A Different Kind of Battle (Open)

[Deleted]

Jon hadn't wasted any time, calling in an emergency council meeting, even going as far as to summoning Vlad with just as much urgency as the other members. He wasn't even sitting like he usually was, he didn't have that level of cool now, and for now he was happy that he wasn't sure where Lyra was, but that she wasn't here, since he didn't know what she'd think of his anger over this. "We had TWO armies, and yet the entire state of the army was way more dispersed than that, and why? Because everyone had their own intention, which as vampires isn't exactly shocking, however, I cannot for the life of me understand how you could let yourself be so blinded by a personal vendetta to let this happen to her!?" Jon yelled around the council chamber, looking at the members, then in Vlad's direction, also pointing his words at him right now.

He wasn't going to hide for a moment with effort that he cared about Marina anyway, or that he would try and pretend like he understood that he might have been too slow to react. If Vlad was as truly powerful and especially in control as he seemed to want to believe, then he would have been have to protect Mari before it happened, yet he had not. "Were you ever even planning on telling ME at least of what she was? Or do you think after everything that has happened, I still haven't caught onto that?" He asked, frowning angrily and then shaking his head, throwing a hand in the air for a second in frustration, looking away for a few seconds, then letting his gaze go around the chamber again.

"It makes a man wonder, especially one like me, where your priorities lie, are they with yourself? With your family? Or are they even your goals to begin with anymore? I picked up quite a few things fighting along in the battle myself, witnessing what happened." He eventually asked, then let it be known, as he narrowed his eyes again and leaned with his hands on his chair in front of him. He watched as most of the council missed most of their guts to even speak up, and right now for a second he did wish it had been possible to trust Lyra fully, have her give up her cover and be on his side, because right now in this room, he didn't know who he could even trust except for himself.

It definitely wasn't the first time for Jon to openly speak his mind in a council chamber, but it was the first time he genuinely seemed to angry. He hadn't spent all that time keeping her safe, only for the one person he thought once would also keep her safe no matter what, to drop the ball and let her be killed like that. They were all what-if scenarios however, so it didn't really get him very far in his thinking, neither would it probably get him very far if he said that out loud. He did want everyone in the chamber to hear very clearly though how displeased he was to say the least, and in his opinion, it also only served him that much more right to have brought his own army, and to continue to build it up for what was now highly likely coming, which he definitely wasn't just going to leave in Vlad's hands now.

[Vlad Drăculea]

The king sat in chair staring into the future, a soulless thousand yard stare. While Jon lacked the authority to summon him, he humored the man. His insides were torn in two, twisted into agony and there was no balm in which he could find to heal such a wound. Clad in all black, his coat hung on the chair behind him as he leaned forward with hands folded. He would do as he always had and let them speak their peace but when they were finished they would not like what came out of the kings mouth. Through out the battle he was met with his followers opinions, disobedience and perhaps that was his fault. He did not make it clear enough that this was not a democracy which they would soon learn.

As Jon finished, Vlad clapped his hands slowly, deliberately showing his mockery. His sorrow was tempered by the rage he felt right now, allowing him to hold it back. Standing, Vlad pushed his chair in and started to pace before he addressed the council. There was a look in his eyes that they had not seen in some time, since before the day he brought Marina home to this dark place. "You think you can summon me and then demand answers from me?" he asked, placing his hands behind his back. There was an eerie calm to his words and for those that knew him they knew what was coming next. If one needed to see Vlad's true anger they only had to know of how his daughter lashed out.

Making his way towards Jon, he slowly glanced at every council member here. "You are all here because I needed you to become complacent. The most powerful of the vampires in Sylthanus, I could not have you doing whatever you pleased. But make no mistakes, none of you are my equal. Nothing you say or do here matters, the final say is mine and mine alone." he said as he finally came to a stop near Jon. He was pulling no punches, they would hear everything from his lips, the savage truth of the Sylthanian government. By the end of this session there would be no mistaking who was in charge here, despite their grand illusion that they held any power.

