As Emily and I walk along, "So you're not bothered by what I am ?"

She shakes her head, "Not really. Your actually pretty nice compared to many knights and nobles."

I give her a grin, "Not what I am talking about."

"Oh, you mean the other thing." looks at my lower body, "That is kind of interesting really."

I roll my eyes and she grins, purposely Not talking about the blood sucking monster I am.

"I admit being with you does give me a sense of security. I don't mind the wandering part either. I like travel ok as long as I am not alone in it. I know how to do things to and I don't mind sharing of myself or responsibilities of the road. If you recall, I sold myself in to slavery to keep from being homeless. You have a home, of sorts, and a steady job. Killing people mostly but at least it's steady employment."

I grin, "More to it than killing people really. That is only part of it. I rescue people sometimes to, if you recall." she grins and nods, "Yes. I heard about the caravan you directed away from that hideous fortress of death."

"Your purposely not going to discuss certain topics aren't you." I state.

"Oh you mean Samarra and Arlene. Yes I suppose you did rescue them, though Arlene was not very grateful for the effort. What with her teaming up with that evil girl Anne to try and kill and rob you and all."

I sigh, "You don't think of yourself as part of the rescue ?"

She shakes her head, "Not really. You just gave me more options than I had before. Though in truth, even knowing what I know now, I may have gone back to being a slave because it offers security and well regular meals."

I nod, "I can feed you. That part is true."

She looks at me, "What are you thinking about ?"

Hm, "Oh as a Paladin I can get a quest to get a special steed. One from my goddess special for me. Does not have to be a horse, can be almost anything really. Sometimes my mind wanders off and I wonder what I would get if I tried for that. I get some Strange ideas sometimes."

She grins, "Like what ?"

I think then draw a rectangle in the air, blow on it and an image forms (2D).

[Image: Bondage Theme, Girl dressed as a horse being ridden by a large breasted woman who is holding a riding crop and only has thigh high boots and some kind of lace looking corset on.]

She looks at it, "That is not you and what, OH I see. Ok that is different. I take it you have seen this image before."

I nod, "Yep, long time ago. Interesting and skilled artist but he had some strange idea's."

She nods and then shakes her head, "I feel for the girl in that image, that's taking dress up games a Little far."

I shrug, "Strong arms though to be able to walk like that while carrying someone."

Emily nods. A strange man comes over and stares at the image, first one side then the other (invisible from the back), then ask in a wondrous tone, "How did you do that ?"

I look at him, "It's a cantrip. Image, Illusion class. Only makes 1 sided static images of this size or smaller."

He shakes his head, "In all my years I have never seen such a spell."

I shrug, "I learned it from a book I found in a junk shop. Has hundreds of cantrips listed and describes how to do them. From useful to pranks to stuff like this." the image fades out.

He shakes his head, "I did not care for the subject of your picture but the ability to do it, wonderful."

I nod, "It's not hard really." I proceed to teach him how to do it. Including holding the image in your mind.

"I knew people who could use it to show pictures they made up. I am not that great at doing that. I pretty much just use pictures I have seen in other places or memories." he nods, "Wonderful. Thank you for teaching this to me. You must be a mage of great power."

I grin, "Actually no. I tried but I could never get past the 3rd rank of spells. Some kind of mental block I suppose. These days I am a Paladin. I seem better suited for it."

He shakes his head, "I suppose even the most gifted has limitations."

I nod, "Well hopefully I can do this better and longer than I did with my mage career." I state with a grin. "If you're interested I may see if I can find a copy of that book I mentioned. I used to have a couple of copies. I had spares made up in case of misadventure and drink spills."

He grins, "Yes I would love it. I have an office at the Collage of Astra." he tells me his name (Nicholas) and where his office is. I nod, "IF I find one I will bring it by. I can't make any guarantee's." He nods, "Well I hope you do, if not maybe you can think of a few we have lost or not discovered ourselves."

