[OOC: Let the games begin. ;)]
Fear, or the lesser emotion of unease, are never absent even among the powerful; perhaps even more so among the powerful, for those individuals have the most to lose. The peoples of Kurayo, the city of artificial darkness, consisted of some of the most fearsome races – Drow, vampires and werewolves – yet that power did not prevent them from having unease toward certain locations near their homes. One such place was an abandoned mansion on the edge of town. It was a run-down building of greater age than its nearest counterparts. A stone wall had been built around the entire property, showing clear signs of having been extended upward after its completion. It was shabby, a mere husk of what magnificence it must have held in a former life. The only decoration remaining to suggest against an otherwise humble origin was a dilapidated nameplate at the front gate filled with nail holes, an allusion to the many family names that had once graced the estate.
Superstition abounded from tales about this mysterious structure even among the vampire aristocracy. Rumor had it the ancient abode was cursed, and, even though the origin of the curse was always speculated upon, the stories were enough to keep even the strong away in the absence of a clear threat. This decision was not without good reason, either, for every mortal soul that had entered that place in the last decade, no matter how powerful or undead, was never seen again.
As always, though, there are those who do not heed warnings, no matter how earnest. A man with nothing to lose is especially susceptible to the temptations of treasure left behind by former inhabitants. One, Aaron White, fell into this category of vagabond. A middle-aged scholar who had studied magical artifacts for most of his life, Mr. White had travelled into the land of darkness in search of a single item: the Sirn d'Seke L'forn - or Mirror of True Reflection as it is called in the common tongue.
According to White's research, the Sirn d'Seke L'forn was actually part of a collection of Drow artifacts that were said to reflect one's true self – hence the name – and thereby allow the user to, potentially, correct weaknesses they might otherwise not have seen. This ability would be particularly useful in a society that prized strength, so these artifacts were jealously guarded by their owners during the era in which they were used. Until a certain event led to most of them being zealously destroyed, the Seke L'forn artifacts were some of the most luxurious and desirable items one could possess in Drow society. What destructive event led to the complete reversal of the status of these symbols is anyone's guess, for much of the material on the Seke L'forn artifacts had been destroyed by the same happenings. The Drow went to great lengths to cover up the nature of the artifacts, and only through smuggling had some information and items managed to escape the mass culling.
Professor White had acquired that information, and it was what led him to the knowledge of the mirror. The Sirn d'Seke L'forn, also known as the centerpiece of the entire Seke L'forn collection, was very likely to have been owned by the Whicker family: a once powerful vampire clan that possessed the unique ability to create wax through the use of magic. Aaron had spent the last five years tracking down any potential locations this family might have resided at, and that search eventually coalesced on one, particular home: Sepulcher Manor – one of the former names of the cursed mansion. Paying no heed to the rumors about the place, White had sped off to Kurayo not a moment after he was fully prepared. In truth, he had little choice but to do that in the first place. Aaron White was, after all, dying.
The diagnosis had come from a shaman he visited monthly in order to maintain his health. Professor White had always been sickly as a child, and was lucky to have lived as long as he had; but his luck ran out when he discovered that disease was finally consuming him. His heart had been getting weaker, and he was even starting to cough up blood recently. White's physician predicted the scholar had no more than a few years to live; and, although evidence to that specific figure was lacking, Aaron was inclined to agree.
"I will gladly accept death at this point in my life," White had said not more than three months ago, "But I would have my wish fulfilled before I go." Like many humans, the man had always struggled with the question of "Who am I?" He always had doubts that he was truly meant for the scholar's life, always wishing to know what his true self really represented. The mirror was an opportunity to grant that wish, and so he had begun searching for it even before he knew he was dying. That was why he didn't care about the danger of the manor. If he was going to die anyway, he might as well get his final wish.
With this conviction held high, White arrived at the front entrance of the abandoned mansion. His backpack full of supplies was slung firmly over his shoulders, and the mundane, fur cap on his head was blowing slightly in the wind.
"A storm is coming," he thought whilst guarding the light of his lantern – the sole guardian standing between him and the eternal darkness covering the land. For some time, he had just been standing in front of Sepulcher Manor, taking in every last detail of its ancient structure. Even a fool could easily discern the unsettling aura coming from the place and know that rushing in could mean death before success. A thick atmosphere encapsulated the edifice, feeding off the area around it. The sheer leech of despair was enough to dim the fire of hope in the professor, if only for a moment.
"This place," he said gravely just before working up the courage to step closer to the front gate, "It has the stench of death about it."
"To be honest, I'll take criminals over women any day. At least I understand criminals." -Ash Winters