FINAL GATE

`````But with Ja'Shin's aid, Jandar had overcome the beast within, and incidents like that were few and far between. Jandar watched the "sunrise" until the illusionary golden disk was well above the horizon before turning to the other and sighing.
`````"All right, Jas," he growled, trying to appear angry, "enough! I've got better things to do than watch you play." Ja'Shin opened his eyes and the illusion faded. The sun became the moon and day was consumed by night.
`````"Especially today," Ja'Shin asked, the smile on his face only growing.
`````Jandar nodded. "Yes. Especially today."
`````This night held special meaning for Jandar, since it was this same night many years ago when Jandar's wife, Elizabeth, had mysteriously disappeared. Jandar never spoke much of her, but when he did, Ja'Shin saw in his friend's face the faint hope that she would return. Ja'Shin had been away during those years when they were together, but thankfully had returned after her disappearance when Jandar was suicidal. Ja'Shin had a few physical -- and not so few mental – scars from Jandar trying to hurt him enough so that Ja'Shin would leave him alone. Ja'Shin's resolve, devotion and talent had been one of the cornerstones of Jandar's recovery.
`````Jandar and Ja'Shin walked in respectful silence along the coastline, up a woodland path, and ultimately to an abandoned cottage. Ja'Shin stopped several paces from the doorway, leaving his companion alone and devoted himself to keeping his friend protected during these proceedings. Jandar continued on, ducking under the decaying entryway and moving into, what used to be, the bedroom. Taking a blood-red rose from his cloak, he knelt, and placed it on the floor. Then he bowed his head and fell silent.
After several moments, Jandar stood and walked out, nodding to Ja'Shin

`````After the cottage was out of sight and Jandar's mood lifted, Ja'Shin looked at his companion and broke the silence.
`````"So," he said tentatively, "how did it all happen? You two meeting, I mean. I never heard the whole story."
`````"Not much to tell." Jandar's eyes grew distant as he recalled those now-painful memories. "You know how it goes, boy meets girl-"

`````They had met in a tavern, of all places. He was looking for vampires to slay and she was a young woman in search of adventure. Jandar had word that one of the local lords was preying on villagers, especially women, and Elizabeth had been summoned by a lord to appear at his court. Jandar, never one to miss an opportunity, offered to be her bodyguard on the long, dark roads ahead. She accepted and their fates were
sealed.

`````"-Boy falls in love with girl-"

`````Unfortunately, Jandar never found hard evidence against the lord to pin him as a vampire, so he remained in town, accompanying Elizabeth every time she was summoned to appear before him. They grew close and, as it tends to, love began to blossom.

`````"-Boy marries girl-"

`````After two years of observation, Jandar had found the hard evidence he needed, but he put the elimination of the vampire lord aside for making marriage plans. Finally, on a beautiful autumn day, they were joined.

`````"-Boy gets called away-"

`````Their honeymoon was cut short when Jandar received word that a large vampire group was slowly moving westward. Jandar left immediately and vowed to return soon.

`````"-Boy returns to his beloved-"

`````Jandar return to their cottage several months later to his wife, and after many hours of recounting events, they retired for the evening.

`````"-Boy and girl are happy-"

`````She attacked him in the middle of the night, clawing at him with savage fury, her eyes more feral than loving. Jandar fought back, but Elizabeth had changed. She lifted him off of the ground as if he were a rag doll and cast him against the wall. With inhuman speed she was on him again, pinning him against the wall by his shoulders. She bared long fangs and snarled before darting for his neck.

`````"-Girl disappears in the night."

`````Jandar fought on two fronts, one for consciousness and the other with himself. Should he slay the vampire, his enemy, and his wife, his love? His vision became blurred and his movements sluggish, the first sign of vampirism. Should he allow her to live and hope they can love in unlife? His mouth became dry and he felt unusually thirsty, the second sign. Jandar summoned up all of his strength and launched his attack, grabbing a stake from his belt, hanging nearby, and ramming it home into her heart.
She convulsed once before exploding into a plume of dust.
`````Jandar had saved his own life at the cost of another's, or so he thought.

