The Story

The wheels of the carriage clattered across the cobblestones of the courtyard as it drew nearer to the entrance of the castle. It was already evening, the sun dipping below the distant mountains as the door to the inner courtyard opened noiselessly, and the horse-drawn carriage neared its destination. As the courtyard doors closed behind the carriage, its occupant began to wonder if perhaps this was a bad idea. But there could be no second guessing, as the Baron had somehow heard of his work and personally invited him here. He dared not refuse the man, considering how easily his servants found him. The carriage pulled up to the main entrance, and the driver opened the door to the carriage.

“I’ll be back in the morning for whatever’s left of you, Priest. Don’t say I didn’t warn you”, he advised the man, as he climbed back onto his carriage. “If you’re polite to the Baron, you might make it out intact. Alive? Hard to say.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” the Priest inquired, but the driver ignored him as the carriage clattered away across the courtyard and back to the town below. “No answer? Hmph. Superstitious bunch around here.”

“Come, we mustn’t keep the Baron waiting, Priest.” the doorman said to the man as he motioned to the main doors. “The butler will guide you to the Baron’s study.”

The Priest nodded and made his way inside the castle. Ornate carvings lined the large entryway, many of them various gargoyle styles popular in Gilnas. There also appeared to be no torches, the entire room lit by enchantments placed on the statuary along the walls. As he approached the Butler, the man smiled warmly at the Priest.

“Hello, my name is Lyman and I am the head butler of the castle. I must apologize for my staff’s somewhat rude behaviour in seeking you out, Hamlin. I understand it was quite shocking for you.” Lyman said to him, bowing deeply. “However, the Baron himself requested you be invited to his castle for an in-person interview, as he wanted to make sure you were aware of certain facts.”

“Thank you, Lyman. I am honoured to be the Baron’s guest at his home.” replied Hamlin as they walked toward the study. “I must confess I half expected to be set upon by him and drained dry the moment the front door closed.”

“You need not worry about that,” Lyman chuckled, shaking his head. “You are here as the Baron’s guest, your protection is absolute. The staff here will protect you as they protect the Baron.”

They continued to walk in silence as Hamlin pondered the meaning of Lyman’s words of protection. The rest of the castle beyond the entryway was much more plain and unassuming, perhaps a sign of the man who owned this place. Hamlin did note that every single window had curtains rising from floor to ceiling, presumably in order to protect the Baron. After several minutes of walking, they arrived at a rather unassuming door deep in the castle.

“The Baron is waiting for you inside. He insisted this must be a private interview for reasons you will understand later. I bid you adieu for now.” Lyman said, bowing and opening the door.

Hamlin hesitantly entered the room, only to find an impressive collection of books, and the Baron in an armchair near a fireplace, looking expectantly at him. “At last, we meet in person!” the Baron exclaimed enthusiastically, a joyful look on his face. “Come come, sit, let us talk!” the Baron continued, motioning toward the empty chair.

“Ah yes of course, thank you. I must ask before we begin,” Hamlin began to ask, sitting down, “I am in no danger, right?”

The Baron responded with a hearty laugh. “Of course not, Priest! Why if you were in any danger I would have had Lyman simply kill you the moment you entered my castle.”

“Oh. That’s... reassuring? I think?”

The Baron smiled broadly, revealing his unnaturally long canines. “You have no idea. Now, I only have one request of you before we begin. My name must not be written down anywhere in any published journals, articles, or even re-telling of this encounter. Not even my true title. Call me... the Baron. Every other vampire does. This is of course, for my own protection.”

“I understand completely, Sir.” Hamlin nodded, as he wrote a few lines in a pad of paper he pulled from his cloak. “I do intend to use a recording device crafted for me by an excellent Dwarven artisan so that I do not have to focus on writing, of course.”

“Ah, naturally. I suppose a man writing a book this complicated would otherwise need many notes. By all means, do as you wish.” The Baron leaned forward, resting his head on his hands. “Now then, let’s get to why you’re here.”

“Vampirism.”

“Indeed. The Divine Curse. Death’s Children. The Unloved. So many names, so much confusion, so little facts.” The Baron sighed as he swirled his cup. “I suppose we should start at the beginning. How much do you know on the origins of vampirism, Hamlin?”

