genessia | [Action at Castlevania] A Tale of Two Dark Lords

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[Action at Castlevania] A Tale of Two Dark Lords

[Following the "liberation" of the mayoral office in Everglade, and the broadcast that followed discussing the changes in the city, now would be a time to locate Castlevania and meet with the one who might help reveal some secrets about the world of Genessia.

Now Marie passed through the subarchway and arrived at the gates of Castlevania, without her skeleton escorts no less. She wanted this to be a simple meeting and discussion. Even if fighting were to break out, she is confident she can take whatever is thrown at her, and the Skull Heart would be safe even if defeated.

If the little flea-man was telling the truth, the "Lord Tepes" will be expecting Marie, so she didn't wait for an invitation to push open the gates and make her way into Castlevania.

Marie would only stop when she enters the throne room...]

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[The minions of Castlevania would give Marie a wide berth, only showing up to bar her way if she were nearing a wrong turn. It was no straight shot to the throne after all. Once she entered, however, she would find Dracula alone in the throneroom, a wineglass filled with blood in one hand looking rather amused.]

Welcome to Castlevania, miss. Usually, I know the names of those who enter my domain, but you are quite the interesting exception. Please, what is your name?

[Marie would boldly approach the throne, the baleful blue flames dance from her back adding to the eerie environment. She would not get too close, though, keeping a respectable distance.]

"I am Marie Korbel. On my world, I was called Bloody Marie, or simply, the Skullgirl.

And you must be the one that old man called 'Lord Tepes..."

[Dracula's smirk only widens as she approaches. He downs the glass in one gulp before responding.]

You and I seem to have a penchant for names in common. I am Vlad III Tepes, though most from my world refer to me simply as Dracula. The 'old man' you speak of is actually not all that old. The Flea Men simply have a twisted appearance that drove them from the world of men to seek refuge in the shadows. And so they found themselves here in Castlevania.

I can smell the undeath on you, and yet you are clearly no common zombie or skeleton. Would I be remiss in asking for the details on your state of being?

"The old man I was referring to was the Everglade mayor."

[With that correction out of the way...]

"I made a wish to get revenge on the slavers that mutilated my friend, and the family that sponsored them. For making such a wish, I'm undergoing a slow, painful transformation into a Skullgirl. That is all I'm willing to tell you."

"Ah, my apologies."

[He nods a bit, settling into a small smirk.]

"Perhaps I can aid you with the pain, and the very least. I have in my employ a number of skilled necromancers that could ease your transformation if that is what you would like. However, that is the second time you have used that word; Skullgirl. I do not wish to pry too much but I must admit to being curious as to what a Skullgirl is. Of course, any information you offer is yours to give and I will not pry further if you do not wish to share."

[If it's true that fear keeps this city alive, then it may be beneficial to make the Skullgirl a constant presence in this world. She will share the nature of the Skullgirl, but nothing else.]

"The Skullgirl is a name given to a woman who made a wish, and is transformed into a hideous undead monster who mindlessly rampages against all life until all life is destroyed, or she is. I am the fourth known Skullgirl. Everything about her gains a skull and bones theme to her, such as my clips..."

[Marie approaches closer, close enough that the detail in her eyes can be seen by Dracula. Her pupils were two halves of a skull.]

"...and my eyes."

[She steps back to answer Dracula's offer.]

"A strange offer you've made. Why show sympathy for someone who could easily be your enemy?"

[Dracula listens, that smirk not budging even as he notes the pattern in her eyes.]

"Because for centuries my castle has been a safe haven for all that the world at large has rejected. Beasts of myth and legend that have been deemed by humanity to be 'unclean' or should not exist find sanctuary within these walls. The undead are no exception. My eldest friend and confidant is the very spirit of Death itself in my world, and all those that can trace their condition to him are honored guests within Castlevania."

"So you would offer me asylum?"

[Marie turned her back on Dracula, her power manifesting what seems to be a skeletal vacuum cleaner, with the head soon transforming into a scythe. She rests the scythe over her shoulders as she turns to Dracula again. She demonstrates this small bit of power to show that she is not a scared or helpless little Skullgirl.]

"I don't know if you saw my broadcast weeks ago, but within Everglade, I seized a cathedral to serve as my home out of mockery of the Trinity and at the expense of the people who once visited it. And thus far, despite the over-all negative reactions I got, all was ever given was a warning.

So, I feel that I have no need of your assistance, other than I request to know what you know about Everglade, and the barrier around it."

"Is that so? You'll forgive me if I insulted you. I've been rather preoccupied as of late with the research I have been conducting on the state of the barrier. Still, should you desire it or need it, Castlevania's gates shall be open to you."

[That said, he does like Marie's style. Anyone willing to spit in the face of the Almighty was fine by him.]

"I would love to elaborate on the nature of the barrier, however it is as elusive as can be. The knowledge that it feeds off the fear of those within its walls is unfortunately all I have to share, however should something more come to light, I will not hesitate in sharing that information with you. As for Everglade, it is a haven for all creatures of the night, though as of late, the buffoon of a guardian had attempted to make things 'safer' for the humans here, ironically weakening the barrier at the same time."

"How kind of you. We'll see if I ever need to take you up on your hospitality."

[Marie dismissed her scythe. There was no need to haul it around when it's not going to be used.]

"And what will happen if the barrier around Everglade fails? Your Flea Man said, 'a fate worse than death,' but can you explain what he meant?"

"Ah yes... them."

[He goes quiet for a moment, eyes shifting to the wine glass in his hand as he searches for the words to adequately describe what's on the other side of he barrier.]

"I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure what to call them. They are unlike any spirit or wraith I have encountered before. When the barrier flickered last, they tore through Everglade and Genessia, devouring the emotions of any they were able to catch, leaving them soulless husks."

"So that's the Broken Dome Incident?"

[Marie quietly considered this for a moment.]

"And if Everglade's barrier fails completely, these things will likely swarm the rest of the cities with little to no hope of a defense?"

[As a Skullgirl, she really shouldn't care about the lives of people. But that would defeat the purpose of the wish she clings to.]

"...And it's on fear alone that the barrier can remain intact? Makes me wonder why they don't break through right now and cause terror on their own. Or, at the very least, why the people don't find a way to destroy those creatures."

[Dracula simply nods at each question, speaking only to address the final point.]

"Because they do not illicit terror in and of themselves. They are like locusts, swarming through the land leaving nothing in their wake. As for their mortality, they can indeed be destroyed. However, their number is without end. With all the power amassed in the cities, the combined might of all was barely enough to hold until the barrier was repaired."

"...How often must the people be frightened?"

[Behind her red eyes was a plotting Skullgirl.]

"I am unsure of the specifics of when and how the barrier feeds. However, I would err on the side of caution. Keeping a steady supply of fear flowing should satisfy the barrier whenever it requires sustenance."

"In that case, the next time it needs to feed, I will be the one to supply. I have the perfect strategy to strike fear in the hearts of the people without provoking a retaliation from the 'heroes."

[Marie takes a moment to think about the situation.]

"It seems we have ourselves an alliance of sorts. And it makes me wonder if I should take you up on your offer and join Castlevania, or remain in the cathedral to keep the people worried about a second threat."

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[Action at Castlevania] A Tale of Two Dark Lords

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I didn't forget, I swear.