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News » To Dominate While Unseen: VIII
Chapter Eight
Dethii might not have prepared her arcane spells before coming down to breakfast, but Rain certainly had spoken to his god. The power granted by his deity produced no effect however, and a statement of wonder ejected from his lips because of it. No return statement came from his friends, because they were presently concerned for another. Each was determining their best action to prevent their friend from being killed before their eyes.
The adventurers learn about their opposition as they actively challenge the forces around them.
Chapter Eight
Dethii might not have prepared her arcane spells before coming down to breakfast, but Rain certainly had spoken to his god. The power granted by his deity produced no effect however, and a statement of wonder ejected from his lips because of it. No return statement came from his friends, because they were presently concerned for another. Each was determining their best action to prevent their friend from being killed before their eyes.
Curses now sounded from the unseen entity. In baring the neck of the lovely female wizard, a strong aroma of garlic was released. Dethii's body suddenly made a series of odd movements as her form was disturbed by another. The arrogant voice of the invisible host sounded a little tense as he announced his perceived control over events.
"I really do not have to bite her neck."
The two married ladies smirked in seeing the body of their friend turned about. Both were well aware of just how protected a lady was from unwanted advances. Not only did Dethii have on a number of undergarments, a couple reinforced with wood and bone, but the material of the outer garments was rather thick. The clothes were no protection from a cruel attack, and they came off easily enough for certain functions, but it was slightly comical to watch as the fiend sought a nondestructive method of gaining another area of bare skin.
The two men did not find anything funny about the situation. They rushed to Dethii seeking a method of engaging the antagonist. Rain and Jackal both wondered about his invisibility, and complained about obvious movements of their opponent to use Dethii as a shield. The two worked to get the attacker between them and attempted jabs with their weapons more concerned for the wizard than inflicting pain on the one invisible. Jackal griped again about not being able to see his opponent, and Rain again stated that he had cast a spell to remove any concealment magic.
"I know more about your world than you do," stated the voice of their host attempting to assure his own importance in spite of not being able to drink from the lady under his control.
Jackal said in response, "We know that you are an orange shirt. My parents are orange shirts too. I don't know what knowledge you had that my parents didn't. I certainly found no useful information come from them, or from anyone else in our community."
"Oh, we know about vampires. You cannot imagine the wealth of material we have on the creatures of the night. The problem is that they do not exist on our world, but they do here. When I realized the type of world that I had been sent to, I researched the topic of undead. Finding references to a certain aspect of the vampire, I went in search of such a creature. It was a most interesting period of time, and one that was most successful."
Finding his wealth of knowledge lacking, Rain had to state his disbelief, "Invisible vampires?"
The fiend laughed before he replied, "The stories were from our eastern hemisphere. We called the land the Orient. You have no such definite area here. You have people similar, but they are merely considered another variant that developed in the age of chaos. You also have similar architecture, but such is not specifically associated with those people. Anyway, yes, there are invisible vampires."
As the opponent spoke, Jackal noticed a look from the wizard. Being used as a shield disrupted the charm that the fiend had over the lady. The bard thus moved back and touched the floor. Dethii saw the action, waited for a proper moment, then made an act of her own.
The invisible being cried with surprise as the point of a dagger pierced his gut. The wizard fell to the ground as she was thrown away from the invisible man. Instead of a pained expression from her as she landed, a smile passed between her and Jackal as another sound was heard. The attacker had stepped directly back from the direction of the blow, and in doing so had moved upon the section of floor that the bard had magicked. Not only did he and Rain hear the sound of the invisible opponent slip and hit the floor, but they saw a disturbance on the stone marking his position.
Jackal and Rain both felt their weapons hit their opponent, but each noted that he did not return any attacks. As the two men studied the floor wondering where to direct their weapons next, Rain mentioned that vampires could easily move on walls and ceilings. Dethii asked the elf cleric if he had earlier cast his only spell to dispel the mystic workings of others. He answered that he had cast a spell specifically intended to reveal those hidden by mystic forces, although it could not affect those that were invisible naturally. Rain added that he could still manage to attempt to dispel any magic. The wizard nodded, then moved to help the men locate their opponent.
"All of you are presently lucky."
The voice of the vampire came from a doorway. Jackal wanted to rush towards the sound, but he knew that his spell was still active making the floor very slippery there. He had cast the spell hoping to disrupt any attempt of his opponent to flee. It had caught the opponent by surprise, although the invisible vampire had quickly turned the barrier to its advantage.
"I don't want to destroy my décor. That however does not apply to all the rooms."
Rain could tell that the opponent was fleeing, but was surprised by Jackal who turned in the opposite direction. It was unusual for him to back down from a fight. The muscular bard was willing to answer, but felt that there were other more important statements to make.
"Fenshallit, I want you with me. This house is too hostile for us to be separate. I am going to try and find Major Chedrau. If he is badly wounded, I do not want you remaining to tend to him. With or without Major Chedrau, I want all of us together as we attempt to end the threat here."
The white haired lady curtsied to her husband as she verbally stated her acceptance of his words. The two elves nodded to Jackal showing their own agreement. Jackal moved to kiss his wife, then he nodded to his friends before rushing back to the front room then up a staircase.
