Chapter 269
The dining area was in the very center of their mayan-like compound on the uppermost floor in an open-air platform, surrounded by vine-covered pillars and a golden roof that only covered the outer perimeter where the food tables were. The inner square had many dozens of large circular stone tables covered in white silk, along with vibrant flowers of numerous colors for decoration. Instead of chairs they had soft decorative pillows to sit on, and it gave him a very oriental vibe.
Riven was positioned at the central seat of honor at the very back-most platform, at the only rectangular table present - one that was raised above all the other tables so he and the others sitting there could look forward and down at everyone else eating below. A band softly played string and flute-like instruments in the background too, but it was only barely audible - intentionally so.
Everything was very colorful, filled with beautiful people that laughed and joked with one another while shooting him a mixture of curious, awestruck, flirtatious, and even reverent glances more often than he was comfortable with. He didn’t know how to take being idolized like he was someone great, and in his opinion he wasn’t - he was just a somewhat normal guy that’d been thrust into abnormal circumstances. A guy that did his best, but the lack of ceremony Fay had insisted on did ease his nerves as people went to and from the buffets lined up along the outer perimeter in the shade of the roof.
For his part, he was enjoying the warm, vibrant sunlight on his skin - and due to this being a nether realm, it didn’t bother him to the point that he had to bring out Messenger. It was nice, because without Messenger in a normal world - he’d have been rather uncomfortable given his vampiric heritage. Instead he kept on his burgundy, red, and black demon-styled suit and sat cross-legged while holding Fay’s hand.
“As you all know-!” Saemi, Fay’s mother and one of the elders of the Sojavi clan called out atop the platform with mana infusing her voice to be overheard. “-We have a special guest of honor today! Fay has told me that he doesn’t like the spotlight too much, so I’ll keep it brief!”
A chuckle rippled across the crowd of smiling, enthusiastic listeners all wearing their best attire, and their voices settled down to better hear her with many of their eyes turning to Riven.
“As amazing and overwhelming as it is to have the Reincarnation of Gluttony himself in our midst, we-” Her voice caught in her throat, when Gluttony’s visage slowly opened up across Riven’s suit - along with the third purple eye on Riven’s forehead. But Saemi, despite her surprise, quickly recovered and bowed low a little more stiffly than she’d done before.
“Please continue.” Riven and Gluttony said at once, before Saemi straightened her posture and took in a sharp, nervous breath.
“Eh… Ahem.” She cleared her throat and nervously brushed her hair back as many of the succubi and incubi gawked, not knowing whether or not to prostrate themselves - but took the cue from Riven’s casual attitude that they should keep standing. “I-It is an amazing thing as I s-said, to have someone as important as the reincarnation within our midst. I just wanted to take a very brief moment to acknowledge him as our guest of honor, the man who not only saved my daughter’s life, but the man who I hope one day to be married into our clan as an official member!”
Fay turned a bright red from embarrassment when her mother shot them a dazzling smile, and Fay’s hand squeezed Riven’s all the more tightly as she simultaneously looked away.
“Perhaps to even bring us children!” Saemi declared, to the laughter, applause and cheers of the audience while Fay’s face flushed even more. “But I’ll not dwell too long on the wishes of an old woman concerning her daughter’s fate. For today, we will drink and be merry. Per his request, any or all of you are more than welcome to come speak to him if you wish to do so without consequence. He wishes to convey that you should treat him like any other in our clan, and hopes that we all have a good time. Cheers to that, and that is all I have to say!”
There was an uproar of applause and shouts as the brief speech ended - and Saemi came to sit back down next to Riven on his other side opposite of Fay. She quickly shot the maw and the extra eye on Riven’s forehead a reverent bow yet again when she seated herself, fumbled with her rather exposing dress a bit, and settled in. “Today, Riven, it is only my children and their father up here to eat with you. But before you go, the other elders of the clan would like to speak in private before you head out - by your permission, of course.”
