Fantasy Hunter's Moon [IC] [CLOSED]

[joshuadim]

Ethraeil continued his assault on the revenant, slashing again with his ice sword and aiming straight for the creature's head. It was still trying to regain its bearings after Galina's scream, but that would not last forever and he needed to take advantage of it as much as he could.

 

[Infab]

Castle Ellisgate - Mid-Keep Courtyard - BOSS BATTLE - TURN 4
Edmond is on fire (The Cleansing Flame, Hell's Honey.) Edmond suffers 6 DMG (The Cleansing Flame.) Edmond HP = 81.
Revenant Leader is on fire. Revenant Leader suffers 1 DMG. Revenant Leader HP = 40.
Camille = 5 + 1 (6, Infallible Focus.) Targets Edmond. Chance to avoid damage (Living Shield.) D6 used. Chance Roll = 2. Chance failed. Does 3 DMG (Pinpoint Thrusts) to Edmond. Edmond HP = 78.
Theodore = 5 (Calculated Risk.) Does 11 DMG (Calculated Risk, Man of Science, RAGNAROK) to Revenant Leader. Revenant Leader HP = 29.
Aleister = 10. CH Roll = 8. Targets Edmond. Chance to avoid damage (Living Shield.) D6 used. Chance Roll = 3. Chance failed. Does 5 DMG (Holy Miracles) to Edmond. Edmond HP = 73.
Francis = 5. Does 3 DMG (RAGNAROK) to the Revenant Leader. Revenant Leader HP = 26.
Ethraeil = 3 + 2 (5, The Lich King.) Does 7 DMG (The Lich King, RAGNAROK) to the Revenant Leader. Revenant Leader HP = 19.
Galina = 3. Misses Revenant Leader.
Wesley = 5. Targets Edmond. Chance to avoid damage (Living Shield.) D6 used. Chance Roll = 6. Chance successful. Edmond takes no damage.
Valeria = 6 + 3 (9, The Prince and the Puppet.) Targets Edmond. Chance to avoid damage (Living Shield.) D6 used. Chance Roll = 3. Chance failed. Does 6 DMG (Senior Inquisitor, The Prince and the Puppet) to Edmond. Edmond HP = 67.

Castle Ellisgate - Mid-Keep Courtyard - BOSS BATTLE - TURN 4 (ENEMY)
Revenant Leader is no longer on fire.
Edmond is no longer on fire.
Edmond = 7. Does 7 DMG (Vampiric Knight) to Valeria. Valeria HP = 12.
Revenant Leader cannot attack. Stunned for one turn. (Shatter-wail.)

---
​

The group kept up their attacks, attempting to put down the still burning Edmond as well as the Revenant leader, whom was now starting to smolder. Edmond scored another successful slice upon Valeria, a gash across her flank as she attempted to dodge. Her counter-attack connected as well, her blade carving through Edmond's wing's inner flesh. Camille moved in when she had the chance, her rapier piercing through the fresh hole that Valeria had made and catching Edmond in the side. Wesley also attempted to stab the nosferatu, but his blade bounced off what was left of Edmond's armor. Aleister's holy magic didn't miss, several divine spears of energy piercing through Edmond's flesh.

Meanwhile, Theodore hurled a bomb at the Revenant leader just before Ethraeil moved in to deliver a slice upon the creature. The detonation of a small black powder bomb stumbled the creature, which ultimately lead to Ethraeil's ice blade colliding with the creature's skull as it moved right into him. Francis' shots connected as well, buckshot cracking several of the revenant's bones. Galina's shots missed, however. Simply passing through the creature's torso without hitting anything.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Edmond's wounds continued to pile up as he continued his brutal assault. Soon, the inferno that engulfed him began to die down. Suddenly, however, he let out a shriek of pain as Aleister's holy powers burnt through his unholy body. His dark blood oozed all over the ground beneath him. He looked to Aleister, his face a mixture of pain and utter sadness. "D-Don't...any of you...u-understand?!" He swung his sword frantically in the air, Valeria's blood staining the ground. "Sazak...h-he always finds a way! What you...you are planning is useless!" He held his chest for a moment, before charging at Aleister. Aiming his blade towards the Vampire's throat. Meanwhile, the Revenant whom was now able to fight once more (and was severely wounded) let out a crazed laugh before charging Ethraeil. Screaming at the top of its nonexistent lungs. "Du vil dø nå, heksemann!" Its axe aimed for Ethraeil's ribcage. "Jeg vil ødelegge deg!"

