text: [Themes: fantasy, humor]
  
  You thought about letting Lisa scout ahead before the journey started, but you've sort of reassessed that idea. You still remember when you were a human and how you easily got lost in this damn forest, which is what caused you to bump into Ral in the first place.
  
  You've traveled this area so much in the past that it would take a lot of effort to get yourself lost again, but Lisa really hasn't. Granted you'd be able to track her down if she got lost, but you'd rather not waste time looking for her as soon as you wake up.
  
  "Lisa, I want you to stay in this general area, okay? You'll be guarding my resting place. You don't want some animal or person to come digging me up while the sun is out do you?" you say.
  "Never! I'll stay here my love and make sure your rest isn't disturbed!"
  "Okay, I'll see you this evening." You say and kiss Lisa before digging yourself a shallow hole to sleep in. (Lisa helps pat down the dirt to make sure you're completely covered)
  
  Later...
  
  You wake up as your usual internal "clock" tells you to do so and dig yourself out to a nice moonlit night. Lisa stands by with Isabella who has woken up before you. Lisa wastes no time in trying to brush the dirt off of you. (And popping the occasional insect in her mouth while doing it)
  
  "About time you got up. I got information to tell you." Isabella remarks.
  "How long you been awake?" you ask.
  "Longer than you have. I would have woken you sooner, but I figured I'd do my own scouting ahead first. I haven't been back that long."
  "Okay, so what do you have to tell me?"
  "We're not the only ones heading to Ral's tower. There are a group of six people in blue and purple robes camped not far from here."
  "Those sound like Dornans. In all the time I was slaving for Ral, I never knew him to worship Dorna."
  "He never did when I was on better terms with him either. I don't think he's ever revered anything except maybe his own magical research."
  "You think maybe all this is the work of the Dornans?"
  "Not exactly sure, but given that they're dedicated to the Goddess of magic, maybe they're investigating all the weird shit going on in this area. If anyone else knew about it, cared about it and was also equipped to handle whatever is going on, it would be them. Of course, they're probably unlikely to just tell us."
  "They're probably very likely to just try to kill us. I got approached by one a few years back proposing an alliance and I didn't trust them then."
  "Smart move. We need to get rid of all but one. The last one we can interrogate and then kill them. I'm not exactly sure just how magically talented these folks are, but unless they're all mostly acolytes, six of them are still enough to give more than enough trouble. And if they're heading to Ral's place, I'd very much believe that most, if not all are very competent spell slingers and far beyond being mere acolytes. It would probably help to have a distraction."
  "I hope you aren't suggesting Lisa."
  "No, I'm suggesting you. No offense to your lady, but Lisa would potentially be a liability. They'd just take control of her and turn her against us."
  "Unfortunately you're probably right. Very well, what exactly do you want me to do?"
  "Nothing much, just go up to their camp and start talking with them. They probably won't even attack right away since they'll be too arrogant to believe that they're in any real danger. If I've learned anything wizard types love to go on about their own relative importance when given the chance. I can probably take down two or three of them by surprise. Hopefully you can take out at least one. The remaining ones should at least even up the odds for us. You ready?"
  "Ready as I'm going to be."
  
  After Isabella tells you where they are (and you reassure Lisa not to follow you), you're soon on your way to meet six wizards.
  
  When you get to the camp, you make no pretense on being sneaky and fully announce yourself, the Dornans all stand up, save for one of them that looks older than the rest.
  
  "What do you want vampire?" one of them with a shitty goatee asks.
  "That obvious?" you respond.
  "Very. Now, you want to tell us why you're intruding on our camp or do we make spell components out of your ashes?"
  "Hey, what's with the threats? There are six of you guys and just one of me! I hardly think I'd be able to take all of you on."
  "Damn right you wouldn't, you walking leech."
  "Hey, steady there Travis. I know this one!" one of the female members says.
  
  It's the same woman who approached you years ago about an alliance.
  
