Allow me to recount, for you, a tale. One of a boy, meek and honest, who would one day become a man with the power to shake the heavens. But every tale has its beginning, and this one starts ages ago. Before there was order in the world of monsters.
Before there was order, there were the clans. The Night Walkers, the People of the Moon, the Frost Bitten, the Sinners, the Arcane, and the Humans. At constant war with one another, peace seemed no more than a wistful dream to the smaller clans caught between the warring superpowers. Alliances formed and broken, treaties drafted and burned, innocents enslaved or killed, bloodlines established and, inevitably, ended. This was the way of the world for thousands of years. Countless lives were lost on all sides, leaving the clans weary.
After 10 years passed without any signs of any side willing to back down, the leader of the Night Walkers, a man simply called Rinzo, who had lived through each and every battle seen since the beginning of this unending feud, decided to step forward. Calling a summit of leaders to be held the next year. Most were reluctant to attend, but for lack of a better alternative to inevitable war, chose to accept the invitation.
A year later, at the clearing atop the tallest mountain, all were present at this round table:
The Alpha of the People of the Moon, Balthasar, a tall man, with a full mane to compliment his protruding teeth and elongated muzzle, who sat with one leg on his seat and the other impatiently shaking under the table.
The Queen of the Frost Bitten, Malvati, a slender woman with bright purple hair (so bright in fact, it was nearly white) that could not seem more calm, giving off a soft mist on this cloudy- but warm evening, toying with a floating piece of ice that she shaped and reshaped.
The Great Enchantress, Althea, who seemed more irritated than anything. Did these people know who she was? She was a busy woman with a very full schedule, she thought as she impatiently tapped her retracted claws against the polished wood table provided for this gathering.
The Archmage, whose name was a symbol simply pronounced, "Fus". His face remain hidden in a shadow, cast by the hood of his cloak. All that could be heard from him was quiet speaking, likely the recital of incantations.
And the Monarch of the Humans, Eva Grimori, who wore a simple suit of armor impressed with the insignia of a lion on her breast. She sat with a warm smile, flanked by her personal guards, Diavolo and Narancia, seemingly unaware of her clear disadvantage here.
And from the walkway up to the peak came Rinzo. A well built man with the purest white hair, which was as refractive in the sunlight as it was full and long. He wore a simple outfit. A shirt tucked in to his pants and leather shoes. He was followed by a slender pink haired woman who did not raise her head, and stood behind him when he took his seat at the head of the table, only to open with a comment from Althea.
"I am so pleased you decided to finally join us, Sir Rinzo" she said dripping with sarcasm.
He disregarded this comment as he addressed the table as a whole in a loud and clear tone.
"My greetings to you all," he bowed his head in respect, a notion that was not returned, "I am pleased to see you all in attendance and hope that our proceedings will remain unhindered." He concluded his opening address.
"So long as that mutt keeps his distance you'll have no problems from me." Althea snapped in Balthasar's direction, to which he sarcastically gasped in surprise.
"But my Lady Althea! Last I checked it wasn't you but your substantially sized bust that was closer to me than I am to you" he jeered with a smirk.
She sneered, "As if my BUST would ever be within your grasp, you common street hound." Althea gave him a disgusted look.
"Personally I think her bust is no more impressive than a cow's udder." Malvati giggled under her breath. The Archmage broke silence for but a moment, to stifle a chuckle at Malvati's joke.
"Oh, breaking meditation are we Fus?" chimed Grimori, "Given your aptitude at breaking off relations with a whole people I can imagine that is no more difficult." Grimori finished, still smiling at the now agitated Archmage.
"Your childish attempts at insulting me are as feeble as your attempts on the war front against my people." He raised his head, with the faintest hint of a cocky smile showing on his now revealed face.
Grimori's eyes remained shut, but her smile broke. "I was merely referring to the Arcane's blatant abandonment of Humans post discovering the Necronomicon, but if it's a test of fighting skill you wish to have then please, feel free to break armistice." She said clearly attempting to provoke him to action.
Rinzo stood with a sudden jolt that caught everyone's attention.
"ENOUGH." He boomed so loud it echoed down the mountain.
Everyone was caught off guard except the female that stood beside him. "These petty squabbles are the reason I have called this summit." He said slowly retaking his seat. "As you all know, the numbers of our clans continue to dwindle with every passing battle. And these last 10 years have shown me how prosperous peace can be. But this prosperity does not come without price nor risk. Fighting has stopped merely because every one of our people lack the forces as much as the will to continue fighting. Hundreds of years have left more destroyed bloodlines and innocent casualties then were needed and for what? What have we to show for these- these skirmishes?" Rinzo looked to everyone at the table, finding nothing more than uncomfortable shifting and downward gazes. "Humans outnumber every race 30 to 1 because of their superior reproductive ability. And their numbers continue to grow while the rarity of births among our clans is unquestionably outweighed by our loss of life to meaningless quarrels for which we have no reason." He continued calmly.
The tension was palpable. Most clans continued to fight out of rage and hatred for one another for sins of generations past, but the few who didn't fought out of necessity. To survive. And each and every soul at the table knew.
