NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC:
Keep all OOC content in this thread (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=124702&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0)
If you wish to join this RP then apply at that thread not in here.
IC:

Hidden away in a corner of Balmora was an almost exclusive tavern. Most locals knew to keep away with it, as it was a popular watering hole for the less desirable Draconian society, namely vampires, werewolves and the like. From the outside it looked like any ordinary tavern and that was what trapped the unwary visitor to the city. That was something that the vampires liked, a ‘free’ meal. Inside the tavern was dim, only torches and large fireplace at one end lighted it. The barman that was stood behind the bar was a rather tall grey elf with a large scar down one side of his face, he wore what looked to be an old elven military uniform.

Over in one corner sat a man with long brown hair and a goatee. He was sat watching silently as another man went and sat down opposite him. This man was wearing a black baseball cap with a white tick on the front. He also wore a black trenchcoat as he passed an envelope to the other man. The longhaired man picked it up and took a piece of paper out. As he looked up at the other man, a sly grinned crossed his face.

“For once you have done well Ashram,” he said.

This man was Draven, the most feared vampire in Draconis Nightcrawlis. Most vampires in the kingdom looked up to him and saw Draven as their undead King. As would be expected, there were other vampires out there that felt they deserved that mantle more then he did. However with his loyal followers, mostly made up of vampires he sired and those that they sired and so on that would always fight for him. Now and then, rouge vampires would be sired and would take a stand to Dravens rule. Of course most of these would then be slaughtered, but always there would be those that would escape and go underground. Draven didn’t care as they weren’t always a threat.

“So does this book exist?” Ashram asked.

“It does,” Draven replied, looking toward the bar. “But it is a dangerous quest to get it, so I shall not be participating.”

“Ok,” Ashram nodded, scratching the back of his head nervously. He was hoping that he would not be sent out alone, as he hated that.

Instead, Draven pointed toward the bar. “I think you will have an easy time recruiting people over there,” he told him.

As the door opened a bolt of lightning crashed across the sky, silhouetting the figure in the doorway. A gust of wind blew his travel worn grey cloak into the tavern before him. Beneath the cloak was a black vest with a bloodred patch sown over the right breast and some faded military fatigue pants. Large combat boots covered the feet and a white bandana kept a mass of grey, white streaked hair out of the traveler's bright green eyes. A full beard covered his face. The arms of a skintight, flexible bodysuit could be seen emerging from the vest. A large buldge could be seen under the left side of his vest and slim sheath hung from the left side of his belt, a silver hilt visible at it's top.

With almost fluid strides, the traveler made his way over to the bar and seated himself on a stool. He gestured to the bartender. "Single malt Irish Whiskey please, creamed if you have it, no ice." He said in a gravely voice.

He walked down the street slowly, long rolling strides eatinbg up the few yards between him and his destination, the tavern ahead, a dimly lit place were few frequented voluntarily, he stopped for a moment, and adjusted his collar, damned clothes, too stiff, yet when one goes to something like this, one must look one's best, even if it did chafe something fierce, he brushed the door, lightly and it swung open for him, incredible superhuman strength is after all, some what hard to control when you're excited, he entered the tavern and sat quietly in a booth, a few of the others were already beginning to arrive, fortuitous, he thought, lighting the candle at his table with a single thought, he pulled an ancient map from under his cloak, and began studying it vigorously, looking up now and then for new arrivals, it seemed that this might take a while...

The barman nodded and turned away as Ashram walked up to the bar. He sat down on one of the stools and looked around.

"Where am I going to find a good group out of this lot," he muttered to himself.

Still, he was intrigued by the man sat at a table with what appeared to be a map. He looked good enough for the quest, but unfotunatly he looked preoccupied. Ashram turned his attention back to the bar. He sniffed as the barman brought over the whiskey.

"Anything for you Ashram?" The barman then asked.

"A small group of willing adventurers would be nice," the vampire remarked. "Just the usual Tuomas."

The barman nodded, before turning to the man who had ordered the whiskey, "That will be eight pounds," he told him.

The man pulled the money out of an inner pocket and pushed it across the table. "Thanks." And then to himself. "Glad I found an exchange office before I walked in here, somehow I doubt these people take gold."
A crash of thunder that shook the building told of the ever growing storm outside. The man sipped his drink and leaned back with a sigh. "This is certainly a good night to be inside with a good drink and a roaring fire. I've spent far too many nights like this outside." His eyes shifted towards the barman. "This is a nice place you have here, a good stop for a passing traveler."

