The winds blew hard that afternoon. A storm was approaching from the northern mountains and with it came a furious frozen wind. The city of Randstad was in its path. Randstad, the heart of the Ashua region, was bustling with life as merchants and peasants chanted and bickered about pricing on goods. Everything seemed normal.

Outside the city walls were the acres of farmland, cleared of snow but home to dozens of frostbitten plants. Tangurple casually strolled past the lands receiving the occasional glare or evil eye from the local farmers. He wasn't in his armor but he strutted like a soldier regardless, a natural thing he did simply because of who he was. The gates to the city were wide open as farmers, prospectors and even lumberjacks went to and fro with their horse-drawn carts.

Tangurple blended in with the crowd and entered the city. Inside the walls were sizable structures of wood and cobblestone. The roads were cobbled and hundreds of NPCs roamed the streets. Horse-drawn carts, loaded up with people and supplies, traveled up and down the roads as well. As he walked up and down the streets of the market district, he asked every vendor there about vampirism and if they knew of a cure or someone who would know. This brought attention to him, the kind he was not wanting.

Tangurple walked away from the bag merchant, again disappointed by the answer he received. He sighed heavily and shrugged his shoulders, ready to leave town and try Jonkas. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw city guards; men in chainmail armor with tabards displaying the house crest of the ruling family; a red background with a black lion stamped on the front.

Tangurple watched them as some merchants gestured towards him. Something bad was going on or about to occur. Hastily he equipped his armor and weaponry from his inventory. He was visibly exposed but at least now well armed and armored. It was mere seconds before the guards motioned for support and braced themselves.

Tangurple saw the crowd move away from him only to realize a pocket had been formed around him and the guards ahead. The usual fighting ring formed by people when fights break out in schools or public places. He unsheathed his sword and readied his fighting stance. The city guards, although plentiful in numbers, looked concerned. They were hesitant in action and merely responded to Tangurple's movements.

Tangurple noticed their lack of will to fight and called out. "What do you want?"

The captain of the guards, a male who wore a different suit of armor stepped forward. "Jarl Nickolai wishes to have a word with you, stranger. If you'll sheathe your weapon and follow me..." The captain's voice was firm and commanding however calm and understanding. His voice trailed off as he about-faced and began walking towards the Jarl's castle.

Tangurple eyed the guards who had nervously kept their swords out and decided to sheathe his. Upon doing so, the guards became relaxed and sheathed their weapons.

Inside the Jarl's castle, Tangurple was escorted to the throne by the captain himself. The Jarl was a middle-aged man with a long brown beard and equally as long hair. His clothes were vintage looking with worn out leather padding affixed to it. Nickolai pushed himself out of his carved wooden throne and greeted Tangurple. His voice was rough sounding, "So you're the one who's been asking about the vampires." Nickolai stepped down and approached him eyeing the armor he wore. "This armor, You wouldn't happen to be apart of them?"

"Apart of who?" Tangurple asked.

"The helm unto itself is Emporian no doubt. Yet you travel alone." the Jarl said, continuously studying the armor.

"I'm not associated with the Emporians, much less know who they are or were," Tangurple replied.

"Scavenger then? Most find Emporian armor to be overbearing. You may not be a scavenger then. Where did you come from?" Nickolai asked threateningly.

Tangurple subtly rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Uskor. The barrier is down."

Nickolai paused and turned to Tangurple. "Uskor. When did Boudal's walls fall?"

"The walls themselves are still up, but there's a portal out in the forest somewhere that works both ways."

Nickolai chuckled maniacally. "Perfect. Rothguard is open once again. Captain! Rally the army and guard and march on Jonkas. Bring down my brother then march on Rothguard himself-"

Tangurple intervened with an awkward laugh. "Rothguard isn't vulnerable. People, several million, as a matter of fact, have been coming over from Empora."

"Millions? Rothguard has an army then?"

"Not aligned with him, no. but Uskor is home to several sizable guilds, mine included."

"Yours? Well then, you are good collateral and will be worth a fortune."

Tangurple quickly unsheathed his sword and raised it at Nickolai. "Try me and I will fillet you on the spot."

"Bold." Nickolai calmly said. "Perhaps you will be useful then." Nickolai walked to his throne and lazily sat in it. "You know of the vampire problem, we know it too. I wage war on my brother for two reasons, one of them is to distract people from the vampire problem."

Tangurple kept a tight grip on his sword. "Why distract them?"

"The people here were farmers, not fighters. Vampirism has always stayed in the shadows usually only taking the nuisances such as the homeless beggars. No one ever took notice. Since the plagues and monsters erupting from the Ember mountains, the vampires have become more active. I have foresters vanishing almost daily and this war with my brother is the only thing keeping it under wraps. To expose the presence of vampirism would cause mass hysteria and rioting."