 

[Dmaster]

Camille was paying close attention to the nosferatu, but cared very little for his plea. Once she saw him make a charge to Aleister she grit her teeth and rushed behind him. There was no way for her to move quickly between them or catch up to him before the strike, so she could only hope the priest would dodge. "Your fight is with me, monster!" she shouted, sprinting after him and readying a stab. "None of this is useless, and we will prevail!"

 

[joshuadim]

Ethraeil's swing hit true, but it only did surface damage to the revenant's skull. Nonetheless, the creature was weakening fairly quickly and looked to fall soon. It spoke its gutteral language that Ethraeil recognized all too well, and he responded in kind.

"Stillhet, elendig. Jeg vil sette deg å hvile." Ethraeil said as his blue flames suddenly spiked in intensity, and his immediate surroundings began to quickly freeze over. He then launched a ball of ice straight at the revenant as it charged at him.

 

[Breadman]

"What's useless is not trying to kill the duke first, you fool!" Theodore shouted as he prepared another bomb. Corrosive substance for the revenant leader.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Edmond's attack was right about to strike the vampire, but he saw the huntress was heading towards him. The two clashed blades for a moment, Edmond surprised by her sudden attack and her dedication to call for his attention and leave the priest be. "You want...to duel me?" he replied, with a slight smile on his malformed face. He glanced over, eyeing Aleister for a moment, before looking back to Camille. "It's an honor...so be it, huntress!" he said, before attacking just as quickly.

 

[Dmaster]

Despite her willingness to rush head first into danger, her words had a bit of strategic edge to them. If she could keep Edmond's attention off of both Aleister and Valeria he could heal her without interruption. Camille also noticed how quickly and frantically the nosferatu had switched targets, when he should have been wholly dedicated to slaughtering Valeria to stop Sazak. Perhaps he was getting frantic or even desperate? The huntress sought to exploit it.

When he quickly changed targets she was ready but surprised as well, acting on reflex as he did as she brought her blade down as they chambered swords. "You seem quite keen on ignoring me thus far. Don't get careless!" she chided, twisting her blade away and swinging.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Aleister was already well on his way of avoiding Edmond when he turned away for Camille after the woman grabbed his attention. One of his better skills was indeed the art of escape, whether it be from a blade coming towards him or a county police force at full gallop with an angry mob behind them. It was more artful when it was one-on-one, as it could become a graceful dance, but this was not a dance he was eager to join.

He had seen that last hit Valeria took and how bad it was, and he wasted no time rushing towards her, skidding to a stop. "Hold still, we don't have long," he said, grasping her with both hands so that he could channel healing magic directly to her.

 

[Infab]

Castle Ellisgate - Mid-Keep Courtyard - BOSS BATTLE - TURN 5
Revenant Leader encounters Francis' trap. Chance to avoid damage. Chance Roll = 3. Chance failed. Revenant Leader takes 3 DMG. Revenant Leader HP = 16.
Ethraeil = 3 + 2 (5, The Lich King.) Does 9 DMG (The Lich King [Active], RAGNAROK) to Revenant Leader. Revenant Leader HP = 7.
Theodore = 7 (Calculated Risk.) Does 10 DMG (Man of Science) to Revenant Leader. Revenant Leader is dead.
Aleister attempts to heal Valeria. D6 used. Chance Roll = 4. Chance successful. Valeria regains 5 HP. Valeria HP = 17.
Valeria regenerates 3 HP (The Prince and the Puppet.) Valeria HP = 20.

