De Bello Vamporirum

Excerpts from De Bello Vampirorum

by

William Falkayne, Order of Gend

The Prolog

In order that the great adventures, noble deeds, and feats of arms of those who fought in the Vampire War be fittingly recorded for posterity so that all who learned of them might be inspired to acts of greatness, I have set forth these chronicles based on things I have seen or have been reported to me by those who had seen them. In the pages that follow you will see how the great war began, how for twenty years it was prosecuted, and then, in the twentieth year of the war, though none knew it at the time, its very character changed and it turned into an even greater war against an even greater enemy. But, as no man can run before he can crawl, likewise we must begin at the beginning…

Count Bernard

…so Count Bernard's sister Laura wed the young Prince Charles. King Louis, meanwhile, became no better and in the end the disease that had ravaged him since his youth took him in his forty-sixth year. After the twenty-five days of mourning deemed suitable, the young Charles took up the mantle of kingship, and appointed Bernard his Prime Minister…

The War Begins (Twenty Years Ago)

…Thus Count Bernard suggested that Charles amass a great army to drive the vampires from the land forever. After much discussion, Charles was inspired to take the leadership of such a glorious venture, and the Great War began shortly after the birth of the Princess Isabel…

Zodinaskylak Turned (Fifteen Years Ago)

…then a thousand vampires fell upon the General, and turned him. Had it cost ten thousand vampires it would have been a great victory, for at one stroke they changed their greatest enemy into their greatest ally. Zod (as he was called by those who could not pronounce his name) turned a dozen of his captains, and they each turned a hundred of their own soldiers into the core of the great dark army…

The Battle of the Bridge (Eleven Years Ago)

…Relentlessly the General's forces pursued the king. Finally Bernard, seeing that flight would inevitably lead to defeat and death, called on the king and said, "We come soon to the bridge over the river Caron, a river that runs so rapidly that none may cross but at the bridge. I will make a stand there, along with those who would fight with me." Seeing Bernard's example, many stepped forth to volunteer but Bernard, seeing the number, said "No more than twelve, for the bridge may be held by three, and it is needless to weaken the king's guard by more than a dozen," and then he picked his twelve companions. First to be picked

was…

…when dawn came, Bernard and Valence alone remained, and about them were the bodies of two hundred of the enemy. The king was so pleased that he knighted Valence later that day, and gave Bernard more honors and titles. But what happened that night we cannot know, for Valence's throat was slashed and his voice taken, and Bernard says only that the

night was long and ten good men perished at the hands of the fiends…

The King Dies (Ten Years Ago)

…"What, me worry?", Charles the King asked. Thus he opened the door…

The Queen Dies (Nine Years Ago)

…Fishing boats moored in their docks were destroyed by the waves; how much more terrible it must have been for those at sea with the Queen aboard the Gloire…thus it was decided that Count Bernard, who Charles the King honored so highly in life, was to become Regent…

The New Members (The Present)

In the twentieth year of the war, the Order of Gend received several new members who would play pivotal roles in the days to come. Their tales shall be told in the following pages. First was…

Back to Guns, Sails, and Vampires or Games or Home