`````Ja'Shin saw the tension etched into Jandar's face and decided to let the issue drop. Having lost his love and his home in the Frontier War, Ja'Shin knew what Jandar was going through. Since the fall of the Hunter's Conclave, the Divarian was never his old self, and subject to bouts of severe depression. Whenever Ja'Shin and Jandar were together, they seemed to feel off of each other's pain, and somehow grew stronger. This happened only after a long bout of insults and bickering, and even a good melee. Neither injured the other past bruises and scratched due to the fact that both combatants were seasoned fighters and knew how to pull blows. However, since Ja'Shin was the only one armed and armored at the moment, any fighting that happened this day would be purely hand-to-hand. Ja'Shin couldn't help but snicker; it seemed as if their entire relationship was based on arguing and fighting.
`````"What's so funny, Jas," Jandar muttered, elbowing his friend in the ribs.
`````"Us." Ja'Shin noticed the smirk on Jandar's face and prepared himself for anything. "Look at us, Jan. Two old fools kicking around life like we own it. I feel downright useless nowadays with all of the young blood bouncing around, and you are useless; all dark and brooding about everything."
`````"You're coming up on, what, you six thousandth birthday within the next few weeks?"
`````"Bite me," Ja'Shin grinned. "I'm only five hundred."
`````"Now that you mention it," Jandar said brightly, fangs elongating, "I am a bit hungry."
`````Ja'Shin chuckled wryly and offered an arm. Jandar smacked it away quickly. Divarians had a natural defense against vampires; being magically infused creatures, Divarian blood took to vampires like a dose of charcoal ingested by a human.
Jandar's reaction to Ja'Shin's blood when they had first met had been mild, causing Jandar to retch for only an hour. The Divarian never quite understood how he was able to walk amongst the vampire population unmolested, but he always assumed that word got around.
`````A deep-toned bell sang out thirteen times off to the south, and the two friends passed a confused look between them.
`````"What was that," Ja'Shin growled.
`````"The Bell of Vitae," Jandar replied glumly. "A signal to our kindred that a great danger is about the land. I need to go."
`````"Right behind you." Ja'Shin was already glowing a sullen amber, a sign that he was about to use his magic.
`````"No mortals, Jas."
`````"Like hell I'm going to sit this one out! I got loyalties to uphold, ya know." Ja'Shin blurred into the form of a large white wolf and cast a daring look at Jandar before the golden aura faded.
`````"No means no, Jas. True, the Bell calls for a truce among factions, but that does not mean that mortals are included. You may get hurt if you attend."
`````"So? If they ask about me, say that I'm your snack for the proceedings." Jandar could only gag as he turned his path southward.

`````The two arrived at the Temple of Midnight shortly after the Bell of Vitae chimed again. Ja'Shin and Jandar fell into the slow-moving train of bodies that wound down the north face of a mountain pass and ultimately into a long, snaking tunnel. As each vampire crossed the threshold of the tunnel, black tendrils of shadow encased each one in order to maintain anonymity. Within the Temple, all were equals and the veil of darkness denied any heated conversations from being taken outside to the physical level. Ja'Shin used his magic to draw the shadows about himself, as the form of a wolf made his muscles cramp up, and joined the mass flowing into the audience hall.
`````The Temple of Midnight itself was a bowl of black marble into which tier upon tier had been carved. At the base of the bowl, each Prince -- or Princess, as some Clans had -- sat on a small throne bearing the symbol of their faction on its back. In the center of the thrones was a high dais where the Speaker stood, a dark figure dressed in flowing, blood red robes. As with tradition, the Speaker wore a white mask; its only distinguishing marks were the gaping, snake-like mouth with elongated fangs, and the inverted crimson triangles beneath each eyehole. As everyone was seated, the Speaker rapped a gnarled oak staff on the ground sharply, calling the group to order.
`````"For centuries," the Speaker intoned, "we vampires have been secreting ourselves amongst the mortals, trying to maintain and empire forged many years before us. The goal of that empire has been nothing less than the total dominion over the mortals.
For centuries, we vampires have played a game of chess; moving pawns forward and securing power in an attempt to reach that goal, and for centuries, we have failed.
`````"This has been caused due to a growing amount of discord within the Clans. Some of our kind have been working alongside our prey, and there are those of us who actively seek out and destroy our brethren for revenge." A low rumble reverberated throughout the chamber as many vampires growled at that fact.
`````"I feel your anger, my brothers and sisters, but I bear even graver news: a vampire hunter is slowly destroying us Clan by Clan."
`````"Surely you can't be saying that a mere mortal is giving our kind enough trouble to require us here," one form called down.
`````"Out of order," the Speaker mused, "but no less a valid question. True, were it a mortal, the Bell of Vitae would not have been sounded, but we are not dealing with a mortal. The floor will now recognize Lord Balzemier, one of the only ones of us to survive the Hunter's attacks. Lord Balzemier to the dais, please."
`````A subtle murmur flowed through the Temple as a charred and misshapen form clad in a well-tailored suit mounted the dais. Prince Balzemier had been considered by many to have been a handsome, if not dashing, figure, but the creature that now stood next to the Speaker could only be called hideous at best. Balzemier stood hunched over slightly, his flesh crawling visibly as it worked to heal itself at an accelerated rate. His taloned hands hung weakly at his side, the nails long and twisted. Balzemier's face was frozen in a scowl of concentration, and as he spoke, his voice shifted between strained and
tortured.
`````"Fellow vampires," he began, scanning the room with his shrewd eyes, "indeed the thing that did this to me was no mere mortal. My attacker was a creature from beyond the Realm; a demonic killer that has no equal on this plane. Indeed, only through my luck and cunning was I able to survive."

