Editing The Red Duke (section)

==The Dark Descent==

Turns out that while the Duke had been campaigning in Araby he had unintentionally garnered the attention of a certain vampire of legendary repute named [[Abhorash]]. Impressed by the Duke's skills and seeing his impending death at the hands of an assassin as being an unworthy end for such a warrior Abhorash followed him back to Bretonnia in 1454 IC and gave him the Blood Kiss. Three days after being returned home and seemingly dying from his wounds the Red Duke would rise up from the elaborate tomb his retainers had built for him, no longer a mere mortal man but a newly fledged vampire of the Blood Dragon lineage. Whatever relief and joy the people of Bretonnia felt at this seeming miracle quickly turned to horror as the Duke revealed himself to be now transformed completely in both mind and body. The now twisted Duke immediately set about attacking and killing those he had protected, starting with those who had betrayed him and usurped his Dukedom, before drawing to him Knights from all across his realm who sought to emulate his warcraft and raising deathless legions with his newfound powers. During the reign of terror which followed and which would garner him the names of "The Scourge of Aquitaine" and “the Red Duke” the Duke was regularly seen riding into battle, not on a regular warhorse but rather on a spectral steed of bone, shadow, and witch-fire, garbed in a black caparison that leaked an aura of corruption, a horrifying mount crafted from his former horse El Morzillo who had died during the Duke’s campaign in Araby. The Duke’s armor too had changed, no longer was his garb the shining armor of his former life but in its place, he wore a black iron helm that hid all but his burning red eyes, a shield, and special suit of strong jagged armor "The Armour of Blood" which was imbued with mystical properties that allowed it to not inhibit the wearer's ability to cast spells despite its heaviness. Rounding off this fearsome image were his weapons, the fearsome Blade of Leaping Gold which he had gained in Araby and a horrifying lance, a barbed thorn of steel soaked in the blood of Bretonnian knights.

As the reputation of the fell warrior spread, King Louis, his brother, immediately raised an army to stop him. In a great battle at Ceren Field, the Red Duke encountered his younger sibling. Seeing the King fighting alone against enemies on all sides, the Vampire commanded his minions to cease their efforts against Louis, parting into a clear path between him and his prey. The Duke announced to Louis that he had betrayed him, that he could not be content as King, but had to become Duke of Aquitaine as well. With that, the final chapter of what would become known as the Battle of Ceren Field began. The Scourge of Aquitaine was one of the mightiest Blood Knights since Abhorash himself, but even he could not stand against the power the [[Lady of the Lake]] had imbued Louis with. Blinded by the holy light surrounding Louis, the Duke’s heart was pierced by a blessed lance, skewering his body and lifting him from his saddle. The Duke looked down from atop the lance towards his brother, his skin blackened and withered and blood filled his eyes as he let out a final, horrific moan.

With the Undead army destroyed and their leader defeated, Bretonnia rejoiced in its victory. However, the grief-stricken Louis refused to believe that his brother could rise again, and did not want to destroy his body out of respect for the man he had once been. Despite the pleas of the priestesses of the Lady and even his own Lords, the King’s will was law. The body of the Red Duke was not consigned to the flames, as had first been ordered, but was instead borne from the field of battle. A great tower of marble was erected upon the hill overlooking Ceren Field and into this pillar, the vampire’s body was placed. A bronze statue depicting the Duke of Aquitaine at the height of his heroic glory was set atop the pillar and rich engravings chronicled the life of the noble warrior before he had descended into darkness (the fact this warrior was also the Red Duke was covered up subsequently so his mortal relatives could live without shame). A powerful sorceress and Prophetess, Isabeau, who the Red Duke had tried and failed to recruit to his army warned against honoring a thing that had turned to evil and visited such wickedness upon the land, but her words fell upon unheeding ears. The King’s grief was great; only by paying tribute to his dead enemy could he ease the burden of his heart. It would prove to be a terrible mistake.