Contract Contest #10 - Round 5 - Vote 1

1. Title: Digging up the Dead

By: DatSpyCrab

Mila is contacted by an anonymous vampire, who informs her of a sudden influx of the Knights of Friedrich into the Rotten Grove. They have apparently uncovered some sort of ancient tomb within the forest and, believing it to hold a powerful vampire, are trying to explore it and slay the elder before he wakes. Mila enters the tomb and finds a Knight panicking. Before she can approach him however, he is attacked and slain by a large group of skeletal warriors. They then attack her. While numerous and immune to some of Mila’s vampiric powers by virtue of being mindless and bloodless, their brittle bones are susceptible to physical attacks. Mila destroys them and delves deeper into the crypt, having to fight against both the skeletons guarding it and the Knights fending them off.

Reaching the deepest part of the crypt, she finds the expedition’s leader, Catherine, as she is struggling to solve some sort of puzzle. The Knight attacks Mila, wielding a sword and shield and donning heavy armor. If Mila loses to her, the Knight simply slays her. If Mila is victorious she turns the Knight. Her new minion then explains the puzzle she was trying to solve. In the room there are three statues of demonic figures with plaques. Each plaque contains a riddle.

“I am He who brings Man warmth and plenty, yet Man fears my embrace.”

“I am He without whom Man would be no more than Beast.”

“I am He who is feared by that which Man fears.” 

The answer to the riddle is fire. Mila solves the puzzle by using a fire spell on each of the statues, opening the way to the bottom of the crypt.

In the last chamber, Mila is greeted politely by a robed skeleton. He introduces himself as Nuesh. During their conversation, he reveals that he is a lich from ancient times who has hibernated in this tomb as he had become bored with his era. He then becomes curious about Mila’s appearance. It turns out that he has no knowledge of vampires, as none existed in his time. When Mila explains the concept to him, his mood shifts to one of giddiness. Knowing that Mila is a type of undead, he attacks to try and control her. He uses powerful magical attacks in combat and will raise skeletal minions to aid him.

Bad Ending: If Mila is defeated, Nuesh completely takes control of her. He then experiments on her to learn more about vampirism, eventually transforming her into a gargoyle-like winged monster. He then decides that with this addition to his undead army, he should venture out to conquer some land for himself and see if this age has anything of interest to offer him.

Good Ending: If Mila manages to defeat the lich, he apologizes for his aggression. He tells Mila that he does not wish to be enemies and offers to create a magical weapon fit for a vampire to make amends. Whatever weapon she chooses, its magical properties allow it to heal the wielder by striking foes. Nuesh then leaves, remarking that he will see how much has changed while he slept and that they may or may not meet again.

3. Title: Something Familiar About Her

By: Rosen King

While searching for a servant who's gone missing from the manor, Mila spots a raven who seems to be mimicking someone calling out to a pet.  She tries to follow the raven, but loses track of it at a crossroads.  However, a cat approaches her from the shadows, and transforms into a humanoid form.  Mila prepares to fight, but the cat girl begs for Mila's help.  Her name is Luna, and she used to be the familiar of a witch named Dorothy, but she was kicked out of her home. Now the witch has begun searching for a replacement familiar and ensorcelling women in the area, both human and otherwise.  Those who are rejected as familiars are kept as hypnotized thralls who guard her lair. Luna knows she won't be taken back, but is concerned that her mistress's search will put her in conflict with a nearby vampire lair, which turns out to be Dorian's manor.   Since Luna's bond with her mistress has been severed, she can only take her humanoid form at the crossroads where Dorothy first became a witch, unless she takes a new mistress in the same place.  In exchange for Mila's promise to keep Dorothy safe from harm, Luna offers to become her familiar. 

As they approach the witch's lair, Luna explains that she was once a normal cat with a loving owner, Dorothy. But Dorothy made a pact with a dark power to become a witch, and Luna was given a human form so she could be her owner's familiar and lover. She didn't mind that Dorothy seemed to love her dark mistress more than her, but their relationship became strained and Luna lashed out at the demon(?), angering it.  Dorothy abandoned Luna in an attempt to appease the demon, though Luna assumed this was because the demon was controlling Dorothy's heart.

Mila navigates the woods to Dorothy's lair, aided by the raven calling her towards the right path just as it had before, calling her a "good girl" when she follows. They find the witch preparing a potion that will be part of a ritual to renew her contract with her mistress, though she's still waiting for a suitable familiar. Mila fights and defeats her, but a shadow descends on the area and takes on a vaguely feminine form with glowing eyes.  It mocks Dorothy's weakness and moves to attack her, but Mila intervenes and fights it.

Bad Ending: If Mila is defeated at any point, Dorothy thanks Luna for finding the perfect new familiar.  Luna is reluctant at first, but quickly gives in to Dorothy's headpats and helps prepare her spell.  Mila is transformed into Dorothy's new catgirl familiar, and Luna is allowed to stay with them as a pet.

Good Ending:  Mila defeats the shadow, who seems to smirk before fading away.  Dorothy feels her magic fading and cries out for her mistress not to abandon her.  Mila chastises Dorothy for her hypocrisy, but Luna tries to comfort her. Mila is suddenly scratched by the raven, who then perches on the cauldron and once more calls out as if summoning a pet.  Mila takes the hint and adds her blood to the cauldron, offering to make a covenant with the witch.  They travel back to the crossroads and perform a ritual that binds Dorothy to Mila's dark power, restoring her magic.  Dorothy apologizes to Luna, saying she was right when she told the demon(?) that Dorothy deserved a better mistress who would be there to love her in person. She thanks Mila for being that mistress, but Mila tells her that a good servant is as important as a good mistress, and she should be more grateful for her two loyal familiars. Dorothy is confused, saying that a common witch can only have one familiar. The raven watches from afar, murmuring one last "Good girl" before smirking and fading into the shadows.