bit more, and they started to swing wide opened. But as she did so, she couldn't help but have a nagging feeling that it wasn't something she was supposed to do.

She turned her back towards the man, moving to the side a bit so he could look inside. She glanced back as she looked closely at him again, admiring the man's blemish-free features. She couldn't help it as her curiosity got the better of her manners as she asked a an inquisitive and almost personal question.

"You're not human are you?"

[spoiler=Open/close for music]http://www.youtube.com/v/nENxxE7amjA&autoplay=1[/spoiler]

Vladimir was relieved at the mention of other strange people at home here, smiling lightly. Things are going smoothly.

Then she asked the question, the one that doomed him every time. Well If I'm thrown out here, so be it, still better than lying and being found out later.

Vlad took a moment to think of how to answer. "I can't decide if I am, or not. All I know is I was. That was around 80 years ago. I've been...changed. The details aren't easy to say, but it's akin to a magical disease. As for how I've changed, well..." Here we go, sink or swim. "It's very similar to vampirism." He shuddered at the statement, and felt she would do the same.

"Before you outright deny me, I will explain. I'm what you would call Methselan. Yes, THAT Methuselan. The one sought after by mages eveywhere for the secret of eternal life, the one condemned as a demon. However, those rumors are brought about by the fears of the ignorant. I bear no malice, and am in complete control of myself. Blood does not drive my actions, however I do need it to survive. This is the truth." He stared sternly at her, determined, yet obviously nervous. "Take it as you will, but I guarantee I bear no ill will. I am still the me of 80 years past. I am still human at heart, even if the same is not true for my body."

"I have come here for sanctuary, and to be of use. Hiding from the world for myself is not something I could do."

His response was not something that Annia expected. And as she listened to his words, her open innocent curiosity to what he was slowly turned into sneaking suspicion. She couldn't help but bring her guard up as she continued to watch him; he who had so easily revealed himself to be an undead.

He may have been pulling her strings or perhaps someone she knew put him up to the task just to see how riled up a knight could get. But his calm demeanor and surety in his eyes had Annia believing that what he said was the truth.

Methuselan. That was something that she had read before during her studies with the church, but it wasn't something that she had ever expected to encounter, much less actually talk to one. Years of tutelage was hard to shake off, and though she calmly listened, she couldn't help but feel almost vulnerable. She had heard of the stories, and getting attacked by one certaintly didn't sound so appealing. Her muscles tensed, and she could feel every warning in her head telling her that the man was dangerous. Though he seemed harmless, and his words calming, the lectures of the church and the readings she had done in the past only told her that it was simply to lure her into a false sense of security.

The moment she realized this however, she stopped. Her eyes glanced at her katana strapped to her side, within easy reach...

"Take it as you will, but I guarantee I bear no ill will. I am still the me of 80 years past. I am still human at heart, even if the same is not true for my body."

Annia sighed. It was the same emotions she had felt in the past, when she decided to leave the order of the Golden Dawn in order to keep safe her friend, Jin, the so-called "evil spirit" who lived within the sword she wore. On the outside Jin looked like a malevolent shadow whenever he chose to manifest physically, but in all the time she had known him, he had never done or suggested anything that contradicted her morals. Instead of an inherent evil, all she felt was a good heart, albeit a bit mischievious at times.

Valtean (http://forum.fantasyworldcreations.com/realmscape/gods-demigods-and-other-supernatural-forces-149/), the godess of virtue, courage, and honor, had chose not to strip her of her abilities when she chose Jin over the church. Surely there was a reason why her divine powers still worked even after leaving the Order of the Golden Dawn. She concentrated on the man, asking Valtean to show her what his intentions were. But as the seconds passed by, she felt no evil aura or emanations coming from him. His body may be "dead", but his soul and sentience wasn't evil.

There was the fact that this man who claimed to be a methuselan, came out openly. And like her katana, Jin, who had been human in the past in some different world, who now looked like something evil, perhaps the methuselan before her was something similar?

"I have come here for sanctuary, and to be of use. Hiding from the world for myself is not something I could do."

The knight couldn't agree more. She herself banished from her order, though she still wore the customary armor and bearings of a knight of the Golden Dawn. Her allegiance to the order, though not reciprocated, was still something Annia believed in. If ever one of the Golden Dawn would confront her, then she would deal with it. So be it to show the world and any around her the path that she had taken, and the allegiance she had sworn to serve.

"Even though others might call you a fool for being so open to such a thing? Hiding would have saved you a lot of potential trouble." Her words were negative. But inawardwly she approved. She knew too many people, even among guild members, who chose to stay behind facades. And this methuselan probably had the worse truth to tell.

But so be it. Better a truth to be told openly, than lies spun to mask it.

He could see her becoming more and more defensive as he spoke. It was expected; her eyes had darted to her sword multiple times, which was also quite expected. He could not know her thoughts, but there was no doubt of her suspicion, and her sense of danger. It's not like I'm NOT a dangerous being, I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking like that.

Vladimir guffawed at her remark, a mixed look of empathy, self-pity, and a little bit of relief upon his face. "If I were not upfront, and stayed hidden, I would be choosing lies AND madness. And from my experience, both as an onlooker and a victim of it myself, THAT is what drives the solitary to evil. No, I do not wish to hide, to fear."

Vladimir paused briefly, giving quick reflection to what had been said thus far. "I had tried it once, you know. I spent a year in hiding, knowing what I had become, not wishing to cause trouble by my very existence. It wasn't long before I began fearing myself; and when I realized that, I knew I had a choice to make. To accept my existence as it was was my first choice, for I knew there was no turning back, no way to reverse it. My other was to continue to stay in hiding, to develop my fears until I truly believed them; to accept myself as a monster. I am simply thankful that I realized I could choose how to live that early. And that I choose the choice I did."

Vladimir smiled softly as he looked back to her, "I'd rather be a fool than a monster."

It's getting harder to talk about this, too many memories I had forced myself to forget...I truly hope no more detail is needed. No, I couldn't even speak of it if I wanted to...too gruesome...

All Vladimir hoped for now was acceptance. And rest.

Kryas could feel the could night air rush past him into the guild hall. He enjoyed these moments he was free to daydream and not always worry about the othe guild members. The next gale however pulled him free of his musings of that woman he had met so long ago and into the present. Annia a seasoned member of the guild and someone whom Kryas had only dealt with a handful of times since his first few weeks of the guild was standing with one of the front doors open. He couldn't make out who she was talking to from his corner by the stares but he could tell she was tense not angry or afraid just tense, and that made him curious. "I wonder what could have enthralled her so?" he questioned as he began to stand in an attempt to  stand craning slightly to see around here. Then he saw it a long strand of silver almost pale blue hair. His heart skipped a beat.

"Could it really be this easy?" he mumbled to himself hurriedly as he attmpted to move across the room as quickly as he could without seeming as eager as he felt.

Annia what you doing holding the door open so long if it's a guest isn't it good hopitality to let them in out of the cold? He smiled his signature grin at the newcomer only to be disappointed. It wasn't her. He sighed inwardly "Goddess! he should have known better then to get his hopes up like that!"
Still he thought turning to really look upon the man at the door, "He is quite interesting maybe a different type opportunity has come knocking on our door a new ally perhaps?" Kryas found that his curiosity was getting the better of him as it normally did and he had learned to trust it.

"Come in! you must be exhausted"  He grabbed the man's hand quickly only to recoil. "your freezing i'm suprised your standing and not dead on the doorstep." Kryas said automatically in caretaker mode  quickly grabs him full force by the sholder and arm sweeping him inside and next to the still warm hearth into his empty seat. Finally he through his had and jacket over the man before passing him his previously untouched warm apple cider.
"Drink it" he commanded before grabbing chairs for both Annia and himself.

Vladimir felt...well, flabbergasted. Only moments before he was under a semi-hostile suspicion, and now, in a surprising turn of events, he had been swept into the building by an unknown, jovial half-elf and ordered to drink. And drink he did, as he WAS as cold as this newcomer had accused him. After taking a few large gulps, put down the drink, which he now knew to be cider, and turned to the man.

He was so taken by surprise, and so comforted by the warmth of the drink and indoors, that he had forgot his situation. Vladimir visibly went from being relaxed to guarded as he met the man's eyes, "Though I truly appreciate the hospitality, I'm going to let you know now that you may be a little TOO trusting in a new face." Vlad chuckled it off, but was obviously still tense. "It hasn't been decided if I'm even allowed to be in here."

And yet in here he was. The guildhall was quite a structure, full of warmth, laughter, and song. Which as he watched on, refreshed by the environment, a creeping feeling of seclusion developed. Why should I come in here? I'll only ruin the mood, just like all the other times. Even at the door I was met with hostility, and that was my best chance! Vlad's stance was going from thinking they wouldn't want him there, to he didn't want himself there. For their sake, and the sake of their brotherhood, he shouldn't be here.

But that wasn't right either. He would become his own worst enemy if he continued to feel that way. The same way others felt about him. Why believe their insistent statements that he was a monster, a being that didn't belong in society. He wasn't! I'm not a monster! I'm human!...But I'm not human...Ugh, I don't even know what I want any more! No one had ever truly been kind to Vlad. At least not once they knew more of him. And this kindness, this very situation, scared him. Because too many times already had similar situations of hospitality turned to hatred and disgust. It was turmoil, chaos, and he was just along for the ride.

Vlad rested his head in one hand, lifting the mug up to his mouth once more to drink. It was good. He wished that good feeling lasted longer with every sip. I'll just be chased out any moment, may as well enjoy what fate has given me...I never did get her answer after all...any moment now...

"Maybe its fate. You being here." He said smiling warmly in attempt to put the other man at ease. Looking to Annia for a moment then turning back to the pale stranger he lifted his left had revealing a gossamer crimson thread looped around his right pinky finger and connecting to a similar loop oon the same finger of the strangers hand. Kryas had done it between all three people without the others noticing.

"They say in my homeland that even the briefest of encounters are to be cherished because they have the power to change transform all involved simply by occurring. So now your connected to this place and us whether you like it or not so why not take a little break. he said placing a hand on the man shoulder pushing him further into his seat. " Even lost souls become tired and need rest."

What's your name? Kryas tongue and voice with thick with bardic power meant to lull and comfort the poor man's soul and relax away from being a wounded dog in the corner. As well as ease Annia's innate suspicions.

Smooth talker...I'll have to be careful of this one...but he IS right, I already told myself to enjoy the peace and company while I had it.

Vladimir smiles softly, "My name is Vladimir Ludwik. I've been traveling the world, looking for a place where I can both settle down and...be accepted." He pauses momentarily, "I am not what you would call a normal being." He looked to the woman momentarily before turning his attention back to the man. "What is your name...friend."

"And how DID you get this on all of our fingers so suddenly?" Vladimir exclaimed in confusion. He was by no means at ease, but at least loathed himself a bit less. It had been a long time since he had had the chance to converse with others, and he had forgotten how enjoyable it could be.

"Normal is a relative term and means the same thing as boring in my book." He scoffed waving of the word as if it was a bad smell.

My name is Kryas friend, Kryas Windsel. Nice to meet you Vlad." Kras reached out his hand kindly to show both friendship and his lack of fear in the face of the man. Hopefully that would instil even a little more self confidence for his new companion. He had a plan now a goal in mind now he just had to make sure the conversation went the way he wanted.

As for how I did that little trick No one should underestimate the craftiness of a Bard espically this one if they know what is good for them" Kryas laughed the last remark covering playing off what he said and making fun of it. Kryas' arm continues to be outstretched in acceptance.

"So what are your plans Vlad now that you've made it to our humble home?"

Listening to the conversation with interest, Annia also took the offered seat. Like the bard, she too grabbed one of the mugs of apple cider which had been previously prepared. The warmth she felt was pleasing, the season was starting to get colder, and being out in the small lookout post near the guild hall's door, though not entirely bitingly cold since it was still indoors, still wasn't as warm as the hearth they sat near.

When Vladimir introduced himself, she chose not to reveal that he was a methuselan. She could tell that Vladimir was taken by surprise by Kryas' friendliness. She had encountered him before multiple times, and she knew that Kryas had a certain way with words.

"You will probably be welcomed here." She said reaffirming what Kryas had just spoken. "The guild has been a refuge for myself, and it always had been a safe haven for those who are otherwise unwelcomed. You told me before that mages sought after you? I haven't dealt as often as I would have liked with those who used arcane, but I know some can be persistent."

She knew very well that Kryas was still perhaps unaware of Vladimir's origins. Her question was vague enough that it could easily be misunderstood that Vladimir had mages hunting for him, but not necessarily that he was a methuselan. She herself was curious to see Vladimir's actions.

Vladimir took his hand, but the question took him by surprise, "I...don't know. I hadn't thought I would be accepted. I still don't really think I am. Kryas, I appreciate what you've done, it has been many years since I've felt such happiness. But I truly don't believe you understand what I mean."

"I am extraordinary in one of the worst senses, I carry a stigma with my very existence. I don't feel comfortable talking details here, for reasons milady knight here understands well. So much so that I fear for my life. Not because I don't trust you, but because I - I don't trust the reactions of people. Decades have taught me this fear, and it's not something I can overcome so quickly." Vladimir realizes he's getting somewhat carried away, and takes a deep breath. His decided emotions have not changed, however. "It's not something I can rush."

"And as for the mages...well...in a sense, they've already won, they're just trying to collect their prize. That probability of acceptance is the same kind of probability that torments me." Vladimir steadies himself yet again. His resistance to their comforts can only be attributed to one thing; he needed to be sure, one-hundred percent so, that being here would not lead to being stabbed in the back. Both figuratively and literally. He had received both on countless occasions when his guard was down. In a half smile that fades as soon as he finishes speaking, Vlad says, "It seems my fears have caught up with me much more than I'd thought."

Vladimir goes silent, still shaken Not by anything in particular, simply shocked. I don't know what to do...how can they trust me if I don't trust myself, nor my decisions...things are falling apart...I'm falling apart...

Holding him firmly Kryas let out a soft sigh. He had not shared much about his path with anyone and now he was going to say far more then he was comfortable with. "Goddess may my words reach his heart" he silently prayed. hoping that he could weave his magic in an intricate pattern with his words, Pulling out the ornately carved aquamarine colored crystal pendant he always wore against his skin.

Vlad look at this will you? This pendant is extremely special to me and my people it is the symbol of our goddess and also a reminder of her story.
Once upon a time there  was a death god who terrorized the land. He spread plagues, caused war, and sated the earth everywhere  he went. A demon among men who feed off of misery and negative to grow in form and power. The people weeped and tried everything from curses to worship to stop his rampage yet nothing seemed to quench his rage. That was until a strange sorceress appeared as if out of now where and did battle with the god. They battled for days across the landscape until the woman got an upper hand on the god besting him in a forest. However she did not kill him as the death god had expected and wished. Instead she shed tears for his pain saying that she only acted because she could feel his suffering was from such a great distance.

Her emotions moved the death god and he found he had fallen in love with her during their time together battling. Dumbfounded by this development his anger was completely gone. For a time the pair lived together happily together in that grove away from the rest of the world. However word of the pair's power had spread to far and eventually attackers came hoping to best them in a close minded hope of fame and glory. The battles ragged for months as the pair kept winning more assailants appeared. While the man was a god and thus could not tire the woman was not so lucky. She would die on the day of the final battle in front of everyone protecting her lover to the end and took all the attackers with her. The death god quickly whisked her back to their home in the grove crying with grief over her form. The bond the two hasd was to strong to be broken however and a miracle was formed. The tree that had been their bed transformed her as she give her last breath into crystal where she lives eternal and her mate ever protects her from deep within the ground vowing to never be apart from her.

So you see that this pendent is proof that it isn't who or what you are that matters. As long as you can find something or someone to live for then you can face anything.

So why not spend the night and see where the red string of fate leads you in the morning? You can use the spare bed in my room if you wish.

Vladimir was surprised by the story, but not by it's substance. He had heard the like many times before, sometimes used against him as some sort of "divine persuasion". What he was surprised by was the sincerity. He was moved, and wanted to take up Kryas' offer, but there were a couple problems. One, the offer to spend the night was probably not really in Kryas' power to give. But the most important was the second reason, the reason he would compromise for, night terrors. Since his "transformation", he was plagued weekly by them, never knowing when they would occur, but always ending in a poor night's sleep for everyone nearby as well. Thus sleeping in close proximity to others simply wasn't possible.

After contemplating the proposal for a little longer, Vladimir speaks, "If I am to accept this offer, there are some things that need to be straightened out. First, I don't know if I can accept until your superiors, if there are any, permit it. And the second, for personal reasons, is that I cannot sleep near others. It is more for the good of others than myself. If I am allowed to stay in your hall for even one night, I am most grateful. Joining the guild would please me even more. But all things must happen in due time, and experience says rushing this would not help anyone."

Vladimir then sits back in his chair. "If all goes smoothly, I will find a place to sleep away from everyone else. We can discuss what to do after that." He then looks between Kryas and the woman a couple times, "How are we to go about this?" Noticing he is forgetting something, afer getting caught up in Kryas' momentum, Vladimir turns back to the lady knight, "If it sits well with you, that is. I know there are still many suspicions that you hold, and rightfully so."

Annia shifted uncomfortably as the attention was placed back on her.

"The best thing we can do is to probably meet with the guild master. But there is an issue..." She glanced at Kryas, then after a moment of silence she continued as she turned back towards the methuselan named Vladimir.

"I haven't actually ever met the person, and I've been a member for months now. I hear stories of course, as well as some rumors from the older members of the guild. Not sure if I know anyone who's met him. Or at least, if they did, they kept it a secret. When I had joined the guild, I had only talked to the more senior members, and after proving myself and of my worth, they let me join." She pointed her finger back at the door.

"Someone does manage the doors though. Even though its powered by magic, I've been told that at times when it was needed, the magic on the doors seal themselves. Believe it or not the guild hall is actually pretty well-defended, I doubt all the magic is automated, and my guess is that the guild master has a hand in them. At the very least, there's more than just the three of us who knows you are here."

"Take Kryas' offer. I'll spend the rest of the day asking around. If not about the guild master, then perhaps about you." She smiled before any alarm can be raised. "Don't worry I'll be discreet in my inquiries."

Vladimir sagged back in his chair in relief. These are good people here...I think I can finally learn to trust others again...one step at a time, of course. He looked back across the table, "Very well, I am grateful for the trust you've put in me. However, I still stress that I not stay near other sleeping quarters." They won't understand why unless you tell them, or hear it themselves. May as well be the former. "The reason is because, as embarrassing as it is, due to past trauma I suffer from...night terrors..." Vladimir feels pathetic saying it, it's very personal to him, and as he's never slept near others for the past couple decades, it's been a long time since he's ever explained it to anyone. And he did not like feeling this vulnerable. "I never know when it will occur, so that's why I'm so insistent on these sleeping arrangements. Please do not tell anyone of this, it is rather personal, and at the moment you two are the only ones I feel need to know."

Vladimir then lightened a little bit, "As for the guild itself, I find its operation quite curious. No one knows this great mage of a guildmaster? And yet the doors are magically run by him? It almost sounds like he's some omnipotent, omnipresent being." He laughs at his next thought. "Is he some sort of god?'

"It's the guild's quarks which drew me to this place." said Kryas with a  smirk, "you never know what's going to coming walking through those doors."

That was the truth for the most part. It was the guild quirks which had pulled the bard to the gathering in the first place, but that wasn't the only reason. Turning to the task at hand however his smile only grew while looking at his possible new friend.

"It sounds like the three of us truly were led together by fate my friend! Who better to help you with your sleeping habits then a bard? We who specialize in easing the pains of the hearts and minds that plague the soul."

