Shadows of London: 1-17 A Shock Under Moonlight

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The moon is full, and Caroline follows Priscilla to a cemetery on the city outskirts. In the mystic atmosphere, they await the arrival of the Baroness...

Info

Style: Event Logs: Blood Drinkers Required: Doleful Lament Recommended: Doleful Lament, Final Regret, Melancholic Concerto Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Dreamy Coral

Dreamy Coral

Dialogue Choices

Note: Changing choices when replaying will cost 5

I must answer carefully...

• Claim I got lost
• Claim someone has been following me
  • Priscilla's Goodwill will rise

It is also possible to get a minor ending here if you have previously made the following choices:

• The workhouse in 1-8 Uncertainty
• Read through 1-10 Lilacs instead of 1-9 Undying Creature
• Doctor Grey in 1-14 The Baroness
• Read through 1-16 Persuasion instead of 1-15 Entrapment

Transcript

Expand for script.

• The moon is waxing, and I receive no news from the Scarlet Rose Club.
• There are times when I wonder if I had imagined it all, or if it's just an elaborate trick.

• Tonight, I gaze blankly at the full moon hanging overhead, feeling doubtful.
• You: Perhaps I missed a message of some sort?

• You: Should I go to the club and check if the ritual will be held tonight?

• There's a tiny "thud" at the window, as if something has fallen onto the ground.
• Warily, I approach the window and discover a scroll tied with a small stone.
• You: What is this?

• I unfurl the scroll.

Scarlet splatter, roses wither. The full moon is upon us, and the High God shall walk among us. Devoted children, pour all of your gratitude and minds into the altar of resurrection. Ignite the flames! Welcome the destruction of this world, and the rebirth of a new world!

• There's a palm-sized map, and I guess it shows the way to the "place of resurrection" indicated on the scroll.
• You: Who tossed it here? Priscilla?

• I stick my head out the window and look around, but don't see a single soul.
• You: They really know everything about me. If I don't go, I'm afraid they won't let things rest.

• You: At this critical stage, even if I have the time to send a message, I might get others in trouble...

• You: Forget it! There's no time to waste. I'll get changed into something suitable and head out.

• I sneak out of the building, and manage to hire a carriage. After a long, tedious journey following the directions on the map, I finally arrive at the designated spot.

• It's a cemetery in the city outskirts. The damaged gravestones lie at various angles, surrounded by overgrown grass.
• The deathly quiet is anxiety-inducing. I can only hear the tree branches rustling in the wind.
• You: (I haven't gone to the wrong place, have I... There's no one in sight.)

• I stand still for a while, and then notice a moving light in the distance, among the graves.
• You: (Is that someone carrying a torch?)

• I try to suppress my fear, and tiptoe walk towards the light.
• I've only taken a few steps when someone suddenly appears, blocking my way.
• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline, why are you so late?

• You: You startled me...

• Priscilla Barnet: I waited for so long, and I was afraid you've run away.

• Priscilla Barnet: So you've been lurking here all along!

• Mysterious Man: Priscilla, why is the person you're guiding so shady?

• Mysterious Man: She's not some kind of spy waiting for her conspirator, right?

• A man dressed in a black robe follows at Priscilla's heels and stares at me coldly.
• Priscilla Barnet: Esteemed Host, she is new to the club, and is not yet familiar with the rules.

• Priscilla turns to look at me and winks.
• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline, it's a serious offence to miss the preparation work before the ritual!

• Priscilla Barnet: Tell the Host why you're late, and beg for his forgiveness.

• You: (I guess the Host is one of the leaders of the club, and Priscilla wants me to be respectful towards him.)

• You: (I must answer carefully...)

Claim I got lost

• You: I apologize, I, I got lost.

• You: I haven't stayed in London for long, and it's my first time in the city outskirts, so I took a bit longer to get here.

• Priscilla Barnet: Were you noticed when you slipped out of your home?

• Priscilla Barnet: And did anyone follow you?

• You: No, I was very careful when I went out, and I didn't notice anything along the way.

• Priscilla Barnet: Esteemed Host, Caroline may be rather timid, but she is sincere and reliable.

• Priscilla Barnet: She is genuinely devoted to the High God, I'm certain of it!

Claim someone has been following me

• You: I... I noticed someone following me on the way here.

• Priscilla Barnet: Perhaps Scotland Yard is on to us!

• The Host standing next to Priscilla looks grave.
• You: When I got off the carriage, I sensed a black figure following me, but it stayed far away, and I couldn't tell if it's a man or a woman.

