My name is Strung and I am a Paladins novice and a citizen of Shallam.
What follows is a recounting of events and a log of how one of the few
people I've had the privledge of calling friend since we all settled
here was taken from me one night, and how that friend became a foe in
the bowells of the place he lead us to which he called "Bloodloch."

Moving around Shallam I had lots of interesting conversations with
people. We would discuss rumors revolving around the ruined temple in
the northwestern part of the city, Hashan and a couple trouble-seekers
from the far north who hailed from Ashtan.

Easily the most interesting debates were the ones I had with Abhorash.
Vampires were a popular rumor at the time, and while we were sure they
existed neither of us had ever seen one or had a true insight to their
nature. Abhorash felt that they didn't have to be inherently evil if say
someone willingly donated their blood to keep them alive. I took on a
much more simplistic stance, feeling that they were if anything the
embodyment of evil. Anything that lives off of the blood of it's former
brothers and sisters and nothing else is, I said. It was complex and
fun.

We went our separate ways and I got involved with some Sentinels who
were running about serving Haern. On my way back Abhorash was shouting
publicly and over the Shallam channel about how he had been locked away
in some sort of room by bandits. I did my best to track him but his
shouting turned to screaming before I could reach him... I found traces
of him in a strange castle full of ghostly figures in the far north but
could do nothing to help him.

While searching for him I found a gaping pit... he eventually came to,
cut off his link to the Shallam channel and started going on about how
we were food. This all seemed just too strange to me, after the
discussions that we'd had earlier, so I hoped that he had simply fallen
and hurt his head and that was why he was acting so strange. We weren't
that lucky.

You tell Abhorash Nehekhara, "Talk to me man."
Abhorash tells you, "What do you want?"
Abhorash tells you, "What do you want?"
You tell Abhorash Nehekhara, "I'm just trying to help you. We're worried
that you fell down this pit and hit your head and now you apparently
think that you're a vampire, hehe."
Abhorash tells you, "Think?"
You tell Abhorash Nehekhara, "Well, you know us mortals. No faith."
Abhorash tells you, "Come to Bloodloch and I will show you."
You tell Abhorash Nehekhara, "Where is that?"
Abhorash tells you, "In the chasm within the lush Pash, seek the
entrance into a dark cavern."
(Shallam): You say, "I think I know where Bloodloch is."
(Shallam): Terant says, "We don't know. He's either a danger, or not. Do
we have ANY idea? I know, you're all assuming he's a threat because of
the stories. But if we can provide him with a non-lethal source of
blood..."
You say, "Follow up guys."
Kage begins to follow you.
Claudio begins to follow you.
Harmony begins to follow you.
Claudio Romani says, "You know the location?"
You say, "I think so."
(Shallam): You say, "Not much of a turnout, but then again, if three of
us can't take him then ten probably can't."
(Shallam): Kage says, "I am sure that the three of us will be enough to
overpower one."
(Shallam): You say, "We're off then. Wish us luck!"
You tell Abhorash Nehekhara, "Welp, we're off."
Abhorash tells you, "Very well."

It took us a long time, but we eventually found it right as the sun was
setting.

You say, "Glance south."
Guardhouse adjoining a dark passage.
A ghastly undead guard surveys the area with hungry eyes. A wight stands
guard over the area. There are two skeletal guards here.
You see exits leading north and northeast.
You say, "This is bad."
(Shallam): You say, "We're quite outnumbered here..."
The corners of Claudio's mouth turn up as he grins mischievously.
Harmony Ancora says, "Erk."
Kage says, "Indeed."
You say, "I'm going in anyway."
I took in our surroundings...
Passage near a guardhouse.
The cavern looms behind, the torches now coming more sparse, yet in the
distance can be seen a rundown shack of sorts, and the tunnel floor
beneath echos footsteps in the darkness. The musky scent of undead
begins to creep into the air. Kage is here. He wields a steel shortsword
in his left hand and an Amber Sword in his right. Harmony Ancora is
here. She wields a steel shortsword in her left hand. Claudio Romani is
here. He wields an Amber Sword in his right hand.
You see exits leading south and northwest.
Claudio Romani says, "Move fast?"
Kage thwaps you on the head.
You say, "You all still up for this?"
You nod your head at Claudio.
Harmony puts her hands on her hips and goes "Hmmm!"
You say, "If not then turn back now because you probably won't get
another chance."
Kage says, "If I die, I'm taking you with me Strung."
The corners of Kage's mouth turn up as he grins mischievously.
"Heh heh heh" Harmony chuckles.
"Heh heh heh" you chuckle.
Harmony shrugs helplessly.
Kage says, "Move very fast strung."
You say, "To Hell, and hopefully back then."
The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.

We ran around the corner. They might as well have been statues, on our
way in at least.