  "You know this blood sucker, Heather?" Travis asks.
  "Yeah, he lives in Holgard. Or as far as I know he still does. He's not that old and is definitely no threat to us. He's the one that was approached back when all the faiths were at each other's throats. You never did get back to us on that offer." Heather says stepping closer towards you.
  "I figured me never showing up at your temple was my answer. Besides, looks like you guys came out okay without my help." You answer.
  "Indeed, so where's your ghoul girl?"
  "Alas, she is no longer with me. Taken down by those accursed Joachimites during those years of strife."
  "See? You should have allied with us; such a loss could have been prevented."
  "Probably for the best. As a vampire I probably should start getting used to the loss of those I once loved. So what are you lot doing out here?"
  "We could ask the same of you. Even more so since you seem to have evaded Travis' initial question."
  "Oh nothing interesting. I occasionally leave Holgard to hunt in the wild. I find that it keeps the senses sharp. Besides, the bandit types out here tend to put up more of a fight than the cutpurses in Holgard."
  "Hm, so why approach us?"
  "I dunno, Just looking for company to talk to. I get sort of lonely sometimes, especially with Lisa gone. I even tried to make another ghoul once, but...eh, it wasn't the same and I disposed of it."
  'Yeah, yeah, that's a real shame. Poor depressed vampire wallowing about how nobody understands his pain. Boo fucking hoo. Why the hell is it that half of all you vampires are like this? Shit, I got more respect for those leeches that just rip your head off and dispense with all the pretense of trying to be living creatures with real feelings. If you're really that tortured, just go take a walk in the sun and be done with it." Travis says dismissively.
  "What is with your hostility? I understand your need to be cautious given the circumstances, but you don't need to act like a complete asshole. I just asked what you guys were doing out here and if you don't want to tell me, fine I'll just leave you to it."
  "Don't mind Travis, he just doesn't like the outdoors and it's been making him cranky. If you really want to know though, we're just investigating magical disturbances around this area."
  "Heather! Why the fuck would you tell him that?" Travis remarks.
  "Yeah, this leech doesn't need to know our business." Another says.
  "Oh what difference does it really make? Not like he's got some unholy alliance with Ral. Besides, Elder Flynn would have said something by now, if I did something wrong, isn't that right Elder Flynn? Elder Flynn? Elder?"
  
  At this point they all turn towards the old man who is still sitting down and not saying a word.
  
  Then suddenly he slumps forward and his head comes off.
  
  "SHIT!" someone shouts and before any of them can react, Isabella has already opened up the throats of two of them.
  
  You dodge a bolt of flame and take out another Dornan. Travis, however, speaks some words and a flash of light blinds you long enough to cause him to get away. Meanwhile Heather has already cast a speed spell and completely run off,
  
  "You get that goatee asshole, I'll chase down the speed bitch!" Isabella shouts.
  
  She didn't need to tell you twice.
  
  While Travis can't out pace you in the long run, he's smart enough to cast an illusion and you see several versions of him split up and run into different directions and whatever magic he's using to cause illusions, its also masking him so you can't tell which one is the real one just by scent.
  
  Fortunately for you he's arrogant enough to not just run away which will at least give you a chance to kill him.
  
  Unfortunately, that also gives him a chance to kill you and you once again narrowly dodge a bolt of magic thrown your way by him (or an illusion) hiding behind one of the many trees.
  
  "If you think you're taking me down, guess again leech. I've destroyed creatures far more threatening than you." Travis taunts.
  
  You don't answer you just try to focus on any and all sounds.
  
  You stop completely and listen, then you suddenly grab a figure hiding behind a large oak tree and squeeze by the neck.
  
  Travis' eyes bulge and he gasps, but then at the point where you would have easily crushed his throat, he begins to laugh and the illusion disappears. You then get blasted in the back by a bolt of flame.
  
  You feel the burn and have to roll on the ground like an idiot putting it out.
  
  "Stupid fucking leech! This is going to be so easy!"
  
  In between your charred clothing and flesh, you do catch another familiar scent. It isn't Travis' however.
  
  It's Lisa.
  
  You can only guess she decided to try to help after all and is in the vicinity somewhere.
  
  > focus on Travis
  Lisa's a big ghoul, she's going to have to fend for herself. Besides, the best way you can defend her is if you kill Travis as quick as possible.
  
  Since Travis likes to talk shit, you might as well respond in kind.
  
  "Okay Travis, you got me on that one. Cherish the moment because it's the last chance you're going to get. In fact, if you were smart, you'd just run now. I know deep down you're scared and just too arrogant to admit it." You exclaim.
  "Scared? Me? I'm not the one who is floundering around like kitten in the river right now. Seems to me, that you're the arrogant one who doesn't know when he's beaten." Travis retorts.
  
  You see a figure out the corner of your eye getting ready to cast a spell and you rush forward to kill it. Another illusion, but you know enough not to stick around as two bolts of lightning barely miss you.
  
  "Is this your plan? Attempt to kill all my illusions until you single me out? Shit plan and doomed to failure. I can keep this up all night. You on the other hand, will have to turn in when day breaks. And whoever that other vampire was, is going to be too busy chasing down Heather. You're alone out here and fucked. The best you can hope for is a stalemate before you run like a bitch before the sunrise. You won't get it though, vampire ashes aren't easy to come by."
  "Yeah, yeah, just keep telling yourself that and ignore the fact that you aren't pissing your robe right now."
  
  You play more dodge the magic spell with Travis and continue to taunt him the whole time. You aren't sure if it's taking him off his offense, but you're getting frustrated that you can't seem to locate him. Destroying his illusions when you can, while satisfying, doesn't bring you any closer to your goal since he's just creating more. You don't know where Lisa is in all this either, but you've got bigger concerns right now.
  
  Eventually Travis gets lucky again and one of his illusions zaps you in the chest with a lightning bolt. It tries to finish you off with a fireball, but you narrowly escape. At this rate he's going to set the whole forest on fire.
  