The barman shook his head as he walked off to get the usual for Ashram.

"This is not a nice place," the vampire remarked, eyeing up the stranger.

multipost

The stranger didn't even look over as he calmly sipped his drink again. "That depends on what you consider the definition of a nice place is. At the moment no one's shooting at me, I highly doubt this place is going to be blown up, and at the moment, no one here wants me dead. So by my definition, this is a nice place."

Ashram made a quiet laughing noise as the barman placed a glass containing a strange black liquid in front of him. The barman took no money from him.

"How do you know that no one here wants you dead," the vampire remarked. He took a quick sip from the glass before adding, "Non vampires tend to get bitten here." While awaiting the mans reply, he took a quick look over his shoulder at the guy with the map.

Neither the man's expression or tone changed as he answered. "Because if anyone tried it, it would end up with me leaving more than just a bad taste in their mouth." The man's eyes shifted towards Ashram and he favored him with an amused grin as he took another sip of his drink. "I'd be interested to see if even one of your kind bloodsucker, could still move after their head and upper half of their torso was splattered across the far wall."

Ashram took another sip of his drink. "Everyone knows that beheading a vampires kills them," he said turning around on the stool to watch the door. "Strength, you sound strong and we need strength. How would you feel about a small quest?"

The man drained his glass and set it lightly down on the table. "Why not?" A crooked grin crossed his face. "At the very least something like this is by it's very nature unpredictible. And if it's unpredictible, it means that certain people who are after my hide won't be able to follow me. I'm in."

Ashram drank up the last of his drink. "I doubt it will be easy," he said. "Alot of trouble for a book if you ask me but the boss needs it."

He then motioned for the barman to bring him another drink.

"Don't bother speaking to me of trouble until you have gone through what I have. Compared to the life I've led, whatever this is should be a piece of cake."

Ashram took a sip from his the glass the barman had set down in front of him. "Well in that case you are just what I am looking for," he replied.

"Glad to hear it, the name's Griffin."

"Glad to hear it, the name's Griffin."

Ashram nodded, "The name is Ashram," he said, "you will working for Draven."

OOC: sorry about the time lapse

IC: Marcus looked up at the two chattering individuals at the bar, folded the map carefully and went over to them
" You've been sent from Draven? I'm Marcus, i was told to meet Draven's representative here, i would assume that's you, i have the map and as soon as we gather our choice few individuals we should be on our way."

Ashram raised an eyebrow as he looked over the man. "I was not aware that Draven was gathering people himself," he replied.

"I received a message from someone, i can't be sure it was Draven, but the writing was alike, for all i know it was a forgery, and i can take my map and leave."

"Well you are prepared so if you wish to come on this quest you can," he then told him.

"well, i do have plans, but they can probably be put off." he said with an impudent smirk

Ashram nodded. "Still three is not enough for this quest so I suggest hanging around the tavern while I find some others to join," he then said before emptying his glass.

He looked over to Draven's corner of the tavern but his boss was gone. No doubt he had slipped out while he was talking to these two.

At that moment a quartet of men kicked in the door, dressed in black body armor and all carrying automatic rifles. One of them pointed at Griffin. "That's him!"

"Dammit all, can't a guy get just one night of peace?" Griffin did not bother to turn around, but instead glanced towards Ashram. "You folks want to handle this, or should I deal with these intruders?"

"They are going to wish they never came here," Ashram said taking a gun from inside his trenchcoat.

Griffin nodded and signaled the bartender for a refill. "Good, I'll leave it to you then."

"Hey, do not think that you are getting out of this, they followed you here," Ashram growled before turning to the intruders. "Who the hell are you guys."

Not answering, the intruders raised their weapons, preparing to gun down everyone in the room. A roar like the clapping of God's hands filled the room and one of the attackers only just had time to look at the giant hole where his chest had been before collapsing dead to the floor. In Griffin's hand was a massive pistol, easily a foot and a half long, a massive block of gleaming metal. To the attackers, looking down it's barrel was like looking directly at a tank's main gun. The echo of the first shot had not even faded when a second replaced it, and another attacker dropped dead, their head and the upper half of their torso gone. A third time Griffin's gun spoke, and flesh vaporized under the projectile's impact and explosion. But even as the thrid attacker dropped several more charged in the door and the stunned survivor started spraying the room.