"I answer to no one! What her true origins may or may not be was a matter for my family alone. Perhaps you have all forgotten your place," he started. Vlad walked to the nearest councilman, gently petting the mans hair with his hand. "..perhaps a reminder is in order." he stated before he tore the mans head from his shoulders. There was a shortly gurgle before the man burst into ashes. Watching the ashes disperse onto the ground before him, he let his dark gaze fall upon the rest of the council for a while. "I know what you have conspired to do behind my back while I was away. I know of the games you played with my wife, the torments she has endured." he said. Many of them seemed shocked, even tried to scoot their chairs away from the table to leave.

Slamming his hand upon the table, Vlad stared them down with the same steel he had Samael. "I have not dismissed any of you!" he roared. Regaining his previous composure, he looked around the room once more. "What would you have me say? That I acted out of loyalty to my family to save those closest to the crown? Should I have simply given the coward what is rightfully mine? Would you have had me do nothing, Jon? How else would the rest of you manage to get my seat if I was focused?" he asked with a smirk. There was a vicious nature to his tone, he saw them all for exactly what they were. Power hungry beasts and it was he who created all of this.

"I will end what Samael has started. After which the whole of Sylthanus will be restructured. You're all right, I have been absent but no longer. You want me? You've got me, the me that founded all of this." he said in a tone that seemed quite threatening.

[Deleted]

Jon didn't hide the way he narrowed his eyes and watched as Vlad clapped his hands, mockery apparent, but he was asmart enough to keep his own composure, and his mouth shut, watching the man closely. He kept his eyes on Vlad, even when he was making his way towards him and his gaze going around the other council members in the room, listening to his words, very carefully. There was no way he was agreeing to any of these words, as if they did everything they pleased, neither would he ever except the words that nothing they did here mattered.

There had always been a part of him that felt like Vlad felt this way, but hearing him say it out loud, only made a fire he had kept at bay for so long in his chest to rise up, challenging to keep at bay, but managing to do so anyway. Taking a deep breath, he knew better than to look away or react differently, or less neutral than this when one of the council members got beheaded by Vlad like that, but it only showed even more how mad he was getting, and how this was getting more about him. "I would think that there would be no reminder necessary that I was the one that made sure that no torment, or harm came to her in your absence, and that no one that even thought of it remained even close to her." Jon couldn't resist but saying, although he did bow his head a little bit as he said so.

Jon glared warningly himself at the council members, although it was for just a second, he wanted them to know that he would not let anyone live himself that showed true and pure fear here, or they didn't belong working for him anyway. There were bigger times coming, and there was no time to be frightened, even by things or people that were bigger than you, for now. "No, however your Mejesty, what I did expect was that her faith in you wasn't misplaced, and that you still cared for the rest of us. That you would trust those that have proven to you that they are to be trusted." He told him, keeping his voice as respectfully as he could, although this was something he had talked with Mari about, not even that long ago.

Jon opened his mouth, then shut it as he straightened his back even more and nodded slowly but surely. "I am sure that I speak for everyone here, including the ones that might have lost our heads, that you have our complete understanding in what you are saying, your Majesty." Jon said, making a little bow, then smiling slightly as he made his way to the door, stopping there for a second. He knew he hadn't been dismissed either, and it was only that one second that he stopped there to care about it, before he had made up his mind.

On his way out and around the table himself and all, he had managed to use his speed and experience to steal something he would need something for this plan from Corvin, who had invited himself. Usually he wouldn't have appreciated that much, but now it could prove to help him correct the wrong that was being done in this room in his opinion. Having the magical flare in his possession, he made his way outside, to a room he only used for private sessions and was quite well hidden. Only thinking about it for a few seconds, before actually using the flare to summon Samael. They needed to have a little conversation, one on one.

[Ingeras Drăculea]

Ingeras sat among the council, quiet as Jon bellowed his mighty words, one how chaotic the battle had become. The Prince Sat in the middle of one table end, a goblet of blood in his hand, as he watched the passion and fire in Jon’s voice, only to compare it to wind being passed by a dirty, fat bartender. Although, his eyes were hardly on the Duke, and more fixed upon the table before him with a cold focus nestled in the center of his gaze. A gaze that could burn the table from underneath the council, if his emotions were not unchecked. Jon bored him with his antic, and his good talk of defending himself by being placed in charge of the Queen in her absence. “And to what excuse do you owe to the Queen’s capture when the King had returned?” Ingeras asked Jon inquisitively, calm, but with traces of venom in voice, “If memory serves, Duke, the King did not relieve you of your duties just by merely returning. Ultimately, the Queen’s kidnap could be blamed on you, and it would be I parting your head from body, were you not quick to rally forces just as fast to attempt to fix mistake.” Ingeras took a sip of his blood, casually, as he spoke his peace without standing.


