The Vampire Lords

[TigerHunter]

You pass over more farms and hamlets, until finally the towering city of Westfall begins to show on the horizon.

[Jallorn]

Jallorn makes his way to the duke's castle, approaching the lord's chambers(not sleeping).

[TigerHunter]

You pass over the sleepy city just as dawn begins to break. Your skin stinging slightly from the rays of light piercing the clouds, you fly to the castle the locals call the Dark Keep. After passing through the window of the tower the Duke has set aside for fliers to use, you descend the staircase and navigate the maze of passages to the sitting room where he receives guests. Here stand two guards. You order one to inform the Duke's advisor of your arrival and enter the room, taking a seat to wait patiently for your lord to awake and receive you.

After about an hour, the Duke enters the room, accompanied by his advisor, a greying old man and powerful wizard named Anastor. He licks his lips in anticiption. "You have it?"

[Jallorn]

"Yes m'lord," Jallorn says, bowing before handing over the amulet.

[TigerHunter]

"Excellent, excellent." The Duke reaches out with a long-fingered hand to accept the golden amulet. "Very good. You have done well." He eyes the black gemstone with a hungry look before slipping the amulet into the pocket of his robe. "Rest now. I will have another task for you soon." With that, he turns to leave, dismissing you with a curt nod.

[Jallorn]

Jallorn returns to whatever chambers he has to await his lords next summons, sleeping so as to pass the time in pleasant dream rather than any actual need for sleep.

[TigerHunter]

You awake that night to find that nobody has called on you. All is still in the Dark Keep.

[Jallorn]

Jallorn wanders the castle, seeking someone to speak with, preferably someone familiar, if not friendly.

[TigerHunter]

In the hallway outside the kitchens, you encounter Raven Obstra, one of the stronger vampires in the Duke's service, despite being roughly the same age as you. A powerful sorcerer with few compunctions against killing, his ruthless competency has made him one of the Duke's favorites. He seems a little fonder of you than you of him, though for what reason he may have taken a liking to you, you cannot say.

"Jallorn. I'm hurt. You returned and I wasn't made aware?"

[Jallorn]

"I'm sure you were busy. I returned at dawn."

[TigerHunter]

"Indeed? You must be eager to revisit the sights of Westfall, then."

[Jallorn]

"Maybe, I haven't decided yet."

[TigerHunter]

"Don't tell me you plan on staying in this godsforsaken castle all night? I leave for the Vale in less than a week, we should make the most of it while we can."

[Jallorn]

"It sounds enjoyable, but I may yet be needed. We shall see."

[TigerHunter]

"Well poo. You're no fun at all." Raven stalks off towards the staircase.

[Jallorn]

Jallorn shakes his head, "Sometimes you have to play their game Raven," he mutters. Pondering many things, Jallorn heads up to the roof to survey the surrounding lands.

[TigerHunter]

Westfall is built in a large bend of the Stranglethorn River, which served as the demarcation between kingdoms in ages past, but now neatly bisects Duke Marrith's lands. Westfall, in its original construction, was a small fort that served as a watchtower, and grew larger over the years as travelers settled there. One of the Duke's first acts after assuming power was to order that the walls be expanded to encompass the entire city, which had far outgrown the old boundaries.

Except for the crooked line of the river, all around the city is farms and woods. The greatest of the latter is the Foxwoods, which encompass the southern wall of the city and the Eastern shore.

[Jallorn]

Jallorn stays on the roof to see what might happen down below.

[TigerHunter]

Night watchmen patrol the castle. A few drunkards stagger along the streets outside the Dark Keep. The city sleeps.

[Jallorn]

Jallorn returns down from the roof and wanders the castle aimlessly.

(Should I instigate something?)

[TigerHunter]

You come across nothing out of the ordinary. The guards stand at their posts, silent, and do not acknowledge you.

[Jallorn]

Deciding the castle to be far too boring at the moment, he leaves a message with one of the guards, "If the Baron desires my presence, tell him I'm in town." He then headed out into town, looking in particular for a promising tavern where he might find a good fight.

[TigerHunter]

You come to the Checkered Knight, a dumpy little tavern and brothel in one of the seedier parts of town. You step in the door and are greeted by a rush of warmth and light from the fire and candles. Most of the patrons are moody and sullen, but one group at a table in the corner is boisterously jovial. Other noises come from the upstairs, where brothel patrons are... mingling with the employees.

[Jallorn]

Jallorn takes a seat at a table near the boisterous group, listening in on their conversation.

[TigerHunter]

"...tits the size of melons," a brown-haired boy says, indicating as much with his hands. The rest of the group bursts into laughter.

[Jallorn]

Jallorn sits back and waits for something interesting to wait, ordering a fine wine if a waitress comes by.

[TigerHunter]

The group next to you continues discussing each member's sexual exploits. You suspect their conversation is responsible for the barmaid's avoiding your table for longer than she would have normally. When she finally does make her way over, you attempt to order a wine, but she shakes her head. "No wine, sweety. Just beer, mead and ale."

[Jallorn]

"I'll have an ale then, best you've got."

[TigerHunter]

"That ain't saying much." She wanders back to the bar and returns minutes later with a wooden cup topped with white foam.

[Jallorn]

Silently, Jallorn surveys the other patrons, sipping from his mug and scheming.