  As you're taking protection behind a tree and recovering, you suddenly hear screams coming from behind a cluster of rocks.
  
  "Shit...did she really get him?" you say to yourself and swiftly run over towards the screaming.
  
  And there you see Lisa partially on top of Travis and chewing through one of his arms while he desperately tries to punch her with the other, shrieking the entire time.
  
  "No, no more of that." You say and break Travis' free arm so he can't flail it around at Lisa any longer. His screams of agony don't get any longer, and in fact he begins to just stop making much noise at all.
  
  "Yeah, looks like the shock and blood loss are kicking in. You're lucky that Lisa got to you first. If it were up to me, I would have stretched out your torment a lot longer."
  
  Travis tries to speak, but all he can do is bubble up some blood from his mouth and struggle to stay awake.
  
  "Guess there's one silver lining in this for you, you're getting eaten by someone who doesn't make any pretenses of what she is right? I'm sure she appreciates your respect, along with your flesh."
  
  Lisa finishes chewing through Travis' right arm and then gives him one good chomp on the side of his neck, which finally kills him, though it doesn't kill Lisa's hunger and she continues to feed.
  
  "You did good Lisa. Thank you." You say and kiss her on the top of her head which finally allows breaks her attention long enough to briefly nuzzle against your leg before returning to eat.
  
  "I hate to break up your feast, but we have other matters to take care of, come on, let's head back to the Dornan camp. Hopefully Isabella didn't kill the other one. Oh, you can bring his arm with you."
  
  Lisa wastes no time in following you back to the camp, though there is still one thing you're wondering about.
  
  "Lisa, how the hell did you single out Travis in all the illusions?" you ask.
  "Oh that was easy. I just sniffed him out." Lisa answers as a bit of meat flies from her mouth.
  "How? I couldn't even get his scent."
  "You were right about him being scared. He had pissed himself. Easy to get scent for me after that. I hunt in the sewers all the time, you know. I can usually single out the origins of bodily waste under the right circumstances. It took some time for me to perfect that skill, I've always wanted to tell you about it, would you like to hear how..."
  "Um, okay Lisa. Maybe another time."
  
  Funny how you desperately trained yourself to try to block out the various "aromas" of the sewers, meanwhile Lisa completely embraced them. Whatever works you guess.
  
  You soon return to the camp and go through the bodies since Isabella isn't around. You don't really find much though, at least not any more that what Heather told you. Having little else to do, you decide to sit and wait, while Lisa eats one of the Dornans.
  
  Time passes a bit and you start to wonder if you shouldn't just go back home. This was more of Isabella's thing and if she's not here then you really don't have strong feelings about getting revenge on Ral. Sure it would be nice, but you've had enough of fighting wizards for tonight.
  
  Unfortunately Isabella comes back just as you're thinking on this, with Heather over her shoulder.
  
  "I'm guessing you didn't leave yours alive." Isabella asks.
  "Nope, I'm afraid Lisa's hunger took care of that, but I figured you'd show restraint since I was certain you wouldn't place too much faith in us anyway." You respond.
  "Didn't know Lisa was even going to be around since you told her to stay put. In any case I suppose you were correct in thinking that I wouldn't believe you to have as much restraint, so this one is still alive. Knocked her ass out when I finally caught up with her, so I haven't gotten any information from her yet. I guess we can do that together at least."
  
  Doesn't take long for Isabella to slap Heather awake. When she sees the two of you hovering over her, she's obviously very frightened and turns to what most do in a hopeless situation.
  
  "Oh please, Dorna give me the knowledge and power to overcome my disadvantageous position. I will make the large sacrifice in your honor if you only lend me your wisdom." She says and begins praying which Isabella puts a stop to with another slap.
  "Oh no, you aren't mumbling some prayer and casting another spell. The best you can hope for in your situation is if you don't piss me off and you get a quick death. Now tell me what you know about Ral and what's going on out here."
  "Can't we come to some sort of agreement?" Heather asks.
  
  Isabella looks at you.
  
  "Reminds me of you with all these attempts at bargaining." Isabella remarks.
  "Well, you gotta admit, it worked for me." You answer.
  "Yeah, well it's not working for this bitch, now TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU FUCKING KNOW!"
  
  Isabella's face becomes that monstrous expression that manages to scare Heather even more than she already is. She starts crying and pleading and ultimately agreeing to tell her everything she knows even though it isn't much.
  
  Heather explains that none of them really knew what to find out here and it was Elder Flynn who first sensed the magic disturbance. He wasn't sure at first about checking it out, but after much meditation (And sensing other disturbances) he decided that he needed to confront his old comrade.
  
  Apparently the Elder and Ral were old friends when they were young, but obviously had a disagreement in ideology as far as magic. The Elder of course thought it was a Dorna's most precious gift to the world and thanks must always be given to her for it. Ral on the other hand just believed that it was a force to be mastered like any other and didn't even acknowledge Dorna.
  