I shrug, "I don't know which ones you lost or found." I point out and he nods, "Good point. You should come by the Collage tomorrow and sit in on a lecture. The topic is lost spells and legends of the old world." I grin, "I may do that. Around when ?"

He thinks, "Midmorning I believe." I nod.

Emily smiles as he leaves, "I have heard of that place. School for mages. No women need apply. Bethany tried and they turned her down."

"Boys school eh ?" I ask, she makes a face, "They don't think women should study magic or only do Household type spells." I nod, "I know the type."

That evening in my room at the White Stag inn (nice place, middle class appeal) I open my secret door and go digging. I find 2 of those books, both written in common. Emily looks at them and can't read a word. I grin and translate out a few of the more useful ones in to a nice simple stack (in German). I only give them 20 useful ones and the Bath Trick. Still I bring the newer one of the books with me. (Written on parchment).

The next day I find she is Very right about this school, but as I was invited I and my maid (Emily) are allowed to attend the lecture. It is interesting and so much misinformation or poorly translated histories are given that I almost leave half way through and I am not the only one. I see at least 3 other escapes from Nostromo's clutches in the audience (I met them earlier at the Temple where they came to give thanks in their final escape).

Two of them I know are mages. Powerful ones at that. I move over to them during the lecture. The eldest, Villon, winces as the badly spoken elven is recited and called Babylonian. I sigh and sit, "These people are pathetic." he looks at me and nods, "Verily. To call that trash Babylonian. I have never heard such."

I grunt, "It's elven actually and very poorly translated and spoken."

He looks surprised, "You know Elven ?"

I nod, "Read write and speak the common elven tongue as well as Dwarven and Gnomish. Was necessary before Nostromo's monsters ripped me from my life. I was a merchant back then, trading with all the various races. Well I was also an agent for the Gods. Back when some mortal tried to take over Destiny's job and came close to destroying the world."

He looks surprised and nods, "I recall the stories of that time. But that was centuries before my own. Dwarves were still here back then, but few as they were leaving. Elves were but a story." he sighs. I nod, "I lost everything except what was on my person. So oddly enough I still have my traveling spellbook. Not allot of spells mind you as I was only up to the 3rd rank in spells but better some than none at all."

He nods, "If you would not mind sharing. I had only the robes on my back and a few potions and gew-gaws." I nod, "Sure. I don't have anything major but I am willing to help out a fellow cast away in time."

He grins, "Oh that is a good name for our lot."

I grin, "Just came to me actually." he nods.

The lecturer gets upset at us for talking, "Maybe you two would like to run this lecture ?" He ask sarcastically.

I shrug, "We could probably do a much better job as you have been reciting more drivel and out right stupidity than I have ever heard in all my thousands of years. Granted most of that time I was trapped in one of Nostromo's prisons, but still." I shake my head, "That sentence you called Babylonian is Elven and it's a recipe for mango and chicken bake. Not in my opinion one of their better recipes either. But Elves had strange taste by human standards, more fruits and vegetables than meats and subtle flavors. Oh and that bit about the Unknown Warrior who Defeated the King of the Evil Destiny, HER name was Luce, her Title was Hammer of War with her companion Agatha the Axe of War. Two Paladins you did not want as Enemies. Luce was 6 months pregnant at the time and I WAS THERE! Not at the actual battle mind you, but in the city when it happened. I had my own battles to fight then. Died there to. The Gods brought me back later, only to have that stupid interfering death god steal me away and lock me up. Gods but I hate that guy. Cost me my whole family, my children, friends, mentors. All gone to dust. Then I do get to come back and what do I hear. People messing up history because they can't stand to have Women in the Hero rolls. Grow Up! "

I turn and leave, the others like me follow. Having heard enough to know I speak true. These people don't want truth, they want to rewrite history in order to make themselves feel superior.