"Besides"  Kryas continued to say in a half whisper turning slightly more serious "Would not someone in your postion find comfort behind sealed doors where you know someone can aid in the night if something were to go wrong?"

Kryas' face softened once again, "and besides, I'm more adept with dealing with such issues then most you don't know the people i lived with before i left home!" At this Kryas snickered inwardly at the memory but his gaze said he was not going to take no for an answer.

"I'm not going to just let suffer sitting alone in shadow" he convinced himself he was not going to back down on this one.

"Is he some sort of god?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if there were some who thought that." Annia replied back, chuckling softly.

As Kryas finished, Annia nodded, impressed and glad that Kryas also shared the same conviction. She wondered how the rest of the guild would react, as well their elusive guild master. She wondered about the guild master. She had previously asked about their leader not long after she had first joined, but back then her inquiries were unanswered. She knew some people in the town however, and she did know of the information broker who was thought to know everything, for the right price of course.

She turned back her attention to Vladimir.

"My name is Annia Siadon, of the Siadon family", she said as she pulled off the gloves she wore extending it out towards Vladimir. "There is always something that frightens us. You have my word that none else shall know, at least from my lips."

Vladimir had to stifle his tears. It had been too long since support like this had been offered to him, and never before this strongly. He had found worthy friends, and only hoped he could return their kindness in time. "I really do thank you both...I've never been met with such conviction from those wishing to aid me. You have my trust, and endless thanks, for ending my wandering.

When Annia introduced herself to him, Vladimir couldn't help but laugh, "Gods, I hadn't even gotten your name yet? I was too nervous to even realize it! My apologies. Well met, Annia!" He took her hand jovially, "And thank you for that. Soon enough, I believe the whole of the guild will know, hopefully by my own lips, should they come to accept me."

"And Kryas, I truly appreciate your willingness to watch over me in that time. However, let me know if it becomes a burden to deal with these weekly outbursts. It defeats the purpose that you save my rest only to forfeit your own." Vladimir smiles warmly at them both, that sincere smile being the first in many years.

"Now then, what am I to do? How does this 'entering the guild' actually work?"

"When I joined the guild, they had only asked for loyalty, the emblem to be worn, and our willingness to claim this city as our own. We're not as formal as the city guards, the temple orders, or the Silver Arms branch here, but from what I've experienced so far, we all have a similar goal. The best one to know would probably be Arelia who manages our lodging, locker, and sums of gold that we sometimes find that's too much to carry around."

Kryas smirked slightly when he thought about when he finally got his guild crest from Arelia. She was a kind of spokeswoman for the guild master who never seemed to leave his chambers. All the members of the guild treated her with respect and slight fear for her postion. She was the one who had all the guild creasts hidden away somewhere only she could find.

"She for sure would have any answers we could need well go see here in the morning okay Vlad. For now you look like you could use some sleep. And to be honest I could myself." Kryas let loose a fake yawn to sign the deal. He wasn't really tired but he was fine staying in his room awake  as much as he was sitting here.

"Annia can you meet us down here in the morning and the three of us will go there and sort everything out together ya?"

"That will be perfect. As I said before, I'll ask around town about the guild master, and if there's any other information on who might be looking for Vladimir." She turned towards Vladimir.

"I agree with Kryas, lets get you familiar with the guild hall. I believe there are some empty quarters near Kryas' room if you're still adamant about not sharing quarters. I'll see you two in the morning though."

The knight bowed gracefully, something she was taught when she was still being brought up as a noble in the Siadon family.

"I'm glad we could have met Vladimir, and I thank Valtean that we met in these circumstances, rather than if I were still with my order..." She decided not to finish her thought, but instead put her gloves back on as she prepared to leave the two.

Vladimir smiles and bows his head, catching her meaning perfectly. "I thank you both. Retiring for the night definitely sounds pleasant." Then he chuckles, "Heck, I'm just happy to have a bed to do so!" With that he downs the last bit of his cider and stands. "Come! Let's get to that room of yours, Kryas. We have to be well rested to take care of matters in the morning." He smiles at his new friend, then turns to Annia, "We'll see you in the morning, Annia. Good night."

He has Kryas lead the way, smiling all the way. At last, a home...

"Of course. The morning it will be." The knight replied. She looked at Kryas. "Make sure to show him his quarters. If sharing a room is not an option, ensure his quarters are nearby. I know enough about these blood hunts that Vladimir describes to know some can be relentless." She thought about one of those hunts that she herself had participated in while in service with her order. "I participated in them at one point in my life, but that is probably a story I shall tell some other time."

"Sleep well Vladimir. You may be a methuselan, but your heart's in the right place, and so may Valtean guide your path." Annia nodded once, as she turned from the group, heading out the opposite direction.

Kryas took that as his cue to stand, "Well shall we then? My room is a little ways off since i'm one of the only people who play music late into the night i got put in an area where i won;t bother anyone"

Kryas smiled as he led the way softly pulling the man along slightly making sure that he wouldn't get cold feet as they made there way up te stairs and down the male hall. Down another two hallways they reached a small door at the end. The one next door the sounds of snooring coming out loudly.

"Golas," He explained "Snores up a storm and sleeps like a rock so he got relegated down here as well ." Opening the door he ushered him into the small room. three single beds and a desk with a lamp greeted them. Two of the beds were made and seemed to have never been used the third was obviously Kryas' directly to one side of the only window. His bed had slips of paper everywhere scraps and scribbles along with his instruments on racks displayed nicely.

"Have your pick" Said Kryas with a smile closing the door behind them then going over to the lamp and lighting the oil wit a spare match. Shuffling the Tarot cards off into the corner of the deck he swept the papers off the bed and into a mesh can near his bed before sitting

"Sorry for the mess I wasn't expecting guests" He joked. "Please sit, relax your free from prying eyes here."

Vladimir joked with Kryas as he settled down on the bed that would get no sunlight, though tried to make it less obvious, "Why do I get the feeling that you're the only eyes that'd pry?" He laughs, making it obvious that there was no accusation, nor insult meant.

As he's looking over the spread of instruments along Kryas' side of the room, he takes note of a lyre set on a stand at the foot of the bed. "Now there's something I haven't seen for years, mostly due to avoiding large groups. A lyre! Do you mind if I played it for a while? I'm mighty rusty, but I had one sitting around years back. It was a past time for me back in the peaceful days of my life."

Without waiting for much of a response, Vladimir picked it up and took a chair, taking his time messing with the instrument. After a short while, he had pieced together an old piece he once knew, though shakily played.

[spoiler=Open/Close for Music]http://www.youtube.com/v/FFNRCy5r8l0&autoplay=1[/spoiler]

Yes...this is a good place. He thought simply to himself.

Kryas laughed at Vlad's joke "Perhaps your right." he laughed as he listened to Vlad play the lyre. He tapped along with the melody and clapped lightly when it was finished "If you like the sound of her feel free to keep it, consider it a gift as a marker of you coming to the guild." He shuffled the tarot card deck loudly before leaning over and placing it on the table. Pick up the card from the top of the deck he smiled.

"Death in the reverse" he smiled turning to showing a picture of a cloaked reaper with a scythe, "it seems some big changes are in your future." placing the card on the table he got up and moved to the window to glace at the moon. He was introverted for a moment as he looked out the window "So you were saying you have a sleeping problem? One of my close friends from where I came from had horrible night terrors and i've experienced a few bad nights myself."

Vladimir laughs, "Coming my way? The change has happened. I've not been in a situation like this before. Or at least not in a few decades!" He continued to pluck gently at the lyre's strings, the melody bringing him back to more pleasant times of his past. "And as for the Lyre, well, I couldn't possibly take her from you. But I'll take that offer as permission to play occasionally."

At Kryas bringing up the terrors, Vladimir pauses, setting the lyre next to him. "Those...are terrors of a different sort. My nightmares are not nightmares, but memories. They are memories of when I came what I am now. I assure you, though I can't speak for your acquaintances' over their suffering, what I speak of is a different sort."

Vladimir looked Kryas in the eye, slightly changing the subject for a moment, "Immortality has always come at a great price, anyone with some sort of wisdom would know this. Only fools seek it, and yet there are many of those, numbering may more than the wise ever could. Well, the price of mine was pain and death. So many different kinds that I'm surprised I've recovered sanity. And occasionally, I relive those moments, at the very time I'm supposed to gain rest...yes, that is the price of immortality. And I can tell you now, it's not worth the trouble."

He then looks out the window, gazing at the moonlight scenery. "My only relief is that I still exist, despite all of that, and despite my imprisonment. That fact lets me lead a life again, albeit a different one." The room then fills with an awkward silence, Vladimir continuing to stare out the window, a wistful expression on his face.

"People always are clutching for power" said Kryas with a slight bitter tone, "but your free from that now, and I'm glad to see it has not spoiled your out looks on things." Kryas said as he went to the closet and grabbed a new shirt and pants. Glancing at Vlad up and down he threw yet another pair of sleep wear, " Those should do for now, and I promise not to pry to much into your past I understand how it can be a touchy subject. like you said before memories are a powerful thing."

He then stripped his shirts off and threw the new pants on his bed, his back still turned reveling deep black ink tattoos that consumed the majority of his back. An intact tree with reaching roots and branches that stopped just before his shoulders and his waist. Slipping on the new shirt he turned "Oh i forgot to ask you do you mind lullabies?" he said a smirk on his face.  "I had a song in mind that might help ease you into a calmer sleep that I would like to give it a try. With my friend we had to do all manner of things even keeping her in a divine shell all night. She had a habit of sleepwalking that would then evolve into sleep battling you see. Trying to actually slay her inner demons. Almost got my head cut off a couple of times." Kryas laughed at the memory while fiddling with his necklace before sitting cross legged and grabbing his lute.

"You have my thanks." Vladimir says with a smile as he sets the lyre back on its rack and flops on his bed. "Ah, a BED! It's been a while since I've slept on a decent one." He rolls a bit, "And this is a decent one." Right when he rolled back over, Vladimir took the sleepwear to the face, chuckling, then getting changed himself.

Vladimir then catches sight of the tattoos on Kryas' back, "Not sure if I should ask, as we only just met, but is there a story behind your tattoos? They're quite distinct."

"Also, I don't mind a lullaby at all! Granted it feels childish to hear, but this is a special situation. If you say these songs can even prevent sleep brawls, I'll give it a shot. I don't want to cause anyone here to lack rest on my account, if possible." Vladimir flops back on the bed again, content.

Tuning it slightly and plucking lightly at the strings Kryas looked up at the question ?it?s supposed to be the tree I talked about earlier. The roots are said to be so far reaching that they link into all the plains of existence. In the place where I grew up those who leave get this tattoo to remind them where they came from and the value of bonds.?

Kryas paused for a moment ?I was probably one of the last people to get it.?He finished tuning the lute at that point.

?Anyway, lets try this song, and see how it goes I always sleep best when it?s storming out and always calms me down.? He waited a moment before he started to sing and play.

[spoiler]
http://www.youtube.com/v/4b0e8Ci8Gb0&autoplay=1
The end of the youth 
which departs without saying a farewell
What may possibly lie beyond this way?

Leaving behind the beloved town
The time of chasing what you long for
Will probably come to you as well

The travelers of the wind
The tower of sunset
Farewell my friends, 
bright smiles
Until the day we meet again

 
Sending the message on the wind
Everyone, how are you?
I embrace the dream sleeping on the pillow of nostalgia

This round to walk has become long
At the time of the return to my hometown
I'll surely be able to keep the promise we've made

The travelers of the wind
To the north, to the south
Farewell, floating clouds
Free heart
To where the tomorrow lies[/spoiler]

His voice weaves power into the words of the song. A draft of sleep began buffeting against Vlad?s senses. The winds outside begin to sweep with his voice and a storm begins to break in the city. A peaceful calming rain that was pacifying and drenching. The sound of the rain adds to Kryas? voice and makes the music influence that much stronger.

Ah, right, he is a bard, after all... Was all Vladimir could think to himself, as Kyras' song went on. The longing that had been in the bard's thoughts over his hometown carried into the music he had chosen. It was strong, most certainly this man had suffered as well. Yes, I am truly alone no longer.

Slowly his energy left him, his senses dulled, and he climbed into his new bed. The peaceful music brought him back to his own memories. The farm life, then the city life, then the sailing and wandering. The white noise of the conjured storm allowed him to focus more on his thoughts, visualizing them clearly. Despite all that seemed to have escaped him in life, Vladimir had truly lived fully, and experienced much. Is this condition a curse under the guise of a blessing, or a blessing disguised as a curse only while I view it as such? Does it truly depend on how I view it, or am I strictly one or the other? Am I blessed or cursed? Gods, I want to know...

And with that final thought, he began to sleep, the thoughts of the goodness in his past echoing through his dreams. There was no doubt, the terrors would not reach him this night. Though as wistful as Vladimir's original mood, Kryas' music and words assured him of that.

Kryas played the song to its eventual conclusion making sure that the power he had interlaced with the music would keep hold on the sleeping vampire. The drenching rain that had been called by his song providing a white noise and rythem meant to put pain to rest. To him rain like this meant safety a shield from all the bad things of the world. Everything and everyone still outside would eventually seek shelter. A storm like this and everything would feel brighter come morning.

Glancing again at his new roommate to makesure his breath was deep and even he set his lute gently back in it's designated spot and climbed into bed himself. He was happy to help a new friend, he always enjoyed that warm fuzzy feeling from forging new bonds.Listening to the rain as it continued to fall his mind drifted to the past and of similar nights when he and his group were once all tied together by fate. He smiled "no matter the distance or the time all of us are always together both old and new." Kryas fell into a light peaceful sleep filled with his own dreams comforted by the sound of the continuing rain

---

Kryas awoke the next morning just as the sun was rising and the rain was stopping. Long before most others even his roomate had awoken. Creeping to the closet for some clothes grabbing class worn and tattered rags and laying a spare set on the floor for Vlad he exited the room trying not to make a sound. Vlad would have to go out and by some new cloathes while they were around the same height and build it was hardly an idle match. Quickly lacking his way down the stairs getting changed as he went he deposited what could be salvaged in the laundry room, and headed off to the kitchen.

It had been a little while since he had baked anything remembering one of his old pastery recipes in a few minutes the room was filled with the smell of yeast, apples, sugar, and cinnamon .

The door to Kryas' room was pounded constantly. A deep thudding sound from a large heavy-set fist. It was loud enough to wake up anyone in the room, and likewise all the other adjacent sleeping quarters. Luckily this part of the guild hall's housing was off to the side, and the residents living in this particular area were already accustomed to the louder noises both late at night and early in the morning. Not to mention the fact that the large man now "knocking" on the door had a habit of doing everything loud and obnoxious.

"Kryas! I know you're awake, you're always up early! Hurry up and open this door!" Golas said in his mighty loud voice. Though he was speaking clearly, there was a hint of worry in his usual calmer tone - which of course, only one who had known him for some time would have realized. He pounded on the door a couple of more times.

Vladimir was afraid. He awoke to the knocking and realized that Kryas was no longer in the room. It was the start of his first full day in the hall, where he wasn't even a full member yet. It had been one of the better rests in his life since the change, so he felt well enough, but considering the type of person it sounded like was knocking at the door, he wasn't sure the rest of the day would be so great.

He then made note of the of the clothes Kryas must have laid out for him. I can tell already this one is sneaky...

He tried to get dressed as quickly and quietly as he could, then took a deep breath and headed for the door. The clothes weren't a perfect fit, but close enough. Nothing worth complaining about. Now to take care of the this disturbance... With one more deep breath, he opened the door to look at the giant looming in the hallway. Vladimir was startled by the size of the man, and took a moment to compose himself.

"Kryas isn't here at the moment, though I'm assuming he's well since he's left some things out for me. Have you checked the rest of the hall yet, my friend?" He stated guardedly.

"Kry-" Golas' mouth literally dropped as he noticed that the man before wasn't at all the bard he was looking for. Tall, with perfect features, though a bit pale, the stranger before him could be considered handsome. That was a fact that Golas didn't really much care about, but Kryas? His face turned ashen as he considered the implications of finding a male in his friend's quarters this early in the day. The large man coughed and cleared his throat.

"You're a new face. Sharp, almost sparkling. Either you've been sneaking around or you're new. Any idea where the lad's at?" He held his tongue on commenting about something else he was curious of. But if the man was that close, well... he must not be so bad.

"Buahahaha! No matter, help me look for the kid!" He slapped the stranger on the back.

"Sp-sparkling? That's a new one..." Vladimir said, a little taken back by the strange comment. "I'm Kryas' new roommate, or so it's been insisted. I just came in last night. My name is Vladimir." He was not sure what to make of the new character, but from what he'd experienced so far in this guild, it wasn't the last time that a new, odd character would appear before him. And learning his lesson, he just decided to go with the flow.

He couldn't quite shake the feeling the man wanted to ask something else, though, but was too tired and timid to press on the matter. At that thought he grimaced and cough as the giant slapped his back in a "friendly" manner. Soon after recovering from the shock, Vladimir responded to the laughing offer, "Sure, I'll help you search. No doubt he's up to some sort of mischief, that silver-tongued bard."

He quickly gathered what little he needed to, and stepped out of the room to stand with the giant, closing the door behind him. The beginning of the walk with the newcomer was silent, and a little awkward, so in desperation Vladimir asked something simple, trying to strike up conversation. "What's your name?"

"Ah! Roommate. I thought you were- Well, nevermind!" Golas roared in laughter, though it seemed almost forced. He kept glancing back at the man however. But soon enough he stopped, normalizing his demeanor a bit more as he continued. "Vladimir eh? You can call my Golas! Strongest and handsomest among the guild!" He laughed again, though this time his mirth was more genuine unlike the first time. Golas wasn't exactly sure what to make of the new individual, he didn't know if there was some sort of re-assignment for rooms or this new kid in the guild was a recent member. Regardless, he needed to as Kryas something, and why not take along Vladimir? It'll at least confirm who he was. Golas' worries probably wasn't something to get worked up over anyways, but there was that nagging feeling that something didn't feel right. It there was anything Golas learned, it was to pay attention to those nagging feelings.

The two headed down the halls with Golas leading the way. It wasn't long until Golas caught a whiff of something sweet and baking.

"You're in luck lad! It looks like someone's baking some sweets! We'll grab a few while we search for Kryas. Can't go on searching without some food after all! Buahaha!" With that, Golas took off, leading the way to the kitchens. He was about to call off Sophie's name, after all who else but the maid baked as sweet as the smells that were coming from the kitchen? At least until he caught sight of the actual chef. A tall light skinned half-elf with forest green eyes and light brown hair; it was Kryas.

Golas grinned.

"Throwing me in for lots of surprises this morning!"

?Good morning to you to Golas.? Kryas laughed as he took a fifth sheet of apple pasties out of the wood fire oven. ? I know I haven?t cooked for you all but I have my talents. I trust you both slept well?? He closed the thick metal door to the oven and closed the oxygen hatch so that the fire would burn itself out. The kitchen was thick with the smell of the freshly made sweets. Kryas looked over his work with a smirk it had been quite a long time since he had actually baked something for others and yet hear before him were multiple trays of the finished good enough to feed at least half the guild.

Looking up at the two other men he removed the apron covered in dough and flour. Ruffling his hair he removed the majority of the dust and particles that were sticking to him. ?I?m glad to see that my clothes worked for you Vlad. We?ll go shopping later to get you what you need so you don?t have to borrow my stuff every morning.?

As he moved five of the sweets on to a plate and put it in front of Golas he made another two plates with only two each for himself and Vlad. ?So what can I do for you both, I assume it wasn?t only breakfast that led you looking for me??