Castle Ellisgate - Mid-Keep Courtyard - BOSS BATTLE - TURN 5 (CAMILLE vs EDMOND DUEL)
Five Rounds - Decided by Dice Rolls
Higher roll on a D10 wins a round.

Round 1
Camille = 3
Edmond = 10

Round 2
Camille = 5
Edmond = 7

Round 3
Camille = 9
Edmond = 4

Round 4
Camille = 8
Edmond = 8

Round 5
Camille = 6
Edmond = 1

Camille wins the duel.

---
​

As Camille and Edmond crossed swords in their duel, the rest of the group turned their focus to the Revenant Leader. He had regained his bearings, and began to rush his foes with his axe, only to cross right over Francis' trap. The sharp metal pieces that were scattered across the ground before him ripped what was left of his boney feet to pieces, and paused him long enough for Ethraeil to lob a ball of magical ice at the creature. It collided, sending the creature stumbling backwards and dropping to its knees. Then, Theodore would be the one to finish it off. A bomb full of the caustic acid that he had used before. The bomb detonated just before reaching the creature, coating it in the corrosive liquid. He was done for.

Aleister used the chance he had been given, as Edmond and Camille began to duel, to heal Valeria while he could. He found that his holy magic worked decently enough, the angelic warmth bathing across Valeria's open wounds. He also found that some of the wounds were actually closing by themselves without his aid. What was going on? Was Sazak helping to heal her?

​

As soon as Camille and Edmond broke their lock, Camille lunged straight in with her rapier, attempting to shove her sword through Edmond's chest. However, he easily dodged by twisting his tall form to the right. His own blade arched around, catching Camille across her side and slicing through her clothing as well as the flesh beneath. Edmond had scored the first hit of their little duel. She yelled out in pain, before quickly correcting herself. She couldn't lose focus. Not now. She had this creature to slay, as well as the Duke afterwards. Her rapier snapped up, and their swords clashed yet again.

Edmond seemed to legitimately be fighting like a proper swordsman, using none of his vampiric powers or his wings to engage her in battle. Quite refreshing compared to most vampires she had fought. She continued to poke and prod at him, looking to find an opening to strike as they moved about the courtyard. Clash, clash, parry, clash, parry, clash, clash, and there it was! After another parry, she moved in to try and stab him yet again. And yet again, he dodged and swung upwards. It almost looked as though he was aiming for her arm, but really he had moved around and arched the sword across her back at an upwards angle. The cut ripped through the back of her shirt, drawing blood along a thin red line on her flesh beneath. Yet another hit for the vampire.

She decide to take a different approach immediately afterwards, as Edmond attempted to right himself. She spun about, and delivered a flurry of sharp stabs aimed at the creature's torso in an attempt to hit him as many times as possible. She drove her rapier into him three times, before he knocked her sword away and pushed her back. Edmond's attempts to retaliate would be met with several parries, Camille swatting the sword away with her own as she was forced backwards. Then came another opening. As he rared back to deliver a more powerful swing, she quickly shoved her rapier through Edmond's chest at an angle. The blade pierced his heart, as it forced its way through and out his back.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

It was time. Before Edmond could face his rival, the nosferatu watched as his undead companion charged into its impending doom. The scholarly inquisitor managed to end the revenant's corporeal form, and as the bones and armor crumbled and dissolved in the acid, the green ghastly spirit of the ancient Nivardian raider stood there. Looking at himself before looking to Edmond. A big smile on his bearded face as he slowly vanished. He died in battle as any true son of the old gods should. Edmond smiled, but now he was truly alone and ready to fight the huntress. Perhaps one of the most honorable members of the inquiry. Perhaps this was his ending, and his judgement was at her hands.