Half hour and a cup of mead later I am calm enough to talk without breaking in to a rant. Well a long one. The 4 of us keep doing that though. Ranting on all the messed up stories from our individual times. I even stated the recipe in elven then the Proper translation of it. The cook at the inn where we were having our rant session made a face, "That sounds horrible." I nod, "I know right. Elven cooking, sheesh. Great artist, wonderful craftsmen, horrible cooks." I shake my head and adjust my elven made leather top. I show it to those interested, "Ever seen leather made so fine ?"

One fellow from a nearby table, wearing mostly leather comes over and looks at it, "I am a leather worker and I can say I never have." I rub my hand over it, "Sun Leather they called it. Elven manufacture. Took them over a year and a half to make enough for just one suit of clothing. They tended to be perfectionist. Long life span I think is what did it. They never hurried anything but war. That they tended to end as quickly as possible. Mostly by hurting their enemies so badly they could not fight back any longer."

A few people smirked at that.

Fellow Time Castaway, Dorgan, Nods, "I recall the elven steel. Finest blades and armor anywhere in the world. Shine it up to a near mirror finish. Ooh, Mithril, there is something you don't see any more." he sighs. I dig around and pull out a dagger, I hand it to him. He draws the blade and smiles, "Ah that's the stuff, Elven ?" I shake my head, "Dwarven, throwing dagger." He nods, "Good stuff. Dwarven tends to be heavier but I will take your word for it."

I nod, "I had them specially forged for my wife. Well wife to be. Gods brought me back and I ended up a woman myself. Was a man the first time around. Interestingly my girl did not mind that I came back this way. As long as I was still there." I sigh, "Never got to give them to her obviously. I was grabbed on my way back from the Dwarven Mountain I went to. Only way to get that sort of work was to find a Master and they only lived in their mountains back then. Near their mines."

Dorgan nods, "True true." the others look over the special weapons. A younger fellow ask, "Why daggers ?" I grin, "Cause she was a Paladin and a Hero. Luce the Hammer of War. First time we met, I wiped the floor with her and her battle mate Axe. They had their special heavy armor, full suits of dwarven plate, huge two handed weapons. I was wearing no armor or weapons. Gave me the advantage really. I could move, dodge and such. Whole fight took maybe 5 minutes and that included tying them to pillars so I could complete my mission there. Disposal of a cursed artifact. I figured the only one who could do it would be the Spirit of War itself. I was right but I ended up getting recruited in to their whole messed up crusade. War loves a good fight, but he is not much at strategy. Well not back then at any rate." Several people around nod and tell stories about how war gods strategies tended to be 'throw large numbers of people at each other the side with the most survivors win'. It took mortals to come up with ways to fight smarter. We all agree on That.

By the end of the evening, I am pretending to be drunk (I had Lots of practice when I was mortal so it's not too hard to do). I did share a few 1st and 2cd level spells with the mages. They were most happy to have them as well as the few cantrips I brought. Though I had to translate them back in to a form of common or even elven for them to read them. Learned a couple of the old fogies used Elven for their magic language. I just grinned at that but did not comment. Not one of the Reincarnated or Resurrected had a problem with believing I used to be a man or that I was a woman now. It's the luck of the draw. It's the people of the Now that mostly don't believe cause almost no one is resurrected anymore. Nostromo managed to do that at least. And if I ever meet him I will happily Erase him from existence. I am starting to believe my own back story. It's partly true but not entirely. I was to be reborn in a different location than I was. And his agents did find my cocoon and move it to that place. I just was not buried there as long as I claim.

The fact that this world had a similar war as mine and the history is Mostly lost allows me to put in my own backstory. It's a true story, just did not happen in This world. Lovely thing about that is if anyone ask while using a detect lie spell, it comes across as the truth as I know it.

The other thing I notice happening after nightfall is the vampires. I don't comment and only once have to interfere and that was because one tried to make off with Emily. I just took her arm and pulled her back, whispering in her ear, "Vampires and they want you as breakfast, you are Mine." The 'mine' snapped her mostly out of their control.

The only Other problem was one tried to put the brain control on Me. I gave him a Toothy smile and he backed off.

It would be a couple days later while I was prowling about after dark and Emily was safely in a temple that I would run across this group again.