Ashram quickly jumped over the bartop as bullets and glass started spraying everywhere. For short periods of time he would appear over the top of the bar and began shooting at the attackers before ducking below to reload.

"Damn why do I only use this gun," he cursed himself as he tried reloading again.

Griffin stood up from his stool, and calmly sighted on one attacker after another, a single shot being sufficent each time. Disdaning cover of any sort, and, paying no head to the hail of bullets directed at him, he aimed and fired, over and over, each shot assaulting the ears, it's concussion heavy enough to press on the chests of all present. Every twelve rounds a clip would pop out of the gun and Griffin would slam another in. Mercilicly he gunned down the attackers, his face an emotionless mask, that was far scarier to his opponents than any display of emotion could have been. The room began to fill with the smoke of the constant gunfire until one's sight was useless. The silence was so abrupt that it took one a minute to realise that the sound of gunfire had stopped. Slowly the gunsmoke began to dissipate, reaveling a room strewn with pieces of bodies from one end to the other. Griffin calmly reholstered his gun underneath his vest and sat back down. "Bartender, another please."

OOC: damn!


IC: marcus stood calmly from behind a booth
" Oh, is it over already? Pity really, ah well."

"Now before we go any further, who the hell were they," Ashram demanded as he set down his gun on the bar.

All around them, other patrons were gathering themselves up from under tables. It seemed the only casulties were the attackers. Ashram hopped back over the bar as the barman brought over another whiskey, he gave Griffin an angry glare.

Ashram looked toward Marcus, "I hope you have not planned and leading friends like that here," he remarked.

Griffin took a sip of his drink, and then started reloading his empty clips before answering. His speech was punctuated every few seconds by the click of a nother shell being loaded. "Those people are the reason I'm traveling. To make a long story short, my last mission I fulfilled for my country was to... take care of a certain highly place individual. Unfortinatley, my team was betrayed from within, we still managed to pull off the mission, and eliminate the traitor, but it ended with the rest of the team quite dead and a certain group of people, if you'll excuse the phrase, out for my blood. After returning home, there were several attempts on my life, when it got to the point that they destroyed an entire building in an attempt to kill me, I decided it was time to leave." Griffin shrugged and slammed a fresh clip into his pistol before holstering it. "Living or dying doesn't really mean that much to me, but then again, I've never been one to make it easy for anyone, much less death himself. If to stay alive I have to leave a trail of death and destruction behind me, so be it. I'll die when it's my time, and not a second before. You have a problem with that Fangs?"

Marcus stood stifly glaring at the man in front of him
" Fangs indeed!" he said " Were i come from you'd have had your throat ripped out!" he said bringing his cane up to further his point, the sword within slipped a tiny way out of the sheath, marcus resheathed it and sat down grumbling about rude remarks...

"Well I am already dead so death does not scare me," Ashram said with a grin. He then put the gun back in his trenchcoat and sat back down on the stool. "Well no sense hanging around here any longer, shall we head out?"

Marcus stood abruptly, "Seems the sensible thing to do."

Griffin tossed down the remainder of his drink in one smooth swift motion and stood up, throwing a handful of solid gold coins on the counter behind him. "I've nothing better to do tonight, let's go."

"I hope three is enough," Ashram remarked, standing up from the stool. Already he could see the taverns staff clearing up the place after the attack. "Still we can always come back and get some back up."

"Right you are, shall we go? tempas fugent and all that you know" remarked Marcus as he dusted himself off

Ashram clapped his hands together, "Well since no one has any objections, follow me," he told them as he headed out the tavern.

As Griffin stepped over the bodies and the pooling blood on the way to the door, an almost unnoticible shiver came over him and for a mere second the emotionless mask slipped. But before anyone could possibly have identified what emotions may have been evident on his face, the mask was back up.

Having been first out the door, Ashram crossed the dark alley and heading towards the river. However, he didn't lead them to there and instead he lead them to a small carpark. Leaning up against a black car with dark windows he said, "This is our ride."

Griffin eyed the vehicle critically. "Better than walking I guess."

"oh very nice, indeed, riding in style, i quite like this." remarked marcus, smiling broadly as he walked towards to the vehicle

The indicators flashed with a beep before Ashram opened the door and got in. Since all Draconian cars were right-hand drive, that left the front passenger seat on the left hand side and Ashram was hoping that the other two would fight over it.

" After you old boy, i enjoy being chaffeufeured around, "

Griffin simply raised an eyebrow a fraction of an inch and took the back seat.

Ashram sighed and tapped the steering wheel as he waited for the others to sort themselves out.