He spoke no more after his father and Jon spoke. Although, his father’s words rang heavily in his ears, it was up to him to take them how he wanted. For Ingeras, he knew that he was not his father’s equal, and that he would never be. His father told him this, himself on such a day when he was a child, but there was more to it. He could never be his father’s equal, but he did have two choices: To one day serve beneath his father, or rise to be his father’s better. Ingeras was not just the child of an angel, but the child of Death, himself. To become greater than Death, to become something far more than Death, was something seemingly impossible for now, but until he could find the way, Ingeras would serve his father, faithfully.

As Jon left, he looked towards the remaining councilmen, and looked towards his father, “My Lord, might I inquire the status on the Lich, Nergal?” Ingeras asked officially, refusing to address his father by anything else, but deserved status and title during council, or on any official business, “Would it be too soon to consider sending him after others that would possibly attempt to ally with Samael?” It would be wise to strike now, in order to avoid separate enemies becoming one greater threat all together. If Nergal could strike at village settlements with what Lich survived the battle, then perhaps they could regroup their numbers, and strike again in greater force. Even if the beast had been weakened by holy magic, it was still one of their greatest weapons against the dragons.

[Adam]

The Night Before Reunification

Samael sat before a fire as he watched over those that slept. It was his turn to keep watch, and he had just begun as the night was in its early stages. They had just crossed the borders of Badrul back into Firegorge Mountain, where a lush, dense forest awaited them. Although it was nowhere near as dense, or as lush and beautiful as the forests of Arnul, these provided decent night cover, and a decent breeze that was suitable by many. He looked at Isolde, who still laid unconscious, and Samael felt a great deal of worry for her. Looking at the skies, he closed his eyes tight and said, “Do not let her die...Please, do not take her. For if you do…” Samael’s eyes opened, and a red glare from them could be seen as he looked in the night skies above, “I will tear you apart!” He threatened under his breath, knowing that he would keep well to his word if she passed.


Samael rose from the fire to talk a walk across the circle of surviving warriors, before suddenly seeing something in the skies. Although the noise was loud enough to draw his attention, it seemed that it did not wake any of the others, despite the intensity of the sound. Suddenly, as if whisked by wind, he found himself standing in a room, before another person. Samael needed only study the man to see that he was a vampire, and just as instantly as Samael had time to just begin to look at him, he was sending the vampire against a wall via telekinesis. Drawing his blade, Samael looked at the vampire with fire in his eyes, raising his sword to Jon’s neck. “Either you made the biggest mistake of your life by somehow accidentally summoning me here, or you have a death wish, but either way, whatever your reasoning for summoning me, speak them, for they will be inscribed on your tombstone!”

As Samael spoke, his saliva flew from his mouth in forms of sparks, that flew past Jon’s fast, but left little scorch dots where they struck. If what this vampire had to tell him was not good, he would proceed to slaughter every vampire he could find in this place before leaving.

[Corvin]

Corvin had made his way back in time to find the Lich crashing through the massive doors of Necropolis as the deep cavern swallowed the beasts whole, like some demented hellmouth before the doors closed behind them. Before long, Vlad and the remaining vampires returned with due haste. They held no intentions of “resting” anytime soon, as Corvin could already hear Jon calling forth an emergency meeting with the Head of each House. Corvin turned around the corner and watched the doors close behind the last councilman. Hades knows what Seth told Samael already, but who knows if he made contact with that bitch. I have to know if she managed to get any message to the King. Hell help my silver tongue. He thought to himself as he walked up to the guards, who blocked him off. “Halt Corvin, by order of the Councilmaster, Jon, you are not permitted into these proceedings!” One guard said to him, blocking him off as Jon began shouting. Corvin chuckled and thought, Cute, Jon. No Cigar, as they say. before looking back at the two with red eyes, while a small wind picked up around Corvin, inducing the low-level guards to Corvin’s power of Seduction.

