Realizing that something significant must have occurred, Valred pressed for more information, "What exactly happened?"
"Well..." Astar hesitated slightly.
"If it's something confidential, it's fine not to say," Valred said understandingly.
"It's not exactly confidential... Alright, it wouldn't hurt for you youngsters to know. It might even make you more cautious," Astar decided to explain. "In fact, last month, on the night of June 1st, the beginning of the Magic Moon, something unusual happened. Although the magical energy was chaotic and almost impossible to measure at the time, by daylight, we noticed something amiss."
"What was it?" Valred's heart skipped a beat, immediately realizing it was likely related to his use of the Red Moon Morria's power to breach the ancient tomb's barrier. However, he maintained a facade of innocence and curiosity.
"About forty kilometers from Drakenhof Castle, an area was completely drained of magical winds. By day, it was observed that the magical winds there were unusually thin. The Citizens' Assembly consulted your mother, Lady Winsor, who then sent a team to investigate. They discovered an ancient tomb of the Old Empire that had never been found before."
The more Astar spoke, the more anxious Valred became. He feared the worst—that his actions had been discovered. Not everyone would be as easily fooled as that black cat.
"And then what?" Valred's voice trembled slightly, but Astar, being straightforward and not particularly observant, didn't notice. Neither did the younger boys around them.
"The team conducted a preliminary investigation and found that the tomb had been recently excavated. Some traps and mechanisms had been dismantled. It was clear that the magical drain the previous night was related to this."
"But who would excavate such a tomb? If it were one of our own, they wouldn't need to risk the dangers of the Magic Moon. They could just report it to the Citizens' Assembly," one of Valred's cousins interjected.
"Exactly," Astar nodded. "If it were one of us, there would be no need for such secrecy. So, it must have been outsiders. Further evidence supported this theory."
Hearing this, Valred felt a bit relieved. The absolute trust among vampires had saved him. It was indeed far-fetched to suspect a child like him of orchestrating such an excavation.
"So, who do you think did it?" Valred asked, his voice steady now.
"After gathering evidence, the team reported to your mother, who then contacted the Citizens' Assembly. After discussion, we concluded that it was the work of the traitors from the Strigoi clan," Astar said, his voice tinged with hatred and disgust. The boys around them also showed signs of anger and resentment.
"The Strigoi traitors?" Valred felt even more relieved. Seeing the disgust on his peers' faces, he also frowned, showing a look of disdain.
"Yes, such a hasty, secretive operation. They didn't empty the tomb or loot the most valuable main chamber. Instead, they excavated the burial chambers of slaves and soldiers, taking all the bones. This suggests they lack strength and their primary goal is to expand their army. Who else but the Strigoi would do such a thing? Those damned..." Astar muttered some curses under his breath, then continued:
"But they won't succeed! We've taken precautions. If they dare to crawl out of their filthy lairs, we'll cut them to pieces, just like before!" Astar declared. However, the younger children seemed confused by the information overload. Astar scratched his head and concluded:
"In short, you kids should stay indoors as much as possible. The older ones, make sure your parents send escorts for your commutes. If anything happens, call for help immediately. Stay safe, understood?"
"Understood," the children replied, though not very seriously. This annoyed Astar, but he figured their parents would soon give them similar warnings. As long as the adults were vigilant, it would be fine.
Unlike the united and trusting Carstein, Lahmia, Necrarch, and Abhorash families, who form the mainstream of vampire society, the Strigoi clan is seen as traitors. In almost all literature, the Strigoi are portrayed as ugly betrayers.
They sought to monopolize power, turning other vampire families into their slaves and vassals rather than coexisting peacefully. They orchestrated a series of conspiracies, treacherously attacking other vampire families.
Four thousand years ago, during the first full-scale war of vampire society against the Old World, the Strigoi's schemes reached their peak. While other vampire families were busy fighting external enemies, the Strigoi colluded with human and dwarf coalitions, stabbing their kin in the back.
This led to the collapse of the once-mighty undead empire. The vampire race nearly faced extinction. The survivors had to cede vast territories, retreating to Sylvania to recuperate. Meanwhile, the Empire of Sigmar rose to become one of the most powerful nations in the Old World.
Ironically, after their "achievements," their "allies," the Empire of Sigmar and the Dwarf Kingdoms, did not honor their agreements or help them become rulers of vampire society. Instead, they were ruthlessly abandoned. The other vampire families, having paid a heavy price, regarded them as mortal enemies.
Thus, they were expelled, hunted, and exterminated. No vampire family would accept them as allies. Their vassal families quickly severed ties with them.
Under such internal and external pressures, the Strigoi clan soon fell. Their castles were razed, lands divided, armies destroyed. Most of their kin were slaughtered. Only the most cunning or cowardly escaped. Some fled Sylvania, disappearing into the eastern wilderness or northern mountains. A few still lurk in the borders between Sylvania, the human empire, dwarves, and greenskins.
For four thousand years, the Strigoi have not dared to appear openly. The four noble families of Sylvania have never ceased their persecution. Meanwhile, the human empire's witch hunters, the Sigmarite Church, and the Black Guard of Morr also seek their lives.
Most tragically, having lost their lands and unable to openly attack the living, they hide in filthy lairs, stealing newly buried corpses at night to drink their cold, coagulated blood, satisfying their thirst.
Four thousand years later, the Strigoi vampires have changed. Their once noble appearances have been replaced by grotesque, tumorous faces. Hunched bodies, gray, cracked skin, and straw-like hair make them look nothing like vampire nobility, but rather like monstrous creatures. They have become a pitiful, separate species.
This transformation has made the Strigoi vampires suffer more, fueling their hatred for their Sylvania cousins, just as vampires like Valred despise them.