“Of course.” Riven said with a smile, taking his eyes off the mulling crowds of hungry and invigorated blue-skinned people - to look Saemi up and down. “No need to be nervous, Saemi. I’m very excited to be here to meet my future in-laws.”
He gave her a wink, and heard Fay take in a sharp breath - before he began to laugh at Saemi’s excited expression.
“That’s not funny!” Fay hissed in his ear, jabbing him in the side and letting out a high pitched yelp that got Tupper to cackle a few seats down. “Don’t tease me like that!”
“Ow stop that!” Riven insisted, swatting her hand away and then pulling her in for a kiss on the forehead before ruffling up her hair - much to her disgruntlement. But he could tell there was a barely hidden smile tugging at the corners of her lips, and she kept shooting him doe-eyed stares from time to time over the next couple seconds.
Fay’s father Artirus, on the opposite side of Saemi and two seats down from Riven’s left, waved down some of the servants who were standing ready along the sidelines. “Bring in the first course!”
Unlike the rest of the Sojavi Clan who were having a free for all in the line at the buffets, Riven and the others sitting at this table had been prepared a five-course feast with the best that the Sojavi Clan could afford. Fay had told him not to let the others know, but apparently Saemi had gone well out of their way to spend nearly six times the entire clan’s yearly income on the food and drink he’d be eating today. Some kind of spiritual ingredients that cost immense amounts of money, but when Riven had told her to let them know that was not needed - Fay had insisted it’d only bring shame to her family if he didn’t at least allow them this show of respect; and that they’d likely have their pride hurt if he rejected it.
So he let the servants come in and fill the space in front of him with the first of five courses, one of them even visibly shaking from the nervousness of being there in his presence.
“Esta-Vil-Kwa, a dish from the outer reaches of the Mogin Crus Dynasty, where they raise spirit beasts to slaughter and consume once every thousand years.” The main server, an older incubus man with a ponytail, stated very much like how a butler would do. The guy even had the same mannerisms, as he gestured to the dish after the youngest succubus girl there had shakily placed it in the center of Riven’s display. “The first course. The chef hopes it is up to someone of your standing, sire, and apologizes that we could not do more.”
It smelled… delicious.
The aroma was like a millenia of youthfulness had been injected straight into his brain. It carried a scent of nature and fruit, mixed in the staple of cooked meat he was used to when he’d eaten steak in the past. The aroma matched the display, with strange orange meats sliced in decorated fashion and slathered in a rich sugar glaze. Berries surrounded it, with a dipping sauce to his left, followed by freshly baked rolls on his right and three golden cups of different wines to drink from.
“The beverages are Canyiel Brust, Marinarci from Jaghai, and Vampiric Court Ale from none other than your homeland of The Blood Moon Requiem.” The head servant smiled, obviously proud of the selection - and he gestured for yet another two succubi to wheel-in a large cart of bottles that they left off to the side before bowing and dipping out. “If you would like, we have also bought a number of different blood samples from your homeland as well that you may mix into your wines at your leisure. We have the blood of elves, dwarves, humans, gnomes, merpeople, demihumans, dragons, demons, and even the blood of angels if you wish to try it. The blood of angels has, of course, been stripped of any afflictions that may harm you if you wish to drink it. Anything that you don’t wish to use today will be iced for any future visits you may wish to have, and if you decide you want to drink all of it - we will simply buy more. Just know that you’ll always have a supply here should you wish to sample different flavors.”
Riven’s eyebrows raised at the last mention of angels. Despite how some people might see it, he’d actually very much grown fond of drinking blood since becoming a vampire. He’d tried Athela’s blood, Luke’s blood, Fay’s blood, lots of Genua’s blood, and he’d eaten a few humans and goblins to boot. Maybe an orc? He couldn’t remember for sure though because during the time in question, he was crazed with bloodlust.
But he hadn’t ever thought he’d get the chance to try angel blood.
“Let’s try the angelic blood if you don’t mind.” Riven said eagerly, and nodded in appreciation when the man pulled out a small crystal bottle filled with golden liquid. The incubus popped the cork off, and set it down next to the three glasses of overly expensive wine.
