Shadows of London: 3-5 The Mortals' Stand

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Rejected by Caroline, Doctor Grey harbors an intense hostility towards Vincent. How will the tension between them be resolved?

Info

Style: Event Logs: Torpor Required: Roger Goodwill Lv. 2 Recommended: Westminster Abbey Stroll (Dress), The Choir, Poets' Corner, Henry VII Chapel Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Gismonda

Gismonda

Dialogue Choices

To unlock this stage:

• Choose I'm disappointed in you in Shadows of London: 3-4 The Optimal Solution

Have you finally realized that your cursed body is no longer fully under your control?

• Defend Vincent
  • Vincent goodwill up
• Defuse the tension
  • Story continues

And that is reality.

• Prey?
  • Vincent goodwill up
• No!
  • Story continues

Transcript

Expand for script.

• Edward Grey: This isn't the first time, is it?

• Vincent's face is hidden in the shadows, and blood drips from his exposed fangs.
• Doctor Grey's expression grows hard at Vincent's silence. It seems as if he's about to pull the trigger at any moment.
• Edward Grey: I was wondering why Miss Rayes would coincidentally get attacked by vampires when she only ventured out on a whim...

• Edward Grey: Looks like her address and whereabouts have been exposed.

• You: (Doctor Grey noticed!)

• Edward Grey: You must be the one who leaked the information, right, Mr. Savile?

• Vincent finally raises his face, his expression filled with disgust.
• Vincent Savile: It wasn't me.

• Doctor Grey's anger intensifies.
• Edward Grey: Do you really think I would believe you?

• Edward Grey: Whose blood is that? It's not so easy to suppress your bloodthirsty instincts.

• Edward Grey: Have you finally realized that your cursed body is no longer fully under your control?

Defend Vincent

• You: Enough, doctor.

• You: I understand that everything that happened today has infuriated you, but please don't take it out on Vincent!

• Doctor Grey instinctively changes his posture. I must have hit the nail on the head.
• You: Your carriage is almost here. Let me take care of what comes next.

• You: You won't make it in time if you tarry any longer.

Defuse the tension

• I approach and reach out to stop Doctor Grey from using his revolver.
• I'm not using any force, but I am confident Doctor Grey understands what I want.
• You: Please put down the gun, Doctor Grey.

• You: Although the Western District is sparsely populated, it would be difficult for me to explain things to my aunt if someone were to see you holding a gun in front of her residence.

• You: At this crucial stage, it's best we all avoid causing any more trouble.

• Edward Grey: ...

• Doctor Grey takes a deep breath and slowly lowers the revolver.
• Suddenly, a mocking smile appears on his face, and his eyes dart sharply to Vincent.
• Edward Grey: As expected, things have turned out just like the last time. You're pretty lucky.

• Edward Grey: I hope you continue to be this lucky until the next time I see you, Vincent Savile.

• Doctor Grey leaves. He maintains his composure, but it is evident that he is filled with anger and disappointment.
• I watch him climb into the carriage. As I turn my head to look at the corner again, I almost miss Vincent's departure.
• You: Vincent, wait!

• I run quickly towards him.
• He stops in his tracks, but instinctively takes a step back when I get nearer, and even turns his face away.
• Vincent Savile: Stay back! ...Don't get too close to me, Caroline.

• You: What's wrong?

• Vincent Savile: Doctor Grey got one thing right. My body isn't fully under my control.

• Vincent Savile: I'm not feeling well right now, so I might not be able to control my impulses very well.

• I suddenly realize something. Embarrassed, I press down on my arm where blood was just drawn.
• You: Okay, then let's go to the greenhouse. I'll go change my clothes and wash off the bloodstains. Vincent, I want you to promise me that you'll wait for me to come back.

• I don't know if I'd really go after him regardless of the danger if he were to slip away now. But at least I have made my intent known.
• He seems to struggle for a moment, but ultimately decides to relent.

• Because I am afraid Vincent will leave while I'm gone, I quickly wipe the spot that's bleeding with alcohol and immediately go downstairs.
• He has reverted back to his human form, and sits tiredly on a chair, gazing at the plants in the greenhouse.
• The tea and snacks by his side remain untouched, for human food won't provide him with any nourishment.
• You: Vincent... how have you been?

