[DA:V] Constantinople: Embrace of the Vampire IC

[Ichneumon]

Constantinople
Embrace of the Vampire
In-Character Thread

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7905/screenshot20120131at075.png

Link to the Out-of-Character Thread: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12687417

Chapter 0 (Prelude): Homo sanguinis - "The Bloody Man"

{table=head]Player | Character Name | Character Clan | Character Concept | Character Sheet
daelrog | Eva Reims | Lasombra | girl, raised in a church, hunted down by a magi sire-killer| sheet (http://sheetgen.dalines.net/sheet/15747?message=true)
Sunfall | Taran Rufus (Taran the Red) | Brujah | a Pict and, full of determination, the bodyguard of mysterious Ventrue girl, Lorena | sheet (http://sheetgen.dalines.net/sheet/15705)
Calenestel | Ambrose of Corinth | Lasombra | Vampire priest and seeker of Golconda | sheet (http://sheetgen.dalines.net/sheet/15671)
XianTheCoder | Lucious Gious | Lasombra | Politican and infernalist | sheet (http://sheetgen.dalines.net/sheet/15704)
Soras Teva Gee | Marcus the Egyptian | Assamite| Mercenary for Hire |sheet (http://sheetgen.dalines.net/sheet/15694)
Burnheart | Ramesses | Settite | Setite sent to Constantinople to establish his clan there in order to bless the city with Sets dark glory | sheet (http://sheetgen.dalines.net/sheet/15730?message=true) [/table]

Your long journey has left your cloaks and armor covered in mud and your clothes soaked with sweat. Hungry insects buzz about you, and the air is warm and wet. You are tired and your mind is troubled, vexed, the future seems full of uncertainties. You’ve left the Eternal City, your home, and joined a caravan of about 100 men to Constantinople, Constantine's 'New Rome'.

The caravan is resting, it’s still at least 2 days of travelling to the city and the men are tired. The caravan consists of merchants, soldiers, families, children, rich and poor, all moving with large carts and wagons, pulled by donkeys and horses. Until now the journey has been remarkable peaceful and without much trouble, mostly due to the 30-40 soldiers that have been guarding and protecting the caravan. Tomorrow morning they’ pack their things together and move ahead.

All of you come to Constantinople for different reasons. None of you know each other well, but all of you have at least one thing in common: you’re vampires. Tonight all of you are, precisely because this reason, invited to the tent of Appius Afranius Arvina, also called “Triple A”, a slave trader and ex-soldier who invited you all here tonight to share information about what awaits you. Some of you are already there, others are late.

Most of you have, until now, had no contact with Triple A whatsoever. Not quite so for Marcus, who has taken a contract with the Ravnos slaver to supplement the mortal guards of the caravan in the event of trouble. Obligating him to defend the caravan and employer, though he is not strictly a personal bodyguard. Triple A has made overtures of a more long-term relationship upon reaching Constantinople but Marcus has not yet agreed waiting to confer with his sire's plans.

Marcus

You’re standing guard. Although most other Kindred now have a meeting inside Triple A’s tent, you're still not sure whether you should go or keep guarding the encampment with the other guard. You had a bad feeling about the caravan staying here. There was strange scent in the air, hanging over the area like an illusive presence, and it was unusually quiet, no sounds of birds or nocturnal mammals. The other guards, and in fact every mortal travelling with the caravan, noticed it too and it made them uncomfortable, nervous, annoyed and irritated. You want to get to Constantinople as soon as possible. It might be wise to know who the other Kindred are that are travelling with you, but it might be better to stay on your guard. Be vigilant, like your sire had told you. Through magical means you’ve spoken with him a few nights ago, briefly though, he had sound stressed, with a lot on his mind.

He wanted you to come to New Rome, as quickly as you could.


“I need you here, Marcus. Things are moving. Falling into place. I can feel it. I don’t know exactly who or what it is, but there is an invisible enemy, somewhere, planning things, setting things into motion. There is a growing… unholy presence in the city. I can feel it… in the air… in my bones. It’s… disgusting, it’s almost suffocating. It's slowly taking a hold of the city. Yet no one believes me. I seem to be the only one seeing it. Why? ”
It had been difficult to picture then, an invisible presence, feeling something in the air, but now… You looked at the guards. You felt it too. Whatever it is that haunts Darius, your sire, in Constantinople, it was here, too. Darius had sounded a bit paranoid, maybe. Said he couldn’t say more, said he thought he was been watched and followed. He also said he didn’t sleep long anymore, too dangerous. You were worried. The last thing he’d said was:


“Come as quick as you can. Be vigilant. Watch out for any signs of the unholy.”

Earlier tonight the guards found the dead body of two-headed cobra, trampled by horses. Was that one of the signs that Darius was talking about? Vigilance was important, but what if you don’t know what you’re looking out for? A serpent? Snakes?

Slowly you walk through the camps, inspecting, looking out for anything unusual. You notice two Kindred, running between the tents, a boy and a girl, you’ve seen them before in the caravan. The boy had red hair and is covered in blue tattoos. The girl had perfect pale, white skin, lot’s of make-up, accentuated by her long curly black hair. She looks very refined. They were likely going to the meeting of Triple A. You knew they’d been invited. They were just late.

You also notice something more strange, you stay within the shadows, watching, spying: Two men step out of a large tent. One appears to be in his early twenties and is of middling height with short but well groomed black hair, his defining feature though is deep green eyes. The other man is a lot shorter, with long blond hair. Both also seem to be going in the direction of Triple A's tent, but, midway, the short man, grabs the arm of man with the deep green eyes and starts whispering something to him. Judging from his demeanor, he looks stressed and angry. You can't hear what's being said, except that the short man addresses the other man at some point as "you, filthy Setite!" ... Setite? Would this have anything to do with the dead snake he found and the signs of the unholy? Was he somehow connected to all of this?

What will you do?

Ramesses
Fearing that the last of Rome's influence was coming to an end, Ramesses' sire sought out other places to spread Sets divine word, therefore sending his favoured Childe to Constantinople to spread Sets sweet corruption. Ramesses has been travelling together with a blond haired patrician Toreador, going by the name of Titus Postumius of the House of Lentulus. Things are not what they seem: Titus isn't really who he says he is. Resembling his sire, the real Titus Postumius, almost exactly, like two drops of water, he murdered him months ago, committing diablerie, and is now fleeing the scene of Rome, impersonating him while he goes to Constantinople, searching for a new life. His secret though, was known to the Setite and Ramesses has been blackmailing him for weeks now and forced Titus to bring Ramesses along on the caravan to Constantinople.

The two of you have been invited to Triple A's end this evening and were about to go there, when Titus stops you, he grabs your arm, somewhat violently and with a trembling and somewhat threatening voice he says: “Listen, Ramasses, when… when we’re in Constantinople, our… ehm ‘business arrangement’ is over, you, you, you understand? I.. I would... really appreciate... you staying quiet about my secret, but I’ve done what you wanted of me, bring you with me to Constantinople, so when we’ve arrived in New Rome, you’ll leave me alone and I never want to see your face again, you uhm, understand, you, you uhm, you filthy Setite? Th...That was the deal. I’m fine with doing you a favor and help you to Constantinople, but it will end here, understand? I’ve done my part of the deal, you’ll keep your part, right?”

He sounds nervous, feeling threatening, cornered, he tries to sound threatening, demanding, but fails to sound intimidating as he obviously had been preparing the whole day to say those exact words, he clearly isn't used to such a situation.

As soon as Titus starts speaking, you look around, making sure no-one has heard you. You see two people, a boy and a girl, walking by, in the direction of Triple A's tent, but they haven't heard you. At first sight, you don't notice anyone else.

Taran

You’re late. It’s already long past midnight and you and Lorena are hurrying outside past all the tents, to the tent of the slave-trader. You’re late because Lorena had long doubted what to do, whether it was the right thing to do.

“I better not go. I might make a mistake and they might recognize me, or ask me who I am and notice when I’m lying. It’s better to keep low and make sure I don’t draw too much attention to my self, at least not until I am in Constantinople. Right, boy? All of these Kindred are from Rome, the risk of them recognizing me is just too great.”

For almost an hour Taran had watched her walk nervously from one end of her tent to the other, talking to herself, weighting the different options, trying to make up her mind. She did that a lot. After years of being mistreated and abused by her Ventrue sire, she finally decided to escape, steeling most of his money. Even though she had come from a very rich family, she lacked confidence and really depended on Taran, a former Pict, as not only her bodyguard, but also had her helping hand

Eventually though, after thinking for a while, she’d made up her mind: “I'd better go. If I don’t show up, they might be suspicious. It’s better to be present and silent, then being the only Kindred who was invited and wasn’t there. Right? They’re not going to find out I ran away from my sire with all of his money. Who would think that?” She had looked at him with big, tired, but still beautiful blue eyes. Even though she asked Taran for his opinion, he could feel her determination, she’d had already made up her mind. It had just taken a little while.

At that point though, they were already late and she still had to prepare herself, dress appropriately, like any patrician girl should. Now, as you were searching for the right tent, she was worrying again.

With trembling voice she asked him, “W..wouldn’t it be weird though, showing up late? What will I say? What will they think?”

Ambrose, Eva and Lucious

Of the eight Kindred invited, you are the only three who managed to get there on time.

“I think we should start. We’ve waited long enough,” Triple A says, somewhat annoyed that so little showed up, “Greetings, welcome, my name is Appius Afranius Arvina, good of you all to come."

You are all sitting around a big wooden table. In front of you, sits Triple A, a balding vampire, looks like a man in his early 40s, scars on his face, missing his left thumb and index finger. You’ve heard he’s an ex-soldier, lost his job when he got wounded in battle and lost his fingers. (Roman soldiers, as you all know, are disqualified from being a soldier when they no longer have 10 fingers). He apparently got into slave trade, had a real knack for commerce and became one of the wealthiest traders of Rome. Somewhere around the road he got embraced as well, by a Ravnos apparently. Next to Triple A sits his body slave and ghoul, an old man with grey hair and a beard, called Lucentio, and outside of the tent walk his other slaves, doing all kind business from cleaning to writing letters, some functioning as guards. Three other people sit at the table (you guys) and you've never spoken with each other before.

