And Still, It Moves

[Epitaph]

(Closed to Nightspoison)

The ground shook, but only slightly, like a thousand earthworms were wiggling up to the surface all at the same time. The sun bled off the waxy red leaves and the forestry was almost silent. There was something evil in the ground near the Red Forest. Something that had been buried with the intention of staying that way, but now, as Xem’zund’s forces began to rise up from the earth, there was an inadvertent side effect.

One dark elven hand, pale and withered, clawed its way out of the ground. It was followed by another. Then came the head. It was a creature, covered in dirt, plotting revenge as it rose out of a forgotten grave to look on the world that had sent it to that fate. There were a few sudden gasps for air, as the creature that was once alive struck out anticipated its next breath of air greedily.

Until, of course, it realized it could not breathe. It had memories of living, but these memories were just that. There was nothing alive, nothing moving, nothing real within the large muscular body of the creature rising from the ground save for withered and decayed organs.

The creature made its way out of the sunlight, almost impulsively, as if it knew the longer it stayed out in the cruel daylight, the more its skin would tingle and dance with pain. It rasped and howled, and grabbed at things, looking all around for weapons. Soon enough he found a broken tree limb, which he poked and prodded with, desperately trying to remember why this motion was so important to him.

After less than five minutes, it had completely worn itself out. Now it sat down underneath the trees, as wave after wave of memory returned to it. Names appeared in the creature’s head. Damon Kaosi, Sivienna Mizami, Zephyriah Ablione, but more than any others, it remembered the name Raspien Evirus.

With vocal cords that were not only no longer living, but had not spoke in years, it uttered the name out loud. “Raspien Evirus,” it said. It repeated the name. It liked the name.

Now, covered in dirt and tattered, unflattering clothes, it moved through the forest, following the path of destruction left for it by an undead army, muttering the name “Raspien Evirus” over and over again as more and more memories returned.

[Nightspoison]

You'll find gold in the Red Forest missy. You'll be rich! Just go into the darkened trees, follow a well worn dirt path and by a knot of knotted trees you find a great treasure! The old wrinkled elf had told her as she had slunk through town.

That had been hours ago. Rianna had long discarded her woolen brown cloak. Throwing it aside as she marched past a bush bright with red berries. Ignoring the soft thump the cloak made as it landed lightly on the dusty soil. She mumbles angrily "That stupid old elf! He said I"d find treasure! I found that damn tree! All that was there was this!" She then holds up a small worn leather bag that is filled with two bright green stones. Ri had studied them and found that they were only semi precious. They wouldn't fetch much if she tried to sell them.

Grinding her teeth, as she marched past another set of twin trees, she mutters "When I get my hands on that old elf I"ll kill him!" She then thrust the bag roughly back into her satchel, her eyes dark blue with hate as she continues her trek through the silent forest.

Ri knew from experience that silence could be deadly, but at the same time she found it welcome. It meant that she would not be bothered while she plotted on how best to kill the old codger who had given her false information. She was so deep in thought that she hardly noticed the atmosphere change.

Before it had been quiet, shaded by a canopy of waxy green leaves. Now it seemed as if a gray mist hovered around the area. Indicting a sign of great evil had been here. Blinking as her thoughts were aburptly halted. She begin to look around. Seeing many holes in the shallow gray soil, she could only assume something had risen here.

As she walked from each of the holes, she blinked, one looked fresh. Much newer then the others, crouching down to study it, she could still see signs of freshly disturbed soil. Running her tongue over her lips, she thinks What could this have belonged to? A zombie? Another vampire? Shaking her head, she sighs, either choice could be correct. The only way to find out what it was, was to follow the fresh tracks in the gray soft soil.

Moving to follow them, her eyes were keen with interest. Maybe it was something she could kill. After all, she needed something to take her aggression out on from the old elf's trickery .

[Epitaph]

(Implied Bunny Approved)

As Raspien, as it now called itself, moved farther from its point of resurrection, it found itself growing more and more conscious, both of its surroundings and its place in the world. It recognized itself as male, as a vampire, as a creature that sought after both glory and carnal pleasures. Now, Raspien’s self awareness had enabled him to realize that he was passing through an area that had recently been trampled by an army. Little plants and shrubs had been torn asunder, and even the larger trees had been rattled.

When Raspien sniffed the air, he noticed something else. A distinct smell, that was both sweet and dead like him. He smiled. It was another vampire, only this one was a female. He could remember what he liked to do to females.

Before he realized what he was doing, Raspien was speaking out loud. “Show yourself lovely,” he began. “Wherever you are, I would love to talk…”

The dark elven vampire turned around to see a woman, a slight, but attractive woman that he knew he remembered. The smell of her hot blood was unmistakable, and practically set his senses on fire. “And it probably tastes delicious,” he resolved. Still, he wondered where he had seen the girl from before. He couldn’t identify her, though he desperately wanted to.

“Sivienna?” he thought. Raspien could remember that was the name of a vampiress, but for some reason, while he couldn’t shake a sense that this name was linked to that word, she was someone else. “Rianna!” he finally said. He recognized the girl. Her red hair should have been unmistakable.

Once Raspien had said the name, a deluge of memories returned to him. Rianna was a daughter of the House Mizami of the Great Cave Town in Haidia. Together they had conspired to kill Sivienna, who was Rianna’s sister. The more he remembered about Rianna, the more he liked about her. He couldn’t have thought of anyone who would have been better to have meet.

