>>5415543>>5415581>>5415590"Is there anywhere in this building that would be hard for them to reach us?"
"Unfortunately not, this is meant to be an open space for the guests to feast and dance as much as they would like." Stanley observes the window, half expecting a tiger to maul him so he would escape his duty of having to comply with you.
"They're giant cats. Jumping and sneaking around tight areas would not be a problem to them" Magnifico panics.
"Guess we're out of choices then... Everyone, form a line with your weapons and barricade the entrances! Silver is a repellent against creatures possessed by magic, should we have any cutting or blunting weapons made out of those, it will be beneficial to-"
"And who do you think you are to command our troops?" Poliziano is the first to question your commands. "With the misfortune you bring, you might as well have the mark of the beast!"
"The audacity to command our soldiers, when he comes from a land that refuse to participate in the Tudor war to grow a coliseum in Midland Territory!" Giorgio is the other son who responds with scorn.
Perhaps Barnham was right afterall, these people would rather die virtue signaling than take matters into their own hands. Talking is all they're good for...
"I'd say let him handle it." Stanley plays devil's advocate to the crowd. "His father's lost plenty of money financing the Holy Knights. When Farnese went after him and The Black Swordsman, he magically made them all disappear into Ilos free of choice. It should tell you enough about his skills in recruitment and leadership, isn't it?"
"Vlad fought the law and Vlad won!" Puck arrives before the doors could be barricaded, singing to a soft tune as he goes unnoticed by the non believers.
"Where are the others?" You ask the elf.
"Just past the front gate, some of them are already inside the mist so we had to slow down a bit."
"LADY FARNESE!" Serpico runs after his step-sister, breaking down as she goes away from the edge of the balcony into the rooms further into the household.
"Didn't she hear the warnings? It's dangerous to go outside-" Puck stops himself after noticing her intent.
Farnese now feels used, betrayed, knowing that Serpico only stood by her side out of obligation, and perhaps a chance to be compensated instead of ever genuinely feeling any comradery for her. Even brotherly love was impossible to one who committed matricide.
"Vlad, you don't think she's thinking of jumping, is she?!"
You wish you could have said no.
>This is between her and Serpico, try not to get involved.>You will not forgive yourself if something happens to her. Unlike her family, you can be by her side without casting judgement. 