And then, the duel began. Both duelers fought using the best of their skills. Despite him carrying a heavier weapon than Camille, she evaded and parried most swings gracefully. While the nosferatu got a few good hits in on her, the huntress and her undeniable skills proved superior. She was getting the upper hand, and Edmond started to become sloppier by the end of it. And after a perfect parry from the huntress, she used an opening to pierce Edmond straight through the heart. The nosferatu's eyes opened wide, as he stumbled backwards with Camille's rapier jutting from his chest. His dark blood oozed out, painting the ground as his body slowly started to lock up. Paralyzed.

He couldn't believe it. This feeling he had never felt before in his entire existence. This wicked pain that was slowly consuming him. His wide eyes looked down at the huntress. "N...no...you...don't understand...h-he...always...WINS!" Edmond tried for one last swing, but he just dropped his blade. Eventually, he collapsed to his knees in front of the huntress. "Y...you...don't get it..."

His tired eyes glared at Camille's face for a moment, but he soon closed them and let out a sigh. A breath of...relief. "This...is it? I die after...three...thousand and seventy...two years of life." He gave the huntress a smile. "...I die...having seen...so many things...having experienced...glory and fame....And falling down into...the darkness that now surrounds us...I die...knowing I tried." He looked up to the dark sky above. "...Huntress...I am...honored to be...granted death by you."

He gently pushed his claymore towards Camille. "Keep...this, huntress...Please...The last...memory of a better age...of a better me." His shaking hands then gently pulled his elven charm out of his armor, and squeezed it tightly. He looked at Ethraeil one last time. "...Kill Sazak. I beg of you...before its too late for everyone." And then, he looked back to Camille. Edmond had made peace with himself. "...Let the Gods...judge me, huntress..." He looked down. "...Thank you."

 

[joshuadim]

Ethraeil looked straight into Edmond's eyes, and only gave a small nod. "That is what drives me forward. He will be ended, one way or another." he said to the crippled nosferatu. He turned away, not wanting to witness what was coming next.

 

[Dmaster]

As she went through with the duel the familiar thoughts and feelings of single combat flooded through her. The looming threat of failure was always behind her, the pain of each failed dodged or parry, the anxiety that if she were a half-second slower it would have been her end. Countless fears and second-guesses that she had to shove down and focus on only the form of her and her opponent. It meant that things would not go so smoothly or be so perfect, slashed now and then by the skills the nosferatu possessed with the claymore. But Camille was used to this dance, as it was something she performed many times and would do so many times again. At times the start of her battles would be to seem much less skilled than initially anticipated, allowing her opponent to grow overconfident and even see how they fought. The huntress' skill lied in reading her opponent, and despite the physical disparity between her and the monsters she faced she would never be discouraged.

In time she wore him down, and one last gambit resulted in her twisting both blades around and finding her rapier true in Edmond's heart. The silver-coated sword was quickly doing its task, depriving the vampire of breath and movement. With a withdrawal as swift as the stab itself, she pulls her rapier out of his body and flourishes it to toss off the thick blood that coated it. As he was collapsed on the floor she stepped over to him, crouching down on one knee as she looked over the vampire. "Nothing lasts forever." the huntress said quietly. "Vampires and demons seem to believe that their ambitions and lives are eternal, but that is why spirited upstarts like ourselves exist to uproot them."

She looks to the sword on the ground, pushed to her with the last strength he could muster. Her hands carefully wrapped around the handle, moving it closer to her as she nodded slowly and solemnly. It was a symbol of his servitude as a knight, and a duelist such as herself knew the sentimental value of a weapon that was always at your side could hold. Ancient as it was, it was still kept in good condition. Perhaps the only thing he had that resembled who he was before Sazak and the Duke ruined his life. Still, she did not feel right with killing him with his own weapon, it didn't seem to be the proper end for someone so dedicated to their cause. It would be done with the tool she ended many other vampires with, and Camille reached behind her to remove the hatchet from behind her back. "Die as who you wished to be, not who you became." she said, before quickly swiping the blade up and throwing it down rapidly. In that instant the poor knight was decapitated as painlessly as she could muster.