“Enjoy, and I’ll be on standby out to the side if you need anything.” The man stated with a happy grin, then walked off with perfect posture to stand beside the other hand-picked servants nearby.
The scent of angelic blood hit him like a train when he leaned forward to sniff. It was like a drug, and without even considering otherwise - he poured a good amount of it into the first glass of wine called ‘Vampiric Court Ale’ and swished it around with an eager, manly laugh.
“I haven’t seen you look that happy in a while.” Fay said, one eyebrow raised as she and the others began to dig into their own food with forks and knives, slowly savoring the flavor of the expensive and odd orange meat with groans of appreciation. “And you haven’t even tasted it yet.”
He playfully nudged her with his elbow in response. “I don’t know about that! The other night in bed with you and Athela… I was a pretty happy man then too.”
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Fay immediately held her face with one hand as her mother began to laugh, and groaned loudly before taking a cup of her own and draining the wine in a single go. “I think I’m going to need to be drunk for this.”
Just as he’d thought, the wine mixed with angel blood was incredibly good. So good, in fact, that he probably could have inhaled the stuff for weeks on end without getting tired of it. He took in deep gulps, swishing it around to rinse his fangs in, and with each swallow he closed his eyes and let the strange mix of fluids glide soothingly through his insides.
He’d found heaven on Earth. The thought immediately got a negative response from Gluttony internally, which only caused Riven to laugh as he inwardly explained it was just an expression from his old world. Then again, it also was angel blood… so it kind of made sense either way.
“If you need a live source to drink from, I volunteer myself to be at your disposal.” Nitidi, Fay’s tall sister said with a very flirtatious expression from the seat across from Fay on Riven’s right. “If you like Fay’s blood as much as she claims you do, I’m sure you’d like mine as well. Perhaps there are even other things that-OW!”
Fay angrily pinched her sister and shot her a glare, before returning to downing her third and final glass of wine before waving over one of the servants to fill the glasses up again. “Please keep them coming. I’m definitely going to need to be drunk for this.”
Laughing and shaking his head, Riven ignored Nitidi’s offer and put his arm around Fay’s waist in a comforting gesture to calm her down. Despite how Fay had originally presented herself as a sexy beacon of confidence during his time picking between contracts, she’d certainly been the one with the worst confidence out of his group. Time after time she’d not thought herself good enough for one reason or another, and although it appeared that succubi and incubi families were certainly more freely sexual with their partners than many - Nitidi’s attempts at flirting probably weren’t helping Fay’s outlook.
He’d have to put a stop to that sometime soon, but nicely - so that her family didn’t take offense.
“So how’s Brightsville running without us there?” Riven eventually asked after a minute of people diving into the food and drink. “Is everything going smoothly?”
Tupper perked up at the question directed his way, and finished swallowing before using a napkin to wipe his mouth off. “Yes, everything is going very well actually. Forces from The Blood Moon Requiem have settled in at the capital under with a third of their forces, while two other armies they brought have split off. One has gone to conquer the rest of Umbra that did not willingly submit to your claim over the continent, and the other has gone off to defend the coastline against nephilim and other forces that are chasing Retesh Vorath’s armies across the sea.”
“Retesh Vorath is abandoning the northern continent for Umbra?” Riven asked, incredulous. He scowled in confusion and set his drink down with a frown. “I’d thought the war there against Judith Marcina was going fine. Is it really that dire? That lich hasn’t said a word to me about abandoning his homeland when we’ve briefly trained together in The Abyssal Descent…”
Tupper held up a hand and waved it back and forth in uncertainty. “It isn’t that he’s abandoning the northern continent, but the weaker and civilian undead he has are safer on Umbra than they are in the north - where the wars are heating up due to outside mercenary armies from across the multiverse being hired on by local factions to help them fight. Your sister’s terraforming of Umbra into a death-oriented continent, as well as your own ascension as Gluttony’s Reincarnation, has put a target on your back across the rest of the world. As you know, your sister already has the additional world quest aimed at killing her, and it is in our own best interest to conquer most of Panu to acquire Elysium’s prize and protection for the next century against outside intervention. If you don’t abandon Panu entirely, you’ll need to finish that quest above all others - and everyone on the Panu forums knows it. It’s made you and your sister a public enemy to all non-undead. Regardless I am getting off topic, Retesh Vorath has been sending his civilians from the north, across the sea, and into Umbra. The Blood Moon Requiem’s forces, most of which are from your own House Wraithtide, are making sure they’re save once they arrive and kill anyone following them into Umbra.”
