Vampire: A City by the Sea

[LadyTevar]

It did not take Lydia long to drain the lifesblood from the wounded man, and it was enough to sate her Beast and leave her feeling nearly full. She would have to feed sooner than normal this fortnight, but she might spare her servants the risk of death this time.

Licking the last of the blood from her lips, she laid the corpse back down, then picked up an axe that had fallen nearby. Not caring if it was his own weapon or anothers, Lydia chopped down onto the neck of the corpse, easily slicing through the flesh and nearly decapitating the body. She did not finish the job, as the blow had done enough to hide the wound on his neck. That it wasn't a full decapitation was more ... human ... to her mind. It took a strong blow to chop a head off completely -- leaving it half-done was a further disguise in her mind.

As Olaf gave his order, Lydia nodded to show she understood. There were others closer to the prisoners, so she merely walked amongst the dead and dying, picking up the discarded weapons as she went. Dying horses were given a coup-de-grace. A cloak taken from the fallen was used to bundle the swords together, while the axes she threw onto another. Why let good weapons go to waste? Only the spears she left, as she only had two hands.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Nils, could you grab the unbroken spears?" Florien asked as he prepared as he bodily grabbed living prisoners, with the help of his two other ghouls.

[Charon]

The huskarls were already moving to collect the other war gear and what horses were not dead. They stripped bodies of their armor with a practiced ease, laughing to each other and bragging in a language that was foreign to those not of the frozen North. Some of the more intact bodies were thrown over horses along with their gear. Harald came up to Lydia and offered to take the gear and throw it over his horse for travel.

Nicolo had seemed to elect to stay behind and attempt to keep Thorkell subdued, Gunther had quietly stayed at the sidelines, merely watching as events took place and now only waited to move out. Vannius was already back on his horse and waiting for the others to move out.

There was one vampiric body to bring back, the one Lydia captured. Thorkell, after finishing the horse, had turned on the last visible prisoner before Nicolo stepped between them and a defensive battle began. Thorkell attacked in a blind rage and Nicolo expertly deflected the blows, it was a half-hearted assault, but dangerous none-the-less. Three other living humans had been taken though. One which had been horsed and two of the infantry.

[LadyTevar]

Lydia handed over the weapons with a nod, accepting the reins of her horse in return. She mounted and guided her horse over behind Vannius, out of the way of the huskarls. "What of the Tzimisce?" she asked

[rhoenix]

Grabbing a two of the wounded, Aziz began walking with them back toward town. This had been a strange night indeed.

[The Silence and I]

He was calming now, the extra strength and vitality Odin had given him were beginning to fade away, retreating to whence they came. His wounds, hardly worth noticing before, began to pain him slightly. He would need to finish feeding. Later. There was still work to do now and he integrated himself with the other vampires' efforts to clean up. He gathered any two living men and began the walk to the city following Aziz.
"Come! We return now. Bring those who may talk, or that which is useful."

The afterganger was feeling odd and this added a sharpness to his voice. Something about this night was eating at him.

[Charon]

Vannius looked over at Lydia. "What of him? He is dead. We have what we came here for and can only hope that the Sheriff, the leper, and the charlatan can live up to their part."

Gunther only smiled softly, "Hopefully his body is displayed and he is outed as the spy that he was."

The troupe began to move out and the sounds of battle faded behind them.

[LadyTevar]

Vannius' answer did not sit well with her. "Are we going to leave him, then, like the rest of the filth?" Lydia clarified, "or taken back to the city as one of the fallen?"






(Edit, with GM permission)

[Charon]

Vannius smiled at Lydia, it was a dangerous smile, one that looked like at any second his mouth would open and he would suck her soul out of her like he was one of the rumored creatures of the East. "His body will likely have rotted out and become one with the earth by now, there would be little but dust to bring back. But if you care so much about the fiend's fate, why not ask the Einherjar when they return?"

[LadyTevar]

Lydia had been on the walls of Constantinople as she stood against the Crusaders. She had survived the fires set during the siege and occupation. She had lived through the rape of her city.

But Vannius scared her, deep inside. " ... I .. I will... your Grace." It would have been far more confident had she not stammered, and she privately cursed her own fear. Pride made her continue, made her answer Gunther. "He could have been of use, Tremere, spy or not. His death was a waste of a skilled warrior."

"But it keeps him from coming after you, I suppose."

[Charon]

Vannius only watched Lydia closely for all of his response, while the Tremere snorted and remained quiet for the rest of the trip. They were nearly back to the walls of Genoa before Thorkell and the others caught up on horseback. Only one body lay across the horse, Konstantin's body was absent. Thorkell still looked like he was ready for a fight, and Nicolo looked nearly exhausted.

"We'll lead you to a side entrance to the city, the bodies will be stored there, live captive mortals will be left there under guard as well."

The group was lead off the paths and down towards the port, coming to a small gate that was set into the stone. The single guard on the wall simply nodded to them as they passed into sight and the doors were opened. They were in one of the slummier parts of town, and were quickly lead to a small house where they were instructed to drop off all of the loot.

Thorkell looked over the warriors, grinning. "The Prince will likely be holding a full court now, to hear of the exploits of this night. After, I shall be holding a feast within my home. All of you will be my guests, the spoils of conquest will be given out there, and the dead shall be remembered for their deeds." Thorkell seemed to pause for a moment at that before he headed for the door, flanked by Olaf and Gudrun. The huskarls remained behind, seperating the loot and watching those that were still alive. Gunther was quick to exit as well, and it appeared that Vannius had vanished while no one was looking. Nicolo looked at those vampire who remained, nodding to Father Florien before exiting as well.

