There accommodation was not fantastic; despite their victory the duchess hospitality was still withdrawn. They had denied her request and spoken openly of her failures, a little more tact and they might have still been enjoying the high life. Vivian looked over the assembled group pride duty a smile formed on her lips.

“Look at us now, we have been through the ringer we have been knocked down a few times. Beaten back almost cut down but we are still hear. We did our duty with professionalism pride honour”. David interrupted her speech, “most importantly we got paid, they paid us a fortune for the harpy queens head. That's two of the elders we have killed now”. Alice tapped him with her staff, “I believe I slew the last one on my own”. He tapped her shoulder back, “And we kept the rest of its monsters and minions at bay while you did it”.

Martin had a sadistic grin over his face, he had been grinning a lot since the vampire’s demise. “While I enjoy the thought of killing one of the unnatural abominations myself, it doesn't matter who lands the killing blow as long as one of us lands it, and they don't get away”. Vivian looked at him warily, “you’re not thinking of taking on Bismark yet”?

He shrugged “I have purpose, I wish to focus in the future, the vampires that attacked bay city. That killed my friend’s family, were killed. But somewhere above them is another vampire someone who authorised that attack. One, two elder vampires are dead, we can make it more”.

“One of these days I will find them and kill them, then the ancient above them, I believe it is the empress of shadows who they ultimately reported to. That is a goal far away. I will bring the fire they brought to my home to their lairs as my family and friends died, they will feel the same bitterness as their friends and allies suffer one terrible fate after another”. The rest of the group took a step back, Martin was proposing starting a war with one of the strongest vampires in existence it was not something that should be done lightly.

Vivian's voice was full of dire warning, “curb your zealotry for the moment Martin we need to be stronger in our selves. We need to possess better equipment, rally a good number of allies at our side. A far stronger patron behind us and a literal army to do what you are proposing”. Alice put a reassuring hand on Martins side, “For the moment we can pick away at the lower levels of the vampires hierarchy,” Martin sighted, “I suppose that will have to do for now anything we can kill weakens them one way or another”.

David was in a contemplative mood, “you saw the nobles the princess the duchess the power they wield by right of birth. It would not be easy but if you save one of the dukes lives, or they have a particularly difficult request they would make you a knight or a lord”. Martin laid it out, “true think on this, if we do slay something like Bismark, they might throw such a reward in with the bounty”. Vivian could see the connections forming the potential, “if one of us could achieve rank, then it would be a boon to the rest of us”.

Alice looked out of the shuttered window, “we have a future to plan for. Even if is months or years away, at some point I need to return to the capital, hopefully sooner. To see the mages tower and the restricted archive. I need to get my hands on some powerful magic, that the high council greedily horde to themselves”.

She counted out things on her hands, “I need to get the support of those relic's and I need to start getting a few allies, people that owe me. At some point I need to go to deep furrow and talk to the circle of druids, some accord working together druids and mages we would be far stronger combined than separated. Those would be powerful connections that benefited all of us”.

They had a few errands to run a few supplies to top up. The group was rightfully paranoid expecting attack at any moment keeping their reserves topped up would help. The merchant’s guild was very busy the deals signed with the elves were now in effect. There was going to be a convoy heading across the long sea very soon. Blue fin would earn his reward leading them. Ships would be loaded exotic goods from the Northern lands the southern lands the central plains the dwarven islands.

Alice found a guild apothecary and replaced the mana potions that she had used in the previous night’s battle. The alchemist’s workshop was a hive of activity. The ingredients brought over from the elven lands were being tested. There were interesting fauna and flora from the western continent that the colonise had never seen.

Small batches of potions were being made trial runs of one recipe or another. Other herbs and tonics were being tested. They had plenty of goods to trade to the elves. Alice filially found a spare alchemist and made her purchases. She had to pay ten silver for the mana potions, but it was money well spent, it gave her a second reserve after her staff.

