Answers

Back in his cave, Kain took up the most recent suit of clothes dropped by his faithful, to replace the ones burned off by the humans. That done, he collected another set of basic travel equipment they hadn't yet dropped down another corpse. Business finished, he teleported back to the now familiar crevice in the wall of the Chieftain's chamber, emerging into Melchahim territory.

There was nothing in sight beyond the usual scenery in The Gardens of the Dead. No Melchahim, no humans, nothing living. Ominous, perhaps? He ascended the Gardens unchallenged, and was fully wary as he entered the building at the top, to be greeted by...

A vampire, seated and facing away from him, idly playing knucklebones. Not a Melchahim. Kain took a silent step forward...

"I know you're there. It is Kain, is it not?"

"It is. And you are?"

"My name is Resel. But I think you wish for more? Do you play?" The dice telekinetically rose to Resel's hand, and he began juggling. For a fraction of a second, Kains talons itched. He fought down the urge, and Resel found himself telekinetically slammed against the wall.

"What has become of the Melchahim?"

"Ever so polite."

Kain was telekinetically slammed into the wall opposite.

"Nothing. They elected me to be the one to speak to you. You did not gain much awe respect with your condition upon your arrival."

The force holding Kain to the wall wavered, then broke. He landed lightly, then quickly held his sword to the other vampire's throat. Resel seemed unfazed.

"Would you slay your answers so easily, Kain? Come." He vanished. Irritated by the theatrics, but desiring those answers, Kain headed deeper into Melchahim territory.

He found Resel again on the shores of the lake, again juggling.

"You spoke of answers?"

"What do you wish to know?"

"What has become of my empire since I left?"

"Very well. Hmm, where to begin. Ahh...After you vanished, Razelim began filtering down into nosgoth from the north. Being none too pleased with you for betraying our Lord, we chose not to hinder them, even supplying them for their journey. However, they then embarked on a feeding frenzy, and devolved at a remarkably quick rate. In a concerted effort from both clans, most of the most devolved were sealed in the Chieftains room, with only occasional criminals and stagnant blood to feed on. The Hylden, as they call themselves, broke through into Nosgoth above the Abyss, and quickly established a base there. But their was a malfunction of some sort, and they were driven away, settling in Ash Village. But enough, you spoke of the Clans. The Zephonim, as you may know, were devastated in The Passing of the Wraith, though I'm told some cling to existence in the mountains. The Dumahim abandoned Ash Village for the Cathedral, where an enterprising Dumahim smith adapted the pipes, creating handheld weapons lethal even to the Wraiths of the type similar to the one that destroyed the Council. There were thirteen wraiths, but the Dumahim have destroyed four. The Rahabim are unassailable in their abbey, whether vampire, human, wraith, or Hylden tries to enter. The Turelim are sealed from the rest of nosgoth, and not much is known beyond the fact that they are still alive. This news is reasonably recent, as our tunnel network keeps us abreast of news. And now, you have what you came for, please leave Melchahim territory without delay."

Please Leave? The gall of this creature was almost beyond belief! He was not even a Melchahim!

"Do you have the authority to bid me depart? You are no Melchahim."

"Oh, you wish for my tale? As you wish. First know this; I am, technically, older than Vorador."

"I was under the impression Vorador was the first Blood Vampire. You are not an Ancient either."

"You were correct. But I was born before even the Hylden/Vampire Wars. I preferred the Hylden way of life to the Ancients God. When the war began, I, ahem, betrayed the Ancients, losing my life for the Hylden cause. They buried me with full honours. When Vorador fled you, he was forced to settle in Ard'Ak, which you once crudely dubbed , 'the Hylden city'. Finding my tomb, he revived me, thinking me a stalwart of the Ancients, as a Hylden had carved on my tomb for his own amusement. When Vorador discovered the truth, he tried to destroy me, of course, and I barely escaped with my life, fleeing to Nosgoth. The Melchahim sheltered me, and when I recovered, my Gifts were useful to them."

Kain's anger had been slowly building during this speech, but it had been unnecessary. An adult Melchahim was climbing out of the ground, eyes blazing more than usual.

"That is not the story you told us, Resel."

"Oh s-"

Resel vanished. Kain smote the ground several times, until the Melchahim stayed his hand.

"Do not fear. I can ensure he does not gain shelter elsewhere. But this presents us with a problem. We had been using his knowledge to produce primitive Ward Gates that warned us of Razelim attacks. They did not repel them, but gave us enough warning to go to ground. Without his knowledge, what do we do?"

The Melchahim was looking to him hopefully. He would be disappointed.

"I know nothing of Ward Gates."

"The Melchahim bowed, unsurprised.

"I shall seek guidance in the shrine."

"Shrine?" If the Wheel has a following here...

"Yes, the shrine. To Melchiah."

Relieved, Kain felt his curiosity emerge. A shrine to Melchiah? Oh, how he would loathe that. A monument to his mortality, his perceived weakness. Despite Melchiah's pretended indifference, some of Zephon's slurs had cut deep. Kain could remember the day Melchiah had bested Raziel in spear combat. The incredulity on most of the watching faces, the Razelim's undisguised. The adoration on the Melchahim's. The satisfaction on Turel and Rahab's. The shock on Raziel's as he got to his feet, the "Congratulations, little brother" untainted by chagrin. Even Kain had not been able to keep his face impassive, and the pride had shone through. And Melchiah? He had believed Raziel had been holding back.

"My Lord?"

"May I enter this shrine?"

"You must ask the Guardian."

"And where is he?"

"Inside the shrine."

"So, to ask him, I must enter?"

"Not necessarily-"

Kain was already gone. He knew exactly where the shrine was. The old Execution chamber.

When he got there, the gates almost cut him in half as he entered. A Melchahim, presumably the Guardian, leapt down from atop the blade.

"How dare you, the very creature that caused his death, defile his tomb like this?

"I dare because-"

But the Melchahim was not listening. He dematerialized except for his sharp, sharp digging claws, and came at him. Seizing the claws in a telekinetic grip, Kain propelled the creature under the blade, then telekinetically pulled the lever. The Melchahim dematerialized just in time to avoid death, but remained trapped inside the blade.

Crossing to the large clay urn upon the dais, Kain knelt next to it, saying

"The Guardian is right. I cannot justify myself, but I can say, I am sorry for causing your death."

He raised the blade. The Melchahim, now released, spat, "And now you intend defiling the other shrines?"

Other Shrines?

Kain teleported away. He had a mind to visit the other shrines.

Not a meaningless meander, no matter how much it might look like one. Yes, Resel was another long backstory for the sake of explanations. Reviews welcome.