abraxaslogs | WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

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WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

Welcome to The Free Cities! The portal exits outside the capital city of Cadens. The first impression of the city is its sheer size. It sprawls out across the landscape like a great hulking beast at rest. The wall that encircles it barely contains it, the buildings of Cadens practically bulging against its restraint.

The air here seems thicker somehow, tinged with a scent that’s acrid and smoky. Smog hangs high over the city, belched out by smokestacks that tower over the industrial district. The desert stretches out behind it, dotted with towers and dust clouds that disappear into the horizon. Multiple gates lead inside and each is staffed by soldiers in unfamiliar uniforms that wave a steady stream of people through without appearing to pay much attention. People are coming and going almost all of the time, to and from the outposts and areas of activity around the city proper. It’s difficult to tell just what’s out there beyond the impression of tall metal structures and a great deal of labor. Wagons carrying travelers to Libertas and Aquila roll out from the Travel Post outside the city wall.

Anyone who can sense magic will notice a much lower concentration here. No one will be stopped or questioned at the gate, even if the soldiers seem to take note of the fugitives from Thorne.

The activity and sheer number of citizens can be overwhelming. It’s crowded and loud and feels constantly in motion with everyone talking and yelling over each other. It’s easy to get swept up in the ever-moving throng or find oneself ducking into the mouth of a narrow alley just to breathe.

Anyone who’s willing to make their way to the northern part of the city and Portham Hall will find Prime Minister Marlo Reiner available to receive them.

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[ Ciri stares at the wolf. Her eyes narrow. ]

Did you just... shake your head at me?

[ Maybe she's just assigning too much importance to a random movement. But she's spoken to a literal deer (standing on two legs and drinking a whiskey, of all things) recently, so it's not so far-fetched. Who knows what kind of creatures exist in this world? Certainly not her. ]

[I did. The wolf nods its head twice for yes, then tilts it's head just a little to see what the next response will be.

She must have seen stranger in the past, yes?]

[ ...huh. Okay. Yeah, she definitely isn't imagining it.

Ciri scowls, voice stern. ]

Listen up, Wolf.

No more games. You can understand me.

Can you talk?

[Well, he was going to see how long this was going to go on for, but the best way to answer the question is absolutely going to be a dick move.

So the wolf takes a step forward, transforming seamlessly back into Alucard. He straightens the collar of his black coat, then offers a simply response.]

Wolves do not have the correct vocal chords for human speech.

[ She's not sure what she was expecting. It's not that she wasn't expecting a transformation, but it also could have been something else. Either way, Ciri looks somehow equal parts surprised and... not. She blinks, eyes widening momentarily, but makes no other motion of being startled, doesn't jump or gasp.

In fact, the most surprising part about all this seems to be that the wolf is someone she knows. ]

...huh.

What an array of hobbies for a man. Scribbling with a stick in the dirt. Turning into a wolf.

See you made it out of Thorne.

[It isn't quite the reaction Alcuard was expecting - he had anticipated something a little more expressive - but he will accept it for what it is. There's no bad jokes made about the form, and to be taken aback slightly is satisfying in it's way.]

I was surrounded by the similarly well rounded. [A polymath vampire of a father who explored magic and science in equal measure, a doctor of a mother whose work was centuries ahead of her time. Some things can't be helped.]

And you as well. I can't I anticipated the approach though.

[Admittedly, portals were probably going to be more effective than Hector's plan.]

[ What is he? Ciri has certainly noticed the unusual eyes, the teeth-- fangs, rather. They haven't had a chance to speak much and she really had no reason to confront him over it, but she is very much... interested. There are all sorts of people scattered across a possibly endless number of different worlds. Ciri isn't so naive as to think she's seen it all despite her travels, but some things are familiar, or hold echoes of the familiar. It's difficult to tell so far how much of that is relevant here. ]

I'll have to ask someday. [ About these well-rounded friends of his. ]

What matters is we're free. Figure the rest out later.

Perhaps I'll answer. [He won't, at least for now. With the current goal being to simply find a good crypt to stay in for a while and depression nap, talking about anything from Wallachia that isn't surface details is an iffy proposition at best.

He pauses, suspecting that the part in his hair is askew. Slender fingers reach up to arrange his hair just so.]

Yes, I suppose you're correct. [For now, at least. The dhampir can't help but worry that their rescuers might have another goal in mind.] Is this a usual means of getting around for you, rooftops only?