Lucentio just gave each of you a glass of red liquid and both remain quiet, waiting for you each of you to introduce yourselves.

Far in the distance, miles away, you hear the howling of wild dogs.

[Sunfall]

Taran

Over the course of the last hour, Taran has eyed Lorena’s deliberations with his typical patient silence. Only when she’d made up her mind and asked his opinion, he shrugged.

“You want to do it. Then do it. You make your own decisions now.”

Now, as they are hurrying towards the area where they assume Triple A’s tent to be, Taran is preoccupied. While he is not experienced with this kind of landscape, his mortal hunting experience nevertheless keeps nagging at him as he is keeping an attentive eye on their surroundings. There’s something not right with the night out there, but he just can’t put his finger on it.

Suddenly he wishes he’d taken the dogs with him. But they’re back at the tent, guarding Lorena’s possessions. Oh well, it’s not far away and they will hear his whistle, should the need arise.

“Huh?” he asks, bewildered as Lorena voices her concerns. It takes a moment before he has understood what she has asked him.

“I thought a lady never was late” , he finally answers, completely earnestly quoting back to her a quip that she once used on him when he’d waited for her half a night. He’s not one for the finer points of irony.


___________
((Edit: Fixed some grammar))

[daelrog]

Eva, Ambrose, Lucious

Eva ignores the howling, taking her glass and drinking from it. She drinks far less than she shows, preferring to taste the blood first, but trying to respect her host at the same time. Her flawless, full lips are bloodless. How many nights she spent learning to drink so cleanly for her to know alone, her and her fallen sire.

She has an angelic visage. Light gold hair rolls around her heads in deep curls. Brilliant blue eyes sparkle in the lit room. Her attire is plain and practical for the journey, and most of the trip she has hidden her beauty underneath the hood of her cloak. However, her face is there for all of them to see now, and even the commoner's garb she is wearing does not hide the curves of her body underneath.

"I am Eva Reims of Clan Lasombra, childe of Calver Velance. A pleasure." Her voice is a rich alto. She looks expectantly at the other too, a curiousity overtaking her as she assesses her companions, at least those with the grace to show a degree of punctuality.

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious

Ambrose, as usual dressed in the robes of a benedictine monk, sips calmly at the blood offered, first carefully in case the ravnos was trying to pull a fast one, and then slightly more urgently, fighting to keep the urge to emtpy the whole glass in one go down. He hadn't had time to hunt yet, being careful to not reveal his true nature and preferring to find someone passed out from drinking and gambling over stealing blood from someone sleeping the wholesome sleep of the virtuous, and that lead him to feed much less frequently than he prefered. He'd say that he couldn't remember the last time he had been this hungry, but it wasn't quite right. Of course he remembered.
The sound of howling dogs he notices, with a slight hint of concern, and files away in the well-ordered mind of his to later pick at if it was necessary.
Straightening his robes, the robes of a benedictine -he wasn't a benedictine, really. He had died before the order was formed, but he had been among the group of virtuous men who had lived in monasteries under the guidance of Benedict before there even was a true order and felt like he had a right- he then clears his throat softly to focus the attention on himself
"Well... My name is Ambrosius Corinthensis, a priest to the Faithfull and an academian. Of the clan Lasombra, he adds like an afterthough, glancing at Eva. They were kin then, the two of them. Usually he cared more for Road than Clan. The Road of Heaven would lead to God, what matter was your lineage to Him? But right now they were both out of their element, out here in the wild. And they were both travelling to an unknown city. It felt... strangely good to have someone with a blood relation there. It made the situation feel slightly less unstable.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus, Ramesses

Marcus had woken as the sun was only still within his enclosed wagon, ever had he been a light sleeper. To be fair more a box in the wagon, but it sufficed for the time. When he'd entered Rome it had been on his own two feet with nothing more then he could carry. Not so this time, his decades in the city had been profitable, though most he'd traded most of his wealth into more secure forms there were a few things that were essential.

You never traveled without access to every weapon you had.

Something felt off about the night, maybe the peace they'd enjoyed was ending and his prudence would be nessecary. It was a fool idea to have the caravan stop for more then a day anyways. Yet he was not running the caravan so there was nothing he could do about it. Well he could always pay his driver and a few guards to move on ahead but that was an even riskier proposition. Regular bandits shouldn't bother three dozen men under arms, but there were worse things in the night.

Compelled by instinct Marcus removed his largest sword from storage and secured it to his back. He didn't always wear it since the long spathion style blade could not be hidden in the loose folds of his half cloak and the loose robes he wore to conceal his always present light armor. He backed up the spathion with a short gladius style blade, it wasn't as good in a fight as the other but being concealable he found himself always carrying it. Four daggers, one in his boot, another in a sheath on the upper arm out of immediate sight, and two for quick use on his belt. He secured his shield to his right arm, he'd long learned he favored his left hand for a sword it both suited him better and threw off opponents using their right hand. Finally he took out a helm but did not don it choosing instead to pull up his hood and tuck the helm under his arm. If there was trouble he'd rather know about it first then put it on. There even the Old Man couldn't fault his paranoia.

As full dark had closed over the camp he'd begun his rounds. After meeting with his employer Marcus decided he'd not bother with participating in the meeting. He would keep by it though, perhaps something useful would emerge. He didn't know this group of Kindred well, but the Mountain taught never to let a chance to know what the others might be up too. You could not judge those you did not know.

In his round Marcus found nothing so far, excepting the ominous sign of the trampled snake. An ill omen for the night if ever there was one. With that in mind Marcus veiled himself from prying eyes. Any measure he could take seemed prudent.

Still unseen he moved about the camp. As the kindred began to gather Marcus dismissed the the girl and her pagan barbarian. Likely the lady's fault they were late, no real matter there. The Toreador and his companion drew Marcus's attention though. A serpent here? Perhaps that explained things, the damn snakes had to be watched where ever they went, pagans the lot of them. It burned that they were so associated with his homeland, as if Egypt had not changed since the pyramids had been built. He'd come from the Greek city of Alexander. This snake bared watching closely.

Marcus silently decided to follow the Setite and Toreador, moving in to hear their conversation. It might be nothing, but with a snake involved better to not take chances

OOC Side:
Marcus is currently Obfuscating with Unseen Presence.

[XianTheCoder]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious

Three Lasombra? I suppose the chances were high, we are coming from Rome after all. Yet I find it interesting that I don't know either of these two. I guess it's not surprising really, a man of the cloth and a child... not exactly my normal circle. The man of the cloth will have to be watched closely. Lucious holds the cup gracefully while lounging back comfortably in the chair. He never takes a sip of the sustenance within the cup.

Lucious is tall and angular in features, with longer dark hair and dark eyes. Dressed in black pants and shirt with a long jacket, is high boots are well polished and his expensive gloves are tucked behind his belt. Lucious's presence alone radiates importance. Lucious Gious, Also of the clan of Shadows.

[Burnheart]

Ramesses, Marcus

Oh you foolish little bird, do you truely think we Setites will just let you go after this? You show only limited potential but i'll try my best to show you the true path, perhaps you'll even walk it

Smiling at that thought Ramesses carefully replies
"But my dear friend you misunderstood, our deal was that you would help me for as long as i need you remember?" his voice is smooth as honey while he talks "Surely you don't mean for us to part ways so soon?" he adds looking slightly hurt by the idea

I'll roll Charisma (4) plus Performance (3) to convice Titus that Ramesses act is genuine: [roll0]
I don't know what the difficulty of that would be, only that my Enchanting Voice lowers it by 2

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious

Really? Three out of three guests were of the Magisters? The likelyhood for that was... very low. He could calculate it if he wanted, roughly at least, but not wanting to distract himself thus he ignores that particular strain of thought and looks to the third Lasombra with an eyebrow slightly raised. Funny. It didn't feel as good to have a third clan member along. Maybe it was because of this one's arrogance, he was a nobleman through and through no doubt about it, and such always were arrogant and ambitious. It had it's place, the Lord had created them thus after all, but it often unsettled the ashen priest.

[daelrog]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious

Are we Lasombra the Clan of Punctuality as well as shadow? Curious indeed.
"My good Appius, you told us you have news about our destination. I hope there is no trouble befalling Constantinople."

She leaned back to give Ambrose and Lucious a better view of each other. She was still new at the game, but she knew enough of Lasombra rivalries from her sire's tales to not actively seek one out.

[Ichneumon]

Taran

Lorena laughed. There was something special about this boy, he always managed to make her feel comfortable. She had the tendency to overcomplicate things, he had the tendency to make complicated things simple again.

"Boy, you're completely right."

She calmed down, straightened her hair and repeated what Taran had said:
"A lady is never late, but always arrives precisely when she means to."

She felt warm inside, with Taran at her side, she could do anything. With this new perspective, her mind seemed less clouded and immediately she remembered which tent is was:

"Oh, I think that's the tent we're looking for!"

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious

Triple A seems somewhat surprised to hear you're all Lasombra, having to regain his thoughts, he quickly continues when Eva adresses him:

"Yes, I have gathered you here, because I have some news from Constantinople, that I think you'd be very interested to hear."

"You see, I’ve had contact with this Gangrel, who’s an Egyptian merchant.
Ehm, Lucentio what was her name again?”"

“Marina, sir. Her name was Marina."

