I'm going to use Micelus' suggestion, and mix it up a bit with some of my own ideas
That little piece of history you just heard from Ben is quite enlightening. You don't have any use for it though.
Despite your success at getting in Lord Jameson's good graces, you have a long way to go. You could use some sort support from another man of power. Who better than Lord Reginald?
From what Francis told you, Lord Reginald wasn't an actual lord. He was a knight, who served bravely and wisely in the War of the Eagle. He amassed quite a following, mostly knights and veteran warriors who applauded and efforts and success. During the peak of the war, he organized his fellow knights and soldiers and made his own army, which acted as reinforcements to the Imperial Army during the final ( and momentous ) battle of the war. When the nobles and lords asked him to step down, he refused.
Normally this would have been considered treason, but Emperor Frederick pardoned him due to Reginald's undisputed success and help during the war, not to mention the fact that Lord Reginald was a close friend of the emperor. Now, the man contests Jameson's power, and despite having no support whatsoever from the nobles, his army and wisdom have been enough ( so far ) to stabilize his power.
For the umpteenth time, you exit your castle and head North, to Varhold castle, more of a military fortress than a lord's home. It is swarming with soldiers, but you are allowed inside as a petitioner. Within the great ( but generic ) hall, you see various peasants and other petitioners begging for Lord Reginald to help with their various problems. Once again, you patiently wait your turn.
The moment you step in front of him, you sense that Lord Reginald knows what you are. Just before he alerts his guards and knights, you stare into his eyes, enslaving his mind. He fights it, harder than Lord Jameson did, but he eventually succumbs to your will.
"My lord, may we speak in private?"
"Very well." he says, much to the objection of his knights.
"My lord" one says, "do not go with this man without any guards."
"N-no. I will go alone." Lord Reginald says, desperately trying to break your hold on him.
You head into a dimly lit hallway, where no one can hear you.
"Lord Reginald, you know what I am? Nod if yes."
He nods, slowly but surely.
"I see...if you try to run or alert your knights, I will kill each and every one of them, is that what you want?"
He shakes his head, with anger this time.
"Good. I will let you speak. A single move from me will kill you, so behave."
You let go of his mind.
"Vampire, how dare you barge into my castle and do that!"
"A little more quietly please. I merely sought your audience, but you were about to compromise my identity and nature, which I could not allow. How did you know I was a vampire?"
"I encountered one of you during the Eagle War. Picked off my men, one by one, until I tricked the bugger into drinking blood from a corpse. Almost died, my men finished him off." he says, brusquely.
"Interesting. Now, may I speak freely?"
"Fine."
"I would like to gain your favor-".
"Why, in the name of all that is good, should I do that?".
"Come now, you are an experienced general, you should know an asset when you see one. I am much stronger and faster than any normal man, more physically powerful than even your best knight. I must have some use?"
"...Alright. If you can prove your loyalty and worth, I'll be more inclined to help. But if you so much as scratch any of my men, I'll set them loose on you. Not even you can fight off two-thousand men."
"I am glad to see you are so open minded. Now before I act as your little vampire soldier, what is your opinion of Lord Jameson?"
"That womanizing bugger? I hate him even more than you. A decent lord, he plays his game well enough, but he doesn't care about his subjects or his men. He is lustful, lazy, and cruel when he takes moondust. An absolutely abhorrent ruler."
"And you think that you're better?"
"Better? No. But I do my duty, unlike him. I don't bother with women or dreadful powders, I'm too busy for that. I'm no lord, despite what people call me, I'm a general, like you said. Politics is nothing to me. I may not have a silver tongue, but I've got an iron fist."
"I see."
Polar opposites, occupying the same province. Whose side should you take?
Some introduction, exposition, etc. What now?
Poll
7 (58.3%)
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Topic: You Are a Vampire (Read 35824 times)