• He lowers his head, toying with a teacup's handle.
• Vincent Savile: Even if I were to give you a positive answer, you wouldn't believe it, would you?

• I certainly won't.
• The closer you get to him, the paler his skin seems, and his cheeks are sunken.
• I don't know how the bodies of the Blood Clan differ from human bodies, but Vincent looks much more haggard now than when I first met him.
• He normally lacks color in his complexion compared to ordinary people, but he would not have stood out too much in a crowd.
• You: (But now, his inhuman aura is even more pronounced.)

• You: Are you still battling your hunger?

• Vincent Savile: ...I have to.

• Vincent Savile: The members of the Blood Clan have the ability to heal rapidly, so you hardly get to see any wounds on our bodies.

• Vincent Savile: But such rapid healing also increases the need for blood. After each fight, the urge to feed becomes extremely strong and difficult to control.

• You: Fight?

• You: Who did you fight? The Elder?

• I lean towards him impulsively, staring at him intently, forcing him to stay on topic.
• After a few breaths, he purses his lips and finally turns his gaze back to me.
• Vincent Savile: Caroline, you shouldn't have let Miss Barnet and Mr. Evans stay away from you for so long. Given the current circumstances, that is not a good strategy.

• You: I just wanted to give them a chance to be alone— Huh?

• You: Vincent, how did you know they've been staying with me?

• His gaze tells me that he has been well aware of our situation over the past few days.
• I suddenly realize where those smudges of blood on his lips come from.
• Vincent Savile: Since you know the Elder knows where you're staying, why are you still acting so naive?

• Vincent Savile: The Elder's followers have long surrounded your house, and any mistake or oversight could be an opportunity for them to attack.

• You: So, you've been keeping watch near my house these past few days, and fighting off the ghouls who've come to investigate, haven't you?

• That means the blood on him probably belongs to my would-be attackers.
• The thought of him fighting alone against numerous attackers on the nights I've slept peacefully fills me with indescribable guilt.
• You: I'm sorry, Vincent, but I really had no idea...

• You: Since it's daytime now, and with so many people in the house, it should be safe.

• Vincent Savile: Such a number is meaningless. One person who knows the weaknesses of the Blood Clan is more valuable than ten ignorant servants.

• Vincent Savile: Moreover, the Elder is currently severely understaffed and will not waste real members of the Blood Clan on you.

• Vincent Savile: Before his new recruits develop fully, he can only create more victims like Jack to get to you.

• You: New recruits...

• I silently chew on this vocabulary, and fear spreads from my heart.
• You: You mean... Jesse? Who turned Jesse? Was it the Elder?

• Vincent Savile: That is something I've been trying to find out myself.

• Vincent Savile: The Elder vanished from London after suffering a severe blow, and was never seen again.

• Vincent Savile: I reckon he's been in torpor all these years, which is why the Baroness has been using the title of the High God to attract followers.

• Vincent Savile: If that's true, he should have been unable to make a special trip to the cemetery just to dig Jesse out from underground...

• You: But besides the Elder, who else would be able to turn Jesse?

• You: Are there any other Blood Clan members in London? For example--

• His eyes suddenly darken.
• Vincent Savile: You mean, Hawke?

• You: He... like you, is bound by a blood bond to the Elder. He's unable to leave London, yet you keep saying he is missing.

• You: Vincent, I don't know what kind of person Hawke is, but I can only speculate based on common sense. I have no intention of slandering your friend.

• You: If you think Hawke wouldn't do something like this, just tell me.

• Vincent Savile: I can't say for sure that he wouldn't do such a thing.

• Vincent Savile: Hawke does not belong to either the Scarlet Rose or the Blue Rose. In his interactions with humans, his attitude is rather ambiguous.

• Vincent Savile: He doesn't see humans as livestock, but he also doesn't refrain from drinking human blood.

• Vincent Savile: He just... does whatever he wants.

• You: That--

• Vincent Savile: However, Hawke has no motive for turning Jesse.

• Vincent Savile: I believe he'll prey on humans when his hunger grows.

• Vincent Savile: But turning humans into members of the Blood Clan means something completely different.

• Vincent Savile: To turn someone into a member of the Blood Clan, one must give their own blood to the other person. This is a very solemn act.