"Right, Marina, that was it. I’ve had contact with her and she told me some things about Constantinople that worry me and I think that, if you'd know them, you've be highly interested in some of the services I, as a slave-trader, have to offer. You see, the city has changed. The Prince of the city is a Ventrue called ‘John of Cappadocia’, he’s the city’s Prefect [the head of the local police force] and Marina told some disturbing things about him.", Triple A pauzes, and looks at everyone around the table, increasing suspense. He tries to hide a cunning smile, he doesn't just want you to be up-to-date, he wants to sell you something too..

Although he has been known, for years, to be a very harsh, severe and inflexible man, quite Catonian in characters really, he has undergone a mysterious change lately, almost as if he has become anther man, ruthless, mad and cruel, and now he’s feared by the local community, both by Kine and Kindred."

He’s corrupt and amoral. They now call him ‘John the Wicked’. He keeps fetters and shackles and stocks and irons on exhibition inside the Praetorian chambers! He has a private prison in the dark and there he confines and tortures his victims, without... any.... trial.”

At that point, two new people enter the tent...

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious and Taran

Lorena en Taran enter the room. Lorena stammers "I eh, hello, I am Lore-"

Triple A, annoyed by being interrupted in the middle of his story, "yes, yes, good of you to come, please take a seat."

Lorena, a bit shocked that so little attention was paid to her arrival, quickly sat at the table. Lucentio stood up and got a drink for both Taran and Lorena, while Triple A quickly continues:


"Marina told me about this old man, Antiochus, a man of advanced years, a rich merchant, was reported to him, although he was guilty of no crime other than having money that John wanted. So he arrested him, and strung him up by the hands with stout ropes until the old man, with dislocated shoulders, was freed from the bonds a corpse.”

"So, as you see, Constantinople is a dangerous place, especially for fine gentlemen, and ladies, like you, with money to spend."

Like a real business man, he then waits a few moments for all of this information to really sink in, and have an impact, before talking business.

Ramesses, Marcus

Marcus listened carefully and could hear every word.

Titus visibly turned paler, he didn't like the prospect of Ramesses being with him for much longer and this isn't how, in his mind, this conversation would have gone, at all. In his mind, although it had been somewhat unrealistic to think so, Ramesses would have been hugely intimidated by Titus' strong and fierce choice of words and would have yielded. The fact that Ramesses doesn't even show a sign of being insulted and only felt hurt by the lack of trust, was, at least for Titus, even more discomforting, since it showed Titus has completely misjudged and misunderstood the situation. Maybe they weren't so bad after all, the Setites, and did only want what's the best for him?

"I... I'm sorry, my friend. I guess it's just the nerves. I'm a bit stressed because of pretending to be someone I'm not. That's all. Please, forgive me" He finishes with an uneasy, fake, smile.

"But please, tell me," he adds, "how much longer after we've settled in New Rome, do you think you'll be able to give me... ehm.. the honour... of being able to help you." Again an uneasy smile. Although he bought Ramesses words as being genuine, he still felt rather uncomfortable dealing with the Setite and tried to get some perspective on how this would end.

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious and Taran

Calmly, and not allowing himself to give in to hunger or gluttony, Ambrose sips from his drink while he listens to the ravnos' sales pitch. The cainite had something to sell them, that was apparent from the beginning. And the longer he listened the clearer the picture Ambrose was getting. Still he said nothing, not trusting his own meager political savvy and prefering to stay silent and listen as the slaver made his point.
When two latecomers suddenly enters the tent he is, however, surprised to see that he had already finished the glass of vitae and while he listens he subconciously looks around, searching for a refill.

[Sunfall]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious and Taran

Outside, Taran shoots a sidelong glance at Lorena, his half-smile hidden in the darkness, his unease at the strange-feeling night forgotten. He hurries to hold the tent flap open for her and follows her inside wordlessly. He raises his eyebrows when the slave trader simply talks over Lorena but stays silent. He feels that she might have needed to assure her authority in this round more firmly, but there is nothing he can do for her now. She must do that for herself.

Taking the Ravnos’s invitation to sit, he leans his spear to the table, keeping it in easy reach. It’s a completely natural action, and the thought that this might offend his host never crosses his mind. He also ignores the chalice that is set in front of him, and the tantalizing smell rising out of it.

From under his fiery red tangle of hair, he scrutinizes the other people in the tent. Lorena told him that they all would be Kindred, and never before has he seen so many of them in one place. His grey eyes slide over the brawny old slaver, the strange Christian priest in his robes, the severe-looking nobleman, just to linger a bit longer on the young woman between them - which has to be the most beautiful woman he has ever seen...

After a moment, he averts his glance and strives to concentrate on Triple A. He tries to follow the conversation, which at the moment makes little sense to him.

[daelrog]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran

Triple A may have had the right idea as businessman to keep them waiting, but Eva did not want to give him that pleasure. It suited her more at the moment to push against him more than these strangers around her, and she leaned forward.

"And what services do you offer as a slave trader that will help us stay the wrath of John the Wicked?"

She wanted the cards on the table now. She did not know the others, but it would do no good to sit and let doubt of this Prince fester. She found herself questioning the trip to Constantinople now, but she would not show it to the others.

[Burnheart]

Ramesses, Marcus

You really are just a poor lost child aren't you "Titus", well i can work with that

"Well now Titus that depends on several things, after all have you heard the rumours coming out of Constantinople these nights? Dark dark times have fallen on the city, a man would be wise to keep his friends close in such trying times" Ramesses voice is smooth and soft while his eyes seem troubled "Unless you have other friends to help you when we arrive in Constantinople?"

I'm rolling Manipulation (3) plus Empathy (3) to persuade him to open up and answer my question [roll0]
Difficulty is 4 (6 but -2 from EV) and this is a Resisted action (Titus rolls his willpower vs Difficulty 6)

[XianTheCoder]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran

He's surprised... He doesn't actually know anything about us...

Lucious continues to relax in the chair and hold his undrank from cup. Having come from a merchant family he was use to the sales pitch he was getting, and showed little to know interest in what Triple A was saying. He kept an ear on the words though, as he used the opportunity to scan around the room and learn what he could about the others that were present.

At the arrival of the two new kindred Lucious raises an eyebrow, Certainly not the cleanest entry into a meeting.... Lucious will watch them both sit down and then continue his scan of the room.


Discretely watch the others without being noticed: Manipulation + Subterfuge = 7
[roll0]

Convince Triple A that he Isn't listening and has no interest when he really does: Manipulation + Subterfuge = 7
[roll1]

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus, Ramesses

Marcus listened in silence beneath his veil a look of vague disgust on his face. He'd stumbled onto some plot it seemed. Truly the Kindred seemed to know nothing else, the snakes in particular. It was of no real interest to Marcus, such things never were. The Mountain taught that the snake lived on corruption and vice, but that such things were generally small matters. Most likely this flower had killed a whore in feeding in one of the snakes establishments. Or some matter that while distasteful wasn't going to be important here, probably something only these fools with their games could care about. Marcus avoided such problems by simply never entering the game, he had always known he was no great thinker or plotter. His sire once had said that made him wiser then most men living or dead.

Still information was a coin of greater weight then the purest gold, doubtless one of his brothers would find a use for anything he learned when they reached the city. And if not there the Mountain never turned down information.

[Ichneumon]

Marcus, Ramesses

Titus suddenly remembered all the rumors he had heard and thought about what kind of 'friends' he had there. He had only one contact over there, a Toreador called Hesiod and it didn't seem like a good idea to get to close with him.

Smiling, Titus says: "Friends? No, I don't have friends over there, and certainly not as good as you."

"I've only had contact with a Toreador called Hesiod, he's the owner of a bathing house, which functions as an Elysium. Although he might be a good source for information, he can't offer much more. He's sort of an outcast. Although, they say, he was an influential figure, the coming man politically, years ago, he made some bad concessions, wanted things to quickly. Now neonates view him as a sell-out, while the elders see him as a former threat, not a current one. It would be bad for us to associate with him."

He lays his hand friendly on Ramesses shoulder, and smiles: "Come, let's go inside. You're right, friends have to look out for each other and you're my only real friend I have." He seems convinced, or at least that's what he wants to be, but you sense in his voice still some doubt about whether your friendship is 'real'.

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran

Triple A responds quickly to Eva's question. He looks somewhat shocked, and worried, it was never good to annoy a potential customer. He felt he had erred. Yet, he continued to talk with a smile, but the twinkle in his eyes had disappeared.

"It's very simple. I have a lot of slaves, many of which are trained as body guards. They can protect you. Day and night."

He notices Ambrose looking at the Taran's glass and his own empty one. He makes a small, almost unnoticeable hand signal to Lucentio, who quickly stands up to get everyone a refill.

"Of course, such protection is expensive and what I'll be asking would be quite a lot, but, given that they'll provide you with a bit more certainly the first few days after your arrival, I'd say it's worth it. The money isn't any good to you anyway, when you're dead, right?" :smallamused:

[Burnheart]

Ramesses, Marcus

Oh you dear fool Sets wisdom will fall upon you soon, best prepare yourself for you won't enjoy the experiance

"You are right my friend we should hurry, after all we are quite late, they must have started without us by now" after saying this Ramesses gently guides Titus towards triple A's tent.

[XianTheCoder]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran

With Triple A's attempt to sell them slaves Lucious's feigned disinterest becomes real disinterest. A slave trader trying to sell us slaves... I'd like to say I'm surprised. Does he not realize the gifts of Caine grant us the power not to have to purchase slaves?. Lucious places his cup on the table causing a distinct *clink* to resonate within the room. Ignoring what was previously said by Triple A, Lucious attempts to change the course of the conversation. And what do the politicians have to say about the change in social policies, certainly they can't all be corrupt by now... It took generations to corrupt all of Rome's politicians? Lucious will will straighten from his lounging position and square his shoulders to Triple A.

[Ichneumon]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran

Triple A didn't like moving the subject away from his offer, but he knew that some kindred, especially the Ventrue and Lasombra, were most interested in political stuff and he thought it would be bad not to give a potential customer - he still had his hopes up - the information he asked for.