Slowly Camille rose up, wiping the blood off of her hatchet and onto her sleeve before returning it to the spot in her belt. "We've not much time. Let's get to the Duke." Quietly she crouched down and picked up the claymore, hoisting it up over her shoulder as she began to walk to their destination.

 

[K0mori]

Another shot rang out moments later with startling affect, as Francis shot the monstrous vampire's decapitated head using Rosanna's rifle, the first he had used it since the dullahan had left it with him before leaving the party. Brain matter and bone oozed out onto the ground. "Just making sure," he said gruffly with a nasty smile. "Could've been a trick, right? Some of these freaks can have their heads put back on and come right back to life, you know? And even if he couldn't..." Francis trailed off, shaking his head. He spat on the mess he created. "Not like he would have left a pretty corpse, regardless. You know, this piece isn't too bad," he added, looking fondly on the rifle as he turned it around in his hands, admiring the craftsmanship.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Aleister watched the duel go on with some sharp anxiety, fidgeting silently in place as he watched the two skilled sword fighters exchange hits back and forth. As graceful as some of it was, there was always a distinction between duels of the ballroom - something he had been fond of - and a duel to the death, with one's real honor on the line. This was not a moment he would forget in his hopefully very long life. He knew Camille was skilled, and he believed in her, but in the back of his mind the resolute vampiric power of Edmond seemed difficult to overcome for a mere human. Even he would have had difficulty. And she killed him. There was no fanfare. Simple, professional determination. A duel between two souls which were immense in their own pride and image, yet not unburdened by actions of the past and promises for the future. He had thought Edmond to have been little more than a wild man given his odd penchant for conversations, earlier in the tunnels, but it seemed that was genuinely who he was. A pensive creature in his later life, and one who truly believed in himself. Had it not been for Sazak... perhaps he would have stood with them in killing the Duke.

The simple gunshot from Francis took him out of his thoughts as the man put a bullet through the severed head. Anything that man did resulted in only the most sublime variant of disgust. That man was more inhuman than anyone else he had met. Including the nosferatu. It seemed almost sacrilegious for him to use Rosanna's rifle in such a way.

"Yes... I suppose it is time," Aleister said, glancing at the path ahead. "Let us hope the Duke doesn't stand to the nosferatu's level."

 

[Dmaster]

Her back was turned when the shot rang out, merely wincing from the sound as she walked away but it did not faze her too much. Even if Francis had a point in 'just making sure' it was hard to justify desecrating his body like that. Camille simply shook her head yet again, moving out despite her wounds as she looked to Aleister to address his comment.

"A monster who deals with demons and abuses the loyalty of his closest comrades. He is weak. Perhaps the weakest we will ever face."

 

[joshuadim]

Ethraeil was nothing short of disgusted when Francis splattered Edmond's head all over the floor with a shot. He stayed silent, but filled with anger, as he moved to where the Duke was. He was close now, so very close. The ring's aura continued to pulse, showing that the Duke was still experimenting with it.

"He's still doing something with the ring. We need to hurry." he said, refraining himself from spitting it out with vitriol.

 

[Breadman]

"What a waste." Theodore spoke in reaction to Francis' actions. He started walking towards the Duke's direction "Come. Let's put your bloodlust for non-humans to good work."

A monster who deals with demons and abuses the loyalty of his closest comrades. He is weak. Perhaps the weakest we will ever face.

"Lets not turn that into your famous last words, mademoiselle. He's had time to master that ring."

 

[Infab]

"Lets not turn that into your famous last words, mademoiselle. He's had time to master that ring."

