Sir Pall - Catacombs and Catgirls Teaser

Vampirism among the mortal races in Imperium is, discounting the Cabras of Westhaven, a relatively new and isolated phenomenon, meaning thorough scholarship on it is hard to come by. Adding to the problem is that properly researching the condition requires traveling to Blightwood and interacting with vampires to some extent, which has only become a riskier proposition over the past few decades as the number of aggressive, blood-starved vampires in Blightwood has increased. Vampire scholars Marilyn and Cedric Sykes reportedly came the closest to publishing a peer-reviewed volume on the subject of vampirism, but tragic circumstances seem to have led to their efforts being abandoned, with no complete manuscripts having been made available to anyone.

Relying on hearsay and unvetted research is never ideal, but in the case of vampirism, there is little else to inform people on how the condition works. This has, of course, led to a colossal rise in folktales about vampires, making it even more difficult to separate fact from fiction.

One such folktale that may have some truth behind it is that of the Blood-Starved Virtuoso. The subject of the tale is typically a musician of unparalleled talent and commitment, who values their art more than they value themselves. Stricken by vampirism, the Virtuoso shuts themself into their study and devotes what time they have left to their music, playing ceaselessly with no mind to the passage of day and night, believing they will soon waste away to nothing. Yet somehow, they do not perish, not even as weeks and months pass. Their thirst for blood remains, but it is kept at bay by a more powerful force: the Virtuoso's unbridled passion for their art. The tale concludes that as long as the Virtuoso continues to play, they will never succumb to death nor bloodthirst, quite literally living on through their music. 

At first glance, this tale seems no different from others of its kind, but it is supported by a handful of reports from angels, adventurers, and those fortunate enough to escape Blightwood without having contracted vampirism themselves. These reports all point to Rotwald Manor, particularly the righthand window on the second floor, claiming that at all hours one can hear the sound of someone banging fervently on a piano if they stand within sight of that window. It remains to be seen whether this is real proof of a Blood-Starved Virtuoso or merely an unusual coincidence, as no living mortal to date has ventured into Rotwald Manor and emerged to tell the tale...