Topic: The Beast Unbound - Kiril (Read 67063 times)

Drakilian · « **on:** May 02, 2015, 01:39:26 pm »

1199, March 13th, 10:43 PM
Sofia,
Domain of Kiril, the anointed

It has been nearly two months since Husayn's death and Kiril's coronation at Sofia.

Basilio, having thought Husayn had lived (only to receive news of his death from Kiril) had grieved for three days before summoning his grandsire Boukephos. The ancient's arrival evoked something strange in Kiril, he cannot quite remember what it was. In fact, he cannot quite remember anything about Boukephos. All he can remember is the fear on the faces of the city's gathered kindred as some godlike avatar of the Abyss anointed him lord protector of Sofia. Even the elders of generations knew to fear the horror that briefly dwelt within Kiril's domain.

Soon Boukephos departed, sinking into the shadows with Anton, Basilio (and his retinue), and Desiderio. Basilio left Kiril with one last warm greeting and words of encouragement before his departure, along with access to a small portion of his treasury to ease things along in dealing with Kiril's expenses.

The city's kindred have long since accepted him, however begrudgingly, as prince. The Tzimisce of the neighbouring lands seem to have been cowed, for now, and so Kiril's seat at Sofia has been assured.

Or so he thought.

Recently, Kiril has been hearing of a terrible monster laying waste to the villages within Sofia's domain. The creature fits the description of a tzimisce's pet, he is reminded of the reports they would get of wolves hindering the coterie's efforts at Tihuta Pass.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2015, 12:46:45 am »

Kiril wonders somewhat bitterly if Myca will be showing up to lend assistance once again.

Sending a monster to attack his villages seems strangely overt for the supposedly cowed Tzimisce. Perhaps the pet has escaped its master?

Whatever the cause, this cannot be allowed to continue. Kiril briefly considers sending others (preferably led by Carinus) to deal with it.

No. Sofia is his now. He will defend it himself.

Kiril, accompanied by Carinus & Sherazhina of course, travels to the site of an attack; perhaps his new powers of auspex will prove useful.

On the way, he has Carinus politely request that the local prince send along a squadron of guards as accompaniment.

Drakilian · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2015, 07:07:19 pm »

Kiril enters the city castle along with Carinus and Sherazhina. They get in without any trouble, the three being who they were, Kiril's presence likewise halting any motivations the guards might have had in making lewd remarks about the gorgeous revenant.

Kiril, not deigning to see the man himself, lets Carinus serve as his voice. The ghoul had quite the interest in the mortal nobles regardless. According to him they tasted better.

Carinus came back down soon with ten of the local city guards and their captain, who would be overseeing them throughout this venture. The guard captain was young and bore the overconfidence borne from a lack of experience in true horror. - Kiril remembers the previous guard captain, one of Basilio's personal ghouls, a grizzled Byzantine who served in the original wars to conquer Bulgaria in the early 10th century. This new one would be the man's favourite, elevated from the rank of the inner palace guards who personally protected the area that was Basilio's official haven. Only the best guards were stationed there, though none knew who or what they'd been guarding.

He reports to Kiril, knowing him only as a member of the Veranin noble family, quite an important one in Sofia. One of the most important now that the Cullar family had gone with Basilio when he left.

He probably sees this as an attempt by one of the noble families to gain some glory by vanquishing some monster out there. No doubt the guards consider this an assignment in which the soldiers do all the work and the nobleman gets all the credit. The usual fare, really.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2015, 07:30:47 pm »

Kiril idly examines the young captains aura.
(He's been making use of his newly acquired Auspex powers at every opportunity. More Information is always better.)

"What do they call you?" He asks the captain, not quite brusquely enough to be considered rude, just enough to establish the proper distance between a nobleman & a servant.

Drakilian · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2015, 07:40:08 pm »

"Captain Elias, sir."

The young man's reply is similarly short and curt, a soldier responding to his superior's question and little more. He seems sure enough of himself. Kiril might wonder if this would change.

The young man's aura is a light blue interlaced with strands of violet and light green.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2015, 07:48:14 pm »

Mostly calm, a bit of mistrust, a bit of. . . aggression? Kiril's getting better at telling what the various colors indicate, but he's far from perfect. For now.

Still, if that's what it is, nothing too surprising.

"Have you been informed as to the nature of our expedition?"

Drakilian · « **Reply #6 on:** August 02, 2015, 04:32:59 pm »

"Yes. We're to hunt down whatever rabid animal has currently been terrorizing the local townfolk into making up monster stories," he replies, with just the slightest hint of disdain in his voice.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2015, 04:48:43 pm »

"You think this task beneath you?" Kiril inquires.