  She said most knew about Ral since he was a wizard of some power even if he was very reclusive most of the time, but Elder Flynn didn't speak of him in any detail until recently. Said that his experiments had probably gone too far and he would have to be stopped before Dorna's wrath was brought upon the world.
  
  Even though the Elder said the disturbances had died down and they hadn't seen anything unusual yet, he said they still needed to confront Ral since he was dangerous wild card. Heather didn't speak out, but she got the impression that this meeting was just something the Elder seemed to want more than correcting magical disturbance.
  
  "Oh, that was Flynn? Damn, didn't even recognize him, though I thought there was something vaguely familiar about his scent. If I had recognized him, maybe I would have tried a different approach. Oh well." Isabella remarks.
  "Wait, you knew the Elder?" Heather asks.
  "Yeah, he and Ral were competing for my attention when they were young! That's why the friendship broke up. Ideological disagreement my fine undead ass. Flynn wasn't hooked up in all this Dorna worship shit when I knew him. I mean he was more religious than Ral, but he wasn't a fanatic."
  "What did Ral do that won you over?" you ask out of genuine curiosity.
  "He made me laugh. In any case, I guess that doesn't help us much, but it was worth a try. Alright, let's get this done..."
  "WAIT! Please! I'm no threat anymore! I didn't even want to fight you guys! You! When we met, wasn't I reasonable to you?" Heather exclaims, trying to appeal to you.
  "When we first met, you fucking did some sort of charm on Lisa to make her docile." you say.
  "But...please! (sob) I don't wanna die! I didn't even want to come out here! (sob) Wait! I know! Make me into a vampire! I mean I could be a good one! I'm already a night owl and I could make a good apprentice! Please, I just don't want to die..."
  
  At this point Heather is groveling completely at Isabella's feet. This is such a pathetic display, you're sort of feeling a bit for the girl.
  
  "Isabella, maybe you could make her into a vampire? I mean she probably could help you quite a bit on building a new home, what with being a sorceress and all." You say.
  "Hello, my name is Isabella, I don't believe we've met. I'm not turning this bitch into a vampire just because she's begging for her life. I have standards. I only turn those that are mate potential into vampires." Isabella sniffs.
  "Do you HAVE to have sex with the person you turn into a vampire?"
  "Yes, and as I think you know I'm not into women."
  "Just pretend you're in college."
  "What?"
  "I dunno, my dad said a lot of girls at his university used to do that and then got married to some guy anyway."
  "Yeah, no. Look, if you're so keen on saving this human, then you could always turn her into a ghoul."
  
  Lisa looks up long enough from the corpse she's eating to give an angry growl at that suggestion. Lisa might be willing to serve you unquestioningly, but she still wants to be the only ghoul in your life, not that you were considering it anyway.
  
  "Too bad Heather, hope your afterlife with Dorna is a pleasant one." You say and without another word Isabella kills Heather.
  
  Isabella feeds and then you do likewise. The three of you then continue your journey to Ral's home.
  
  Along the way you start noticing discoloration of the trees and odd-looking plant life. Some of them even look carnivorous, but you guess they don't like the taste of undead flesh so they don't attack. (And Lisa must not be very appetizing either)
  
  "This doesn't look like it belongs here." You say.
  "Sure doesn't. What the hell did Ral do?" Isabella says.
  "Given all this change and how the Dornans said it dying down, maybe he's not even alive anymore."
  "For his sake, he better not be."
  
  After passing a few more landscape oddities, you at last reach Ral's home and it looks about the same as you last saw it. There aren't any creatures or anything wandering about, though you're not getting a sense of complete safety either.
  
  "Well, it's all yours. See if you can't get in." Isabella says.
  
  You don't say anything other than to tell Lisa to stay put and you'll be back in a moment.
  
  You approach Ral's home and try the front door. It's locked of course, so you pull out a lockpick and easily open it. You step forward...
  
  And nothing happens. You apparently are allowed in the house. Now to see if Isabella's other idea will work.
  
  You stand in the doorway and motion Lisa and Isabella over. Lisa easily enters the house since she wasn't barred by strange rules anyway. Isabella however, still can't get in.
  
  "Shit." She remarks.
  "I don't understand, I thought you said you were always welcome in a place that was my home." You say.
  "Eh, more weird rules. This place, while you were welcomed in here, still officially isn't your home, it's Ral's. I figured it was a long shot. I'm going to try to figure out something out here, in the meantime you need to find out what's going on. I'd rather you not kill Ral and leave him for me, but if you have to, I'll certainly understand."
  
  Isabella takes her leave and you and Lisa are left in a very dusty living area. Looks like this place went to pot after you weren't around to clean it anymore.
  
  "Well, let's take this slow I guess. Lisa, you stay very close to me." You say and begin exploring rooms methodically.
  
  The eerie thing about all this, is you aren't hearing any noise whatsoever. Usually you used to at least hear faint noises sometimes from his lab, but there is nothing. Speaking of his lab you eventually decide you might as well just search that place now.
  
  You make your way there and immediately notice something wrong. The door is open. That door was always locked.
  
