"Offical" report.

[Eban]

**Atop the stack on the Emperors desk, as well as submitted to Guardian archives, as written on Monday March seventh.** A prisoner lost his "life" last night in a revolt. To clear up any complications, I killed Va'lis last night; however it was in attempt to defend myself from attack which I hope the following will explain.

It was Sunday evening, I'm unsure of the exact time but I would estimate somewhere around nine'o clock by our moon. It was the third night of Va'lis' captivity, and outside of Alexia helping me escort to his cell, he had seen no other contact beside myself. I had held myself from questioning him, in hopes that the Emperor would have returned from his trip to voice his insights.

Alas, upon the night's evening role call, I noticed something strange about the way he was behaving. He seemed, weaker.. if that makes any sense, not in a physical extent but in his shielding from Imperial questioning; he was calm, and strangely cooperative for what I knew him as, answering any question quickly, with what seemed honest answer. Despite the tension there was between the two of us, we spent near an hour that night discussing things from the case itself, to somethings as off topic as personal happenings. We were able to talk as uneasy enemies, it's strange but I can say that I learned more of Va'lis that night, then I had during the rest of whatever you wish to name our relations.

However, there came a time when that changed.One of the few lines that I distinctly remember from the night, came after my asking of why he turned himself in; "I was tired of running", I see now that also mean's that he was now ready to fight. Perhaps I hit a nerve during further questioning, but I think it was perhaps thirst taking hold. He became more aggressive, started with his answering to the questions. He had changed from honest answer, to trying to piss me off. He became more active in his cell, testing the bars as he did my nerve.

The next action I took, I will admit as a mistake I made. I let remarks he made about the preatorian get the raise that he wanted, in hindsight he wanted me to open cell, and knew what to say to warrant it. As soon as the door was open, he attempted to cast a spell; luckily I had activated the cell's runes to prevent such a thing. This was only a momentary delay, which I used to secure the door shut behind me; I'm not fit to keep up with a vampire on foot, especially when in full armor, my primary concern was not allowing him out of the cell.

In my day, I had fought against Va'lis on nearly too many occasions to count, however I'd never seen him blood crazed. He wanted out of that cell, and I was in his way. He was on me before I could react, using my armor to leverage me against the bars. My tunic bares the dents from strikes made with nothing other than his fist, the claw marks from where he attempted to find way through the layered plates; my gorget nearly pierced through in a few places, had either piece not held up chances are the roles of fortune would have been reversed.

I swung a knee, the only thing I could free and it managed to find way between his legs; as any male reading this will now, that gave him pause. With a shove, I managed to create enough distance to draw my kryss. His next lunge at me was met with one of my own, the momentum finding my blade buried to the hilt in his chest. There was no need for a healer, he was still before he hit the ground.

Some may argue that therein lies another mistake, in that the use of lethal force was not necessary, however I disagree. I've known Va'lis to be both strong and stubborn, this night even more so, how else does one stay an enraged vampire? Besides, in quarter's as confined as a cell my strike was made more of reaction than planned precision, the location of the wound is merely boast to Imperial training. I took his "life", however it was in defense of my own. I do not lie when I say this. I will not feel remorse, nor regret for my actions. I gave the leech more Honor in death than he earned in life, he died by the blade as a warrior should,without so much an ounce of fear shown.

Eban, Prefect Report. *Seal of the Prefect, Seal of the Imperial Legion."