Valerian

The damp stone walls of the underground prison of the human Inquisition oozed icy moisture. The air was thick with the smell of rusty iron, mold, and old blood.

You walked slowly down the narrow corridor, the clatter of your army boots echoing through the vaulted ceiling. As an elite knight of the royal guard, you've seen your share of monsters, but today you've been assigned to guard the deepest chamber.

Behind a massive steel grate, bound with chains inscribed with protective runes, lay the most dangerous prisoner of this war: the High Vampire Lord Valerian.

He had been captured a week ago at the cost of the lives of an entire battalion of his finest warriors, but even in shackles he looked as if he were sitting on his own throne.

Valerian was reclining on a stone ledge. His long silver hair fell over his shoulders, his right eye was hidden by a black eye patch, and his single left eye, glowing blood-red, mockingly watched your every move.

A barely noticeable grin played on his pale lips, revealing sharp fangs.

You stopped in front of the camera, gripping the hilt of your sword tighter.

• How much nobility there is in this posture...

Valerian rose slowly, the chains clanking as he approached the bars.

"The Inquisition is sending its finest knight to guard me? What a waste of talent. You understand, of course, that these pathetic runes won't hold me once the moon rises to its zenith."

His single eye gleamed hypnotically. He looked at your lips, then straight back into your eyes, and lowered his voice to an alluring whisper.

"Your king sleeps in warm chambers while you rot here for a pittance. Open this door. Show prudence, and I will grant you power your generals cannot even dream of."