• You: I tried saying the code, but they didn't reply, and simply tailed me at a distance.

• Priscilla Barnet: And then? Did you manage to lose the fellow?

• You: Yes, I took great care to make several detours, until I was sure the person was gone. Then I came here.

• Priscilla Barnet: You may look timid in front of Madam Petit, but you're pretty smart when you need to be!

• Priscilla pats my shoulder approvingly, and I hasten to assure the Host of my sincerity.
• You: Esteemed Host, please believe me. I am truly devoted to the High God!

• Host: All right, you are excused this time.

• The Host strides forwards. Afraid of making a wrong move, I follow obediently behind him.
• Young nobles with solemn expressions are kneeling around a small bonfire in a clearing in the cemetery.
• Priscilla Barnet: Find a spot and kneel. The prayer is about to begin.

• You: Prayer?

• Priscilla Barnet: Shh... Keep your voice down! The prayer is an important part of the ritual. Don't you dare ruin it!

• Priscilla Barnet: Follow me.

• Priscilla leads me to an unobtrusive spot and kneels down.
• The Host eyes us sternly, and then walks to the center of the group, raising his arms up high--
• Host: Scarlet splatter, roses wither. Devotion, and blood!

• I anxiously imitate the others, prostrating myself over and over again while chanting the prayer.
• After a while, I sense that there's something wrong with a man and a woman kneeling diagonally across from me.
• You: (They're even more distracted than I am, and they're not even chanting the prayer. They keep looking around...)

• The man even touches something at his waist from time to time, as if he's feeling for something hidden in his clothes.
• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline, focus! It's disrespectful to look around!

• You: I'm sorry... I'm just wondering why the Baroness isn't here.

• Priscilla Barnet: You'll see her once the prayer is over.

• Priscilla Barnet: Anyway, just do what you're supposed to do!

• You: (I've never seen Priscilla so tense before.)

• The clear ringing of the bell can be heard from the abandoned church outside the cemetery. The crows atop the church roof caw and fly into the air.
• The dark clouds obscure the moonlight, and the Baroness appears in the middle of the cemetery, dressed in a black robe.
• Mysterious Baroness: The High God shall return to the mortal realm, and I have brought his oracle!

• The Baroness announces the start of the ritual in a strange, high-pitched voice. The Host leads a few members in the distribution of prayer water.
• You: We have to drink prayer water again today?!

• Priscilla Barnet: We always drink prayer water before any ritual. It is a blessing from the High God.

• Priscilla Barnet: Stop hedging. Drink up!

• I accept the strange purple liquid again, and I think of the night I overheated.
• Mysterious Baroness: The night is lit by the full moon.

• Mysterious Baroness: Children, young of body and pure of heart, offer your praises to the High God!

• The devotees passionately down their prayer water.
• You: (I won't drink this wretched thing again!)

• I lift my vial, but pour away the prayer water when no one's watching.
• And when Priscilla's distracted, I bump into her on purpose, and she spills a good deal of the prayer water she's holding.
• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline! What are you doing?!

• You: I'm rather dizzy, just like the first time I drank the prayer water...

• Priscilla Barnet: Look what you've done! I can't complete my "cleansing" now!

• Host: Traitor! What are you up to?!

• There's a shout from the middle of the crowd.
• You: (Oh no, I've been found out!)

• I grab Priscilla's hand, and cast about for an escape route.
• Priscilla squeezes my palm hard, and motions for me to look towards the center of the cemetery.
• Mysterious Baroness: You've basked in the High God's protection, and now you seek to abandon your faith at this critical moment?!

• The Host is grabs a young woman by the shoulders, and tosses her in front of the Baroness.
• Member A: I beg of you, let me go! I don't want a new life! I just want to go home!

• Mysterious Baroness: Go home? Into the embrace of your ignorant, conceited parents, and live your days in corruption?

• Member A: I am unable to give up the vulgar parts of life, and am only fit to be a normal person... Oh, High God, please allow me to go!

• Member A: I won't tell anyone about the club, I swear!

• You: (She's one of the two people who were so distracted just now!)

• You: (But... where's the man who was beside her?)

• The woman continues to beg, and the Baroness looks condescendingly down at her, poised like a poisonous snake.
• Mysterious Baroness: The High God loathes traitors. And how could I possibly expect a traitor to keep any secrets?

• The dark clouds disperse, and the Baroness flings her cloak open with a sinister laugh, revealing sharp fangs.
• Mysterious Baroness: Unless, the traitor is dead.