He sighed, :smallsigh:, he wasn't an expert on politics, but would tell Lucuous what he knew. "What I've heard from Marina is that on the mortal side, the senators complain, but can't do anything, since the prefect has the official approval of the imperial family, so they can't publically criticize John without also criticizing the emperor. On the Kindred side, funny enough, the most powerful elders are, politically speaking, paralyzed. For years, the two most powerful elders of the city, the Lasombra known as Spurius Corva and the Nosferatu known as Caeso Silanus, have fiercely been competing with each other for more influence in the city and for John's favor. Both would, most likely, have the power to oppose John, if they could act as one front against him, but both are too afraid to do anything, since they don't trust each other's words at all and have no assurance that the other wouldn't side with John when they endanger their own relation with him by opposing him, thus giving the other the upper hand."

Triple A tried to laugh, the whole situation felt to him very silly, but he lacked real political insight and Lucious' determination unsettled him somewhat..

"So, eh, you see, because they hate and mistrust each other so much, and are fixated on not losing the upper hand to one another by alienating themselves from John, they can only silently endure John's madness. At least that's what Marina told me."

[XianTheCoder]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran

So a Lasombra holds power, that could be useful.. So what fear do kindred have from John? Have there been kindred persecutions? Are there warring factions?. Lucious attempts to keep Triple A talking about politics, by giving him an opportunity to justify the need for bodyguard slaves.

[Ichneumon]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran

Triple A seems somewhat relieved, it's seems to be working, he has regained their at least Lucious' interest. He quickly continues talking, while he desperately tries to remember what Marina had written in her letters about the local politics, since he was just a simple slave trader, he hadn't really read those parts very good, which he now regretted.

"Yes, John's persecutions have hit everybody, you see, basically, both Kine and Kindred. Not only does he hurt the businesses of almost all Kindred by going after the wealthy patricians in New Rome, especially Marina bussiness, we are to understand, but he has also physically arrested a couple of Kindred, blackmailed them, taken all their possessions and murdered them. The most frightening thing though is that it almost seems arbitrary who he picks, only those most close to him have been left untouched. Now, about the factions..."

He quickly took his glass and started to drink, trying to buy himself some time, trying to remember more about the factions. He looked at Lucentio, and apparently gave him a violent kick under the table to tell him to help him out, as he jumped up and quickly started talking, trying to please his master, reciting all that he'd learned from reader his master's letters from Marina:

"Miss Marina told us there are three, maybe four, large factions in Constantinople. The most important faction is that of John and his sire Anthony's family, the leaders of the city's Ventrue clan. Next you have the faction of Caeso Silanus, with the two largest Nosferatu lineages in Constantinople and most of the Toreador clan too. The third largest faction is that of Spurius Corva. As I understood it, there are many different Lasombra families in Constantinople, but all have sworn loyalty to him and his lineage. Marina described Corva as an intelligent visionary, a charismatic, idealist and religious leader, so it's not difficult to understand they'd do that. Although he has the support of the Tzimisce too, the Tzimisce until now have shown rather little interest in city politics though, preferring to stay neutral and hidden in the monasteries they control and only mind their own business. The fourth faction are the Brujah. They are smaller in numbers, very small, but in the past they've been loyal to the Ventrue and have served them well and thus gained much wealth and influence in the city, yet in the last few years their allegiance has been shifting, searching for new allies, either in the direction of Spurius Corva, Caeso Silanus or even the smaller, more insignificant clans, such as the Cappadocians or the Assamites, who have always- "

At that point, Triple A interrupted the old Lucentio, as he felt he'd told them quite enough already and Lucentio was getting a bit too enthusiastic. Triple A wanted to get the topic back to the potential slave trade.

"Right, so John the Wicked has been arresting Kindred of all these factions, except his own, torturing them, taking their money, killing them, all without warning or any apparent reason. In the last letters I got, Marina even told me that all the Setites in the city have mysteriously disappeared just a few days before, without a trace. Most likely murdered by John. So all in all, Constantinople is a dangerous place, especially without any protection, you never know if 'John the Wicked' might come after you next, after all." The twinkle in Triple A's eyes had returned as he said those last words, almost sounding too pleased with this situation (who DIDN'T need a body guard when going to a place like this?).

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran, Ramesses

And at that moment, Ramesses and Titus entered the room, just in time for Ramesses to hear what Triple A said about the Setites.

[daelrog]

Amrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran, Ramesses

Eva had not quite finished her first drink. "So it is, Triple A." Deciding to use his nickname was not a compliment. Eva had decided that she did not like the Ravnos slave trader. It sounded as if he intended to sell them all slaves to defend them against a mad Lord.

"So as you would have it, we would each pay a substantial fee for very necessary protection... protection in the form of these slaves of yours. How do you picture in your mind these slaves protecting us where others means have failed the kindred known in the city? Do they posess a strength to match the steel and wits of the Ventrue's forces?"

[XianTheCoder]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Taran, Ramesses

As Eva speaks Lucious consciously forces himself not to make a face of disgust, The precious of a hammer. Lucious glances at the entryway as the new arrivals enter. Sigh... Always with the interruptions. We were finally getting to the important topics too.. Lucious will let the others get seated and give any introductions before attempting to drive the conversation once more in the directions that he wants.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus

Marcus follow the snake and his dupe to the tent listening the whole while but stopped and did not follow them in. They'd not continue their discussion in open company if they'd had any brains. Besides it would be suspicous to follow them too immediately. And he'd not been satified with his rounds of the camp. Focus too much on the desert cobra and you'd miss the crocodile.

He decided to make one more quick round of the area then would be seen at the meeting, if it hadn't broken up by then at least. As he made his rounds still veiled from sight the mercenary kept himself on high alert for anything out of the ordinary:

Rolling Perception+Alertness to pick up on anything unusual before joining the meeting. He's devoting maybe up to five minutes to the task. If he can circle the camp in under that time he'll head to the meeting. If he can't circle the camp he'll focus on the areas closest too.

[roll0]

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Ramesses, Taran

While his fellow Lasombra argued with AAA, Ambrose held back and contemplated the situation. A slave? He had never owned a slave, really. He had never seen the need. Personally he was interested, not overwhelmingly so, but enough to actually talk price if the others didn't agitate the ravnos too much to call the discussion off. The thought of having a heathen as his attendant and bodyguard suited the ashen priest fine, he knew he was no fighter even, and if he could Save a lost soul like that so much the better. Of course, he did absolutely not trust the charlatan not to traffic with christian slaves but that was actually yet another reason to buy one. If the man or woman turned out to be a christian then he had done a charity by procuring him or her. He might even do a greater one eventually, by setting the slave free. Still keeping silent and obscuring his interest by drinking from his second glass Ambrose waits for the ravnos to answer Eva's question.

[Sunfall]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Ramesses, Taran

Taran frowns, his face turned down and in shadows. He genuinely hates slavers and their view of the world, but has already noticed that slaves are a substantial part of this society.

And they're calling us barbaric.

But what puzzles him right now is that this man seems to believe that a slave, a once free being purchased in the vilest of ways, a mortal no less, might offer a better protection to Lorena than he himself. He sees a severe problem, not only in terms of morality, but of loyalty and strength.

Hearing about the situation in Constantinople and the different factions and clans makes him dizzy. So many Kindred, so many points of view… He is not particularly worried for himself, but Lorena's security begins to concern him. Still frowning, he looks over to her. Hopefully, she doesn't even contemplate this laughable offer...

[Ichneumon]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Ramesses, Taran

Lorena remains quiet. When she was alive she had hated politics and the power struggles of the undead didn't interest her much more. However, she had learned at least one thing from her vile and abusive sire, and that was that in the world of the Kindred, there were only 2 roles to play: that of master and that of servant, and she was determined to never be a servant again. If that meant playing the games of politics, so be it. Occasionally she had wanted to look to Taran for help, but she understood it was her job to do this.

She was impressed by the questions Lucious was asking, she understood his motives through and through: he wasn't interested in buying slaves, just wanted to learn as much from the slave trader about Constantinople as possible. She was sceptical too, mortal body guards would do little if a wicked Prince was after you.

She was about to say that, when Eva said something similar, just when Ramesses and Titus entered.

Triple A didn't pay much attention to the new comers, he was too focused on Eva's question, he didn't like it one bit. You could easily see that. He didn't like it, because he knew it was true. Although his slaves would make fine body guards, they would provide very little protection if the John the Wicked really planned on going after them. "I eh, I have trained them," he replied, "I've given them official training, the kind only the best soldiers of Rome received. It would be difficult to find better fighters anywhere." You can all clearly see though that he's lying about their fighting capabilities.

"Listen, I like you guys, so what do you say if I sell you a few of my slaves, my very best, to you for say... 14000 solidus? In fact, I'll make a special deal with you guys, if after a week you feel you don't need them any more, I'll allow you to resell them to me for 10000 solidus. You can't say no so a deal like that, can you?"

You can hear faint noises, coming from the southern part of the camp, people shouting.


Marcus

Marcus decides to do one more round around the camp, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.... You don't see anything and you are about to turn back, hoping to still get in time to see and hear something in the meeting, when you hear a soft sound of someone screaming.

When you get to the most southern palisade wall, you hear more prominenty, a few people screaming. Around twenty-five large jackal-like creatures have jumped over the palisade wall and are attacking those sleeping inside in their tents. They look like large jackals, but you can easily tell they aren't. They have large elongated oddly joined back legs, giving them an unnatural high speed. They have large curved teeth that bite through sinew and bones as easily as through bare skin and their eyes, as flaming torches, blaze with a red light. You know one thing for sure, these things aren't natural.

[You may attempt an Occult roll, to see if you know anything more]

They seem to work in groups of two and thee and strike at different locations throughout the camp, working their way from the southern parts to the north, using their speed to cover great distances and give the illusion that there are even more of them. They seem to be searching for something - or someone.