[rhoenix]

Shrugging, still feeling somewhat weary after the night, Aziz led his two captives along where he had been directed. He wasn't sure he was up to very much celebrating, but he still had his unlife, so he supposed that was not a bad way for things to end.

Deciding to report to Karaja first, he walked toward the Vizier's house in this fair city. His ghoul answered the door, nodding once in recognition of Aziz. "The master is not here. I believe he expects to see you at court."

Bowing in thanks, Aziz thanked the manservant, and walked to approach the Prince's court, hoping this wouldn't take too terribly long.

Along the way down one of the alleyways, he caught sight a drunken reveler, asleep against the side of a bar some distance away from the main street. Deciding to slake his thirst now, before he went to court, he fastened his fangs on the sleeping man's neck, and drained some of the precious red fluid, before sealing the wound closed with a lick.

With that, he was on his way to the Prince's Court.

[Cynical Cat]

Sandor wiped the blood from his mouth. The stray sheep had been a lucky find, well perhaps not lucky. He did have eyes to help him see. His ravens tore at the animal's body, having already taken the eyes and were now gorging themselves on the fresh meat. The vampire let his flock feed and then pressed on down the mountain.

The hills below him gave way to farmland and the sea. He called to his ravens, directing them to keep an eye out for a suitable resting place. Dawn was not yet here, but it was wise to start such a search early. Besides, his ravens would travel far and see much with their keen eyes.

[LadyTevar]

Lydia watched as Thorkell exited. The pause had been noted, and she wondered if the Warlord would give any say to Konstantin at all. Vannius had vanished, which had relieved Lydia. The Elder had been watching her carefully, most likely judging her. I cannot stay as the fly on the wall, it seems. He is waiting to see if I am worth using.

Ask the Einherjar, Vannius had said ... taunted. Perhaps, now that Thorkell was away, she should. "Thane Ottar," she said, giving him the Northern title, as best she knew it. "May I speak with you?"

[rhoenix]

Arriving within the Prince's court, Aziz walked into the room proper. Unsure of what protocol to follow, he decided to play it safe and bow to the Prince as he entered. After doing so, he looked around for Karaja, ready to give his report.

[Cynical Cat]

The sharp eyes of his retainers found a south facing hollow in the side of a hill, not far from the road. After walking a mile to the location Sandor examined his temporary haven. It would do, he reluctantly decided. He excavated the area further, expanding the den and then half burying himself inside the barricaded entrance. The ravens had his blood running in their veins and their own natural territorial instincts. Anything that came to disturb his rest would be harassed without mercy and suffer far worse punishment if they persisted. He was safe enough for the time being. Dawn was coming.

Sleep claimed him.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Father Florien nodded to his retainers

"I hope I need not come for you again tonight. But would you be so kind as to escort me until I reach court?" he asked them. They of course responded enthusiastically in the affirmative. His prisoner would need to wait it seemed. The Prince would be disgruntled if he did not attend Court.

"M'Lady" he addressed Lydia "When you have completed your affairs here, might I and my retainers have the honor of escorting you to Court?"

[LadyTevar]

"Indeed, Father. I would appreciate the company," Lydia answered, before looking to Ottar again. His silence was slowly reaching the point of annoyance.

[The Silence and I]

Ask the Einherjar, Vannius had said ... taunted. Perhaps, now that Thorkell was away, she should. "Thane Ottar," she said, giving him the Northern title, as best she knew it. "May I speak with you?"

"Apologies. I was distracted. What would you like to speak of?"

[LadyTevar]

Lydia decided it was best to be forthright with the Northerner. "I would speak of what happened with your Leader and the Tzimisce."

[The Silence and I]

Lydia decided it was best to be forthright with the Northerner. "I would speak of what happened with your Leader and the Tzimisce."

"What is there to say? Each wronged the other and their honor demanded that they settle their grievances. Thorkell was stronger, and he prevailed." This is stated as if it were a matter of fact, but he sounds tired, as if speaking was taxing him in some way.

[LadyTevar]

"But you know something was ... off ... about it," Lydia pressed, hearing the undertone of Ottar's words. "And a good warrior was left outside in the street to rot in the sunlight."

[The Silence and I]

"But you know something was ... off ... about it," Lydia pressed, hearing the undertone of Ottar's words. "And a good warrior was left outside in the street to rot in the sunlight."

"The only thing... "off"... about it was my misplaced haste to forget the ways of honor. Now if you'll excuse me I should prepare for the court. May the All Father allow me the patience to endure this fate."

[LadyTevar]

That was an interesting comment, and Lydia filed it away for later. "Hopefully, it will be short, Thane Ottar, fare you well until then." She let the Gangrel leave to make his preparations, turning to Father Florien.

"Good Father, my apologies for making you wait. Shall we catch up with the others?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"yes indeed we shall. I tend to agree with Ottar, I certainly hope that court is... short and painless."

"Jürgen, Nils, kommt ihr mit"

He had motioned for them to flank the two vampires

"Thomas, holdest du die rucken" The archer took up position behind them

And with that, he motioned for Lady Lydia to come with them.