“We should kill someone,” he resolved.

[Nightspoison]

The tracks led to a clearing encircled by a ring of thick green trees. It was a secluded place, much the place Ri knew was preferred by vampires. They liked to hide out here, to protect themselves from the sun's harmful rays. As she stepped over a few broken twigs, Ri's eyes could slowly see a shadowy figure. Sniffing the air she caught the familiar scent of a vampire, one that she was sure she had seen somewhere before.

She heard a coy voice call her, and she smirked as she shouted back. "Lovely eh? And who are you? Thinking you can address a daughter of the Mizami house that way?"

Turning around, her eyes fell on dark pale skin, the flesh was sagging a bit, bits of soil still clinging to it as he gave her a sultry smile. Studying him, she could have sworn she saw those dark eyes before. Placing a finger against her soft, full lips, she considered him. Where have I seen him before? That deep voice...those searching eyes....who could he....Raspien! The name came to her like a whirlwind. He was the man whom she had sought out to take care of her sister. He had failed, but he promised her that next time he'd succeed. Though from the looks of it now, it seemed someone had killed him.

Shaking her head she murmured. "You look dead Raspien. Hate to say it but Sivienna is still alive. My elusive half-sister continues to evade my pursuits of her." She then pivoted on her feet, moving to head towards the small bushes that led to another shadowed path. Over her shoulder she called "If you want to kill someone Raspien, then I know just the person." Her teeth clenched a bit as her thoughts wandered back to the old codger. Moving a hand to caress the sais she had sheathed at her hip she whispered loudly. "He's an old elf....he said I'd find treasure, but all I found was something not worth my time." Turning again she murmured. "We just have to find him. I'm pretty sure after he told me this he went into hiding."

[Epitaph]

Raspien smiled. The news of Sivienna still being alive barely fazed him. Though his memories told him that he wanted her dead, if she wasn’t around, Raspien was more than happy to kill this elven man who Rianna had suggested. With a gluttonous smile, he licked his lips greedily, anticipating the kill. “That sounds wonderful,” he said with a wicked smile on his face. “I’ve wanted to eat for a while now…”

It had been such a long time since the taste of warm blood had run down his throat that Raspien couldn’t help but fantasize about getting a chance to eat some of it, so much so that he didn’t even stop to think that they would have to locate the old elf before they killed him. Raspien’s mind searched back to the last time he had eaten, and while he had no concept of the time he had been in ashes, under the ground, he knew that it had been far too long.

With an arrogant smirk, he looked at Rianna once again and completed his thought, though the distraction had caused him to completely lose his train of thought and start on a completely new topic. “You know…” he said. “We don’t have to stop just killing this person. We kill the codger, drink his blood, take all his things, and then we go find Sivienna and kill her. Then, when we’re done there, we kill Damon Kaosi and Storm Veritas!”

The moment he said the last two names, memories of his destruction became apparent. The three of them was in the top of the Obsidian Spire, wielding an adamantine gladius, only to be struck down by a wicked turn of fate that allowed the other two to gain advantage. Raspien now thought of the moment with no sense of regret, nor even a moment of concern for what his fate. Instead, it hardened his heart for revenge.

Still, there was time enough to kill, especially for immortal vampires bound to live forever. There would be time to return to power, for if memory served him right, Raspien could sense he was a shell of his former self. “In good time,” he reminded himself. “In good time.” Right now, he would just settle for some blood. Revenge on Kaosi and Veritas would have to wait for another day.

“After you…” Raspien offered, bowing in mock courtesy. “Lets go to where you last saw dinner.”

[Nightspoison]

Rianna nodded minutely as she swiveled on her feet to begin walking. Over her shoulder she called "Dinner should be this way then." Her feet then crunched over gravelly soil. pausing as her foot brushed against a broken branch. Looking down, she begin to see evidence of destruction, confused by this she begin to search her surroundings.

What should have been trees, were simply stumps...but they were not cleanly cut. They seemed to have been ripped apart by massive strength. A gasp escaped the dark beauty's lips as she hissed "What the hell?" Looking back at Raspien she muttered "Did you rise alone? It seems...like others came before you...." Ri then motioned at the upturned trees, the ripped apart bushes and flowers. There was absolutely no sign of life here in this part of the forest. She verily remembered that before there had been at least the chirping of birds, once she had found Raspien though, all signs of life had ceased.

Waiting on his answer, her dark blue eyes traveled warily over the haphazard line of destruction. It seemed to her whatever had caused this, had no means for its vandalism, the creatures were simply looking to destroy things. Licking her lips Ri thought as she traveled by a bent Oak tree, whose leaves were falling like wounded soldiers to the ground Whatever did this...doesn't seem to be too intelligent....it can't be vampires....we at least possess intelligence...maybe zombies? But who or what could have raised such disgusting creatures?

With these thoughts fading, Ri turned again to talk to Raspien, in a soft voice she murmurs "You said you died? I"m assuming killed by this Damon Kaosi and Storm Veratis....but how were you reborn? Who raised you?" The dark vixen had to know this, had to know why a vampire who had been slain had been reborn. If he was able to answer her question, then she'd at least know what force did this to this forest.