“Not much, I’m afraid.” Hamlin admitted with a sigh. “I expected there to be more information, or rather, any information, but it’s like vampirism simply just popped up one day.”

“I see you’ve reached the same dead end as me, then. Somebody was the first, and my own extensive research places it around 12000 DR, but nothing more.” the Baron took a sip from his cup and placed it on the table. “However, I can tell you that I know for certain I am one of the oldest vampires.”

“How old are you?” Hamlin asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I was born nearly 5,000 years ago, in the year 12989 DR, near what is now known as Port Nautitis, Hamlin. I’ve seen the rise of human civilization, the discovery and beginnings of trade with Tel Hazan, the construction of the Hissing Lobster, the rise of Ammangoan, the fall of La’rozan, among other events.”

“Fall of...” Hamlin began, but stopped. “No that’s not important right now. This would make you one of, if not the oldest mortal in the world.”

“Oh most certainly. Every vampire that I’m aware of that was older than me has died in accidents or murders over the years. Rest assured I was behind none of them, no matter how much I hated some of them.” the Baron said with a hearty laugh. “Gods how I hated some of them. Now then, on to why you’re here, as you’ve unfortunately uncovered no more than I have on the origin.”

“Yes, the abilities, powers, what have you, that your curse bestows upon you.” Hamlin said, visibly excited. “Not much is known as the typical vampire is infamously reclusive. What can you tell me?”

The Baron laughed heartily again. “Such a scholar! If only my own teachers were so kind! Now I’m sorry to disappoint, but this is the only physical change.” The Baron smiled broadly, revealing his unnaturally long canines. “The famous vampiric fangs, to suck the blood of the unwitting mortal. There are sadly no powers either. Imagine my disappointment! All I get out of this existence is immortality. No special magic, none of the folklore of turning into a bat or into mist. The only magic I have is the few spells I knew when I was still among the living. A master spellcaster would likely have had far more fun than me with a few thousand years to himself, but me? I am but a humble aristocrat.”

“So many of the legends were false? A disappointing reveal, I must admit.”

“Well, there is one other change. This alabaster skin? I was not born with it. In my youth I had lovely olive skin. Perhaps the forced seclusion is the cause of it?”

“Could be. I see the cup of red liquid you’ve been drinking. I assume that part of the folklore is true?”

“Oh yes indeed. Feed on the blood of the living. At first I didn’t like the idea, tried animals. Didn’t work. Tasted like dirt and left me hungry. I suppose you kind of, get used to it?” The Baron ventured, looking thoughtful. “Yes, the young me thousands of years ago would be horrified at the idea but nowadays I simply feed on my willing staff, or if I fancy something exotic I just jaunt down to my town just outside the castle.”

“Hah, like visiting the Pub?” Hamlin laughed.

“Yes, exactly!” The Baron exclaimed, laughing again. “You get it quite well, Hamlin. I’ve spent many years working on my little slice of eternity here, so I care for them deeply. I’ve seen generations of a single family be born, grow, marry, have children, grow old, and die. Of course, the town does not know I’m a vampire. I simply told a little lie many years ago that I have a skin condition, and that I paid a king’s ransom for mages to cast anti-aging spells on me every few decades. They wanted to believe, so they did.”

“Small lies to prevent an uncomfortable truth. You’re a shrewd man.”

“You have to be to live as long as I have.”

“Hmmm, perhaps.” Hamlin said with a small smile.

“Now then, let me tell you this story...” The Baron began, excited to have a willing subject for his many tales. The two men talked long into the night, and as promised, in the late morning when Hamlin finally woke, having fallen asleep in the chair in the study, he was unharmed. He was also alone.

“It seems The Baron is a man of his word.” He thought out loud.

“Naturally. Good morning Father. I assume you would prefer to have breakfast in town?” Lyman asked, appearing at his side.

“Ah, good morning Lyman. Yes, that would be lovely, is the carriage waiting?”

“Yes, if you would just follow me.”

Hamlin rose, grabbing his recording device and stowing it back in his robes. He was quite satisfied with the way the evening went, despite the strange circumstances it began under. As he left the castle in the same carriage he arrived in, the iron gates of the courtyard closed with a nearly silent click, as the mysterious mortal staff of a vampire continued their work in secret. Lyman remained in the now empty courtyard for some time before, seemingly satisfied with an unseen issue, nodded his head, and returned back inside of the foreboding castle.