“Fellas, I’m here on request from the King, who happens to be,” He pointed sarcastically at the door, “in there. Now, what if I were to tell you guys, that you’ll get a head up in your careers soon by just letting me in there? Surely you know what I do, and what I am capable of. Perhaps we can make a deal? “ The thought of promotions were all the men needed to hear before the subtly opened the door quietly, and snuck Corvin in through the shadows. For the moment, Corvin watched as Vlad tore off the head of one of his own councilmen, and Corvin thought of what he had actually meant by a head up to those guards. They were really not going to like being duped, but it wouldn’t matter. Their head’s would have long parted their body just as the realization hit their eyes.

Soon, Corvin heard young Ingeras speak, and much like his father, he spoke out agaist the ever-ambitious Jon in everything. Vlad spoke it, but it was always ever-apparent that Jon coveted the throne, he had come to Corvin earlier wanting assistance, but Corvin saw no value with Jon’s rebellion. In the end, he felt that Vlad would crush them as soon as Samael had been dealt with. However, as he left, Corvin watched young Ingeras speak of positioning Nergal near potential allies, a wise move as it would simply create more chaos in the end. However, it would not be the most important issue as of now. “A wise move, Young Prince, but may I make a suggestion?” Corvin asked, stepping from the shadows,and bowing before Lord Vlad’s chair, and then to Prince Ingeras respectively.

He dared not speak of the Queen’s passing, but he ensured to keep himself in a mournful position until notice. “I have reports that Samael is in the process of finishing the unification of his Kingdom,” Corvin said, “when this happens, he’ll forge alliances with our other enemies, and an absolute war will be inevitable. It gets worse than this though: The Stones, my Lord, the Stones that house Samael’s original power. By uniting his Nation, he not just gets a powerful army, and potential allies, but he also achieves an unimaginable power. Sources have told me that Brigade houses these Stones, and will relinquish them to Samael after the Kingdom has been unified. With the power of those stones back in his body, I fear the tides of the war will change drastically for the dragons. We MUST steal those stones from Samael before he achieves godhood!” Corvin urged, accepting his fate if Vlad, himself struck him down then and there, closing his eyes as if to accept that for starters, he was not allowed in council, and two, he knew he spoke out of term. Vlad could make scorpions come out of ends that Corvin dared not think of, but he dared not think that he did not achieve something in helping Vlad and Prince Ingeras focus on what was important.

[Deleted]

There was no surprise, or even fear in Jon's eyes as he watched Samael appear in front of him, letting him realize what had happened, before he slightly bit the inside of his cheek when he telekinetically flew against a wall, but kept his eyes on Samael anyway. "There is no need for any of this." He said calmly with a slight smile, before biting his lip more apparent, shortly looking at the blade at his neck, then back at Samael, keeping his composure anyway, listening to what he said to him.

He huffed a little, shaking his head and waiting a few seconds before he eventually answered. "I did not summon you for us to have a pointless battle, as I think rather the biggest mistake of my life was thinking that Vlad hadn't lost his mind." He told him, narrowing his eyes, wanting to show him how serious he was in his words and not just playing some twisted game or whatever. People shouldn't put it past him, but this was not the moment for that.

"I guarantee you, I did not summon you as part of some suicide plot, and the last thing I have is a death wish. I brought you here because someone has to make the right decision, and at this point, that is for me to offer you my help." He said, his eyes barely blinking and also intentionally not giving as much of a flinch with Samael's automatic barrage of saliva in his anger. "The Queen should never have died, and just now, the 'King' made plenty clear where his priorities lie, even now that it DID happen. I will not try to deny that I do also blame you, but this isn't about that. Whatever Vlad may believe, the council is still mine. You can use my help."

[Adam]

Every inch of Samael told him to finish him now. This vampire represented everything that had allowed the dragons to fall from grace in his absence, and now, it was their King’s fault that a wretched abomination walked the realm of the living again. Then again, when the vampire spoke of realizing that his King had not lost his mind, Samael had to admit that this vampire at least had some sense in at least realizing his King’s faults. “And what, pray tell, brought you to the conclusion that reason has long since left your master’s head? The senseless slaughter of anyone that he deems expendable, be it his own people, or another nation’s? His willingness to summon our people’s greatest foe from the Abyss to serve among his legions?” Samael slowly lowered the vampire back to the ground, and backed away just far enough that if the vampire made so much as a flinch in the wrong direction, each of his limbs would leave well in advance of his torso.