With her question still on her lips, the dark seductress soon reached a small stone wall. A gate was open in front of her, the smells of death, of destruction drifted from nostrils, along with the smells of rotting flesh. Wrinkling her nose, Ri moved to cover her nose as she said on a gag "Ugh..just what is this disgusting scent...its massive! What army caused this?" Her eyes traveled over the broken buildings, the smashed fields. This town was destroyed, but what army, Rianna didn't know. That is why she was asking Raspien, perhaps he had the information she sought.

[Epitaph]

Even though Raspien had been more interested in finding out what he could see with his eyes more than engaging in small talk with Rianna. He had ignored her question about who had raised him back from the dead. Still, he couldn’t help but comment when the sexy vampiress had said that the smell had bothered her. “But this is decay!” he declared triumphantly. “You can smell the blood of Tel Aglarim soldiers everywhere, it’s barely left the ground! I could suck the ground and get a drink!”

Raspien was in his element in the hollowed out remains of Carnelost. He wondered what force there was strong enough to decimate an entire town like this. Everything about Carnelost was ripped to shred. Carnelost was dotted with craters, craters that contained a few jagged edges of foundation serving as the only signal that there had once been a building.

He was about to say something to Rianna about looking for dinner, but paused. Raspien could sense something else, it was as if the force that had wakened him from the ground was now calling out to him, asking him to forget what he was doing and come with it to Eluriand. Naturally, being Raspien, he declined the strange voice, but watched wide eyed as the corpses of men and women that had been laying on the ground moments ago, now rose and began heading off into the distance.

The whole time, Raspien waited underneath the trees. It was getting somewhat darker, but he could tell that the sunlight would still be enough to kill him. He wished he had better clothes or a jacket that he might have been able to use as a parasol, because now he wanted to hunt through the ruins to see what he could find. He didn’t bother sharing any of these thoughts with Rianna. As far as he was concerned, he just wanted her to lead him to food and then he’d be done with her. From what he remembered, she was a useful firebrand, but also a potentially dangerous ally to have.

There was one thing from her that he needed. “Where’s that elf of yours? There’s blood all around the ground here but not a drop to drink?” He looked around the still wooded area, looking to see if there was anything there that he could use for cover. The bushes leaves were too small, but the carnage of Xem’zund had left enough branches in its wake that he figured he could use a particularly waxy set of red leaves as a source of shade.

Once he had prepared his makeshift parasol, he stepped out into the ruins of Carnelost. He smiled as he looked around. The army that had been through the city was surprisingly inefficient. There had been enough weapons left behind to equip a small army. Raspien even mused that there was enough in undamaged weaponry that he could start his own shop with the weapons that he found.

Given his situation, it was important that he arm himself. Rianna was well armed, and the vampire trusted a sword in his hand more than he did in Rianna’s. He picked up the first intact bastard sword that he found, and held it in the nook of his arm before he moved into a small awning that had somehow remained intact so that he could have a source of shade.

[Nightspoison]

Silence reigned between the two vampires as the female waited patiently for her answers. That silence stretched into minutes, as the sun glinted off the glossy stones of the ruined city. As Raspien begin to make his parasol completely paying Rianna no mind, the seductress begin to get frustrated. Growling low in her throat she hisses "You could be a gentleman an answer a lady's questions!"

Stamping her foot, Ri moved over to pout under the guarded canopy of one of the few surviving trees. Her mind was racing as she thought I tell him where to find blood. I lead him away from his place of rising..and he treats me like I'm simply here to help him. My father told me men like him..aren't worth my time! But... sighing as her eyes traveled up through the leaves towards the glowing jewel in the sky. She knew she needed someone, to be with her. It would be easier to overpower that old fool with another vampire. She wouldn't have to do all the work herself.

Greed was something that always overpowered her sense of logic....running her tongue over her lips, Ri turned to say something to Raspien. But, he was already making his way into the smoking ruins. Crossing her arms over her breasts, Rianna moved to grab a branch that had thick enough leaves for her to use as cover from the sun's killing rays.

Raising it above her head, the red haired seductress soon followed after Raspien. Looking around and smelling the blood of the fallen, it was hard for her to discern where the elf they had deemed 'dinner' was. Sniffing the air, the only scents that came to the vixen, was that of smoke, thick and heavy, and the scents of the dead.

She could not sense anything living. Shaking her head she spits out dryly "All I smell are the dead. If that elf is alive...he must be hiding. We'll have to find him Raspien!" She then made her way over the broken wall of what was once surely a church. Stepping delicately over the broken grass, Ri scanned the ruined town as she thought to herself I should just keep him to myself. Greed may be a trait Raspien and I share, but trust...that another thing. Trust isn't something I have in him. He may be helpful...but in the heat of things, he fails. I'll have to watch him...

She then soon came to a trio of three buildings, they were broken, smoking spiraling out of their smashed roofs, but she also could smell something. life it hung in the air, like a delicate pointer. A smile lit her lips, as her eyes traveled over the ripped up grass and foliage, she soon saw a somewhat standing house, near the outskirts of town. It looked like it could be used as a refuge for any living that was left. Pointing it out she shouts "Raspien! Lets look over there, there's enough of that house left, for survivors of this attack to hide in!"

[Epitaph]

Raspien didn’t much care for Rianna’s theatrics and constant demands for attention, but he was glad that he found her. The vampires had lead him in the right direction, now they had stumbled upon a church in Carnelost, one from which Rianna said she suspected that there might be living. “Well done,” Raspien declared. “I knew there was a reason that I kept you around.”

