Cain

Cain (1057-1109) is the, by now almost mythical, founder of vampire kind in Tara Tranda, what is now called Cainaan. Born in 1057 in his families castle of Adescu, unbeknownst at the time he would turn into a vampire in the year 1108. In 1109 Cain would be overthrown and killed as people found out that he became a creature of the night. Nonetheless, Cain had managed to turn enough people into vampires and some survived and would slowly turn Tara Tranda into Cainaan. Cain is therefore seen as the father of vampirism in Cainaan and that is why he is still venerated today by the vampires of the land.
== Biography ==
=== Early years (1057-1077) ===
Cain was born in 1057 as the fourth and youngest child of his father Adam I. Cain grew up mostly alone in the castle. He learned to read at a young age and would always be found in the castle library reading about various subjects. As he grew his favourite subject would become medicine, especially the ancient medical practices of Tara Tranda and its magical healing abilities. From here on Cain's life would have been quiet well but an average life for a noble. For his older brother Abel was to inherit the castle, Cain would have been a knight with a small holding of his own. But that was not enough for the sixteen year old, he turned to the medicine that he had learned. Remembering a potent poison he sought out the necessary ingredients to produce the concoction. Once created Cain worked on a story, he claimed he was going to visit a potential wife and left the castle earlier that day. He left on horseback, but returned later the evening hiding his horse. Then using a secret entrance he had discovered as a child he made his way into the castle. He dipped his dagger in the poison and sought out Abel when he was sleeping. Cain tried stabbing him but he missed as Abel turned around in the bed. The attempted stab woke Abel up as Cain brushed past his arm. Abel did not however have time to call out for help as Cain stabbed him multiple times then fleeing the scene, dagger still in hand. Abel was still alive and barely able to call for help. By the time a guardsman had arrived Abel had died from the poison. Cain would sneak out again and 'return' two days later with his horse. The murder weapon was never found as Cain hid it for a week and then melt it down in the forge. People suspected him, but since he was thought to have been away and with no murder weapon the case was inconclusive. Thus Cain would become the lord of Adescu at 19 when his father passed away. 
=== Adulthood (1077-1107) ===
Cain's early rule over Adescu is nothing notable. His older sisters would remain suspicious of him and were more than glad to be married to other lords. In 1081 at age 24 Cain would secure an alliance between his house and house Dalca by marrying the second oldest daughter Cici. The couple would have three children: His firstborn son Cain, was born in 1086 and named after Cain himself. His eldest daughter Clara, who was born in 1090. And his youngest child and daughter Marilena born in 1095, who passed away a year later as a sickly child. The dead of his youngest child encouraged Cain's ambition to seek out the knowledge that came with traditional Tara Trandan medicine. While further his rule was nothing noteworthy Cain was particularly well known for his deceitful nature and would become an councillor for the, at the time, queen of Tara Tranda. 
=== Great Plague of Tara Tranda (1107-1108) ===
The cause of the great plague that would hit Tara Tranda in 1107 is unknown, however it did hit the country hard. His wife Cici Dalca would be infected with the disease and there was nothing that the doctors could do for her. She passed away shortly after contracting the illness. As the disease ravaged on it was Cain who prompted the queen to turn to the traditional medicine of the region. He recommended that the bones of old corpses should be ground up as this would surely cure the plague. Word about this new potential cure spread quickly and many folk started digging up bodies, grinding up bones as a potential ailment. Cain himself would also set out to find corpses, but instead of just any old bones he targeted the bones of aristocrats of old. For he believed that the bones of once powerful nobles had to be more potent than those of a mere peasant. Around early February of 1108 he had found an antiquated crypt with a corpse inside that looked as if it had only died mere moments ago. Despite the state of the corpse he ignored it, grinding up the bones, with fresh drops of dark blood seeping into the mixture. Unbeknownst to him, Cain had just made the most potent of cures. A cure that heals all disease, but in exchange also makes you lose your humanity. He gulped on the potion and quickly passed out. He was awoken by two soldiers who he brought along as protection. However, it was they who needed protecting. For Cain had grown a new set of sharp fangs in the corner of his mount. Sharply he plunged them into the neck of the guard who had awoken him. The other man led out terrified screams as blood gushed from out the open wound. He drew his swords, but as fast as a hare Cain had descended upon a new victim, drained them of their blood. Yet he still hungered for more sweet red nectar. He made his way upon the old decrepit stairs of the tomb to where his other companions were waiting. One saw Cain approach and asked what that commotion was about and where the other two guards were. Cain only answered by showing his teeth and biting down into their neck. So the other companions quickly fell and Cain felt a sense of relieve falling over him. But he was also in shook as he now only realised what he had done. He panicked for a moment but then slowly started to puzzle together all the information he had. The seemingly fresh body in this crumbling crypt. Cain realised he had become a creature of the night. 
