World of Alvarra: Rise of the Vampire Lord

Chapter 18: The Three Factions

"So she's staying!?" Van asked in surprise.

"Unfortunately yes." Thea sourly replied.

Van and the others were all sitting in a private room for a family meeting that his parents called for, about the issue of Karen. Everyone was sitting down on chairs that were in a circle except for Thea who was pacing back and forth with clear agitation.

Alvaroz sighed. "We can't just get rid of her. It turns out she's here because of House Umbra. It seems for some reason, they wish to get in touch with us, and asked the main branch of the House of Moonshadow for an introduction. Probably not even realizing the friction between us and them."

Van thought back to the other woman that was with 'That Bitch' and wondered what she had to do with anything. "Why does House Umbra wish to get in contact with us?" Van asked.

Lorenzo spoke, rubbing his chin in thought. "It seems it has to do with our experience outside of the vampire lands. Ah! Sorry. Alcray," he quickly realized his mistake and fixed it. "You see, while it's true that House Umbra has much influence on the trade that happens between Alcray and the rest of the world, due to their ports. That's only with merchants and a few dignitaries from other countries, they don't have any actual connections with anyone in any real power, mostly because while House Umbra is indeed powerful, It doesn't speak for the rest of the Vampires that live here."

"What does that have to do with us?" Van asked.

"A lot actually," Alvaroz spoke up. "Thea love, can you please stop pacing."

She scowled but did so, sitting in one of the empty chairs, her leg tapping incessantly.

"As I was saying" Alvaroz began again. "It has a lot to do with us. Mostly due to a mixture of our parents' connections before they died, and the connections we personally made when we were out exploring the world. Namely a certain connection with a certain school in Istra." he finished.

"A school?" Van asked

It was Lorenzo who answered again. "Yes. One of the greatest schools on the continent. You see, we ran with another group of people while exploring, sometimes we worked together, sometimes we went our separate ways. But always we kept in touch until the last few years. It turns out that one of these people went and became the principal of the Istranion royal academy. And another became the vice master to the adventurer's guild in Istra. There are a few others of course, but they either died or didn't make as much a name for themselves."

"And because of this House Umbra is interested in you? Why? What do they get out of it?" Van asked.

"Again, a lot actually," Alvaroz said. "But we'll talk about that some other time, more importantly, Are you aware of the three factions?" He asked Van.

"Not really," Van replied with a shake of his head, but secretly a little annoyed about not having his question answered.

"Well. House Umbra is the head of the progressive faction. The leader of which is Tethra Umbra, an Archduchess. Meaning she is of a standing that is higher than normal duchies. There are only three archduchies in Alcray, and she is the head of one of them. Then there is Malon Taldem, Leader of the aggressive faction, also the ruler of an archduchy. Finally, there is Dagon Valtier, Leader of the neutral faction, of which we are associated with, also the head of an archduchy and one of the oldest vampires in Alcray." Alvaroz said.

"So because we don't have a single ruler, Alcray can't make formal connections with the other countries?" Van said thoughtfully "I know that when Alcraz died everything collapsed with him, but surely by now we have something to show for it? Like maybe a council that can represent Alcray to the wider world? It's been thousands of years after all."