Claudio Romani says, "So where is he..?"
Before the gates of Bloodloch.
As you come to a set of iron gates, it becomes apparent that this tunnel
is a passage to the dreaded city revealed in the glyphs from the
entrance passage leading here. Beyond can be heard the wails of the
undead, and the screams of tormented living. The walls seem almost
suffocatingly close around you, the air thick with the scent of blood
and sulfur. A dripping sound is loud in this room, and upon closer
inspection you notice a small pool of blood has formed from a small
crack in the stone, as though the mountain itself is wounded and
bleeding. Kage is here. He wields a steel shortsword in his left hand
and an Amber Sword in his right. Harmony Ancora is here. She wields a
steel shortsword in her left hand. Claudio Romani is here. He wields an
Amber Sword in his right hand.
You see exits leading north and east.

A quick glance east, just to be safe.

Bloodloch West Gate.
There are two zombie guards here. A wight prowls about, guarding the
area.
You see exits leading east and west.
(Shallam): Kage says, "We have found the entrance to bloodloch."
You say, "More to the east..."
Kage follows you east.
Harmony follows you east.
Claudio follows you east.
West cavern entrance.
Abhorash Nehekhara is here.
You see exits leading north, south and west.
You bow respectfully to Abhorash.
You say, "There you are!"
West cavern entrance.
A tremendous pit full of intensely glowing lava dominates the center of
this cavern. In the middle of the pool of lava, there is a sort of
island, with buildings on it but details are hard to make out through
the shimmer of heat waves. The stench of sulfur permeates the area and
great blasts of hot air comebillowing up from lava. Encircling the pit
is rough stone ledge wide enough fora wagon and one or two people to
walk abreast. All the wagons stay against the outer wall and go
counter-clockwise around the cavern to reach their destinations. There's
a steep, straight drop from the inner edge of the ledge down into the
lava. There is no wall or railing along the inner edge, so the guards
and few people you see walking here keep their distance. The cavern
ceiling arches high over your head, and is made of the same rough stone
as the ledge.
Kage is here. He wields a steel shortsword in his left hand and an Amber
Sword in his right. Abhorash Nehekhara is here. Harmony Ancora is here.
She wields a steel shortsword in her left hand. Claudio Romani is here.
He wields an Amber Sword in his right hand.

I'd been hoping that the story about him hitting his head was correct,
but as soon as I looked at him, somehow I just knew. I'm not a man of
many words but my heart sank like, a, well... I cried, later on.
He is a tiger-like Rajamala vampire. He is wearing:
a canvas backpack
three pocketbelts

The rest of the clothing he had had was almost completely gone, torn off
and stained with blood and dirt.

Harmony curtseys respectfully before Abhorash.
Kage tells you, "Look at him."
You say, "What a hassle."
Abhorash Nehekhara says, "What do you want mortals?"
(Shallam): Kage says, "He is a tiger-like Rajamala vampire."
(Shallam): Terant says, "Ah, alright...if you're under attack you might
want to stay away from it for now."
(Shallam): You say, "We have to do it guys."
You say, "We just wanted to know that you were OK."
Abhorash Nehekhara says, "I am fine."
Claudio Romani says, "Eh..."
You say, "You sure? You look a little pale."
(Shallam): You say, "Are you ready?"
(Shallam): Kage says, "Indeed."
(Shallam): Kage says, "Let him talk a bit."
Harmony calls upon arcane powers, and her hands are coated in dense
granite.
Abhorash Nehekhara says, "Taunt me not children."
(Shallam): Kage says, "Find out as much as we can."
(Shallam): You say, "It seems pretty obvious to me, maybe we should get
some sort of proof though."
Harmony raises an eyebrow at Abhorash.
You pat Abhorash in a friendly manner.
Kage takes a drink from a pinewood vial.
Harmony Ancora says, "We are not taunting you."
You say, "Man, come back to Shallam with us."
You say, "You've had a rough last couple of days."
Harmony nods her head emphatically.
Claudio Romani says, "Children..?"
Abhorash Nehekhara says, "Are you here to join my city?"
You say, "Shh, he got hurt."
You say, "Your city?"
Abhorash Nehekhara says, "Yes. Bloodloch."
You tell Kage, "Heh, what if our allies ditch us?"
You ponder the situation.
You say, "And you're really a vampire... ?"
Claudio looks up into the air for divine inspiration.
Abhorash Nehekhara says, "Do you doubt."
Kage tells you, "We can take him, two on one, falcon will mess him up
pretty good."
Harmony shakes her head.
You nod your head emphatically.
Claudio Romani says, "I doubt your power."
You raise an eyebrow at Harmony.
Abhorash growls menacingly.
Claudio Romani says to Abhorash, "Care to test it?"
With a soft hiss, Abhorash launches himself at Claudio, battering him in
a frenzied flurry of strikes.
A keen-eyed falcon wounds Abhorash with a glancing cut.
(I had no other weapon, so I had to improvise)
You sink your teeth deep into Abhorash, who howls in pain.
Abhorash leaves to the south.
You say, "That's enough for me."
You say, "We have to take him out now."
Kage says, "The guards south."

