Session 50: Dinner With A Vampire

General Summary

Invitation

48th of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era
The Vampire introduced himself as Jael and offered a folded sealed letter for them to take. Meara took it and read it outloud, revealing it was an invitation for The Regulators to join Silas for dinner in several days, as well as a promise of safe passage to and from. The letter also indicated a carriage would be sent to pick them up at the location of their choosing.
Malcolm questioned why they couldn't simply use Serenity to get there. Jael admitted that Silas wasn't comfortable revealing to them the location of his home until an agreement had been reached, and the carriage would actually be a faster way to get there.
They agreed to the invitation and set their pick up location outside the northern gate of Anexa. Jael then left and the crew returned to sleep.

Proposal

49th of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era
Serenity docked at the Anexa Spire just before dawn. As they departed, Malcolm was nearly pelted by a sandwhich. Turning around he was just in time to see the ticket clerk slam the rolling window shut.

After a casual stroll through town, they arrived at the estate of Lord Mayor Clambock Levut. The guards quickly recognized who they were and guided them into the dining hall. Tidgrud and Arget Ethyn were the first to join them, and Malcolm was very happy with the visible vigilance of Tidgrud in guarding Arget from any potential danger.
Arget asked to be filled in on everything The Regulators had done sinc the attack on Elta. Malcolm filled them in, while avoiding explicitely mentioning his more reckless and dangerous choices, and a very hungover Clambock Levut joined them about half way through. He apologized for his condition, explaining that it was a prosperous time for Anexa, and he was expected to attend more celebrations than he could handle. When Malcolm told the story of helping The Solia crew with the Pétagma Cartel, Arget was lost in thought.
When Meara and Zuko decided to explore the city while waiting for the night of the dinner, Arget asked Malcolm to come to her chambers for a private conversation. She asked what his longterm goals were for the two of them. In response he used the magic paints to create a ring. She stated that she has no moral objections to Malcolm's outlaw life style and believes it is probably a nessecity and advantage in the quest to eliminate Orcus, but she was concerned to about living out the rest of her life with him if he intended to continue to live outside the law. He told her when all was said and done, he wanted to take her to Alaric's old ranch and raise their child together while making an honest living. She seemed relived and accepted the offered ring. Malcolm then introduced her to his monkey, Jack , who promptly stole the ring.

A Truce

51st of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era Near Midnight on the 51st, The Regulators left the north gate and put some distance between them and the nearest guard. Clouds suddenly covered the full Cyuna moon and a giant vicious bat like creature descended from the sky. It landed infront of them pulling an elegant black carriage. Jael stepped out and beckoned them inside. After they reluctantly embarked, the carriage took to the air again. After a few minutes the giant bat and the carriage dissapeared into a seemingly supernatural cloud where they remained a few more minutes before exiting and fiding themselves over an entirely different landscape. The home of Silas was a very ancient fortified castle, clearly unmaintained for some time and only recently spruced up. It sat about an hour way from a medium sized city at the very base of a mountain range.
They landed and Jael invited them out, handing them over to another vampiric servant, who appeared to be a butler. The butler walked them through the main courtyard toward the front door. Along the way, the party noticed the building was covered in nearly floor to ceiling windows, which was both strange for vampires, and in general as the glass required to create so many windows was prohibitively expensive.
They were guided through the castle and every other vampire they encountered stared them down with a mix on curiosity and aprehension. They reached a large octaganol ball room where several dozen vampires were dancing to elegant but ancient music. When they were announced, the entire party went still. Silas, who was sitting in a throne like seat on the far end told everyone not to worry, and to return to their celebration. The Butler guided them to Silas who thanked them for accepting the invitation. Several seemingly charmed mortal servants came to collect their cloaks and coats, which only Malcolm refused.
A short time later they followed the other guests to the dining hall. Meara was seated directly Silas' right and Malcolm and Zuko were free to choose any of the remaining nearest seats. THe Vampires in attendance selected from a group of mortals while servants told The Regulators to request any mortal meal they desired. The orders where quickly filled and Silas began the conversation. He started off by admitting that when he fled he assumed that at least Rivnaerat would escape as well, which he would offer to help with, but since both of the other vampires had been killed he wasn't sure what help he could offer. He noted that he sensed Gedia's Torch being removed from its resting place, but was surprised not to sense the presence of Mantus. He asked to be caught up on what had happened but The Regulators were reluctant to reveal anything.
As a token of good faith, he removed the blood magic brand from Meara and assured them that he merely wanted to help them as a way of earning the right to remain in the mortal realm. Malcolm informed him that Mantus was prevented from returning and that Orcus was now the threat the Champions of the Fyra were tasked with ending. SIlas remarked that Vampires were created by Mantus but Orcus' idea. At the time Orcus was a mortal worshipper of Mantus that even creeped him out. Mantus admired his devotion so much that that he gave him a piece of his own heart, giving him power as a mortal and would have eventually allowed him to ascend to godhood.
Malcolm asked what Silas' longterm goals were, and he explained that unlike Rivnaerat and Cronzun, he volunteered to become one of the first vampires merely for the ability to live forever. He only fought on the side of Mantus because he felt he was obligated to, but he wasn't going to pick the losing side again. He wanted to help the champions accomplish their goal and then he would leave the continent forever; likely taking over the remains of Rivnaerat's order in Sacramond.
The first thing he offered was a small army of vampires to help in the assault on Orcus' city when the the time came. However, he also believed he would be a valuable source of information, both because of his experience of the time of the first champions, and because vampires make good spies. The Regulators agreed to the deal, and he gave them a vial of his blood, explaining that if he broke his promise to not let any vampires under him harm them, the vial could be crushed which would destroy him. If they harmed him or any of his vampires the vial would dissapear.
He then helped narrow the search for the god killing weapons in Kartonok and Rum Lin, telling them where the tomb and the ancient city were and what they would have to do to reach them.
They agreed that any further information exchanged could be done through The Nightshifters, and The Regulators departed back to Jael and the mysterious carriage to return to Anexa.

To Be Continued...

Report Date

02 May 2021