  You cautiously peek inside Ral's lab for the first time.
  
  And it's a complete wreck. There is equipment everywhere; you know Ral wouldn't have left it like this if he could help it.
  
  Except he can't help it, because he's currently on the floor with a broken neck. He looks like he's been dead awhile. And then you see another familiar face. Tych.
  
  You see him flying around between various large tomes and mixing something on one of the only clean lab workbenches.
  
  This all seems a bit strange, but in any case Tych hasn't noticed you yet.
  
  > call out to him
  There really is no need to be so physical in this situation, so you call out.
  
  "Hey Tych!" you shout.
  
  He spins around and immediately flies upward so he's safe.
  
  "You? What are you doing here? Thought you died a long time ago." Tych says.
  "I did, I'm a vampire." You answer.
  "Hm, well that was one way of breaking the geas I suppose. I'm guessing it was Isabella that provided that option, is she here?
  
  Ral might be dead, but you still don't know what the hell is going on here and Tych isn't exactly a beacon of trustworthiness himself. For all you know he's caused all this, you figure you better keep the real story a little hazy.
  
  "No, I haven't seen Isabella in years. I sort of broke it off with her when I realized Lisa here was a my true love." You say and put your arm around her, which she of course doesn't mind, though she also seems interested in Ral's corpse.
  "Surprised she allowed you to leave so easily." Tych says.
  "Eh, wasn't exactly easy. In fact, it was sort of a lopsided relationship to begin with."
  "Mm, sounds like Isabella."
  "Didn't realize you knew so much about her actually."
  "Ral spoke about her quite a bit. Used to always go on about how he wished things had ended better with her. Talked about her so much that I felt like I knew the woman even though I'd never even seen her."
  "I see, so...what exactly happened here?"
  
  Tych shakes his head.
  
  "A complete failure, that's what happened. A few months ago Ral was trying to cast some spell he had been working on for years and it backfired spectacularly. He was experimenting with portals that could transport you anywhere in the world. Unfortunately what happened instead is he created a very unstable one and that's when the rock creature appeared in the middle of the lab and started smashing up the place. Ral barely managed to get off a couple spells before the thing smashed him in the head and disappeared as quickly as it showed up. It was during this time, my jar got smashed."
  "Why didn't you escape?"
  "I would have but I heard some rumbling outside along with other noises, so I thought Ral's spell had a ripple effect on the outside area. I still haven't left this house for fear of what might be out there. How severe is the damage?"
  "Some weird landscape changes, some odd monsters popping up in places they shouldn't be, but that's about all I know. I was in Holgard and it didn't reach that far. In fact I think the effects of the spell are dying out."
  "Truly? I would have thought with all the chaos here and the time Ral spent on the spell, it had catastrophic effects of great magnitude. Damn, I feel like a cowardly fool, but being in the hub of it all I guess made me afraid. My long-term captivity also kept me here. Just got comfortable being safe I guess. So Holgard huh? I guess that brings me to my question of why you're here, if the effects didn't reach there."
  
  You pause a very brief moment as you come up with your lie without much problem.
  
  "Oh that was me being a victim of circumstance again. There was a war between the religious factions in Holgard a few years ago and at the time it was mutually beneficial to ally with the Dornans. The war has long since been over, but I still had a deal with them to help when I could and a group of them wanted to explore the magical disturbances their elder sensed in this area. I think they're the only ones who knew or cared."
  "Oh? So are they with you?"
  "Nah, they're all dead. Got killed by a medusa and her pet basilisks. Just one example of creatures not native to the area popping up."
  "Interesting. Just wondering because Ral mentioned him a few times in the past...but was there an Elder Flynn with you in all this?"
  
  You weren't sure before, but you're starting to get a strange feeling about this conversation, however you continue to speak as normal.
  
  "Yeah, he was there, but I never spoke much with the man. Always seemed to be pretty serious and save for a few basic directions. I understood him to be a man of great magic ability, but that didn't mean much when the medusa surprised him and the inevitable happened." You explain.
  "Hm, I see. Hard to believe he was taken out so easily after what Ral told me about him." Tych says.
  "It wasn't an easy battle to survive. Honestly, Lisa and I almost went home after that. However, by that time I came all this way so I figured I might as well try to learn what happened here and the only person I could think of that might shed some light is Ral."
  "You didn't think you'd be met with hostility for escaping?"
  "Eh, in all the time I knew him even as his unwilling lackey, he wasn't excessively cruel or even one to hold that much of a grudge. I sort of figured he wrote me off as dead years ago and moved on. Plus I figured as a vampire I'd at least be on somewhat of an equal footing that he wouldn't try anything as long as I didn't act in a threatening manner."
  
  Tych nods a bit.
  
