Location: Human Village [@Psyker Landshark][@Asuras][@VitaVitaAR] [hr] “I…wouldn’t recommend it.” The man replied dourly. “Julene might carry around that blade but she’s still no match for the beastmen…” he frowned, shaking his head. “Alright, follow me.” He’d glance a little worriedly towards Giselle but wouldn’t press the issue as he’d lead Dragan, Luna, and Aleksiya back towards his home. Perhaps, thankfully to the vampire's sensibilities it was one of the well kept war era buildings that had maintained a good bit of its structure, even with the rough repairs made to it. A number of other people had also decided to use it as a shelter but upon entering he’d immediately move to barricade the door and any remaining windows that hadn’t been yet. A number of other people would help, pushing heavy metal boxes into place near the doors and tying them securely to the wall near the door. While the windows were covered with metal grates. A number of other residents seemed startled at the sight of the three newcomers, but their pale faces didn’t linger on them. They seemed human enough, so they had other worries to think about right now. “Alright…” The man sighed, turning to the newcomers. “Guess I should introduce myself properly, eh? [url=https://i.imgur.com/9xoBJ8W.jpg]Giles Fillaine[/url] At your service.” A man with short blond hair, a somewhat dirty vest but clearly he at least tried to make himself look presentable. “I suppose you could call me a bit of the leader here.” He’d turn to one of the people, ask briefly about how much food they had in the cellar before turning towards the Vampires. “Normally the beastmen will go away after awhile if they can’t find any food.” Location: Forest of Beasts [@Click This] [hr] The Gorebat chittered, still lightly pulling on Giselle’s head like it was pulling on a horse's bridle. She’d pass by a few ruined houses with people clamoring inside at the sounds of the bells, shutting the entrances tightly behind them and what could only be described as the sound of people frantically trying to cover and bar the doors. As she’d come to the treeline, curiously she’d notice the last ‘row’ of houses or so were completely unoccupied, but she could smell what was clearly something burned coming from within. In fact, a number of the unoccupied houses seemed charred and like they had gone through a terrible fire. A number of barrels were seemingly strategically placed near the doorways or in exposed areas in the houses. More interestingly though, was the beastmen in question. Unlike the sickly creatures of Alavaris, these weren’t little more than shambling corpses. In the darkness she could see them approaching the village, some moving at a more relaxed, languid pace. Others, seemingly eager to have potential prey. Their appearance would immediately stand out to Giselle. They, for the most part looked some manner of human. Some had grown horns, elongated hands and claws. Some had grown leathery, wing like flaps on their arms and leathery skin. Some were crawling around on all fours, mouths contorted into a muzzle with antlers growing from atop their heads - were these the same creatures that had been slain near the pillar? Regardless, from what Giselle could tell there were at least a pack of twenty of these creatures…and it was increasingly clear, these weren’t simple, mindless beastmen. Well, they were, but Giselle would know almost immediately from both their sight, and her experience with her vampiric brethren. These beasts were the result of vampiric magic twisting humans into beasts and beasts into more human like forms. A bit like when a vampire skilled in summoning took aspects of various animals in order to fight…which meant, there was a good chance something vampire related laid in the forest. The creatures hadn’t seen her yet, so she could retreat or get the drop on the animals. Location: Human Village, River [@Pyromania99] [hr] Before Akyasha could even approach, the woman had already unsheathed her blade and had [i]almost[/i] taken off the vampires head in a swift, deadly strike. “...Woman. I don’t know you. You’re not from the village.” The woman didn’t lower her blade as Akyasha explained both herself and the undead that were crawling out of the river. “You don’t think I don’t know about them? Why do you think I’m standing here? Because I like long walks by a corpse covered river?” She’d grumble, the rock Akyasha picked up sailing through the air, hitting one of the waterlogged undead square in the head, knocking it clean off. “Damn it they’re-” It was about this time the villages bells were rung. Several melodic, but quick rings. Only a few. Enough to alert the people in the village and hopefully no one else. “The beastmen too!? Guh, well fine. Woman, I don’t know who you are but you best leave! I’ll deal with you after!” She’d pull a mechanical contraption from her dress. A crossbow! With some sort of…sphere tied to the end of the bolt. She’d pull the trigger, the bolt, sailing through the air and slamming into one of the undead…and immediately exploding in what Akyasha could only figure was some sort of holy, explosive fury that put her on edge. Whatever caused that to explode would be dangerous for even the vampires. “Don’t just stand there redhead, move outta the way!” She’d load another bolt into the weapon. “Or if you want to make yourself useful, there’s barrels filled with oil placed near the treeline in the abandoned houses! The beastmen loathe fire! I can handle these shambling corpses!” Location: Pirates End [@crimson Paladin] [hr] “Truthfully, we do not know.” The maid replied as Argus downed the blood. It tasted…odd. It was filling and certainly would return strength to him, but normally human blood would taste slightly sweet and a bit warm to a vampire and somewhat pungent. This maids though…cold, and slightly tangy. “But we do not care to find out, thus discretion is desired in this matter. It would not do to come into conflict with the Vampires, especially if one thinks this blade could be used to harm Ichor, for that is not our intent with it.” The Maid gripped seemingly thin air, a spear of excellent quality popping into existence with a twirl. After giving it an experimental swing, she turned her head back towards Argus. “For the duration of our relationship,” She’d say, nodding. “Cynthia. That is my name. Now, let us get to business Captain Fellborn.” The path out of the creaking ship was simple enough. A small ledge that had gone mostly unnoticed on the right side of the ship. Cynthia led Argus down the winding, twisting, rocky path, the baleful wind and seawater battering the shore. It was a wonder with such a furious ocean roiling beneath them the graveyard of ships below had yet to sink. Yet, when they reached the bottom of the cliff Cynthia walked onto the rotten, waterlogged pieces of wood without a care. “We’ll have to traverse this graveyard,” Cynthia began. “Not for long, mind you, and don’t wander off. The things that live further out into the ocean are beyond our current capabilities.” It was the tail end of her words, Argus could feel it. There was something here familiar to him, but he couldn’t quite place it. Out there, far in the ocean. Something would be calling to him. “And captain? Stay Alert. Your old crew has taken care of itself while you’ve slept. It seems they’ve come to greet us.” Climbing out of the sea, onto the rotten planks of wood were skeletal remains, infested with seaweeds, debris and refuse from the wrecks around them, brandishing worn swords, axes, and even a few useless waterlogged pistols. Cynthia was quick into combat, running towards the first of the skeletal creatures.