Listening to the rest of the vampire’s words, Samael took into consideration what the vampire said. Although the vampire was bold in his words, they held a truth in them, Samael knew. However, between this vampire and Vlad, the former was the lesser of the two evils at this point. “You’re willing to betray your King, in exchange for control?” Samael asked, personally finding the act despicable, but at the same time, he was not one to deny profit where it laid. A vampire on the inside as close as Samael could get to Vlad and his plans. He could know where Nergal would be moved to attack, and position dragons to counter it. This vampire could offer a significant turning point in the war before it had time to escalate.

“You strike a grand bargain, vampire,” Samael spoke, hearing what the vampire was essentially getting at, “one that provides powerful advantage in this war, but I assume that there is more than just maintaining the power over the council as well. You know that I do not intend to just simply let your master walk away with his life...or un-life. I intend to crush his skull beneath my boot, and your people will need a leader. One that will not seek to continue war. That is your intention, correct?” Samael asked rhetorically, and yet in a way that displayed he knew that the vampire’s answer would be yes.

Sheathing his sword, Samael held out his hand to shake with the vampire’s. “If you try to trick me in any way, I’ll ensure that your suffering will be more legendary and horrendous than any that has come before you, in this life, or any other.” Samael warned, “But the opposite can happen, if your word remains true.”

[Deleted]

Jon narrowed his eyes as he kept looking at Samael, realizing that there was a truth in his words, that the things that Vlad had done went too far, and that it put the rest of the kingdom at risk, that it showed that this was more about him than anyone else. As he was lowered, he shortly pulled his clothes righter again, before looking at the other one in front of him with a serious look in his eyes. "I've spent years looking out for my people, something I'd think you would be able to relate to. I even made sure that no one would harm the Queen in his absence, and what does he do? He focuses on fighting a battle while she is on the battlefield! Not to mention that I do not respond well to threats, and tearing off one of my least favorite council members heads, is definitely considered that for me." Huffs as he says so, looking away for a second, then back again.

Jon raised his eyebrows, then laughed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head quickly. "He was my King at one point, but a King that lets his Queen die, and shows that his kingdom doesn't matter to him, only his own power... Well, that's not a King in my book. So if you see it as a bad thing, trying to save my people from one person pulling them into the depths with him, stop looking at me like I'm some despicable thing for having thought about this." Jon couldn't help defending himself for just a second, as he did really think that again if someone would have to understand, Samael would have to in one way or another.

Jon thought for a few seconds about what Samael said to him and asked, slowly but surely nodding eventually, looking away for a second, then back into the other man's eyes. "I've been more of a King to my people than he has, since his absence, since his return. These things that he let loose on the battlefield... I have no intention in letting him live. So yes, it is my intention, to get rid of the black hole right in our midst, and then... Well, you know." Jon said, as he smiled a little and innocently shrugged, as it seemed more than obvious that Samael already realized that part as well.

Calmly, but still somewhat on guard just in case, Jon took Samael's hand and shook it, although it did make him narrow his eyes, thinking of Mari for a second and the warning that the dragon gave him. "Do not worry, as long as you hold up your end of the bargain and let me get my people stronger again, I will not trick you in any way." He guaranteed him, not going into the opposite being posisble as well, as he let go of his hand, nodding again for a moment. "Now, how do you suggest we proceed?"

[Adam]

Samael never thought he would find something in common with these vampires, but in some common ground, stood a vampire on same view as Samael. When the vampire went further to explain what Vlad did to his most trusted, something extremely dishonorable in Samael’s view, he looked at the vampire on much more even ground, starting to see this one as more than just a common bloodsucker, but rather someone that has evolved not just beyond his brethren, but beyond even their gods. “It would appear that there exists rare breed amid the vampires after all.” Samael spoke, as he lowered the vampire, “One instilled with common sense, and compassion even, it would seem. I believe in the most extreme punishment, when deserved, but to simply kill a council member out of a display of power is a misuse of that power in of itself. The Keeper of the Key to the Afterlife, the Harvester of Souls, and he takes men before their due time? It is beyond dishonorable, and it merits only...death upon itself.”