The city had some very big deals going on. Not to tempt providence and risk another attack the treaty signing ceremony commenced. It was a low-key affair and then the elven ambassador left for the capital, very early in the morning. Accompanied closely with a very heavy guard, the demi griff ridding monks the four griffins the golden dragon and the remaining wyvern’s overhead.

That morning Alice and Martin had poured most of their healing magic and Martins blessings into the beasts to get them up to fighting condition. The wounds of the previous night’s gone Martin used his divine regeneration it could slowly heal even a massive creature like a golden dragon. The beasts were ready for any remaining surprises that might await the ambassador on the road.

There had already been a few units moved around Vivian's friend Jonathan Swain in the emerald bows mercenary company had mentioned a large part of their company assigned to North port, those forces had been moved to Ulysses crossing with their impressive siege engine the six limbed ballista big Bertha. If she had been in North port the battle could have been much shorter.

After the jubilation of seeing their work and everyone else's come to fruition with the successfulness conclusion of the negotiations. It was a more sobering affair that faced them as they attended a small meeting with the city leaders and the majority of the garrison commanders.

The sheriff looked across the room”. what were the final casualty reports” the dock guard Capitan held a list, “12 sailors on the docks were slain, 21 of our brothers in the city guard. From the volunteers we lost 45 of the militia. From our guests 3 of the monks offered their lives up. Two of their demi griff mounts didn't make it, along with the rouge wyvern. From the church's volunteers 3 crusaders and 4 vampire hunters fell. The duchess lost one of her knight sir Browne her tamers lost five war hounds and a salamander.

The trade commissioner looked over the room, “Consider this despite our preparations the vampires bypassed our main defensive lines. They had someone on the inside a highly placed blood thrall behind the princess, and yet we endured very well all things considered”. A questioning tone filled the duchess voice, “I note you didn't lose any people”, “I employ a lot of competent mercenaries I would not expect losses, we maintained a good defence of our assets”.

The duchess swallowed her pain she had lost one of her own dearest. “Bishop Gyfford were there any surprises left by the attack”? He looked exhausted, “the thrall taint the ravens spread was strong, we have had to purify over 750 people affected by the taint, volunteers and their families who didn't have the protection off armour, most have recovered without incident”.

He paused adjusting his collar, “we will check the city over again to make sure none slipped past us. Even a few of those creatures could cause a persistent problem inside the city's boundaries. The cold weather might be the most effective solution. A month or less and the freezing temperatures will finish off any stragglers”.

The duchess looked to the trade commissioner, “Gilda what was the damage to the city's infrastructure”? A clerk handed her the right list, “four ballista, 1 heavy ballista and 23 bolt throwers need repairs. 35 buildings damaged or demolished, its estimated 3 months to replace and repair them. Two ships were damaged one superficially the other will need three weeks in dry dock to be ocean worthy, we lack space. We have another three dry docks under construction, but they are not yet finished. It will take time. The resources we recovered from the hidden hand will foot the bill.

The duchess looked to the bishop and trade commissioner, “those golems have ballista’s build into them, we would have avoided most of those casualties and damage, if you let me use them”. Alice hammered several items onto the table, “not... necessarily, we found this on the vampire elder, it looks like a control rod used to subvert enchantments”. Alice held the bent remains so they could all see it. “It was fairly complex, powerful …enough to override a layered enchantment”. The duchess changed her mood from anger to something calmer.

The second item was just as worrying, “this burnt book is a copy of the first third of your book of golem command phrases, it could have …gone far worse for us”. The duchess still stubbornly defended her position, “her little tricks would not have worked. she only had a third of the text, that battle could have gone far better for us”. The trade commissioner stepped in, “there is no point in arguing this, we determined by vote it was not so dire to risk it, we won the fight with the forces we had”.

Francis nodded to the bishop, “the vampires’ losses were almost total, we have reports of one vampire getting over the wall escaping from the battlement. They were probably dropped off before the black dragon made its dramatic reveal, a distraction perhaps. A couple of the duchess agents fought them off from the vault door”.