With everyone in the car, Ashram drove off. The trip to the port of Seyda Neen was largely uneventful and it was only a half hour drive. From there they would have to wait for the next car ferry, when that was, Ashram wasn't sure as he never bothered to look up the times. While they waited, the vampire got out and lit up a cigarette.

Griffin got out and pulled a pipe out from under his cloak, packing the tobacco in he lit it, dense little clouds of fragrent smoke floating off into the sky as a look of semi-contentment came over his face.

Ashram happily smoked away, since he didn't beath, the vampire didn't car that it did nasty things to a persons lungs. That was one of the things he liked about being a vampire. His eyes scouted the carpar looking for a bite to eat, but he soon realised that they were alone.

"Damn I hate Seyda Neen," he cursed.

"How come?" Griffin asked.

"Everyone is too superstitious around here," Ashram explained, puffing out smoke. "They know too much about vampires and protect themselves from us. Dammit I wish we could go back to when we were more secretive and everyone lelieved that we were only a myth."

Griffin cocked an eyebrow at that. "You should have taken a page from my country's book, we've still managed to not only keep our secret safe from the rest of the world, but even spread false legends to protect us if the secret should ever be revealed."

"Our problem lies with vampire hunters," the vampire explained as he flicked the cigarette butt to the ground and stubbed it out. "As secretive as we try, they are always out there coming after us, from incomiptants who always die on their first time to those that use super tech to get at us. The Draconian media is always reporting things due to those damned vampire hunters, once we get rid of them the easier it will be."

Griffin removed the pipe for a moment and blew a cloud of smoke. "If your kind had kept a lower profile, there wouldn't have been any hunters."

Ashram shook his head in disagreement, "It is myths that lead to people believing into that," he replied, "It was only because of that, that the first hunters came about thousands of years ago."

The clouds from the earlier storm were braking up overhead as Griffin replace the pipe in his mouth and nodded. "Myths can be useful sources of information. But if one has the forethought, and the time, one can turn them into useful tools as well." As he finished the full moon broke from behind the clouds, illuminating Griffin's face.

"And here we go," Ashram remarked.

Griffin grinned and continued smoking. "As I said, we took precautions to see to it the information that did get out was wrong for the most part." He clasped the silver hilt of his sword for emphasis.

Not what Ashram expected, he was sure that Griffin's scent had been right. He had never gotten that wrong before. Of course, Ashram wasn't all that bright anyway, but still it hit him.

"A werewolf not effected by the full moon or silver," he remarked.

Griffin's smile grew even larger around his pipe. "Those legends are thousands of years out of date, do you honestly think we haven't evolved ourselves over that time both mentally and physically?"

"Well the ones I know have not," Ashram replied, "You are not from around here."

"No I'm not, nor are any of my countrymen. We've learned to co-exist with humans, to the point that the humans in our country help us to keep our secret." Griffin smirked again. "One of our kind has even managed to be elected into office as the country's leader. He's not done a half bad job rebuilding the country after the war either."

Ashram smirked, "That is what we need here," he said, lighting up another cigarette. "Draven actually has his eye on siring the crown prince."

"Of course it helps we needn't prey on humans to sustain ourselves." Griffin's eyes got a far away look. "We prefer to live out our time on this world and then simply fade away into the swirling mists of time. For if one need not die, what spice is there to living? Risk and sorrow have no meaning anymore." Griffin shook his head. "No, I am quite content with my lot."

Ashram just shrugged, "We vampires cannot live on anything other then human blood," he said, "Even most animal blood would likely kill us."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming you for your inherent nature. Though at some point I suspect you may end up strangling yourselves simply by increasing your number and decreasing the numbers of humans to the point there will not be enough of them for you to survive on. Either that or the world as a whole will turn on you before that point." Griffin gave an eloquent shrug. "But that is of little concern to me, I shall be little more than dust long before that happens."

"It'll never happen," Ashram told him with another shrugg of the shoulders, "Most new vampires are killed off in their first year and humans breed like rabbits."

Griffin continued to puff sedately on his pipe. "As I said, it is of little concern to myself, though should your kind get overly ambitious when it comes to humans, I suspect you will be in for some most unpleasant surprises. My country at the very least will stand strong, regardless what happens. And humans have a tendency of coming up with some of the most interesting hunting techniques. And when they get of a collective mind to do something, nothing on this planet can stand against them."

"We just have to stay one step ahead of them," he replied.

