Path: usenet.ee.pdx.edu!cs.uoregon.edu!reuter.cse.ogi.edu!psgrain!library.ucla.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!jussieu.fr!univ-lyon1.fr!swidir.switch.ch!newsfeed.ACO.net!Austria.EU.net!EU.net!uunet!not-for-mail From: guido@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de (Guido Roessling) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives Subject: STORY: Qelrik (part 35) Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc Date: 2 Aug 1994 09:43:15 -0400 Organization: UUNET Technologies Inc, Falls Church, VA, USA Lines: 156 Sender: smm@uunet.uu.net Approved: smm@uunet.uu.net Message-ID: <31lihj$nvq@rodan.UU.NET> NNTP-Posting-Host: rodan.uu.net *************************************************************************** This story is a collaboration of seven people: one German, two Canadians and four Americans. Comments about particular characters should be forwarded to their character's "owners": Finn Ambrose - Sheryl Ann Galchutt* - fi48@sol.acs.unt.edu Gernodt - Guido Roessling - guido@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de Dahlarin - Brent Hughes - bhughes@student.business.uwo.ca Kyle - J.E. Mason - ** no current mail address ** Fox - Barbara French - bcfrench@mailbox.syr.edu Will appear in future chapters: Gladrial - Jennifer Immel - bhughes@julian.uwo.ca Sir Percy - Bret Rudnick - rudnick@cfatrw.harvard.edu By now, there is even a FTP site that's archiving our story -- it's ftp.cs.pdx.edu. The directory to look out for is /pub/frp/stories/qelrik. *************************************************************************** ==================================================================== Mission given, rewards bestowed ==================================================================== Fox stepped inside, and Pasithea led her to a small room at the back of the house, through a door so neatly hidden it appeared to be a part of the wall itself. A plain stone altar sat against the southern wall, and the woman stepped back while Fox drew her sword, placed it in front of the altar of Nocticula, Lord of the Vampires, and prostrated herself in front of it. The woman began speaking a tongue Fox would not have understood three years ago, but was so familiar now it almost caused tears. The comfort of the response prayers they went through was almost enough to transport Fox back to the chapel at home, listening to the words of the priest who served the entire keep. The prayer was long, but the familiarity of it almost made Fox forget her own pain. Nearly thirty minutes passed before Fox drew herself up to her knees, took the sword by hilt and (carefully) by blade a few inches from the point. She raised it over her head, murmured a short prayer, lowered the sword and touched her brow to the flat of the blade. This done, she slid the weapon in its scabbard and stood to face the woman. "Thank you, sra'krin," Fox murmured. "It's been too long since I've made proper obeisance." "You are most welcome, Ilar." She gestured. "Please, sit, and tell me why you were delayed." Fox smiled thinly. "Some religious fanatic. I was . . . indiscreet and took off my gloves while I removed my horse's tack at the livery. As I walked here, he decided to slide a knife in my ribs. I barely made it to the nearest building, which fortunately was an inn." She turned a little red. "I was very tired, and wasn't paying attention." "Did he say anything?" "Oh, of course. Something about killing the hell-spawn of Nocticula, and all those who worship them." She laughed humorlessly. "If I had been a vampire, as he seemed to think, he wasn't very well educated on the subject to think a knife in the side could kill me. As it was, I'm not, and it almost did." Pasithea shrugged. "I can think of at least six cults in the area who would like to see all of us dead. It's hard to say who that was. Are you well now?" "Not entirely, but it improves." The priestess of Nocticula nodded briskly. "Then I will explain to you what was not explained before. What have you been told at this point?" Fox sat on one of the padded benches. "Not much. Just that I am sent to hunt a renegade vampire, and that I was supposed to meet you on the thirtieth of Savain to receive more instructions." "Not a vampire, no." Fox raised a pale eyebrow at that. "Not a vampire?" "No." Pasithea said. "He is not." "What is he, then?" "A necromancer," Pasithea said, as if she were trying to spit out something nasty. Fox shrugged. "Necromancy is a noble pursuit to Our Lord." "Of course, as well you know, Ilar. But He objects to necromancers who *create* vampires." Fox's face blanched. "How?" "By compelling a vampire to do the Creation." "A True One?" Pasithea shook her head. "No, not one who became One by drinking of the Chalice of World-Without-End. This one was created by the normal way, by tasting the blood of another vampire. That vampire is One with the Blood, but not of His Blood." Fox nodded. There were two ways to create vampires: the way most people knew about -- a vampire drinking the blood of a non-vampire in the exact way to enact Creation, and by drinking of the Chalice of World-Without-End. The Chalice (or rather Chalices, as there were seventeen), ever-full and self-renewing, contained the Blood of Nocticula. Followers of Nocticula considered vampirism by Chalice to be far superior. These vampires were stronger, more powerful, partly because of the strict requirements for being considered for this type of vampirism, and partly because their vampirism was granted directly from Nocticula, as they alone drank his Blood. Very few were granted the chance to seek vampirism through the Chalice. Under any circumstances, Nocticulans considered the creation of vampires a serious matter, not to be taken lightly. Certainly, no mortal who did not understand what it was to be vampiric could make such a weighty decision. Such a mortal was an affront to Nocticula, and must be destroyed. So must the vampire who Created at the whim of the mortal. "His name?" Fox asked, eyes watching the priestess intently. "Qelrik." Fox coded the name in memory, and nodded once. "Do you know where he is, where I may find information of him?" "That we do not know, exactly. We have a rough idea, and I will give you what I know later. But we fear he is planning more . . . mischief. There is rumor there are some who seek him nearby. Perhaps you can find them." Fox nodded, almost to herself. "Of course, I will accept this, sra'krin." Pasithea smiled at Fox. "You have done well, Ilar, and we have faith in you." She turned to the altar, and picked up a large, heavy chalice made of bloodstone. Fox's eyes turned hungrily at the chalice, as Pasithea lowered it before her. "Herein lies the Blood of Nocticula, the Chalice of World-Without-End. You have been deemed worthy to taste again." ************************************************************************* Next Time: Blood *************************************************************************