You best solve this macabre mystery quickly, before whatever's killing off the blue-bloods targets the royal family...

(Question- can my character also be a royal in disguise?

*The figure doesn't move.*

???: "...why do you come here? This is a sacred place."

“To stop the royals being slain.”

???: "The blue-bloods must return Hemara's blessing to them. They no longer deserve it."

“. . . And what did w- er- they do to no longer deserve it?”

???: "The Lady gave you the blessing of rulership and nobility. You squander your power on useless wars, exploitation of your underlings, feeding your greed... it disgusts the Lady."

“. . . I see.” She takes her helmet off
“I must admit, my father’s actions are rather revolting.”

???: "You humans disgust me."

*The figure stands, throws her cloak off, and turns around.*

*...The figure appears to be Lady Arina, a noblewoman who was exiled from the kingdom after attempting to assassinate the former crown prince, who is now king. But why does she say 'humans' like she's not one of them?*

Ryoko gets on one knee and sticks her sword in the ground, bowing to her-

“I cannot feel anymore regret for what my kind has done. I cannot offer anything but my sincerest apologies. I am sorry.”

Arina: "Oh, but there is something you can offer. You can help return Lady Hemara's blessing, and aid in restoring the Flow."

“. . . I will do my best.” She looks up at her with her shimmering golden yellow eyes

(Gtg to bed, be back tomorrow

Nya: "...where exactly are we going?"

“Somewhere.”

Nya: "...right..."

“I think i know where we’re going.”

Nya: "Okay. If you say so."

She keeps walking

*Nya follows close behind. She seems nervous.*

Ryoko seems confident, maybe even a little angry

Nya: "Can you please tell me where we're going?"

“No.”

Nya: "Hmph."

(Where is this thing because she needs to know-

(There is a skull-shaped cave in the woods behind the cemetery, the culprit is there.)

(Ty)

They get to a skull shaped cave in the woods

Nya: "...nope. I'm not going in there. That place is cursed."

“Suit yourself.” She heads in

*The inside of the cave is reminiscent of a temple. Strange carvings adorn the walls. A large hallway leads to a set of double doors, behind which you assume the culprit is.*

She picks a door and opens it

*You enter a room with a large shrine against the wall. A cloaked figure kneels in front of it, murmuring some sort of prayer. Judging from the shrine's design, this person worships Hemara, the ancient blood goddess.*

“Ahem”

*Hemara nods.*

Hemara: "But of course. You might want to take your vampire friend home first, though."

Hemara: "Do not worry. It will likely take centuries for the Flow to finally reach a point where it can no longer be fixed. You, and perhaps all of humanity, will never live to see the world's demise."

“. . . I wish i could say that for myself.”

Hemara: "...you are indeed different... why is that?"

“This body is merely a shell. A disguise. In my heart i am a being of power, of light- a dragon. I will leave this body. I will live on, and remember, no matter what i choose. I will see the demise of this world, and only be able to blame myself.”

Hemara: "...You can leave this realm before it fades. You can ascend to the Beyond and leave this doomed plane behind."

She falls to her knees, sobbing-
“But i cannot- there are shadows that will always follow me-! I- I’m too attached. I’m pathetic.” She sobs

Hemara: "...what is it that you are attached to specifically?"

“That- i wish i could tell you.”

Hemara: "Why can't you tell me?"

“Because i do not know. I only feel a strong bond to it.”

*Arina keeps using the blood to screw with Ryoko's sword arm. Nya suddenly tackles her.*

Arina: "Ack!"

Ryoko keeps her composure-

“Nya- urgh-“ she tries to fight against the blood- “this is not your fight- you could get hurt-:

Nya: "I'll be fine!"

*Nya struggles with Arina. As Arina loses focus on Ryoko, the blood stops being manipulated.*

Ryoko turns her attention to Arina’s vital spots, trying to slash all of them

*Arina heals herself after each slash. Through her ripped clothing, you notice a slightly discolored spot of skin on her torso, just beneath her chest.*

{perhaps a weak point-}

She goes for it

*Arina shrieks. Her eyes stare forwards, past Ryoko, as if someone is there... but nobody is.*

Arina: "...I... I'm s-sorry, Lady Hemara... I f-failed you..."

*Bloody tears pour down Arina's face.*

“I hold nothing against you. . .”

She charges up her sword and goes in for the final blow

*Arina goes limp. Her blood floats into the air and collects into a sphere before disappearing. A sound is heard from the shrine room.*

Ryoko salutes out of respect before heading into the shrine

Arina: "I must prove myself to the Lady. If I restore the Flow, I will gain her favor, and she will grant me the greatest blessing she can bestow."

“. . . Is there any other way to restore balance?”

Arina: "No. Only through the sacrifice of the blue-bloods and bloodborn and the returning of the blessing can the Flow be restored."

“. . . I apologize. I cannot help.”

The glow in her eyes dims

Arina: "Hmph."

*Someone dressed similarly to Arina steps into the room.*

???: "High Priestess Arina, the next sacrifice is ready."

*Arina nods and follows them into the adjacent room, which is the sacrificial chamber.*

*...but who's the next sacrifice?*

(It can’t be her mother because she isn’t in the bloodline

(Remember, they sacrifice the 'bloodborn' [vampires] as well.)

(Oooooh- i see)

Ryoko runs out to see who it is

*Two priestesses have chained Nya to the sacrificial altar. Arina draws her blade and stands next to it. Nya squirms, and Arina grins twistedly.*

Arina: "Now, filthy bloodborn, are you ready to redeem your soul? Perhaps your service to the Flow will land you a spot in the heavens... but perhaps not."