"Good luck, you'll need it."

Ashram looked over his shoulder. "I know that from experiance," he said, "I currently have a number of hunters after me, evidently I have a high price on my head."

Griffin actually laughed at that. "Kill a head of state, then talk to me of bounty hunters and a price on your head."

"I did sire Duke Saberhagens twin daughters a few years ago and kill his wife," Ashram pointed out.

Griffin nodded. "That would do it." He knocked his pipe empty on the side of the car before placing it back in his cloak. "That would be the ferry coming in." He said looking out over the still empty mist covered waters.

"About bloody time too," Ashram remarked.

"In a hurry?" Griffin asked.

OOC: sorry, weekends =loss of computer for me


IC: "so, compelty invulnerable to silver and the moon eh? well, that's interesting, i must say, i seem to need a nasal recalibration" he smiled slightly at his little joke
" i've never met a real werewolf before, not a mindless brute at all i'd say."

"I just hate waiting," Ashram replied.

Griffin looked over at Marcus. "We have our moments."

"oh quite so, indeed, shall we board?"

"Yes we should," Ashram agreed, getting back in the car.

After one last look over the waters Griffin got back in the car.

With everyone back in the car, Ashram drove out of the carpark and joined the queue for the ferry. One thing he didn't like about the mortal world was all the queuing up involved. One by one the cars moved forward until their car was next up to the fare booth. Ashram slowly drove up and the window wound down. The others didn' hear what the woman in the booth said as the vampire handed over a card. Once it was handed back again he drove off toward were other cars were waiting to board.

Griffin turned and glanced out the back window a minute before speaking. "I assume you realise someone has been following us since we left the tavern." He said to Ashram.

"One of your mates I take it," Ashram remarked.

" a hunter i presume? i think i'll just drop on back and have a bite with your friend back there Mr. Griffin" said marcus, grinning viciously

"There will be plenty of better meals on legs on the boat," Ashram remarked, looking down at the clock on the dashboard, it still looked to be a while before sunrise.

" i just want to let this unfortunate young person know that his bounty expectations will not be realized."

"Wait until we get onboard the ferry," Ashram told him. "Make sure that it looks like none of us has noticed."

" you worry to much Ashram, i'll be very...sneaky"

"I was thinking more of dumping the body over the side in the the middle of the channel."

"well, i'm bloody famished, so i hope you don't mind if i drain him"

"Well ask Griffin, it is his friend after all," he smirked.

" very well, griffin do you mind?"

"I'll deal with it, though whoever is back there is no friend of mine, mine are more professional than this." Griffin cocked an eyebrow at the other two. "They would have known better than to have left their car idialing while we waited for the ferry. They'd know that just because I couldn't see them wouldn't mean I couldn't hear them. So I think it is not my bounty they are after."

"Wannabie vampire hunter then?" Ashram asked

"Most likely. But don't worry, I'll see to it that he and any companions he has don't leave the ferry alive."

"And dump any bodies over the side, no one will take notice of an empty car as we disembark," the vampire said.

multipost

"I intend to be somewhat more thourough than that. Just make sure we're well away from their car a few minutes after we disembark."

"Right," Ashram nodded.

" oh very well then, if you must"

"Thank you, things like this are usually best handled in a manner that discourages other from trying the same thing."

"Some people never listen though," Ashram remarked.

"such people are silenced before long"

"Yes, but on my experiance that was only because they ran out of members to send after us," the vampire smirked. "Of course why a bunch of hunters made a guild I will never know, they are always solitary."

"some of them believe in strength in numbers, a foolish idea i think, "

"Experiance, innate skill, and luck are all required to make a good hunter. Mere numbers can not make up for such deficencies."

"not to mention strength"

Ashram laughed. "None of which this guild had," he told him.

Griffin shook his head in disgust. "If you aren't good at it, you are merely game for someone who is."

" or someone who you're bumbling has managed to..displease"

"It wasn't even good game, they all wore the same cap so in the end we just took it in turns shooting them with a sniper from various buildings in the area," Ashram said before looking over to the front of the queue. "Hold on, we are boarding."

"Took long enough."

"bloody bunglers"

"Have to let the others off first," Ashram remarked as he switched on the engine and slowly drove forward. Following the crews instructions, he followed the car in front onto the ferry. Once he packed where the crew pointed to, he switched off the engine and groaned.

"I hate following orders from mortals," he growled.