The smell of the fresh blood was becoming more and more apparent to him now that Rianna had mentioned it. As he had just risen from the ground, his sense of smell had been all but dead less than an hour ago. Just like his memories, his sense of smell was also returning. The first real sensation his nose had felt was the smell of carnage, but now, Raspien’s mouth was watering at the thought of his first real meal in a long time.

Without waiting for Rianna, Raspien began to move in a sprint towards the house. Once again, he paid no attention to formality. Though normally he would have been required to be invited into a home, it didn’t matter as long as the owners were dead, which was particularly convenient in a town that had been decimated the way as Carnelost. With the number of people that were killed, it was hardly likely, even if the house survived, that its original occupants had survived as well.

Once Raspien had broken down the door, his greedy eyes spied just how good his fortune was. There were six people, all covered in blood and wounded, but very much alive. One of them, an older elf, might have been the one that Rianna was talking about.

“The Kyorl!” one of them declared. “You’re behind the attack of Xem’zund.”

Raspien’s eyes went open. It wasn’t the mention of the Alerarian army he had used to belong to that shocked him, but the mention of the Forgotten One. Now he knew just how he had been reanimated from the dead, and what the force was that had ravaged Carnelost in such an enviable fashion. “The Forgotten Ones are back!” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “And they’ve left me the chance to clean up after them.”

The elf who had first blurted the name of Xem’zund now stood up, his face wrinkled in determination. Of the six survivors, only four of them might have been considered warriors of any sort. Two were Tel Aglarim soldiers who had been too cowardly to fight alongside their brothers, another was an old man who seemed to have enough spry in his step, and the last was a young girl in her late teens who, for all Raspien knew possessed magic. He wanted to be careful. There were enough broken items in the house that the unfortunately placed shard of wood could be the end of him.

As such, since the elves were too scared to make the first move, Raspien was content to wait for Rianna. With six survivors, he was content to let her eat as well.

[Nightspoison]

Hasn't he ever heard of manners? Ri thought dully as Raspien took her invitation and walked over to the broken building. Without much decorum he tore the weak door from its hinges. From inside came the muffled shouts and frightened moans of survivors. Also the accusation of the Kyorl army bringing this devastation to their town. Shaking her head as she appeared behind Raspien's shadow. Her eyes surveyed the inside of the church.

The pews had been pushed aside, or smashed for firewood. A low fire was burning gently in the middle of the church's stone floor. Fear laced inside Ri's heart as she looked at the fire, she knew Raspien's and her weakness, and wanting to be rid of it, she quickly grabbed a large handful of gray soil and threw it over the flames.

As the flames disappeared one of the survivors a young teenage girl wearing a very thin bright green dress said sharply "Your not Kyorl! Your vampires! That must be why your eyes feared our fire!" Rising bravely, her whole body quaked a bit as she pointed a finger at the pair "I'll kill you! I won't let anyone here die by your foul nature!" She then closed her innocent looking green eyes, her hands were trembling as words could be heard form her soft lips.

Goddess Diana grant me your power! I call upon your bright burning flames! Come to my aid to shield me from the dark god's creatures! Please I beg you my lady goddess! Grant my wish!

As the young lass repeated these words, bright orange flame begin to form in her hands. Her eyes were glowing a light red, the flames breathe that she was calling, was coursing through her body. Using it as a conduit.

Growling as she saw this, Ri shook her head as she sprinted forward. Raising her hand, the dark seductress knocked the young girl to the ground. She was surprised though that none of the others had been brave enough to come to the young girl's aid.

Wrenching the girl up by her hair, the young vampire gave the other five men a toothy grin. Ignoring the young woman's whimper of pain, she whispered seductively in a coy voice "Chose to hide behind this young woman's skirt boys? Awww I would have thought you'd have more brass! Can't you see that in most situations...its the woman who need protecting?" She then ran her nail coaxingly against the pretty lass's delicate flesh, relishing in the way the girl winced. In a commanding voice she whispers "Now then..."Her eyes scanned over the five faces, she dismissed the old wrinkled human, the two soldiers smelled of elves, but they weren't his scent.

Dragging the girl forward, she shouts "Ok whose the old bastard who told me of treasure? Tell me now and she lives! If you don't well..." she then moved to run her tongue over the girl's throat, grinning as the girl jumped beneath her, using this motion to indict her motives she finishes "She becomes my play toy!"

One of the soldiers, whose dark brown eyes trembled with fear, rose unsteadily, in an unsure voice he shouted "Let her go you witch! I'll...k..kill you!"

Rianna let out a throaty laugh as her eyes traveled over the young elf's body. It was well toned and looked to be up for the task of serving her. In a soft voice she whispers "You want to save her hun? Well I have a deal for you, change places with her. Come and be mine and I'll let her go!"

The young soldier let out a gasp, his eyes slowly turned to that of an old elf with long white hair. Pointing at him he stuttered "That'd be the old elf you want...he told us a story of how he tricked a young vampire into searching for treasure....he hoped that...well you'd get lost and die."

Rianna smiled as she moved to push the young girl into Raspien's arms, with a short "Take her" To Raspien, she moved towards the young soldier. Fear was thick in the air as she made her way towards him. In a soft voice she murmurs "Thanks...but that still doesn't get you off the hook. Your too cute to pass up boy!" After she played with her first choice for a meal, she'd dine on the old elf's rich blood with Raspien. But for now she wanted a play toy.