  "I suppose you're right on that account. Ral was a lot of things, but he was never petty. Well that's about the only information I have for you. I'm actually glad you came by however, since I now know that it isn't a cataclysm out there. I'll probably be leaving a lot sooner now."
  "I bet your wife misses you." You say.
  "Huh? Oh yes my wife...I'd be surprised if she hasn't moved on already. Though I wouldn't blame her if she had I suppose. I've had a lot of time to think during my time here and while Ral certainly kept me imprisoned, I have to admit I wasn't exactly innocent. I dunno, maybe my captivity was punishment for all my misdeeds in the past. My apologies for my wrongs against you as well."
  "Well other than calling me a plivik and lying to me, you didn't really do any direct damage. Long time ago and literally another life. Anyway, I suppose we'll be going. Hey Lisa, get away from that body, we'll find you someone to eat on the way home." You say motioning Lisa to come with you instead of sniffing around Ral's corpse.
  
  Tych waves goodbye and you soon exit the home. After looking around a bit, you find Isabella digging around the house. It looks like she's trying to destroy the foundation in an attempt to just destroy the house.
  
  "You know it would probably be much easier to just set the place on fire." You remark.
  "Probably, but I don't exactly have a torch handy at the moment. So, you're back out here and none the worse for wear. I assume you have news? Did Ral send you out here to an attempt to beg for his life?" Isabella asks.
  "Ral's dead." You say.
  "What?!"
  "Well...I suppose he isn't completely dead."
  "He's either dead or he isn't! Wait, shit, he's not a lich is he?!"
  "He's a sprite."
  "WHAT?! Okay, you need to explain!" Isabella exclaims.
  
  You try to collect your thoughts on everything that transpired during your conversation before explaining to her your whole conversation.
  
  "I mean I don't know for certain, but I REALLY think Ral's in the body of a sprite slave he once had. That sprite's name was Tych and he didn't sound anything like the person that I knew. I mean I know a lot of time has passed, but I just got a very real feeling that I was talking with Ral and not Tych." You explain.
  "Well did you see Ral's body anywhere?" Isabella asks.
  "Oh yeah, he was on the floor with his neck broken. Looked like he had been dead for a while. Tych, or Ral rather said he met his fate by some strange rock creature."
  "Hmmm...wait...yeah. Your belief has merit. I mean I can't enter the house still, while you can. If Ral was dead, I would have been able to enter with no problems. How the hell did he get into the body of a sprite?!"
  "I dunno, I didn't ask since I was trying to pretend that I believed him to be Tych and I did that because I also have no reason to disbelieve that he isn't still a powerful wizard. Not sure if he believed if I believed him, but it got me out unscathed."
  
  Isabella is silent for a moment and then throws a handful of dirt to the ground while stepping out of the large hole she has been digging.
  
  "Ah fuck it. I'm done." She says.
  "What, seriously? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, but you seemed pretty intent on all this revenge before." You answer.
  "Yeah. I honestly can't be bothered now. I mean if you're wrong and that's not Ral at all, it's hardly worth going to all the trouble to bring down a house just to kill a sprite especially since I don't even like their blood. And if it is Ral, I can't even torture him like I want in his new sprite body. I mean yeah I could still do it, but it just wouldn't be the same. I suppose a part of me was just looking for an excuse to see you again. Shit, I think a small part of me just wanted to see Ral again too. It's funny that you made up your story about getting lonely to the Dornans, but the reality is, it really does happen. Even to those that are normally fine with isolation like me."
  "But you're centuries old, surely you must have known other people."
  "Sure, and most of them are dead, either naturally or otherwise. Hell, I might have even made a reconnection with Flynn had I known it was him. I managed to ignore the prolonged isolation I think for so long because I had a nice home I made for myself. The garden kept me busy too. Now I don't even have that and while I'm no stranger to having to start completely over it isn't the most fun thing to do."
  
  You start get a little worried about where this might be leading.
  
  "Don't worry, I'm not taking your home. Living right next to a sewer isn't exactly my taste. Besides, you and Lisa are happy there and as I said, I've always been a bit of a romantic even if it never quite works out for me." Isabella says.
  "Why don't you just knock on the door and call out to Ral? He might be willing to talk." You say.
  "Nice idea, but no. We're not going to rekindle anything especially with him stuck in the body of a fucking sprite now. Besides it isn't like I'm still not mad at him for destroying my home even if it was an accident. No, I think maybe it's time for me to move on from this area altogether. Maybe the Delantium Kingdom, or at least pass through there. There are maybe at least one or two folks I know living in that area, maybe they're still interesting. Anything's possible right?"
  "Seems like it. If you asked me when I was a teenager where I'd be at thirty, it wouldn't be assaulting a wizard's home as a vampire with another vampire and ghoul by my side. My answer would have been probably still robbing travelling merchants with my twin sister in my hometown. Still think about her and the rest of the family sometimes and wonder how they're doing, but that's all a past life."
  "I wouldn't write off the past completely, it usually has a way of sneaking up on you even when you're not a mortal. I mean it certainly did recently for you. Well, thank you for your help, you truly are free now. You take care okay? And take care of Lisa too. You make a lovely couple."
  