Nya: "NO!!!"

*Arina raises her blade.*

(Btw, ya know when in fire emblem they kind of have a phrase when they special attack? What Ryoko is about to say is like that)

“I hold nothing against you. . .” She charges up her blade and drives it into Arina’s back

(Sure, though that will probably increase your chances of dying if you're found out.)

(High stakes will make it more exiting! >:D

(I suppose they will.)

(Anyways-)

Ryoko keeps her hand on her sword as she walks through the forest

*The space between the trees gets smaller and smaller as you get closer to the vampire's cave. The forest is oddly quiet... typically there are many beings wandering it at night.*

Her eyes glow dimly as she enters the cave, her heart beating fast

*Something taps Ryoko on the shoulder.*

She quickly turns around

*Nya, the vampire, stares at Ryoko.*

Nya: "Hello there! Did you need something?"

She gulps, concealing her fear-
“I have come to request that you stop killing off members of the royal family.”

*Two things seem to have happened. One, a statue of Arina has appeared to the left of the shrine. Second, a portal appears to be opening on the shrine.*

She sheaths her sword and walks slowly up to the portal

*A woman who looks similar to Arina, but older [and with antlers] steps out of the portal.*

Ryoko stares at her silently with her golden eyes

Hemara: "...I must admit, this is not how I believed I would meet my end."

She tilts her head in confusion

Hemara: "You have slain my high priestess, and by doing so scared my followers enough that they will never return. Now that there is no one to work towards restoring the Flow, it is fated to wither away into nothingness, and take me with it."

“. . . What is so important about this flow-?”

Hemara: "The Flow is a sacred balance, a river of blood that flows through the heavens and the underworld, maintaining balance in life and death in the mortal world."

“. . . I’m sorry- i didn’t know- what have i done-“

Hemara: "Have you tried seeking it out?"

“Many times.”

Hemara: "Hmm. Do you at least know what kind of thing it is? A person, an object, or perhaps the realm itself?"

“. . . Someone can be linked to- just the realm-?”

Hemara: "Yes, though typically it's a specific part. Take the spirit Tovanix, for example. He cannot ascend because he is linked to the oceans of this realm."

“A-ah. I see. Well then, i have a faint idea”

Hemara: "What do you think it is?"

“Perhaps my calling just- is this realm.”

Hemara: "Perhaps."

She stands- “i must be returning home.”

Nya: "I have done no such thing!"

“Well- whoever is doing it- i must speak to them.”

Nya: "Can't help you there. All I know is, whatever it is isn't a vampire. It's been killing us off, too."

“Oh- oh god. Well then- would you care to help me find it?”

Nya: "I mean, sure... though I'm not exactly good at that kind of stuff."

“Well- you’re going to have to try, because i honestly don’t have the guts to go ask anyone else.’

Nya: "Okay."

Ryoko: “lets go!” She grabs her hand and starts walking

Nya: "W-wait!"

*Nya pulls away and dashes into the cave. She comes back with a sword.*

Nya: "Okay, now we can go."

Ryoko: “fair enough.’

Arina: "You misunderstand."

*Arina pulls out a sword. Her eyes turn completely blood red.*

Arina: "YOUR BLOOD IS MINE!"

“. . . Pity. I wasn’t hoping to fight today.” She draws her own sword, which is now glowing blue
“I do hope you understand i don’t blame you.”

Arina: "Who you blame matters not to me. You WILL return my blood to me, and perhaps your soul will rest in peace afterwards."

“My blood does not belong to you. I will not rest until this injustice is stomped under my heel.” She charges at her with the sword

*Arina laughs and leaps over Ryoko, stabbing at her neck as she does so.*

Her armor deflects this blow, and Ryoko swings her sword at Arina’s neck

*As Ryoko swings, Arina forms a fist. Ryoko's own blood drags her arm backwards.*

Arina: "You cannot defy the Lady. Your blood is hers, and she can control it. What was given can and will be taken away."

A second component in her blood pushes against the movement. . .

Arina: "..."

*Arina puts her sword away.*

Arina: "You are useless to me. Your blood is tainted."

“. . . Why do you only seek vengeance? It doesn’t solve anything.”

Arina: "I-"

*Arina collapses. The other cultists scatter, save for the two priestesses next to the altar. They remain frozen in place by fear, staring at Ryoko.*

She holds out her blade, which the blood seems to drip right off of-

“Leave now, and be unscathed.”

*The priestesses flee. One of them drops the key to Nya's chains.*

*Arina starts laughing.*

She picks up the key and unlocks Nya’s confinement

Nya: "Thanks..."

*Nya smiles, blushing slightly.*

Arina: "Fool... did you... really..."

*Arina stands up. Her blood pours back into her body.*

Arina: "Did you really think THAT would stop ME?"

*Arina's swords fly into her hands.*

“. . . Before we battle, i must say i do not wish to fight you. If you could only forgive, this may all be avoided.”

Arina: "I cannot forgive you, for your actions risk the destruction of the Flow, and by extension, Hemara herself. I will NOT let you slay my Lady to protect your impure filth of a friend!"

*Arina lunges at Ryoko.*

“Very well then.” She easily stops her with her sword, once again driving it into her heart

*Arina's blood slides along Ryoko's sword, then starts to wrap around her. Arina laughs.*

Arina: "The Blood Court will never fall."

She slashes through it, continuing to try and slash at Arina-

Her eyes glow a bright yellow, and you can’t tell through her plate of armor, but her chest is glowing as well