The Search for Power

[Strazio Rockwell]

Bruised and battered Strazio held his tender ribs. To use so much power in such a short amount of time put a great strain on his body and he was certainly feeling it. He shuddered as he thought of Mayra, his old companion. How did that thing know about her and Damien? Strazio shuddered at the thought of some malevolent entity poking around in his mind. It knew exactly what to do and say to get under his skin. His memory of Mara was crystal clear and he remembered the fated day when she lost her voice and gained that wicked scar across her neck. She could never say it, but he knew she held resentment towards him for that. Hell, he even hated himself for what happened to her. He shook his head, trying to free himself from the pervasive thought.

In the distance Strazio saw a couple men holding torches, they appeared to be ready for battle. They marched along a dirt path, only about a mile from Strazio. There was about twelve of them and they appeared human. They also looked like they knew where they were going, something that Strazio certainly couldn't say. He figured if he could survive bog creatures and hellish shadows he should be able to take on a couple of humans. Even still he approached them cautiously, he lowered his hood and cut them off at a nearby bend in the road. The soldiers slowed to a crawl when they notice Strazio, after a few agonising minutes they were upon him. The lead soldier, dressed in red and blue stepped forward and addressed Strazio.

"Who are you?" the man looked more like a farmer than a soldier, his armor seemed to be one size too large.

"My name is Strazio Rockwell, and yourself?"

"Seargent Rumford of the Darkshire guard, formerly the Captain of the New Tristram guard. I'm presuming you're a Prime, what business do you want with us?" he eyed Strazio carefully, he obviously understood the power of Primes. Strazio raised an eyebrow at their caution, but considering what he endured in just a few hours he could understand their paranoia.

"I'm lost Seargent, I guess I'm fresh off the boat you could say and I have no idea where I'm going" he laughed a little bit, hoping to lighten the mood. The soldiers murmered amongst themselves and Rumford laughed a little bit.

"My advice Prime, head back to the gate. There is nothing but death for those who come here" he motioned for his men to continue marching and they walked past Strazio, parting as a river would around a stone. Strazio turned around once the soldiers were past him and began to follow the group, walking stride-in-stride with Rumford.

"Then why don't you leave and head somewhere more hospitable Seargent?"

"At this point, I'm used to it. Anything else would seem unnatural to me. Now unless you're willing to help us, I'd prefer it if you left us to our fate."

"I'll help you with your problem, if you help me in return Seargent, what do you need done?"

Rumford laughed a bit "Alright I like your spunk, reminds me of a hero from my homeland. We've recieved reports of a large patchwork undead in the area and we've been tasked with eradicating the beast. If you help us I'll give you any help that I can"

"Deal!" Strazio was excited at the idea of actual progress. In his experience undead were frail creatures and he was confident in his abilities to fell the beast. They walked along the dirt path for half an hour, both parties staying silent except for the occasional order from Rumford. Strazio took mental note of their equipment and the general "look" of the group. The soldier's of Darkshire seemed haggard at best and outright unqualified at worst. Civilians forced into a makeshift militia to fight back horrors of the night. These people needed all the help they could get and slaying a few of the big baddies around would surely gain the attention of Dracula. Strazio would help the people of Darkshire, until it would no longer benefit him. The group came to a ruined town at the edge of a forest and they spread out, inspecting the recently pillaged town.

Strazio was reminded of his home town, walking amongst the death and destruction. He frowned and stepped around a pile of corpses, the size of the slaughter was surprising, even the guards were hacked to pieces. The captain ordered his soldiers to build a funeral pyre and Strazio watched in morbid curiosity. The soldiers worked late into the night, piling the dead high and covering them with the remains of their village. They lit the bodies aflame and Strazio pulled his cloak tight, to cover his mouth and nose from the stench of burning flesh. The soldiers hung their head solemnly and Rumford offered a prayer of passing.