[center][h1][b][color=af002a]Theodore Valentin[/color][/b][/h1]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/d2x4Jzk.png[/img]

In cooperation with [@ERode]

[b]//A3 - The Abyss, 1st Layer[/b][/center][hr][hr]
His offhanded offer about being able to drink blood was met with more interest that the dhampir had expected. He was asked if he was for real, and if it meant he’d be turning whoever was interested into [i]vampires[/i]. [color=af002a]“No, no turning required. You’ll be able to stay human, don’t worry.”[/color] That led to more questions; if what he was claiming was true, how could it be. [color=af002a]“Well…it’s a special ability of mine. You see Ezra, right? He’s weird for a human, but he can drink monster blood fine because he follows me.”[/color] Ezra did not enjoy it, but he demonstrated being able to do so with a recently dead wolf. There was some suspicion, some interest, some wariness because the workers didn’t know what to make of it.

[color=af002a]“Think on it,”[/color] Theo shrugged. [color=af002a]“It does mean you’ll have to accept me as leader if you’d like to be a blood-drinker, though.”[/color]

The mining trip continued. Theodore didn’t think much on the attack once it was over. However, the reality of it was that more and more monsters came. Goblin raiders slipped through, injuring or killing the workers while he tried to mitigate as best as he could.
They were always going for him.

It must be because of his Divinity that they were drawn to him, that they wanted to eliminate him. 

The realization was unsurprising, if annoying. Theo headed outside. [color=af002a]“HEY! These bastards are going after me. Watch!”[/color] He ran around some, acting as bait, throwing rocks at any monsters which got too close. After some observation, the adventurers were convinced that he was in fact a very appealing monster-bait, even if they didn’t know why. [color=af002a]“C’mon, work with me here. I can’t do shit against the bastards without any equipment.”[/color]

He was given a shield, and a shoddy ill-fitting helmet. Theodore resented he would have to take the role of bait, but given that monsters were naturally drawn to him, he would simply have to accept this. At least for now.

After another incursion of monsters was dealt with, Theodore spent some time with the adventurers. The boss asked him what the deal was, that monsters went strictly for him.

[color=af002a]“To be honest…I have a piece of Divinity in me. Believe it, or not, there’s something that makes me special. Anyone who follows me can drink blood safely – even monster blood. Looks like monsters have a thing against me, too.”[/color] The boss-adventurer was clearly calculating something. [color=af002a]“Interested in working with me?”[/color] Theo went on to ask. However, the lead supervisor said they could talk more up above. [color=af002a]“Sure,”[/color] the dhampir agreed with a shrug.

The rest of the mining trip was the same; he remained outside as a monster attractant, his followers and the remaining workers were inside, mining. Theodore had been able to procure two goblin spears; he kept ahold of one, and gave one to Maris. It helped with defending against the goblins; even crap weapons were better than [i]nothing[/i].

At the end of the trip, more than half of the workers of the initial group were dead. Theo and his followers looted some of the corpses; if they didn’t, someone else would. Most of the survivors were disillusioned, and he got a ‘oh, so you’re the same as the rest of ‘em’ kinda treatment from a few. Greg gave him a nod of understanding, though. Theodore wasn’t strictly a fan of looting corpses, now, but it was what it was.

The adventurers were over all excited about this trip; the venture was much more profitable than usual because of the monster drops they got. But Theodore and his followers weren’t unscathed; they were bloodied enough that they could not simply ignore their injuries. They would need to get some medical supplies, and have their wounds tended to. They were tired too, but being able to drink monster blood made them better off than the other workers, who were thoroughly exhausted.

The trip was finally over, though, and they were all starting to make preparations to leave. Theodore looked up at the skies. Would he make it in time for sunset to meet up with his other followers? There was also still the deal of discussing a potential partnership with the adventurers, maybe with the surviving workers too.

[color=af002a]“I’d like to pick up my other three followers at sunset by the tower, but would you like to meet up somewhere today to talk?”[/color] he asked the leader. [color=af002a]“If any of the workers are interested, I’d take them on too.”[/color]