At that, Golas pulled up a nearby chair and sat on it. With one hand he grabbed one of the pastries, his gigantic hand was surprisingly gentle as he stuffed the food in his mouth. He munched on the morsel for a few seconds, and ended with a resounding gulp as he swallowed the food. He breathed in deeply before he continued.

"It's Annia. She was supposed to wake me up early today for some sparring. Now now, I know what you're thinking, maybe she just slept in! I do it all the time after all. But I've never seen her say something and not do it. Something about her code or whatever! We spar in the mornings every so often, and she usually makes it a point to do it very early in the day. She may have just been busy or got held up, but something's bothering me... You didn't happen to see her this morning did you?"

Vladimir was please at the sight, and especially the smell, of what was in the kitchen. To find his new friend, which was his key to NOT seem suspicious to the giant next to him, and an abundance of pastries may as well be called a perfect start to his morning.

With a smile Vladimir responded, "Yes, I slept soundly, thank you! And the clothes are much appreciated. My old rags needed more repair than they were worth, so I'm glad to have something more stable. I'll be taking you up on that offer to visit a tailor or merchant! Though admittedly I don't have much in the way of money..." He turned a little sheepish as he trailed off his sentence, realizing he really was broke, and felt a bit ashamed to ask more of his new friends like this. Well, we'll discuss it later, of course, no need to worry...right?...Right. He thought to himself.

Vladimir listened to Golas speak as he picked up a pastry himself, taking his time to enjoy the freshly cooked morsel. However, worry grew in him the more Golas said. Vladimir had not known Annia for even a day, but from what he knew, this news did make him uncomfortable. One such as her would take her word very seriously, or at the very least let Golas know somehow if she could not meet. Something was definitely wrong, but as a newcomer, Vladimir couldn't possibly know what. All he could do was wait for Kryas' reply, hoping he knew something about her disappearance.

Kryas chewed lightly into one of his pastries and listened to what Golas had to say. He frowned when je got to the part about Annia, ?She was not the type to just go off and break he promises.? Kryas watched Vlad out of the corner of his eye while he looked up at Golas.

?She can?t have gotten herself in to much trouble over the course of one night, she can take care of herself. She probably couldn?t sleep and went patrolling all night. I kept Vlad here up playing my music all night. Sorry about that."? He winked in Vlad?s direction so that Golas would purposefully notice then continued, ?All the same I would feel better seeing that she?s doing okay not just believing it.?

Finishing the pastry and licking his fingers, ?I have an idea on how to figure out where its gone the only thing I need is a piece of paper from my room and one of the guild?s carrier pigeons. Then we can kill to birds with one stone.? He smirked mischievously. ?But you?ll owe me Golas no arguments and you?ll have to come with us today and help out.?

He did not wait for either to protest before he was gone and then a few minutes later, was back with paper and an inkwell. Grabbing a quill out of his pocket he scrawled down a note then poured something from a vial on the edge of the paper then rolled it up and tied it too the pigeon?s leg. Going over to the window he brown the bird close and whispered something to it then released it out the window.

?Soon we?ll have an army of people looking for her I know a few people who owe me.?
?Well then I think we should check out her room before we go anywhere else don?t you guys??


The note-

[spoiler]Kryas writes a note to the head of one of the thieves guild leaders in the city who controlled and regulated the largest number of the upper class back room establishments in the city.

?Dear Rosa,

I have a favor to ask of you. One of our guild members has gone missing over night ns I was hoping you could use your network to help locate her. I would of course owe you one and I thought since we have become such friends after the time we meet at the rosewater club and I helped you out with that altercation with that noble family I knew I could turn to you for help. Thank you in advance for any information in advance, and I promise to pay your kindness back within reason of course.

Your Friend Always,
Kryas
[/spoiler]

"I hope that bird knows what its doing! And of course I'll come, need to make sure the missy's alright." The large man continued eating the morsels of pastries that was offered to him, and it didn't take long for Golas to completely devour all five pastries. As Kryas talked, Golas was almost lost in the fluffy, creamy, and apple-ness of the turnover.

?Well then I think we should check out her room before we go anywhere else don?t you guys??

Golas was just licking his fingers clean as he grabbed a nearby tissue, nodding in agreement to Kryas' statement. Perhaps Annia really did just sleep in, at the very least when Golas woke up realizing that it was past early morning, the first thing he did was look for Kryas. He lamented the fact that he should have went straight to her room first, but the large man thought nothing more of it, Kryas was always right next door, and there were many times that Golas left some of the problem-solving to his bard friend, especially if it didn't require any sort of muscle.

"Hey Kryas, not to interrupt but you still have some extra ones right?" Golas asked motioning towards his now empty plate. "It's not meat, but it's not bad either!"

"If you eat to many of these my friend you'll end up losing those pustulated glances you covet so much!" Kryas teased with a smirk. "Besides we have work to do, think of it as a reward for when we find our missing friend." Kryas moved the rest of the baked goods out of the giant man's reach. Moving lightly he kindly patted Golas shoulder which was almost above his head even though Golas was sitting.

The he lightly slung his arm around Vlad's shoulders to prevent him from possibly trying to worm his way out of helping in the search. Kryas could tell Vlad would have anyway after hearing some of the other man's story the previous night, but a  little friendly encouragement and camaraderie would do him some much needed good.

Leading the way back up to the second story of the guilds he turned the opposite direction to his room and then after a few more minutes turned down another corridor. The female dormitories had there own deprecate wing for privacy similar to the one that the three boys lived in. Kryas made his way to one of the very end rooms deep in the back then knocked. There was no telling if Annia's roommate if she had one was still sleeping or not so he might as well give someone a chance to answer before barging in.

Aria yawned lightly as she brushed through her hair. She sat at the edge of her bed, the elf's silvery locks reaching the floor. She had been at it for an entire hour, her arm beginning grow a bit tired from the repetitive motion. ?Hmm...?? She looked to the door, a little surprised to hear someone knocking. It wasn't too weird for people to come to her room, but it was always for Annia ? not her. The paladin wasn't even around that morning, what could anyone possibly need? She sat her brush aside, feeling she'd probably given her hair enough attention at this point anyway. 

Aria carefully opened the door. She was in a long white nightgown, having not yet gotten dressed for the day. Rather than saying anything, she simply stared at the guild-mates before her. Golas, Kryas, and...someone she didn't know. She wasn't close to any of them ? but she had seen Golas and Kryas around enough to feel comfortable. The pale stranger next to them, however, left her feeling slightly uneasy. The elf was partially hidden by the door, her hand wrapping around the edge of it.

Vladimir saw what Kryas had done by catching his shoulder, and inwardly, was nearly insulted. Of course he wanted to find Annia, it had only been a night, but he knew her behavior was somewhat odd. He wasn't actually insulted, as he knew that's how Kryas worked, so he went along with the gesture as they marched through the halls. Plus, after the long years of alienation, it was nice to feel welcomed. Why ruin that?...wait, he didn't read into that, did he? That Kryas...I can never tell what his motive is...

Upon reaching Annia's supposed room, as Vladimir still really had no idea where he was, he watched as Kryas gave a stern knock on the door. It hadn't even occurred to Vladimir that Annia would have a roommate, she hadn't seemed the type. Moreover, he was trying to imagine what the scenario would be like. Annia was so dutiful in nature that he imagined it would be hard to keep roommates. Unless they could take orders on housekeeping. He chuckled to himself without meaning to. An exaggeration, of course, but he couldn't help mulling over the idea.

All his thinking and self-amusement still did not prepare him when the door opened. Still in a nightgown, the group was greeted by a rather statuesque elf, As he was used to modesty, or at least generally not used to seeing people, he quickly averted his gaze. But almost as soon as he did, a familiar chill crept up his spine. When he turned to investigate, Vladimir found it was the elf, giving a mixed look of confusion and uneasiness. Ah...that look...well, looks like meeting others in this guild won't be as easy as Kryas and Golas...did I just think easy? That's not right. Smooth? No...Ah, blunt! Straightforward! That works. The puzzlement was instant, but he did not show it on his face, instead returning a similar look. He didn't exactly mean to, but it was his usual reaction. After all, he was confused, as well. Annia rooming with an elf? Hardly the order-taking type. Plus, the way she holds herself...she's interesting even for an elf...beautiful, of course, but interesting. The awkward, silent stare-down proved that thought.

He didn't feel it was his place to talk, as he knew Kryas was leading this search. Also, he wasn't sure how the new face would receive him. So instead, he simply returned her gaze, hoping this would go over well.

"Buahahaha! Careful there Vlad, Aria's easily fightened, all you're staring might just scare her away!" The large man laughed heart-fully as he slapped his pale comrade.

When the group first went up to Annia's room, Golas had hoped that Annia would be there, it was usually she, rather than Aria, who opened the door after all. The knight always took the lead on such things, and it made Golas wonder how it must have been like for the room-mates, with one being so withdrawn, and Annia having a more forceful personality. When the elf opened the door, Golas immediately realized that Annia wasn't home. Or at least in her room.

"You haven't seen the knight have you missy? The girl promised to spar with me today, did she already leave this morning?" Golas asked. Thinking perhaps that the knight had some errand to go to.

Kryas donned his signature smile as a sign of peace for the elven girl "Good morning Aria!" ribbing golas slightly as he went. He them stepped slightly shielding vlad from Aria with his usual charisma he did not want an argument or worse a fight at this moment.

Kryas had spent very little time in the girl's wing of the guild he had a policy of trying to avoid uncomfortable moments. So that meant he had yet to pursue any of the female members of the guild. To be honest he had not been certain who Annia's roommate was or if she even had any to begin with until this very moment he was glad to see it was someone he know however even if only as acquaintances. Kryas liked her well enough though from what he had seen of here she was unique and that was what interested him the most.

"I wanted to come and warn you two that I made something sweet for breakfast this morning and I made extras so I thought I would share some before Golas had the chance to suck them all down." He smiled sticking his thumb at Golas. So why don't you and your roommate come down and join us?" He knew his bardic tounge would at least shield enough of his intentions to just make him seem weird, which to be honest he knew he was to begin with.

"Once we're done with breakfast we thought we would walk around town do you want to tag along?"

The awkward stare-down  continued for a few more moments. The elf wasn't trying to be rude, she just didn't know what to say. She averted her gaze, instead looking down at her bare feet. Luckily, Golas and Kryas broke the silence with questions about the paladin. Aria's brow furrowed as she thought about it - When was the last time she had seen Annia around, anyway?

?Yesterday...? Aria mumbled, just loud enough for them to hear. It was easy to tell the gears in the elf's head were turning as she ran through events from the day before. The last time she had seen her roommate, the two had been out for lunch. She had really grown to enjoy spending time with Annia...the paladin was one of the few people Aria felt comfortable enough to really speak to. Even when the elf had a hard time putting words together, Annia always managed to reply enthusiastically. After lunch, Annia and Aria had gone their separate ways. ?We ate..food..but not today.? Aria finally said. She sounded contemplative, as if still thinking hard.

When Kryas invited Aria out, she, like usual, wasn't sure what to say.
She wasn't even....dressed......yet......

The elf's cheeks slowly turned a light shade of pink, her grip on the door tightening slightly as she remembered she was still in her Pjs.

Without another word, Aria slammed the door shut.

Thanks to the comments and movements of the two beside him, Vladimir snaps out of his awkward stare down with Aria. He chuckles nervously, embarrassed. However, he was promptly met by a slammed door before he could respond. He sighed lightly to himself, his shoulders slumping slightly. Is every meeting going to be this...dramatic? Annia was the only 'normal' one, if I can say that. Vladimir thought as he stepped up and spoke through the door, knowing he had to say something.

"My apologies for the staring! I was just surprised, I've been trying to imagine what Annia's roommate would be like, and had not expected an elf, no less a beautiful one. I meant no ill-will, milady. My name is Vladimir Ludwik, I just came to the guild last night, so I can understand your look of suspicion. It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope next time we meet under more...comfortable circumstances." Of course, that was not the whole truth, as the reason for his extended staring was the look she'd given him. But he was not going to be rude, nor did he want to. The last thing Vladimir wanted was for history to repeat itself in that regard. She seemed like a good person, after all. Everyone here seemed that way.

With that, Vladimir backed away from the door and turned to Kryas and Golas. "Well, it seems she has not seen Annia for a while. Any other ideas of where she could be?" It was never confirmed whether Aria would join them, but if so, she could meet up with them once she was ready. For the sake of leaving a better impression on a new friend in the future, he hoped that was the case. He also hoped that his assumption that she was a new friend was true. Only time would tell.

Visiting Annia in her own quarters wasn't something Golas had done very often. There were the occasional times when he would start pounding on their door, much like he did this very morning to Kryas' room, and even though the large man had met Aria only a few times before, Golas never really mastered the charm or wit his bard friend had, and save for Annia who had become a steadfast friend and comrade in arms during his time in the guild, there really was little else that he had in common with the opposite gender. It made things connecting to someone as quiet as Aria even more difficult given the almost polar opposite personalities.

But even if they were opposites, it didn't necessarily mean that they had the opposite tastes.

"Mighty fine pastries you made Kryas, I might just end up eating them all!" He wasn't really going to, he was more curious about how Aria would react. Knowing what a person eats is the first step in knowing a person after all! At the very least he figured they should save some for Annia when they find her.

"Well, it seems she has not seen Annia for a while. Any other ideas of where she could be?" Vladimir had said as he turned towards Golas and Kryas. In response Golas shook his head.

"The lady-knight's around surely! The courtyard where she trains, sometimes outside the walls of the city, we have Kryas' bird, and if anything a wizard might be able to find her."

"Gaiz, gaiz," a familiar voice began, as a particular elf faded into view.

"I is wizard!"

"And I'm a raven!"

Both master and familiar declared with pride-one standing triumphantly before the group and the other hovering with the same elated emotion. For even though Lyolf was unaware of the full tale involved in such an odd gathering, he had at least heard that last part from the ever boisterous, larger-than-life man.

"...a wizard might find her."

And though he did not intend to eavesdrop on their conversation, the elf found that his highly-sensitive elven ears just could not entirely blot out all the background noise in the guild hall, thus filling him in on several interesting details. And from what he had heard, at least, it seemed as if some girl had gone missing-who it was, he couldn't quite tell-but from the guild member's tone, it was someone close.

"Who're you looking for?" The mage asked in a curious manner. "And..."

The raven sighed.

"Who's he?" Lyolf continued, while pointing at an unfamiliar pale face among them. Making his way closer towards the group, he then proceeded to poke said face while he waited patiently for an answer.

Vladimir cringed at the mention of wizards, and he hurriedly tried to clear his mind of what the word brought up; they were not fond, nor welcome memories. But fate had other plans for him, and would not let him run away from those feelings. As though he'd been waiting in the shadows the whole time, an actual wizard of the guild appeared as though the word itself was a queue. To make matters worse, he was obviously not right in the head. Is it a prerequisite that you're mentally unstable in order to become a wizard? Gods...

Then, as though he hadn't yet been tormented enough, the wild wizard walked up and poked Vlad's face. Several times. POKED it. Vladimir had to blink a few times in surprise, as he was in an utter stupor at the wizard-in-question's great lack of tact. Once he finally realized that the wizard was STILL poking his face, Vlad swatted the hand away, and gathered himself.

"My name is Vladimir, and I'm to be a new member of the guild starting today. Or at least I was, but the one that was going to help sort things out has gone missing. We're looking for Annia Sia- Would you stop that already!?" Vladimir said sharply, swatting away the wizard's prodding hand yet again, then rubbing him own cheek. He had kept poking the same spot, and it was starting to feel a bit sore. "You do know it's common courtesy to NOT invade the personal space of people you don't know well, right?"

Yes, this was a wizard. And he did not sit well with Vladimir. Yet another to add to the list.

"That's enough Lyolf." Kryas chuckled but it was a dangerous smile not one of happiness. Kryas knew the wizard to cause as much trouble as he did help in any given situation. Stepping between Vlad and Lyolf purposely to stop anything from escalating he turned to face the wizard?s familiar. Uli in Kryas experiences with the pair was that if he wanted anything out of them the one to have a conversation with was the crow.

?Good morning Uli having you both seem to have a lot of energy this morning. Hope this guy is not being to much of a handful for you.? Kryas smiled a real smile this time at the bird.

?So what do you say want to help us find Annia I?m sure she?s somewhere in the city but its not like her just to disappear wouldn?t you agree? We were thinking of looking around town I just want to make sure everything is above board.? His smile faltered slightly when he said the last line.

Leaning back to the bedroom door he called, "It would be great if you joined as well Aria if you want I?m sure we could always use a keen set of eyes in the search." He ribbed Vladimir lightly with his elbow afterword. How awkward the man had been around the elf was a perfect way to have a little fun. He would not be living down the encounter anytime soon.

Well that's interesting, the mage immediately thought, as the poking onslaught began.

"My name is Vladimir"

[spoiler=Poke]

"...and I'm to be a new member of the guild starting today."

[spoiler=Poke, poke]

"Or at least I was,"

[spoiler=Smudge.]

"...but the one that was going to help sort things out has gone missing."

[spoiler=Smudgepoke]

"We're looking for Annia Sia-"

[spoiler=Pokepokepokepokepokepokepoke]

"Would you stop that already!?"

...poke[/spoiler][/spoiler][/spoiler][/spoiler][/spoiler]

"Ah, sorry sorry," the elf laughed while waving his currently-non-poking hands in an apologetic manner. "Welcome to the guild!, he explained half a beat later. "I had just wanted to confirm something-and confirm it, I have!" Lyolf beamed triumphantly which, for a wizard...

...meant his face was giving off light rays as he spoke.

And though the light was faint, the fact that there had even been a light in the first place was worthy of note, turning an eye and drawing a light-hearted chuckle from several passing guild members. Already, it was an expression that some had come to either fear or adore depending on the situation involved-and rightly so. For mages have always been known to be more unpredictable than most.

Of which Lyolf was a shining example. Literally.

"That's enough Lyolf"

A new voice had cut-in. The half-elven bard. Kryas was his name, if the mage recalled correctly. Lyolf shrugged in response, finding no further need to continue his assault on the pale one's face anyways.

The standard introductions quickly followed, to which his raven responded with a simple: "You have no idea," all the while shaking its head with a sigh. That only widened the mage's grin.

But then the half-elf brought up something odd, the identity of the missing individual, and his grin disappeared completely. "So it was Annia..." The mage narrowed his eyes, first in doubt, then in complete and utter perplexity.

It made little sense, he knew. For though Lyolf was fairly new to the guild himself, he had already been acquainted with the personalities and habits of several other guild members-including those of the now-missing paladin. So he absolutely knew, beyond all doubt, that this wasn't like her. Had she been abducted, the elf pondered, or even killed? Or perhaps she was finally caving in for wearing all that needlessly cumbersome armor that knights like to wear, thus taking a looong unexpected nap.

But, of course, that latter option didn't seem likely.

The master and his familiar exchanged glances. "You can hold off on the search," Lyolf responded at length, and in all seriousness. Gone was all mischief and merriment from his face. Even the glow had faded. Due to all his past encounters, potential troubles now seemed to have that effect on him, and it was easy to tell whenever he grew serious. "If you'll all hear me out then..."

The mage reached into a well-used pouch hung on his sword-belt, to pull and present a humble forked twig taken from an aged willow tree.

"I've got a better idea."

Vladimir groaned at the light elbow, he knew what the hint was about and barely stifled a blush. That was NOT my best moment...hopefully I'll be able to live it down at some point...

Then he turned his attention back to the mage. Looking him over, Vladimir thinks about what Kryas was saying. You're asking HIM for help, Kryas? Does "help" even exist in his world? Then he watched the mages expression change, and heard the seriousness in his voice. It looks as though I spoke too soon...he's an odd fellow.

