the oath

• Blood-bound gear

Castle raiding

Only decaying castles

Days running

13

Be he foe or friend, be he foul or clean, brood of Dracula or bright Solarus, snake or zombie or aftercomer, man yet unborn upon Vardoran, neither law, nor love, nor league of swords, dread nor danger, not Doom itself, shall defend him from these hands, and their kin, whoso hideth or hoardeth, or in hand taketh, finding keepeth or afar casteth a Shard. This we swear all: death we will deal him ere Night's ending, woe unto world's end! Our word hear thou, Dracula! To the everlasting Darkness doom us if our deed faileth. On the holy mountain hear in witness and our vow remember, angel and devil!