Setting
Inside the room cuts away from the more polygonal layout of the rest of the castle to become almost perfectly circular. The walls are lined with various tapestries depicting scenes from folklore and mythology. A banner tapestry of the Vankoryth Detente emblem hangs on display. There is only one window, little more than an arrow-slit, is often covered by a miniature pair of crimson 'curtains'. The room is candle lit by an old chandelier which hangs from the ceiling.
The centre and main attraction of the room comes in the form of the large, round table carved from stone that sits in the middle. With enough room for perhaps twenty people to sit around the outside; and each would get their own chair fashioned out of oak and decorated with a slim, bold-coloured cushion.
She looked to Casren.
"Apparently our host was expecting them, so there isn't any reason to be alarmed." The edict was still clutched in her hands. She'd had a chance to read it over, twice.
She laid it down on the table. "I don't see any loopholes, though, I don't know how Detective Delancy would feel about the people being encouraged to turn in non-native residents to your doorstep for a fund."
Her expression was wan. "Sounds like freelance merc work if you ask me."
"I'll just make an annoying noise if they start getting too close, then." he said dully, in an attempt not to distract from the meeting.
"At the time the Blood Edict was conceived, there were very hostile happenings. Wing City was a rampant place, with all due respects. The Detente figured they would more or less accelerate the problem towards peace." He smiled, revealing fangs like needles.
Casren turned the smile to Casper, "That would be much appreciated." He winked, then looked again to Alexandra.
"Perhaps we can negotiate a clause? As you can see, the Humanity clause was added to protect non-vampires in these hostile times. The last thing the Detente wants is a human caught in the crossfires. As for the Elysium clause, it is an attempt to draw out the civilized of our kind, so they need not plague Wing City anymore, and the City need not plague them." He breathed in, smelling their weird. It was starting to get to him a bit.
"The true goal of the Blood Edict is to, as a brethren once said, "Separate the Men from the Monsters from the Dogs."
"It shouldn't state that other vampires are required to become a member," she said, "...but I do believe there should be some sort of a signature, a registration, perhaps, of vampires who come who are not true residents. They can be given a chance to acknowledge the laws we've put in place, and will be barred access should they choose not to agree."
A small smile. "Then, of course, the law would come into effect should there be some sort of violation."
"The Detente is not a frivolous membership. To be a member of the Vankoryth Detente is to choose humanity over the beast inside. Are you familiar with our creeds? Are you familiar with the cultures of Vampires? We're very fickle, and tend to like war and violence, and subterfuge," He waved a hand, smile growing, "Deceit, lies, blood, anguish!"
Casren leaned back in his chair, nodding.
"We live forever, can you blame us for wanting some theatrics? However," The smile faded, "It is in this theatre that the innocent die, splash damage as they call it in war," It was a term he had picked up from hanging around Tower Alba. Military men were truly entertaining with a bit of wine in their system. "The Vankoryth Detente wishes to eliminate splash damage, or at least minimize it. Whoever doesn't stand with us is assumed to be against what we are for, as we stand for all you do. These individuals wish not to account for their actions, care not for the lives they take."
Casren looked to the window, awaiting some more noise. When none came, he looked back to Alexandra.
"Your other points are sound. The laws of Wing City stand above all else. I warn you of those that think they exist above the law. It is they who are our true enemies."
After his little speech, Casren placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward.
"Now, shall we negotiate a clause, or is the Blood Edict free to be enforced in Wing City?"
"I'll be sure to let Detective Delancy know that we've reached a peaceable decision, unless there's anything you need from me." She glanced to Casper, signalling quietly that it was about time for them to go.
He put one foot infront of the other, and sauntered over to where Alexandra had been standing. Another glance to Casren. "Joke, by the way. And it looks like we're not going to have any trouble with the guys in alien ships with flashlights, so, hey. Treaty and more. I'd give you a high-five, but you don't look like the type."
"Now, if we could just get this in writing, that would be great."
He slid the paper and autoink quill to Alexandra, and shot Casper a smile. "I'd love a high five, but I don't think you'd like one from me."
"I'll be signing in her name," she noted to Casren with a small smile.
"She is Chief of Police, after all."
With that, she signed Detective Delancy's name with a flourish, before laying down the quill.
"It was a pleasure, Casren. I hope we'll have a chance to visit some time in the future." She turned, touching Casper's arm lightly, and moved for the door.
He'd picked up the quill, taken the document, and signed so unintelligibly under Casey Delancy's name that it wouldn't be discernable between 'Harpert' and 'Saladino'. It was a feat, but afterward, he'd given a mighty smirk.
Then, he'd set the quill down, raised his hand again, and nodded toward it, eyes still on Casren.
"Diplomacy five, then. As long as you're not going to break my fingers, or anything."
The center of the table began to rumble, shifting, magically coming apart to a series of sections, before the sections rotated away. Revealed was a small spiral staircase.
Casren descended, knowing the secret Armory of the Castle was below. The table closed behind him.
A cloaked head popped over the horizon of the pit, as Casren ascended the hidden staircase. Beneath the cloak he was armed with a few weapons he hoped would prove handy on his endeavor. An enchanted blade, nothing all too special but especially sharp, a gun loaded with silver bullets and a couple extra clips, and a few things designed by Descorp. His cell phone, of course, which he had discovered down there in the secret armory had something called GPS. How long had this existed, how long had he foolishly mapped?
And how long had Maxime been here?
He stared, standing on the edge of the pit as the table pulled itself back together behind him. Then, the room was silent.
It was an offhanded sounding question, but ridiculously important.Of course! Is the Pool of Nyx secure?
He next looked around, sensing another, mildly harried that he had been interrupted on his way out.
Protect the Cursed Wood, and all who seek refuge in these trees. Let Verinotte Hollow, and the safety of the creatures who flee to this forest, be a haven to the supernatural, to those who wish to live in peace from the war between Man and Night. So be them peaceful, so protect them. This is the highest command, the highest order, the most important request I can make.
Casren next turned to Kaiser, and gestured towards a seat.
Kaiser, my dearest of friends,
He meant for the poor man to sit while he finished speaking with Maxime.
At this Casren paused. He had not been prepared to discuss this, but it came. Slowly, his gazed lingered on Kaiser, before snapping back to Maxime.Wing City Lake has been poisoned with Elysium, the Pool of Nyx is an obvious target. Our people must be protected, at all costs. The people of Wing City, the Supernaturals, they must be allowed entry, civility must be enforced,
With a wave of his arms, he dismissed Maxime, and whirled to Kaiser.Alucard. Ubarum Xul. They are wanted. Find them. Make sure they do as little damage as, as, as, as possible!