"An idea that'll replace our need to search, is it? What sort of idea?" Vladimir said as he watched the mage rummage through his bag and produce a forked twig. Magic. Of course it would involve magic. Well, let us see what this wild mage can do.

Yet, somewhere inside Vladimir's head, a single thought floated back and forth in his mind. For some reason, he saw Lyolf sticking that forked twig up someone's nostrils. He wasn't sure how he felt about this Lyolf.

Then without further adieu, the mage fell once more into the depths of spell-casting. His arms seemed to move as if with a mind of their own, tracing intricate lines and symbols that would appear, albeit briefly, on the open air. And with every stroke, every gesture of his hand, the oaken twig glowed yet brighter, casting the immediate area in a pale azure light. The process continued for several moments, with the magi's gestures becoming increasingly more complex and the light increasingly bright; however, in that small frame of time, in what seemed like only a mere moment to the few guild members in attendance was an unending eternity to Lyolf.

Several more moments passed to the audience, and thus several more eternities passed for Lyolf.

Arcane lines ran through him as he cast, connecting him on an almost spiritual level with the world around him. Such was his specialty in magic-the power of the Diviner. He saw brief glimpses of trees, grass, then a road. But the connection was weak. He could gather little information about such things as his mind soared past their existence. In the first place, there was only one object that he had in mind when he cast the spell, and it was only for that object that he felt a much deeper connection and pull.

For Annia, the still-missing paladin, carried a very peculiar sword around with her, seemingly at all times. Thus, to that one object did Lyolf put all his focus. Find the sword, and he'd find the paladin... or so he figured.

After his spell was finally cast, his hands were finally lowered, and the glow all but gone from the seemingly innocuous twig. Lyolf smiled bright and, in regards to the paladin's location, spoke with full confidence:

[spoiler]
"I have no idea"
[/spoiler]

Vladimir watched the spectacle unfold, not sure whether to be amazed at the ritual, or disturbed by the polar opposite personality that Lyolf has donned during it. It's all he had to think about while watching, after all; he was just waiting for an answer. Why did he play the part of a fool when he had such ability? Vladimir had heard that sometimes personalities could change when someone was focused, but this was extreme.

His thoughts were cut short, however, as the mage's spell was completed. It seemed that the spell was some sort of clairvoyance, and judging by the way he held himself it had to have been successf-

Quote"I have no idea."

...Well then...that was anticlimactic...why, oh why, did I put faith in a mage I just met. ESPECIALLY after he poked my face continuously.

"Ok...another other ideas on how to find Annia? If magic couldn't locate her, I'm starting to worry." He said with a slight tone of urgency. It's not like I know this town well...I can't exactly search.

Kryas had only seen lyolf's talent for diving a hand full of times before. He knew that that the elf was far better at his craft then he let on. So for him to find nothing meant that Annia's disappearance was more complicated then her getting preoccupied and not making it to the guild hall. To  not be able to be seen by magic meant that she was consciously being concealed from prying eyes. Bitting his lower lip slightly as he continued to calculate a plan he said, "This only means trouble."

Shifting his focus back to the present, "let's go see if the bird I sent out has come back yet it shouldn't have taken her long to respond then hopefully we'll have a lead." Running back downstairs and into the mail room he smiled when he saw the bird sitting on a perch chewing some millet as a reward for a job well done. Moving up to it he could see a slip of pink paper tied around one of it's legs. Tugging his prize free gently as to not spook the messenger he quickly retreated before reading the note. The paper smelled of roses as he he scanned the words a resigned dread filling his eyes.

The note read
"Come down to the Istus' Enclave  Immediately."

"We're leaving now everyone we don't have much time to waste it seems Annia has gotten herself in some sort of trouble. It seems like my friend might have found something  useful we need to go into the city now!" Kryas did not waste much more time in the hall then grabbing what little gear he needed and scribbling a note to Aria to find them if she wanted to come along.

Quote"This only means trouble."

That one statement helped Vladimir to realize that things may be more dire than a simple 'missing person' case. What if she was actually taken, or worse overpowered, while out. And why was she out so early in the first place? His mind began to swirl with thoughts or what could and couldn't happen. He had seen much in his travels, especially or the good and evil that people could accomplish, racial anxiety aside. It had only been a night, but Vladimir had come to realize this guild, and this town, to hold a special case of the good that people could harbor. But in his happiness at finding an accepting home, he was blinded to one reality; there is always evil to match the good. He wasn't sure if this was it, but it could be. And that brought him fear. Fear of losing a new friend; fear of losing a good friend. Yes, it had only been a night since he'd met any of these people, and most of them didn't even know 'him', but Annia and Kryas were the first to wholeheartedly accept him after knowing the truth of things, and to lose that overnight was tearing open multiple old wounds. He would do anything possible to keep that from resurfacing.

Kryas' expression told him that this fear was possibly a reality. While Vladimir had been lost in thought, the group had made their way to where the guild kept their messenger birds. It was his first time seeing the room, though that wasn't saying much, since he'd just come in that night. All he could think was, for the split moment he was distracted from current events, that there were a large assortment of birds. Hawks and owls for scouting, raven and pigeons for general messaging, among others of which he wasn't quite sure.

But that didn't matter now, he would gawk over it all once Annia was found, and safe. He saw that Kryas had spotted the bird in question, and retrieved a message. That it had a message inspired hope. That is, until Kryas' expression slowly turned dour. Vladimir steeled himself before asking the question.

"What does it say?"

Quote"Come down to the Istus' Enclave immediately."

"Istus' Enclave? What is that?" At this point, they were already running through the halls. He was not happy to run out in broad daylight, but by now he was good at hiding the discomfort. Though luckily that wouldn't be a problem, as he was able to borrow a hooded cloak from Kryas on the way out.

"What kind of trouble is she in if it's with this Enclave?" Vladimir wasn't sure what to think, mostly because he didn't know what was happening. These politics and events were foreign to him, but he almost immediately began brushing aside his questions about details. Nothing mattered now but making it to their destination on time.

Kryas did not answer Vlad's question right away as he spearheaded the groups way into the city. He purposefully forwent any form of transportation that might arouse suspicion. Who knew who or what might have been watching the guild hall at that moment and he didn't want his hand tipped just yet until he knew more. As he turned on to one of the more crowded main streets he feel back slightly coming closer to the others behind him. He maintained a quick pace but purposefully built a mask of composure and mirth in case of wandering eyes.

Throwing his arm lightly over Vlad's shoulders once again he began barely steering the vampire though the crowds. This was a best a time as any to answer the questions that Kryas could still see on his face.

?The Enclave is the headquarters that my friend has created within the city to run her various enterprises.? He was careful to word his responses just so to make them sound uninteresting to those passing by. ?For her to want to meet face to face means that theirs something she wants to keep as quite as possible.? He waited a moment for the weight of his statement to sink in as they went along. The group continued through the streets turning from the market street to the plaza that separated the normal town to the wealthier districts.

Crowded stalls turned to window boxes and flower hedges. Stone status of the gods and various beasts greeted or grimaced at them. They did not stay here long however as the half elf forced the group to take a sharp turn into one of the many cobble paved offshoots. This road was more of an alleyway then anything else really as they were between large buildings that were so close together that their slopping shingled roofs made a shaded canopy from the sun and sky. Kryas was purposefully picking a roundabout route to his destination just to be safe. After quite a while pf moving from somewhat dingy and gross alley to even more claustrophobic alley opened into a larger main street somewhere in the guts of the city.

The Red light district particularly the higher end regions known as the Land of Dreams was far more open and clean. Fresh cut flowers and bright colored builds lined both sides of the street unlike far more stereotypical areas. The nobles paid well to satisfy their tastes and this area showed it. The morning was just starting to really come to an end an women looked out from their second floor balcony?s calling or waving at the regulars enticing them to stay another night. Bodyguards stood watch by every doorway in the shadows as men and women alike discreetly went about their business. There were all variety of people from humans to what looked like a lady with fox tails all were in the many buildings, and a surprising lack of clothing for this early in the morning.

Several of the guards tensed as they went passed hands on their weapons of choice until they noticed the half elf amongst them after which most relaxed. While Guild members were not forbidden from going to such places they acted as a secondary police force which often enough meant that if they showed up they were bad for business. Kryas on the other hand had done enough favors around this part of town to have a warmer welcome. Many of the girls called both his and Golas? Names as they passed. The giant in particular seemed to get a lot of attention as they continued along something about the ?Red Mane Lion? continued to float through the air.

Kryas did his best to simply ignore them while smiling or giving small nods to those who would not stop without being acknowledged. His goal was one of the largest buildings that stood slightly separated from the others by a small courtyard. The Istus? Enclave was the Headquarters for  one of the largest underground networks in the city. Rosa had eyes and ears everywhere and kept things funded using the money earned from her many gambling houses and brothels. She was a den mother of sorts protecting those she cared about tooth and nail and enialating those who got in her way.

Kryas respected her style and bravado and had started their friendship because they both knew that the other was not as they first appeared. Removing himself from the group the half elf knocked on the heavy mahogany door in front of them using the obsidian knocker shaped like a dragons head. The only way into the Enclave was by invitation and they did not take kindly to unwanted guests.

Repost for LIn

The pace at which they moved was troublesome at first for Vladimir, due to the sunlight, but he was able to shrug off the brunt of the queasiness soon enough. Kryas' answers definitely helped distract him his adversity toward the sun. "That seems fairly admirable, but something seems off. "Why is there a need for such discretion?" But as soon as they turned the corner, he had his answer. Though higher-end than most, it was without a doubt a red light district. "Oh." That is all Vladimir had to say aloud. So that's why he was so vague. But now the real question. What in the world does Annia, a paladin, have to do with this area of the city!? And I though she was the normal one... Vladimir thought to himself, a perplexed expression on his face as they continued to run through the town.

He noted the tension caused by guild members as they passed, but then praises for Kryas and Golas. What the praises were truly for, Vladimir couldn't say, but it at least SEEMED personal. I just can't get a solid read on these guild people...first they seem heroic, then relatively petty or flaky. Well, at least they're friendly. Vladimir concludes his thoughts with a nod of approval as they approach what looks to be the main compound. Once Kryas knocked on the doors, Vladimir immediately got an ominous feeling. It wasn't danger, just very unsettling, like he wasn't going to like where he was going.

"So, what kind of person are we dealing with here...?" Vladimir said cautiously, staring up at the large doors and examining the building.

"Some sort of information broker by the last time I came around here." Golas had been busy waving back and grinning widely at all the women giving him attention, but he had enough sense in him to respond back to Vladimir. "The girls here give some pretty good back rubs Vlad." He grinned as he elbowed the man.

However once Kryas lifted the knocker from its place, its sound resonating on the mahogany doors, Golas sobered up, as he stood behind the two with him, a towering presence but curious still for when the door would open.

Immediately after she had slummed it shut,  Aria had slunk down beside the door, too mortified to make any further movements. She listened as those outside her room continued to speak - The newest one offering apologies. A slight tinge of guilt hit her gut. For whatever reason this kind of thing happened often...She was so easily misunderstood, and had undoubtedly offended the newcomer.

With a sigh, she continued listening in on the conversation, mostly wanting to know what the deal was with Annia. Something was wrong? It did seem a little odd she hadn't seen her friend in so long...But it was hard to believe anything bad could have happen to the paladin. She was beautiful, strong, smart...beautiful...Aria shook herself out of her own thoughts, and finally brought herself to her feet.

Embarrassment had momentarily turned to worry at this point. She took little time to get herself clothed, not wanting to fall too far behind the others. She'd often walked alone through the city since arriving, but there were a few areas she had yet to explore.
Just as she'd taken hold of the door handle, the elf heard the crinkling of paper beneath her boot. "Hm?" Picking it up, she found a note from Kyras.

---

Luckily for the elf, the group hadn't made it too far ahead. She found her guildmates just as Kyras led them into some back alleys. She followed at a distance, still a bit embarrassed from their earlier encounter. The area around them seemed to change a lot, the further in they went. It wasn't long until they reached an area she'd never even seen before, despite her constant exploring.

Aria began to feel a little self-conscious as they continued through. It felt as if people had been staring at her - But why? Her outfit did show a fair amount of skin...but glancing at the other girls in the area, that didn't seem too odd. She crossed her arms, picking up her pace. She didn't want to track so far behind anymore.

The elf finally caught up to her guild mates as they came to a door. She stood silently behind them, waiting. Hopefully they'd figure out where Annia was.

Vladimir picked up the sound of footsteps coming up behind them, mostly because he was so guarded about the area. He was, however, pleasantly surprised at who it was. Not a stranger, nor possible threat, but Aria, the elf he'd met awkwardly an hour or so ago. He'd not actually expected her after their first meeting, considering both how the meeting went, and the fact that she'd not exactly seemed to be a morning person. Almost immediately, he recalled that awkward situation, and was barely unable to hide a look of embarrassment. Nonetheless, Vladimir managed a smile at the woman.

"Good morning, Aria. Glad you managed to find your way safely and meet up with us." He said with a hint of sheepishness, then finally steadying himself, "Hopefully this venture will help us figure out what your roommate managed to get herself into so quickly."

The doors opened wide before the group followed by a gust of perfume-drenched air that smelled strongly of sage and roses. The particular incense was a favorite of the club as it was supposedly useful in the art of detecting hidden magic. To anyone who was new to the place it might seem flamboyant and overpowering. The interior of the large building was split into three major levels all connected by the grand entrance hall made to look like a temple of a goddess. The three major floors each were connected by a central staircase that seemed to stretch all the way to the mosaic stained glass roof.

?Welcome esteemed guests to the Enclave!? Said a tall and elegant woman dressed in a white kimono with a pink floral pattern, and had her waist long Auburn hair in al lose bun held together with a jeweled flower pin. She greated the group with a smile and hugged Kryas as she drew closer. She was a good half a foot tall then the already lanky bard and carried herself with a deceptive strength. Not to mention her outfit while covering her highlighted her already outstanding features. Those who were directly next to the bard may have noticed her whisper something in his ear before she moved back.

?We have been expecting you, I apologize for us having to call you all out here even though your already in a hurry. Rosa did not want this getting out into the streets. If one of the other interested parties realized something was going on.?

?You both did what you thought was the right thing, and I?d prefer to step carefully myself.? Then realizing that he was leaving the rest of the group in the dark he quickly said, ?Guys this is the Enclave?s second in command everyone Miss North she keeps this place from falling to pieces while Rosa goes wild.?

?Don?t let her hear that she?s liable to hang you upside down from the balcony till your face is purple.? North laughed slightly. ?She?s in her office looking things over I?ll take you there and hopefully get you on your way.? With a wave of her hand she began leading them up the large staircase. She went pas the ground floor lounges the second floor gambling rooms and onto the far more secluded third floor. Where the other two floors seemed crowded and lively the third floor was much calmer and had many more closed doors that appeared to be magical in some manner or another.

North upon reaching the third floor cut through the halls going along a practiced path to an ornate oak door segregated from everything else.  She quickly knocked before opening the door and ushering them all inside before following. A warm carpeted room greeted them with a small fire in a fireplace in the corner and a woman with long black hair and mocha skin tied back in a ponytail. She was looking over some kind of builder?s blueprints.

?How?s it going Rosa?? Kryas said with a smile only to get a sharp death glare in return.

?You know anytime your involved in anything my life just fills with complecations? You seem to be a magnet for crazy people Smiles.?

Kryas only shrugged, ?Life is to short to be boring at least that?s always been my opinion. So what have your girl?s found??

Rosa seemed to only snort slightly before rubbing her forehead as if to stop a headache that already was in full force. ?After you sent that note I started pumping my sources and sending my agents to every bar within a good thirty blocks of the guild looking for any witnesses or rumors and what they turned up well to be honest stink?s worst then owl bear dung in the middle of summer. Your friend Annia seemed to have gotten herself kidnapped from a couple of mobsters from the east looking to set up a foothold in this town. Now normally, It would be easy enough for any of the families to mop up any upstarts who don?t know how things are run. But these guys are different. They have supposedly set up shop in some kind of ruins that had been covered over centuries ago. What worse is that the whispers about these guys are that they have several necromancers in their ranks for support. So not only do we have to find what ever hole they crawled into but, there is no telling what horror?s they have cooked up down in those tunnels. No doubt they would sense anyone who still had a living pulse a mile a way.?

"Then what are we waiting for!" The large man boomed. Golas looked as if he were ready to blast out of the building to look for Annia, but there was still some important pieces of information he needed. "Show us where to go, and we'll pick up that missy! To think she could be bested by thugs." The large man spoke nonchalantly, but there was a certain tinge of worry in his usual sureness.

The fighter was never really great at thinking of plans, and as he cupped his hands together, itching for a fight, it was easy to tell that Golas just wanted to get his hands on the kidnappers.

It's too...sweet...and heavy. That's all Vlad could think as the rush of air swept past him from behind the doorway. This was the one time he was damning his heightened senses. He stifled a cough, and resisted covering his nose to avoid being rude. But he could barely breathe, and already longed for fresh air. He quietly muttered to himself, "I knew this area would be flamboyant, but gods this is overdoing it..."

However, upon realizing that they were his new roommate's friends, at least judging by the conversation, he immediately understood the overwhelming nature of the building. Vladimir was extremely confused about what this place even had to offer, as far as finding Annia. It didn't sound like she was here, and this certainly didn't seem like the place for information...or is it? Shady districts certainly had a reputation for information dealings.

Vladimir looked to the bard once again, just before reaching the intended room. Who are you, Kryas, to have connections like these...

The head of the Enclave, Rosa, was much more terse and ornery than Vladimir had expected. Especially for an information broker. Sure, almost all of them had a poor temper, it seemed a requirement for the job. But maybe it was that she lacked...class? No, despite the overwhelming incense, the whole establishment had good status. Ah, refinement, that's it. With how Kryas and Miss North referred to her, plus her own demeanor, Rosa was hardly as lady-like as he'd expected. Granted it was nice to have a blunt broker for once, one that didn't dance around the issue to avoid saying too much. But the surprise at her personality was still there.

Vladimir listened intently to what she had to say, getting another shock when they said the paladin had been bested by thugs. That hardly seemed right; he didn't think he'd overestimated Annia, and felt she was easily about such mistakes. There has to be something-

Then it was said. Necromancers. ...That would explain it. A paladin's natural enemy. Though Annia was hardly a normal paladin; she'd accepted a vampiric creature like him, after all.

Ah. It hit him as soon as Rosa mentioned it. 'Anyone who still had a living pulse', is it?

He looked over to Kryas to confirm that the bard had a similar idea, but made sure to give a look as though to say "keep it a secret, still, for now." It seems this would be the perfect mission for Vladimir to do a little...scouting.

"Pardon me for asking any more of you, but would you happen to have a decent idea of which ruins they may be hiding in? And maybe have a layout of them? I'd like to get whatever knowledge I can, for Annia's sake." Vladimir had a careful, but stern look on his face, determination showing plainly.

Aria said nothing, despite Vladimir?s friendly greeting - but not only for the obvious reasons?Something was bothering the elf. Something about the area, the people?It was all vaguely familiar. She let out a quiet sigh, unable to really figure out why she?d know such a place. It wasn't even just the place, it was the atmosphere. Aria continued trailing behind the others once the doors were opened. Things only got worse once they were inside. Aria rubbed her forehead, suddenly finding she wasn't feeling so well.

Something nobody had asked Aria ? Where was she from? In some ways she was glad since, even if they had asked, she couldn't really answer. Once in a while things would spark her memory?But, not really memories, as much as feelings. There wasn't time for it right now though; more important things were at hand. They were eventually led to a more secluded section, where they met the ever so mysterious Rosa.