What ensued following this was a game of cat and mouse inside of
Bloodloch. Abhorash was strong, but couldn't handle all four of us and a
mean falcon.
We failed however to pin him down and destroy him, and he escaped into
the depths of the place. The guards were also beginning to stir and we
all fled, though in all of the confusion we lost Claudio.

A weak male voice shouts, "Show yourself, Vampire!"
(Shallam): You say, "Can't pin him down."
You tell Abhorash Nehekhara, "Pretty ironic about how we had that
conversation about the vampires earlier eh *grin*."
Kage tells you, "If we hadn't lost that fool Claudio..."
(Shallam): You say, "We're pulling out before he rallies all of the
undead in here."
Harmony closes her eyes and bows her head.
Abhorash tells you, "Indeed mortal."
You tell Harmony Ancora, "I suggest you portal."

Moments later...
Zanzibaar Street.
The stars twinkle in the clear night sky. Cathan is here, sprawled on
the floor. You see a sign here instructing you that WARES is the command
to see what is for sale.
You see exits leading north, east (open door), south and west (open
door).
Abhorash tells you, "And now your friend lies dead."
(Shallam): You say, "Damn, they killed Claudio."
Cathan bows his palms together and bows low, ready to perform the Form
of Lisagi
(Shallam): Terant says, "Gah! Get out of there."
(Shallam): You say, "Most of us did."
Cathan drops confidently into an Eagle fighting stance.
Kage puts his fingers to his lips and utters a shrill whistle.
Cathan lashes out with a competent side kick.
(Shallam): Belgarion says, "I will join the fight."
(Shallam): You say, "It's too dangerous to go in there now."
(Shallam): You say, "There's nearly a hundred aggressive undead."
(Shallam): You say, "Plus Abhorash now."
Cathan swivels around and chains another side-kick to the previous one.
(Shallam): You say, "In fact, we'd better hope they don't come here."
Cathan changes his stance smoothly and begins to circle attentively.
(Shallam): Terant says, "If they do, we fight back."
(Shallam): Kage says, "Abhorash will not be able to mobilize them that
easily."
Cathan's legs give way unexpectedly and he falls to the ground.
(Shallam): You say, "Probably not."
Cathan stands up and stretches his arms out wide.
(Shallam): You say, "He's only just entered into this position, thanks
to Belladona apparently."
Cathan bows his palms together and bows low, ready to perform the Form
of Lisagi.
Kage tells you, "Must.. resist.. curiosity...must..stay..human.."
(Shallam): You say, "Claudio died bravely."
(Shallam): Terant says, "Abhorash is nearby."
Cathan raises his knee as high as he can and freezes like a statue.
Abhorash arrives from the southwest.
With a soft hiss, Abhorash launches himself at you, battering you in a
frenzied flurry of strikes.
You are too stunned to be able to do anything.
You are no longer stunned.

Why lie? I ran like hell and because of that am managing to write this
so as to inform all of you.

(Shallam): Terant says, "My angel is going nuts."
Kage tells you, "Where are ya?"
Abhorash arrives from the west.
(Shallam): Belgarion says, "Where are you all? I will fight by your
side."
(Shallam): You say, "Argh."
Abhorash tells you, "You will perish for your attack on me."
(I was fleeing from him throughout all of this part really which is why
he bothered to send me a tell instead of kill me)
(Shallam): You say, "He's way to strong for us."
(Shallam): Terant says, "I'm coming."
(Shallam): You say, "Yes, try lighting him on fire."
(Shallam): Belgarion says, "Where are you guys?"
Kage tells you, "Where are you?!"
You tell Abhorash Nehekhara, "We all have to go sometime."
(Shallam): You say, "The fire should hurt him."
(Shallam): You say, "I'm bleeding everywhere, I'm probably a goner."
(Shallam): Harmony says, "It should hurt him badly!"
(Shallam): Harmony says, "*frown* I wish I could channel fire right into
him... that would get 'im."
(Shallam): Terant says, "I seared him."
(Shallam): Terant says, "Lost him though."
(Shallam): You say, "Hmmm."
(Shallam): You say, "Let's try to rally on Fish street."
(Shallam): Claudio says, "Forget it.."
(Shallam): You say, "Did he leave?"
(Shallam): Claudio says, "We're not strong enough.."
(Shallam): Belgarion says, "With all of us we will be."
(Shallam): Kage says, "I believe so Strung."
(Shallam): You say, "He's still in a young rajamala body."
(Shallam): Terant says, "Yes, he did, my angel calmed down. I set him on
fire, but I believe he put it out."

That was the end of it for now. We failed to destroy him, but luckily he
only took one of us that first night. I think however that everyday life
from now on is going to be very, very different.

Strung

Penned by my hand on the 20th of Arios, in the year 53 MA.