Jackal stopped on the lower steps of the staircase. On the upper part of the flight was a lovely lady magnificently dressed. A very small orange hat sat on the lady's head mostly to provide a pin cushion for long pieces of precious metal set to direct the fall of long dark locks. The dress of a color more red than orange was elaborately stitched. Numerous glitters from precious gems were apparent on the form of lady and her garment. She spoke with an airy tone as if her nose was only a decorative part of her face and not used for breathing.
"I am so sorry for being so late. Lord Yestinin requested my presence in order that you would feel more welcome for breakfast. I hope that I should not have to explain that preparations for a lady of status cannot be rushed."
From Jackal and Watussin came the question, "Why aren't you invisible?"
The lady was about to descend, but stopped upon hearing the question. Whatever scene she hoped to play had obviously been ruined. The lady stood and smiled as her mind attempted to determine how to adjust her performance for the present audience. The act of the elf cleric raising his holy symbol gave her a cue for a certain routine.
"Muysdian, how nice to have a cleric of that god in my house." The lady started down the staircase as she continued to speak. "I do think to attend some church on Churday, but of course my house is so far away from any decent dwelling of any of the numerous gods."
Rain was about to make a comment, but his words froze in his mouth as the mouth of the lady suddenly shot wide revealing her extended canine teeth. Jackal had formed a cross using his rapier and a dagger. The elf cleric really did not appreciate his friend using the symbology of another deity from another world, but was also amazed that such a simple placement of weapons would gain such a reaction.
Jackal pressed his advantage by saying, "You're an orange shirt too."
The female vampire composed her features as she responded, "Yes. I was the one who first discovered that this world had vampires. My powers are amazing, but Frank wanted more. I traveled with him on the search for other types of undead. Considering the type of quest that we were on, none questioned us traveling at night."
Dethii felt a need to ask, "If he had you, why did he want me?"
"Darling, all men want more. Of course, neither of us feel bound by the rules you mortals follow. I have certainly had my dalliances."
That comment caused the vampire to lose any value to the group. Her initial appearance had given the adventurers a need to determine her status. Once she had been revealed as another of the undead inhabitants of the mansion there was the fact that she could be a source of information. The statement however that she respected no laws caused the travelers to consider her only as a creature of corruption.
The battle did not last long. Upon realizing that the weapons carried by the group could indeed harm her, the female vampire dissolved into vapor. The group knew that their opponent was not seriously harmed, but also that they had no method to presently cause her further harm. Tactics were discussed, and an agreement to search for the officer was quickly determined.
Not only Jackal's head turned when Fenshallit told the group to wait. The adventurers moved back to follow the path of the white haired lady. The muscular bard smiled as he watched his wife wave her rapier in the direction of the butler and demand his keys. Exactly what was the history and status of the elder gentleman was not determined in the confrontation, because he simply removed a ring of keys from a pocket and tossed them to the rapier wielding lady. Jackal and Fenshallit shared a quick kiss upon her return, then the group again moved to go up the stairs.
The problem that bothered the adventurers as they went from room to room was where were the original owners of the mansion. They had been told that the rift was not a new geological feature. It was also said that Lord Yestinin was the recognized owner of the property. However, none could remember being told how long he had the property or how the land was acquired. The adventurers did understand that they probably could go back downstairs and quiz the butler, but somehow they considered their search of the rooms more important. The question of the previous owners kept returning however as room after room showed the dusty mementoes of people who were not present.
There were no portraits upon the walls. Some small paintings of people were set upon chest of drawers, or on shelves in armoires, but there were no names identifying the faces. Those who had possibly once lived in the mansion now only had their features treated as ornaments. The walls in all rooms and hallways had been stripped of any renderings of people. Those who once felt themselves of importance in the house had been discarded. The adventurers were forced to continually view artistic impressions of alien landscapes showing vehicles, machines, and strange social gatherings. There was more evidence of life a universe away than of any habitation within the mansion.
The rooms themselves were in various degrees of order. Most showed signs of some attention within the last year, but very few showed recent activity. There was no thick layer of dust in any room, except under the beds and desks showing that what had been done to make the room look nice was only for show and not a true cleaning. Some rooms were stripped bare. The feeling that the adventurers had was that the articles had been removed to prevent any discovery of evidence that a struggle took place.
As the group moved down a long hallway towards a set of double doors, they heard the voice of their invisible host say, "I believe that you have exceeded your welcome."
The next sounds were of a spell being cast that Dethii recognized as being a lightning bolt.
Note that Lord Yestinin's invisibility is from him discovering an Oriental Vampire of the 1ed variety (Frank Yestinin and Gary Gygax read some of the same books), and becoming transformed himself. I do have the 3ed Oriental Adventures, and did look for the 3ed ruling on vampires from that part of the world (which, by the way, is not a particular place, culture, or history in my world) but found nothing. I have also seen no 3ed mention of naturally invisible vampires. Whether or not they were present in 2ed I do not know. And, yes, I know that the 1ed Oriental Vampire did not have charm (dominate in 3ed), but major vampires just do not seem proper without it.
Also, the spell that Lord Yestinin gave to Dethii was the 1ed variety of Invisibility (if you remember back to Story #5, she did not have Invisibility) which allows her to stay invisible indefinitely until she finally makes an aggressive action (as stated, Yestinin likes his ladies to be passive). Yep, if you play in my campaign, you will constantly face 1ed stuff that I have either converted or attempt to play as it 'was intended to be played.' It keeps everyone on their toes.
Posted by TerishD on Sunday, August 24, 2003 (05:35:30) (649 reads)
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