The leader is a tall Nordic blonde woman named Ingred. She lead this rag tag group of vampires. All escapees like me. Some were old shits like me to, who had just been out of circulation a while. She did not make a good first impression.

"So you are the new Blood that interrupted the evening meal" she snarled at me. I stood my ground, "Not so new that I don't recognize when someone Belongs to someone else. And she is Mine and has been so for a while now. Found her on my 1st day of sanity after I escaped." That get some recognition from the others. Ingred ignores that, "Old world rules no longer apply Fledgling."

I sigh, "Ok so your arrogant and stupid, good to know now go away child before you annoy me and I remove your foolish head."

She laughs and her group of 5 others move in. "There are 6 of us and one of you Fledgling" she scoffs.

I sigh then Move. 1 moment they are around me, the next I am on top of a second floor roof, holding her by her skull, my claws digging in to her head while she dangles off the rooftop. "Child you really need to learn some manners. Just because we have never met does not make me a New Blood or a Fledgling. Your attitude shows you have no respect for your elders, so why don't I do the world a favor and teach you all why you should respect your elders hm ?"

She scoffs even as she tries to break my grip, "Your Nothing You know Nothing and No one will miss you when your Dust."

I pause and consider, twist, pull, or crush when I feel another presence. This one has some Age to it to. I look up at a pretty young looking man in a very nice evening wear and classic cape. First thought 'Torrie Elder'.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

He looks at the scene before him then at me, "Group of malcontents trying to throw their weight around ?"

I nod, "Tried to tell me the Old ways don't mean anything anymore. Like the part about poaching other peoples things."

He nods, "They have been a bit of a nuisance but some we give a little leeway because of the Nostromo problem. Most of us thought he killed the ones his hunters found."

I nod, "From what I learned they all believed a stake through the heart would 'free the souls' and only the demon would be left."

He rolls his eyes, "Oh lovely. That bit of stupidity has led to something of a surplus of kindred. But we can't just kill them all off as that leads to other problems."

I nod, "War and near extermination of both sides and ones like this get left behind."

He sighs and nods, "Then everything we have worked for goes for naught."

I nod, "True."

He gives me a long look, "You were around for a good while before they caught you I take it ?"

I grin, "I spent 500 years as a thrall to Arikel back in the good old days. But I was born a Revenant before that even. I was 72 but looked about 20 when I first met her."

His eyes go Very wide, "Yikes. Ok then. So who was your sire ?"

I watch him put on a ring and twist it slightly, my holy item tells me a 'truth detection spell' is now in effect. "Arikel, we were lovers, you know how such things go ?" He stares at his ring, hiding (poorly to my senses) his surprise and mild awe. "So your blood line ?"

I sigh and shake my head, "Don't have one. " I don't elaborate as anything I say would be a lie. But I got SO many good stories bubbling around in my head, "How about you ?"

He looks up, and bows slightly, "6th generation Elder of Toreador." I nod, "Thought so. The sense of style and the way you carry yourself speaks of that. "

He looks at his attire, "So not Venture ?"

I grin and squeeze the girls head, popping it like an over ripe melon, "No, they tend to have less flair and more regal with a touch of Pole up the Ass to their attitude." The girls dusty remains flow over her group, her clothing and items falling in a rain around them.

I blow the girls dust off my hand and look at the others, "Crossing an Elder is a good way to Cross over to the other side, you will do well to remember that."

They all nod look at him, he makes a shooing gesture and they all run away very quickly. He looks at me, "Little showy that." I shrug, "Muscle spasm actually, she managed to hit the wrong nerve in my hand and I flexed the wrong way." That is the truth to, I was going to let her live, just scare her some more but I suppose this is a good object lesson to. He winces, "It takes massive strength to do that." I shrug, "Revenant plus Thrall makes one Very strong, then get turned and you get that little bonus to. Add to it I am a trained warrior" I shrug, he nods.

He moves around the roofs till he is on the same one as I, "So how are you getting along in this world ?"

