Akiava, Vampire Interview

As a Bardic Herald, I like my fellows, will leave no stone of Aabahran unturned in search of a good story. However, also like all good adventurers, time just has to be spent seeking to better oneself. Imagine my surprise one day therefore, when on grouping with someone to hunt, I found that the third person to join us was the vampire Akiava. I must here admit, that it was with a little trepidation the hunt was commenced, but soon, as in any other hunt a modicum of trust was evident. At one stage on her daily sleep Akaiva asked me what I thought of the current political situation in the land. Hmm, now that was interesting. We had some conversation, and soon unable to stand it any longer I asked did she have a story she could tell me. Her reply was yes, she could tell me of the bloodied nurse. My curiosity was piqued but unfortunately the group was disbanded and for months I was left with insatiable curiosity. The next meeting I was thinking would never occur, as search as I may never again did I see her. Then, one uneventful evening whilst my companion and I were seeking a partner for a hunt, there she was, we asked, and she agreed. Now was my chance, but once again trepidation had taken my tongue until... 'A vampire bat tells the group 'So Scholar, what news have you of the land?' I asked Akiava what sort of news she would like to hear. She told me she was most curious in the ways of medicine. This gave me the chance to ask her of the story of the Bloodied Nurse. Akiava's Story. Born into luxury by the standards of many, comfort to her.. Akiava's early years were spent in the embrace of a loving family. Being of a solitary nature there was much time for her to devote to her chosen pursuit, which was of medicine. Curiosity ever being a hard task master, nothing daunted Akiava's search into the mysteries of medicine. One day she was assisting in the examination of a recently deceased patient. As the very first cut was made into his body she was sprayed in the eyes with a gout of blood. It was the day and the moment that changed her forever. She was afflicted with the blood- incinerating disease we know as vampirism. Forever must she now seek blood to replace that which her body burns at a furious rate. She was distraught as any would be. In an effort to save her family the knowledge of her affliction, she burnt her house. Now forever would they think her dead, a state she cannot accomplish. For years she has continued her studies but related them to studies of the human bloodstream. She sought to be healed, but came to hate all temple healers as she considers they knew nothing of her affliction. I and my companion asked her had she ever thought to ask one of the lands barrage of healers. However, she has in the intervening years come not only to accept her fate, but be at one with it. Sometimes she told me she cannot control the hunger that rages inside herself but on other occasions she can. Anger consumes her when she grows ravenous. By this time the night was starting to draw in, and fearing that our companion was getting just a little hungry, once more we hunted. Later we asked could she still be interested in seeking a way back to the world of the living but she told us 'No', then, 'I am no longer what I once was but have become ... something else. When hunger overtakes me I am nothing but a monster, no thought, no conscience, no remorse, nothing. Only the desire to feed.' My companion and I were by this time getting rather to like our vampire, so my companion bravely asked, if ever Akiava killed someone that had thought of her as friend, would she feel remorse afterwards? Her answer was 'Can one such as I truly have friends?' 'Wouldn't they run in terror?' To which I replied 'Have we?' Akiava said "I wouldn't befriend a monster". Many more questions I had, and tried to squeeze one more in, but the final words we were to hear from the vampire that night were 'I hunger'.