Drakilian · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2015, 05:08:03 pm »

"I think the peasants exaggerated about the wild dog that ate one or two of their chickens."

Kiril, of course, knows to truth. Corpses have been found. Quite a few, and in quite unfortunate condition.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2015, 07:55:50 pm »

At the moment, Kiril thinks It's really not worth his time to try and convince the young captain he's mistaken as to the seriousness of this venture. When they get to the villages, he'll see for himself.

Drakilian · « **Reply #10 on:** August 03, 2015, 07:05:10 pm »

So the company departs, leaving Sofia within an hour and travelling much of the rest of the night on the way to the outlying village, whose name Kiril has not yet bothered to learn.

In a short interlude made to feed and water the horses, the guard captain asks Kiril why the hell they're making this trip at such an ungodly time of night anyway. Clearly, he has not been educated on the true nature of the party's leader.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #11 on:** August 04, 2015, 02:47:34 pm »

Kiril would sigh, if he still breathed. Ever since he entered Basilio's service, it's been increasingly difficult to determine the proper "Kiril" response to situations.

(How could Basilio abandon them like that? He could've at least given Kiril some concrete direction, some sense of what exactly he ought to be working towards.)

how should Kiril Veranin deal with the guard? Drag him into the Abyss and force him to speak to his master in future with more respect?

"That tone might be acceptable among soldiers; if you plan to continue in my company, you'll have to be a bit more civilized."

Drakilian · « **Reply #12 on:** August 04, 2015, 03:16:59 pm »

The guard doesn't reply. For a second Kiril thinks the man is insulting him - but he realizes he must be accustomed to more long-winded speeches (most likely ignored) about respect from the habitually blithering noblemen.

He's probably waiting for Kiril to finish.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #13 on:** August 04, 2015, 03:40:55 pm »

Kiril has no intention of belaboring the point. The guard can take a hint, or not.

"We're traveling at night because that's when I wish to travel."

Drakilian · « **Reply #14 on:** August 04, 2015, 07:23:07 pm »

The captain grunts, unsatisfied with Kiril's answer, but unwilling to push the matter any further.

Does Kiril have anything else to say, or do they push on?

Sethaniel · « **Reply #15 on:** August 04, 2015, 10:39:32 pm »

Kiril, after some consideration, invites the captain into his carriage.

Drakilian · « **Reply #16 on:** August 06, 2015, 10:34:48 pm »

The captain, riding a great brown armoured destrier, dismounts and climbs into Kiril's carefully isolated carriage. Kiril can almost feel his exasperation.

The captain takes a seat opposite to Kiril and waits for the nobleman to speak.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #17 on:** August 07, 2015, 04:33:32 pm »

Kiril's tone is pleasant, conversational.
"I could make some eloquent speech about destiny, but you seem like you'd just get bored.

So, do you want to live forever?"

Drakilian · « **Reply #18 on:** August 07, 2015, 05:14:22 pm »

Taking it as a hypothetical question (how else would he take it?), Captain Elias takes a second to think.

"It would depend very greatly on what I was doing, I suppose. And if I aged."

The question wasn't unusual, a lot of people wondered what would happen if they could live forever - as futile as the hope was.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #19 on:** August 07, 2015, 05:49:06 pm »

"Suppose you were doing much the same as you are now. And no, you wouldn't age."

Drakilian · « **Reply #20 on:** August 07, 2015, 05:51:08 pm »

The man shrugs.

"Wouldn't like it much then. Guarding gets boring after a few years. A few centuries would be terrible."

Of course, as a mortal guard, the majority of Captain Elias' duties involve dealing with vagrants and little better. No excitement at all there, really.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #21 on:** August 07, 2015, 06:34:23 pm »

"All right. What if it were a bit more interesting? Not just escorting nobles or shooing away beggars."

Drakilian · « **Reply #22 on:** August 08, 2015, 09:02:40 am »

"A life of persistent service would have to have quite a bit of interest popped in to make it worthwhile."

The Captain plays around with the pommel of his sword.

"Sorry if this is rude, but why are you asking me this? You can't be so starved for company or conversation, what with those two companions of yours."

Sethaniel · « **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2015, 09:47:51 am »

Kiril appreciates the captains slight nod to courtesy.

"You're the head of the Sofia city guard. Barring unforeseen circumstances, you seem likely to be so for the next few decades. Therefore, it behooves me to have you on my side."