?Your friend Annia seemed to have gotten herself kidnapped??

The elf made an audible gasp at Rosa's words, her hands clasping over her mouth. The courageous and beautiful paladin...Had been kidnapped?? This day was simply becoming too much.

"Pardon me for asking any more of you, but would you happen to have a decent idea of which ruins they may be hiding in??

Vladimir had inquired. Aria nodded quickly, also wanting the information. There would be no rest till Annia was back home and safe.

Rosa simply looked at the pair of them with a sidelong smirk waving her arms wide to signal all the large faded blueprints that are scattered around the room.

"What do you think? This is my business after all", she motioned everyone to gather around the large drafting table that she used as a desk and pointed at a faded city plan that looked several centuries old.

"The city of Ternandan as some of you may or may not know was original the sight of several previous settlements and cities in the past. These sites were all destroyed either one way or another. Now most often those cities were completely demolished by natural disasters or monster attacks that used to occur in this region before the establishment of the guilds. When there were ruins that remained people mostly just built structures around what remained. By incorporating the old with the new the city itself has been able to survive for an incredibly long time despite its size.

However, about 500 years ago the clock got reset as it were when a serious of devastating earthquakes swallowed a significant portion of the city. True to form this portion of the city that had become almost completely buried became the first series of catacombs that were created. It is my belief that the cult has set up shop somewhere deep within these original tunnels. The problem is that the documentation of what existed at the time leaves a great deal to be desired.? At this she let out a small sigh, ?The city archives are extremely lacking in terms of historical information and the crime bosses had yet to appear so even those records don?t help much. I was however, able to find an old bootleggers map that at least talks of a hidden entrance to a passageway that was used in that area to help smuggle goods when taxes were bad.

As long as it still exists someone could use that passageway to get into the catacombs, and then from there all they would have to do is follow the stench of decay and dark magic.?[/color]

?Sounds like we have a plan then!?[/color] smiled Kryas happily, ?I know you would have exactly what we would need Rosa.?[/color]

?Yeah, Yeah Smiles don?t thank me yet this was easy. There is still that problem of anything living not being able to get close enough to whatever rat?s nest they?ve made down there to save your paladin. And I don?t employ Zombies, the smell alone would kill my business.?[/color]

?Leave that part to me,?[/color] Kryas smirked glancing only a moment at Vladimir in recognition.

?Oh, really?? [/color]she said giving the bard a quizzical look before just shaking her head. ?You know what forget it. I should now better then to question you about these types of things Smiles.?[/color] She laughed a little as she rolled up the map and handed it to the closest person who happened to be Vladimir.

?The entrance to the underground passageway is a trapdoor in the cellar of a bakery on the other side of town. The Morning Bun, I already talked to the owner, so he should be expecting you. Just drop buy and say that I sent you and he should let you right down.?[/color]

?Thanks Rosa, for everything.?[/color]

?Just make sure you clear them all out for me I don?t want to leave any down their to procreate if you know what I mean.?[/color]

?Got it! Kay guys shall we head out??[/color] asked Kryas.

As they all said their goodbyes, and began to leave the office Rosa stopped Kryas with a hand on his shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

?Oh! That?s right I completely forgot,?[color] Waving the others forward he said, ?Sorry about this guys I gotta stay here for a bit you mind going ahead without me? I?ll catch up soon.?[/color] Without waiting for a response Miss North closed the door to the office, effectively sealing the room from any prying eyes or ears. Any attempts to listen in would now be impossible.

As the information about the task at hand was revealed, Vladimir was becoming much more comfortable. This was EXACTLY what he was hoping when he heard what the group was like. And they thought THEIR home was darkness...

Vladimir began studying the map while the final pleasantries were exchanged. However, it suddenly dawned on him. How was he to explain WHY they could get past the "living barrier" that kept being mentioned? Kryas and Annia were the only ones that knew he was vampiric, and there was no guarantee that the others would welcome that information.

Do I not let them know how I'll do it and go solo, or tell them and hope it works out. I trust them, without a doubt, if for no other reason than that Galas'nor welcomed me overnight. But some may have inhibitions, or past experiences of trauma with vampires. Losing trust isn't what I want from such good people...not again. But waiting and having them find out later may be worse. What's will do more damage, witholding the truth, or the truth itself?

Anyone watching Vladimir saw his focused look of study slowly turn to a thoughtful, perturbed expression. It was hard to tell what bothered him, but it was assumed to be the plan.

Having made up his mind, Vladimir steeled himself and prepared what he would say. He would tell them the truth, for Annia's sake, and so they did not follow him. But not here. He could tell immediately that in such an organization, the walls had ears.

"Well, for now, let's head back to the guild hall and think up a plan of approach. We can wait for Kryas there. Personally, I'd just like to get out of this foreign, overly-perfumed area..." He had muttered those last thoughts under his breath, not quite audible, or so he hoped. Vladimir then motioned toward the exit, "Shall we?"

The walk itself was fairly casual, but seemed a bit quite. After all, tension was high. For the rest of the group, it was approaching a group of necromancers without being noticed. For Vladimir, it was approaching his new friends about why he WOULDN'T be noticed. It was a somewhat awkward situation, but at least it was peaceful. It had at least given him time to think.

Telling them was certainly the right choice. He would be able to find out, then and there, who could not tolerate his presence, and properly avoid them to cause the least disturbance. On the other hand, those who found his existence tolerable would not view him as suspiciously compared to if he'd hidden this knowledge. After all, being told by the vampire he is such shows a purposeful, respectful avoidance of subtlety. Revealing such a disadvantageous secret would garner more trust from him. Right?

Vladimir still wasn't sold on the idea. But all the while, they'd reached the guild hall. Time was up. As they approached a planning room for debriefing and brainstorming, the methuselan steadied himself once more. Alright, Vladimir, time to speak and face the consequences.

As the doors closed and the maps slid onto the table before the group, Vladimir cleared his throat lightly before speaking. "...Everyone, before we begin, I've something important to say." He paused to make sure he had their attention. "No doubt, you've all been puzzling over how to get past the life-detecting magics of the cult since we first heard about them. It certainly does pose a problem." He looked around to see everyone somewhat nodding, but still confused about why such a thing was brought up first. "However, I know a way around it. Or at least, I should say, I personally can get around the magic due to a single flaw." At this, people froze, with excited looks on their faces, a couple even mouthing 'How!?'

"The flaw is that it can't detect the dead."

He could already tell he'd stunned the group, but at least half of them considered the observation a dumb joke. At this, he changed the subject to the night before. "I only just came to the guild the night before, so most of you are probably wondering who exactly I am, and why I'm so invested in this search. Well, I was welcomed into the guild by both Annia and Kryas, and they made a very strong, positive impression on me. For you see, I was scared of approaching and entering the hall, you could even call it somewhat traumatic for me. But despite my fear and faults, those two welcomed me with kind smiles. They blew my fears away. So, in a sense, I owe them both my sanity."

Once again, he paused, but this time for his own sake. It's time, there's no going back now.

Vladimir looked down, pondering as he spoke, then lifted his head and held his gaze with his last statement. "For you see...my reason for being afraid is...I am of the undead."

The large man who had been listening intently just prior, burst out in a warm laughter.

"I hope you're in jest, you don't look undead at all. You're not shambling from what I can tell, and I don't remember ever smelling anything close to rotting meat. A bit pale and thin, but that's not anything a bit of meat can't fix! Buahaha!" With that Golas somehow pulled what looked to be jerky from seemingly out of no where and tossed it towards the direction of Vladimir. That done, he leaned in close, his large hands reaching for Vladimir's shoulder, his steeled eyes leveled with the man.

"You are just joking aren't you?"

Vladimir caught the meat with a wistful smile and twiddled with it in a bit of thought, before taking a small bite out of it. Leave it to the big man to have good jerky on him. He thought jokingly. Quickly shaking himself from that tangent thought, he gathered himself and responded to the question at hand.

Vladimir bowed his head slightly and shook it, completely understanding, nay used to, this disbelief. Upon raising his eyes to meet those of Golas once more, he stated, "This is no joke. I am pale and thin because of this status. Specifically, I am a type of vampire, unwillingly so, I might add. Though I may look to be in my forties, I have lived for more than a century by now. Though I cannot prove it to you, I am well under control, and do not have bloodthirst. I will not bring harm to any of you, even if you cannot tolerate my existence. In any case, I beg you, interrogate me on this matter later, for now I desperately wish to save my new companion. And from where I'm standing, I'm one of the only ones that can. Please, with this knowledge, make use of me. Help me plan this out."

With this final statement, through which he was obviously becoming more and more tense, Vladimir made a final, proper, bow. He held this position until someone spoke. Though there was quite the silence. He'd seen their faces as he spoke, the stress and worry growing. The conflicting feelings deepening as Vladimir had explained himself.

All I can do now is wait for their judgement. I imagine they'll allow me to help out of desperation, but I truly hope my companionship with them does not end there.

The silence hung heavy in the air as all gathered before the confessed methuselan were both shocked and lost in thought. It was understandable, and their fear even more reasonable now that they were locked in the same room as a vampire. Why should they trust me? I was surprised enough that a paladin did so, but that lulled me into thinking the whole guild was of the same temperament. I was foolish. It was all he could think as he looked at the group before him, their eyes averting from his gaze as they thought.

Vladimir got the hint.

Without another word, he confidently strode out from the meeting room, taking the maps with him. Then I will go on my own...do what I can to repay their kindness by returning Annia to them. And then...I shall leave. It's obvious this is not my home.

His first task was to find the place, scout out an entrance, and then wait until dark. From there, he would let his instincts take over. Though he hated to admit it, darkness was without a doubt his friend. He could still move while remaining unseen, and the moonlit night did not make him nauseous. Yes, he was perfectly comfortable in the dark. Thus at the passing of dusk outside the ruins, Vladimir breathed a sigh of relief. But he was still tense due to the situation; not the situation of rescue, but of 'pest control'. And he was not tense due to lack of confidence, but more from a bloodlust. Rosa had said to clear out the den, and necromancers just happened to be his least favorite kind of person. Mobsters were not much higher up. He would not hold back. It was time to work.

As he approached the passage detailed on the map, Vladimir took in a deep breath, then exhaled to calm himself. It was not often he would fall to his unnatural instincts, but this was one of those rare exceptions. He had to truly embrace his affinity with darkness. He closed his eyes and focused in order to be as silent as possible while he gathered strength. No, that wasn't right. While he unleashed it. His arms and fingers elongated slightly, his teeth became almost hypodermic needles, his eyes changed from the fluorescent green to a prominent red. He had transformed into a creature of the night. A form he loathed, but now had learned to embrace as part of himself. It was in this form that his more vicious instincts awakened. Vladimir did not drink the blood of people, but he deemed those before him, in the depths of the ruins, as the carrion of society. They were not people, but merely trash to be disposed of.

Thus the methuselan entered into the depths, ready to hunt.

Though there were indeed undead minions, they were of a low caliber and easy to avoid. It was obvious the mobsters couldn't gather too many grand necromancers. That meant that the 'life-detecting barrier' was being performed by the powerful ones. This made his scouting incredibly easy. Sure, portions of the passage were well lit, but not nearly enough that Vladimir would have to step into the open. His darkvision made it easy to skirt around patrolled areas, getting into position. Once he understood the nearby area of the first guard post, he began his hunt. The first target was the one that could sound the alarm, as those left in this position were usually quick and perceptive, but weak. He quickly dragged the man into the dark, silencing him, then draining him of blood until the methuselan had enough for healing. Next were the two patrolmen. He waited until they needed to split momentarily to check separate tunnels, jumping one and slicing his throat with his kukri, then running around to silence and skewer the second with his rapier.

Once the guard post was disposed of, Vladimir knew he had to act fast. They would soon notice that life was flickering out within the barrier, and Vladimir would be greatly outnumbered. He needed to find Annia, whom he could hopefully arm, and have someone to watch his back once things got messy. He may be one with darkness, but his stealth wouldn't last forever. Thus, until he rescued Annia, he would not kill anyone he didn't have to. The only exception was any necromancers he came across, as they were dangerous entities. Over the course of the next few hours, he weaved through the caves carefully, never killing anyone near a former target, which caused the entire group to have to spread thin. He'd managed to slay three necromancers, which promptly disabled the undead. This was the moment he'd been waiting for, when the bulk of the guards were not near the prisoners. He followed the map to try and see which of the vaguely detailed areas were the stockades, finally stumbling upon a room with two hulking mobsters. They weren't normal hirelings, and Vladimir couldn't fight them head-on or he'd surely die. It was time to get creative.

Vladimir scouted the room while staying in the shadows, looking for anything he could use for distraction or incapacitation. He cursed himself for not having the resources for supplies like he normally would in an infiltration mission, but with his goal right in front of his eyes, he couldn't give up now. But the room was bare, save for a couple barrels and plenty of rocks. So all he could do was throw rocks.

...Huh...

A thought came to him. An incredibly idiotic, long-shot kind of thought. But what else could he do? He quietly picked up five rocks, preparing to rapid-fire them. However, he wasn't aiming at the men, but the walls. Please work...! He pleaded as he quickly pitched them in a lob against the wall. The first hit at the entryway, then immediately after another hit about 10 feet into the room. The last three hit in a line leading to the nearest barrel, with the final one striking against the barrel.

Normally rocks hitting a wall would have you look around...but if it specifically stops upon reaching a 'hiding place' then maybe...YES! The two men carefully approached the barrel in guarded curiosity. By now the prisoners were awake and trying to understand what was happening. Whether any saw Vladimir, he didn't know. But they at least didn't point him out if they did. And he was thankful for that, due to what he needed to do next.

The rogue rushed forward, using the strength of his transformation to lift the man and dump him inside the barrel, catching the other one flat-footed and without time to react. Now that he was in the light, his form were apparent and all, even the prisoners saw him for what he was. Cries of 'monster', 'demon' and 'help' wailed from the cages as the guard went for a cautious attack to slay the sudden;y-appearing vampire. But Vladimir read him.

Strong, yes. But truly foolish and unskilled. Vladimir thought as he danced around the guard's swings, answering back with thrusts and slashes of his own. One-on-one, Vladimir couldn't lose this fight, and due to his opponents' bulk, the other was still stuck in the barrel. But he would break out soon; he had to end this fast. The thug endured like a bull, however, and Vladimir brought him to his knees only barely in time for the other to break free. The methuselan groaned in disappointment. There goes my chance to free them before the other was free...time to fight!

Vladimir deftly parried the other guard's hammer, though he had to use both blades to do so. Ugh...heavy! I can't get hit by that. Vladimir changed from a duelist's stance to one of pure defense, waiting for an opportunity to strike. After a good half-minute, the man finally fumbled a strike by swinging short and hitting the ground. "HA!" Vladimir shouted in an offensive maneuver, stepping onto the hammer and slashing at the wrists of the man to disarm him. The series of counter-attacks made by Vladimir were vicious and well-aimed, leaving the man to collapse from the accumulated wounds. Vladimir used some of the blood he'd pooled from earlier to regenerate from the skirmish, then searched the men for keys.

"There we are!" He stated joyfully, and quickly ran to the cages. But, as per usual, all within them recoiled in horror, begging to be spared. The rogue grimaced, and wanted to right the misunderstanding, but knew talking wouldn't help. So he decided not to address the crowd's fears, letting his actions speak as he unlocked both cages. "I'm unlocking these now, but there are still many thugs in these caves. Be careful as you make your way out. I'd recommend waiting, but I can't guarantee I can come back for you to lead you out. Also, is a woman named Annia here, by chance?" Vladimir surveyed the room, hoping he'd reached his goal and found his friend.

The survivors were varied. Old men, women, young ones, children, adults, and judging from their clothing seemed to be from most walks of life. One thing similar between all of them were their tired eyes from the many sleepless nights.

When Vladimir emerged unlocking the cages, none of the captured survivors made any move to head out. Even with his demeanor as calming and as placating as Vladimir could be, the nerves of the individuals there had seen too much horror to register Vladimir's meaning and words. They instinctively withdrew when the gates opened on their cages. There were a couple who wailed, begging to be spared, and others too who drew back against the further end of their cage, attempting to increase the distance between themselves and the undead thing in front of them.

Their eyes were filled with fear, and even loathing as they stared upon Vladimir. To the frightened individuals, they didn't see a savior. Instead they saw an undead beast open the gates to their cages - like many, many times before. They knew what was coming. Every time those gates opened, one of them would be taken away. They would hear the screams. The muffled cries of the individuals still with them who had known the victim. Then... the silence. It was the silence that clawed at them the most, knowing full well that the anguish would come again.

With Vladimir standing right outside their cages, they looked like frightened cattle, and for all intents and purposes, they probably were treated like cattle as well. Yet even though most of them had fear in their eyes, there was one who stared at Vladimir willfully and with purpose.

"A-are you here to free us?" The girl asked. She looked to be in her early twenties, and by all standards was pleasant to look at, comely even. Her momentary hesitation vanished when Annia's name was mentioned.

"Annia... They brought her in last night." She said. "They've beaten her pretty bad when she first arrived. I did as much as I could to tend to her wounds. But..." She looked away then, hesitantly.

"They took her a couple hours ago. And..." She looked troubled then, leaving her sentence unfinished.

Vladimir could only sigh in relief when someone spoke up reasonably. Truly a jewel amongst tarnished pieces. He thought to himself. And it was true, as she was surprisingly beautiful on top of being so level-headed in the situation. "Yes, I'm freeing you all. Though my appearance may make it hard to believe, I am not with those necromancers and thugs. I'm a friend of Annia's and came to free her. Bu had I known so many others were caught, I would have made a more fervent attempt to bring reinforcements..." He trailed off at the thought, but quickly moved past it. Now was not the time to mope.

Vladimir grimaced at the mention of what had happened to Annia, "Damn it all! So much was done in such little time." His thoughts went out to his friend. For such a kind individual to suffer like this was truly depressing. "Thank you for doing what you could. I'm going to continue on and try to get her before something worse happens. Do you and everyone else here think you can manage to escape?" He was worried, especially with how traumatized they all were, and the fact that there were still mobsters about.

Though most of the undead are gone...ah, undead. Vladimir soon began hiding his visage from the group. "I'm sorry, after all you've been through, seeing me must be quite unpleasant. I'll take my leave...be safe, so you can get back home. You're in ruins on the outskirts of Ternadan. Take care." He said genuinely as he began walking out of the room, back into the darkness, and toward his friend.

As Vladimir left, the others behind were gathered by the girl who had spoken before with Vladimir. They were still afraid, wary of their surroundings, and many of them had already lost hope, but the girl continued to prod them. She had a good amount of presence as she proceeded to rally the others back to their senses, and prepare a plan to get out of the den. One by one the others shook themselves out of their trance-like state, and soon enough They were prepared to move out.

The girl looked towards where their mysterious savior had vanished. Her eyes too curious, as well as worried about their new-found ally.

"Save Annia for us." She said to nothing but the darkness. She moved on forward, towards where she hoped the exit would be, followed by the scared and frightened mob. But she knew this was better, their savior, was something... dead, and his presence alone wouldn't have helped the rest of these survivors. It would have made things worse, with the townsfolk simply too afraid of him.

The girl started humming softly then, enough for those right behind her to hear. The soft sweet sound, as if it was magical, raised their morale and eased their fears if only slightly.

Their savior had given them this opportunity, and she would not squander the parting gift.

---

Something was wrong, it didn't take a lot to figure that out. Annie's familiar presence wasn't nearby, instead, he felt strangers... Many of them. The same thugs that had brought her down and captured the knight. Not only that, he felt something worse; it was the undead. Some strong necromatic magic pervaded the area, and the magical sword knew that this den they had stumbled upon, was far from ordinary.

