Yurek Vradelski, witch finder/ demon hunter

It was a cold winter evening, all the trees where covered with snow, and even wild animals retired to a long sleep to live through this harsh season. The villagers of Lurdang, carried on their normal routine, cutting the logs for the fireplace, milking the cows, preparing the cheese, and other such activities. They were common people, farmers, hard workers, good-hearted men and women. They KNEW, but their life was much better then before, when attacks where random and from different sources. At least, they could cope with the offerings and thought themselves safe from other plagues.

He was there, reading their thoughts and lurking by their windows. The bad weather didn't bother him at all, not even people looking directly in his direction, they just couldn't see him. The shadows were his allies, and darkness his young sister, he was their master, their protector, and they, his food. His eyes were not looking for preys or victims, but for knowledge. The Lord, was fascinated by these mortals, that could live a happy (for what it means!) life in such fragile bodies. Curiosity and boredom made him visit them often in these days, not in person, but in a way only he knew. He was there, smelling the air they lived in, hearing their sometimes hard but in the same time warm voices, and searching the eyes of young lovers when they think they're alone. Love, for instance, what was so special in this emotion, not a mere reproduction urge, no, something else, something that bonds people forever. He could do this, but it was different, his subjects where always slaves and not free will followers. And with a thought he was back in his castle in a crack of the mountain Achrill, were he stayed in these last 400 years.

Offering day came, and as usual the martyr was chosen randomly from the villagers. Elisa Blagar, daughter of Gunther the blacksmith, was chosen by fate. She was 18 and one of the most beautiful creatures nature ever created. She was taken, to tree of blood, where dark minions would rise from the dead and take away the victim to their master. Lord Vdastar was awaiting in his throne room after his prayer to his lord and master, the dark one himself. His eyes widened when he saw the manifestation of pureness in this girl, she was unique, he knew, he could feel her fear, courage and determination. She was ready to die for her loved ones, to give her life for others. There he made his decision, he would not kill the woman but instead, hiding her in a cave in the top of the mountain and learn to love. She accepted, making him promise to feed on animals and not on other humans. Lord Vdastar was willing to pay the price, so he took her into his care and gave her whatever she wanted.

A couple of years passed, and everything was fine, the villagers were much happy to know that the master needed only animals to feed and not people. Elisa, started to understand her husband, a creature that lived in solitude for hundreds of years without no one to love, hated by everyone and hunted for life. He managed to find what he was looking for, a feeling like none before, and a good enough reason to hide it from his master. But as we all know, such things are not meant to stay forever. She was pregnant, a human baring the child of a vampire ancient. Vdastar was happy to have a child, but this was the beginning of the disaster.

The woman gave birth to a healthy child, but the task was to heavy for the mother, and so she died while holding her son. The vampire lord became furious, his beloved died like nothing, he was there and couldn't do a thing. He then thought about all this and blamed it on the villagers. They must have plotted all this to weaken me and destroy my power, but I shall devour their souls and let them die in horrific ways. So after leaving the baby in the middle of the forest, to be eaten by wolves, he flied to the village and destroyed every living creature, leaving only corpses and mutilated bodies. He then destroyed his castle and wasn't seen again in these regions.

"This, my boy, is the story of your true father and mother. You are not my son, not that I wouldn't want that, but this is the truth. I was the one that found you under a tree just in time, as a pack of wolves where ready to devour you", the old man took another sip from his hot tea and looked carefully at the young man sitting in front of him. The boy was shocked and bewildered by these words, he knew he was different, maybe even cursed, but not to this extent.

"Yurek, I will always consider you as my son, but I couldn't keep this secret from you, forever. I cannot forget, when you were 5, the accident with the puppy. I found you cutting the poor thing to bits and drinking its blood…god help me…I was going to hit you, but there was no evil in your eyes, just the urge to drink blood. Yes, my son, that's why you have blood craving, it's in your nature, but you must control it, don't forget that half of you is human". Nichta (the old man), cleared his voice and continued "I have showed you how to track and hunt down those damn witches and their demon minions, use your abilities as best as you can to destroy them. We must...yes we will, destroy them all". Yurek was confused, in a way, he always knew that the man he always called father wasn't infact his true one.

"But father, what will happen to me. I am afraid of what I am becoming, what if I start to like the idea of drinking people's blood? What if I become the hunted?" asked Yurek to his father-in-law. The campfire was dying out, it needed more wood. The two of them were camped in the middle of a small forest, while on their journey to reach other witch finders further to the north. Nichta, woke up and picked up some more wood, but suddenly he stooped and placed his hand on his scabbard preparing his combat stance. "Watch it kid, we have company", were his last words, as 3 arrows appeared from the trees and hit the old man in his chest. Although very wounded, he managed to call upon himself all the magical energies he could reach and fired a huge ball of fire towards the attackers. The bandits were caught in the flames, but that was not just it, everything was burning and smoke could be seen even from Andur. The boy cried, his rage burning inside of him, he felt great hatred towards the bandits and suddenly he had this urge to kill and drink human blood. In this state, he let it feed from his soul, and felt stronger and faster, so he ran until he found the only survivor of the group of bandits. Without realizing his fangs and claws where deep inside his prey, spraying blood allover the place and he drank and drank until there was no more. He felt strong and fearless, his vampiric nature of predator had come out in full. Nonetheless, the craving died, together with his sudden courage, and there he sat, miserable, all covered with blood. Did I do this, was it really me, he thought. Rain started to remove the trace of blood from his, now, normal hands, but he couldn't forget what he did. The flames died out, but the camp, and everything with it was all burnt together with his father's corpse.