Kiril leans forward.

"What would make eternity worthwhile for you, captain? What sort of activity would hold your interest?"

Drakilian · « **Reply #24 on:** August 08, 2015, 03:10:58 pm »

The captain seems more and more unsure of Kiril's intentions, a quick read through his aura confirms this.

"I don't know what makes eternity worthwhile sir, I've yet to live it. But there would have to be something special. Even unaging immortality can only offer so much, be it in the way of women or perfection of old skills."

Kiril supposes the guard captain holding back, either because it would be presumptuous or because he wants to figure out what he's playing at.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #25 on:** August 08, 2015, 03:22:23 pm »

(If only Kiril had bothered to learn Dominate instead of Auspex)

"Something special?"

Drakilian · « **Reply #26 on:** August 08, 2015, 03:37:38 pm »

"If I knew what it was it wouldn't be special, sir. Something to discover, maybe."

Sethaniel · « **Reply #27 on:** August 08, 2015, 03:54:46 pm »

"You've got an unexpectedly poetic soul, captain."

Kiril readies himself to react to an attack, or an escape attempt.

"What I'm offering is this:

You'll live forever, you'll have prodigious strength, the ability to command others to do your bidding.
And of course, the forces of darkness will be yours to command.

In return, you'll be my companion. Like the other two."

Drakilian · « **Reply #28 on:** August 08, 2015, 04:44:36 pm »

The captain laughs nervously. Kiril sees his aura flare green with mistrust.

He also sees the captain's hold on his pommel become something more than playful.

"What are you talking about, sir?"

Sethaniel · « **Reply #29 on:** August 08, 2015, 05:15:54 pm »

"You asked why we were traveling at night," says Kiril, using shadow play to bring the darkness in the carriage to wrap around himself.

"I'm making you a perfectly fair offer."

Drakilian · « **Reply #30 on:** August 11, 2015, 05:13:16 pm »

A less perceptive man might not have noticed the guard captain tensing through the chain armour he wore, or how his hands began to subtly reach for the hidden knife at his boot. The cramped quarters in the carriage actually made it quite accessible to the Captain right now.

"I am still rather unsure as to the terms of this offer."

Sethaniel · « **Reply #31 on:** August 11, 2015, 06:07:29 pm »

Kiril summons dark steel from the shadows, hopefully enough to restrain the captain.

Drakilian · « **Reply #32 on:** August 12, 2015, 05:25:05 pm »

4 tendrils sprout from the darkness to restrain the captain, one slithering around each of his major limbs and locking them into place.

"I think I'm beginning to see what the terms of the offer are," the captain says, with some remarkable, though dry, humour, given his situation.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #33 on:** August 12, 2015, 09:29:49 pm »

"You were going to stab me," Kiril points out quite reasonably. "It wouldn't have harmed me, of course, but it might have ruined my shirt.

Now, is working for me really that terrible of an option?"

Drakilian · « **Reply #34 on:** August 13, 2015, 07:11:15 pm »

"I don't know, why wouldn't I want to spend my nights being woken up and traveling with sorcerers to hunt down whatever demon is currently prowling the countryside for all of eternity?"

At least he's stopped thinking it's just a stray wolf.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #35 on:** August 13, 2015, 07:59:39 pm »

"You'd rather traipse around the countryside on the whims of bored nobles, leading a group of lackluster dimwits fit for little more than roughing up bums for the next forty years, till you finally die shitting yourself, having forgotten your own name?"

Kiril flexes the shadow tentacles.

"It's a shame, you were starting to show signs of being a potentially interesting companion.
It's not as though I can just let you leave the carriage. You understand."

Drakilian · « **Reply #36 on:** August 13, 2015, 08:23:57 pm »

"Now we both know you're not going to do that," The Captain says, calmly enough. His aura shows his fear, of course, but Kiril notes that it's well controlled. The Captain's predecessor must have been a horrific trainer, to make a mortal man so calm under such terrifying conditions.

"There are 9 men outside of this carriage loyal to me and to our city, even more unwilling to traffic with sorcerers than I am, who will notice me entering your carriage and never coming back. It wouldn't be the hardest thing to kill you and say your demon did it."