I shrug "not bad. Not too much has really changed. Slight differences in societies and the Elves and Dwarves are gone. Miss them somewhat. Been using the Nostromo capturing and imprisoning of reincarnates as my cover story. Told it so many times I am starting to believe it myself. Well it is Partly true, just not for the length of time that I let the mortals think."

He nods, "Your remarkably forth coming."

I nod to his ring, "Truth Spell, felt it the moment you activated it. You have not De-activated it yet so I am keeping my fictions to myself for a change."

He laughs, "ok good point. Just curious, what would happen if I tried to grab you ?"

I hold up a hand and a small lightning spark jumps between my fingers, "I got a few spells left from my mortal days that still work wonders. Fire and Lightning being favorites against our kind." he nods, "Yeah I thought as much. Had to ask."

I nod, "That ring works both ways. You can tell when others are lying and can't lie while it's active. I know about That sort of magic. Studied it when I was younger. Used to Love magic. Well still do, it's just harder to learn these days." he nods and grins, "The rings aura seems to be affecting you more to." I sigh, "Proximity I imagine and I may be a touch more sensitive to it for other reasons." I tap my head band. "It's magic amplifies some of my powers but it's also cursed, which seems to, in this instance, make your ring work better on me and Goddess I wish I could Shut Up." He laughs and turns the ring off, I slump a little, "Oh green men and purple dinosaurs." I say.

He looks at me, "What ?"

"Imaginary Critters. Could not say that with the ring active." I state simply.

He grins wider, "ok then."

He holds out his hand, "Ivan" I nod at him and grin, "Robina and not taking your hand Ivan. I can sense you mean to try and run off with it." he frowns, "Was worth a shot. We do have a prince in this city and you have not been to see him."

I nod, "I know and I am not going to. I tend to avoid Kindred society. See I am a Paladin and having me around is Not healthy to the rest of you."

He considers that, "So that cursed item ?"

"Holy Symbol. Stupid me put it on and it got stuck to me Head. Goddess made it so it can't be Stolen well the spell went sideways as her spells often do. Problem when your God is Tyche. She does not mind Undead worshippers, priest or Paladins, being a Neutral power and all."

Ivan nods, "I have sent a few prayers to her myself over the years. Sometimes she even seems to listen." I nod, "Well she always listens it's just this wheel. You make a prayer, she spins it and you get what you get. See ?"

He slowly nods, "Yeah, I now have a better understanding of why she has casino's in her larger temples."

"It fits" we both say in unison.

I smirk, "I like casino's personally but then I tend to win allot to. Thing about my luck it only seems to really Work with casino's or similar things. Everything else, well I keep having this feeling that someday something is going to fall from the sky and land on or at least very near me." he laughs as I describe my luck and nods, "Being Undead we all kind of get a similar feeling allot of the time. Has us looking over our shoulders or above our heads."

I sigh and nod but don't comment as it's a moot point.

He sighs, "The prince is not going to be happy you refused to see him. I know you don't care just saying that he could call a hunt on you."

I shrug, "Would not be the first time I had to remove most of a undead population cause some fool tried that. It's not all that hard for me either. I just focus the power of this artifact and every undead within a mile of me burst in to flames." I 'push' my aura out some and his arm, that was moving toward me, starts to smoke. He pulls it back quickly and stares at it in surprise. "Ok then. Your point is made. But don't blame me if your dragged out in to the sun why are you smiling like that ?"

I point to the item, "Protects me. I can move freely about during the day. I wear armor most of the time to. Elven stuff that is not all that apparent, but as good as the finest chainmail. As you know, you don't live to be an elder without a healthy amount of protection and paranoia."

He nods, "ok point taken."

I turn and look at something in the distance, "Pardon me, someone is trying something stupid." and I leap away, crossing the rooftops like, well a super hero actually but I doubt anyone in this time would understand that analogy.