"Let us hope that he hasn't had enough time to truly master it." stated Valeria, following after Theodore. She cut a glance to Francis, as he stood there admiring Rosanna's lever action. The man was far worse than Camille, or any other zealot she had known. And he was proving it with every action he took. Come, Witlock, there are far worse than him. I should know. I've killed them. Valeria remained quiet, as she motioned for the rest of the group to follow. The only path left was through the other part of the keep, heading upwards towards the towers. They quietly moved through the large double doors at the end of the courtyard, leaving the headless body of Edmond in silence.

---
​

Elsewhere...back in Black Hollow...

A cloaked figure approached the grave site of Sir Tristyn, pausing just at the foot of the grave and gazing down upon it. "Well now...they actually managed to kill you too? That's surprising!" said a voice, a hint of laughter latching onto the end of her statement. "Probably the other dullahan. Cowgirl's got some determination, I'll give her that. Won't help her in the end, though!" The figure walked around to the head of the grave, and let her hand rest on the pommel of the knight's sword. "Guess you won't be needing this anymore. Mind if I use it?" she said. There was a pause, before she spoke again with a wide grin on her face. "I'll take the silence as a no!" She then gripped the handle, and jerked it out of the ground.

"Oh, but Cassandra! Where, oh, where could they be?" she said, looking around the village as she strolled away from the grave. She twirled about a few times, giggling to herself, before pausing and looking up towards the castle looming in the distance. "I'm glad you asked that, Lady Bainbridge! They're right...up...there." she answered herself, pointing the tip of the sword in her hand towards the castle. "Oh, goody! They're not far at all! Shall we go and rend them apart?"

Another pause, and Cassandra's grin grew wider. "Yes. We shall." she whispered softly to herself, before disappearing in a blur.

---
​

Traveling upwards through the other half of the keep bore no excitement. No guards clamoring down the staircases or through the hallways to kill the group. No traps laid down to halt their progress. No monsters summoned to fight the group. The silence was actually rather unsettling. Especially with the rapid pulses of magic coming from the roof above. Joseph had moved from his tower, down to the roof of the keep. And soon enough, the group had ascended to the staircase which lead out onto the rooftop. This was it, the end of their journey. Valeria looked back to the rest of the group, her eyes darting between the individual members, before giving them a nod and shoving the doors open at the top of the staircase.

Joseph stood alone on the roof of the keep, looking up at the sky as he rubbed the ring on his finger. He wasn't dressed for combat, merely wearing the typical formal clothing of the age. A nice dress shirt, slacks, a black vest, polished shoes. He didn't bother looking to the group, but the group wasn't worried about that. Not at all.

They were more worried about the cluster of bodies scattered around him. Guards, like before, but with different colored armor. His personal guard. He had killed his own guards. He must have used the ring's powers on his own men.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

It was difficult to identify the emotions he felt when he finally laid eyes on the Duke and his surroundings. A rather nondescript man, inoffensive in dress and of no great note. He wasn't a hulking devil with red skin and horns, or some slithering serpentine monstrosity. Simply a man with a terrible mind and a tool of equal ferocity. Aleister wasn't fearful as he sometimes was, but rather anxious in the manner that one gets when waiting on a teakettle to whistle.

There was nothing he wanted to - or could - say. He eyed the landscape as he did in all places he found himself in, identifying exits and cover, and things to be aware of. The fight would start soon, and he had a feeling it wasn't going to be so simple.

 

[Dmaster]

Camille stepped through the threshold with the rest of the group, seeing the vampire with his back turned to them she narrowed her eyes and soon scowled. Uncaring for the strewn about bodies she lowered the large blade from her shoulders and stabbed it between the stonework of the keep. A silent reminder of who he betrayed to get this far, yet she knew that the Duke was too far gone to even care or make mention of it. The huntress took a step back from Edmond's claymore and said nothing, her now freed hand pulling a few quills from her thigh's bandoleer.

