War of Attrition – the vampire war chronicles 2

Wars had a funny way of creating heroes, however heroes often die a spectacular death.  This has always been the case and always will be.  The Vampire Wars had started out with the European Royalty wanting to take over the North American vampires realms, removing the Bands and putting in the Cadres with a ruler of their own choice.

This was not looked at favourably by the band members who wanted nothing to do with the Cadres.

It started as an innocent scanning of objects that some people had brought from Europe. Astucia had touched the objects and read what was happening.  It was not too late, Summerfawn had immediately approached her allies in Brazil and received many vampires in return.

It was a month after the initial incursion on her territory that the Blood General had been appointed.  Qadira was an adept class blood mage who had the ability of super speed.  She was one of the few vampires that had been given proper respect when the African tribes were systemically absorbed into the Cadres.

This is the story of the first Blood General in North America.

——-

Qadira had arrived in the Northwest Territories on the very early morning in January.  This was the perfect time for the vampires as the cold didn’t bother them as well as the winter season there was very little light.

She had already known some of the information but she was not happy with the lack of attention to the details of the people whom she was about to battle.  She blamed Obsidian who had been running the campaign unsuccessfully. 

“Obsidian.  It’s been a long time since I last saw you.  We need to start getting some skirmishes under our belts so that the troops feel that we are doing something meaningful.  Provide me a list of targets”

Obsidian nodded “Yes General.  As you know the Bands are nothing like the cadres.  They are more similar to the tribes that Africa used to have.  They incorporate many styles of magic into their lives.  They also make it nearly impossible as all magical community members and even normals are part of the Bands.  There are a number of enclaves we could attack but we need to be wary”

She slapped him hard across the face.  Of course it didn’t phase him as his body was stoneskin powerful.  “Never mention the tribes again.  They are old school with no bearing on what we should be doing.  These people are primitive and will not be able to stand up to our might.”

He bowed his head “My apologies General.”. She nodded her head and he continued on with his comments “My suggestion is to go after Pipon Kona.  It’s one of the remote villages on the Arctic ocean.  It will be an easy victory.”

She glared “Good we need the win.  Let’s go and cleanse the village.”

——

Qadira was wading through the river of blood.  She had destroyed many normals today.  Some she fed on, others she bathed in their blood.  She was happy as she had got what she wanted, which was destruction.  The bands would hear of this and be shocked and eventually to prevent further atrocities would surrender.

A beautiful native lady was kneeling before her named FeatherWing.  “Do you have anything to say before I send you to your maker”

FeatherWing for her part just looked at her with poise and dignity.  Her hair was very long and braided with beads and feathers.  “You will not survive this. My people are watching everything you do.  We will not stop until you are where you belong.  May mother earth protect me and my family”

Qadira glared with eyes turning red with blood and she ripped the head off the body of the poor young vampire.  She licked her lips knowing that her Sire would feel the death and act accordingly.

—–

StormWind was sitting and reading up on the latest troop deployments that the Europeans were trying.  There was not much rhyme or reason to what they were doing other than causing chaos.  They weren’t tactical decisions at all.

It suddenly felt like the earth dropped from under him and then there was nothing.  He reached into the empty place where there was once a presence.  What happened caused this feeling. 

He searched and felt that there was a missing spark.  He knew one of his children had gone to their final death.  This was the first time he had ever had the death of one of his children.

Going back very close to the window he looked out at the huge trees and said a silent prayer to mother earth to hold his child in her hands.

He pressed into his mind like pushing his tongue through the hole where a tooth would be.   FeatherWing was no longer a spark in his mind.  She was gone.

The village that she had been with was small and didn’t harbour many of the magical community.  In fact she was the only one which means they were targeting those who had power.

Knowing what he must do as a former shaman he started to allow his magic to pool around him.  He created the two way mirror and Aranai was in another area. “My lady.  FeatherWing has been destroyed.  We need to meet with the band’s leaders and try and figure out a way to destroy this before more of our babies go to final death.  I will be there within 4 hours”

He let the power go and the images disappeared.  He and Aranai had a special past as both of them were former shamans. Both also were never meant to be turned into vampires as they both were powerful and had the powers of the elements.  They both were dying when they were turned to keep their knowledge intact.