Got sick of the crowds, and the alleys smelled like piss.

[ She shrugs, then settles down into a seated position on the edge of the roof instead of crouching, apparently having decided to relax. One knee draws up, her arms draping around it.

Her eyes follow the movements of her companion with interest. ]

It's not any weirder than a wolf on a roof.

[ She can't hold back. The question is eating at her. Finally, she just spits it out. ]

What are you?

In fairness, I wasn't stupid enough to climb a roof in that form. Wolves are not capable of scaling buildings in that way.

[No. He was a series of bats, because those fly and aren't going to draw anyone's attention at all.

Regardless, Alucard stays standing where he is, eyes carefully tracking Ciri's movements. It is yet to dawn on him that she's a hunter in Geralt's tradition (he's still not sure of all the details there, but neither of them have been the forthcoming sort).

The answer is simple, because the nature of Alucard is a fact. Nothing more or less, with no particular emotional investment.] A dhampir. My mother was human, my father was a vampire.

I was wondering about that. [ How a dog or wolf had climbed up to the roof, that is.

She is visibly surprised by his answer, though only briefly -- just a widening of her eyes, a quick blink.

Vampire, she knows of. Higher Vampires, too. Ones that look and act like people, with reason and intelligence and emotions. But none that can turn into a wolf-- and certainly none claiming they're half human. ]

I've never heard of a dhampir.

[ She admits, looking up at him. Despite his revelation, she doesn't look any less relaxed. If the vampire (dhampir?) wished to attack her, it would have done so far earlier. And if she needs to, she can still jump right off the roof and into one of the more crowded streets nearby. ]

Never heard of a vampire who could bed a woman and produce offspring. Doesn't explain why you can turn into a wolf.

[ Now, if he'd said his father was a vampire and his mother a werewolf... That would have been equally strange, but slightly more informative. ]

Some things have a simple explanation.

[For example, how a wolf gets on a roof. The rest of this is the opposite of a simple explanation, and one that Alucard expects will get another blink.

He's used to subtle expressions, but he isn't watching hers too closely yet. She's too new, it is like learning to read a book in another language.]

Natural inheritance. I will presume that vampires do not have the ability to turn into a wolf where you are from and save us the back and forth questions on the topic.

[For that matter, Alucard opens his mouth, fangs sticking out just a little bit more.]

I also do not require blood for survival or any nutritional value at all.

They do not. [ Ciri agrees without hesitation; that's quite easy for her to reveal, as she had already all but done so. ]

Though I have heard of vampires who are able to control their urge for blood.

[ Higher vampires are far different creatures of advanced intelligence than their common cousins. Ciri considers the man before her much more akin to a higher vampire than a regular one. Even if the reference isn't exact, it's a helpful measure. ]

I take it, then, the city of Cadens won't have to worry about a bloodsucker stealing away youths in the night? That's a relief.

[At that, Alucard's face sours immediately, having bit into an incredibly tart lemon. (There's something in the back of his mind that rumbles, murmurs something about how he should expect that kind of comment these days. That if he intends to continue down his father's path, the concerns and questions will only increase.) The glare that follows is equally unhappy.]

Are there any other vampiric concerns I should debunk while we are on the topic?

[ Ciri raises her arms slightly in front of her, palms out, and shakes her head. ]

Now, now. No offense meant.

[ She clearly hadn't expected quite the serious (and reproachful) response, considering he'd been the one to bring it up. ]

I have no quarrel with you, vampire or no.

[ And if he doesn't need to drink human blood, it also leaves matters less complicated. ]

[Alucard's serious expression makes it clear that not all is forgiven. There's a practices iceiness in his tone that helps nothing.]

Then don't make light of bloodsuckers stealing away youths in the night. [It was absolutely the phrasing of it that bothered him, far too flippant given the accusation.] The assumption is rude.

[ He is touchy, isn't he? Being chided makes Ciri bristle, even if (especially because) he's kind of right. But in the world and life she's come from, she's used to speaking light about monsters, and about things many others would also find monstrous.

She restrains herself from rolling her eyes, muffling a sigh with her tongue pressed to the roof of her mouth and slow inhale through her nose instead. No need to get into an unnecessary scuff with a fellow summoned and former prisonmate over barely-nicked pride. ]

You're right. I'm aware that not all vampires indulge in human blood. My jumping to conclusions was unnecessary.

