Markov Manor, a hilltop estate overlooking the Kruin Pass. It had a view of Thraben and was within a night's walk of the Voldaren
Estate. Standing on the barren floor at the foot of his towering home, Elwin felt a swell of apprehension. He had never liked the
place, always filled with a sense of ostracism despite being surrounded by his closest relatives. In his young life, the people he
was most familiar with dwelled in that brooding abode, yet he felt no sense of longing, just something eerily close to
discontentment. He shook his head at the thought, dismissing anything other than undying fealty. The Vampire had yet to visit
the main manor once, not since before he was the wide-eyed apprentice of one of the army's blacksmiths. Being nurtured by
a crowd of callous, yet pristine, vampiric knights had taught Elwin the beginnings of what he'd now execute firsthand on the
battlefield.
The deep glade they were stationed in was coated in hues of murky greens, purples and occasional hints of a brassy orange, a
palette Elwin was all too familiar with. When he was a child he would scale the sharp and jagged rock face as though it were
his backyard, escaping the confines of his high-strung family and their all-consuming walls. It wasn't until he had an accidental
encounter with a beast that dwelled within that he was found out, forbidden from returning and not long after, cast away from
the main family. Uncanny black hair ever a burden on his shoulders. What he couldn't understand for the longest time was the
severity of the situation he was caught in, simply enamored with the little discoveries such as faintly glowing rocks or
fumigating fungi. Long since having forgotten his love for adventure.
In spite of his skepticism, he was well aware that the results of the upcoming battle were to be reported back to none other
than his father, if he could even call the man that. Schooling his expression for concern of the recruits scuttling around him,
he focused that energy on the task at hand; guarding the Kruin Pass for crucial supplies to reach the people of Gavony. Gavony
was a collection of human settlements founded on the rocky moors surrounding Thraben. The Lunarch Mikaeus stressed the
importance of this mission as the smaller human towns were constantly under the barrage of night creatures consumed by
Emrakul's madness, not to mention the threat of the deranged Falkenrath. Many of his family had quietly lamented the loss
of another vampire race, beings such as himself succumbing to the pressure of Emrakul's wrath much sooner than others. As
the seat of the Avacynian Church, built as a city of walls and various bulwarks designed to keep supernatural threats at bay,
Thraben was one of the safest places for their people while smaller settlements were constantly under siege by monsters,
yet little was done to quell the death and panic.
Trapped in thoughts of what his backward family were gaining from this stunt, Elwin found himself unconsciously pacing around
each corner of their encampment, ever the guard dog Tartarus liked to joke he was. Soon fed up with his own antics, he traced
his steps back to the most central tent where he knew Tartarus lay skulking around, likely bored out of her mind but hopefully
dozing off. Lucky enough to catch her sleeping curled behind his room, the vampire thanked the darkness of the night sky that
he wouldn't be caught in any mental sparring, at least not until his friend undoubtedly rose. While they shared a bond not far
from a strange love, he did get tired of the constant yapping in his mind, recently growing more and more concerned by his
own responses as they grew further and further from his character. He found himself quipping back where he used to remain
silent, returning Tartarus' energy in full and betraying his own nature in lower moments that he refused to acknowledge. Well
aware of the tampering done to his own draconic partner, he hoped that this was a common side affect among riders, even
going as far as probing answers from the others that he'd met. Yet to receive any satisfactory responses, Elwin grieved his
seemingly bleak future with her. Having little to no control over their bond, and at times his own mind, he feared for the
worst when the familiar sense of skepticism breached his otherwise unfaltering heart.
Contrary to popular belief, vampires did in fact get tired, and that was exactly the mindset he was in when he came face to
face with an unfamiliar humanoid. His face not once betraying the inner recoil he experienced in that moment, intrigued,
annoyed or confused, he couldn't decide so he simply crossed his arms and straightened his back. Hopefully conveying how
unimpressed he was by the sudden confrontation. Stood in front of himself was a hooded figure he would barely have been
able to make out if not for his impressive night vision, noting the strangers hair colour before having his attention brought
to the golden clump in their hand. Suddenly he wished that he could sleep so as to have an excuse instead of having to deal
with the new arrival. Amongst the thickening smog and shadow she blended quite nicely, obviously a more covert operative
and a good one at that, slinking past the few defenses Elwin and his soldiers had put up.
"Tell her she smells nice," choking
silently before he could even get a word out, scrunching his brows in disapproval at the very eloquent approach Tartarus
suggested. Ignoring his companion for his own sanity, pausing briefly, not quite sure what he'll accidentally let slip between
different potential conversation starters. Understanding that he'd been staunching stock still from the moment he left his
tent, he figured he should speak up sometime soon.
"I can't believe they were serious when they said that they were
sending the new dragon rider," muttering in hushed disbelief.
"Welcome Rune Tzorfeld. I am Elwin Markov, the leader of
this operation." He spoke evenly with an accented curl to his words, having no interest whatsoever in entertaining
what he had already deemed an outlier in his masterfully curated battle plans.
Curious but too proud to ask how exactly she had arrived unnoticed, believing he was merely too distracted to detect her. He
did feel the need to ask about her dragon, however, noting that unlike the few other dragon riders he had met, he didn't sense
a familiar presence close behind. She was also the first one he'd seen to carry around that ornate hunk of scrap metal, the
others being discernable by aura alone. Pausing to peer around her figure as though he'd missed something obvious, he still
saw nothing of a divine beast nearby.
"Surely you weren't foolish enough to leave your companion behind?" He couldn't help
but grate scornfully, making it clear that he was ridiculing her as though she wasn't going to be of much help alone. The haughty
man sized her up from head to toe, sure to take his time in judging her stature. From the moment they first made contact, he'd
figured that she had somewhat of a problem with him, unease briefly crossing her stance but he paid it no mind, fairly intimate
with such a reaction due to his vampire status. Wondering what exactly caused the tough posturing despite this being their
first interaction. Unconcerned with her discomfort, he was a little taken back by the charisma she quickly exuded, quietly
miffed by her lack of fear in his presence. At her confidence, he further deemed her a hinderance that future Elwin would
have to deal with, finding his current self somewhat on edge of ire.
Resigning to a more polite tone purely for the fact that she was now a teammate of his, he dropped his shoulders slightly and
cleared his throat of any remaining malice. At least... that's what he'd hoped to have achieved.
"If you require sleep, I'm sure
one of the knights wouldn't mind showing you the way to a vacant tent," he grumbled as kindly as he possibly could.
"If not,
kindly mind your own business and don't bother me." Desiring nothing more than to return to his thoughts,he prayed internally
that she wasn't bold enough to require a briefing now, both parties possessing the knowledge that he would be awake regardless
and have no choice but to fill her in on tomorrow's plans.
(pls excuse my lack of proof reading cx)
falkenrath |
stensia/kruin pass |
gavony |
thraben