He had never encountered other sentient objects like himself before, but from what he knew sentient swords usually only looked out for themselves. However, as Jin continued to scry around the narrow entry ways and halls, he couldn't help but worry about the knight. He regretted not being able to pick himself up and search after the young one. Those days were long gone, he knew that well, but with the change there were also many other things he would not have been able to do otherwise. As he continued to scan the area around him, he noticed a familiar presence that crossed right into his field of sensing; it was the methuselan that they had met just the night before. Vladimir, as he introduced himself.

There were other rashly thrown equipment around him, possibly from all the other captives that their enemies had taken. But if Vladimir kept going forward, he should run into here. And hopefully, just hopefully, Jin, the katana, would be able to catch Vladimir's attention enough to have the man take of hold him. His alternative was manifesting a physical form that could easily catch Vladimir's attention, but Jin knew that that would drain his powers too much even if temporary, and the amount of uncertainty in the short future soon to come had let Jin decide that the former course of action would be the best scenario.

And so Jin waited. Holding still as the katana waited for the savior to take back his dear Annie.

With the increase in undead and ritualistic objects, Vladimir was sure he was getting close. As he was not equipped to deal with the risen creatures, he instead continued to focus on striking down the necromancers. With how easy it was becoming, he almost pitied them. Not that I blame them, but they really do rely on their life-detection too heavily. Just one uncontrolled undead can do so much... But pity was not the same as sympathy. They would receive no mercy from his blades, which he skillfully plunged into the spellcasters' backs as he continued down the tunnel.

After dispatching a pair of guards and drinking their blood to recover, Vladimir realized he had stumbled upon a room filled with supplies. A depot? Armory? No...none of these items are standardized. They're so various...AH! He barely kept himself from speaking aloud. This is where the prisoners' belongings are held...which means Annia's gear is here somewhere...If I remember, there was mention of golden plate...and she had a katana? Truly an oddity for a paladin, but not a bad choice. He shook himself from his martial musigs about Annia's tastes and began searching for her belongings. The gold plate was easy enough, which he promptly tied off to his bags. The sword...where is that katana...! There, across the room. Upon closer inspection, it certainly was a fine piece.

Thus Vladimir picked up the blade, preparing to head further into the den. He could always pick up the rest of her belongings after they routed the cavernous ruins.

The moment Vladimir laid his hand on the sword, Jin immediately spoke to him.

You, who calls yourself Vladimir. Jin said, keeping his senses trained on the creature that wielded him. Vladimir's current form wasn't something Jin had seen or encountered before, but he still kept himself wary. Vladimir's mind, at least, still seemed intact. He would have paused to gauged closely Vladimir's reaction to his speaking, but time was short. There was a sense of urgency in the air, and after spending nearly a decade with the knight, always nearby, the seeming emptiness felt strange to the old warrior.

We must make haste. Jin kept his tone even and neutral. He wasn't entirely sure if he trusted this undead being, even given the fact Annia seemed to already trust the man. None the less,  he was his only chance in finding her. Foolish or not, he would abide by his decision.

I can only sense a limited direction from where we currently stand, but at least I can help navigate through these catacombs and underground ruins. The katana continued methodically. Avoid fights unless necessary lest they sound some sort of alarm to our whereabouts.

Not a step after picking up the katana, Vladimir froze in place. The voice echoed in his head, which at first put him on high alert, but after listening a while he realized it was the katana. His worries of a mage infiltrating his mind washed away. But his shock did not.

Vladimir responded back through the now-established telepathic link, "So you have an ego...Annia seems to have hidden that well, as I heard no mention of it. How should I call you, blade?" While answering, Vladimir had already begun to move. "Do you have any idea where they took her? Also, I agree with the aversion to killing. They can seemingly sense life within the area, so if too many are dying, they will pinpoint our location. The only ones I slay are necromancers. Once they're gone, these outlaws will have no eyes and we can properly route them."

Just as he announced his methods, a patrol came running by in pursuit. Vladimir quickly hid, and after confirming they were all muscle and no magic, stayed out of view behind some rocks. It'd been around 30 minutes since the release of the prisoners, and Vladimir desperately hoped they'd gathered their wits enough to make it out. Otherwise that squad of bandits would cause more than just trouble. But now was not the time to think of that, as there was nothing he could do. Instead he pressed onward, and soon the duo came across a pair of necromancers standing guard by a makeshift doorway. The presence from behind the door sent shivers along Vladimir's spine. "That must be the place." He stated mentally to Jin.

Overall there were four enemies, as the mages were accompanied by two resurrected skeletons. It would not be an easy fight, let alone simple to keep stealthy. He couldn't drag out the fight like normal, as they were right outside a main door, and who knows what reinforcements were behind it. "Four versus one...not good odds. Any ideas?" He could only hope the soul within the blade had enough experience to aid him.

My name is Jin. The sword responded to the first question. Annie had always kept me a secret. Especially with the priests and tutors during her training days. Even with her companions to this day. I manifest into a shadow, and to the people on this world, Annie seemed to tell me that that was enough to brand me as something evil. Know that I would have not reached out to you normally. That young knight is in danger, and even though she intends to continue to keep me as a secret, I'll not let that foolish notion get the better of her.

There was a pause as Jin seemed to start laughing, but warm and softly.

Forgive me that I've misjudged you. In some ways, we are similar. It's more our actions that show our true character. Annie had decided this for herself long ago, which was why she had chosen to accept you, even knowing what you are. It surprised me as well, knowing full well the sort of teachings and training she had undergone both under her tutors and the knights of her order... But yet at the same time, it surprises me not.

I know not your true nature Vladimir, but the very fact you are here quells whatever demons haunt you. That knight had seen this even before I did, though, always she had been too trusting.

As Jin considered the enemies in front of them, letting the silence draw on for a few more long moments.

I do have an idea. Jin said as he broke the silence. It will be draining on you... say the word if that is fine.

Vladimir smiled with Jin's words. To hear the reason he'd been accepted was because someone managed to look past him condition to see him was more of a relief than he'd ever realized it would be. He'd pleaded with fate to deliver him to someone like that, for the peace of mind. His determination grew with these feelings. Though an odd match, he finally had a true friend once more. He would not let such a bond get destroyed before it had a chance to grow. He'd not even had a chance to show his gratitude before Annia was whisked away.

The methuselan continued to nod with Jin's words, but at the mention of a risky plan, Vladimir paused a moment. That pause was not to think or consider, but simply to steel himself. There was no question to be asked, if it was to save Annia, then he'd do it. "I'll do whatever I must. What is your plan?"

To give rise to my physical form, at least, as much as it can be in how I am now. A shadow of darkness, seemingly evil to some, yet, this is what I am. It was the first form I had shown Annie when she was still but a young girl. A dark silhouette, without any features or details, simply... form. It's a shade of my previous self. Though it is mainly incorporeal, it has enough physical substance to act as a distraction and fool them to think that it's actually there. At the very least, we'll have it pull their attention, while you can leverage that opportunity, when their eyes are on the shade, to your own advantage.

It requires the wielder's own strength, and only then can I will it forth when one is wielding the blade.

What say you?

I don't even need to say, do I? Vladimir responds as he brandishes the katana. Use my strength as you need. I'll make sure it's not a wasted opportunity.

Let's begin.

The process began. As soon as Vladimir finished his words, energy started flowing from Vladimir into the katana he held. Jin felt the power surging into him from the hilt of the katana, spreading out to the rest of the weapon. The katana aimed for only small amounts of energy at a time, not knowing full well what Vladimir's capacity was. But even as the sword sent the first tendrils tapping into Vladimir, the energy began to surge all at once. There was power, a lot more power than Jin would have thought possible. This was already past the point that Jin had ever consumed from Annia at once, yet it was still flowing. Even the old warrior wasn't sure how Vladimir would have handled it. His attention drew back towards Vladimir, using his senses to get a feel for the man's physical state. Vladimir was weakened, but he still stood, offering up as much as he could spare. Jin didn't know if the man was simply holding ground for appearance's sake, but he expended a lot of energy, more than Jin expected to drain.

Jin cut off the tap, as if turning off a faucet and continued using that built-up power to will forth the featureless shadow that represented his being. But something felt different. Something felt off as he began to reconstruct the form that represented him. The same familiar shadows crept from the ground, cascading into each other, twisting and turning as it continued to get larger and taller. Soon enough the dark shadow had appeared, but instead of simply forming into a featureless mass of darkness, the shade had started to change.

Color started to slowly appear, as blobs of darkness formed into what looked to be straps of leather and cloth. Well-built hands and arms appeared then as well, and soon enough the entire body was created. There, in the darkened ruins and den of necromancers, standing by Vladimir's side looked to be a warrior clad in leather. He had square jaw, with a stubble of a beard, along with a ponytail that tied his long dark hair together. If one were to guess his age, it would be in his forties. Yet his physique was muscular, and the tight fitting leather only accentuated that fact. In his hand he held a katana, one in the very same likeness as the weapon Vladimir still carried with him.

Jin hummed in confusion and questions. There was still a sentience in the blade that Vladimir carried, yet at the same time, the 'shade' if it could be called as such, stared in confusion at Vladimir. Jin spoke, but instead of using his telepathy, it came from the man that stood beside Vladimir.

"Vladimir... what have you done?" Though his words were questioning, there was a hint of wonder and a sense of elation in his voice.

As soon as he had mentioned it, Vladimir began to pour whatever excess strength he had into the blade in his hands. "I'll keep only what I need to fight...if I need to recover, I'll drain the blood of these two before me." With a determination that showed almost reckless abandon, Vladimir practically forced Jin to take the energy, until the sword forced him to stop. At that very moment, to avoid collapsing, he used the remaining bit of reserve blood he had welled up inside him to begin regenerating. It was the only thing that kept him from collapsing on the spot. If it's only this much...I'll be fine. He completely disregarded his physical state in the face of his task. There was no time for concern.

He watched as the shadows began to gather beside him. For some reason, it was a rather comforting sight; this was a thought most likely due to his affinity to darkness. He understood Jin, despite not really knowing him. It was an empathy shared between those you suffered the same difficulty. At that moment, the shadows began shifting unexpectedly. They were obtaining a defined form, as though responding to his thoughts. ...He's no longer just a shade...was this even possible? Vladimir continued to watch as the humanoid form continued to gain color and definition until he coalesced as a well-built warrior. The warrior that was Jin.

Quote"Vladimir... what have you done?"

"I...don't know. I just gave as much strength as I could. I take it this is a first for you?" Jin's expression alone answered that question. "Well with that form, forget distraction. We have the advantage, let's ambush them. Let me just gather my strength for a moment." It took about a minute for him to compose himself with the regeneration, and he took that time to study the duo. Their minions, though fearsome looking at first, seemed to be slow to respond. That'd lead him to believe that the mages' grasp of their magic was only rudimentary. They were mere novices compared to whatever was behind those doors. With Jin covering him, it should be a swift assault.

Finally, he took a deep breath, "Alright, I'm going in, you circle around and prepare to attack the other. I'll signal." Vladimir careful crept along the wall, avoiding the undead and getting within lunging distance of the first caster. With that, he picked up a small rock, lifted it so Jin could see what he was doing, and pitched it from where they came from. The clatter from its impact immediately stole the caster's attention, which was just enough to allow the two assailants to get a little closer. The sound of steel piercing through flesh was quick and clean, as Vladimir's rapier thrust just next to his victim's spine, piercing their heart. To replenish himself, as he was a man of instinct now, he sank his teeth within the prey's neck, draining the man of his constitution as he bled out from the wound. He was dead within seconds, and Vladimir promptly dropped him to the cave floor.

He looked to see how Jin fared, confirming with him when they were ready to enter the next room before carefully pushing it open.

When Vladimir raised the signal, Jin followed through. Everything felt different but in some ways it was the same as when he controlled and moved the shade. It was a unique state of having his consciousness in two places at once, both in the katana that Vladimir had with him, as well as in the shade that he also inhabited. Yet how he was now felt different. He could feel the ground beneath him, the feel of leather that wrapped around his body, the familiar grip of his katana that he remembered wielding for decades through countless battles and duels. It was reminiscent of times long past, in a far away world, now gone except through his memories and stories.

It didn't take him long to close the gap to the second necromancer, and he began thrusting his blade straight in the man's chest. The necromancer too, saw that the end was coming, his eyes filled with fear and a look of hatred aimed towards Jin. Yet as his sword reached its target, it should have pierced fleshed. But there was no impact. He felt his body's weight tumble forward, yet his blade simply phased through his intended victim. Before he fell off-balance, Jin quickly reversed his direction with a quick angle change with his legs. Using the momentum, he swerved his sword horizontally, having it arc wide behind him as the warrior twisted his body a full circle, with his blade leading the way.

This time, Jin put forth the energy required to physically manifest the impact, and soon enough he felt the sickening sound of metal slicing through flesh and crushing through bone. In that fluid movement the second necromancer was beheaded. He met Vladimir's gaze not a second later.

"In some ways, I still am... a shade." Jin said certain that Vladimir would have realized the reason for his second maneuver.

Vladimir could only nod in agreement at Jin's words. It must be confusing having a physical body that could become incorporeal at any moment. He thought to himself. But nonetheless, the strike succeeded, and the necromancers' minions collapsed at their masters' deaths. "It's time for the real fight." Vladimir said quietly, placing his hand on the door. Whatever was past here would prove to be a difficult opponent. Possibly the most difficult he'd faced yet. They were his perfect, unnatural enemy. He steeled his resolve before pushing the doors open.

It was now that the ruins really showed themselves. Old, decrepit stonework with intricate masonry made up the entire room, with archways acting as windows from other floors stretching high up toward the ceiling, looking out over the large, expansive room. Alcoves lined the walls of the ground floor, some with statues still intact, while others were shattered or cracked. There were archways near the back of the room that seemed to lead deeper into the structure, as well. Vines and roots crept along the stone surface, draping down the walls from above. It was honestly a beautiful sight.

That sight was ruined by what was in the center of the room. A ghastly aura emanated from a centered, circular dais, where a once holy altar was desecrated by necromantic arts. There, two figured stood, robed in black and holding artifacts of power. It seems this had once been a temple, though it was unclear to whom it was once dedicated. Vladimir still could not see Annia, though there was still a chance she was in the room. For now, the immediate goal was clear. Suppress and destroy these mages and their ritual.

"This doesn't look to be easy..."

Pain. That would be the best word to describe what she was feeling. Yet the ever altruistic paladin worried more for the captives back in those two cages that they had been thrown in what seemed to be a lifetime ago. She was conscious, or at least she thought she was, though her memories seemed to be a blur. She could hear voices and sounds, yet for one reason or another, her eyelids felt too heavy to open. She felt her mind start to blank away, feeling the urge to venture into nothingness, but she resisted the temptation to give in. Ironically, it was the pain that helped kept her conscious. She was being moved, she could feel it, as she felt the swinging motions that could only result in being carried.

Two robed wizards carried her. One on either side of what was a make-shift stretcher. They entered a large and expansive room, with two other robed men at the center surrounding a stone dais. They were chanting as glowing lines pulsated and a ghastly aura emanated from the center. The two previously in the room noticed the newcomers, and one of them spoke.

"The preparations are ready. Place her on the dais." He commanded, and soon enough the two bringing the paladin made their way to the center, gently placing her and the stretcher down on the stone structure.

"Check on the others, we'll need a few more... bodies for this next experiment." He waved his hand away, and the other necromancer who had previously been chanting with him nodded, then moved off towards the exit - the very same one Vladimir and Jin had been waiting at.

Vladimir mentally exclaimed his excitement to Jin, Perfect chance! We need to take out the supporting mages as soon as possible. I'll take this one as a distraction, being sure to be seen momentarily. While I do that, sneak around and kill one of the others while they're caught off guard. They both nodded to each other, and Jin began circling around in the dark while Vladimir prepared his ambush. He laid in wait in an alcove near the door, obscured by darkness so that the lone necromancer was none the wiser of his presence. In fact, he hardly even noticed the rapier run him through from behind until he saw the glint of blood on the blade protruding from his chest. It was over instantly, and his death knell immediately alerted the others.

Jin took the opportunity presented to him, lunging from the darkness, taking only a few more long strides before cleanly severing his targets head from their body, leaving the corpse to fall to the ground limp. With two of the four already dead, the necromancers began to panic. The final novice began to run for his life, having no means to defend himself in close quarters. He could not have made a worse decision, as Jin's blade fell deep across his back, partially opening his spine, nearly cutting clean through it. "...One left..." The shade murmured as he stared down the new opponent. Oddly enough, the mage had already composed himself. He was not like the other goons they'd slain on the way here. Vladimir got that sense through Jin's perception, bringing up his guard as he carefully closed in on the robed figure to flank him.

"So you're the rats that've been running rampant in my domain." He spoke coolly, taking a more defensive posture. "Had I known they would be slain, I'd have used those fools for the final bodies...ah, well, merely a set back. You'll do nicely in their stead."

"What makes you think you'll be the one surviving." Vladimir said, trying to act intimidating. But the confidence behind the necromancer's speech and posture unnerved him. It didn't become any better when the man began to laugh, causing both the swordsmen to flinch.

"Imbeciles. Don't you dare compare me to those cattle you've slain. I know my way around a battle, even a disadvantageous one." He waved his hand before either of them could respond. Suddenly, all three bodies rose from their resting place, thralls to the man's power. "Though I hardly consider this MY disadvantage. Really, leaving corpses in a den of necromancers. You've a deathwish, I'm certain of it." He spoke sinisterly as you felt the air chill slightly. "Allow me to grant it!" Both swordsmen's combat instincts told them to jump back, and not a moment too soon, as the ground froze within 10 feet of the mage. "So you could tell? A pity."

Vladimir knew they needed to act fast. This man was dangerous, and now they were just as outnumbered as before. Circle him, then strike one after another! We must catch him off-guard quickly! He shouted in his mind to Jin, and they quickly began to step around the robed figure lightly. Vladimir started the assault, leading with the katana with a vertical slash. He saw that the man would dodge, so he followed up with a thrust with the rapier in his off-hand. It was odd wielding this exotic weapon with his main piece as a support, but in order to keep Jin steady, he couldn't relinquish the blade. Instead, he awaited Jin's follow-up, having trapped the mage between his two blades.

Jin responded quickly, having seen what the second attack set up. Good! He said with a victorious grin, swiping diagonally up and to the right, leaving no room for escape. Or so he thought. Suddenly, the mage wasn't there, and they could hear laughter behind the three undead that had been raised. "My, my! That was a close one. I'll need to be more careful around you two." He said as he began to prepare another spell while the undead approached. Teleportation magic! It was too quick to be a spell, he must have an item of some sort. How do we pin him down?

I've no idea...but if it is an item we can only how it isn't limitless. Just keep the pressure on him to keep him from casting anything big! Vladimir respond telepathically as he charged forward once more. Only this time, he needed to get past the undead.

Her will was being pushed, deeper and deeper as her consciousness continued to fade. Yet with one concerted effort, she forced her eyes to attempt to open, and slowly, they did. Everything was a blur first, but soon enough shapes and figures started to form, even as she fought to keep her eyes open. She saw them then. Vladimir, that stranger that had knocked on their guild doors a night ago, and one other. He seemed familiar to Annia for some reason, but she couldn't place it, nor was she able to think upon if further, as her heavy eyelids eventually collapsed.

That man... who is he? She managed to muse to herself right before her mind completely blanked, falling into the dark well of unconsciousness.

---

The spell he had cast, somehow lingered for a moment, as wisps of light flickered between his hands and fingers.

"I wondered how the two of you could sneak by my defenses, especially through the ward I have around my domain. You're were either brought in from somewhere..." He glances at Jin shortly, but then locks his eyes with Vladimir. "...or too far removed from life." The necromancer released his spell then, unleashing its magic on Jin.