[Epitaph]

Raspien smiled. As bratty as Rianna was, she was equally thick. The dark elven vampire had to remark about the irony of her accusing the others of hiding behind the skirt of a girl when he was prepared to do the exact same thing. Now, Rianna had given him the most delicious meal of all, a comely girl shuddering in fear, just old enough to be titillating but young enough for her blood to taste fresh.

As she fell into his arms, Raspien clutched her tightly and roughly, making sure that he caused her pain. He tried to remember what he did in situations like this, where he just didn’t want blood, but wanted to create another vampire as well. He looked at her for a few seconds, and her eyes melted into his. As the connection was established between the two of them, Raspien could feel her life force, everything that was once beautiful and precious about the girl, seeping away from her as she slipped into her trance.

Everything that was once beautiful, he was going to destroy. Everything beautiful, of course, that Xem’zund had left behind.

“Your Diana won’t save you now, will she?” Raspien asked, mocking the girl’s earlier faith.

The innocent girl was so entranced in Raspien’s temptation that she could say nothing but an earnest no. Raspien smiled. With a wicked smile on his face, he bit into her and destroyed everything about her that was once innocent and pure. Her life was like the flame of a candle that he had savored to extinguish.

And most of all, Raspien enjoyed it. He looked at her now, her face going white, body shaking from the blood loss. He let her fall to the ground, as he looked at the group of people watching on, horrified. “Don’t worry…” he said. “I’ll eat you too…”

With that, he pulled the remainder of a leg off what was once a chair, glad that it provided him with a nice sharp spike. He could see that the other of the two Tel Aglarim soldiers who wasn’t occupied with Rianna, and he was knocking an arrow into his bow. Unsure of who the soldier was targeting, Raspien decided to play it safe, and threw the chair leg like a javelin, straight into the shoulder of the soldier. The soldier grasped, and before he knew it, he was pinned to the wall, the spike having run through his shoulder. Though the elf had passed out from the pain, he was still alive to drink from.

Now, Raspien turned his attention back to the girl. He had been having too much fun with her to have it end now. He ran his own thumb over his tooth, cutting it in the process, so that a few drops of his blood could fall into the girl’s mouth. The blood fell into her almost still mouth, and the slightest bit of color returned to her skin. Raspien smiled and then turned his attention to whom he was going to eat next. He laughed wickedly as the two children cowered behind an old box in fear.

[Nightspoison]

"No!" The young elf's musical voice was filled with fear as he watched the male vampire change the poor girl who had tried to save them. Seeing her beautiful flesh grow pale and her bright green eyes dull as she neared death, put fear in his heart. In a strangled voice he screeched "I pointed out who you wanted! Let me go!"

Rianna's laugh was rich as she moved slowly towards him. Behind her she could hear the sounds of Raspien eating his fill. The sound of the young girl's scream was music to her ears. However, she paid no heed when he begin to change his prey. Her eyes were only for the young male in front of her. She could feel the pulse of life beneath his throat, could almost smell his sweet blood. She knew from experience that elven blood was rich and tasted like sweet wine. In a coy voice she whispers "Sorry sweetie, I take what I want. I don't give mercy! If you want mercy try someone else!"

As she neared the remaining four survivors, she noticed that two young children had fled, hiding behind the big box, that a priest had once given his sermons on. Ignoring them for now, Rianna moved towards the young soldier. Moving down to grab him, her eyes noticed the knife that the young man was reaching for. Raising a finger she scolded him "No hun. You won't stab your betters! Your my play toy that means..." she paused hearing the tell tale signs of a weapon being loaded, looking around her, her eyes fell on another fallen chair, moving to break the soft wood in half, she soon had a splinter like leg in her hands.

Her eyes fell on the old elf mere inches from her, his old eyes were hard as he held a steel crossbow in his hands. Shaking her head as he moved to press the trigger she murmurs "Sorry old man. You won't fool me today! You fooled me once! But no more!" She then hurled the chair leg at the old elf, his eyes widened as he was struck by it, pinned now to the wall the same as the soldier was, he let out a cry of pain as he begin to curse in ancient elven.

Ignoring the two wounded for now, Ri bent down, her red locks falling around her in an angelic curtain. Smiling sweetly at the young elf, her fingers moved deftly to pluck the knife from the man's shaking fingers. Pocketing it, she smiles murmuring "It won't hurt honey. Just look into my eyes, let all your worries fade away!"

Slowly the man's brown eyes begin to glaze, his fingers grew limp as he fell against her body. Looking into his bemused eyes, Ri could feel her heart leap with joy. She relished in this power, caressing his face with her hands, her mouth slowly moved to the pulse that beat against his throat.

Beginning to drink, her eyes glazed with the rush of warmth that flew into her body. Feeling him grow weak against her, she removed her lips from his bloodied throat. Moving to take his knife from her pocket, she moved it elegantly against her wrist, pressing her wrist forward a few bloody drops fell into the dazed soldiers mouth.

His skin slowly grew from waxy to a soft white. his brown eyes sparked as the flame of life came back into them. As he stirred, she tucked his knife into her belt. Turning to look at Raspien she mutters "Now that we each have our play toys. Why don't we finish this meal! I want to get out of here before any vampire hunters arrive!"

