CITY OF THE NIGHT
-Year 12,300 A.D. – Small village, near nuclear wasted forests
Sounds of voices and hushed words of worry filled the tavern as it did every day, but that would not stop the traveling storyteller from sharing time with the young adults and children who were locked up for the rest of the evening. The storyteller knew the reason they were not allowed out after sundown. The bard would make the best of it by trying to entertain them the way he did every other night, regaling them with different stories of adventure. Having been stuck in the village for quite some time, these storytelling sessions helped maintain his sanity. Not even halfway through a new story he had started, he found himself silenced by a young voice.
“This is boring – can’t you tell us the reason why we aren’t allowed to leave the house after sundown? It’s been this way since I could walk, and not even my ma will utter a word.” A young girl that was in her early teens stomped her foot and stared at the traveler.
“You look like you have been many places, and you could tell us! You have told us enough stories that we could fill a book!” These exclamations were followed by sounds of agreement from the other young people, ignoring the glares given from their mothers who worked the tavern.
“This is boring – can’t you tell us the reason why we aren’t allowed to leave the house after sundown? It’s been this way since I could walk, and not even my ma will utter a word.” A young girl that was in her early teens stomped her foot and stared at the traveler.
“You look like you have been many places, and you could tell us! You have told us enough stories that we could fill a book!” These exclamations were followed by sounds of agreement from the other young people, ignoring the glares given from their mothers who worked the tavern.
“I swear I’ll knock you out if you speak one word to any of them, Derk.” The voice belonged to an older woman who kept her promises, and the fiery tones in her voice ran down the traveler’s backside.
“Well would you rather them find out the hard way? By continuing to lie to them as to why people go missing or why the adults always speak about the ‘old days’?” Dark brows raised, and eyes stared out from the confines of cloak hoods.
“Well....” She sighed, tossing her hands in the air in a noncommittal gesture.
“Also,” the traveler paused and lifted his mug. “You might want to refill this because we will be here awhile. I’m not responsible for any of them having nightmares or wanting to go on adventures after this…”
Darcy huffed as she refilled Derk’s mug and rolled her eyes. “Well if yer tellin em, yer the one that has to be prepared to deal with all the parents when their kids come after them with questions.”
“Oh please, Darcy, most people either stay here, town hall or locked in their own homes. It ain’t gonna matter.” Derk cleared his throat and pushed away the impatient young girl that was inches away from kicking him. “Sit down, be quiet and I don’t wanna hear that this is ‘boring,’ because ye asked for it.”
A slight groan emanated the older adults as he shifted his weight and told them…
“Well would you rather them find out the hard way? By continuing to lie to them as to why people go missing or why the adults always speak about the ‘old days’?” Dark brows raised, and eyes stared out from the confines of cloak hoods.
“Well....” She sighed, tossing her hands in the air in a noncommittal gesture.
“Also,” the traveler paused and lifted his mug. “You might want to refill this because we will be here awhile. I’m not responsible for any of them having nightmares or wanting to go on adventures after this…”
Darcy huffed as she refilled Derk’s mug and rolled her eyes. “Well if yer tellin em, yer the one that has to be prepared to deal with all the parents when their kids come after them with questions.”
“Oh please, Darcy, most people either stay here, town hall or locked in their own homes. It ain’t gonna matter.” Derk cleared his throat and pushed away the impatient young girl that was inches away from kicking him. “Sit down, be quiet and I don’t wanna hear that this is ‘boring,’ because ye asked for it.”
A slight groan emanated the older adults as he shifted his weight and told them…
BACKGROUND
There was a time when the human race flourished in great technology that pushed humanity into a life of grandeur. Humans flocked to supercities, ones veined with super highways, some with artificial skies that mimicked the weather, and all offering the finest security that could be offered. However, as time passed and mankind advanced, they were divided into groups of people who were no longer on the same path. Some decided that more money would be needed than what they had, others blindly grasped at power. This would lead the human race down the path of destroying everything they had made.
The other races became afraid of the mass growth of greed and technology. They started to distance themselves from the supercities and markets belonging to the humans in fear that anything from the humans could taint their kind and destroy the peace.
Not all were afraid of these changes, for those who sat within the darkness waited for the time that would become their turn, knowing well that once the gates opened that they would be able to do as they pleased, freed from the shackles of the superior race that had governed. The beings in shadows had been patient, watching and recording the humans for years, taking their advancements and twisting them in secrecy to make them better, all with the intent of turning the tides into their favor.
And they would wait – fangs hidden behind beautiful visages while they bided their time until what would become one grand, noble masquerade...
The other races became afraid of the mass growth of greed and technology. They started to distance themselves from the supercities and markets belonging to the humans in fear that anything from the humans could taint their kind and destroy the peace.
Not all were afraid of these changes, for those who sat within the darkness waited for the time that would become their turn, knowing well that once the gates opened that they would be able to do as they pleased, freed from the shackles of the superior race that had governed. The beings in shadows had been patient, watching and recording the humans for years, taking their advancements and twisting them in secrecy to make them better, all with the intent of turning the tides into their favor.
And they would wait – fangs hidden behind beautiful visages while they bided their time until what would become one grand, noble masquerade...
It wasn't long until the forest kin started to migrate and move away from the larger cities; the trade and communication that the humans had shared would soon die out as the water kin moved from their shoals or their living areas as well. Those of the water drifted away slowly, at a rate that would not be obvious in order to keep from breaking any treaties between the water folk and the humans.
Humans did not understand what the other races saw beforehand, and it was not just the pollution that started to ransack the forest and waters. By the time the humans realized it was coming, it was too late.