"So what of the human reproductive rate? We clearly pose no threat to any of you with powers that transcend the abilities of anything we could accomplish with mere numbers. We don't wish for this fight yet we are forced in to it, for no more than my people's use for your own ends." Grimori spoke up, clearly unhappy with Rinzo's phrasing.
"I acknowledge that humans were once hunted for their use to each clan's own greedy needs. That is why I have a proposal," He poised, "We separate the clans. Humans will be given their own space, where they can grow and thrive as they please, with no interference from any inhuman clan. Any such interference will be met with swift and violent action by my clan. And I am hoping that this force will receive cooperation from each race. We will develop ways to live without depriving any clan of their right to live life free from threat. The other clans will receive our own space that we will learn to peacefully coexist in, where the leaders sitting at this table will form a council that shall govern over our kind." He concluded, reclining from his leaning position on the table.
Needless to say all parties were astonished. They knew this summit was for the sake of peace but what Rinzo was proposing was close to madness. Most of the races present relied on humans as a valuable resource, and to lose that could spell doom for them all, not to mention the amount of magic power required to sustain an entire separate space would be ridiculous enough let alone sealing it off from the original space. No doubt there would have to be SOME way between the two planes as well, and this method of travel would be unstable and dangerous without a powerful spell to sustain it, and Fus knew it. He made these facts clear to the whole group, breathless by the end of the lengthy explanation.
"I have thought of a way to sustain my plan, but please bear with me to the end." Rinzo raised a hand in acknowledgement to Fus.
"And what of our people? Non-humans rely on them as a source of sustenance, just as much as your people rely on their blood." Althea offered, referring to her people being a species that reproduces strictly off of human hosts.
"And why the sudden interest in their protection Rinzo? As far as I know before the 10 year break you were one of the most brutal members of the Night Walkers elite battalion. Even as the first of your kind, you wish to forsake that which has sustained your people for these countless years?" Balthasar posited, to the agreement of most of the table.
It was true. Night Walkers more than anyone enslaved humans for most purposes; house slaves, feeding cattle, anything that vampires felt was beneath them they had their human captives tend to instead.
"Let us suppose that your treaty does hold true. Humans are separated from all species non-human, and both grow and prosper in our own ways. Who is to say a cell won't form? One who wishes to return to the old ways by either breaking the seal between our worlds or waging their own war on your kind. Or what's stopping a rogue non-human that decides to come and attack our people of their own will?" Grimori fired questions like cannonballs, but Rinzo was prepared. 5 years of planning left him a concrete plan, and he was not about to let it be deconstructed so easily.
"I know this plan does not come without it visible faults, but lend me your ears for a spell so that I may regale you with my experiences that have shown me the path I must take." Rinzo began, "A year after the Great War came to a break, I left the battalion on a journey of self discovery. I wanted to find meaning in my existence; why was I the first, and what purpose did these wars serve? What future did they hold for our collective people? And so I went on my quest for answers, traveling across the lands searching for that which seemed unattainable for two years. That was, until my search brought me to the very ground on which we sit." He gestured around him, earning confused looks from those around him. "Upon this mountain top was a man wearing nothing but a white robe, and a rosary around his neck on a beaded chain. I could not see his whole face but his eyes shone as if lit from inside his head, and he had an almost sinister aura and smile. Yet when I met him, he spoke to me in an almost intrigued tone; as if he knew what I was going to say before the words left my lips. I asked who he was but before I could finish my first word he said the information would not be relevant to my cause in the slightest. He then explained to me that while he could not reveal to me everything I wished to know, he could give me information that could either save life as we know it, or doom it to an eternity of fighting til the last breath and achieve nothing. I wanted this knowledge, so he continued, and told me that I had one chance and one only, to attempt to reconcile peace between our people, lest the end truly fall upon us. He foresaw endless war, and the many horrors that come with it, watching my people die for a cause I no longer wish to fight for; an endless war where there is no victor. Humans, long since extinct, would throw the remaining clans into chaos, fighting for what little resources we have left. Only more death til only I and all of you, save for Grimori are left standing. And only then would we realize the futility of our struggle against one another. Only then, when we stand atop our dead brethren do we understand that it was all for naught. And only after this dreadful final war do we drop our arms and see that this was our own doing." He paused to let the information sink in, "So it was after training with him for another year, and obtaining new power that I came home and proceeded to draft a peace treaty based on the information given to me by the Robed Man," he leaned forward once more, this time his voice taking a tone of finality. "There is no sound end to our struggles. Should we continue down this path of destruction that we walk, we will be met not with victory but with losses so great that there will be nothing but sorrow for any of us. I implore you to agree to this treaty, lest our collective people be ultimately destroyed." He concluded, motioning the pink haired lady who stood behind him forward.
Finally raising her head, she came forward and produced a roll of parchment and a writing utensil from a parcel she carried, and finally she spoke.
"This parchment contains all of the tenets of the treaty suggested by Lord Rinzo. Should you choose to agree to the terms stated feel free to sign. Otherwise your presence is no longer required." She spoke with little emotion and did not seem the least bit intimidated by anyone at the table. She unrolled the parchment and placed it neatly in the center of the table, placing the writing implement next to it.