[ That's as close to an apology as he's probably going to get. ]

[That'll do. Or at least mollify the dhampir enough so he doesn't take this any further. He can recognize the apology for what it is, because the attitude feels a little familiar. Trevor might act in the same way.

But he can't help but raise an eyebrow, offering Ciri a sidelong glance.]

You've run into them much in your life?

Read about them, mostly. A few... run-ins, as you've put it.

[ None that she'd like to go into detail with speaking to a stranger, but it gets enough of the point across. ]

Like I said, never heard of a dhampir before, though. Where I'm from, vampires are vampires. They couldn't produce offspring with a human if they tried.

[ She shrugs, peering out over the twinkling lights of the city spread out below. The rooftop they've found is on a hill (which is why Ciri chose this area to scout from) and the view is actually quite lovely, if one allows themselves to appreciate.

She decides to continue, giving him a bit more context for her opinions, though she is aware there are vast differences between worlds. ]

There are also vampires of... shall we say, variable intelligence. Some are wordless beasts. Others, the most dangerous kind, are like you.

Probably better to just read then.

[Alucard doesn't pry. He just knows what vampires are like, and that they're territorial and like to surprise people when the rule books are subverted.]

Wordless beast or the truly undead. [There's a small hmm of consideration, then a tilt of his head.] Is there middle ground?

[He gives nothing away of his own home and how the vampires of it behave. Alucard's view of it all is biased anyway, other vampires have never shown his father anything less than complete deference.

His eyes scan the city though. Endless lights, and then a drop into darkness from the desert on. The effect is fascinating, just as--

--huh.

There's something deeply distant in the air, a yip. Not a howl. The dhampir can't help but tilt his head, training his ears in that direction.] Something's hunting in a pack.

The truly undead?

[ Ciri echoes, seemingly surprised by the term, clearly not associating it with the word vampire as he does. ]

No, I mean the ones who look and act human. And I suppose, yes, there is a middle--

[ She stops the moment his expression changes, alert to the way he stills, listening. She does not hear it, but she pricks her ears up too, following the direction of his eyes. ]

I hear there are monsters in the desert.

One of the terms applied to my father's people. There's a plethora.

[He can rattle the names off if she'd like and their likeness. Strigoi. The undying. Moroi. So many names for the same manner of thing: the dead that don't stay in the ground.]

I'm curious as to the middle but--

[Monsters. Alucard can't help but roll his eyes, just a little. The word annoys him more these days.]

Parts of the natural world, nothing more or less. The museum here has a selection of their stuffed remains, along with a few questionable expression choices if you want entertainment as well.

[ Some of those words would be more familiar to her than others. Perhaps the conversation may come around again, when he's less huffy about the subject and Ciri figures out vampires in his world are literally creatures come back from the dead.

Right now, she considers him something between a Higher Vampire and a shapeshifter of some sort. With easily hurt feelings, which makes him less scary.

Her eyes turn back to him when he mentions the museum, expression perking up. ]

Oh! Does it? I'll go have a look sometime, then. [ Hopefully, it doesn't cost money. Or not not much. ] The creatures here are largely unfamiliar to me, so I feel I've got a lot of catching up to do.

[ But the way he replied to her so dismissively, like the word bothered him-- Ciri arches a brow. ]

Have I offended you again?

[Mostly, he's just depressed.]

Some feel familiar, even if they aren't precisely what I'm used to. For example, scorpions, but the size of a small child. [This desert is absolutely going to be an adventure to explore. Good.] I've seen a few bookstores as well, perhaps they might have some used copies of books regarding animal life outside of the city walls.

[If there's one thing Alucard's clearly better at than talking about say, monsters, it is talking about how to study the world. They're small comforts. Touchstones. He grew up surrounded by science and magic, and here they place their science behind cases for everyone to see. It's remarkable.]

Is that how you see the world? [He's unhappy having to even ask the question, but there's no particular malice in it. Just an honest annoyance.]

Yes, I have peeked into the library. It's only been a few days, and I've got so many things to read up on.

[ Ciri looks oddly delighted at the concept of enormous scorpions. She sits up more, propping her elbows on her knees. It's annoying that the vampire refuses to sit down and she kind of has to crane her neck up to look at him, but whatever. It'll feel like conceding something, somehow, if she stood up just for that.

Her head cocks to the side quizzically. ]

I don't know what you mean.

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Oh what the HECK. This didn't even show up in my inbox I am SO SORRY

you're good, nw!!

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