“They might have been trying to locate the keys to the vault. The city guards almost took their head off with a ballista bolt, but it got away. The vampire riding the black dragon probably survived a dive into the bay. We might have to have the priests temporarily consecrate the bay water to make sure it’s not hiding down there”.

The meeting devolved into less pressing matters, the archaeologists report on the old elven outpost a few recovered trinkets gifted to the ambassador. They gave their own testimony on killing the siege ghoul the elder vampire and her lieutenant. In time the meeting ended, there duties concluded the party finally could take a breather.

In a tavern they relaxed, David got a barrel of orange ogre ale, Martin got two bottles of Adder bite vodka, something the hunters distilled at the holy mountain. It had enough of a kick to get him good and waisted he was strongly warned not to give even a sip to anyone else, lest it kill them. He wondered what could be strong enough to subvert his poison resistance, but it felt good to have his worry's melt away again even if for a few hours.

Alice tried some spiced heated wine that the elves introduced, it went down well enough infused with dried herbs brought across the sea. Vivian had ale quite a bit of ale, with a dash of a little blue spice she kept to herself.

They met up with their squads who had done a good job through the battle David's exercise and training had saved a few lives. They were making plans to keep going when they received a letter from there patron Alexis.

The witch finder Nicole strode through the tavern she was there senior being an emissary reporting directly to one of the triune. David held up a tankard, “grab a drink, didn't see you in the battle which corner of the city did you fight in”. “I was on a warship in the bay we tried to intercept a group of wyverns. But they manoeuvred around us by the time we got back we saw the splash from green belly getting the dragon. It was enough of a wave to reach the high tide mark, I thought that I would deliver this personally good luck with your next assignment”.

The emissary drained a tankard of ale then rushed off to some duty or another. Vivian read the letter, 'My dear agents now that you are whole now that you are exalted masters, I have another task for you. The merchant that runs grey forge Amicia Howard needs to get an elder dragon a level 200 black dragon Obsidian Jet and its family out of the ultramite mine. We have been denied this resource for too long, it is vital for our nation. Also, we need to access deposits of adamantine and octium that have similarly unpleasant residents'.

'The merchant guild need them cleared away too, you will encounter some difficulty, but I am sure that you will rise to the occasion. A few other little tasks will be laid out for you, the trade commissioner is arranging passage. May the creator god go with you in all your endeavours you will be in my prayers.

They were quiet for several moments, Vivian was the first to break their silence, “well that is an interesting contract, this will take quite a bit of time to fill. This dragon will be our most powerful opponent yet, we probably need to take any option to grow stronger before we face such a beast”. David looked confused, “Bismark is a higher level, doesn't it mean he is a stronger opponent right”?

Vivian snapped back, “it’s a family of dragons probably at least one other above level 50 black dragon and several juveniles. Even if we can split them up, they will be difficult to deal with”. Alice's eyes looked calm, “a black dragon of that level Is sentient intelligent. One that has reached the ultimate level for a dragon would have two supreme skills at their disposal”.

Martin's words held a hint of sarcasm, “a comforting thought, thought if it thinks it can be tricked” Alice was unconvinced, “tricked, not likely, they would …be really old, old enough to have seen the blood alchemist’s empire fall. To have been alive during the dragon rebellion. To have driven back the alchemical titans and slain their former masters”.

Martin raised his gauntlet, “this creature stands between our people and what they need to fight this war, we will need to kill it”. David had a far-off grin as he imagined, “still the reward must be immense, I need to look into a better weapon, we will probably need quite a few allies, Vivian isn't that company of archers the emerald bows based out of grey forge. I remember they had a really big ballista, and then there is the grey company. They are the biggest mercenary outfit in the North”.

“We might be able to recruit a few of their heaviest hitters, for the promise of a share in the reward”. Alice flipped through a book “I believe that the dragon jet will allow any who pays its price to gather a handful of ultramite”, Vivian nodded “it might be a good way to scout it out, and ultramite headed arrows would pierce a dragons hide easily”. Martin could see the problem in front of him he twisted it this way and that, “Perhaps we don't have to take the entire nest in one go, divide and conquer. There have to be at least two of them with a mind two differences we could play on”.