  With those last words, Isabella briefly moves forward a bit, perhaps to make physical contact with you, but stops herself. She instead turns away and walks off into the forest. You soon lose sight of her and it's just you and Lisa.
  
  "Is she gone for good?" Lisa asks.
  "Yeah I think she is." You say.
  "Good, it's just you and me again. Just like it always should be!"
  "Yes it is, come on let's go back home."
  
  Part of you wonders if you were really correct about Tych actually being Ral and what exactly happened. You suppose you'll never know the entire story, and actually you're fine with that.
  
  This has been a very strange past couple of days. Surreal even. You were forced into this quest for revenge and there was even an unrelated struggle before you reached your destination, then when you finally reached that destination, it was sort of an anti-climatic conclusion.
  
  You suppose that's just how shit happens sometimes. Not everything ends with a gigantic battle. (And you're fine with that too)
  
  You're just glad you're done with it and hopefully you can finally go about your existence in relative peace.
  
  > Epilogue
  Epilogue 8: Tales From the Crypt
  
  Year 36
  
  "Hah! I win again!" Lisa says putting her cards down gleefully.
  "Damn it. I remember a time when you didn't like this game." You say.
  "You're not mad at me for winning are you? I can stop."
  "No, I'm fine with that. Don't worry about it. Just keep playing at your best."
  "Okay good, I live to serve you my love."
  "Yes, I know you do."
  "I'm...I'm doing it again aren't I? I'm being too fawning. I'm sorry."
  "It's okay. I know you can't help it sometimes."
  "Can't you make me like you?"
  "I wish I could, but Isabella remarked years ago that it wouldn't be for at least a few more decades if I really wanted to make sure I didn't just kill you permanently by accident. I mean I turned you into a ghoul years before I was supposed to be able to, but I feel like that was a different situation. I've spent so much time with you now that I don't even want to think about risking your life."
  "I know...I just think things would be better if I was more like you."
  "You don't need to worry about that any longer. I've long since accepted you, no matter what your condition is. If we have to wait a little longer, then that's what we'll do. We have plenty of time and it isn't like my love for you is going to diminish."
  
  Lisa immediately goes over to sit in your lap and cuddle up against you. You have to admit, you've actually gotten used to her fawning attention so much by now that you hope you don't start having second thoughts about turning her into a vampire when it's time.
  
  But you know that's not really going to happen, you love Lisa too much to keep her in this lesser form forever even if you will miss the unconditional servitude mentality a bit. (You won't miss some of her other ghoulish traits though)
  
  Lisa begins to nibble on you a bit and you know that she wants some of your blood so you give her permission to suck on you for a while.
  
  While you're enjoying this moment of bonding with Lisa, you sense something coming close to your home. You immediately tell Lisa to get off of you and you go check the entrance with her following closely behind.
  
  As you get closer, you can tell it's something living lingering just outside your home, so it isn't an unwelcome visit from Isabella like you had six years ago. You half wonder if its some foolish Joachimite fanatic or even a Dornan since while both groups' power in the city is much reduced today, they still got the occasional fanatics that cause problems.
  
  The odd thing is you start to hear music too. Strumming of a lute you think. It's not unpleasant either, almost soothing enough to put you at ease.
  
  "That music is nice." Lisa says and starts to even sway a bit to the tune, which causes you even more concern since Lisa typically doesn't find much pleasure in a lot of things that aren't basic, let alone music of any kind. Maybe magic is at work here.
  
  When you see your secret wall open up, you go into battle mode immediately and rush the person who has intruded into your domain. This is going to be quick...
  
  With one hand clutched around your sister's neck, your arm wrapped around her back and just inches away from biting her, you can hardly believe your eyes. She's older of course now, but you'd recognize her face and voice anywhere.
  
  "Sis?" you utter.
  "Yeah...it's really me! (cough) Could you please let me go, you're (cough) crushing my throat and the mandolin in my hands and I sort of rely on both for my songs. And arguably the mandolin is even more important given what I went through to get it." Your sister responds.
  "Shit. Yeah of course! Apologies."
  "Who is this woman!?" Lisa says in a more demanding demeanor than you're used to.
  "Lisa, don't worry. This is my twin sister. I'm sure you remember the times I've spoken of her."
  "Oh. Yes, I remember. She's not to be eaten correct?"
  "Yes Lisa, she is not to be eaten or harmed in any way. Though she might have went about visiting us a lot smarter than just barging in here. How did you even find me? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
  
  After your sister clears her throat a bit she addresses your questions.
  
  "Well a few years back I had another run in with one of your vampire acquaintances, Isabella during my travels in the Delantium Kingdom. She approached me in a tavern after a show there saying how she had never heard music so beautiful." Lisa says.
  "Wait, she approached you in a tavern completely naked and nobody batted an eye?" you interrupt.
  "She was wearing an elegant looking dress when I spoke to her, why would she be naked?"
  "Dress? Hm. Interesting. Nevermind, go on."
  "Anyway I thought she was just flirting with me at first, especially when she said the line about me having similar features of someone she once knew. When she found out I was your twin sister, she wouldn't stop talking and she told me about you. As for me not telling you about my arrival, it wasn't like I could send you a letter now could I? Now I'm not a vampire, but are you going to invite me in? I'm not exactly fond of standing around here in the sewers."
  "Yes, of course come on in!" you say.
  
