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The Story of
the City of Vampires
Beyond the Plain of Nightmare and shrouded by mist is the legendary
City of Vampires. The relationship between the city itself and vampires
is a mystery, however some tales say that when a vampire is created,
the undead flesh remains in the material world, but the spirit of the
vampire is drawn into the City of Vampires. The same tales say that
when the vampire sleeps in the City of Vampires, their spirit enters
their corpse in the material world to feed.
The City Series
Meshbox Design's Village series of models are extremely popular
with artists and animators. The Village Series follows a set
pattern: for example, model
1 of a Volume 1 is invariably a Watermill. The City Series differs in two
ways:
- All Urban. A great guess! The City Series assumes all models
will appear in an urban setting. The Village Series, as they progress
from Volume 1 on up, become more urban.
- Unique Pieces. A city takes on the character of the individuals
that live there. Each City Volume contain some models that are
built around a character concept. In the City of Vampires series,
buildings
and pieces have special names or are associated with special
characters.
The Models
The series includes the following models...
- City of Vampires: The Bridge of Nightmare. The
Bridge of Nightmare is the one way to enter the City of Vampires.
At either end is a full gate house. On the gate itself, a mightly
symbol of the Dreamweaver draws dreamers and the mad from across
the Plain of Nightmares. The Bridge of Nightmare theme includes
a quickly paced, wondering piano, building in sinister tone and
accompanied by an orchestra. Not entirely a theme of evil but of
evil to come.
Duration: 1:20.
- City of Vampires: The Old Library. The Old Library
is thought to be the first library in the City of Vampires. Though
the number of volumes are limited, borrowers are surprised to find
works thought lost in ages past or tomes written by the Great Old
Ones. Powerful, dark enchantments keep any volume from being removed
from the Old Library without the express permission of the Librarian.
The Old Library theme features a pair of pianos with accompanying
violins and other strings.
Duration: 1:50.
- City of Vampires: The House of Martina the Poisener.
In life, Martina the Poisener was a wealthy noble woman who required
great wealth to maintain her position in the court - a means to
afford the most elegant of gowns, the most cunningly cut jewels
and the newest of hairstyles. She married a total of six times
and, each of her husbands died not long after entering her bed
chambers. Her crimes in life were terrible yet she did not embrace
the darkness - it embraced her when her seventh husband turned
out to be a vampire. Her home in the City of Vampires is modest
in comparison to her home in life, but she continues with her trade
in poisens and the training of unhappy wives in the ways of removing
husbands. Her theme song is one of a corrupt, almost fantasy like
rennaisance court, accompanied by clashes and organ music.
Duration: 1:06.
- City of Vampires: The Observatory.The Observatory
is a recent addition to the City of Vampires - as recent as the
appearance of gaslight. Those who enter the observatory can feel
the presense of someone there, as if the others exist slightly
out of phase with the rest of the city. Yet evidence there is of
an occupant - of one studying the stars, and of something else
that called the vat of living, viscous fluid from the outer darkness.
The Observatory theme song features trumpets and a racing organ
and string track.
Duration: 1:34.
- City of Vampires: The Clocktower.The Clocktower
is the one of the few constants in the City of Vampires - its bell
tolling the hours can be heard throughout the city and into the
Plain of Nightmare. Its ornate surface is detailed with the spider
symbol of the Dreamweaver and mostly empty halls lead up to a cold
mechanic's sleeping quarters. Above, a complete clock works and
bell system - plus a hidden coffin where hides a pale friend of
the mechanic. The Clocktower theme is a haunted piano backed by
orchestratics, suggesting the passage of time and lonliness.
Duration: 1:33.
- City of Vampires: The House of Adalbrandr the Butcher.Adalbrandr
was a great warchief - giver of rings and rider of waves. His comitatus
raided many enemy settlements and took many thralls. Yet among
his kind, he became infamous for drinking the blood of the strongest
of warriors he defeated in battle - trying to inherit their strength.
His house appeared in the city only recently, and settled within
a very refined neighborhood. The theme features awe inspiring horns
in the distance, building up towards a heavy combat theme, electric
guitars, drums and more.
Duration: 1:27.
- City of Vampires: The House of the Bloody Countess.
In the depths of time, her name was Elizabeth Báthory, a
countess with a terrible desire to remain beautiful forever - and
thought that bathing in the blood of beautiful young girls would
would keep the effects of time at bay. Yet few know her by name
except as the Bloody Countess - a monster. Her theme begins softly,
with some accompaniment of electric guitars, chains and natural
sounds. Steamy breathing accompanies a building monstrous sound.
Duration: 1:26.
- City of Vampires: The Forgotten Shrine of Set.
The Forgotten Shrine is an unstable and magical spot within the
City of Vampires. Clearly drawn from a desert kingdom of some kind,
it changes color from the color of sand to the black stonework
of the nightmare city. Within is an altar and a ring of hieroglyphic
covered stone. Several practitioners of forbidden lore passed through
the ring and vanished, never to return. Some guess that it is an
escape from the City of Vampires - an escape into a nightless sky
of blazing sun! The theme utlizes egyptian style fluting, deep
electronic organs and some modern instrumentation.
Duration: 1:23.
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