• Vincent Savile: For this blood connection means that both the one who transforms and the one who is transformed will share the years to come.

• Vincent Savile: Elders may choose to personally turn humans in order to increase their number of loyal followers. But Hawke has no need of this.

• Vincent Savile: This, I can assure you.

• He emphasizes his words, and stares into my eyes as he utters them.
• You: Okay... So it's not Hawke. So the most likely option left is the Elder.

• You: Or at the very least, a subordinate of the Elder...

• Vincent Savile: Caroline, do you know Edward Grey well enough?

• You: Huh?

• I get nervous when he mentions the doctor.
• You: What do you mean by that?

• Vincent Savile: If you were to ask him about vampire hunting, do you think he would tell you?

• You: ...

• I ponder this for only a second, and my intuition seems to know the answer.
• You: No, I don't think he would. We just had a heated argument...

• His mouth twitches slightly, a look of suppressed amusement on his face.
• You: Vincent?

• Vincent Savile: I'm sorry. No wonder he was so angry earlier... Were you planning on having him accompany you to find Jesse?

• You: That's absolutely right. But he turned me down.

• Vincent Savile: He is right to do so.

• These two people with opposing viewpoints actually agree with one another.
• Vincent Savile: You should not be the one to save Jesse, nor should it be Doctor Grey.

• Vincent Savile: To Jesse, you are prey, and to Doctor Grey, Jesse is prey.

• Vincent Savile: And that is reality.

Prey?

• You: If that's the case, then I'm also your prey, Vincent.

• Vincent Savile: !

• You: But right now, I'm just sitting here, talking to you, without any worries about my life being in danger.

• You: If you want to blame me for being naive, then you might be responsible for a good portion of that naivety.

• He sighs heavily, seemingly gritting his teeth.
• Vincent Savile: You're right. It's my fault.

No!

• You: Jesse doesn't see me as prey, he saved me! He-

• Vincent Savile: I know what happened that night, Caroline. But you'd better not consider it normal.

• Vincent Savile: I greatly admire Jesse because I know how much determination and patience it took for him to make that choice.

• Vincent Savile: But it is not advisable to blindly trust him because of this. Don't go challenging his limits anymore.

• You: Let's not talk about Jesse for now. What do you want me to ask Doctor Grey?

• Vincent Savile: If it's possible, perhaps you could ask about the London's League of Vampire Hunters.

• You: The London's League of Vampire Hunters?

• Vincent Savile: Twenty years ago, they once launched an attack, and pursued the Elder's followers, taking advantage of the clan's division.

• Vincent Savile: It was an intense battle. Perhaps the League of Vampire Hunters has some useful information about it.

• Vincent Savile: Maybe they'll have clues we don't know about yet.

• My heart sinks.
• When Roger mentioned the burned church, I also felt the same sense of unease. But now, it is even more pronounced.
• You: What do you mean by clues?

• Vincent Savile: As you know, the Blood Clan is a very small group, so masquerading as humans is often our first principle when it comes to interacting in human society.

• Vincent Savile: After the clan split, the Baroness followed Lavinia's example and founded the Scarlet Rose Club, expanding its membership and nurturing followers.

• Vincent Savile: But she was too eager to replace the position of the First Apostle, acted too aggressively, and attracted attention from the outside world.

• You: I've heard from my aunt that the Baroness is renowned in the ton for her obsession with black magic...

• Vincent Savile: That's just an excuse for ordinary people. Scotland Yard, or rather, the humans who specialize in handling deaths, can easily detect the actions of the Blood Clan.

• Vincent Savile: Lavinia always had a good sense of boundaries when it came to expansion. Over the course of two centuries, there were occasional conflicts between the Blood Clan and humans, but no major battles.

• Vincent Savile: And the Baroness' radical actions disrupted this balance.

• Vincent Savile: Of course, humans couldn't just let her have her way. So it didn't take long before a battle broke out.

• Hawke: Are you done with those troublesome fellows, Oliver?

• Vincent Savile: I don't sense anyone else.

• Mysterious Baroness: Huff, huff... Let go of me, Hawke!

• Hawke: You better behave yourself, Anne.

• Hawke: You've brought the hunters down upon us. We've lost so many of our members, and you should think about how you're going to explain this to the Elder.