Riven paused to consider Tupper’s new information. “Alright. I’m sad to hear that we’re killing other undead that didn’t subjugate themselves, but I think Allie’s right on the money. Gluttony especially needs Elysium’s protection to make Panu a safe harbor after the integration, and if we don’t get it - that could spell trouble. We’d be absolutely forced to abandon the planet altogether before some S-grade asshole comes in and kills us while we’re still weak.”
“Exactly.” Tupper nodded in agreement, while the rest of the family listened intensely on the sidelines while eating. “I’m not sure you’re aware of this or not, but there are already massive armadas fortifying positions or battling each other on the outskirts of your sector from dozens of major multiverse factions. Those opposed to letting you live, those who are interested in your rise to power, and mercenary legions that are selling themselves to the highest bidder or hope to capture you for ransom. Just in case your plan to subjugate the planet fails, which in the case of those who want to see you dead - gives them reason to sell their F-grade elites off to your enemies on Panu at an extreme discount despite massive losses.”
Riven blinked, then sipped on his wine again. “Well that’s not good.”
Tupper snickered. “As you say. But they have to do it within Elysium’s rules so there’s still a very good chance you’ll succeed. Dawn’s forces have rallied to rebuild their cities and they’re sending soldiers through the Riven’s Eye Wormhole to help Chicago’s legion in securing land on the other side of Panu. The Romanovs have fallen, and General Bruner is putting new power structures into place with the cities your forces have taken. But news of a new alliance on that side of the wormhole has led us to building up a defensive line to the north along the waterfront where we expect the attack to come from, as a lot of your neighbors are very concerned about The Thane Necropolis’s quick expansion. The elves of Tereen are also producing a lot of goods for the war effort. Despite the inherent despise of your rule, most of the undead elves have seen the futility in fighting back and underground resistance efforts are almost entirely gone at this point. Most of them are just trying to carve a new life out of the loss they suffered, and the undead dwarves are still rebuilding from the war with Deepnest.”
“Any news on the ratkin?”
“The ratkin are still absent, having not shown themselves after fleeing your wrath in the underdark. Rumors from drow wanderers have reached our ears about a new Blight plague - the plague of undeath - is spreading in the deep from where the cursed ratkin have laid waist to underdark strongholds in search of a new home. But they are just unconfirmed rumors, nothing more.”
“And who is actually running everything? Specifically.”
“Allie has left Chancellor Mara Tovane in charge. Mara was wounded and nearly drained of her life energies after being captured and siphoned in a blood ritual where the vampiric elder god is still tombed, but she’s made a good recovery and will be back in fighting condition eventually. She is counseled by Kathrine Vonsilla Crushada, your vampiric counterpart from The Blood Moon Requiem, Counselor Brass of Earth, Counselor Gurth’Rok of the Yellow Skull Tribe, Captain Crendir No-Name of The Blood Moon Requiem - an E-grade elite hand picked by General Viku of House Wraithtide, King Arthur Brix of the vassal state Dawn, Gaia the Demigodess of Dungeon Alibast, Fred the jabob demon as a representative of Dungoen Negrada, King and Queen Glassleaf of the vassal state Tereen, Jeltuna - Voice of the Sarak, a representative I can’t remember the name of from The Golden Bull Sect in northern Umbra - who have recently submitted themselves to your rule for a chance to retain localized power, General Bruner of Chicago, and Tre’Zix of the Purple Claw - archdemon of the Klinac’Tal Clan. They are currently in talks with pursuing a representative from the dwarvish cities in the underdark that may council Chancellor Mara Tovane as she tries to rebuild their infrastructure with support from the surface, but things are slow going in vetting potential candidates with the multi-pronged war. We have forces fighting on Umbra and along the coastline as Judith Marcina’s forces dabble in what can nearly be called acts of war any time an undead refugee fleet arrives from the north, we have forces across the world near Chicago in the previously Romanov-controlled lands, and we have forces fighting in the hells to help our allies from Dungeon Negrada; with two legions stationed in or around Brightsville on standby. One of them is under Kathrine’s control from your vampiric ancestral homelands, and the other is a force made of Panu locals. Rippenvire is also completely withdrawn from the world as you well know, except for those who chose to stay behind, but the other invading forces are hunkering down and solidifying their own spots while gaining extra tokens to bring in reinforcements due to the changes Elysium imposed - given your ascension as reincarnation.”