David remembered how they had beaten lexicon, “we might get to use that alchemists bomb we confiscated from the hidden hands”. Martin tapped his fingers “One more point we must considerer that we will be in the territory of a different vampire the jewelled lord, he is part of a different faction allied with the countess of winter. Hopefully Bismark and the others don't chase us, paradoxically it will give us a break until we make more enemies.

David began to think, “I guess we really are going to war, what's it going to take to put a dragon that tough on the pyre”? Martin's left fingers touched the hand of Tesla, “Perhaps another artefact would help us out, the hand of Tesla is powerful but a drop in the ocean against something like that”. Alice was quick to point out the other side of the equation, “think what we need to do to survive a dragon like that. It would have a very …poisonous and caustic breath, Martin would last the longest with his poison immunity. But that is not saying much against its corrosive damage, David's armour would easily win we need to be smart about defence”.

Vivian considered their options, “mobility is a good defence it can’t hit what isn't there, did you see the demi griffs in action they were superb. they are tough fast loyal and strong”. Alice added a dose of reality, “also incredibly expensive. they eat a lot of meat, still depending on what we are fighting we might be able to accommodate them. they have a high protein diet; it makes knights unpopular with the peasantry when a beast like that eats more meat in a day than they see in a year”.

David interjected, “Some horses would be a better bet we don't need a sturdy mount just a fast one right”? Vivian looked at it the way a professional mercenary company would operate, “Perhaps we need to look at getting our own coach, hire a driver and a guard. It would enable us to carry far more equipment to even the odds, spare arrows for me. Maybe one of those bolt throwers or a pike something to give David something with a bit of range, Alice you could take a library with you Martin how many alchemist supplies could you load up. A full workshop maybe”.

Martin saw where they were going, “everything is a balance of costs and benefits we are going to the armour of the north. The best gear we can find will be there”. David shrugged, “picking up the ability to carry some spare equipment on the way would still not be a bad thing”. They moved outside to the training grounds.

Alice looked about the group, “I need to practice my new magic, it would be like Vivian putting down her long bow and picking up a crossbow instead, it would take time to learn. The first time let me try this” the magic felt off, unbalanced, her hands became a blur of movement mana coursing around her fingertips. with her usual mage spells the mana was contained within. With this it ran wild, the magic built and there was a jolt of excruciating pain.

The spell activated around the spot she aimed. It cost her a chunk of her mana but in the spot, she aimed green thorned vines sprouted out of the ground. They were twisting around looking for something to ensnare. The damage from the vines was not initially impressive but the area over five yards across would be a good way of holding a group of opponents at bay. With a little practice she might be able to focus the spell on one opponent. like trapping a dragon’s limbs. The spell was rather random in its duration, the vines faded away into nothing after five minutes.

Though a strong creature could break free from the spell far earlier, it was excellent for keeping a horde of lower level monsters in check. As long as Alice could maintain it. That was her first taste of her new magic, it felt primitive primordial by comparison like a roll of the dice and the tips of her fingers ached.

Alice was coming to terms with being a pain caster and the inherently unstable wild magic, to practice made her hesitant. She looked at the rest of the group who had cheered her getting it right the first time, “usually my spells are precise ordered, the wild …magic its different”. Martin looked quizzically at her “let me think of an analogy, you can understand. I have one the difference between a carefully measured pistol charge fired at a specific target. Now imagined dumping a random number of bits of metal and a half-guessed charge of …powered into a blunderbuss. It is powerful inaccurate; it will kick like a mule and it could blow up in your face”. “yes, I see what you mean”.

Vivian turned to them,” We have a long road ahead of us, our faith will be tested our skills and commitment pushed to their limits. We will see wonders and horrors of magic. Look at what we have suffered already. There is more to come but through the suffering we are forged and made stronger. Look at the monsters we have already slain. For the upcoming battles there will be a toll and there will be a reward, as Martin says only true monsters win”.