One party, through their greed and power, decided to start the mass war. One party had deluded themselves about the potential of nuclear warhead studies. The ideals of the other parties were no longer enough. This party wanted to lead everyone. The button was pushed. What they were not prepared for was how destructive the bomb was in reality. Their attack would not only hit one of the three largest super cities, but would destroy it. Everything that came with it – its people, the hard work, everything - was melted and gone.
This would mark the start of series of wars that would bleed the human community. Not only would the human race bleed out. The corruption from the humans bled into the remaining homes of those who lived in the forest and the waters. Spilled oil, glass, fibers, broken and fried wires would lay low the once beautiful lands. The nuclear taint would twist the remaining races that stayed behind and the areas around them. The world became dark as the human race hit rock bottom. Everything they did had been laid to waste.
Finally they appeared…Vampires.
Finally they appeared…Vampires.
Wicked creatures, with silver tongues and those who could not only ‘dance’ but hold the world in a new found ‘bubble’ of lies and promises just to establish dominance. So many of them appeared, prepared for this, with the outcasts behind them that would lend their undying support. Their beauty and elegance was hard to look away from. The vampires cornered what was left of the human rule into an ‘agreement’ between the “Nobles and the Human Race” with full power handed over to them to do as they pleased. The vampires kept their word out of a desire to show they were better than any other. Everything over time would be rebuilt, turning the humans into slaves for these tasks. Even technology advanced past what the Humans had ever dreamed of.
In their full power of rule the vampires, now dubbed Nobles, became fascinated with experiments on other races or monsters. The Nobles transformed them into creatures of superior sizes to haunt the humans and keep them under their control. The obsessions that built through the years of rule and boredom would cause many of the Noble to commit suicide, enter eternal slumber, disappear, or leave. Humans started to see the decline after three thousand years of being controlled. They rebelled, once more destroying the lands with warfare and shattering everything, turning the world into a desolate wasteland haunted by the Nobles’ twisted creations.
In their full power of rule the vampires, now dubbed Nobles, became fascinated with experiments on other races or monsters. The Nobles transformed them into creatures of superior sizes to haunt the humans and keep them under their control. The obsessions that built through the years of rule and boredom would cause many of the Noble to commit suicide, enter eternal slumber, disappear, or leave. Humans started to see the decline after three thousand years of being controlled. They rebelled, once more destroying the lands with warfare and shattering everything, turning the world into a desolate wasteland haunted by the Nobles’ twisted creations.
The Outcasts, who had long been loyal to the Nobles, remained unmoved even though they were aware that their rule was slowly fading. The remaining Outcasts, living in one of their largest asylums, became obsessive and protective of the remaining Nobles.
Out of the rebellion and fear came hunters, those who specialized in hunting vampires and cutting down anyone who got in their way. As news spread into the darkness the Asylum’s head made all aware that if any Noble was in need the Outcasts would protect them, even if it meant losing their lives.
The land was completely destroyed beyond repair, and remnants of technology were somewhat scarce. Unless it was scanners, security systems in larger buildings, man-made cyborg horses (when real ones became extinct.), or even clockwork dolls (maids), there was nothing left of the major eras that once existed. Scavengers or collectors hunted for rare finds to make such creations.
Even years later most Nobles would keep to their castles and their courts, they would only come around to terrorize, inflicting a reminder of the fear that had hold still even till this date. Those who would receive the ‘kiss of a noble’ in most towns would find themselves ousted or killed by their communities.
That fear and reminder would make an end for many poor souls.
Ah, but that is beside the point.
This would also mark the opening of the Akasen, fronted by many of the unique races that came from all sides, into business of pleasure and entertainment. But the Akasen was also the backdoor for black market trades, and for rare items that were hard to come by in regular trades. It would be said that the Outcasts’ and the Nobles’ remaining hierarchy would visit for such deals to keep their domains safe. However these transactions would be done in the hours that no human would want to be out or awake…
This would also mark the opening of the Akasen, fronted by many of the unique races that came from all sides, into business of pleasure and entertainment. But the Akasen was also the backdoor for black market trades, and for rare items that were hard to come by in regular trades. It would be said that the Outcasts’ and the Nobles’ remaining hierarchy would visit for such deals to keep their domains safe. However these transactions would be done in the hours that no human would want to be out or awake…
NEXT MORNING
The Tavern had gone quiet, and before long the traveler had realized that after so many hours of his story everyone had either fallen asleep or left. A shrug fell from his shoulders as he wondered if any of this would sink in or if he had wasted a whole evening blowing his horn. Light started to seep its way through the windows.
Something he noticed as the light did fade through was the window that was near him had blood dripping down the side of the wall. His gut turned as he rose from his seat, making sure not to wake up anyone. He slowly looked out of that window, finding the horror of yet another victim who had been mutilated and bled dry, hanging from the large tree next to the tavern just above the window. Just beyond that was the abandoned Church, which he knew was not safe. Derk croaked a bit and nudged one of the guards.
“You… might want to clean up…what’s hanging around outside now, mate.”
Something he noticed as the light did fade through was the window that was near him had blood dripping down the side of the wall. His gut turned as he rose from his seat, making sure not to wake up anyone. He slowly looked out of that window, finding the horror of yet another victim who had been mutilated and bled dry, hanging from the large tree next to the tavern just above the window. Just beyond that was the abandoned Church, which he knew was not safe. Derk croaked a bit and nudged one of the guards.
“You… might want to clean up…what’s hanging around outside now, mate.”