" well, it could be worse, i suppose, somehow"

"Keep up the comments on mortals and their failings and I might begin to feel inclined to change your opinions, the hard way." Griffin said casually from the backseat.

marcus burst out laughing " easy old boy, it'd take a lot more than you to do that"

Griffin smiled, and it was not a pleasent thing to see. "If the time comes, we shall see."

Ashram said nothing as he got out of the car. The smell of all the blood running through the veins of all the people around him was making him thirst for it. There would be time for feeding later, but for now they had to keep a low profile.

Griffin got out of the car, and after making a mental note of where the car of the people trailing them was parked, headed for the bow of the vessel.

"I say we head for the bar," Ashram suggested, already walking between cars toward the stairs.

"You do that." Griffin said over his shoulder as he continued walking.

"Right, see you there then?" he asked.

" well, the bar sounds fine to me, while griffin sorts out this little problem"

"I'll meet you guys back here before we leave."

"Well have fun, don't make too big a mess," Ashram said before walking off.

Once at the bar, there were very few people already there. That was fortunate however as it meant he was able to settle himself down in a dark corner away from the windows, with easy reach to the bar itself.

Now and then, Ashram would make his way onto deck. As much as he hated the idea of feeding there, it was the only place he could dump the bodies over the side of the ferry without being seen, at least he hopped so anyway. One could never be too sure. When he went back to the bar after feeding, he would order a drink before sitting down again and waiting out the rest of the journey.

"i wonder how griffin's fairing?" marcus thought to himself as he ambled over the deck of the ferry, glancing now and then behind him, keeping a close watch on anyone who might pose a threat...

Obtaining the arrival time from one of the crew members, Griffin thanked him and headed back towards the car deck. Easily slipping past the safeguards designed to keep the passengers out of the car deck while the ferry was in motion he wandered over to the car belonging to the people who had been following them. After glancing down at his watch and running a few calculations quickly through his head, he busied himself by the car for a few seconds and then left the way he came, whistling tunelessly to himself as he headed up to the bar.

Ashram closed his eyes and leaned back on the seat. He imagined that the book was now in his hands and he was passing it over to Draven. Imaging the reward he would get for finding it, being higher ranked in Draven's gang of vampires.

Griffin went out onto the top deck and lit his pipe, looking serenely out over the stern, the smoke from his pipe merging with that from the ship. After a few minutes he headed back down to the bar.

Ashram opened an eye as a familiar scent entered the bar.

Griffin spotted Ashram and wandered over to him, still smoking on his pipe. A steward looked like he was about to tell Griffin to put it out, but a hard look from Griffin made the man change his mind.

"Unfortunately the smoking area has alot of sunlight in," Ashram remarked. "Have you seen Marcus?"

Griffin shook his head. "Nope."

Ashram nodded his head slowly. "Well I hope he is having fun," he remarked.

Marcus slowly stalked the young thin man on the deck, baring his teeth slightly as he moved closer, he closed on the youth and turned him round to face himself, the boy had a terrified look in his eyes, and a hopelessness that touched Marcus' heart to see, he closed his mouth and handed the boy a few bills from his money clip
" Here, go find some place warm." he said shortly, he turned and made his way down to the bar...

Ashram cracked his knuckles before heading over to the bar for a refill.

Griffin looked over as Marcus entered the bar. "Enjoying the trip?"

" it's been a little depresiing thus far, but it isn't over yet."

"I hate ferries," Ashram remarked as he sat back down with another ale in hand. "Unfortunately even in this day in age it is the only way off the island."

" well, why not use the time to brief us on what we might be facing? and what exactly this book is"

"Well Draven hasn't told me much about the book except it will make him almost entirely invincible," Ashram explained. He took a gulp of his ale before carrying on. "The reason we are going to the Capital is to find out where exactly the book is and what we will have to face, but I can assure you now that it will be very dangerous."

"Good, danger lets one know they are alive, without it one might as well be dead." Griffin said, an amused grin forming around his pipe.

" and for those of us who are dead?"

"Yes, some of us are dead," Ashram said, agreeing with Marcus. "Mind you, as long as you are still walking the danger is just the same if you are dead."

" i have never feared danger, i am skillful enough to avoid harm, so why fear it?"

"You don't, you just have to be wary about it."

" i am always wary"

Ashram nodded. "I have seen too many die from a lack of waryness," he said. "Is there anything more you wish to know?"

"For those who are truely dead, I care neither one way or the other. BUt as far as I am concerned, so long as you walk this mortal coil, you are not truely dead."