• The Baroness lifts the woman's chin, and swiftly bites her neck.
• There's no struggle. There wasn't even enough time for her to scream. The woman stares at the Countess in terror, and then collapses onto the grass.
• Mysterious Baroness: Ah... I've missed this delicious taste.

• The Baroness laughs coldly, showing bloodstained fangs.
• ???: She, she's a vampire!

• I don't know who screamed, but the crowd erupts in panic.
• The devotees try to flee, but they're weak from the effects of the prayer water, and they clumsily crash into one another.
• Mysterious Baroness: Vampire? Cowardly, despicable humans once called the High God that name.

• Mysterious Baroness: Hmph, humans have always been prey to the Blood Clan, despite their pathetic, repeated attempts to get the upper hand over the past several centuries.

• Mysterious Baroness: You are all sacrifices I've carefully picked according to the old ways, and tonight, I am offering you to the greatest--

• A sudden gun shot interrupts the Baroness' speech. She looks down at the blood slowly spreading across her stomach.
• Mysterious Baroness: Haha, what a fool! Do you think you can kill me with such trifles?

• She laughs strangely, slowly lifts her head, and stares at the young man holding a gun in his trembling hands.
• It's the man who was kneeling beside the dead woman.
• Member B: Don't, don't come any closer!

• The man yells and fires several shots. Smoke from the barrel rises into the air.
• Mysterious Baroness: What insolence, foolish creature!

• The Baroness roars, and the trees rustle all around us. Countless bats emerge and fly straight at us.
• Everyone is wailing and screaming.
• You: Priscilla, run!

• Priscilla is woozy because of the prayer water, and she can only move slowly.
• I pick up a tree branch and wave it around vigorously to ward off the bats as I drag her along with all my might.
• Stumbling along, I can't bear to look at the people who've collapsed on the floor and are getting bitten to pieces by the bats.
• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline, I can't go any further, my feet aren't listening to me...

• You: You must go on, Priscilla! We have to hide in the woods, and find a chance to escape.

• Priscilla Barnet: How are you absolutely fine?

• You: I secretly poured away the prayer water, so I'm very sober right now.

• You: Just stick close to me, and we'll get away. Trust me!

• There's another spate of frantic gun shots, accompanied by the screams.
• I suppress the urge to look back, and continue dragging Priscilla onwards. But a black figure leaps in front of us.
• Mysterious Baroness: How dare you try to run!

• You: Look out!

• I shove Priscilla out of the way, and the Baroness grabs hold of my shoulder.
• You: Let go of me! Demon!

• As if to mock me, the Baroness leans close and sighs into my ear.
• Mysterious Baroness: How delightfully fragrant...

• You: My, my blood has already been contaminated by your kind! It's useless to you!

• Mysterious Baroness: Contaminated?

• You: Stop pretending! You're the ones behind the "blood thirsty monster" epidemic, aren't you?

• Mysterious Baroness: What a joke! The Blood Clan hunts to kill. Why would we bother with such tediousness?

• Mysterious Baroness: The epidemic and that "blood thirsty monster" have nothing to do with me. I only have one goal, and that is--

• The Baroness opens her mouth, baring vicious white fangs.

If you last read 1-9 instead of 1-10, or last read 1-15 instead of 1-16

• You: (Am I... really going to die by her fangs?)

• A large flock of crows descends upon the Baroness like a massive cloud, cawing loudly.
• Mysterious Baroness: Argh!

• The Baroness flails her arms, and I manage to struggle free.
• The crows gradually disperse, and a voice rings out from behind me.
• ???: Get away from her!

• The voice is terrifyingly low, but I'm overjoyed to the point of tears---
• You: Vincent!

• I blurt out his name.

• But the Vincent Savile standing in front of me is like a completely different person.
• He's giving off a deathly chill, and when I press my face to his chest, I can't detect any body heat.
• Besides the abnormally pale skin, I can clearly see his bloodred eyes.
• You: You, you're...

• Vincent Savile: Don't ask now. If you're scared, close your eyes.

• He scoops me up, and sprints towards the woods outside the cemetery.

If you last read 1-10 instead of 1-9, and last read 1-16 instead of 1-15

• Her sharp nails have torn through my clothes and are digging into me, and I can't move. I close my eyes in despair.

Do you remember the poetry about the night? A poet who is familiar with the night might be able to shed some light on the danger involved.
Vincent is strange, yet passionate. Try getting close to him, and share your troubles and worries with him. If he regards you as a friend, he will save your life when you're in danger.

Ending [The Prey]