Legionaries and other guards burst from their tents, weapons drawn, shouting for aid, rushing into formation, trying to defend the civilians from these strange beasts.

Here is an abstract map of the encampment (the green tent is the tent the other Kindred are in, the yellow dot is Marcus, the brown dot are the jackals. I haven't drawn all the soldiers and other people fighting and running around.)


http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/4659/invasionz.png

[Sunfall]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Ramesses, Taran

Taran raises his eyebrows in derision at Triple A's preposterous claims. There's nothing here that Lorena could possibly need. Then the screaming starts.

In one fluid motion, Taran jumps up, gripping his spear. A hasta spear is quite long and thus the tip swooshes by Triple A's nose dangerously close, but Taran doesn't notice. In two steps, he's out of the tent, frantically searching the camp for the attackers. Bringing his fingers to his lips, he issues a loud, sharp whistle.

He needs to investigate, see if he can save some of these people, but he won't leave Lorena alone. He needs his dogs to watch over her.

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Ramesses, Taran

The face Ambrose does at AAA's outrageous claims shows with little doubt that not even the former monk trusts the Ravnos' words. And that it's more than the general distrust of a charlatan. "Master Arvina... if you think that I will start discussing the terms of payment without having a look at your goods you will start to disappoint me. I have no-"
Interrupted by the sudden explosion of movement from the redhaired cainite Ambrosius swallows whatever he was going to say and tilts his head to the side, listening. Shouting? What could that mean? An attack, certainly. Anything else?
Not finding any answers that calms him down any Ambrose gets to his feet, the movement obviously not coming very easy to him, and he leans heavily on his sturdy staff as he rises. The staff is a both a weapon and a support for the vampire priest, as tall as he is and reinforced with steel at both ends and at the middle. But in the hands of the ashen priest it really doesn't look very threatening. Looking to the others he doesn't move to leave, though but waits and sees what their host does.

[daelrog]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Ramesses

Eva smiled falsely at Triple A's sputtering response. She did not take offense from trying to be conned by this slaver, but she was offended by how poor an effort it was. Politeness was wasted on the Ravnos, for he had shown his true merit to them all.

She was surprised by Taran's sudden act, and she couldn't tell if he was just upset at the empty offer, or if he knew something the rest of them did not. Regardless, she wasted no time getting the conversation back on course, and showed the slaver exactly what she thought of his response.

Pointedly looking away from him, she turned to Lucentio. "Lucentio, you were speaking of Cappadocians and Assamites. Elaborate."

Eva is using "Observance of the Spoken Word", first power of dominate. Manipulation (3) + Intimidation (0) = 3. Difficulty is Lucious's willpower-2 due to enchanting voice merit.

[rollv]3d10[rollv]

[Burnheart]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Ramesses, Taran

Ramesses slips into the tent with Titus and stands quietly in the back listening to the conversations going on around him What was that about my brothers? Disappeared hmm i shall have to send word to the founding temples and begin an investigation when we arrive

Sudenly the sounds of battle erupt from the edges of camp and one of the other kindred, some kind of tribal warrior with blue warpaint, springs up and heads outside to let out a piercing whistle.

Bowing to the others in the tent Ramesses says "Excuse me a moment" and he follows the tribal outside calling "Aurelius" into the still night air. A few moments later a figure carrying a large crescent moon axe comes striding out of the darkness "High one?" he says looking directly into Ramesses eyes "Go and find out what has happened" Ramesses commands before stepping back inside the tent.

Left alone with Taran, Aurelius gives him a respectful nod before troting off towards the sounds of combat.

[XianTheCoder]

Ambrose, Eva, Lucious, Ramesses, Taran

Lucious watches those around him react to the noise, seeing this as a goos time to close out the initial conversation he will rise, While I appreciate the beverage I must be going, I have matters to attend. Why don't you have your man find me in a few hours and we'll have a look at your wares. . Lucious will give a courtesy bow and walk out of the tent.

Lucious proceeds to walk back towards his tent, ignoring the screams for now. Lucious is rather disinterested in getting involved, everybody has their place and running off to investigate screams isnt his, if something happens that warrants his attention someone will alert him of it.


The purpose of leaving now is to obfuscate the purpose of his earlier questions. Lucious's request to see the wares is a means of isolating Lucientio later and talking to him directly without Triple A around. It's clear that Lucientio is the man with the information that Lucious wants so if he needs to pretend to be interested in slaves to get him alone then so be it.

[Sunfall]

At the other end of the encampment

Over at the side of the camp, the two black dogs raise their massive heads in unison, flicking their battle-scarred ears. They suddenly jump up, violently startling some of the people that may have been running past them, and start to run across the encampment, their huge paws thundering across the dusty ground…

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus

As soon as the screaming began Marcus clapped his helm down on his head and secured it in place then put a hand on his sword. Still veiled he didn't seem to have been noticed yet but he wanted to be ready to draw his blade in one swift motion all the same. He well knew the veil wouldn't hide him if he made an aggressive move.

Sighting the beast Marcus face took on a look of faint horror. What in God's earth were these beasts. He took them for hellspawn but were they of Hell itself, the work of some witch, a creation of those like himself? Marcus had no idea, but it didn't matter. Their danger though was obvious and these were no normal beasts. Then again he was not exactly normal himself. Marcus his blood flow and surge within him heightening his physical abilities to a fine peak.

Decision time. He could withdraw back to the tent and alert his employer. But doing so would loose time in the attack. The uproar had begun, they wouldn't be caught unawares. And it would do no good to protect the Kindred only to loose the protection of the caravan's mortals. The slaver at least had too much property here to see it all ruined. No his blade was better here.

Approaching swifty Marcus made for the nearest of the beasts in his sight, aiming to come out of his veil in an ambush. Reaching the closest beast he went on the attack drawing his blade and striking with all his century of skill.

Right lots of things:

-No Occult dots I autofail knowing what these are

-Blowing 4 Blood to improve my Str and Sta to 5 dots for the scene putting me at 12 blood

-Moving and attacking the nearest creature I can see, presumably directly "south" on the map.

-Using Unseen Presence to strike from ambush so rolling Which would normally give me an automatic Initiative win, but I'll let you decide on any benefits from it.

Wits+ Stealth: [roll0]

-Attacking! Presumably the beast just have nat weapons so they should be a -1 difficulty against a sword. Either way

Dex+Melee: [roll1] (Noting extra successes add to damage dice)
Str+BastardSwd: [roll2]

Extras/Rerolls: [roll3]

Finally If Attack My Soaking:

Stamina: [roll4]
Light Armor: [roll5] (First Die for its +1B soak second two for its +2L soak)

Rerolls: [roll6]

[daelrog]

Alaric

Alaric, an aging, drunkard of a Visigoth took another deep swig of his wineskin. His arms were still powerful, but not as much as he had been as a lesser man. His gut, once naught but muscle, started to show a pouch. His hair had gone white, and his eyes were not what they used to, though he could see clear enough to fight, and clear enough to see Eva.''

He didn't hear the sounds of battle in the distance, but he did take notice to his drinking partners stand up, and unsheath their weapons.

Alaric grumbled, "Whore's teat, I need a piss." He joined them, his axe slung over his shoulder. He did not run, too drunk, but he walked with a brisk pace, to the northern end of the camp where he knew his master, Eva was.

[Ichneumon]

Lucious

Lucious exits the tent. He faintly hears Eva saying something to Lucentio, but pays no attention to it, figuring he'll hear things later from him anyway. He walks in the direction of his tent in the North West of the camp. In this region most haven't noticed the exitement at the south part yet, mostly because it's far away and the shouting can't be heard, especially over the sound of the simple but happy music being played near a particular wagon that Lucious happens to pass by.

They are actors, Lucious recognizes them by the image of Genesius of Rome, the Patron Saint of actors. There are five of them, three (two men and one woman) sit around a fire, they play a flute, drums and a lyre. Two are standing, both are men, but one is dressed in a dress, a wig and wears make-up. [During the middle ages and in Roman times, female actors were practicaly unheard off and all female roles were played by men]. They dance and practise lines.

The man in woman's clothes shouts, while falling theatrically at his knees: "Let them destroy me! I beg of you! For to take my life would be kindness!" he cries.

"To live is only pain! Life has not kindled my desires with joy." He shouts, dramatically.

The three actors sitting by the fire, while playing music, sing the lines of a chorus:

"Oh, sad Elektra, child of a lost mother!"

The other man who's standing, dressed in the clothes of a Greek soldier, draws a wooden sword and waves it around angrily, about to say something, but then stops, noticing Lucious. He smiles, laughs and runs to him while shouting: "Good sir! hahaha! Fortune truly smiles on us that you now arrive here, just on time! We desperately need your assistance! Please come and help us!"

He has a young, thin child-like face without any facial hair. Painted, drawn with black ink, on his hairless lips, chin and cheeks are a beard and moustache.

"You see, my poor, poor friend Carlos," he points to the guy playing the flute, "must have been struck my temporarry madness or have been curced by the Gods, since he has made a terrible, dreadful mistake and foolishly enough, thos evening prepared us a meal for six, while we are, as you can see, but with five. Please, good sir, help us eat all this delisious food, we can not eat it all by ourselves!" he bows deeply. "Please honour us by warming yourself near our fire, drinking our wine and eating our food? My name is Ulysses of the Applo Actors Guild, originating from Ravenna, and these," he points the other people around, "are my 'partners in crime'. Let us entertain you with our exciting stories and songs. Please tell me if we can be of service to you and if you'll honour us with your presence?" he laughs, greeting you with a warm and honest smile. All of them are dressed in self-made costumes of a very high quality...

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

As Lucious nears the actors he will slow his walk, so he can watch their practicing as he passes. As a politician, Lucilus has a great appreciation for actors and gladiators. It has been a time honored tradition of the rulers of Rome to satiate the masses of Rome through the collisium. It never mattered how the masses where treated, the rights revoked, or the corruption of the leadership, all would be forgiven if the culprits hosted a great show. As he watches he considers what story must be being referenced.