"Well undead then," Ashram suggested, "but I do not like being called that."

"neither term is especially accurate"

"I don't particularly care what you are, so long as you both pull your weight when everything goes to Hell, as I'm sure it will before this thing is done with."

"Oh it will," Ashram promised. "Legend is the book is protected by wraiths."

OOC: The board has been a right bastard today :x

OOC: Here, here, down with the bloody bastard board.

IC: "Don't care what's guarding it, anything that gets in my way isn't going to be in any condition to guard anything ever again."

"Well legend can be different to reality so we will still have to prepare for anything," Ashram mentioned. "Personally I find legends rather untrustworthy."

"As well you should since we started about half of them back in the days."

Ashram nodded, remembering what Griffin had said previously. "Some legends can be annoying like when tourists from some countries throw water on me," he remarked.

"Be grateful water was specified and not acid."

"We can recover from most types of acid," Ashram pointed out.

"Yeah, but I suspect that even your kind suffers pain when hit by acid." Griffin drew heavily on his pipe before releasing a large cloud of smoke. "I once had an entire vat of the stuff topple over on me, I was a week in the regen tank recovering from that little incident. If you ever wish to know what it's like to have your entire body seem to be on fire, with your skin sloughing off, I suggest you try it some time."

"That would be the same feeling for a vampire in sunlight."

"You speak from personal experiance I assume."

Ashram nodded, "Fell afoul of a rival gang a couple of centuries ago," he explained.

"A nasty way to go to be sure."

Ashram nodded, "Vampires usually catch fire in sunlight and burn until there is nothing but a smouldering sticky mess," he explained, "but of course new vampires burn quicker, older ones can withstand it for a short while."

"You might be interested to know that there were actually two cars following us, and the occupents of one actually attached a radio controled bomb under the hood of our car."

"Damn," Ashram cursed. "They are really out to get you."

Griffin smiled. "In addition to taking care of the first car, I took the liberty of placing the bomb on their own car. When they hit the button I think they'll be in for something of an explosive revelation."

"Oh good, my car is expensive I would hate to have to steal a new one," Ashram remarked.

"You did change the plates at least I hope."

"Of course," Ashram replied, he couldn't believe that Griffin would even think he'd forget to do that. "Had to change all the chips and change the settings in the cars computer as well. It is not easy to get away with having a stolen car you know."

Griffin nodded. "Yeah, put I generally had one either assigned to me, or we didn't have the time to bother changing the marks of ownership." Griffin smiled at a thought. "Not that there was usually enough of whatever car we'd stolen left after one of those occasions to worry about. A few hundred bullet holes go a long way towards devaluing a vehicle."

"Fortunately I havn't had problems such as that with my current car," the vampire replied. "The same cannot be said for some of my old cars however, blasted vampire hunters."

"It happens, just be grateful the incompetents far out number the guys who know what they're doing."

Ashram nodded. "I am thankful that I was not in the car at the time," he said. "Though I did lose a meal."

OOC: Jitano?

Ashram yawned and scratched the back of his head.

"So when does this leaky tub reach shore?"

"About an hour," Ashram told him.

"Perfect."

"Then it is another long drive I am afraid."

"Better driving than walking."

"You can say that again," the vampire agreed. "I can still remember the days before cars were even invented."

"I'm not quite that old, but I've done enough footslogging in my time to prefer driving whenever possible."

"The older you get, the less age is of importance."

"And let us not forget the aging that comes without the passage of time. The kind of aging that comes from the hardships life inflicts upon one."

Ashram nodded as he took out a mobile phone and started to play around with it. It appeared that he was going to send something.

OOC: sorry, i just came off march break,


IC:" cars have never been a big deal to me, i don't tire easily, and i enjoy a good walk, though time was walking a foot out your door was a guarantee of being attacked."

Ashram looked up from his mobile. "Feet are no good for long distances," he remarked.

OOC: Glad to see you back.

OOC: thanks

IC: "well, if you've got the time"

"Too much effort," Ashram remarked, "Cars with special glass for windows allow you to move about during the daylight hours."

Once the ferry had arrived at its destination, the trio made their way back to the car and waited to disembark. Having got into the car, Ashram began tapping the steering wheel as he waited.

"I suggest we get moving, unless you want to see this entire ferry go up."

"Oh and how are we going to do that?" Ashram said, pointing out the fact that the cars at the head of the queue had yet to drive off.