[Epitaph]

With his new sireling lying on the floor, Raspien looked on Rianna’s new charge irritably. He considered killing the former Tel Aglarim soldier just out of spite, because Rianna had no right to copy his unique style. Still, he refrained, but only because there was so much blood to drink. With an unamused chuckle on his face, he pointed to the old man that Rianna had now pinned up against the wall. “That one is for you...” he said. With that many people, Rianna disgusted him too much for him to share a drink with her. He considered drinking with him a privilege that Rianna didn’t deserve.

He pulled the wooded spike from the other soldier and then began to drink his fill alone. As the succulent blood ran down his throat, Raspien made sure to enjoy this victim just for the meal. The girl earlier had been a pleasure of a totally different experience, she had been an opportunity to touch the world’s purity and destroy it, an act of utter defiance to the gods above that favored the virtuous.

That was why Raspien was so annoyed with the flippant way that Rianna had changed the Tel Aglarim soldier. “I knew she was a spoiled brat, but this is ridiculous,” he thought angrily. “Siring is an honor, not the kind of honor someone in Tel Aglarim deserves. She wanted a play toy, something that she could keep around, not to commit an act of cruelty. Disgusting…”

Once he had drank his soldier dry, Raspien turned his attention to the two little children hiding. They were holding each other, whimpering loudly, and it was clear that they weren’t going to be able to do much. Raspien heard one of them, a little girl mention something about how he was the one who had killed her sister. Raspien laughed appreciatively at the situation.

The girl he had sired now stood up. Raspien looked at her now, she was young and frail, but with a vampire’s blood coursing through her veins, her strength would be deceptive. Raspien smiled at her, and he pulled the little girl who had whispered up by her ear.

“P-uh, puh- please don’t hurt me sir!” she begged.

Raspien laughed. “I won’t hurt you,” he said. “Go visit your sister!”

The little girl, wincing from the way that Raspien cruelly pulled on her ear, still had her eyes brighten when she saw her sister. “OH!” she said. “Ariel, you’re alive!” Raspien released the child, and her sweet little heart began to beat joyously as she saw that her sister was actually not dead. All her fear was gone.

Raspien smiled. He especially liked the way that the little girl’s look changed the moment her older sister’s teeth sunk into her.

“Killing family’s always a good place to start…” Raspien joked.

[Nightspoison]

Raspien's cold voice instructed her that the elf she was supposed to share with him. Was hers now and hers alone. Grimacing a bit from his harsh glare she said in a lofty voice "Fine, if you don't want to taste his sweet nectar, then all the better for me!" She then pranced away from her sire and moved towards the old elf.

Fear was in the old elf's eyes as he said in a croaky voice "Madam please! I beg you spare me! I'll tell you anything! Give you any treasure you wish! Anything...just ask! I know where the treasure of the king of Haidia is...I..I" his voice fell silent as the dark vixen's figure appeared an inch in front of his face.

"Shut up you old codger! I told you that I'd leave you be if you honestly told me where I could find REAL treasure! But," moving to take out the worn leather purse, she tossed in the old man's face and hissed "Tell me! How much are these worthless gems? How much! You sent me on a wild goose chase! For what? Just so I'd die! Well hate to say it, if you wanted me to die you should have sent me somewhere other then a deserted battlefield!"

"But la...lass! This is re...real treasure! See its..' fumbling to pull out the two semi precious stones, the elf says in a choked voice "These be emeralds! Valuable gem! Worth tons of gold!"

Rianna's laugh was short and cruel as she said succinctly "No...these aren't emeralds...there only worthless stones! Nice try...but not good enough!" she then moved to sniff his sounded shoulder, a pleasurable sigh escaping her as she says gently "Your pain will end though you old fool! You won't trick any one else!" She then sank her fangs quickly into his throat. She drank greedily off his rich blood. Smacking her lips when she finished, she let his body fall limp, still pinned now dead to the wall.

She then turned and gave Raspien a harsh glare. In a coy voice she whispers "You should have tried his blood! It was after all divine!" After teasing Raspien she went to her changeling.

Looking at him warmly she coos "What is your name honey?"

The elf vampire looked a bit unsettled as he said in a weak voice " Fëanor Lossëhelin mistress...I...I'm thirsty..."

Rianna giggled as she moved to kiss the elf's full mouth. In a gentle voice she murmurs "I have food for you." her eyes then drifted to the young boy. He was crying looking frightened as his little companion was sucked dry by Raspien's changeling.

His little voice was crying "Why? Why Ariel? Why'd you kill her! Sh...she was you sister!" tears were glistening in his young eyes as he wailed and looked around in panic. Realizing he was the only one left, he tried to make his way for the door.

Sighing as she walked forward, she said in a sweet voice "Sorry little one. Today isn't your lucky day." She then nodded towards her little pet and murmured "He's yours."

Feanor's dark brown eyes lit up hungrily as he staggered towards the young boy. Bending down the child's tears were silenced as the elven vampire fed from the young child. Was the boy's cries were silenced, he rose looking satisfied.

With this done, Rianna then turned towards Raspien and said strictly "Lets get out of here. I'm full and I think we've done everything that we needed to here."

[Epitaph]

Raspien scowled. “I don’t take orders from you,” he said to Rianna, before turning his attention away from her. He made no effort to leave, but instead turned his attention over to his new charge, the girl who once had so much courage to oppose him, but was now just another of his minions. He laughed when he thought of her soul looking up in heaven, as it watched helplessly as her body killed the sister she had sworn to protect.

