[sub]A collab feat. [@Meiyuki][/sub]

[h1][center][u]"Gross"[/u][/center][/h1]

Lorelai stepped into her tent, after the march. She had been covering a great number issues. She was met in her tent by a bubbling pile of meat. She stared at it for a moment. The pile squirted a small geyser of blood into the air, bathing the mound in a dark copper red reminiscent of an especially ugly volcanic island. 

[color=ed145b]"I got a present for ya."[/color] Alphonse said, suddenly visible to Lorelai's left. 

Lorelai frowned slightly at the pile of...person?  That Alphonse had evidently deigned to leave in her tent.   [color=00aeef]"More for Sousiel to clean I guess."[/color]  She turned to Alphonse.   [color=00aeef]"Next time flowers will suffice,  but in all seriousness what is that?"[/color]

Alphonse held up a common daisy from behind his back. [color=ed145b]"That, is the Hunter party's glorious leader. He's durable. I had to bathe him in oil and fire before we set out this morning, just in case. Steve says he's a vampire. Any of that tell you anything?"[/color]

Lorelai took the daisy and feigned swooning,  rolling her eyes heavily.  Turning back towards the pile of vampire she nodded.   [color=00aeef]"That explains a few things."[/color]  Stepping forward she removed her ritual dagger and began cutting listlessly at the mound of flesh.   [color=00aeef]"That,  my dear Alphonse,  is a Ruvin.  Their damnable regeneration is why we're here."[/color]

 [color=00aeef]"Did you notice none of the hunters routed last night?"[/color]  Lorelai punctuated her point with a vicious stab before she returned the dagger to its sheath.   [color=00aeef]"The captive we had at the castle hinted at their talent for magic,  I guess we can confirm that."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"I did, in fact, I didn't know vampires could put someone under their thrall like that. What's so special about these guys? I've never seen anything come back from charcoal before. Unless you count the fire elemental."[/color] Alphonse shrugged after his anecdote.

Lorelai favored Alphonse with a wry smile before continuing.   [color=00aeef]"They claim to be the predecessors to the Ruvina witch dynasty,  and to have a compliment of magical talents."[/color]  She explained as she dug through the notes in her scroll case.   [color=00aeef]"Their regeneration not only foils mundane destruction,  but also defeats all of the hexes available to me in the library as well as a few that demons treasure."[/color]

Lorelai removed a sketch of their seal - a black raven silhouetted against a full moon - and handed it to Alphonse.  [color=00aeef]"Vampire's are well known for their thralls,  but they didn't even seem aware of their forced allegiance.  I guess we know this one's talent don't we."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Sure glad it wasn't ice breath."[/color] Alphonse said wryly. "We should ask his friends what their special tricks are then, I suppose. You mentioned that their regeneration was the reason we were here? So there's a way to stop it. How'd you come by that intel if I may be so bold?"

[color=00aeef]"You'd be surprised to find how difficult it can be to interrogate someone who doesn't fear death."[/color]  Lorelai sighed.  [color=00aeef]"I'm putting some stock in the claim that these Ruvins are the same ones Vespa told me about.  Evidently the Ruvina scriptorium houses information on the old family,  but to be honest Al?"[/color]

Lorelai turned a frustrated gaze towards her companion.  [color=00aeef]"We're here because Medusa hasn't offered me the time to follow any other lead.  I'd sent off to a scholar of some note,  someone I'd worked with in the past.  I'm going to be unfortunately mirthful if the information we find here is mirrored - or even improved on - by his reply.[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Ok, so we're out here on a potentially pointless mission, fighting unexpected mega vampires. Important question: how close are these Ruvin vamps with the Ruvina? Was this guy on his way up to meet with the great, great, great grandkids and offer them a sacrifice of hunters? Or maybe they've experienced a schism? [/color]

[color=00aeef]"I've no idea,  although the idea of them working together had crossed my mind."[/color]  Lorelai rested her face in her hands.  [color=00aeef]"Although I would think a force this size may have served as a very nice offering.  I've got a couple of salt-the-earth style pacts up my sleeve if that fear materializes."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"I'll need you on your toes though."[/color]  Lorelai turned to Alphonse.  [color=00aeef]"If it is as I fear and these Ruvins are working with their successors then you'll have to be the one to slip in and steal what we need,  otherwise we'll have to siege one of the best defended keeps in this region."[/color]

Alphonse let out a long sigh. [color=ed145b]"I was really hoping for a happy family reunion between Vespa and her folks. I'm going to guess that her family doesn't have any softer constitution than she does though, so yeah, I'll be on my toes."[/color] Alphonse turned to the disgusting display he had left in her tent. The flesh had dug its way into the ground, as if planting roots. [color=ed145b]"So, no waking up mister disgusting meat pile then? Maybe we can find out if he's allied with the Ruvina at least?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"We might,  you have a way with people that I just don't."[/color]  Lorelai rested a pre-emptively consoling hand on Alphonse's shoulder.  [color=00aeef]"I'll leave that to you?  As you might imagine managing this little expedition has been a nightmare."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"As you say, my lady murder buddy." [/color]Alphonse smiled at her with the familiar term. His face turned somber almost immediately after. [color=ed145b]"I suppose I'll introduce him to darkness, my old friend."[/color]