"Well, we have ten minutes left before the first car blows up, and I expect the people in the second car will push the button not long after. You're the driver, you think of something."

The cars at the head of the queue were waved off. "It doesn't take that long to disembark," he remarked.

"Then we should be alright I guess."

Ashram nodded as he started the car up. Once the cars in front move, he gently drove off and left the ferry. The sun was up but the windows kept out anything that would burn the vampires.

A couple minutes after they had pulled out onto the main road, one of the cars behind them blew apart without any warning, a moment later another followed, this explosion even larger than the first one. The road was covered in flames and wreckage.

"I would have thought they'd detonate the bomb after the first car blew, not before, I guess it doesn't really matter though."

"Are these people always incompitant now?" Ashram wondered. "It takes all the fun out of them coming after you."

Already they could hear sirens wailing in the background.

"It does take something from the moment, doesn't it?"

"Weak, incompitant aponants make it too easy," Ashram moaned. He was looking around at the signs trying to figure out where to go.

"Lost?"

"Not lost, I never get lost," he protested. "They have just changed the signs since I was last here."

"We're lost. Great."

Ashram sniffed, "Smell that, fresh blood," he said changing the subject.

" You know, they really do have some remarkable technology these days, you can get this little computer in your car that tells you were to go when your lost, it seems like the sort of thing you might like to have a look at Ashram

"I do not trust computers," he remarked. He then drove down the road following the other cars.

Marcus chuckled in the back
"doesn't trust them, oh that's rich!"

Ashram just rolled his eyes

"If he doesn't trust them, that's his right, even if that's a fairly narrow minded viewpoint."

"even so, we are lost,"

"Not lost, see the palace is that way," Ashram said, pointing to a sign.

"I don't really care, let's just get going."

Ashram just shook his head as they headed onto the motorway on-ramp. After a few minutes of driving, they came across a sign mentioning Old Exetergrecia. Swapping lanes, he drove down the off-ramp and cut across the roundabout. A few more minutes of driving and he pulled up under the cover of a large warehouse.

"We are here," the vampire announced.

"And were precisly is here?"

"A warehouse in Old Exetergrecia," he said with a wry grin. "Well hopefully Willow should show up soon."

"Willow?" Griffin asked.

"Yes the vampire that will be helping us," he explained.

"oh you're a rare wit you are"

Griffin merely groaned inwardly at the actions of his companions.

Ashram sook his head and opened the door. There was plenty of shade over the area so no sun could touch his skin. He got out and lit up a cigarette as he waited.

Giffin leaned back and dozed off.

" so who exactly is this vampire?bearing in mind that i know the name" marcus asked in a hushed voice, so as not to disturb griffin

"Well shes one of Dravens former love interests, she has the information on how to get this book," he explained, not caring if he disturbed Griffin. "Of course you proberly know the name, it's over used especially in fictional works."

"Indeed, strange that I have never heard of her before, alas, i think i've been away for far to long"

Ashram just looked around as he smoked. It would just be typical of her to be late, looking down at his watch he noticed that they were slightly early.

"So you decided to come then," came a womans voice. "Draven must be really desperate for this book."

Ashram looked over to the doors of the warehouse, there stood the vampire known as Willow. She was very pale even for a vampire, white as a ghost. Her jet black hair, which Ashram had always reckoned was died, made her paler then she would have been.

"You should know you were lovers," he replied.

"I prefer to forget," she growled before lookking at the two he was with. "Two vampires and a werewolf, and interesting trio."

" allow me to introduce myself"Marcus said walking up to the newcomer "I am Marcus, and you I gather from Ashram are Willow, "

A sly grin crossed her face. "The one and only," she stated.

One eye opened. "Pleased to meet you."

Willow slowly shook her head. "Not a great bunch," she remarked. "Before I can help you with your quest, there is something I need you to do for me."

"Well let's hear it then."

Willow folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe. "I need you to take out a group," she told them.

Griffin sat up and stretched. "Dammit, another one, that's going to make at least four today alone, are we working towards a record or something?"

"Willows like this, she always upsets groups," Ashram mentioned.

"Oh come on Ashram, you know thats not true," she smirked.

"I take it you two know each other?"

OOC: confusion, take out a group?

OOC: Yes its the only way she'll pass on the info

IC:

"Of I know Ashram, he's been Dravens lacky for centuries," she remarked.

Ashram scowled.

Griffin laughed lightly, a deep pleasent sound. "Well give us the details and lets get going then."