Asking how they proceed, Samael thought momentarily about how to go about their plan to overcome Vlad. “Soon, my Kingdom will unify, and upon doing so, we will need to establish a means of communication that Vlad will not find. If something you could hide in plain sight of him, the better, but I want you to continue as nothing has differed, but at the same time, if the chance occurs show loyalty to him in ways that would not question you. Frame loyalists, if necessary, as they would die by our hands regardless, and through your hands and my will, may it be so anyways.” Samael explained, wanting to keep their communications continued, but secret from any, even those he would consider loyal to his cause. It was important to keep any suspicion of blame from himself, while directing false blame against those that would seek to suckle power from Vlad’s side. It would leave Vlad in a state of paranoia about his comrades, and though he knew Jon coveted the throne, he would seek to keep enemies close, and would never think that Jon would ally with the enemy.

“Just realize that this may not be a smooth partnership,” Samael warned, “there may be instances where you may have to bleed for you own cause, and in the event that happens, you should ask yourself, as I do everyday: How much are you willing to bleed for your people?” There would come a time, when Jon may be pivotal in being “kidnapped” during this war. Something that would show a form of trust for the man when, “captured” later. Perhaps Jon knew this was a possibility, and probably even planned it for later time, but Samael needed to know if in any instance, would the man be willing to bleed, or even die.

Stepping back towards the location from where he appeared, he looked at Jon before pulling out a coin and whispering a few words onto it, before tossing it to Jon. “That coin has a mental connection to me through my spellweaving,” Samael explained, “As long as you hold it, you can connect to me, mentally. Now that it has connected to your flesh, you’re the only other person it will work for. Any other person will think it just a war trinket. Until then, use this to contact me about any news about Vlad’s movements, and plans. Also to make plans for future meetings.” With that, Samael waited for Jon to send him back to the campsite before dawn rose.

[Deleted]

Jon decided to restrain himself from rolling his eyes, or showing any signs of annoyance, apart from a slight bitter smile on his face before he shrugged to Samael's words, as his opinion might have a point in a slight way, but Jon still believed that there were great hopes for them as a race, that the vampires could be more, bigger than they were, if they were just under the right ruling. But now was absolutely not the fight for bickering over such pointless and trivial matters. He didn't answer to it, just listened to what the other man said next, raising an eyebrow, then nodding in agreement to what he eventually said. "I cannot say there is another way, because what I witnessed out there on the battlefield, and in there, it proves that he's beyond that now." He said, narrowing his eyes so Samael could see the determination in his look.

The plan, or at least for the time being a plan of approach, did sound reasonable to Jon, as he nodded and looked away for a moment to think of the best ways to do it, but he had done so for years, not knowing which was this loyalty towards him was going to get him, so the paranoia at least kept him on guard for this very moment. "That should not be any problem to pull off. I just doubt that we will have a lot of time, before he runs out of other's heads to rip off." He said bitterly, thinking about it for a moment, but just wanting to raise the point of how time wasn't exactly a luxury they had.

His eyes narrowed again, taking in the question that Samael asked him, since it was a good one, one that he didn't just want to blindly answer either. He wasn't afraid, definitely not, but he also knew that the vampires themselves would have to see his reasoning too. "As much as will at least keep me moving and talking." He said, a small smile as he did say it half-jokingly, but meant it at the same time. He was willing to bleed a lot, just as long as he just didn't get out of the fight. Although, he did also have a certain willingness to die for his cause, but a lot less these days since Lyra's return, even if he still distrusted her a little now and then.

Jon easily caught the coin, taking a look at it, before closing his hand around it and putting it away safely, looking back at Samael again and nodding at him. "Sounds like we have an agreement." He said calmly with a slight smirk. "Good luck dealing with your end." He then said, before he sent Samael back to the campsite.

[Vlad Drăculea]

The council meeting was at it's end, Jon said what he needed to say and somehow Vlad let him live. Yet the rest of the chamber seemed to be stunned by fear. In light of recent events, he had become the monster he had once been. Sylthanus had never known Vlad as Dracula like the humans on earth had. They never had to deal with his true rage and the way he dealt with those who stood in his way. Soon there would be a great many dragons and vampires alike who roasted in the sun impaled upon a spike. They would server as a warning to those who came to take what was his in the future. It had been some time since such dark thoughts had crept into his mind and in those days he did it to save more lives, now it was just to send a message.