I get to Emily as 2 of those punk vampires try to grab her. She is kicking, screaming and trying to bite them. I quite literally land on one of them and Emily uses that moment to shove her now free fingers in to the eyes of the other vamp, blinding him as her fingers push through and fully in to the eye sockets.

I rip the head off the one I landed on then turn, grin at Emily then grab and twist the head off the other one. "Nice shot to the eyes my girl. Why are you out here ?"

She makes a face, "Couple of the priest in there answer to these guys. Dragged me out, said I was stealing and then handed me over to their masters."

I am still holding the decaying head of the 2cd monster. I nod, "Lead the way back and we shall have a little talk with them."

She turns and pretty much storms her way to the back door and pounds on it. A flap opens, closes and nothing more. I come up and just punch a hole in the door, then rip it off its hinges. Emily is impressed, I shrug.

Within is a single priest, she growls, "That's one of them!" I nod, "Your master is dead." I say to him, he grins, "You Lie!" I hold up the head then turn and using the head, point to the other disintegrating body, "Nope they were pathetic. Fastest fight I ever had with their kind."

He pales at the sight of his dead master. I look at him, "Any last words ?" he looks at me then runs in to the temple screaming for help, screaming 'the paladin has gone Mad' and trying to send the temple guard to attack me. They come and I hold up the visibly decaying head, "That one and at least one other were under the control of a pair of vampires. I just killed those vampires as they tried to make off with my maid here."

She is wiping blood off her hands on to a wall hanging. I hiss, "don't do that, that is disrespectful." sighing "Fine" she reaches for it, I stop her, "Not now." The head guard looks at the head, watching as the skin and hair slowly flake off and the very evident fangs are quite visible now. But he got enough of a look to recognize the face. He sighs, "Great, we got undead in the house guard. You said there were two of them ?"

I nod, "The second body is even now decaying in the side yard. I killed their Master earlier this evening. I think they came here cause they knew Emily works for me and thought to try and use her fate as some kind of revenge against me. From my experience that is how some of them think. Others actually have brains and know that would only piss me off more."

The head guard nods. "What of the priest."

Emily supplies, "The two priest who threw me out." he nods, "Were under their control. They each called one of them Master."

It takes the guard all of 20 minutes to capture to two lay priest (no spells, just clergy type - cleric types have the Spells / Holy Miracles powers). A short discussion under a Truth spell reveals that 4 members of the staff are / were ghouls. They are all gathered and given to me to judge (as I have a more direct link to the Goddess). One of them is a pretty cleric girl who has all her spells and I learn after a little prodding that she belongs to Ivan and that he is the Primogen of the Toreador clan here abouts. That explains a few things.

Priestess Eleanor, looking scared and unsure, I sit with her. We are alone in this room with Emily guarding the door outside to guarantee our privacy.

"Ok, love aside, what do you think of Ivan ?" I ask.

Her head snaps up, "How did you know I love him ?"

I grin, "It's how blood bonds work. The Blood makes you feel as though you love him. Though if you loved him before the blood bond, well that is a stronger love than any the blood can create."

She gives me a wide eyed look I shrug, "I have been in love a few times in my life. Was blood bonded once to. Idiot was trying to turn me against the one I Loved True. Tried to make me kill my loved one. I cut his fool head off and then set it on fire. True Love beats out Fake love Every time."

She slowly smiles and nods, "Yeah, I can see that. I will admit I lusted after him long before I met him. He is pretty and can be nice. Though he has an inner strength to him that is even more attractive. I was a little in love with him before he even knew I existed. But as I got to know him, even realized what he was, well …" she shrugs. I continue, "Found him fascinating did you ? More attractive and intriguing ?" she slowly nods. I nod to, "Yeah I understand that. I actually met him earlier tonight. The leader of the ones who went after Emily, woman named Ingrid." she growls, "Now there is a top notch skank." I grin, "Well she is dead now. She tried to attack me and I destroyed her. Ivan witnessed this and we talked a bit. I have nothing against the Civilized undead. It's the bullies and fools I can't stand. The Lady even has a few in her ranks. Undead that is. We just don't talk about it cause people in general don't understand these things." she nods and actually looks a little relieved. I give her a long look then a little advice, "Something to consider. Don't push to be one of them. You can live a long long life as a ghoul and keep your dominant happier than as a vampire. See if you got turned, one night you would have to leave him. Happens that way Every time. but as a ghoul you can stay with him for a thousand years or more. Just have to be careful of Jealousy. It tends to creep up on you cause you may feel he pays more attention to another than you. The truly special ones though, they will be the ones to last the ages with their love, the weak ones will fall to the way side."