`````"Whatever," someone yelled. "You probably were scared by a rabbit and stumbled into the sun. You're only calling this meeting to save your reputation and pride."
`````"Perhaps," Balzemier admitted, stretching his hand toward the speaker. The unfortunate individual rose several feet from the ground, clutching his chest and writhing in pain. After a moment of high-pitched screaming, the floating vampire exploded in a shower of blood that flowed down into Balzemier's mouth. The body hit the floor with a final-sounding thump. "But then again, you will never know now, will you?"
`````"Now," Balzemier said brightly, his body suddenly healthy again, "I trust that there will be no further interruptions? Good! Let's move on, shall we?"
`````Balzemier paced about the dais for a moment.
`````"This creature parades about this Realm as a human under the name of Zevyr Darim, and I assure you that he is no pushover. However, he hails from a shadowed reality that was beyond our reach until a few days ago. One of our numbers uncovered an artifact that would allow one of our kind to traverse the barrier between this reality and the next. Through our efforts, we have been able to duplicate the artifact. We intend to send three volunteers across the barrier to locate Zevyr and destroy him. I have been notified by Princess Alyianna of the Shadow family that Tiara Darkstone has already volunteered.
I need two more brave...shall we say...souls to aid me."
`````Ja'Shin nudged Jandar, and Jandar's hand shot up reluctantly. Balzemier nodded and called out for another.
`````"Why me," Jandar muttered, glaring at Ja'Shin.
`````"Simple, bro," Ja'Shin grinned. "Tia's my friend, but I can't go to help, as I'm no blood-sucker. That leaves you, ya lucky bum!"
`````"You owe me big for this one, pleb!"
`````"Deal. 'Sides, you're already picked, bud. Too bad I'm not a vampire, eh, Jan?"
`````"I can fix that," Jandar growled darkly.
`````"Drink?" Ja'Shin proffered his wrist yet again, but it was slapped away.
`````"Shut up and go 'way!"
`````"Anyway, something about his story doesn't ring true."
`````"Oh?" Jandar turned his glare back to the other.
`````"Just a hunch." Ja'Shin replied.
`````"Next time you have a hunch, let me know so that I have ample time to beat you!"
`````Ja'Shin chuckled and escorted Jandar down to the dais where Tiara and the other volunteer were waiting.