=== Cain the Father (1108-1109) ===
Cain decided he had to act post-haste, for dawn was coming and with that it meant someone could discover what had passed here. Cain carried the corpses to the crypt. Then he fled the scene hiding in an abandoned shack for a month, practising his powers. One thing that especially fascinated him was his newfound ability to rapidly heal his body. So he made plans to return to his castle to spread this ultimate cure to his family. Cain returned at night sneaking in the castle through the secret passageway, that he had sneaked in from many years ago when he murdered his older brother Abel. He was spotted by his eldest son who greeted his father, yet looked at him with suspicion for he sensed that something had changed. Cain told him to gather the family immediately even though it was already midnight. His son did as asked and gathered Clara, the daughter of Cain, and a few of the counsellors. Cain showed his fangs and told about his new strength. Some were in shocked, others were intrigued. He offered everyone in the room the same abilities, starting with his children. His son Cain accepted, but Clara declined and stated that she was mortified by becoming a monstrous creature. Commotions starting heating up as some accepted and others refused. Cain turned his son first, then the rest. The taste of blood was new to them and the same great hunger befell them, as it had befallen Cain when he turned. They snapped at the people who refused to be turned, draining them dry, including Clara. As Cain saw his daughter die he felt a sudden urge to feed. And so the vampires set their sight on the remaining servants in the castle, killing most. One servant managed to escape as he had only been lightly wounded. The next day the rumours of what had happened spread around like wildfire and Cain together with his new group of vampires fled to the court of his old brother in law, Dan Dalca. Here they would offer Dan the same gift which he gladly accepted, as he feared his own mortality more than his morality. They hid for a month and in April Cain decided he should return to his castle. The group cleaned up what was left of the mess, but rumours continued to spread. These rumours would make their way to Lilith Siadan, who made her way to the castle to learn more about what happened, as she considered it to be a magical occurrence and if she had one interest it would have been magic. In June a strange women would knock on the doors of the gate, Cain opened to see Lilith Siadan. He planned to have a drink from her, but could feel a great magical power radiating for her. So instead he invited her inside to converse. In the span of a week the would quickly become friends and Cain offered her the gift, she accepted. After joining unlife Siadan asked for one odd favour, for her husband Arthur Rudeanu to be delivered to her in chains. Cain obliged and would witness the true power of Lilith as she snapped his body, killing him. The relationship between the two would grow and they quickly married in July. 
The rule of Cain from his castle continued onwards, but by now the rumours had spread far and wide. In early November of 1108 an army had shown up at the frontstep of Castle Adescu. For they had figured that Cain must be a vampire. The siege lasted for four months as Cain barely managed to hold on. Perhaps if Lilith had not left in late October things would have gone different. Alas, the besiegers stormed the castle after significant dents had been made in the castle walls. And in February 1109, almost a year after Cain had become a vampire, he would perish. Cain was found hiding in a corner of his room, cowering with a dagger in hand. A specially crafted stake, known as the Misâsim Stake, was driven through his heart a red glow started to emanate from the wound, spreading over the rest of his body. When it had fully engulfed his body Cain had turned into a pile of ash. These ashes would be swept up and put in a glass urn as a trophy. Most of the other vampires who were there that day also fell, including his son, thereby bringing an end to the Adescu dynasty and to vampirism. Or at least so the conquerors thought for a few vampires had eluded them and managed to escape from the siege. Others such as Dan Dalca and Lilith Siadan weren't there to begin with. In the end however, Cain would be seen as a father to all vampires. And those who survived would find each other at a more opportune moment, where they created a cult in his name. Together they started to plan to take over Tara Tranda and turn into the land of vampires. History tells us that they succeeded, as vampires still rule Cainaan today. 
Category:Alex
Category:Cainaan
Category:Characters
Category:Vampires