When an actor acknowledges Lucious and rushes towards him, Lucious's immediately concerns himself with a potential attack. He only relaxes when it becomes clear the man is no threat. The gift of Presence... Ever a blessing and a curse... I greatly appreciate the offer, however I am coming from a dinner, so I am content and full. I would enjoy spending a few minutes in the company of your group. I've long been a supporter of the arts and always appreciate the enjoyment they bring the citizens. . Lucious will activate Awe and approach the bands fire with a smile, Your song is impressive and your costumes are fine quality, tell me, is this a return to Constantinople for you all or is this just the latest stop on your journeys? For me this is a new beginning, I've been sent to Rome to help bridge the political breaking between new Rome and old. Lucious will seat himself near the fire in any available seat, while seating himself be will watch each person carefully checking for signs of actual breathing (trying to determine if any of them are kindred).



Activate Awe
[roll0]
[roll1]

OOC: OK there is lots to do here, heres the game plan: first Lucious wants to find out exactly how much they know about constantinople. Next he wants to discern how good they are at their craft, if they are good he wants to maintain a connection with them since he could more easily win the hearts of the citizens through the all too familiar bribes of free entertainment. I would assume that if they an afford fine quality costumes then they must ot be terrible. Lastly he wants to approach them about making him a consume.

[Ichneumon]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses

In just a few seconds suddenly a lot had happened. Taran had left the tent, while Ramesses had entered, left and entered again, Lucious had left too, as if the shouting from outside hadn't been distracting enough. Now, no one seemed to be thinking of buying slaves any more and you could see that Triple A didn't like it one bit. He waved his hands, looked from person to person. Even though all these things distracted him, he wasn't distracted enough to notice that Eva's question wasn't just a regular question and when Lucentio answer immediately, directly and clearly... "The Cappadocians have lost their political relevance, ever since they became internally in conflict, fractured over the struggle between two Cappadocian sisters, who both, rumors say, wanted to embrace the same men. The leader of the Assamites seems to be one called Darius. Marina describes him as a trustworthy, honerable man, a man of his words, but lately very troubled and pessimistic, depressing to be around with. She says he -"

Triple A understood what had happened and it enraged him. Lucentio's unable to finish talking, because Triple A jumps up from his chair, knocks both his chair and the table to the ground when he throws himself at Eva, causing both to fall down in the ground, tries to strangle her: "I'll kill you! You #%^*%!"

Tripple A' attack, difficulty is 7, Strength (3) + Brawl (2) = [roll0]
Potential Damage: 3

Lorena jumps up and screams in terror, while Triple A's servants come run in to see what's going on.

Taran

Your two loyal dogs arrive at your sight. You do hear some struggle from inside the tent though and Lorena scream.

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric

You charge at one of the beast, and completely surprise it, hitting it hard.

[Not certain about the rules, so if I make any mistake, please say so, but I think I should now roll for soak for the creature]

Soak for the jackal: [roll1]

While your attack it, eyes meet its gaze, the red, dead, lights, gaze right through you. Immediately you get a cold and uneasy feeling, as if he looked right through your soul and violated you, touched you, you instinctively know that he knows who you are and, more importantly, what you are - Kindred.

The creature responds quite quickly, trying to bite you.

Bite - Dexterity (3) + Brawl (3) = [roll2]
Rolling for potential damage: [roll3]

Another of the beasts prepares to join the fight and charge at you, but luckily 'reinforcements' seem to have come as both Aurelius and Alaric [Daelrog's ghoul] arrive at the scene...

[B]
Lucious

A big smile appears on Ulysses face as he guides you to the camp fire. All the actors greet you kindly. There is Ulysses, Carlos, Nero, Albus and Niobe. They quickly continue singing merely. You pay close attention to their breathing and they do seem very much alive.

They tell you although they are a travelling group of actors, travelling from city to city everywhere in the Empire, this will be their first visit to New Rome, where they will play 'Elektra', a play by Euripides.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus gritted his teeth as the beast's fang bit into his arm, catching on the gauntlet of his armor. Lurching away he shook the beast off. Not a serious wound, he'd struck the beast harder then it had him. Still primarily focused on his prey he saw that more parties were joining this portion of the fray, both friendly and hostile.

"Get the other one this beast is mine!" he shouted to the new men. Both looked familiar but he had no time to place them or note further details. Hopefully they could keep the other helldog off his back while he finished off this one.

Taking a step back Marcus lunged forward to strike again.


Attacking Again:
To Hit:[roll0]

To Damage: [roll1]
Final result: 7L Damage dealt (ref (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12720608#post12720608))


Soak If Nessecary

Stamina:[roll2]
Armor:[roll3]

[Sunfall]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses and Taran

Taran's head snaps around at Lorena's scream. What now?

"Stay", he orders the dogs as they are padding over to him, tail stubs wagging, heads submissively lowered. "Watch." He beckons to the tent. Both commands are uttered in the lilting language of his homeland. The massive dogs turn their heads to the commotion across the encampment, ears pricked up, and start to prowl in front of the tent, guarding it against any intruder.

With one big step, Taran is back in the tent, looking around. It's Lorena's frightened face that he sees first, and he takes her by the arm, pulling her behind him, just as his gaze falls upon Triple A. The slaver right now seems to be doing his best to strangle the beautiful blonde woman...

And while there are still screams and battle sounds outside, Taran suddenly has the feeling that his ears have been stopped up with wax. Everything else fades. Taran stops thinking, but does what comes naturally.

"Oh no, you don't", he snarls and steps forward, (probably shouldering aside other people that might have stood in his way). Letting go of his spear, he grabs the slave trader by the collar of his robes, unceremoniously trying to pull him off her like a naughty puppy.

OK, so I want to grapple him and pull him away from her. Since Triple A is still holding on to Eva, I imagine there will be a contest of Strength required...

Dice rolls in the OOC thread :smallsigh:

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

A big smile appears on Ulysses face as he guides you to the camp fire. All the actors greet you kindly. There is Ulysses, Carlos, Nero, Albus and Niobe. They quickly continue singing merely. You pay close attention to their breathing and they do seem very much alive.

They tell you although they are a travelling group of actors, travelling from city to city everywhere in the Empire, this will be their first visit to New Rome, where they will play 'Elektra', a play by Euripides.

Lucious

Lucious greets them all in turn and puts on a show of interest in their performance and any tales they tell. When applicable Lucious will share tales of his own adventures (all either made up or perverted from the actual happenings to make them difficult to verify). He will laugh at appropriate places and in general attempt to be a jovial and fun individual (full politician mode). During the entire scene he will leave Presence activated.

Lucious will watch the contents of the drink that Ulysses is drinking, and when it begins to get low he will approach Ulysses (assuming he appears to be the leader, if not he will watch and approach which ever appears to be the leader), and pull him aside. I'm impressed with your troupe. It's likely I will be in Constantinople for some time on political missions, perhaps even staying permanently and taking a role there. It's likely I will have need of services from those like yourselves. We should keep in contact after arriving in the city and look to do business together. The citizens would greatly benefit from the humor and enjoyment your group can give. Lucious will await a response from Ulysses, asuming his response is something that could be taken as positive Lucious will reach for the cup in Ulysses hand. Let's have a drink to the arts and potential future shows we will put on together. Here let me refill your cup for you.

(IF Ulysses allows Lucious to refill the cup....)

Lucious will immediately spend 1 blood and activate Obtenebration 1. He will make his way to wherever the wine is being stored and position himself so his back is to Ulysses and he's hidden in as much shadow as possible. While walking to the wine Lucious will slice open his thumb (with either his finger nails or if he needs to bite it while pretending to rub his face). He will hold Ulysses cup with the hand that is now bleeding and refill it. As carefully and discretely as he can he will force a blood point out through the cut in his thumb and into the wine. He will then find an empty cup and pour a small amount of wine into it for himself. Turning back to Ulysses, Lucious will smile and hand him the cup, and motion to do a cheers.




Hide pouring blood into the cup: Manip+Stealth+Obten Adj = 8
[roll0]
[roll1]

[daelrog]

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric

Alaric shouted a loud curse, and stepped forwad. With his axe in hand he shouts incoherantly trying to plant metal into the beasts head before it can go after Marcus.

Melee (3) + Dextierty (2) - 1 Dexterity for being drunk = 4
[roll0]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses, Taran

She tries to say something, but with the slaver's hand around her throat she is unable to. Eva only looks at him in the eyes. No tricks, no disciplines, only stares at him with the two deep pools of blue.

Sanctity merit! Eva's hoping her natural aura will either convince him to stay his hand, or more likely, encourage others to help. Oh, and she spends 4 blood on temporarily increasing her stamina to 6.

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses, Taran

AAA's attack on Eva came as a surprise to the ashen priest. He had been too busy listening to the sounds of commotion in the distance to pay attention to the there and then. Not until Taran has reentered the tent to forcefully remove the ravnos from the female Lasombra's person does Ambrose gather his wits enough to react. Moving himself as best as he can to try and get in between the slaver and the young woman the priest throws his hand out in a pleading gesture: "Master Arvina! Please! Stay your wrath and calm down! If you have any grievance with anyone, let us talk like civilized beings about it! Don't we have enough problems as it is?"

Not sure what, if anything, I should roll. Charisma of course... and Empathy? Leadership? I'll do that in the OOC thread later if so.

Burnheart
Yep, you understood rather well what my character would do in a situation like this. Well done. :smalltongue:

[Ichneumon]

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric

Marcus hits the fiendish, cleaving the sword in its shoulder, 'disarming' it. Unable to walk further, it makes a loud unnerving siren-like howl when it hits the ground, that can be heard all over the camp and strike's fear every one that hears it. Although it tries to defend itself, lying on one side, it doesn't pose a real threat any more. At that point notice the white foam streaming from it's mouth and the almost black blood on your sword.

