Blood and Madness: A Vampire Quest

Calling in Favors:

Register them into the school: You are going to get those children to school. Because at this moment in time, you need time and rest. And during the daytime, as long as there is… sunlight, they will be perfectly safe.
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The Superintendent and principal of the school was at his home, and as you stood on the sidewalk, you could sense his reluctance to face you. You weren't going to bother to learn his name, that was beneath you. You didn't trust him, and he knew it. His terror was palpable, a sharp undercurrent in the evening air, fueled by the memory of your last encounter and his desperate attempts to protect his students.

You relished in the illusion he held—that he had any power over you after the deal he made. The fear radiating from his home was almost intoxicating, a sweet reminder of the control you wielded. He could feel you coming towards him, dreading this very moment. But that was beside the point. Tonight, you were here for a purpose, coming in like the devil or death itself, ready to collect on the agreement made.

With deliberate steps, you approached his door, the faint sound of your footsteps echoing in the quiet night. The house seemed to shrink in your presence, the walls closing in on the man inside who was likely watching with bated breath. You could imagine him, heart pounding, thoughts racing as he tried to muster the courage to face you.

You knocked a sound that seemed to reverberate through the stillness, a harbinger of the confrontation to come. The door creaked open slowly, revealing the Superintendent, his face pale and eyes wide with fear. He swallowed hard, trying to maintain a semblance of composure, but it was clear he was struggling.

And you smiled. "May I come in?"

He gulped. "Mister Norton, I was not expecting—"

"May I come in?" This time, your words carried the weight of unspeakable horrors, a command from a monster with no regard for human life.

"Yes," he whispered.

You smiled and walked in, removing your gloves and taking a deep breath. "Good evening."

"I—"

"No one ever expects me. If they did, they would have earned my ire," you replied smoothly. "May we go to your sitting room?"

"Uh, yes," he replied, leading you to his living room. The television was on, showing some sort of sports game, but you paid it no mind.

You both sat down, and he nervously asked, "What is this about?"

"Two children just came into my life, children of old friends who are now, I fear, long dead," you said. You saw the fear and color drain from his face as he began to understand the gravity of the situation. "My kindred murdered their parents, and they have come to me for safety."

He understood. "And they are?"

"Under my protection," you said firmly. "As their guardian." You noticed his eyes flicker to your long teeth. "Ah, no, they are not vampires. Nor will they be causing any trouble—at least any trouble I don't sanction."

"What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice shaky.

"They are both school-aged. One is a teenager, and the other is a young child. I need to register them in the school, but their records and transcripts were not among the papers and supplies their parents left them."

The principal gulped. "I'm sure I can make contact with other departments to—"

You smiled, a predatory gleam in your eyes. "Can you get them registered without drawing any unnecessary attention to their presence? It would be quite unfortunate if an army of my kindred were…" You paused, smiling wider. "Given an opportunity to cut loose. We wouldn't want that to happen now, would we?"

"I'm very certain we do not," he replied, his voice trembling. He twitched nervously, realizing the full implications of your request.

"Good," you said, leaning back in your chair. "Ensure that their enrollment is seamless and discrete. I trust you understand the importance of this matter?"

He nodded vigorously. "I'll handle it personally. They'll be enrolled without any issues or unnecessary attention."

You stood up, putting your gloves back on. "I appreciate your cooperation. Remember, their safety depends on your discretion."

As you walked towards the door, you turned back one last time. "Good night, Principal. I'll be in touch."

With that, you left his house, leaving him in the oppressive silence of his living room, the weight of your visit settling heavily upon him. The desert air was cool and crisp as you walked away, satisfied that the arrangements for the children would be handled appropriately. The dawn was still a few hours away, and there were other matters to attend to before the sun rose.

What do you do next:

[]The Conclave: You are going to play the nuclear option. Call a Conclave. Get everyone to a location far away, and make your plans clear. If you had to kill a few… so be it.

[]Make an Entrance: Those blasted Sea People have had it too good for too long. Make a small trip to LA and remind them that you are still mad about the Bronze Age Collapse.

[]Go Home: You can't do any more flights of fancy… not until they are ready. So get them ready for the life they must now live.

[]Stalking the Stalker: Seems that a young Vampire was watching you… you are going to find out just what he is doing… and why.

AN: Enjoy.

Afraid:
Stalking the Stalker: Seems that a young Vampire was watching you… you are going to find out just what he is doing… and why.
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You took a breath and felt the disturbance rippling through your town. Despite your reluctance, you couldn't ignore it. This young one clearly didn't understand the territory or who governed it.

A wave of annoyance washed over you. This was the second time in as many nights that you had to deal with a nosy idiot disrupting your retirement. The first intrusion, you could forgive. You had been feeling unusually generous, and the arrival of old friends' children seeking refuge had added a layer of intrigue to your otherwise predictable existence. It was a welcome distraction, a chance to reconnect with a past that was now a distant memory.

But now, the situation was becoming tiresome. Your patience was wearing thin, and the persistent disruptions were no longer intriguing—they were infuriating. You had no desire to continue dealing with these interruptions. The peace and quiet you had worked so hard to secure for yourself were being chipped away by these unwelcome intrusions.

With a sigh, you prepared yourself to confront this latest disturbance. It was clear that if you wanted to maintain your tranquility, you would have to remind this newcomer of the rules and the consequences of breaking them. You were a creature of power and age, and your territory was not to be trifled with.

But this one was weak, dare you say, mortal even. You took a moment to examine the child more closely, and then you noticed it—he was a Daywalker, a Dhampir.

You could tell by his smell, an almost intoxicating blend of mortal and vampiric power. It was a scent that carried through the desert air like a heady perfume, an aroma potent enough to be nearly overwhelming.

You stepped forward, your presence materializing before him like a shadow-made flesh. He looked up at you, eyes wide with terror, and dropped the binoculars he had been using. His fear was palpable, his body trembling as he realized the gravity of his situation.

The boy had the telltale sign of his… race. His hair, dyed black, was as white as the driven snow, as you imagined it away, to reveal the illusion that he was under. His teeth were sharper, but not as sharp as his vampiric parent.

Before you could say anything, he roared, a war cry that was both unfounded and worryingly practiced. With a swift movement, he drew a silver blade and lunged at you, shouting, "Leave me alone!"

His attempt was brave but futile. You effortlessly sidestepped his attack, the silver blade slicing through the air where you had been standing just moments before. Then you took the arm and lightly tapped the blade, feeling the burn as you knocked it out of his hand.

You then held his arm behind his back, and let out a sigh. "Many have said that young one. Many lived because they choose to leave me alone. But you did not, you have trampled on ground that is not your own."

You then let go and used your shadow to grab the knife and examine it. A new blade reforged with a Steel… hm, a Ka-bar knife with only the edge silver, something that would not even hurt a vampire…

No, it wouldn't even hurt.

He was the distraction. The bait meant to lure you out so that-

The children!

What do you do with this Dhampier?:

[]Imprison him: You may have use for him. And try as you might, you are trying to avoid killing children… it just wasn't as fun as it used to be.

[]Kill Him: You are taking no chances with this boy. You need his blood to start… well, getting prepared for violence.

[]Interrogate Him: You have a sinking suspicion about who it might be… but you will be sure. If it is the blasted Sea People, you will never be able to live it down. Or it could be about the children?

[]Let him Leave: You will let him walk away. Maybe he will tell those who are distracting you about… leaving you alone.

AN: Enjoy.