[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 Mug At Dusk[/b][/center][hr][hr] As soon as the woman was out of sight, Theodore half-sat, half-collapsed right onto the floor. [color=af002a]“Ahhh, fuuck,”[/color] he groaned. He looked up, glaring into the sky as sweat droplets rolled down his neck, back all damp. He breathed in, almost snarling as he did so. He’d never thought himself [i]weak[/i]. He’d won against a fucking two century old vampire and all his minions, fuck’s sake. Granted, they’d been half asleep, but still… To be proven so undeniably wrong in the span of a handful of seconds. It [i]stung.[/i] It served to ignite his desire for power even more, and he swore to himself he’d not be beat next time. As the surge of adrenaline left, he became loose-limbed, feeling almost light headed. The blood loss probably didn’t help it. [color=af002a]“Damn, didn’t think I’d need to resort to this,”[/color] he muttered. He let his spear and shield clatter to the floor, shifted into a meditative posture, and concentrated. As his breathing and heartbeat slowed, he could almost feel the blood. He willed it to stop pouring out of his body. The wounds he incurred scabbed over, painfully quick. From the hiss Ezra and Maris produced, the same had happened to them. [color=af002a]“Aaalright,”[/color] Theodore sighed. He picked up his gear and stood up. [color=af002a]“You two, go with the boys, and handle the selling for me. Buy some good shit too, yea?”[/color] He patted each on the back. [color=af002a]“You know where to meet up.”[/color] With that, he followed Samuel, who took him to a dingy little bar. After the man ordered them drinks, he naturally wanted to know what exactly was on offer. [color=af002a]"Sure."[/color] The dhampir drank deeply from the offered drink. It wasn't the best, it wasn't the worst. It sure beat goblin blood, though. [color=af002a]"The deal's that, as far as I can tell, I've got a piece of the dead Thousand-Faced God in me. So, to an extent, I 'rule over' a piece of existence. That piece, predictably, is Blood,"[/color] Theodore flashed his fangs. [color=af002a]"I'm not that far off from your regular human or vampire right now, but...Monsters really want to kill me, looks like."[/color] He paused to sip at his drink some more. [color=af002a]"Whoever pledges to follow me gets to drink blood safely. As long as we can hunt blooded monsters in the Abyss, that will cut down on supply costs,"[/color] he summarized what Samuel might have noticed on their delve already. [color=af002a]"You've seen I can do some weird stuff here and there,"[/color] he traced one of his recently-healed wounds; when he'd performed a miracle after the fight, they'd scabbed right over. The same had happened to his two followers, and if any strangers nearby had had an injury, they'd have experienced this too. [color=af002a]"Now, there's a reason why that sword-lunatic wanted to cut me down too."[/color] He sighed, and drank another mouthful. [color=af002a]"When I and my followers spend time in the Abyss, we get this sort of...energy. The more of us there are, the longer we live through that hellhole, the more of it I get. Seems like I - and any other Divine, and maybe the monsters - are the only ones who can sense this. I'll need a bunch more of this power, then I'll be able to do more, become stronger. And whatever benefits me, benefits my followers, is the general gist of it."[/color] [b]"And those pledges...they basically about as much as any other religious nutjob in this age? Just gotta say it in order to be one?"[/b] [color=af002a]"Hmm..."[/color] Theodore took a moment to think about it. [color=af002a]"The other guys, they haven't really made official pledges per se."[/color] Maybe he should create one down the line though. [color=af002a]"So, it's partially based on intent, but the intent can be as vague as 'I'll see what this guy's about' on your side. I also have to recognize you as a follower, but as far as I'm concerned that's just a matter of following some simple rules."[/color] He gave Samuel a look. The guy struck him as pragmatic, so he figured he'd understand that much. [color=af002a]"One: follow me, not anyone else. If you ever feel like ditching I'd appreciate a heads up, too."