Silverhawk - The night started with the realization that we were not somewhere else. We had travel back in time. Casper suggested that we were in Fertilium, the name of the Hardlands before the great drying that turned it into a desert. I don't know if it has something to do with the nature of this place but the air carries more vibrance and definition for me. The flowering apple tree blossoms were sweeter than I ever remember them. The moon too shed more light. I could see more distant things that my memory can recall. The scent of freshly cut garlic cut through all the others smells, but it was the smell of perfumed death that gave me cause to start.

Around us the humble cottages of hard working folk warmed my spirit from the frigid hold of what I feared was near. The fear was spreading trough us with the efficiency of winter cold. The living dead had visited us before in the depths of tombs. Here we stood in a populated village surrounded by life. Death was an unwelcome visitor here and he showed his work to us presently. As we toured the village the few simple folk who respected the traditions of folklore and superstition were spared their lives. The nobles who had forgotten such notions had paid for their pride with their lives. Now we would act as witnesses to their fatal mistake.

We entered into the open front door of the Heisenberg tower. The carnage was everywhere. Apparently dinner service was underway when the attack came. The food chain had been turned on them in a way only a superior predator could. The waste and gluttony on the part of predator and prey sickened me. I wanted to comfort myself that they had gotten what they deserved. The brutality of the attack kept me for landing on that conclusion. Again my senses seemed to be enhanced in this place. The room was brighter and more detailed. The coppery smell of blood seemed to reveal details about the diets of the diseased. The infusion of information from my senses threatened to overwhelm me and I felt sick in the pit of my stomach.

Celeste and the others pressed further into the tower, leaving me and Corman to protect the entrance. Within minutes we were responding to shouts from the lower level. When I arrived in what must have been an armory I say that Calais, Enzo, Celeste were in close combat with feral looking children. Further inspection reveal that they were vampiric. Sullivan called them Nosferatu. I'm not sure what that meant, but the site of Celeste on her back with one gnawing at her throat was enough to convince me of their eminent threat.

In less than a minute we had repelled the children, but that did not serve to sooth my nerves. Upstairs we heard screams from where Kirkland's men had been watching the door. Corman had gone upstairs to assist them. He would soon find himself in need of assistance. After dispatching the three nosferatu that Celeste had managed to chase away with her cross of Cuthbert, we rushed upstairs. We arrived in time to see Corman in the clutches of an adult female vampire. Neither of them was touching the floor she seemed to hold him off the floor through sheer desire to fly. I could see no other power that would suspend the two. Celeste pounced on Corman. preventing the vampire from stealing him away.

I made a quick count of the remaining troops. When we entered the castle Kirkland commanded twenty five men. I counted six still standing. The floor was slippery with blood. My arrows had little or no effect on these creatures. Their skin was like stone, shattering or deflecting my arrowheads. Calais was having more effect than I, but I suspect his strength and his gauntlets were covering the gap. As quickly as we arrive the female vampire and her male accomplice fled out the upper windows where they had come in.

Everyone was in a panic. Corman was lucid, but swooning from the vampire's attack. His pale complexion told the story. We quickly agreed to search the upper floors of the tower before the duo returned.

At the top of a coiled stairwell we entered into a sitting room of sorts. Seated on a chair near a raging hearth was a noble woman of good breeding. She appeared to be consumed by the same malady that effected corman, though hers was more pronounced. The bite marks on her throat suggested a very recent visit.

Before we could fully explore this level the pair of vampire returned. Corman once again found himself imperiled. We were in the fight of our lives. Desperation was evident even on Casper's face. The sight of fear on our wizard's face sent a chill down me that threatened to stop my heart. He proved his mettle moments later by sparing Mouse from certain death. I can't pretend to recall the particulars of the conversation that took place between Casper and Mouse as Casper attempted to transform Mouse into a young blue dragon. The strangeness was not lost on the vampire woman who sought to feed upon him one moment and discard him as proper food the next.

Eventually Celeste and Enzo formed an offensive too strong for the vampires. As they turned to gas in an attempt to escape I commanded Ehrain to pursue them to their lair.

I couldn't help but wonder at the array of costumes I had seen in the room of the upper floors. The feast interrupted had been a prelude to a bigger celebration. A masquer must have been fully employed, for all outfits were accompanied by bejeweled and ornate masks.