Just to spite that soul, Raspien decided that he would torture his new vampire. “Have you eaten?” he asked, watching her as she sucked greedily on the corpse of her sister, even after it had shriveled to little more than a prune.

She nodded. Raspien smiled. “Good,” he said. “You have not yet earned the right to speak. Or a name. Rianna may have no respect for custom, but I do. You have no name until I give you one.” The girl nodded obediently.

Raspien smiled. She was going to be a perfect charge. The last bit of heroism she had showed in life made her that much more appealing for him. It was time to go. He looked around the room, seeing if there was anything he might want to take with him. There were a few gold coins here and there, but nothing all that particularly interesting. The Tel Aglarim soldiers had their weapons, and while Raspien could concede they were of a fine quality, as a former Kyorl soldier he thought it beneath him to accept one of their weapons.

For a moment, Raspien was going to be content leaving with the bastard sword he had found outside, but he soon changed his mind. He had yet to complete his act of spite.

“Woman,” he said, pointing at his sireling. “Did you have a weapon.”

She nodded.

“What was it?” Raspien asked.

The girl began to open her mout, but with a lightning reflex, Raspien was able to kick her straight in the mouth. She went flying towards the wall, and her frail body winced visibly with pain. “Don’t cry in pain,” he warned as he broke off another stake as if he was about to kill her. “I told you not to speak…”

The girl obeyed. She pointed over to a scabbard that had been near the corpse of the old elf. Its clasp had been broken, probably why she hadn’t had the weapon on her in the first place.

“For right now, this is mine,” Raspien said, as he went over and unsheathed the sword for his own use. “When you’re not useless, you can have it.”

The girl nodded obediently.

With that, Raspien was ready to leave. “I’m going to Alerar now,” he said. “Make some profit before I do anything else. Rianna, if you think you can be less useless than you were here, then you’re welcome to come as well.”

And with that, Raspien began to leave, his new charge following in tow.

[Nightspoison]

Rianna shrugged her shoulders modestly as she said "Touchy aren't we?" She then turned her attention to her surroundings. Broken bits of wood and weaponry littered the ground of the church. She saw that the old elf had a crossbow, made from solid steel and beside it was a quiver filled with crossbows. Moving to pick it up she turned it over in her hands and grinned. Placing it in her satchel she mutters "This will come in handy..." Gold was tempting, the shiny pieces of metal always helped her make a deal, or got her something that she desired.

But, for now she was content. Beckoning to her charge she murmurs "Lets go hun. Our work here is finished." She then headed towards the exit. Pausing as she became level with Raspien she mutters softly "Who was responsible for this town's damage? Who destroyed Carnelost Raspien? No normal force could have caused this destruction! It must have been a god!"

After she asked this question, she paused, she noticed his cruel treatment of his new charge. Wincing a bit as he struck the poor girl when she had nearly disobeyed him, she wanted to say something. But she held his tongue, as much as she hated the way Raspien was treating his charge, she knew better then to say anything. If her father had taught her one thing, it was not to meddle in the affairs of another vampire.

But for now her question was one of trust, she wanted to see how much she could trust him. So far, he had not treated her cruelly, but their was an air of contempt about him. Of disapproval in her actions, this she did not like. It caused her to wonder where his loyalties lied. She heard his offer to help him in Alerar. Pursuing her lips, her tongue traveled over the delicate skin as she murmurs thoughtfully "I'll help you Raspien...but only after I know I'll be safe and well paid. I don't do things easily Raspien. Two thinks work, money and the assurance that their won't be trouble."

She then beckoned to her own charge saying in a loving voice "Come on dear. We have to get out of here. All this blood, this destruction will look like the work of vampires. Soon hunters might come to investigate this place. We need to be long gone before that."

Fëanor nodded obediently as he shuffled forward. In a stronger voice he murmurs "Yes mistress, your wish is my command!"

She smiled fondly, ruffling her charge's long locks of blonde hair. She then pivoted on her feet, her impatience showed in her face. She wanted to be gone from this church, its destruction to her was too obvious. This would not be the work of whatever army caused the town's destruction, this was the obvious work of creature's who only thrived for blood. Tapping her foot rapidly she hissed "Hurry up and answer Raspien! Don't keep me waiting too long!"

[Epitaph]

Raspien thought about his answer long and hard. He knew that his new charge knew the answer, but he felt he could trust her not to say. However, he was more than willing to bet that if he didn’t give Rianna the answer, the Tel Aglarim soldier that she had sired would. With a sigh, he decided that there was only so much she’d be able to do with the information anyways. She was too disrespectful to ever come up with a grand strategy, and he knew well enough that a Forgotten One would have no use for her. It would be better if he told her than let her think otherwise.

“Uhh… I heard it might have been Xem’zund,” he said. “He’s a powerful necromancer, he probably also raised me from the dead. He means bad things as far as Raiaera’s concern, so good things for us…”

With that, Raspien’s little sireling went to fetch two parasols, which she was able to find in a now dilapidated church coat room. She brought them to him smiling meekly, and bowed as if to show she was honored to serve. The vampire considered slapping her just for its own sake, but let that fleeting fancy go. He needed to train her to accept his pain, but also realize that by anticipating his needs that she could avoid it. Instead he just snatched the parasols from her.