[/color] Obviously, letting him know would be optional. With the existence of other Divine, it was more than possible for a follower to switch leaders. Something to keep in mind, for sure. [color=af002a]"Two: Don't ever even think about drinking any person's blood without my permission. I don't care if it's a vagrant nobody would miss, or someone you seduce, or someone you pay for it. Don't do it without consulting me, seriously."[/color] At the very least until he trusted Sam a bit more. But even then, it was often more trouble than it was worth. Simpler to stick to animals and monster. [color=af002a]"Three: Don't go looking for trouble, but if something happens, whether it was your fault or someone else's, you inform me. Then we can deal with whatever it is."[/color] He smirked as he gave a light shrug. [color=af002a]"Basically, don't do anything outrageously stupid, and we should be fine."[/color] His smile gained an edge to it as he showcased his fangs again. [color=af002a]"I reward loyalty and usefulness, and I punish betrayal, maliciousness, and unconscionable foolishness."[/color] [b]"Reasonable enough.[/b]" Samuel folded his arms. [b]"So, you basically harvest that 'energy' from the Abyss, and your followers can gather it for you. With that in mind then...let's say every fella in my expedition becomes your follower. Gets you that 'energy'. What do I, being the one who gathers 'em up for you, who protects 'em until they get out of the Abyss, get in return?"[/b] He leaned forward. [b]"Only the starving'll be interested in drinking monster blood. For folks like me, well, I'd want something else."[/b] Theodore raised an eyebrow, amused. [color=af002a]"I don't mind gathering up my own followers."[/color] The starving wasn't a bad suggestion; getting desperate souls from the Underpass onboard would be doable. Though, there'd be little point if they just died off soon after, so getting Samuel's men was preferable. [color=af002a]"I intended for you to still get your protection fee,"[/color] he shrugged. [color=af002a]"But if you're saying the potential for more money isn't enough..."[/color] the dhampir grinned. [color=af002a]"Well, more power for me means more of it for you. I'll get to a point where it won't be just 'drinking blood', though I can't say what else it'll be. I expect I could even actively share some once I've enough."[/color] That was a guess on his part; he figured maybe he'd eventually also be able to do something himself by manipulating that energy. What that 'something' was, only time would reveal. [b]"Mhm, well, there's the other thing to consider here."[/b] Samuel said, scratching his chin. [b]"Seeing that you need to be alive for this arrangement to work, is there even any reason for you to come down to the Abyss? My boys and I can handle monsters just fine, least normally, but the Abyss isn't a normal kinda place. If you're here to spark up a new faith and all, better not risk your neck, if you know what I mean."[/b] [color=af002a]"Hmmm, fair point."[/color] Theodore leaned his head on an open palm. He had never considered not delving. He didn't think the strong urge to explore deeper was something he could - or wanted to - resist. [color=af002a]"As long as me attracting monsters is useful, I do need to be down there. I [i]need[/i] to be there,"[/color] he emphasized. Without the appropriate context, it was perhaps a strange notion to Samuel, so he rephrased. [color=af002a]"At the very least, I'd like to know what kinda place the Abyss is by seeing it myself, but..."[/color] he grimaced. [color=af002a]"I do need to get stronger if I wanna hang out down there, and not just from the,"[/color] he waved a hand, [color=af002a]"mystical end."[/color] [b]"What, you [i]want[/i] to go deeper? Beyond the First Layer?"[/b] Theodore gave the man an unusually solemn nod. [color=af002a]"Yes. As deep as it goes. Into the core, unto the end, to The Final Layer - eventually."[/color] He whistled. [b]"Welp, guess you ain't holy until you're crazy. I'll keep on the First Layer myself. Don't expect me to guard you against the swarms that'll come over in the deeper layers." [/b] Theo chuckled. [color=af002a]"Fair enough. I won't think about going deeper as long as I've trouble on the First Layer, either. So, deal?"[/color] [b]"Yeah."[/b] Samuel stuck a hand out. [b]"Here's to a profitable relationship, Theo."[/b] The dhampir reached out and shook it. [color=af002a]"To a lucrative alliance,"[/color] he agreed.