  You let your sister in and tell her to follow you to your den. Lisa sniffs at her couple times until you tell her to stop.
  
  "Lisa, you seem hungry so why don't you go find some food in the meat room. I want to catch up with my sister for a moment. We'll be able to spend more time together later, I promise."
  "...very well my love." Lisa says. She's a bit put off by the fact that you're spending time with your sister instead of her, but since she isn't a threat she doesn't grumble too much about it.
  
  Your sister watches Lisa slink away the entire time before turning her attention back to you.
  
  "So...that's the missus huh? Isabella mentioned you had a significant other."
  "I can imagine she didn't have too many kind words about her."
  "Isabella actually didn't say much about her at all, other than you were very happy with her and loved her very much."
  "Oh? Well she's right."
  "That's good. Glad you found someone, just a question though; she seems a bit...different than you. Is she a vampire too?"
  "Lisa? Oh no, she's a ghoul, but one day I'll make her into a vampire."
  "Vampire...I have to say I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around that one about you. I have so many questions."
  "Didn't Isabella fill you in?"
  "A little, but she mostly talked about herself and her past."
  "Really? In all the years I lived with her, she never said shit about much of her past."
  "I guess even with your vampy powers I'm still just naturally more charismatic than you. As I said I think she was just looking for company when she spoke to me and at the time I sort of was wondering about what else she might want to do. I mean I'm pretty much up for a lot of things and I've heard the infamous stories about vampires, but getting intimate with one would have still been a little scary since I wouldn't have much say in the matter if things went wrong."
  "Trust me I know."
  "Yeah, I guess you would. Still, I'm a little jealous, because don't get me wrong, I definitely would have rolled the dice if the opportunity had presented itself, but it didn't get past just talking and eventually she just bid me goodbye."
  "Yeah, Isabella is a bit traditional minded, as she would often be fond of pointing out. Though you aren't only one who has questions, I have questions too. I mean this is a big surprise to even see you! I thought for sure I'd never see anyone from my old life every again. I'm very glad that wasn't true. Even after twenty years you haven't changed that much. I like how you still wear the same colorful clothing, but you always were the flashier one. Here we are, let's sit down and you can start first about what you've been up to."
  
  Your sister goes first and briefly goes into some of the places she's been. She says she actually passed through Holgard at one point, but of course she didn't know you were lurking underground since she wasn't visiting the sewers at the time.
  
  She also mentions that she recently visited your parents and besides being glad to see her, they also told her what happened with you a few months after she left. What's fascinating to you though is apparently you were cleared of murder months after you left!
  
  Your father managed to save Annah's life and with her statement and a few others who saw everything reluctantly stepped up to tell the truth, your actions were considered a justified crime of passion rather than outright murder.
  
  "So wait, am I still wanted there?" You say.
  "Well...a lot of time has passed and that sheriff who hated you is long dead now. Klint's father also isn't there anymore, so I think you're in the clear legally, but I wouldn't exactly say you're wanted if you know what I mean. Though Annah apparently still thinks highly of you."
  "Heh, glad she survived. What about mom and dad?"
  "They're fine. I suppose this would be a good time to tell you, we got a new brother."
  "WHAT?! They had another child?! When?!" You exclaim.
  "I guess shortly after we both left. I think he's about twenty or around that age. He's okay, a bit on the straight laced side. Guess mom and dad finally got the well behaved child they always wanted."
  "I guess so...sheesh...well I guess it's just as well. Not like they're going to ever see me again."
  "Oh come on, you could go visit them during the night. Mom would probably still want to see you and she wouldn't even realize what you were. Not sure about Dad though, but I doubt if he'd just throw you out on your ear as soon as he saw you."
  "Yeah, I just don't think it's a good idea, but maybe if you ever visit them again, could you tell them that I'm okay?"
  "Of course."
  "Thanks sis. And again, I've really missed you. I'm very surprised you came to see me even though you knew where I was. I mean I wasn't sure if you'd be comfortable with my condition."
  "Well as I said, it's still very strange to wrap my head around, but you're my brother and no matter what, I'll be by your side." Your sister says touching your hand.
  
  You and your sister look at each other in silence for a moment, knowing that despite your changed form, some bonds never die.
  
  "Well now that I've filled you in on some of my journeys, it's time for you to do likewise! Give me all the details because I trust that this will definitely be a very interesting story!" your sister says.
  "Well, you might be surprised how dull day to day life can still be for a vampire. Still, I'm sure there will be more than a few bits that will interest you. Some of which happened before I became one. I warn you though, it's a long story." You say.
  "Best ones usually are." Your sister responds.
  
  You begin your tale...