The other jackal did try to charge at Marcus, but was stopped by Alaric who, although being drunk, manages to hit the creature and stop it in it's way. Now, the creature seems focused at him though and full of hate it claws at him, trying to rip his armor and flesh.

Claw attack Dexterity (3) + Brawl (3) = [roll0]
Rolling for potential damage: [roll1]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses, Taran

Taran succesfully manages to pull Tripple A away from Eva. Triple A doesn't resist much, listening to the calming words of Ambrose.

Somewhat calmed down, but still quite angry, yet no longer violent, he says: ""I'm sorry if I overreacted, but I know what I saw. Her. She dominated him. Lucentio, my servant. She forced him to reply. While I invited you, in my own tent! Didn't you see it? I couldn't have been mistaken."

Even from inside your tent, you hear the terrifying howl of the dying jackal.

Lucious

The group of actors (of whom Ulysses is indeed the leader) laugh and enjoy your company. Although they are impressed by your offers, they seem now more interested in having a good time then in business deals.

Even though they seem to be wealthy, you notice they don't look very healthy. All of them are thin and somewhat emaciated, with big blue rings under their eyes, all likely caused by their unhealthy life style.

You keep trying to talk business with them and they certainly like the idea of staying in Constantinople a while. You offer to refill Ulysses' drink and turn your back to him. When you think no one sees you, you slice open your thumb with your finger nails and you poor some of your blood into the cup. Someone noticed though.... Niobe, who had until now been the most quiet of all the actors. She had stood up and was about to get a new bottle of wine, when she saw you. With big eyes she looked at you. "By God, what are you doing..." she whispers, mostly to herself.

At that moment, all of the music, singing, laughing and dancing stops, when you hear the terrifying howl of the dying jackal.

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses, Taran

"I'm sorry, brother Arvina," Ambrose says with as disarming a smile as he can manage. "I was... somewhat preoccupied. Lost in my own thoughts, so to speak. But I'm sure that if what you say is true, formal apologies will be made."
Giving Eva a sharp look the priest adds towards her. "Am I not right, sister? If you were so uncorteous, of course?" His tone clearly indicated that he wasn't convinced about her guilt or innocence. But that he would take no chances with it, and without outright calling her on it, allowing her some room to save face.

The anguished howl then make the ashen priest turn to listen again, adding in a dry tone: "But right now I think we might have bigger problems..."

[daelrog]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses, Taran

Eva got to her feet, clearly flustered by Triple A's assault. She had venemous words in the back of her tongue, but she swallowed it, remaining composed, and nigh angelic save for the now dishevelled stands of hair.

Her words started off strong and defiant. "You'd have me entrust my life to slaves who..." She sighed. Her voice shrunk back, and the defiance left her. Here eyes averted from Triple A. "I lost myself to my own Beast. Forgive me. I... I was only embraced shortly ago. I..." She looked at him again, and then at her own clothes slightly torn. "I think my repentence is half paid?"

It was an act. A lie. Not that what she said was not true, but the innocence about her. Whether Triple A was fooled or not was not her concern. He would jump at the opportunity for her to owe him a favor. It was another of the too few lessons she had learned. The kindred who everyone owes something to is hated, and will not be missed should something "happen". The kindred who owed though... they would be valued for such debts, and protected in equal measure. The trick was to balance the two, an act she knew would take centuries to master.

Shouldn't matter too much whether he can tell that she's playing it up. Still, a roll cause I can...
Manipulation (3) + Subterfuge (3) = 6

Also, she spends three blood points to heal herself.

[Sunfall]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses, Taran

Taran steps back and finally – not too gently – disengages his hand from Triple A’s robes. He looks back and forth between the slaver, Ambrose and Eva, a bemused frown in his face. The little scene has left him with a bad feeling, and just now he remembers that there are even more urgent problems at hand.

Man, I don’t have time for this! Just as that thought crosses his mind, the howl pierces the night and his head snaps around.

“Right”, he mutters and takes up his spear once more. With one last wary look at Ambrose he assures himself that the priest has it under control, and gives Eva a curt nod. He then proceeds to take Lorena by the arm and steers her to the entrance of the tent. “Look out for trouble, but stay inside as long as you can”, he tells her quietly. “Hide. If necessary - run.” He then turns to Conan and Cailean. “Watch her”, he orders the dogs, who gather around Lorena’s slim form, enthusiastically wagging their tail stubs.

Taran then steps outside and starts to run towards the commotion in wide bounding steps, his weapon firmly in hand.

[Ichneumon]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses, Taran

Triple A seems surprised and seems to buy Eva's act completely. Maybe he had seen it wrong, he thought? Maybe she wasn't a scheming untrustworthy woman, like many of those other Lasombra he'd encountered before and had took her for, maybe she was really an innocent girl, meaning no harm.

"I.. didn't know you were still a neonate, I.. I'm sorry, I know what's it like, the Beast. You start doing things... feeling things, things you never felt before, things you never wanted to do before." He start to think of all the mistakes he had made in the past, in controlling the Beast, controlling his Vices. Especially as a Ravnos, he had difficulty controlling it. He felt sorry for the girl, but still, not so sorry he didn't recognize a good business opportunity when he encountered one. She admitted to owing him a favor, he'd not let that pass.

"Well, let's just forget about it, shall we?", he smiles and laughs, awkwardly, acting like he's ashamed of his behaviour, although he quickly adds,"I'll think of some way you can repay me, do me a favor of some kind, and we're even. Don't worry about it."

Lorena smiles at Taran. "Thanks for coming so quickly." She listened carefully and focussed to Taran's instructions. She didn't protest when he'd say he'd leave, she knew she'd be save with the dogs, who she liked a lot. The idea of running and being on her own scared her, but she knew she had to be brave. It would only make things more difficult for him if she wouldn't act brave and courageous. He had to do something and needed her to stay here and act wisely. She'd do just that. She giggled when the two big dogs startled circling around her. "Be careful!"

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

The group of actors (of whom Ulysses is indeed the leader) laugh and enjoy your company. Although they are impressed by your offers, they seem now more interested in having a good time then in business deals.

Even though they seem to be wealthy, you notice they don't look very healthy. All of them are thin and somewhat emaciated, with big blue rings under their eyes, all likely caused by their unhealthy life style.

You keep trying to talk business with them and they certainly like the idea of staying in Constantinople a while. You offer to refill Ulysses' drink and turn your back to him. When you think no one sees you, you slice open your thumb with your finger nails and you poor some of your blood into the cup. Someone noticed though.... Niobe, who had until now been the most quiet of all the actors. She had stood up and was about to get a new bottle of wine, when she saw you. With big eyes she looked at you. "By God, what are you doing..." she whispers, mostly to herself.

At that moment, all of the music, singing, laughing and dancing stops, when you hear the terrifying howl of the dying jackal.

Lucious
Not being the first howl he's heard and hearing them still far off, Lucious will raise his head and look at Niobe and wave a hand casually trying to gain her attention away from the howls, My Dear Niobe, whatever are you talking about? If/When she raises her head to look at Lucious he will lock eyes with her and Activate Dominate 3, and attempt to revise what she belives she saw. There is nothing but wine in the cup, it was simply a trick of the shadows. Lucious will then hand the cup to Niobe while activating Dominate 1, Drink


Dominate 3: 7 Dice
[roll0]
[roll1]

Dominate 1: 7 Dice
[roll2]
[roll3]


Lucious will wait up to 5 seconds after attempting Dominate 1 for Niobe to take the cup and drink, after she drinks or after the 10 seconds he will break eye contact and look around to see what is happening around him.

(If Lucious can not gain her attention and make the Dominate attempts, then he will glance around to see what is happening and then attempt to keep himself close to Niobe... she's not getting away without either be dominated, blood bonded, or killed....)

[Burnheart]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses

Clever girl Ramesses thinks as he watches Eva's manipulation of Triple A well recovered i wonder if you would appreciate Sets wisdom? or like most of your kin would you just pretend and try to use the followers for your own ambitions?

"Well now that we have settled this little incident" Ramesses says stepping forward "Perhaps we can return to the purpose of this gathering?" he gives Eva a congratulatory smile and a respectful nod before looking to each of the other Cainities.

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric

Watching the others cut down the creatures and hardly effected by the deathly howls Aurelius glances around and spots more "Over there" he yells in greek before charging towards the closest with a swing of his crescent axe.

okay so rolls to hit Dex (4-1=3) plus Melee (4) [roll0]

Damage rolled is Str (3) plus weapon mod. (6) [roll1]
possible extras [roll2]
edit:So 3 success on the attack roll and 5 on the damage roll.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus, Alaric

Marcus clenched his teeth at the unnatural howl but it must be a sign of victory though. For this small fight at least. Leaving the beast to bleed out a final death he moved to flank the second hell beast. Disturbing as the cry had been at the least it should rouse any not yet warned in camp.

"My thanks now let me return the favor," Marcus said to the new comer as he struck out again. He had the look of a barbarian, though that meant increasingly little these days and seemed to be drunk. Still any partner was better then nothing in a fight.

Musing on this Marcus gracefully swung into his second target.

Same deal again

To Hit:
[roll0]

Base Damage:
[roll1]

Total damage: 6 Lethal (ref (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12731829#post12731829))

Soak if Nessecary:
Sta- [roll2]
Armor [roll3] B/L,L

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran feels a pang of apprehension while he is loping through the camp in big strides. Maybe he shouldn't have left Lorena back there… On the other hand, there was no way of letting her tag along. Those screams and howls really didn't sound like good thing for her to be around... And he wouldn't just stay put when there was a monster on the loose. Or a dozen of them, judging from the noise.

The young Brujah narrowly avoids running into a panicked woman who pops out between two of the tents and flees screaming into the night. Having abruptly stopped at an intersection between the tents, Taran looks around, listening for noises in the night. Where to next…?