She gives me a long look, "The one you loved before. They were undead ?" I nod, "Yeah, Trisha. We shared many things together but I was never bonded to her, so my feelings were my own. I only learned much later her real name was Arikel and she was the clan founder of the Toreador. I don't know where she is now, or if she even remembers me really. It was a long time ago and I looked much different then. Did not have this item fused to my head for example and I weighed a bit more back then. That plus being locked away for a few thousand years." I sigh and she nods, patting my hand.

I lean over the touch her forehead to the amulet. I can Feel her mind. She is crafty and conniving and really would make a wonderful vampire. I grin, "Hm. Well I hope you have a good life and try not to try too hard at being a back stabbing type, political type. That is more Venture than Toreador."

Her eyes go wide and I grin, "Oh please, I spent years around vampires, back when they lived more openly than now. I know what signs to look for."

I get up and walk out. Leaving her sitting there, eyes confused and a little worried.

To the guard, "Other than a little too many political motivations she is fine." that gets some general smirks and knowing nods.

One guard ask, "How does Tyche feel about vampires and such ?" I look at him, "She is a very old neutral power. They exist and over all she does not care as long as they don't interfere with the running of the temples. There have even been a few vampires and such in the faith over the centuries. They stick to the faith and she has no problems with them."

He nods, "Ah, good to know I suppose. Though I can't see one being anything more than a lay priest."

I grin, "In the history of the faith, 3 undead paladins have served her. Nostromo made sure that none of them survived to the modern nights though. Destroyed undead, imprisoned reincarnated and resurrected. At least as far as I can tell."

He nods and sighs. "He and his Hated this town. We have High Priest in Hermes service who can and have raised the dead on occasion." I nod and smile, "No wonder they were telling all the merchants coming up from their end of the road that this was a Cursed Land."

He makes a face, "I for one am glad you managed to bring us that one Caravan. Not that we needed supplies, but the fresh products and such forced the normal merchant caravans to have more reasonable prices." I grin and nod and leave it at that.

I gather Emily and we leave, returning to the inn.

Emily shakes her head, "How many factions are there in your world ?" I shrug, "Major or minor. Minor are pretty much just gangs like you find in many places. Major tend to be clans. But each city has a ruling group lead by a Mayor of sorts, usually called a Prince. He has his council and they run the vampire society. A society I tend to avoid as I am one of the few that can move about in daylight thanks to the Blessings of the Gods. This allows me to blend in among mortals easier. Well I also avoid them because of my temper. They piss me off I go on a killing spree, not healthy for a society."

She smirks and nods, "yeah I have seen some of your temper. You hold back allot of your strength don't you ?"

I nod, "I have to. Even from before I was incredible strong and fast. Part of what I was born with part of it training in the arts of war. Ironically I never set out to be a warrior. I liked books and studying. I trained as a mage, ended up a merchant to make a living and became a warrior because it was needed of me."

She grins a little, "And now you awaken to a new world and new life and are made a Paladin by a goddess known for her fickle nature." I shrug, "She is known for things that are really beyond her control. She does her best to keep things in balance. Keep luck from running amok. Not an easy job but one she has done longer than anyone really knows or understands. I get that, at least in part. I may not understand How she does her job and make no mistake, being a God is a Job, an occupation and a great deal of responsibility. One I never wanted and so here I am, working for someone else."

She thinks about it and nods and walks beside me on the way to the inn.