One of the absolute highest quality roleplays in AIL, including solos and co-writes, is a nice, compact piece that doesn't have any dialogue nor NPC's, instead focusing on one single character.

And it's up right here. Enjoy.

 
How do you kill something that's already dead? You don't. But you can end it. Konall was working on something he could never have imagined needing a year ago: a weapon that would end his sister's existence.

He rolled out the tofu. When forging, he always worked with meat. But this would require a weapon of utmost purity. And a pure weapon cannot be made from a murdered animal. A memory flashed into Konall's head of bringing home his first kill. He had been so proud, until his sister had burst into tears at the sight of the dead rabbit. She'd insisted on burying it, and Konall was so filled with pity he couldn't dissuade her. He'd ended up telling his father he hadn't been able to catch anything.

No, back to the present. He needed to focus. Konall took out his tenderizing hammer and began working. He didn't know by what magical means Kadlin had placed herself beyond the grave in a grotesque parody of life, so he didn't know the proper talismans to counteract the spell and release her soul to the afterlife. He had heard legends of the standard weaknesses, but Kadlin was smart. She'd avoid the cliches. But no undead, however well constructed, could resist a pure weapon of holy power.

First, he tossed the tofu into the smelting furnace, burning out any impurities. Next, he dabbed it with oil of yloh, sanctifying it. Then he rubbed it with holy herbs. The smell brought back the memory of Kadlin tending to him after the battle of Smagrfast. He'd lain on a cot for two days, nearly dead from blood loss and injuries. She'd used holy herbs, prayed to the gods and spirits for healing. Looking back, it was probably that incident that made her want to learn pastamancy for healing. But that was then. Konall put the materials on the anvil and pulled out his meat tenderizer.

Smash! Konall chanted the sacred litany of heaven. Smash! Konall prayed to the gods for their blessing. Smash! Konall rubbed the half-crafted blade on a sacred stone and placed it back on the anvil. Smash! He began the work of folding the blade, making it stronger. This had to be as effective as a physical weapon as it was a spiritual talisman, and Konall forged it with more dedication than all his previous work combined. His battles before had been for his own glory. This was of paramount importance.

The sword needed to be forged with a pure heart. Was someone who would destroy his own sister pure of heart? Or was this a necessary sacrifice, and his actions the ultimate proof of the strength of his conviction? Hopefully he'd never have to use it. If Kadlin saw this and realized how far things had come, maybe she'd... maybe... only maybe. Not likely.

Hour after hour saw Konall hammering the sword-to-be with swift, powerful, yet careful stokes. Smiths needed both strength and control, or else the weapon would be a pummeled mess. Every blow brought the sword closer to its ideal shape. The light was low, just like it had been when Konall forged his masterpiece sword as a youth. Kadlin had been so proud of him then. She said she'd always be safe because he was her protector. She'd been too young to completely understand what she was saying, but Konall had still taken it to heart. He banished the thought from his mind.

Konall took the glowing red blade and dipped it into a bucket of holy water, quenching it. The tofu was hardening, becoming stronger, setting itself into the pattern it would take.

Konall inscribed it with the mark of life, holiest of all symbols, one that was anathema to the undead. And he filled it with the power it implied, calling upon the spirits to imbue this sword with the means to destroy a vampire, even one as powerful as Kadlin.

It was done. The blade was ready. For the final time, Konall asked himself what he was doing, and he answered the only way he could. He was doing what he had to. The only thing that remained was to see if it was something he had the strength to do.

Pretty darned awesome, huh?

I'd say so - obviously. It really sets up the emotions and story behind having Kadlin as a villain. The main villain, really.

She isn't the only threat however- and we dig into some of those in the last seven posts and the Finale. (Well, most of the Finale, technically, as you'll see.)