Unlike Aranai he wasn’t a shifter but he could control the wind and was one of the best weather workers that the bands had ever seen.

He focused and let out the power and a strong wind started to fly around him.  Going to the elders would be wise but after his meeting, he was going hunting for whoever had killed his child.

—-

He stormed into the elders camp allowing the wind to swirl around him.  Thunder also was hammering around the enclosure.  His temper was out of control which was not normal for him.

He forced his control and everything around him stopped.  Aranai and SummerFawn were waiting.  “What has happened my friend?” Said Summerfawn

“FeatherWing has been killed. What have you heard about her death, who is responsible.”

This time it was his dear friend who answered.  “We have found out that the Blood General was the one who killed her.  Qadira is an African vampire who was put in charge of the warriors and she has superspeed.”

He nodded “So instead of trying to be peaceful she will destroy our way of life and our people.  I will end her”

She shook her head “StormWind.  FeatherWing wouldn’t want you to risk everything just for her.  We know she is very active, destroying any who even question her.  Her Colonel Obsidian is much easier to deal with as he has some sense of honour.”

He glared “I don’t care she has been destroyed by daughter and I will have my vengeance.” He walked out leaving them in shock.  If StormWind went after Qadira this was likely the last time they would see the stormy man.

Aranai knew she was likely going to be the trainer of the rest of the shamans for the next while even if her friend survived he would be years in recovering from what happened to FeatherWing.


Summerfawn turned “I don’t think he plans to survive but he plans to take her with him.  He was a shaman who specialised in air elemental power.  He may surprise us and have other items that he could do.  I heard of shamans using fire storms.”

“Unfortunately fire is not a vampire ability and he never showed any aptitude with fire elemental powers.  However he does have many contacts who might.  Combining fire and air is something many haven’t tried.”

Aranai was not happy but she knew it was time to start implementing her earthen shields.  She could protect some.but not all.  She also would tie up the ambient sources of magic. 

Aranai went out into her copse of trees where she has her altar to the Mother, father , grandmother and grandfather.  She begins to pray to them all for the safety of her people and the healthy return of her friend.  StormWind was a man who she had known for most of her life and they had worked together in many shamanic circles.

She invoked the power of the Mother calling forth the earth’s protective nature making traplines for detection.  If anyone got this far she would know about it.  Using other powers she would be able to use the earth’s power to protect their leader.

Summerfawn had been her mentor in the vampiric arts, close friend and confidant.  She couldn’t lose more friends if she could find a way to protect them.  She began to think of ways to assist, knowing that a vampire if they lost their use of magic would just be physical abilities.

She had an idea and began creating tendrils of magic around the area like spider silk strands.  This she was labelling as her home, she keyed in the people of the Band.  Enchanting the strands she began to work out how to dampen the power of others.  As she reached the level she felt comfortable she released the power, feeling the warmth of the magical lines.

She called in one of the apprentices and removed his access.  “Try and cast the lightning bolt at the target” she said not feeling confident that her spell had worked.

As he threw the bolt of lightning at full force she watched as the impact to the target was almost nothing.  She smiled as if this was going to work.  She quickly opened herself up and added her apprentice back in.  “Thank you,” she stated.

Aranai had just created the spiderweb, the most powerful thing she had ever done.  This would help protect her people from harm and also be used if someone decided they wanted to abuse their special powers. 

She was excited but was drained of energy this spell casting had taken most of her magic to cast so she closed her eyes and slowly sank to the ground.

—–

Aranai woke up to many of the band standing over her including SummerFawn.  “Your apprentice found you out cold and came to get me.  What happened?”

She smiled “I am sorry for the concern I caused.  I have found a way to help protect our people.  We only have limited area but currently this compound if any approach I will know as if a fly stepped on the spiders web.  Also I will be able to dampen their powers so that they can’t use them strong enough.”

They were all impressed “eventually I will have it across the whole territory.  But that is a long ways off as I just don’t have enough power.  Now that we have that safety net we can start thinking more of the war.