Riven nodded. “Seems like our team has got everything mostly under control then. How goes the wars in Negrada?”
“Very well. Tre’Zix of the Purple Claw has actually been given full control over Negrada’s forces after Negrada itself asked him to do so, and the enemy dungeons have been getting massacred ever since. Tre’Zix has the mind of a war-based artisan and is a truly glorious warrior to witness in battle, having said to have slaughtered tens of thousands of the enemies by himself - and I do believe he was in Gluttony’s legions as a commander during the first Eternal War.”
Gluttony’s visage laid out across Riven’s chest let out a low chuckle. “He was.”
Hesitating, and not knowing how to react to Gluttony’s comment, Tupper nervously smiled and scratched the back of his neck - receiving menacing glares from both his mother and father as he didn’t show what they considered the proper respect.
It was very obvious that all of them were a little bit more comfortable talking directly to Riven, rather than his bond - Gluttony.
“And are the vampires well fed?” Riven asked curiously. “I know we’d been working on what vampire refugees we had taken in from Rippenvire, but with the transformation of Umbra blood had been scarce even after importing it from citizens we paid in Chicago. Especially now that Kathrine has brought over more vampires from the requiem…”
Eager to avoid looking back at his two glaring parents, Tupper quickly latched onto Riven’s question with a fervor. “Oh yes! The sarak slave army they brought are more than able to supply their vampire counterparts with the blood they need to live. Funnily enough, the sarak almost view you as their savior - you know.”
Riven raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“It certainly is.” Tupper grinned back, and stuffed a freshly made bread roll into his mouth - chewing, and then swallowing before going on. “Their conditions back on the planet you inherited - Uh… Vartesh?”
“Vartesh is the planet my mother left me, yes.”
“Ah, Vartesh it is then. Their living conditions have tremendously improved, and you’re allowing them to level and fight now, a thing that has not been done in their culture for many millennia outside of arena tournaments where they fight to the death for the entertainment of vampiric masters. They talk about you with reverence, and often are found to be the most eager of your troops so that they prove their worth. The man you appointed as Voice of the Sarak is also seen as something of a mouthpiece for you, one that rivals or surpasses many of the vampiric officials on Vartesh, and they look up to him as some kind of hero. Unrest on Vartesh has hit an all time low, by the way, with General Viku passing Kathrine messages about how impressed he is with labor output in the mines now that the population is happier. House Wraithtide is also now seeing record profits given productivity due to your actions, even despite the trade blockades or pirate raids rival houses in the requiem have tried to put up from time to time.”
“Rival houses have been attacking us?”
“Not in open warfare, but with proxy forces. Or so I am told. That man you and Allie killed - the one who was supposed to be wed to Allie? His family is still scheming against you, and wishes to see you very dead.”
Riven snorted a laugh and started cutting into the orange meat on his plate, letting out a sigh and then savoring the intense, fruity, and simultaneously meaty flavor of the stake that dripped along his taste buds like a godsend. “Wow. Just wow, this is really good.”
Saemi butt in with a wide smile on his left. “I’m glad you like it, your excellency! If you feel like you want seconds, we have some more waiting for you. Feel free to ask at any time.”