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.]
"Oh boy, I've forgotten more about anything you care to name than you'll ever know." She motions to the decanter between them. "It's yours, if you want it. I only beat that wine out in age by a few decades. Which, in case you've not been paying attention, makes it very VERY old." She sips at the wine delicately, wiping her mouth with a silk handkerchief. "I'll allow you to ask me one question - about anything in this world - before I get to why you're here."
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 rubs his chin, thinking deeply about her offer... The sort of information he could learn because of that... But, as always, he must do his best to help people
"Using my current abilities, what is the best thing I could do to help the people of Wistvale?"
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.]
She nods, and looks deep into the chalice of wine held before, swirling it around a moment. "Precisely what you're doing now." She looks up, meeting Zane's eyes. "Though you would be doing greater good to expand your clinic. Begin training the townspeople in basic medical skills - staunching wounds, extracting venom from a bite, and the like. Those interested to learn further, train in the more complicated medical arts."
She looks up at the vaulted ceilings, appraising her handiwork of eras past. "Would you care to know more about the good you can do for Wistvale? Or would you like to go on?"
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 motions around, chalice still in hand and chuckles
"Well, I believe that my purpose in life is to help people, but as we are in your home I imagine that whatever you'd like to discuss would be good. Far be it from me to be an annoying guest."
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.]
She chuckles, mostly silently. "I'm afraid what I want of you, however, is a bit contradictory to your helping the myriad peoples of Wistvale." She holds a hand out, flat, palm forwards. "And no, I don' want you to hurt them. Because I want you to stay here. My time has come, and it has gone. And that was hundreds of years a-go. I want you to be the new Elder of our clan. Yours is a mind of temperance and of good will - precisely what this clan needs. I've wanted to get them to stop hunting humans, but feared that even Mortimer would turn if I tried."
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.
"Ma'am, you've placed me in a rather awkward position, to be entirely honest. I am not a vampire, nor do I have any particular desire to become one. I have made a commitment to the people of Wistvale, and I cannot break from that."
Zane looks up to her, an obviously pained expression on his face
"As much as I would absolutely love to help your people, and keep them from hunting humans, I simply cannot break from my previous engagement. Now, I would be more than willing to help, but I am needed in Wistvale."
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.]
She waves a hand at him. "You needn't join the clan, and couldn't anyway. Blood magic spoils the blood, kills the vampire and turns the mage into something else entirely. A terribly powerful beast, that draws power from blood whilst using it as a weapon. They are incredibly hard to kill, and would make impeccable guardians, if they could be controlled...." A faraway look enters the Elder's eyes. She shakes her head, and comes back. "At any rate, no. I don't want you to become a vampire. Just to stay here. A year, maybe two. You could go to Wistvale, say a month at a ti-" she's stopped mid-sentence by the door banging open.
"ELDER!" Mortimer's voice booms from across the space.
Placing her head in a hand, the Elder sighs. "Mortimer. I told you, you were not to listen to this meeting."
"I was not told," he snarls, "that you wanted this man so you could DESTROY our way of life!"
"You know what a blood mage becomes, Mortimer, why else would I want him for anything else?" the Elder sighs. Looking to Zane, she smiles weakly. You might have to kill him, you know. He's a good one, but a staunch believer in the old ways.
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 look to Mortimer, not rising from his seat, just looking and sipping on the wine
"Mortimer, there is an issue with listening in on things. You rarely get the full story. As I have said, while I would love to help you all out, I simply cannot leave the villagers of Wistvale on their own. While they might not consider me human in some respects, I view them as my people."
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.]
"Blocked your mind?" the Elder says, surprised. "Or just not listening? At any rate, Mortimer is not one to back down." She looks towards her protege with a mixture of sadness and pride. "He's angry. He's going to kill you. Or you're going to kill him. There's not much of a choice here."
"You wound me Elder - you make me seem an animal, unable to be called off once I've scented blood." At this, the Elder shrugs, and sits back in her chair.
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.]
"I'm afraid there's not," Mortimer says, sincere sorrow in his voice. "Whether you die on your feet or your ass though, that's your choice." He falls into a primal stance, fangs bared and hands formed into primitive claws.
(combat begins. all actions against Mortimer decided by me. he's about 30ft away. very fast, not super strong)
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 sighs and stands up. He grabs the decanter and tips it over, taking control of the bloodwine in it, and directing it with his power. The liquid falls from the container, but stops and forms a ball floating in the air, just to Zane's right. He also pulls out his scalpel and inspects the blade.
"As you wish Mortimer. Though please know that I take no undue amount of satisfaction from this."
Zane fires a few tiny spikes of the bloodwine forward, aiming them at Mortimer's chest. He holds the majority of the bloodwine back, and stays in a very relaxed pose, holding the scalpel down at his side
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.]
Mortimer jumps to the side, one arms sliced minutely by the spikes. He sprints forward, covering half the distance easily, then leaps forward, all slashing claws and biting teeth.
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 grins, having expected the move. He splits off a large chunk of the bloodwine blob, placing a wide thick shield for Mortimer to slice into, making sure to thicken it, hoping to be able to catch him in it for a moment. As he does this, he brings more of the blob around and creates several razor sharp blades and spikes, sending them at Mortimer's back while the shield does its work
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.]
Slashing through the glob of a shield, Mortimer howls in agony as the liquid pierces his skin. Biting his tongue, he doubles his effort on the shield, cutting it away and taking what he can into his mouth as it dissipates. The cut on his arm, and those on his back seal up quickly, with thin skin covering the wounds. Dropping to the floor, he draws back, muscles tensing in his legs. Jumping forward, he tackles Zane, pinning him against the far wall after slamming his back into it. He brings a clawed hand across your chest, ripping the skin and causing a long, thin gash.
Standing face to face with him, his features have changed. Deep, craggy wrinkles appear on his forehead, and his eyes have from a pleasant green to a milky, pearlescent white. His nose is flattened, his mouth is wider, and opens further. He opens this mouth all the way, baring his fangs, and howls in your face, spittle flying onto you. His breath reeks of dried blood and rotting meat.
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.