For a few minutes silence swept over the table. The same thought went through the minds of all present. Certain destruction? Extinction of all species? These were certainly not favorable outcomes.
"And what of this supposed 'barrier' between our worlds? How will you sustain it? You asked me to stay through to the end and I have, so I would like an answer." Fus calmly asked Rinzo, to which he nodded.
"Indeed you have." Rinzo said standing up, unbuttoning his shirt, much to the confusion of everyone present.
"Now I know I haven't exactly been clear on the matter but I am in fact attracted to the opposite sex" Balthasar sputtered in confusion. Marvati and Althea, however, watched in amusement.
"Going to give us a bit of show to win our approval Rinzo?" Althea jeered, "My apologies but you pale folk are not exactly my preference of a partner." This comment earned an obvious growl from the pink haired lady behind Rinzo, to which he responded by shooting her a sharp gaze. Grimori and Fus simply sat by waiting for this answer Fus was promised.
When Rinzo's shirt finally came off it earned surprised gazes from all present, including his pink haired companion. His entire torso, save for his collarbone up and forearms down, were not... him. They were a dense, engraved metal set with various minerals in different places, holding different shapes. His shoulders held large four point star shaped rubies, his abdomen held an arc shaped emerald, almost like a crescent moon, on either side of his stomach. His triceps held spherical sapphires, that were not particularly large but still took up a sizable portion of the back of his arm. Largest of all, however, was a oval cut diamond set directly in the center of his chest.
"These are my restraints," he explained, "they regulate my power and reuse the excess to keep my new body under control. I have yet to master the power I obtained while on my travels and from the Robed Man, but I trust I will have ample time to meditate upon this as the Great Seal between our worlds." Rinzo finished to the obvious astonishment of everyone.
"You wish to use yourself as a source of power for the barrier? That's... brilliant! Brilliant but mad!" Fus exclaimed, his mind already calculating all the incantations and spells that would need to be used to even create a separate space to begin with. "I suppose with you acting as a source of self replenishing energy, we could manage it but... you'd be trapped as the Great Seal. Indefinitely." Fus finished with a grave tone. This was not lost on Rinzo's companion,
"My Lord, you do not actually intend to sacrifice yourself simply for the sake of possibly obtaining peace?!" She exclaimed, clearly stepping out of line, but this was of no surprise to Rinzo.
"This is not a sacrifice, my apprentice, merely a means of assurance. Assurance that should this treaty be broken, I will be there to punish all parties responsible. This power given to me is enough to smite any foe I should come across, but I do not wish to use it for such purposes, I wish only to use it in hopes that we may grow as one people." He said seating himself, but not bothering to put his shirt back on.
"I agree," Grimori began, "on one condition; allow my people to rebuild and grow until you are nothing but legend to them. This way we may eventually become a part of this coexistence as well, in that your people may walk among ours, unbeknownst to them, so long as non-humans maintain the appearance of a human, so as to not disturb the peace we will have worked so hard to achieve." She finished, well aware that this was a great request. But it was one worth submitting.
"Very well. Until the day comes where we are little more than myth to humans, non-humans shall not interfere with their lives. And should we choose to integrate into their society, we must act and appear as one of them. With the right magic and artifacts this is a simple matter." Rinzo easily agreed, much to Grimori's surprise. She was the first to sign.
"The process of properly courting humans to continue reproduction for this race seems like our only option at this point. In any case this integration of humans as equals must happen quickly, or else we shall be in greater trouble than we are now." Althea sighed as she reluctantly signed the treaty.
"So long as you vampires don't hog all the wildlife to feed on, I don't see why coexistence would be too difficult." Balthasar smirked as he signed.
"I suppose you'll need our help to establish this barrier and the like, although this will be an interesting change of pace for my people." Fus waved a cloaked hand and the document signed itself in his stead.
Malvati had remained relatively quiet for the majority of negotiations, merely choosing to state the obvious when all eyes were cast upon her. "My clan's shortage of men will be an issue, but not one we cannot overcome through proper cooperation with humans." She smiled, finessing her signature at the bottom of the treaty.
"With this, all parties have signed. Let it be known on this day that peace was declared, and we will work towards a future where all coexist and live in harmony, however rough the road ahead may be." Rinzo finished, dismissing all of them to start making their necessary preparations. His apprentice approached him.
"Lord Rinzo," She began as he fastened the buttons on his shirt, "surely you don't plan on leaving us without a leader? We would fall into anarchy without you!" She tried to say as calmly as she possibly could.
"Of course our people need a leader, and who better to do that than you, Second?"
"Rinzo... I just- I do not believe I am fit to lead." She took a more lax tone now that the others were gone.
"Then take your own apprentice on. Train them, and allow them to lead when you deem them worthy." Rinzo finished as he began to walk away towards the steps down the mountain.
"Are you coming Akasha?" He called back to her as he continued walking.
"Oh! Yes my Lord!" she said, as she rushed hurriedly back to his side.