The warrior stood still for a moment, as his form seemed to almost flicker. The katana that Vladimir held hummed in alarm, as the shade that was Jin started to further flicker and lose form. Shades of darkness appeared again, then receded, and continued to go back and forth in the span of a few seconds. Jin looked towards Vladimir for a few moments, his eyes locked with the man's. They were almost unreadable, though they were determined. In a few more moments after that Jin vanished. The sword that Vladimir held continued to have Jin's presence, though it felt more like the lingering presence of a particular strong being that left it's mark on the place that it inhabited for countless decades. The katana was still magnificent, though it refused to hum with any more power.

The necromancer then pulled down his cowl, revealing a grotesque face consisting of various pieces of flesh stitched together. It was a hideous sight, but the man only smiled as he regarded Vladimir.

"Do you not recognize me Vladimir? Have you already forgotten that large sum of gold that I 'purchased' you with." He placed two fingers on the side of his neck.

"Or the neck which you pierced your fangs into?"

Vladimir stood stunned as he watched the shade that was Jin vanish, leaving only a faint trace of power within the blade he inhabited. The methuselan slowly sheathed the katana and stowed it once more while staring down the necromancer from behind his thralls. As he prepared his own weapons, he felt odd. Something about that man's visage was unsettling. Do I know him? No...what could he-

Quote from: Annia Siadon on May 06, 2015, 09:27:42 PMThe necromancer then pulled down his cowl, revealing a grotesque face consisting of various pieces of flesh stitched together. It was a hideous sight, but the man only smiled as he regarded Vladimir.

"Do you not recognize me Vladimir? Have you already forgotten that large sum of gold that I 'purchased' you with." He placed two fingers on the side of his neck.

"Or the neck which you pierced your fangs into?"

He could feel the cold sweat flowing over him. No...he can't still exist! I killed him! His nervous panic got the better of him.

"I drained you cold! I killed you for your deceptive offer and sorcery! WHY DO YOU STILL EXIST ON THIS PLANE!?" Vladimir's mind was crumbling. To have the shade of his own past revisit him in this hellish form, the cause of all his pain, regrets, sorrow and loneliness for nearly a century, was starting to be too much to bear. His mind began to freeze, his eyes wandering and becoming unfocused, but he froze when his eyes settled on Annia's unconscious form. His senses returned slowly at the realization of what running from this fear would cost him.

"...Your offer. The one I never should have accepted. It cost me my family, my humanity, and any chance for a truly happy life. And yet you still plague me? Our deal was not eternal. You don't own me. And your past deeds have repaid my debt in full. That you somehow survived is something you should be grateful for. Yet you continue your selfish mistakes. You've threatened those important to me once more, and unlike my wife and child, whom I stupidly left to fend for themselves to follow you, I will defend this new bond!"

He readied his rapier and kukri, crouching in preparation for a lunge. "You shall taste my fangs once more, and for the last time!" Vladimir's battle senses had returned after the multiple mental shocks. No, he willed himself back from losing his mind. Yet another reason to thank his new friends once more. For once, he truly hoped for a better future. And whether he was to be with the guild or not, that he'd saved this paladin's life would be the starting point of something better.

And so, the methuselan smiled confidently, still brimming with anger, as he dashed forward and past the zombies. There was no way they could touch him as he passed, with such sluggish movements. The mage thought he was safe behind his wall, but Vladimir had quickly closed the distance, now crouched low in a point-blank thrusting position. "Die once more, fiend." Vladimir whispered as he pierced the necromancer straight through the chest, following up by carving the mage's side clean open.

At least, that's what he'd intended to do, but his strikes were avoided once more by a quick teleport. The laughter echoed throughout the room once more as the age-old wizard cackled maniacally. Vladimir was then left open to a flurry of attacks from the undead thralls. Though he avoided most of the damage, he was not nimble enough versus three opponents, and ended up taking a decent hit to the back.

"You may have more skill, Vladimir, but you're still as foolish as ever!" He called, having retunred to the other side of his thralls once more.

"You have no idea what you put me through. Leaving me for dead on the floors of my own abode. You should have realized that I'd spent my life looking for ways to prolong it. Do you really think I'd let my own creation kill me? When my eyes finally opened, that was my first death. The death of who I was, for that Vladimir you have my thanks. Silly I must have been, offering mere gold for bodies, when cities such as these have them... in abundance. All of these human trappings that bind our actions, ever have I skittered along those very thin lines of right and wrong. But once I've thrown it all away... it was freedom."

He cackled, as he began weaving his hands in an intricate manner, forming his next spell.

"Ever since creating you, my masterpiece, I haven't succeeded since. Beginner's luck, or a fluke, either way Vladimir, I have come to realize it was you that made it possible. There is something about you that made the transformation easy. It would have been something I could have applied to myself. And instead, look at me! My life has gone far longer than it naturally should, but no where as perfect as you. The scars. The operations. The self mutilations... I had thought your wife or even son had answers, but they did not." He smiled sickeningly.

"Yes, I seeked you out when I had recovered. I dug out those graves hoping to find my answers. Even as I picked the very flesh from their dead bodies, and reassembled them over and over and over... No secrets could I find. Your wife? Your son? They were useless." He spat his words harshly.

"I've waited nearly a century Vladimir! All these years I have waited for this moment! And now... you die.

... So that I may live."

With those words still echoing, he released his spell.

"You're mad...you were before, but this..." Vladimir was gritting his teeth to keep himself from wailing and losing himself to his anger. "You dug up Liliana...even little Soren? You've killed how many for your twisted desires?" Tears welled in his eyes, soon after sliding down his cheeks. Disgust. That's what he felt. Vladimir was disgusted at the...thing before him. But he was also disgusted at himself. The man he was 80 years ago failed so miserably in killing his captor that now countless lives were lost. There was blood on his hands now. Innocent blood. And he was disgusted by it.

It dawned on him, as he stared at the creature speaking and cackling before him, that this is what would have happened had he discarded his humanity. Had he welcomed undeath unconditionally, he would have rotted inside and out just like this. He shuddered at the thought of joining their ranks, and falling to pure instinct and chaos. Yes, he was undead now, and had been for years, but he wasn't the undead of horror stories. Vladimir maybe not be able to put the difference between he and wizard into words, but he finally could say confidently that he wasn't innately evil. Most likely, he was the exception to that rule of the 'evil undead', but that lone was enough for him.

Then the wizard's spell was released. He felt it attempt to grip him, hold him in place as the wizard prepared his next evocation. But Vladimir's anger bolstered him, and he was able to will himself from the invisible bindings. The wizard noticed the bindings failed, suppressing his surprise as his hurried his casting. Vladimir moved as quickly as possible, once again avoiding the undead thralls, heading straight for the wizard once more. Yet, at a mere 5 ft outside of reach, Vladimir was confronted with the wizards unleashed magic once more, the wizard grinning with success. He'd read Vladimir's movements and had instead prepared the area of effect burst he'd used before. Vladimir had almost no time to react. He realized he was already too deep within the radius to roll backwards, and going forward wouldn't help. Or would it?

The wizard was surprised to see Vladimir vanish from right in front of him, the darkness aiding the methuselan's movements. As the blast went off, he'd decided that the safest spot was in fact right next to the wizard. Or more precisely beneath him. Having successfully evaded the blast and gotten in range, Vladimir took his kukri and slit the back of the wizard's ankle, causing the grotesque beast to collapse under its own weight. Vladimir stood over him, glaring down with his red eyes mercilessly. His speech was cold as he responded to the madman's claim. "You? Live? If you truly have been around these 80 years as I have, you should know that neither of us know anything of life any longer. Our very forms embody death now. And your pitiful form will embrace that death shortly. And some day, I'll do the same, despite my immortality. Because that is our curse."

The mage had fallen abruptly, landing hard against the wall of the temple with his Achilles tendon being sliced apart. The wizard never felt the pain, so far removed was he from his natural body, with the decades of experimentation and augmentation done in order to both preserve his life and reach his goal of immortality - of lichdom. Yet more so than physical duress, it was Vladimir's answer to him that gave the necromancer pause, cutting into him deeper than any sword could have accomplished. It swiping the sickening smile that had been on his face for much of the entire fight.

"And what do you know!" The necromancer yelled, his voice throaty, finally losing his apparent cool. "I still walk do I not? I still think. I still can accomplish my goals. My wishes! In any way that I want to. How little you think of it. How little you believe in that power of yours. Even when you have that body!" He spat angrily, his hands trembled as he clutched them tight.

"Many would have killed for what you have now! And you would throw that gift as if it was a curse! Do not belittle what I've spent my life on accomplishing. You, who dangle your gift in front of others who crave for it far more, who deserve it far more than some miserable farmer. If it weren't for me, and what you have, you would have been dead by now. And you would be nothing."

His magical items spent, and with his ankles broken, he knew he wouldn't be getting out of the way anytime soon. Yet, the man continued to look hauntingly at Vladimir, refusing to let his creation undermine his beliefs, and bolster the gnawing doubts that had assaulted him for the last few decades.

He started laughing then, a hoarse throaty life that was devoid of any mirth or emotion. A moment later, the man pressed into the wall behind him, triggering hidden mechanics that rumbled in the temple-like room.

"My final parting gift. One last thing for my creation."

Vladimir cringed at the corrupt man's statements; he cringed not in recoil, but in pity. "Life is more than accomplishments and amassing knowledge. It's meaningless without the threat of an end. This immortality dulls the very essence of what it means to be alive, even more so when, in order to gain it, you've lost all your goals and dreams in the process. Tell me, you power-hungry cretin, is immortality worth it if, once achieved, you've nothing to work toward? You've been wishing for 'this body' this whole time, striving to the point becoming the inhuman beast you are now. Could you hope to continue the path you were on before you started? There will be no fame. No allies. And possibly worst of all, no kinship. You will be alone, left to be the only one amazed by your accomplishments while the world seethes with disgust toward you. I am not belittling my condition, I am simply seeing it as it is; taking in its pros AND its cons. It is you, blinded by ideals, that views it with too much grandeur."

It was then that the necromancer began spitting curses back at Vladimir. Why did I even waste my breath...well, no matter. It did give me a chance to say what I've thought. Why is it always in situations of life or death that I can finally speak my mind?...Unfair. Vladimir grimaces at the necromancer's continued envious slander, but right as he was about to silence him, the wizard leaned back and seemed to trigger something. Vladimir could tell he had no time, and fearing that the wizard would somehow escape once more, he acted on that impulse first.

Vladimir swooped down, arcing his rapier upward and catching the wizard under the jaw and up through the skull. He lifted the man up with the thrust strength, then swung his kukri full-force toward the man's neck, almost axe-like. The tension from hanging on the rapier made the cut clean, swiftly decapitating the man. "Fool...this time, stay dead." With that, the methuselan was now 6 seconds late to react. The room had begun to collapse from high up in the rafters, leaving Vlad to sprint and dodge through the falling debris toward the dais where Annia lay. She's lost consciousness after all. Well, it's better this way, I've no need to hide my form now. He took full advantage of the body that the necromancer had praised, darting for the room's exit. He slid out just in time, as the larger slabs of rock finally topppled down to the ground, burying the entire room and blocking the door.

He took a moment to correct Annia's position for easier transport, in the end giving her unconscious form a piggyback. The first goal was the room full of belongings. He decided to head out from there so he could leave markings along the walls to trace his way back. He'd been luck enough to find a piece of chalk there, and promptly made use of it. This way, the survivors could recover their possessions,..as well as mementos of those who'd not made it out. It was a long while before he was finally outside again, at which point he promptly set down the paladin nearby and took a rest. Dawn was approaching, giving him a good view of the sunrise as it began to appear over the horizon. He spent some of his rest tending to Annia's wounds, though there was not much he could do.

"I'll be sure to get you back to the guild soon enough. And then, considering the situation, I'll take my leave once more." Vladimir mused to himself as he finished his novice wound treatment, proceeding to lay back and stare into the dawn sky. "Who would have thought I was connected to such a thing...really, it's quite depressing..."

The katana Vladimir had with him hummed. He had risen from the nullifying magic the necromancer had cast soon after the fiend's death, though he kept quiet, unsure how Vladimir would take in the revelations he had discovered in such a short time. Though he was asleep, he had enough senses with him to understand the conversation the two combatants held. As Vladimir laid back to stare at the dawn sky above, Jin willed forth what power he could again. He increased his presence, imparting a simple thought towards Vladimir that he was around. A moment later, Jin's shadow appeared forming into a thicker substance. He still felt a lot of the stored energy that Vladimir had given him, and even he was surprised at how persistent it was. Was it because of Vladimir's nature that so much power could be granted? Could the negative energies that created Vladimir have caused the strange transformation?

These questions and more still had the sword wondering, but he willed forth the physical form that he had only ever seen once before. Like before the features started to appear, and when finally it completed, Jin was sitting on a large rock outcropping near Vladimir.

"I suspect I wouldn't be able to hold this form for much longer." Jin replied. "And because of that I must ask you not to tell Annia still unconscious over there. She is a true warrior, and I would not have her think that she wasn't worthy, or relinquishing me to be her best course of action."

He stopped as he looked at his hands, as if seeing them again for the first time.

"Though... I am glad for this gift, if only just this once after the centuries since..." He paused again as he moved his eyes towards Vladimir a few moments later.

---

"You really do remind me of myself." There was that familiar chuckle.

"I am Jin. Jin Osioh, first warrior of the Laen-sou dynasty, yet, I am not. I have the man's memories, his likeness, one may argue even his spirit, but I am not him. I had been made only through the deaths of hundreds of my own people - their lives consumed to create me. And for what purpose? Nothing so grand, but for the simple curiosity of a powerful magic user seeing if they could plant a being into a weapon. We've both been used, even played by life's design. Yet it still is our lives, though strange or different it may be from anyone else's.

Every new day brings itself a new start. And though you may have the hauntings of yesterday still lingering, or the holdings of your origin lingering over your head. The fact you resist your nature, only builds who you are. You've lived your life as a true warrior Vladimir, let not your origins dictate your own path. This curse that affects your, our, existence, can indeed be a desolate one.

But does it have to be?"

Vladimir turned his head, still lying on his back in fatigue, as he watched Jin coalesce from the shadows once more. He'd known he had returned, and had been wondering why he'd not made his presence known outright. If it was out of consideration for Vladimir, the methuselan appreciated the sentiment. It certainly allowed him to focus on his way out of the cavernous ruins. At the warning of Annia's knowledge of his 'summoning', Vladimir gave a tired laugh. "You need not worry, Jin.  She will not know with whom I had allied, assuming she saw us fighting. Besides, getting you to that state, whether due to our affinity or otherwise, was a desperate act. I nearly killed myself doing it. That was why I had to...harvest for a while. It was not an enjoyable act, but I would have died without it." Vladimir saw Jin's excitement at having a body once more. "It is a shame I could not make your form more permanent. May you one day find the means to do so."

As Jin reintroduced and described his existence, Vladimir nodded along agreeably. "I'm seeing why we have such an affinity. Both of us simply remnants of our pasts. Let alone, results of the 'wonderful' curiosity of the arcane arts." But suddenly, Jin's speech took a rather musing turn, and Vladimir laid still to listen silently.

Indeed. Desolate. Empty. A life of immediate discrimination, forced upon us.

"Yes, I certainly have been living, it is as you say. Living while not being alive. Such a strange concept. And as for what that curse can and can't be, we have no true say in. All we can do is offer ourselves, to stand against the world's bias. It's up to them whether we might be accepted or not." Vladimir finally sits up, having regained a bit more energy. "I would enjoy living at the guild, but from their response, I'm doubting that I'm welcome. Yes, I told them. Well, only a few, but it was enough. They froze and stared in uncertain disbelief. Not a single word. Just like all the other times. Thus, I'll only face them once more, the return my friend safely. I won't beg to stay somewhere I'm not welcome." Vladimir said with a sigh. From what he understood, this was the most 'understanding' establishment on this continent. Yet still only a few treated him as a person after his revelation. If the Guild of Galas'nor did not even harbor him, perhaps he'd return to wandering once more?

Everything felt so painful. The last thing she remembered was seeing Vladimir and one other before finally collapsing into unconsciousness. Yet she started to stir. Perhaps leaving the underground ruins diminished its effect on her, or whatever spell she was under had finally worn off, but she began to hear two separate voices. Vladimir's and... Jin's? Did she accidentally summon him? Is he talking to Vladimir?

She wanted to speak up, but her body still felt heavy. Instead she chose to listen just a little bit more, hoping her questions would be answered.

"A strange band of misfits this one. Some members questionable even, but for the most part I see them get along. Stout in heart, and true to your ideals, isn't that what counts more than what you are perceived to be?" Jin asked as he moved his gaze towards Annia's seemingly unconscious form. He spoke softly then, his eyes looking distant.

"She has accepted you. But she isn't the only one. Kryas too had come to terms with it readily, and ever did that bard have a sharp sense of character. Prejudices are hard to kill, and though I cannot guarantee that the guild will solve all your problems. I do believe it is a step in the right direction. You have two people willing to vouch for you. A third if I am counted as well.

It is true that Annie too keeps me hidden. On the surface, it would seem as if she was concerned about my nature or what others might perceive of me. Or perhaps even a lack of trust to her comrades. However, her motivation stems from the prejudice of her order, and her desire to have those particular seeking eyes away from the guild." He paused as a smile appeared.

"But I believe if your actions are true, then everything else will follow. Ever was Annia concerned for appearances, yet the true heart of a warrior is not bounded by something so trivial. In her own heart she knows this, yet her order says otherwise. My allegiances to my emperor centuries ago had always been aligned with his own ruling, but I can very well imagine the conflict within Annia, having her own mentors teach something different to what she felt was right isn't something that can be so easily shaken.

She accepted me even when she was faced with opposition. Yet she still carries the name of her order proudly, and though her goddess accepts this, her friends and mentors of the past do not. She is an outcast from her own people. It has been years since she last had any correspondence with them, including her own parents. Yet this is what she had chosen. She knows the supposed evils of the undead, of all the tenants her order had given her. How could she not? But that knowledge is tempered with something even more precious. It's tempered with an understanding; a desire to put herself in others' shoes.

I've never thanked her for her decision. Though I am simply a relic of a time long passed, the last decade with the knight has brought me more life than I could remember for a long time. She is a true friend, a knight for her ideals, and loyal to a fault."

As he continued to speak, Jin realized that the remaining energy he had to maintain his form was starting to fade.

"It's amazing whatever you did." Jin said again as he looked at his own hands - rough, firm, and the color and texture of his skin rather than the dark mass he had been accustomed to.

As Annia listened, she couldn't help but feel her eyes start to water. She had been avoiding thinking about her odd placement with her peers in the Order of the Golden Dawn, but hearing Jin's words of gratitude for her decision was something she never had really expected. She had chosen a friend over the doctrines of her order, and likely, she would do it again.

She began to pull herself up, turning around to catch a glimpse of both Vladimir and Jin. Yet when she turned around, all she saw was Vladimir and a stranger clad in leather; no Jin. She was used to seeing a black form representing Jin whenever he showed himself, yet, when she looked at this stranger, she realized that the he was her mentor. He was middle-aged, hair tied back into a ponytail, his face full of surety, yet a subtle calmness balanced out the warrior's features. She couldn't find the right words to say, completely taken aback was she from the sight she was seeing.

Jin must have noticed this as well, and instead smiled and locked eyes with the knight for the few more moments he was still visible and tangible. His physical form began fading away, moving itself back into the katana Vladimir had with him.