Kiril, of course, knows he can kill all 9 men without ever lifting a finger - not that they would even possess the knowledge necessary to kill him if they somehow managed to succeed. Surprising the man still thinks him so weak and mortal, to be slain easily even by human blades.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #37 on:** August 13, 2015, 09:13:46 pm »

"First off, I must commend you on how well you're handling this. You really would have been a fine addition.
Now, to correct a few misconceptions:
I'm a vampire, not a sorcerer;
I could slaughter each and every one of your men without leaving this carriage;
You could have ninety men out there, they wouldn't stand a chance against me.
I didn't bring you along because I need help catching a demon, you're just accessories for the nobleman costume;
And finally, what kind of savage do you take me for? I'm not going to kill you . I'm going to have my associate destroy your memory. "

Drakilian · « **Reply #38 on:** August 14, 2015, 04:31:55 pm »

The man pales somewhat.

"Vampires don't exi..." the phrase dies on his tongue as he realizes just how stupid it would be to deny it.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #39 on:** August 14, 2015, 07:38:45 pm »

Kiril raises his eyebrows skeptically.
"Really? Sorcerers you've got no problem with, but vampires are too much?"

He shows the captain his fangs, just for a moment, starts to put them away, then thinks better of it. Instead, (holding him firmly with dark steel, of course) he leans forward and adjusts the guard's jacket, exposing the man's neck. Then he feeds.

Drakilian · « **Reply #40 on:** August 15, 2015, 07:19:03 pm »

The man jerks back suddenly as Kiril's fangs sprout and he approaches but there is little he can do against the tendrils. Kiril's sinks his teeth into the man's neck and all resistance stops almost immediately. Kiril feels the smooth, vibrant taste of his blood along his tongue. His enhanced senses very much magnify the experience - he feels more alive than he as since...

No, better not to think about that. It has not spoken in a while, that which dwelt within his mind, save for the usual nightmares.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #41 on:** August 15, 2015, 10:30:08 pm »

It occurs to Kiril that he may as well just force the captain to drink his blood.
It's a sad day for civility, as brute force appears to have succeeded where conversation failed.

Drakilian · « **Reply #42 on:** August 16, 2015, 12:33:26 am »

Displeasure streaks through Kiril's mind. He gasps, and not from the pleasing taste of Captain Elias' blood.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #43 on:** August 16, 2015, 06:06:33 am »

I tried talking to him, it didn't work. You care so much about doing it nicely, you help.

Kiril doesn't expect anything to answer him, of course.

He finishes feeding, but doesn't release the captain just yet.

Drakilian · « **Reply #44 on:** August 16, 2015, 06:46:13 am »

Kiril's expectation's are shattered.

"Even the Blood has its limits."

Husayn's voice is low and warm, almost a whisper at Kiril's ear. It sends chills down his spine.

"A companion of centuries should choose to go into it. Be clearer. Stop treating him like a fool."

Kiril is struck by a sudden vision of himself waking up to the smell of smoke. A look on the face of a favored ghoul screams treachery, as he flees into the safety of the sun. Fire eats away at his skin as he realizes his clothes are aflame.

The message is rather clear. Hatred will brew for eternity. After a long enough time, it is better to have companions bound by loyalty than the blood bond.

Kiril will live forever, after all. He has plenty of time to have his back stabbed, or for his enemies to manipulate existing weaknesses.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #45 on:** August 17, 2015, 03:32:35 pm »

Kiril waits to see if the experience has made any noticeable change in the captains attitude.

Drakilian · « **Reply #46 on:** August 17, 2015, 03:34:35 pm »

Kiril's fangs still being in the Captain's neck, Kiril notes that the only change in his completely relaxed behavior is that he has grown pale from blood loss (and maybe he should stop drinking his blood? how much did he take anyway?)

Sethaniel · « **Reply #47 on:** August 17, 2015, 04:28:50 pm »

Damn. Kiril had kind of assumed that once Husayn started talking to him, he'd stopped feeding off the Captain.

He probably should stop. It's not that great compared to cainite blood, anyway.

Kiril does in fact stop draining the guards blood. It's going to be mildly disappointing if, after all this, he's accidentally killed the man. (Completely disregarding the fact that he was considering killing the man on purpose not so long ago.)

Drakilian · « **Reply #48 on:** August 22, 2015, 01:19:07 am »

The captain gasps as Kiril's fangs slide out of his neck and shudders when Kiril licks the wound, healing it instantly.

"What... What was that?"

Sweat beads on the captain's forehead and his breathing comes heavily. He's grown pale. It's very possible he isn't quite sure what is happening right now.

Sethaniel · « **Reply #49 on:** August 22, 2015, 01:35:21 am »

"Did you enjoy it?"

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Author Topic: The Beast Unbound - Kiril (Read 67063 times)