Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Stopping as well, Mortimer turns back to Zane, a red tinge creeping into his eyes. "It's only the little ones." The red tinge escalates to a dull shine, covering both of his eyes entirely. "They merely wish to know what one of the blood has learned of life outside of the fold. We so rarely get visitors." His eyes flash bright crimson for a moment, before he turns and beckons. "Come, we're almost there." Inexplicably, and against your will, you find your feet taking you forward.
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Ooh, strong will, this one. Not like the others, you hear Mortimer's voice, in your head.
No, a legion of other voices reply. No, not at all. Is this our dinner tonight, Mortimer? Strong blood makes for good-
"No," he snaps, verbally, making the eyes at the side of the path retreat. "Not for you."
Always so greedy, Mortimer, the legion replies. Never sharing your meals. Just because you're the Elder's-
"Shut up," he growls. "Shut up, right now!" The eyes at the edge of the trail retreat further, now nothing more than a dark glimmer, a bad thought, gnawing at the base of your skull. Wiping a hand down his face, Mortimer turns back to you, flashing a sharp toothed grin, the glow sinking deep into his eyes. "Sorry about that. The little ones can be a bit insufferable sometimes."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"What am I?" Mortimer places a hand over his mouth, stifling a short laugh. "Come now, good doctor. Surely you know what we are. Even if you've never seen one of us," he says, turning but keeping pace walking backwards, making a sweeping gesture that encompasses himself and both sides of the path, still throbbing with hundreds of red eyes. "You've heard the stories. More fallacy than fact, true, but if you just look closely, there are glimmers of truth." He turns forward, and makes another sweeping gesture. "As for where I'm taking you," he says with a curt bow, "the answer is nowhere. We've arrived." He glances back to see Zane's expression.
What rises before him in the clearing, is a chapel. In the trees. But upon closer inspection, one would find that it is a chapel OF trees - twisted branches, twining boughs, trunks lashed together an era ago grown into each other, all dead and gray. The vanilla-death fug of mist wreathes the entire grand structure. "Where I've taken you," says Mortimer, "is my home. Is our home - is our Elder's home. Some hunters call them dens," Mortimer spits. "For they think us no better than animals."
Continuing into the great clearing, Mortimer beckons once more. "Come, we've got someone waiting for us." Stopping just outside the great double doors, he turns, and peers into the thicket around the clearing. "And you!" he calls, out loud and in his mind, "you all, STAY OUT!" Glancing to Zane, he throws his head. "In, shall we?"
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Zane stands his ground, head throbbing, and his blue eyes lock onto Mortimer's
"I want to hear you say it. What are you. As for this place, I will enter, though know it is not out of any lvoe for you. Also, would you kindly, GET OUT OF MY HEAD?"
Zane's brow sweats a bit, and his muscles are obviously tensed, trying to resist the urge to move.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Vampires," he says, simply. "As for being in your head, I'm out. Sometimes the little ones don't listen." He turns on his heel and walks to the edge of the clearing. "Joseph? Joseph, come here," he calls, softly. A young boy walks out of the woods, eyes shining bright red.
"Yez, Mortimer?" he asks, timidly.
"Please, tell the others to leave this man alone." He points into the woods, "They just don't listen to me, sometimes."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Zane finds that he has a slight bit more control, however this places aura still presses down upon him
"Thank you, Mortimer. Now, that was as I had feared. I am a doctor, and as such, I don't have any great love for Vampires, nor any other kind of intelligence that feeds upon humans. On the flip side of the coin, I am well aware of the... 'power' that blood brings, so I also have a healthy amount of respect for you."
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Wondering just what tent the doctor is speaking of, Mortimer pushes open the great double doors. "Mhm. Those of tainted blood tend to....call, I suppose is a good way to put it, to each other." Motioning inside, Mortimer bows. "The Elder is waiting for you. And you alone."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Zane nods and walks forward more confidently then before, since he felt surer that he was once again in control of his mind. He makes his way through the double doors, unsure of what he would see
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Mr. Delacroix," an ancient, creaking voice calls. "Come in, come in. I've been waiting for you for some time, now. Ever since you bumbled into that cluster of shacks you call a town." As you continue forward, sitting behind the pulpit in this perverse depiction of a place of worship, there is a shriveled form. Drawing even nearer, it resolves into a woman, more ancient even than the chapel of trees.
"Please," she says, motioning to a seat opposite her's. "Have a seat, Mr. Delacroix."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
"It would appear that I am at a disadvantage, madam. You know who I am, yet I have no clue who you are. Any chance you ould be willing to remedy that?"
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"I've not had a name other than Elder for centuries now, boy. That will have to do for you as well." Drawing a pair of silver chalices from beneath her chair, she reaches out and sets one on an arm of your chair. The other she keeps in her hand as she draws a decanter of reddest wine from beneath her seat as well. Pouring herself a healthy cup, she holds the bottle out to you. For some reason, though the chalice is full, barely any is drained from the bottle.
"A special grape we grow here," she says, sipping at the wine delicately. "Not blood. Though it does have many of the restorative properties of blood for vampires." Gazing at the cup with pride she licks her lips with a shriveled, blue tongue. "Please, try it. It's very good, even to humans. A blood mage might find it....interesting."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Zane takes the offered decanter and pours himself about half a cup, enough for sipping. When finished, he sets it down, and sips the wine a bit
"So, Miss Elder, why am I here? You are obviously much wiser and smarter then I, so it would be only right for you to know that which I am clueless about."
Zane does his trademark grin over he cup, trying to ignore the niggling fear in the back of his mind
"THEY ARE VAMPIRES. YOUR BLOOD IS LIKELY VERY TASTY TO THEM. FRIGGIN' RUN!!!" "Quite you, I may be able to learn much here." "WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO YOURSELF?" "It's not talking, it's thinking. Also, shut up" "...OUR MOM..." "That made no sense."