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With the long roads of exploration accomplished, Walter could see that his once grand home, staffed by nearly several hundred men and women, had drastically shrunk by a third, leaving only the most dedicated and loyal of creatures.

Upon arrival, his trio of Succubi, gleaming crimson eyes and luscious bodies ran towards him, embracing their master with lasting affection, kisses and mirth all round. Their features seemed only to excite the imaginations each time he saw them, curves, plump in all the right places, smooth skin and the scent of desire they permanently radiated, alluring him always.

The small contingent of armed vampiric fighters, with all manner of steel and resolve, saluted his return, regal in the attire of their choosing, the lasting agreement in return for this allowance of freewill. These diverse men and women were made up of experiences and tales from across the land, many having fought in the War several years hence, and could have been offered commissions under the new Von Helson regime, but instead they sought to follow a vision which ran contrary to the lies being espoused and sought vengeance with likeminded and able bodies comrades. Their sabers gleamed under moonlight, the emblem of the House of Britannia, a vicious multi headed serpent, had been polished on their hilts.

His servants, the women of the household, formed ranks opposite these men, numbers dwarfing the guards, but still smaller than one could remember. They bowed, silent, from various lands and of various races. Many were human, taken as trophies, but a surprising few trekked vast distances to offer themselves unto him. Others were Beast-folk, descended various primal animals, though humanoid in form, ethic and desires, from the far lands of the West, the recent upheavals spurring their movement.

The captain of the Guard, a strong lad by the name Ack’lu, gave a detailed report, including the number of personnel gained and lost in his absence, the state of finances, the manor and surrounding lands, blood-cattle and news.

Slowly, he took all of it in.

Any hopefully news for his friend’s return seemed to slip away, the illustrious patron and fellow member of the Order, Jaq, whose skill in war only matched her skill with a brush, had disappeared. Swallowing tinges of lamentation, other duties and commands were accorded, especially the recruitment of more talented warriors into the clan, a high priority. Having personally seen the command of armies in the West and their leaders, it inspired him to reform his own ranks.

Finances were always a teetering slope for the House, reserves of land truly the basis of survival and way of economic stability. The vast reserves of minerals hidden in his mountains another factor; a dedicated labor must be created to exploit them, lest they fall into carbon and useless tin. For now, his financial flows of gold would last, covering expenses and now that he was to assume a leading role, certain monetary practices could be enacted.

Lord Britannia employed no vampiric women as maidservants or chattel believing the practice to be “wholly improper”, and none were to be taken as booty in battle or by any other forceful acquisition either. Selective reasoning, on the basis of his lineage, the sisters and brothers of the night could not be helped, for surely all creatures of the mortal realm do the same practice. No qualms could be made of other creatures, Humans, Beast-folk, other members of the lesser Undead, a fine addition as servants or blood reserves.

However, one seemed to be different. She was never under his employ, certainly not chattel, remarkable if one had to be brief, in demeanor and the spoken word.

The Lady Violet, of the esteemed Zenith Class of the Order in their lineage, she had been a mutual friend of his beloved Jaq, and in time they too became friends. It seems that she had assumed some form of duty on her own volition, ensuring his grounds were in the conditions appropriate, staff tended, interests in the area well kept.

She met Walter with a characteristic embrace, affectionate, but somewhat reserved. A man of such stature however, has no time to be fooled by such coy whims. As the formalities ended, business resumed, with servants scrambling retrieve luggage from the coach. With the heavens seemed ready to unleash their torrents, the duo walked inside the dominion of splendor.