`````Jandar and his companions mounted the dais, coming upon -- what Ja'Shin had aptly named -- "the Darkling family." Tiara Darkstone, a raven-haired woman of lithe, supple grace from beyond the Northern Reaches stood next to Ri'Ind Ti'Shan, her long-time lover and ex-Master of the Hunter's Conclave. As usual, she wore a loose-fitting, light brown bodice with a daring neckline and a snug pair of breeches of similar hue. About her waist sat a thick leather belt from which hung two strangely curved daggers only slightly shorter than her forearms, like canine teeth of some fierce predator. A pair of smaller throwing daggers sat at the tops of her boots, ready to be used, and she absently maneuvered an ornate knife from finger to finger. Ri'Ind, swathed all in black seemed to watch everything at once and appeared to be Tiara's shadow given form.
`````Beyond those two, Timber Darksbane conversed quietly with her husband, Dinin. Timber's warm smile was mirrored on her lover's face as they talked, if only more dark and sinister. Her deep red hair almost matched the color of Dinin's cloak, which was the hue of dried blood, and cascaded neatly down her back like a ruby waterfall. She was clad in a neat blue dress, which reflected off of her emerald eyes, as would a sea at twilight. Like Tiara, she was armed with an ornate dagger that hung neatly at her side. As Jandar and his counterpart stepped into the ring of light, Dinin politely broke away from his chat and approached Ja'Shin.
`````Darkheart, Darkstone, and Darksbane; a diverse group bearing a common root in name. With all assembled, the refreshed and restored Balzemier stepped from the shadows, flanked by the Speaker and another man who muttered to himself, nodding every now and then. The volunteers and their companions formed a semicircle in front of Balzemier as the Prince began to speak. His words were calm and his tone low, but an air of command was nestled within. `````"Thank you all for accepting this dangerous, yet necessary task of eliminating this threat to our kind. Successful or not, your bravery will be remembered throughout history.
`````"Now, to put aside the pleasantries, I have brought with me my brother," Balzemier motioned to the other man, who was still muttering, "Kenzir, to be your guide to and from the nether realm from which Zevyr hails. He can give you valuable information about customs, organizations, and the basic 'do's' and 'don'ts'"
`````Balzemier hefted three talismans marked with alien glyphs and handed one to Jandar, Tiara and Timber.
`````"These artifacts will endow you with the ability to traverse the barrier between our reality and his. However, once you pass through the Gate into the other reality, you must return to the same Gate in order to come up this reality again. Counter to that, you must only will yourself to cross from this reality to the other, regardless of location. We have yet to be able to explain it.
`````"I have stated all that you need to know at this time. My Lord and Master has informed me of little more on this matter, so you are not the only ones in the dark, so to speak. Kenzir, you have your instructions. All of you are dismissed."
`````Kenzir seemed to snap out of his trance and nodded to Balzemier. Without another word, Kenzir reached into the front of his black tunic and drew out a more battered version of the strange talisman -- most likely, Jandar thought, the original. Kenzir seemed to stretch out for a brief second before his form snapped together into a tight glowing line of hot crimson and dissolving. Concentrating on the talisman, Jandar felt a peculiar lurch before the world went black.

`````When the last of the volunteers had vanished and their friends had left, Balzemier turned to the Speaker and grinned evilly.
`````"So, Master Vanador," he crooned, "what do you think of it all?"
`````"The hounds have been set loose. All that remains now is to see if they flush the prey or are taken by it. One way or another, my son, we shall have Zevyr'aluti'ba'darim, and three lives are a small trade."
`````Balzemier nodded, a dark sneer climbing onto his face like a maniacal mask. "Well put, my master. Well put, indeed."

-------------------------------------------------------

And thus ends another section to the vast tale that there is to tell. What further mysteries will be revealed next time?

All right, so I sound like a light-blasted soap opera with those lines, but oh well. Some have made the comment that this is very World of Darkness, and to that I only have this to say: it is my own creation, true as life and honest as rain. Since much of what goes on within the Tavern and other parts of the Realm are based on the WoD, I had to tread softly when writing this part of the story. The first prologue was mostly written from Zevyr's perspective, so the terminology was easy. Not so with this section.
"Kindred" and other such references are nowadays associated with White Wolf that any other time you use it, someone always has to yell "plagiarist!"

Comments and questions (even a suggestion or two) are always appreciated, and those who do not understand certain parts of the story, or would like to learn more need only say so. I see feedback as a way to refine my "art" and make it more enveloping.

Also, I'd like to apologize if I did not represent your character correctly, did not dress him/her as you had, or armed them differently than you intended. One thing I did not regret changing is the typical Goth "black hair, pale-skinned, wan-looking" vampire archetype. Too many of those out there have those traits and it’s uneven. For some it fits, others it doesn't. I have depicted the features of the characters as I have imagined them. If there are those that want to refresh my memory as to what the character is armed with or looks like, be my guest. To those who already have, I remember well, but may keep what is written.

Until next time, kiddies!

Jas

P.S.: Just for fun (if it worked) I have included the Malaphim glyph that I whipped up for the RPG. If anyone would like to join up with me and help me create this, they are more than welcome to do so. I desperately need people I can trust, and writing a whole world down -- to the tiniest detail -- is rough, and setting it in order is tougher. Ciao!