Before seeing Jin, Annia had already begun figuring out what to tell Vladimir. Yet as she sat on the inclined hillside, facing towards the methuselan, her eyes slightly teary, she couldn't find the words to say anything. Only remaining silent as her thoughts cascaded down on her.

Vladimir spent the entire time Jin spoke in silence, offering no response, comment, nor argument. Especially once he recognized that the warrior had little time left in his physical form. At Jin's comment on this form, Vladimir had little to offer. "I don't even understand how I did it. I just wanted to keep my new friend safe, whatever the cost. It was one of the few moments in my rather long life that I've not cared what was thought of me and simply acted. Maybe that sincerity and desperation was the key?"

"And it's not just about being accepted. I am truly happy and wish to stay, but I know those involved with me will face the same discrimination I have. They'll be viewed as accomplices, and receive the same scapegoated blame that I will. I could possibly ruin the reputation of this establishment by simply associating with it. I took as huge risk admitting to my condition, but I know full well I can't openly speak of it. It would be a lethal mistake, as I witnessed within the guild earlier. Not everyone within the halls is as accepting. I...I'm torn. It's been so long since I've felt this unsure about anything."

Vladimir looked up to see Jin fading, but locking eyes with another. The methuselan turned to see Annia, fully conscious, and stunned in surprise. Vladimir assumed that this was due to Jin's now-fading form and took to silence once more until the moment was passed. Once Jin had returned to his blade, and a small time of silence had passed, Vladimir addressed the paladin knight. "I'll take it you heard, then? He did not wish to reveal himself to you like this. At least not yet. Looks like I could not keep my promise with him after all." The methuselan approached and offered the katana to the knight holding it out horizontally at the center to lay it in Annia's hands. "Are you well enough to move? We'd best get back to the guild, everyone was worried about you."

Vladimir turned away to address the town in the distance. He was trying to avoid bringing up the inevitable topic of what she'd overheard. He was already ashamed that it was his past that ended up endangering the town. He'd failed to kill the only truly evil entity he'd ever met the first time, and it nearly cost him.

We'll return, and then I'll depart once more...I think. He thought wistfully.

"It's been a crazy two days...but it's still the most alive I've felt in a while." Vladimir muttered to himself.

The sword Jin held hummed, speaking to him telepathically while Vladimir still held the weapon. Ultimately the choice is yours. But know that if it comes down to it, you have allies.

As Jin realized that Vladimir had begun to offer him back to Annia, the sword imparted one last thought to his wielder. It was of thanks and gratitude with splashes of warmth, but most importantly there was respect and acknowledgement.

---

"Vladimir... Thank you." Annia said, her voice strangely quiet. She wanted to say more, but she had her eyes locked on the katana. Slowly she began to pick herself up from her sitting position. And it was then that a hesitant Annia approached Vladimir, her face full of confusion. Almost out of habit she accepted the offered sword, gently landing into her open hands.

Upon contact, immediately she felt Jin's presence in the weapon. Though her mentor chose not to say anything, perhaps sensing the amount of confusion that plagued Annia. As she ignored the heavy pains her body suffered and the slow and seemingly heavy movements, the knight proceeded to hold the sword in front of her.

"Jin, come out." Annia pleaded, and though she knew Jin would be able to hear her even if she kept to her thoughts, too bewildered was she that she resorted to verbally saying it out loud. Her voice was somewhat on edge and had a tint of worry. Yet there was no response from the katana, and even though Annia clearly felt his presence and even though Annia attempted to will him into being, the sword didn't respond.

"I saw you Jin. Not that shadow that you always appear, but actually you. Please come out!" Annia insisted again, almost shaking the weapon. She paused for a moment to attempt to steady her rapidly increasing breathing.

"Please."

But there was nothing. Nothing but the quiet whisper of the wind blowing through the grassy fields. She was greeted with silence and Annia began trying to wrack her mind for answers.

She moved her gaze towards Vladimir, confusion still written plainly on her face.

Vladimir took Jin's final remark to heart. He'd spent decades wandering and being tossed between homes. Having been forced to confront his past had worn on him greatly, and rest was needed for both his body and mind. What did he really have to lose? He'd run from the discrimination of his condition long enough, and it was about time he tried for a change of pace.

But that wasn't the problem here.

He'd be dragging his own problems into the guild, giving a well-liked establishment a bad name. Housing undead wasn't exactly smiled upon anywhere/. And yet here he had a paladin, from that very establishment, before him A paladin who he was offering a sword, in mutual thanks. And her facade showed the same confused emotion that he himself felt, but for completely separate reasons. She'd just seen Jin...differently; seen her ally like never before. He stood silently and watched her as she begged for him to reappear. To confirm his existence. Vladimir had already settled the bulk of his demons; it was his turn to be supportive.

It was when she turned to him that he realized how lost she was. "Annia...while Jin and I worked together to save you, he told me. How he usually looked, and how different he felt this time. We determined it was due to my desperation. I had nearly killed myself summoning him that way." He paused a moment, searching Annia's face for reaction. For guidance in what he was saying. "But I assure you, he is still the same. Both the Jin you saw now and the one you know are the same being. As for how, I have no answers. All I can say is we did our absolute best to bring you back safely. I don't know why he won't appear now. Perhaps out of confusion himself. He was just as surprised by his new form."

The knight's eyes softened, though it was still plain to see that she was still worried.

"I need to know how it happened. He has always spoken telepathically; a voice in your head. But I heard him too! It didn't occur to me until I saw him physically that I had been hearing his voice. He was here, more than just a shadow." With that Annia focused her thoughts back to the katana she held.

"Jin, tell me what happened." Her words were sincere. Yet there was still silence. A few more moments passed and eventually Jin's presence eventually flooded her mind.

It wasn't my intention for you to see me in that form, knowing that you'll act like this. Jin said resignedly. I know what you want. With that Jin started to leech the energies requires from his wielder. Annia noticing this gave in, welcoming the intrusion even though she was visibly weakening. The knight was already tired, her strength all but gone, but Jin complied, drawing just enough to manifest his physical form but no more. The black form started to appear once again, like tendrils from the katana they would twist and conjoin creating a figure akin to a silhouette of a man, though missing many details, and looking to be more of a glob of darkness.

Annia's shoulders drooped from exhaustion, though she managed to keep herself up. Her eyes were haggard and weary, but she kept silent as she stared at Jin's dark form. It was familiar to her; it was a form she recognized to be her mentor and friend.

"When we locked eyes, I saw it then Jin. You looked happy, content even. It was because you looked to be more human, was it not? You've always told me stories of your past, and I could tell you were a proud man. You miss it, don't you?" Annia asked, her voice in a crescendo at the end, driving her last words deep.

There was no response from Jin then, and looked to be more an acceptance of the statement rather than anything else.

Annia gripped the katana's handle, and with blade pointed down, she locked eyes with Vladimir.

"Take him."

"I refuse." Vladimir says, without missing a beat. His eyes were stern, but compassionate at this moment. "I have only known either of you for a day or so, but have already recognized you to both be proud warriors. You're overlooking something about what I accomplished; I nearly died. You should not envy me, instead, I envy you. Your self control, and mutual understanding with your partner is a beautiful quality. Offering him to me only shows me your weakness, and wounds my respect for you." Vladimir steps forward, presses his palm to Annia's sword-gripping fist and pushes it back toward her.

Vladimir knew exactly the feeling she felt. He'd cast aside comrades in the past so that they might be happier, or because he felt that he clashed with them. But this past night he'd learned more about himself, companionship and life than he'd ever hoped. Annia had a good heart, but her fatigue and confusion was causing her to misplace it like he had many times before.

"Where is the your warrior's spirit that Jin spoke so fondly of? You say I am better suited, but why not simply resolve yourself to improving your compatibility with Jin? The only reason I was able to do so much was because he and I are very similar, and I risked my life to accomplish that feat. All you need to do is truly get to know your partner. You may know him, but you have yet to understand Jin if you think this offer would make him happy."

Vladimir looked the paladin straight in the eye, smiling knowingly. "The Annia I met two nights ago did not seem the type to throw away her friends in moments of weakness. Was I wrong in thinking that?"

Her eyes had been steady at first when Vladimir began his response, but as he continued to speak, her eyes continued to soften. Vladimir's words were true, and struck her deeply in a way that she didn't think was possible. She didn't quite know how to respond. The ache of her body, and the mental stress from the ordeal that she had been through had taken a toll on her. Compounded atop it, was what she felt. She blindly believed Jin would be happier if he had his own form without her as his wielder. She felt as if she was holding him back, and what right did she have to get into the way of something that made Jin happy? He had spent a lifetime as a shade-like creature, even if it was just a false projection, Annia saw the wonder herself in Jin's eyes.

But reflecting on Vladimir's words showed her that she was indeed missing something key. Wordlessly, she knelt down, closing her eyes and held the blade in her hands. She felt tears from her eyes, but began to calm her breathing. Just as Vladimir's words foretold, she very well knew that she was in her moment of weakness. Ever had she been to hold her own emotions, but the reality of it all of how Vladimir matched Jin so much more was hard for Annia to shake. She felt the comforting presence of her mentor then, but he chose not to say anything, only emit the warmth that Annia had been accustomed to. She knew she was wrong, a friend wouldn't give up another friend so easily.

"It was I who made a mistake..." Annia replied back, it seemed as if there was more to say, but the knight remained silent.

"To be blunt, I'm glad you were wrong." Vladimir said with a smile. "You're a good person, Annia. And a fine warrior. I know not of paladinly duties, but your spirit and code is something I respect." The methuselan offered her a hand. "It's been a long night. Let's get you home."

Though he was standing and talking calmly, Vladimir himself was quite weary. Perhaps he would make the hall him home for one more night. If they'll have him. After all, at least 6 individuals now knew he was vampiric. Whether they allowed him to stay after learning this was the issue. At least he had two who would vouch for him.

All he could hope is that they did not spread the news of his condition. For all he knew, there could be an angry mob waiting to oust him back in Ternadan. It wouldn't be the first time.

As she sheathed the sword back into her scabbard, the knight took the proffered hand without a second thought, as she used it to hoist herself up. When she did so, she realized her joints were still lethargic. When she moved she felt small tinges of pain shoot up legs, like before she ignored them however as she forced herself up. Soon enough she was standing beside the methuselan. Her body still felt stiff, and she knew it would be a few days rest until she was back to normal. Using Vladimir as a support she looked on towards the distance.

The city of Ternadan was still visible in the morning light. The sunrise giving an almost warm glow to the scene. It was her home, and specifically the guild that made its home there. She smiled warmly both to herself and Vladimir.

"Let us then." Her words were curt, but her voice was full of relief.

"Towards home."

By the time the warriors actually made their return home, the sun was well into the morning sky, which estimated around an hour had passed. As the townsfolk were unaware of the events of the past few days, and never seen Vladimir before, they cast worried and confused looks while Annia was helped back to the guild. Passersby could be heard whispering all around them, some cries of surprise at Annia's poor shape, others about the stranger beside her. Overall it was prayers for well being, though, as Annia had enough reputation to be beloved by Ternadan's citizens. After a short while of walking into town, one of the merchants passing through with a horse-drawn cart stopped beside them.

"You two're lookin' worse fer wear...I'm early, hop on. I'll take ya where ya need ta be." He said frankly. At their look of surprise, he defended himself. "Whaaat? I can hear the comments too, ya know. You've probably come back from one hell of a fight. Least I could do is this."

"Thank you sir, it's much appreciated. We're headed to the Guild of Galas'nor at the end of this main thoroughfare." Vladimir stated graciously, helping Annia into the cart before getting in himself. Small cheers of thanks could be heard nearby.

"Yooou got it!" The merchant says, whipping the reigns to get the cart moving home. After a short while, the duo finally reach the gates of the guild hall once more. Vladimir takes the time to thank the merchant once more before approaching the hall with Annia.

"Finally back." Vladimir mutters audibly, approaching the hall door.

The knight waved towards the citizens that approached them. She was touched by the concern of those few passersby who noticed her condition. Not only that, she nodded her head in confidence and reassured those who looked questioningly at the pale figure beside her. She didn't try hiding the fact that she was injured, and with how she was feeling, she knew she wasn't in much of a position to try in the first place.

When they finally reached the large guild hall doors, both Annia and Vladimir had begun to open it. Annia recognized a familiar face the moment she staggered in.

"Kryas!" Annia began. Her outburst made her stumble, but she quickly regained her footing as she used Vladimir as a support. It was at that moment that some of the guild clerics started making their way towards them. One particularly quiet dwarven monk leading the group of healers. It looked as if Annia had wanted to say something, but instead all she did was lock her eyes on the bard. She wanted to tell him about Vladimir's rescue attempt, at infiltrating the lair of evil by himself, as well as his bravery and stalwart sense of character. But instead, she smiled as if to say that she was alright, and slowly, but meaningfully, moved to glance at Vladimir.

The clerics took her away then, despite her small attempts at arguing, she knew that it was for her own good. As far as other guild members were concerned, the paladin trusted that Kryas, among all the others, would understand. As the healers started to cast their spells to make her fall asleep and thus recover faster, she thought about their guild's resident bard.

She knew that Vladimir would be in good hands.

Vladimir carefully hands Annia into the clerics' hands as they approached him, her smile reassuring him that she would be alright from here. With that comfort, he turned his attention to his bard friend, who now was looking at him quizzically. "I took your hint and ran with it. They didn't see me coming. Managed to save a large number of townsfolk that were being secretly held there as well. Though now a large number of people, including in the guild, know of my 'condition'. I'm positive that my past will manage to catch up with me now, and it will most likely end up getting everyone in Ternadan involved. Vladimir paused to let that small, but important amount of information to sink in. "Thus, I plan to leave. I know it's only been a couple days, but I truly have enjoyed myself here. And that's exactly why I don't wish to cause you trouble by bringing my personal problems to your doorstep. He clasps Kryas on the shoulder. "Thank you for everything."

He starts to head toward the living quarters, "I won't head out until some time tomorrow, though. After such a hectic evening, I need some rest." He waved in a fatigued manner as he walked, never really describing what happened the night before.

Kryas did not even have a chance to respond before the vampire had taken his leave. He tried to reach a handout and stop him to say something that would instill a sense of pride for the good work he had done, but all the fancy words and platitudes simply turned to dust in his mouth.  Empty words alone would do nothing to fill the cavernous hole in the traveler's heart he knew that all too well.The only thing that would help him now was to prove his worth with actions that even he could not ignore. He could not help but grin predatorily; he had been spending the day since Vlad left on his little crusade to convince the rest of the guild to approve his joining and he was not going to let that kind of work go to waste. No matter what anyone including Vlad had to say about the matter. Kryas had made up his mind and when that happened even the gods would learn to be afraid.

Leaning down and patting Annia on the shoulder he brushed a stray hair from her face. "Just leave everything to me from here." So, for the time being, he would have to put the full song and dance number with chorus line on hold for the moment and get to work at what he the spin that he was so proud of. Making sure that they needed anything else he headed back out into the light of day to begin his work. He would need to spread a spider's web of rumors and do so fast if he hoped to be done before his new methusilian plaything was to wake from his nap. He preferred to take his time to make sure the narrative played well and that there were no glaring errors, but hell he had worked faster and with less. Plus, when all of life is a stage the line between audience and actor was nonexistent and with enough glitz and glamor even a monster can be made to be the hero with little trouble. Especially with some help, he could make quite a number of dreams a reality.

So with the aid of the enclave who were more than happy to take up the routes laid by the necromancers for their own less than legal needs they went about their work of putting on a show. Being a chronicler of stories it took little work to create a believable character for the vampire to inhabit. With a history that tied him to an of household that the bard had been using as a shell organization for his various goods. Giving him some element of lesser noble blood made things like reclusion and a pallor of skin easy to pass off. Some second son finally comes home to claim a title that until his elder brother died of fever he never thought would be his. Went off to make a name for himself as an adventure as all brash young men with talent dreamed.

This would be the duke, now uncomfortable with the title and estate he joined the guild to spend his time and keep active. All it took to make true was a few signatures coin in the right pockets and making a clerk at the Royal Archives blush before spilling his papers while searching through the stacks to sneak things like birth and death certificates into the record. But all the good writing in the world about a widower heir who wanted to be a bulwark for the common people meant nothing if there was no one to read it. Luckily, Vladimir's escapades had set the groundwork for the narrative already. The young hot-blooded noble girls and boys who were quick to bravado and even quicker to envy.

All that was required was a few whispered words between sips of drink. Questions if the rumors were true of a new interest with just the right kind of breeding and talent who saved souls and slew hidden demons that always puts those brats on edge that they might lose the power and favor they cling to but never had in the first place. They would take it upon themselves to grow the rumors with each other like buzzards circling over a corpse.

Forgetting all the while where these stories were coming from themselves and the commoner's new hero. The survivor's stories fans by a few bardic tavern songs would get them into a frenzy. Whipping themselves into such a craze that they would have to check if even half of what was said was true. The paperwork placed in the archive and more so what was missing from the archive would only cement their fears as fact. Mix that turmoil together and Kryas would have a self-perpetuating story where people would add their own false memories of a man they did not know just to be a part of the moment. An organic lie always has its way of coming around to the truth. By the time night rolled around let alone a few days from now Vladimir would be unable to simply leave without a gaggle of dreamers weeping his name.

One set of masterly crafted documents and a few good bar tunes later and things were already out of Kryas' hands. New gossip already reaching his ears of a handsome but eccentric noble son. Laughing at how quick the city moved he would leave the vampire's own nobility to shape the story from here. The bard could keep the worst of the ladies and nobles off him but there would only be so much he could do good deeds never went unpunished after all. He walked into the guild hall just around dusk when he imagined the two spelunkers had recovered more. He went to go check on his paladin friend in the clerical ward grinning like a loon. Sitting down on a stool next to her bed, "Well, Annia I may have done something truly evil. But, I did what I had to in order to make people ask fewer questions about the whole thing. I think you'll be rather proud of what I and Rosa pulled off in one night."

There were no dreams or thoughts when the clerics had placed her in an induced sleep. For most of that morning and the day she was sound asleep. The most serious of wounds and conditions were cured with prayers and divine magic within the first hour, the rest however, was still something her body had to take care of.

After that initial ordeal, a quiet dwarven cleric would visit occasionally just to check on her sleeping form. Once she had woken, it was that same cleric who handed her what looked to be a list of things that was cured. The underground cult had begun various techniques of draining her blood, injecting her with various chemicals and compounds, along with various markings across her body that only looked to be surgical markers. When the knight had read through the list, she couldn't help but shiver.

She had been laying in bed, reading a book titled Milliana Jones: Kingdom of the Golden Skull when Kryas had come in with a wide grin.

"And what did you do?" Annia asked, though she had an idea. She at least had heard bits and pieces of conversations from the nurses and clerics.

"I may have followed what I assumed to be your will before you past out. In regards with helping our new friend out of his trouble," his grin seemed to get that devilish cat like quality. "Only with my utmost skill, attention to detail, and my usual panache of course." That last part usually meant even more trouble for the intended target of a patricular variety that the bard seemed to be a master of. It was like asking for his help was like making a bargain with the fey. He always gave you what you needed, but at the same time got more out of the deal then anyone else. Setting people's lives to his own unique beats whether they knew it or not.

"I think poor Vlad or should I say our dear duke of house Arland  is getting quite a good deal. Though he might find me a worse deal maker then even his previous employer!" He cackled "Now no spoiling the surprise like I know you would. Let me at least see the look on his face when he finds out on his own. The shock alone might force him back to human again alone." Just the thought of him being challenged to an honor duel for some girl or forced into a party where everyone was vying to be known as a childhood friend was enough to make him gritty even if such spectacles wood take a while to start appearing. My how this town did love it's gossip