• Mysterious Baroness: What do you mean by "our members"? You, a traitor, have no right!

• Mysterious Baroness: If it weren't for that selfish woman, things wouldn't have ended up like this today!

• Hawke: If I were you, I wouldn't insult her in front of the Elder. Just be honest and apologize, and maybe you'll still have a chance.

• Mysterious Baroness: Save your breath. Of course I will apologize to the master.

• Mysterious Baroness: But don't think you can just stay out of it! Hmph!

• Hawke: ...She left. Why did we risk so much just to save her?

• Vincent Savile: Were you planning to save her? I thought you just wanted to check out how powerful vampire hunters are.

• Hawke: Oliver, you've never learned how to be subtle. How can anyone just state their true intentions so plainly?

• Vincent Savile: Now that you've faced off against vampire hunters, what conclusions have you drawn? What exactly do you want to accomplish?

• Hawke: Nothing. I just wanted to repay them for the sip of wine they tricked us into.

• Vincent Savile: You want to go against the Elder?!

• Hawke: Shh— Keep your voice down.

• Hawke: Lavinia left him, Oliver. We can too. We definitely can.

• Vincent Savile: You want to team up with the vampire hunters and take him down... You're asking for trouble, Hawke.

• Vincent Savile: The vampire hunters won't trust you.

• Hawke: I don't really need them to trust me much. Getting rid of the Elder is beneficial for both sides, and will form the basis for cooperation.

• Vincent Savile: But they're vampire hunters! In their eyes, you and the Elder are the same. If they get the chance to eliminate you, they will!

• Vincent Savile: Hawke, don't do anything foolish.

• Hawke: I acknowledge that there is risk involved. Anyone who wants to accomplish something has to take risks.

• Hawke: I have to kill the Elder.

• Vincent Savile: When did you start to hate him so much?

• Hawke: What are you saying? I've hated him from the very beginning.

• Hawke: It was I who brought you to London, so it is only right that I return your freedom to you.

• Hawke: I can't just leave you trapped in this gloomy and rainy city forever.

• Hawke: And that's why I must kill him.

• Vincent Savile: Since Hawke said that, he must have taken action in private.

• Vincent Savile: Therefore, I believe the League of Vampire Hunters might still possess some information that Hawke entrusted to them about The Elder.

• Vincent Savile: If Edward Grey is willing to hand over this information to you, it might give us an advantage when we face the Elder.

• Vincent hangs his head, and I am unable to catch a glimpse of his expression.
• You: Vincent... What happened to Hawke?

• Vincent Savile: Nothing happened. The vampire hunters simply stopped attacking one day.

• You: What?

• Vincent Savile: The Elder's power diminished greatly, and the Baroness was imprisoned.

• Vincent Savile: The activities of the Scarlet Rose Club were forced to come to a halt for many years, but in recent years, they've gradually made a comeback.

• Vincent Savile: Many people believed that the vampire hunters stopped because the clan was weakened and things were restored to a state of balance.

• Vincent Savile: But I don't think it's that simple...

• Vincent stands up.
• The daylight gradually fades. The wind whistles faintly by the ventilation windows.
• The sound of horse hooves gradually approaches from afar.
• You: Priscilla and Roger have returned!

• Alice calls out from the entrance as she opens the door for them. I am about to go greet her, but I notice Vincent silently stepping away.
• You: Vincent, where are you going?

• Vincent Savile: It's not appropriate for me to appear in front of your friends.

• You: Priscilla knows you...

• Vincent Savile: I'm not referring to her.

• You: (Does he mean Roger?)

• Vincent reaches out, attempting to push the window open wider. It appears that he intends to jump out of the window.
• At this very moment, something unexpected happens.
• Vincent Savile: !

• Recoiling, he looks at his hand incredulously, as if he had just been pricked by a nettle.
• ???: Oh, sorry, that's a trap I set.

• Vincent turns his head, casting a cold gaze in the direction of the corridor.
• With a mischievous laugh, Roger pushes open the door to the greenhouse.
• Priscilla follows behind him, filled with curiosity.
• Roger Evans: Don't worry, I just coated all the handles of the doors and windows in this house with a layer of silver.

• Roger Evans: They can't really hurt you, but they'll sting a bit.

• Roger Evans: Would you like me to blow on your finger if it still hurts?