Shaken from his thoughts, Vlad looked upon his son for a moment before he truly grasped what was being asked. Shaking his head slowly, he returned to his seat and threw himself into it. "Nergal is wounded. It will be some time before he recovers. We can speed this process up with blood but the amount of blood required is the next true obstacle. We would need a lot of bodies." he said as he placed his arms on the rests of his chair. It was not that he hadn't thought about Nergal as an option, they needed to press the attack or else the dragons would regroup. Yet his will to command his forces faded in that moment when Marina was ripped from this world. He could not find her spirit anywhere and that frightened him.

As he went to explain his plan, Corvin found his way into the chamber somehow. Excusing himself before offering pleasantries, he proceeded to explain to Vlad about the stones. Yet his face remained a mask unmoved by fear or the promise of an enemy that matched his own strength. "A new force will be assembled as fast as I can gather it. They will not be celebrating long, once Nergal has recovered we will take the very heart of the mountain. I have magics that I have yet to employ for testing, we'll be seeing them in the field." he said. There was a short smirk of the most devious sort before he returned to his thoughts. The only play he could see here was to take what Samael wanted first as had been done to him.

Signalling with a hand motion, several vampires appeared seemingly out of nowhere. There were words exchanged in hushed tones as they were given their orders. They were to shake down Brigade contacts for information on the location of these stones as they knew plenty about the magic of this world. "I will find these stones and we will take them before he can recover them. Perhaps I'll place one in another realm, that should be fun for him to find." he mused.

[Ingeras Drăculea]

Ingeras nodded silently with Vlad, without any disagreement. It was not that he was trying to keep on his father’s good side, but rather his father’s point in the matter was honest and if Nergal was as wounded as Ingeras saw, then they would need a steady supply of bodies ready to feed the dragons. Ingeras could move towards taking the permanently fallen warriors from the first fight and see to their bodies being a source of energy to the beasts until they could retrieve a more “fresh” supply for the beasts. As filthy as they were, Ingeras saw the potential when it was presented. Jotting down necessary tasks in his council journal, he made sure that after the meeting, he would put together a band of soldiers, and task them with retrieving “food” for the Lich. Alive, or dead did not seem to matter to the creatures, but it would need to be enough to bring Nergal back to full strength. “I shall task a squad to ensure the Lich’s feeding is kept in check to ensure his healing, and task another group to retrieve his food.” Ingeras volunteered, giving him something to do, besides train the reserve army in constant drills and send them through obstacle courses.

Before he could go any further, Corvin entered the Council Chambers and began to speak. Although, Ingeras was fond of him, this intrusion was still unusual, even if council had ended. Although, before Ingeras could protest, Corvin had already brought them dire details on the information of Samael and the “Stones” that Father had mentioned earlier. Apparently, these “stones” would grant Samael immeasurable power, turning the tides of the war. Slamming his fist on the table, Ingeras scoffed at the idea. “The idea that Samael is capable of such feats is laughable, and to think that he placed enough faith in Brigade to ensure the safety of his own power? Laughable. He may as well have handed these rocks to us, if he was that desperate to hand over such power!” There may have been others, who were willing to prevent Samael’s ascension, but they needed to be found and contacted.

As his father mentioned getting his men ready as soon as Nergal was healed, Ingeras nodded in absolute agreement, and began to write down ways to also make a potion to give Nergal’s unfortunate victims, which would allow their bodies to sustain Nergal longer. If anything could help in the long run, it would be necessary. He would also have to see if there were any enchanted items that Corvin may have had in possession, that could possibly turn stave off some of Nergal’s other weaknesses as well. With the Balfaer unified, Ingeras would have to ensure the best smiths, sorcerer, and soldiers in Sylthanis were ready for the onslaught of the dragons.

“Once I have set both groups to task, I will set about to Arnul to begin assessing more of the damage brought to them by the dragons. The Alphas will probably wish to meet, and begin battle plans with our generals, when Nergal has healed.” Ingeras offered. Of course, the Werebeasts would probably vote to invade Balfaer immediately, before Samael grows to power. Many of the Pack mystics in Arnul could sense great danger from the Draconic Lands, and that “Destruction, personified” was coming. The Prince had been in Arnul, tallying the death toll, and the damages done to the forest when he had got word of his mother’s kidnapping. Now that he had returned, he would need to ensure that he assisted in the building and restoration of the lost forests, and the burials for the dead.