While Aleister may have been focusing on their surroundings her eyes were fixed on the Duke. There was no telling how fast he could move or how that ring worked. Would a simple touch from it be all it took to end their lives? Even if the battle would be stacked against them in that way the duelist in her simply told her to not get hit. Putting such philosophy into practice however would be more difficult, however.

 

[Breadman]

"You killed your guard, but you're not attacking us instantly. So you have something you want to say." Theodore unholstered his revolver and took aim at the duke. "Out with it."

 

[Infab]

"I killed my guard because I knew they'd be just as useless as all the others." responded Joseph, continuing to look up at the sky. He gently rubbed the ring on his hand, before eventually looking down and back at the group. He then noticed the sword that Camille had shoved into the stonework. Edmond's sword. He stared at it for a few moments, his expression softening briefly, before his gaze shifted to the group. "So the traitor is dead....he proved to be the most useless of them all, it seems." he finally stated, as he fully turned to face them. "...I can just revive him later, and show him the error of his ways."

He let his hands drift to his sides, before speaking yet again. "Sazak. I know you're listening." he said, looking directly at Valeria amongst the middle of the group. "But of course. I wouldn't miss this for the world." said Valeria, Sazak's words flowing through her as her eyes shifted once again. Ashwood's eyes narrowed as he watched Valeria walk to the front. "So this is your way of skirting around your deal with me, hmm?" "I can't touch you, they can. Pretty simple, right?" replied Valeria, with a grin.

Joseph grunted, as he tilted his head and looked to the hilt of the sword on Valeria's back. "I see you have the sword." Valeria reached up and touched it, before eventually pulling it off her back. The leather strips that had wrapped around it, binding it to her back, fell off, and soon the sword lit up as it did whenever she or Theodore gripped the handle. "Yes. I have to admit, Wallace was close to finding it. He was just looking in the wrong places inside Porthcrawl." said Valeria, as her eyes traveled along the length of the weapon to its flat tip. "Certainly is a plain weapon. Velin doesn't have much in the way of creativity, it seems." She then looked to the Duke, and smiled. "...but it will get the job done. How do you want to be split? Crown to crotch? Hip to hip? A beheading is too old fashioned."

Joseph gazed upon Valeria for a few moments, refusing to respond to the demon's words, before shifting his gaze once again to the others in the inquiry. "And how do you feel about helping this demon accomplish his goals?" he asked, motioning towards Valeria with his hand. A moment later, he simply waved his hand off to the side. "Forget it. If I kill Witlock, he fails. And you fail as well. Simple enough. Then I can focus on larger matters."

 

[joshuadim]

"I'll personally make sure Sazak does not get what he wants. Right now, stopping you takes priority." Ethraeil spat to the Duke. But even a he spoke, he felt uncomfortable. Something was amiss. This all seemed... wrong. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he definitely felt it in the air.

"So what is it if I may ask that drives you for your insane quest? Is it lust for power? The feeling of being above humans gotten to your head? Or is it something more intimate?"

He observed the Duke for a moment before realizing it. This wasn't a man driven for simple power. It was something that he himself was all to familiar with.

"Oh... It's family." he said then with a more somber tone.

 

[Infab]

"Oh... It's family."

Joseph looked to the lich, his expression softening yet again. "My goal...is a world where vampires and other creatures of the night are not hunted by the likes of the two Orders, the Church, or the rest of the hunters of the world. Where humanity actually treats us with respect instead of hatred. Where scum like them..." he said, pointing to Francis and Camille, "...do not exist. A world where...a human and vampire can love one another with all of their hearts and souls, and bear a beautiful child together without the fear of a zealot breaking into their home and slaughtering them in their sleep."

He lowered his hand back to his side. "...That world doesn't exist, but I can make it exist. With this ring." he said, holding up the hand that bore the ring of Adona. "...That's all I want. That's what I've wanted all along. I will make it happen, and I will not allow you...or that demon...to stop me."