Wondering from town to town, he continued to follow his father's mission, to destroy all witches and fellow demons from this planet. He did not consider vampires to be evil, he was one of them, sort of, and did not consider himself to be evil. It's the course of nature, he would say to himself, the weak is eaten by the stronger race, was his excuse for all this. His secondary mission was to find a real vampire and share his thoughts with him, but that wasn't an easy task.

Years passed and while on the tracks of a demon that had just attacked a nearby village, Yurek, found this mansion, which at first seemed to be abandoned. The tracks leaded to the opposite direction, but he felt that something was calling him inside the house. It was like a call for help, more then anything else. He remembered his training at the school of the two swords, accepting students to learn the art of the blade, and also the time spent with Sir Jitty, the thief from the city of Servan. Cautiously, sword out, he entered the house from one of the windows, and entered a huge hallway where an improvised ceremony was being held. Inside a man was strapped to a wooden pole and around him 5 man wearing cloaks, throwing holy water and curses to him. The man was no common man, he had very long fangs and his eyes were blood red, he was one of Them. He was suffering, I could feel his pain, and they were mocking him and threatening him with holy symbols. I could recognize that item, they were the order of the silver stake, vampire hunters. A sudden urge to free that creature, was growing inside of him, he always thought of humans to be the weaker race, and couldn't stand the way they were treating the vampire.

So stealthily, he removed the vampire's straps and fired magical bolts of energy, a trick learned from his training as a witch finder, "Use their own magic, son, that's the secret", used to tell him his now dead father. The other vampire was too weak to fight so in the midst of confusion he grabbed his brother and escaped with him. Yurek, easily lost the priests, and found a cave entrance. There he tended his companion, bringing him rabbits and other such animals. The vampire managed to heal himself pretty fast.

"I am Sindar of Kunglesh, I thank you for your help, but to tell the truth I am surprised of your actions, mortal" said the vampire in a deep voice that felt like thunder storm in the middle of a sunny day. This was his first time, finally he was infront of a real one…a vampire like his real father. "You speak not to me, yet I see no fear, but curiosity in your eyes. I can sense your aura, it's very strange, you're not a common mortal, never…there it is, you have vampire blood in you. You amaze me, I thought I saw a lot in my lifetime, but you are truly something!" Sindar stopped to examine his savior's features, "From your expression, I can tell, that this is your first time to meet someone of my race. I will not ask you your origins, but you saved me. I'll help you in discovering your powers and give a hint," he then woke up and continued "you may think that we are the stronger race and we should dominate the planet, but be aware that everything has its place. You are what you are and never be ashamed but still never underestimate other races. I speak from experience, some of us, are just mere man hunters, they like the idea of killing. We're no different from the mortals you live with, some of us hate their state, and others enjoy. Always keep your eyes upon, vampires are powerful creatures, judge well."

They passed a whole year travelling together. Sindar, wasn't your usual blood lusting vampire as told by bards and sages, he didn't enjoy the killing, but still, whenever a fight came by, nothing could stop him. Yurek learned a lot from this great being, but Sindar had to leave, his destiny was calling, some greater force was controlling him. He had to continue with his travels.

While on a visit to the city of Ulst, he received a worrying message from another witch finder (he kept some contacts with some fellow hunters, but never spoke about his true nature). Bad omens showed the play of a witch in the high courts of the realm. He quickly discovered of the marriage of the king with the new queen, and the changes to her armies. The king was becoming very ill and the letter mentioned some suspects on a certain woman called Norda. His mission was to investigate and destroy the maiden of the dark lord.

After burning the letter, he enrolled himself to the guard and started his investigation. Once, while having a drink with his guard mates, a woman of obvious intentions, asked him to join her for a few silver, and being also a man, he agreed. She undressed him and threw him, softly, on her bed, and was thrilled by his tattoo figuring a snake curled around his left leg. The tattoo was always there, but his father-in-law never gave explanations on its origins. She strapped his hands and feet to the bed with some rope made of silk, saying that it was more exciting this way. Yurek was enjoying himself, and when asked to close his eyes he did. Suddenly, he felt his left leg twitch, and felt a sense of danger, then opened his eyes and saw the woman with a knife trying to stab him. Instinctively, he willed the snake to attack the woman, and this is what it happened. Poppet (the name that Yurek gave to the snake when he was young), came to life, made its way to her neck and strangled her. It had worked, Poppet saved him, it was obeying him. Who knows maybe a gift from his real father. Whatever it was, it became his familiar and guardian, warning him of trouble when it arrived.

Armed with his natural and magical abilities, skills, sword use and Poppet he was determined more then ever to discover what lurked behind the king's illness and destroy the witch.

NC '99