7 Banditry

The acrid scent of fresh blood seeped into the attic, carried in on the night breeze. Gerard inhaled deeply, his fangs instinctively bursting from his gums. He rose from the creaky wooden floor, peering out the window into the moonlit town square. A group of cloaked figures moved stealthily across the open space, their forms obscured by the shadows. Gerard noticed the glint of a sword, its blade stained with the blood of recent victims.

He wasn't sure what drew him to this dangerous situation. Perhaps it was a desire to protect the town or to feed his thirst for blood. Perhaps it was the thrill of battle or the prospect of gaining more power. Regardless of the reason, he knew he couldn't resist. He climbed out the window onto the roof, his bare feet treading lightly on the tiles. He jumped to the ground, his landing silent and graceful.

Gerard kept a watchful eye on the group as they disappeared into a nearby building. He waited, his senses attuned to the world around him. Minutes passed before the group emerged, the scent of blood even stronger. They had killed again.

One of the cloaked figures wandered away from the group, making its way to the well in the centre of the square. Gerard casually walked up to them.

"Hey, I'm just getting some water. Stay with the others-" The cloaked man drew his sword.

"Who are you?"

The man held his blade forward and moved into a stance, leaving limited openings.

*Someone trained him well.*

Gerard raised his arms in surrender and focused his mind as he walked forward.

*Compel!*

"Hey, easy there! Remember me? You worked your way into this group to protect our town. Tonight's the night we take them down." Gerard used his powers of compulsion to control the man's mind.

"I know you? Yes, I think I do." The man's eyes grew dazed.

"Right! We did that stuff together, right? You, me, and..."

"Tommy?"

"Yes, Tommy."

"Tommy died, man."

Gerard cursed under his breath. His improvisational skills were not the strongest, and he struggled to keep the guise intact. He pressed on.

"Exactly. And you know it's this group's fault, right?"

"Yes. You're right. It's time for these bandits to feel the same pain that Tommy felt!"

The light returned to the man's eyes, and he ran to the other bandits.

Gerard's body grew more sluggish.

*What a pain.*

He followed his new ally, staying hidden in the shadows.

The man yelled indecipherably, and one of the cloaked figures dropped to the ground after being run through with a blade. Surprised by the sudden attack, the group fell into chaos. Swords clashed, and sparks flew as the two sides engaged in brutal combat.

Another of the bandits joined Gerar's compelled ally in the fight against the others.

[You have gained 600 experience.]

*Why?*

[You will receive experience when those you have compelled kill something.]

*That's just... too strong.*

Gerard crept behind the group and stood behind one wielding a sword. He snapped the swordsman's arm, took the sword, and pierced their torso.

"Who-" The man uttered his last word before coughing up blood and crashing to the ground.

Gerard kicked the corpse attached to his blade to the ground, and the blood glistening in the moonlight caught his gaze.

[You have gained 285 experience.]

Gerard tested the weight and balance of the sword.

*Steel blade and reasonable quality. It's not what I want, but it'll do.*

Six more foes stood before him, with the compelled bandit and his companion helping to box them in. Blood dripped down the sword and touched his hand. Gerard tried to empty his mind, and the thirst for blood subsided.

*The cloak works.*

"Let's go," Gerard said, smiling wickedly.

Gerard toyed with the cloaked men. Their stances were adequate, and they had some training, but Gerard had his training and his above-average stats to help him out.

The clashing of metal echoed in the square. Sparks danced as swords met, briefly lighting up the area as they fought.

Gerard parried a blow and ran his sword through his opponent's throat.

[You have gained 315 experience.]

*This must change based on levels and skills, I assume.*

Three of the remaining five enemies charged simultaneously while the other two fought Gerard's allies.

*There's no diversity in this group. They all wield swords and fight the same way. The same person trained all-*

Gerard felt a searing pain in his shoulder. He reached for the wound and found not skin but flesh. Something severed his left arm from his body.

The three assailants pierced Gerard with their swords. Two in the stomach and one in the chest. He fell on his back; the pain overwhelmed his senses.

A burly man with a bald head and wiry beard stood over Gerard, smiling. He rushed forward and removed the heads of the man Gerard compelled and his companion with a swift flick of his blade.

"I stay behind for a couple of minutes, and this is what happens?" He poked Gerard's body with the point of his sword.

"But, Dredge, sir. This man, he-"

"Nah, I don't think this one's human, men. His yellowed eyes prove it."

Gerard coughed up blood. His consciousness slipped away.

"I won't punish nobody for this. This creature alone will be worth the men we've lost tonight. We're done here."

Two strong people carefully lifted Gerard's body off the ground. With every step, pain shot through his torso and across the stump where his arm once was. The bright moon in the sky dimmed until he saw only darkness.

*I had a good run, I suppose. Fighting again, as I did in my youth, was fun. I once aspired to become a powerful warrior, so maybe this is just a vivid dream. Maybe I'll wake up at home.*