[Corvin]

A smile gripped around Corvin’s face as he listened to Vlad’s concern, and worry about the stones, as he ensured that the troops would be gathered, and brought to Firegorge Mountain soon enough. It was all coming together perfectly, and not even Death, itself was any the wiser, even in his seemingly nigh-omniscience. Corvin pulled a small orb, similar to the one he used to show Vlad images of Samael before the Queen was kidnapped. When the orb began to shift in and out of focus after a few seconds, it landed upon an image of a young girl. Corvin chuckled as he pointed at the projected image of the young dragon. “This little dragon, may have given us our greatest leverage.”

Snapping his fingers, the girl began to move, and suddenly the battlefield from Badrul projected upon screen. The girl was fighting off Nergal, when she suddenly called for a “Father”. Although another dragoness helped her, eventually, it was Samael, who came to her aid, moving forward and protecting her as if she were his own. When the screen faded, Corvin pulled out a small sand clock, which was half full on both sides. “I won’t bore you with the details, Milord, but this clock is somewhat of a “time detector” that I created. In case it picks up disturbances in the time stream. The sands stay in place and only move, depending on the interference. The level of interference is what drops the sand. In the 300 years I’ve owned it, the bloody thing hasn’t budged, but not long ago, it gave of a great disturbance. I measured the sand, and the amount that would be needed to set this sand clock half way full, would be if a time traveler was here, from either the past, or future, and given from what I saw on that orb, I would assume that she’s from the future.”

Corvin wet his lips and smiled as he pointed to the girl, standing beside Samael, posing similar poses and not knowing. More images flashed before the orb of their fighting styles, and how similar the two fought against their hordes. “Milord, I think the little brat’s, his bloody kid, years from now.” The seed had been planted, and Corvin had presented all the facts he needed to give Vlad all of the ammunition to do to Samael what had become of his wife. Soon, an all out war would be fought, and tensions would be tight enough to decimate everything in sight. Chaos, that Corvin had long awaited.

[Vlad Drăculea]

There was one thing that he had come to count on and that was that Ingeras would always do as he was asked. As a king it was invaluable to have someone like that in your corner. There were times where he wondered if he shouldn't do away with the elders in general. Perhaps his kind were in need of a good culling to allow others a chance to rise up to new heights. Vampires did not die often so seats on the council were not often vacated. War between the houses was coming due to the now open seat that Vlad had created. Many would not survive the grab for power in the attempt to earn their lords favor. Though he was beginning to wonder if he even cared about any of this.

He was a god now, what were they to him? A nuisance that required constant hand holding. He did not require the approval nor did he want it any longer. Thoughts like this were dangerous, they almost did Samael's work for him as he toyed with the idea of ending it all. Yet once more his thoughts were interrupted by his son and Corvin as they held this little discussion about Samael's power. Indeed his son was right, the Brigade would not stop them from taking what he wanted. At this point Vlad was head strong to the point where he would risk their wrath to stop his new enemy. As the information was fed to him he listened but his decision would be quite surprising.

"Unlike my enemy I am no coward. She may be his blood but I will not attack those closest to him. Samael is my problem, not his family. Once he has fallen, they will be tormented by his death and I will have won a complete victory." he responded. His plan seemed mad to anyone most likely. He was being offered leverage that he refused to take advantage of. It had been thousands of years since he fought someone like Samael, his pride was blinding. His way to victory was through the hands that severed his wife from this world, he did not care what happened beyond that. In his strong words Jon was right, Vlad no longer cared about the fate of his people despite what he told them.

Placing his hands behind his back, he turned from the two of them now. "See to the dealings with the packs, if they require my presence I will come. I have to prepare for what is to come, there is something very important I will need." he said. He left out what he was speaking about on purpose but it was his most devious weapon. Vlad had found a way to recreate the plague conditions of Sylthanus and bring it to the mountains. He would use it to weaken Samael's army so that he could have his fight with the most minor of interruptions.