Speaking somewhat rudely, considering that Rianna was still in the room, Raspien congratulated his charge. “If I had been made to ask you for them, I would have given the second parasol to Rianna,” he said. “But you did well, you got what I needed without asking. It shows I can count on you. Rianna now will have to find her own…”

Raspien handed one of the parasols back to his little sireling and then opened his. Right before he left, he turned to Rianna and offered her an opportunity that was half a farewell and half an invitation. “Thanks for your help, you’re still a brat, but you’re useful. If you’re interested, there’s opportunity. Gold and whatever else you’re after. I’m taking my girl with me, you and soldier boy can do whatever.”

With that, Raspien left with his meek new sireling in tow. He cackled only a bit as he thought of all the things he’d now be able to do. He wondered, perhaps if one day, Xem’zund would hate the accident that had brought him up out from the soil.

(Spoils= I would like to claim both the sireling as an NPC, and a damascus schiavona as spoils. If this is too rich a request, please take it out of whatever GP I have and whatever GP I would be rewarded otherwise. The schiavona is for the sireling in the future, and not Raspien, if that makes a difference.)

[Nightspoison]

"Fetch us some parasols Fëanor. We don't want the sun turning us to ash!" Rianna smiled at her charge. His smile was warm in return as he pivoted like a good little soldier and disappeared into the church's small coat room. Minutes later he returned with two more pretty parasols. The pink one he handed to his mistress and the blue one he opened for himself. He then stood meekly next to her awaiting her next orders.

Rewarding him with a light kiss on the cheek, Ri opened up her own parasol and grinned when the cooling shade covered her head. Turning to look at Raspien she mutters "Thank you for telling me. Your an arrogant prat, but you told me the truth. In return for that I'll help you. I'll meet you in Alerar come sundown tomorrow."

With small talk down, Rianna beckoned to her charge and stepped out into the bright sunlight. The parasol was wide enough that all Ri could see was small specks of light around her shadowed figure. Keeping her changeling close to her, she slowly made her way through the ruined town. Stopping once they were out of Carnelost ruins, she paused and turned to hold Fëanor's hand. Pulling him close she murmurs "We'll head back to Radasanth...we can find dinner there and a relatively safe place to nest."

'But mistress..what of these hunters you speak of?" the new vampire asked, concern on his fair pale face.

"Don't worry about them sweetie. If we hide they won't be able to find us!"

"Al right..." their was hesitation on his face as he wanted to say something, but didn't have the courage. Instead his voice fell silent as he meekly waited for his mistress to lead on.

Seeing his restraint she murmurs "Your a good pet. I'll reward you later when we find our safe haven."

A tiny smile traced the male's strong face as he nodded.

Smiling Rianna pulled him onward, their figures retreating into the shadowed trees. With their parasols up, they made their way safely through the forest unhindered. For now Rianna was safe. She had a full stomach and a new pet to play with, she'd worry about her half-sister's destruction later. After all for now she had a job to do in Alerar, she'd be well paid and then after that she could concentrate her efforts on taking care of her father's wish to destroy her bratty, annoying half sister who was a blight to the Mizami name.

(Spoils: Steel crossbow: Your basic automatic crossbow. It fires one bolt at a time. Along with the crossbow I ask that you include the pouch of bolts 9 in total since one was dropped.

Fëanor Lossëhelin- A Tel Agarlim soldier that Ri changed. He is simply her obiedient servant right now. he has no weapon and he will follow Ri's whims and her commands. Right now he is simply her playtoy. I will get a weapon for him in a later thread. Thank you very much.)

[Karuka]

This seemed to be a simple little "let's get together and establish that we knew each other" thread. Judgment's probably going to be pretty short, but we'll see.

Continuity: 5

I got what drove Rianna in life (treasure and the desire to annihilate her half-sister) and that this was a new beginning for Raspien. I also caught glimpses of Raspien's past. I do not, however, have a good sense of what Raspien is doing next, or what Rianna was doing in Raiaera in the first place.

Pacing: 4

It started slow and it stayed slow, the whole way through.

Setting: 7

I got a good sense of the setting as it stood, but would have liked to have seen more interaction with it.

Persona: 6

Rianna stayed consistent as a kind of bratty not-quite evil (but wishing she were) girl, and Raspien was consistent as a cruel jerk, but the characters themselves did not portray any real depth in the context of this thread.

Action: 3

Action stayed pretty flat the entire way through. There was nothing that brought me to the edge of my seat, no tension or suspense at all throughout the thread. There wasn't even a struggle when there were six survivors and two vampires, and there easily could have been.

Dialogue: 5

Mechanics: 8

Raspien had a few typos, and Nightspoison had several fragments. She also needs to watch out for using "your" when she means "you're" (possessive "it's your changling," v. "you're a vampire").

Technique: 4

There was nothing that really stood out to me as far as technique went, and hearing "play toy" consistently for Feanor got a little repetitive. English is a language with a multitude of synonyms, just to keep things interesting.

Clarity: 9

I understood everything that happened.

Wild Card:5

Total: 56 Congratulations!

Rewards

Epitaph receives 1500 EXP x 2 = 3000, 100 GP, and requested spoils.
Nightspoison receives 570 EXP x 2 = 1140, 300 GP, and requested spoils.

NPCs must be approved by a RoG mod at your next level up, and remember, they may not be used in combat without your opponent's permission.

EXP/GP added!