Tangurple nodded. "So the war in of itself is fake?"

"To a degree, yes. We are not in a full war but we do have skirmishes over certain territories. My brother never wanted the real throne because then he'd be saddled with Uskor and the Sunkai and the Thrimvu from the jungles." Nickolai explained. "He let me keep the throne. He runs Jonkas, a city on the other side of the province."

"So why tell me this?"

"So you know why I want you to stop inquiring about vampirism. I want people to forget it exists."

"I only ask because my wife is infected and I need to find a cure."

"Unfortunately neither myself nor my alchemists have any way to undo it. The priestesses to Syna might know. They have a chapel here and out in the northern mountains. If you do go to the mountains, be wary, the women up there are not fond of men."

"Why do you say that?"

"Syna has been known to tamper with the body of those who serve her to keep them from disobeying her. In doing so, they can not create life and they are prohibited from physical contact with men," Nickolai explained.

"So don't touch them?"

"Don't touch them beyond handing them items or taking items from them. A pat on the shoulder, a hug and sometimes a handshake is considered sexual interaction."

"What happens if I do make contact with one?"

"You sentence her to a purity death."

"Purity death? Do I want to know?"

"They're burned alive," Nickolai said with a tone of forewarning and caution. "If you value life, it'd be better for everyone if you don't touch anyone or anything."

Tangurple nodded. "Thanks for the information." Tangurple sheathed his sword and made for the door.

Nickolai called out as he left, "if you go to Jonkas, be wary of my brother, he is not stable."

Tangurple exited the castle and made his way to the chapel, the tallest structure in Randstad. The steeple was the tallest part of the chapel with its tip piercing the heavens.

Rather the sky limit. Even in the digital world, things can be only so big.

The chapel had equally large wooden doors decorated in blackened cast iron features. Tangurple pulled on the heavy door and it slid open rather easily. The interior was much darker in comparison to the outside. He stepped in and the door closed itself behind him. Candles on sconces and small candelabras dimly lit the chapel. The place had a more demonic feel than that of a goddess of "purity". Tangurple meekly called out, "Hello? Anyone here?"

A faint female voice responded. "Do you seek the guidance of Syna?"

Tangurple scanned the darker areas for signs of life. He seemed alone in this chapel, except for a large statue of a woman holding a sapling and arm full of birds. He cautiously walked towards the statue. "Does she have a cure to vampirism?" he asked the statue.

A woman dressed in loose-fitting dark green robes emerged from the darkness. "I am a priestess to Syna. The lady of life knows your struggles adventurer. She knows that your wife is ill."

Tangurple rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, becoming rather concerned about this woman's knowledge.

"Steady yourself. I am not armed as are none of my sisters either." She said as a dozen other women revealed themselves. "We were told of your inquiries by Syna herself. She wanted me to forward a message." The woman stepped back and began radiating a bright yellow glow which blinded Tangurple.

A different voice spoke a deeper tone that belonged to an older woman. She was calm and somewhat cheerful sounding. "Traveler. The cure to vampirism is not an alchemical concoction nor a simple arcane enchantment. To cure such a disease requires direct Celestial intervention."

"I presume you are Syna?" Tangurple said, recovering from the light. "Then tell me what I need to do."

"I am the lady of life, daughter to Odis, I am Syna. In order for her to be fully cured of this disease, several things must be sacrificed. First is the heart of a vampire, second is the hide of a spectral mammoth. The third is the body of your wife. And lastly, clean blood. Yours will suffice."

"Seems simple enough."

"The ritual must be held at the wayshrine in the Moaning Mountains. The land there is uncorrupted by Boudal and Judas' touch. It is also the home to my most dedicated of priestesses. Bring everything there, your wife included, and I will purge her of her disease."

Tangurple nodded. "Then I shall see to the collection of the materials. Where can I find the spectral mammoths?"

"That is not for me to say. Consider this a test of worthiness. May the light guide you and Amulius' fortune be with you, traveler." Syna said as her voice and light faded. Her priestess collapsed to the floor, unconscious. The others rushed over to revitalize her.

Tangurple made for the door but was stopped by a much younger priestess, one who looked his age. "Take this, it'll help you." She said, holding up a small rock that was peeling.

"What is it?" Tangurple asked, studying the flaking bits.

"It's a special gem, Branncrux. It'll help you fight Judas' thralls. Trust the pure ones." she bowed and rushed back over to the gathering of the other priestesses.

Tangurple set it down in his bag and exited the chapel. As he left, large text appeared on his HUD:

"Curing the Curse"

Undo Judas' so-called gift of Vampirism