The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation - no one people held control over the tumultuous Western European region for longer, or with more aplomb than the barbaric Germanic tribesmen who rose to become the very gold standard for sophisticated, cultured and elegant civilization. And the very spiritual and noble face of this culture reigned under the banner of the Hapsburg Monarchy.

Oh, it should not be said, that there was anything as vulgar or repulsive as war or strife in this golden age of reason and wisdom... But in fact, the iron sinew of Haus Hapsburg sang through rivers of blood to maintain its rightful seat.

And unlike her fellow Queens, the girl who would lead Clan Raven on behalf of her dark lord did not grace the courts and thrones of Royalty or power. She was but a simple country girl raised in the company of witches...

Crones, to be exact - the spiritual leaders of the peasants of the woods and valleys. Though "the Holy Roman Empire" was the law of the land - the land was the law to the country folk who worked the fields and mills of the "bread basket" of Western Europe.

The people it is said were of two faces - a Catholic face to the lords and marshalls of the Empire, and a pagan face that they kept to themselves. Beside every crucifix were wolf's bane and lilly. They prayed to the Christ on sabbath days but walked always with the Gods and Spirits of their woods - the wind and moon, sun and snow...

And Gudrun, too was precious to them - the Crones saw her coming and looked for her for years though there was great argument as to how she might be raised...

And there was also question too if she should be raised...

But those held this fear kept secret to themselves, and among the Crones, she became their sole purpose. And when she came she was the pride and burden of the farmer who fathered her.

For her mother died in the giving of life, and Gudrun was both his sadness and her memory.

But wisdom of the truth... the truth of nature, and life, and the woods... She was a capable student and eager apprentice, doting on and serving her wizened "Omas" as they schooled her on the ways of the wind.

And then the snows and winds came. A fierce and terrible winter. And then the wolves came. And the people quailed - forgoing their Catholic fathers for their pagan mothers and Gudrun saw how fear could cow a people. The Crones fought madly and among themselves as the wolves took their toll. And hunger came. And death came.

And the Crones knew - it was time for Gudrun to embrace her destiny. And her real learning began. The dark learning, the blackened knowledge. The power that lies in the shadows.

And she saw who she truly was, a dark gift to protect her beloved Crones and people. And her knowledge grew quickly. And the wolves were held at bay. And the Woman Gudrun had to accept her new form - she had become fierce and feared, powerful and proud.

And her dark light shined through the forests of the Holy Roman Empire. And fear spread before her attracting the attention of the might of the Hapsburgs. And horses thundered from the courts of the Monarchy, and Marshalls rode roughshod though the villages of the farmlands and forests.

And Gudrun was not pleased. And she answered blood with blood. Heads for heads and fire with ice.

And Vlad heard his siren's call... A hard heart in the center of the Holy Roman Empire that was finally worthy of his dark gift. And strode into the bloodshed with gusto seeking the beacon of darkness that was the scourge of the Hapsburg's desires.

And 'lo he came up empty. He found not the object of his affection, but instead of crushing the obstacles that barred his way, he laughed aloud - here, here was a Queen that eluded even him, and she became more precious in her absence, more charming in her legend, more desirable in her elusion...

How in his Lord's thunder did this creature elevate herself to the status of the dark Gods?

What great magick had her Crone masters bestowed on her? Did his Black Master favor her more than he?

And so he prayed to her - offered oblation to her dark presence and summoned her with all his steely heart.

And... lo' she did come. But not without her Hags' protections and grace.

But she was not prepared for his lust. For though she was the dark Goddess of the forest, bane to wolf and iron and will, she had not yet tasted man. Or lust or... a lover.

And he saw that her Hags had not sealed this fate. Had not told her of the love of a man. How was this missed? Had they themselves so iced their very hearts from this possibility, that they had never even considered it for her? Surely her dark beauty had caught their eyes? Surely, even they, should have seen her cold light shine forth.

But it was true - she did not know that her blond tresses, ice blue eyes and skin of new cream were scorchingly beautiful to any eye - did not know that she was a Goddess both in power and in appearance - did not know that her beauty sliced the eye with pain and joy and oblivion.

And yet she never saw herself but reflected in the wrinkles and warts of the Crones who lovingly cared for her. And Vlad had the key.

And so he let fly the one arrow in his quiver for which she had no defense. And his mark was true, and fell to him. And he ignited a blazing bonfire that would never die.

They tumbled into the oblivion of flesh and lust. A horrible hurricane of passion... there was not space for tenderness, for though she knew that well from the caress of her Bubbies, it was the dark passages she had traveled to become the Goddess of shadow, that opened her to desire. And the blood that she had spilled had wakened her hunger... and his touch fed it.

But left her wanting...

And she quailed at this unknown - an abyss of confusion and desire that seemed to have no end. Their passion and lust loosed an evil dragon that threatened to destroy all in its quest for satisfaction... and Vlad drew his bow string for the killing shot...

"My dearest Gudrun, there is but one kiss that will deliver all that you ask and all that you fear you could not name. It is yours... if you merely ask."

And she did not ask but begged. This dark and horrible wraith of death and shadow groveled on her knees before her own demon of lust and want and desire and wept.

And the Clan of the Raven spread under her wings.

And Hapsburgs bore the brunt of her fury and hunger. And the Crones who saw this were not safe - and they were made to choose their place. And many begged for death.

And those she loved were allowed the death they sought. And those who saw themselves as stewards of the woods and the wind stood with their Queen and were so kissed.

And Clan Raven sought forever to quench its terrible lust. But oddly could find solace only in its servitude to darkness. And once again the Vampyre King's charting of the destiny of his Lord's command was true and sharp, Gudrun and Clan Raven's dark wings were the mist and shadow that spread over the land.