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses, Taran

Not sure what he could do to help outside, Ambrose still follows the celt now. With a nod to AAA and a murmured "I'd still like to see your goods when it could be arranged, brother." he limps after the warrior, leaning heavily against his staff. He doesn't seem to need it as long as he stands still or only takes a single step or two, but when he walks distances obviously is another thing altogether.

I'm sorry for waiting so long and for making such a sucky (heh) post. I'll do better later. :smallwink:

[daelrog]

Eva, Ramesses

Eva almost felt like blushing, it's what a kine was supposed to do in these situations. She was not kine though, and this mess was settled. She quickly weighed her options in her head. She didn't care to wander outside if indeed there was fighting, but then again, she did not want to press her luck.

She looked about briefly, before eyeing the best thing at the moment. "Yes, thank you." She looked over to Lorena. "Your name is Lorena, isn't it? You have a brave protector. I must admit my own is..."

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric

"Then you can get me a drink, and an expensive whore in Constantinople!"

Eva, Ramesses

Eva let the thought trail off. "Where did you two meet?" She was curious about it. After all, they shared a trust that was unusual for kindred.

[Ichneumon]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses,

Triple A seems pleased that the subject returns to his deal. He claps in his hands, makes a hand signal to one of the slaves and he leaves to come back a few moments later with three fierce looking men. They have an average height, but are obviously muscled and quite athletic. One of them is blond and likely comes from the region of Gaul. Another looks Spanish, and the third looks African.

"These are Bimmos, Alejo and Kamenwati, my three finest slaves."

Although they look strong, they don't look healthy. Judging from the scars on their backs, neck and arms, Triple A has given them the wipe quite some time in the past and their expression is one that's depressing, especially Kamenwati, the African, looks tired and ill, like if he has seen to many battles already. Ramesses recognizes Kamenwati as an Egyptian name, meaning 'Dark Rebel'.

"I've bought them years ago in the slave markets of Alexandria, Egypt. I've trained them and they've served me well many times in the past."

Meanwhile, Eva confronts Lorena about her connection to Taran. Lorena, completely unprepared for such a question, starts to blush and stammer. Thoughts raged through her mind. What was she to say? Did she need to lie? No, no it was better not to. It was better to tell little, as if she had nothing to hide.

"Ww-we met in Rome." she says, technically correct. "He is very brave indeed." She tries to pretend she's very interested in Triple A's story, so as not to continue this questioning about her background.

Taran

You run through all the tents and see children screaming, women and men running around, chased by these monstrous jackals. Legionaries try to fight them off and you even see a couple of them successfully working together to kill one of the beasts.

In the distance, you see a group of men (Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric), being attacked by one of the creatures and another one lying dead nearby.

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric, Terran

Both of the three man fight and lethally wound the one jackal, now unexpectedly facing 3 adversaries instead of 1.

Around you, something seems to change in the creatures behaviour, everywhere they make high pitched noises, they seem to communicate and as they notice that at least some of their fellow jackals have fallen they seem to try to retreat, quickly run back to the palisade wall to jump over it again. The one you are facing, is wounded, bleeding on its face, having broken its jaw and likely one of it's legs, can't escape as fast and you can likely try to kill or capture it before it escapes.

Lucious

A few moments, Niobe does nothing, but watches him in disbelief. Then she says.: "Yes, I must been mistaken." Slowly she walks to him, takes the glass and takes from drink from it, meanwhile keeping her eyes fixed on Lucious, looking mistrusful and hostile.

Then, Carlos, calls: "What are you to doing back there? Come! I want to tell you guys about the time I got into a fight with a guy from Verona."

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

A few moments, Niobe does nothing, but watches him in disbelief. Then she says.: "Yes, I must been mistaken." Slowly she walks to him, takes the glass and takes from drink from it, meanwhile keeping her eyes fixed on Lucious, looking mistrusful and hostile.

Then, Carlos, calls: "What are you to doing back there? Come! I want to tell you guys about the time I got into a fight with a guy from Verona."

Lucious

Keeping his eyes fixed on Niobe he calls back to Carlos, We will be right there, don't start without us.. Lucious then activates Dominate 2, You shouldn't distrust me, I now have your best interest at heart. . Lucious then reaches for the cup and takes it from her. . Now go back to the group and enjoy yourself, I will be right along.. Lucious will wait for her to leave and then he will refill the cup with both blood and wine.


Dominate 2: 7 Dice
[roll0]
[roll1]

Put Blood in cup: 5 dice
[roll2]



Assuming no one sees this time, Lucious will take the cup back to Ulysses and sit down to hear Carlos's tale.

[Sunfall]

Taran

A man bumps squarely into Taran, pulling along a small girl, a jackal in hot pursuit. Taran's pupils widen as he gets a first clear look at the creatures. He's never seen anything like this before, although he has learned to take the monstrosities of this new dark world in his stride.

The red-haired boy shoves the two panicked people into a tent, while with a swift movement settling the butt of his spear firmly into the ground like he would want to counter a cavalry attack. He plans to (hopefully) ram the broad blade of his spear into the gaping maw of the monster, using its own strength and momentum to impale it. He squarely stares the beast in the eye, steadfastly holding the spear with both hands…


I'd like to put 2 Blood points on Dexterity, bringing it up to 5.

Attack roll: Dex+Melee [roll0]
Reroll: [roll1]

Damage roll: Str+3 [roll2] plus 2 automatic successes from Potence
Additional dice/reroll: [roll3]

[Calenestel]

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses,

Inspecting the slaves Ambrose stays silent as AAA talks. He wasn't an expert in the slave trade, of course. But neither was he entirely without a clue. Growing up as a merchant's son he had learned a few tricks and what to look for. All had been flogged, which either meant they had been troublesome or that the ravnos was a cruel master, in any case their price had been lowered by it, and any one of them might be trouble because of their beatings. They seemed strong but malnourished, which didn't lend Triple A any honour. A part of him feels somewhat extra sorry for the nubian but he goes about not to let it show. In all he affects a somewhat uninterested air.
Finally he speaks, dissatisfaction clear on his voice and completely honest, actually: "These slaves has been beaten, brother Arvina. Obviously you've had some trouble with keeping them in line." Whether that was due to the slaves or the master in his mind was completely ambiguous, but instead he throws the ravnos a bone to keep the slaver from souring on him and refusing to deal honestly. By giving him a small chance to brag about them: "What languages do they speak? I have no use of one that doesn't speak latin and greek. No embellishments, mind." All right, maybe it was a small bone. But still.

So... a roll to evaluate their rough worth. Maybe perception+commerce. Not my strongest point, sadly. But at least it's not a contested roll. :smallwink:
[roll0]

Also I guess I should roll for not showing any real interest. How about manipulation+subterfuge:
[roll1]

Damn, that's some nice rolls. I guess I'll pay through the nose for those later. :smallamused:

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric, Terran

Marcus noted the break. It seemed these beast were not up for an extended fight. That ill pleased him, too much intelligence there. Simple beasts did not work together like that or call an orderly retreat. Either these creatures were even more unnatural then he thought, or someone was observing and directing them. Neither possibility pleased the mercenary in the slightest.

Still there were more pressing matters to attend to. He'd rather not see any of these beasts return, but he still had a chance to cut down there numbers a bit more. He moved quickly to strike once more, trying to put away the wounded beast before him


To hit:
[roll0]

To Damage:
[roll1]

Edit: Lousy Roll looks like just the 1 Lethal damage

Time enough for questions soon.

[Burnheart]

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric, Terran

"We should take this to my master Ramesses" Aurelius says while everyone advances on the wounded beast "He is highly knowledgeable about things such as this" he points to the creature with his crescent axe before atempting to sweep its legs and knock the creature to the floor.

Attempting to use the sweep maneuver, roll Dex (3) plus melee (4)
damage is Str (3) plus weapon mod. (6L) [roll1] plus 1 success from potence
possible extra dice [roll2]
edit: That looks like 5 success on the attack roll and 7 on the Damage roll, i'd to see this thing soak all 7 points of lethal damage :smallamused:

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses

Kamenwati now thats interesting name Ramesses thinks to himself when Triple A mentions it Dark Rebel, what does one do to earn a name like that he gives Kamenwati a frank appraisal, frowning at the whip scars on his back Slavers are all the same i see he thinks, remembering the brief time he was held as a slave back in Egypt so very long ago I shall have to find a way of purchasing you when we reach Constantinople Kamenwati, you could just be capable of earning the revelation of blood

"I already possess a fine bodyguard, Aurelius, and i've no need for another" Ramesses says aloud "I fear you lack anything i need noble Arvina" with just the slightest hint of mockery on the word noble, though perhaps not.
rolling Cha (4) and Subterfuge (3) vs difficulty 6 to conceal Ramesses mockery of Triple A from Triple A [roll3]
possible extra dice [rollv5d10

[daelrog]

Marcus, Aurelius, Alaric, Taran

"I think killing it would be better." He wasn't going to stop anyone from trying to handle the thing, but he wouldn't. He stood and observed as Aurelius made his attempt to knock it down.

Ambrose, Eva, Ramesses

Eva looks over to the slaves as Lorena did. "Do you fancy a second guardian?" Eva took the time to observe the three in case anything stood out to her. "Forgive my curiousity. It's just merely that I'm trying to understand the kindred coming to Constantinople." She brushed some hair away from her eye.

Perception (2) + Empathy (1) = 3
I chose empathy since she's looking for something more about who the slaves are within more than without.

[roll0]

In case of 10's

[roll1]

[Ichneumon]

Everyone

As the jackal is hit by Kindreds’ blows, he seems to give in, give up, stop resisting and just take it. He surrenders to the blows and dies, obviously prefering to die than to be captured alive. Odd behavior for a regular jackal indeed, too intelligent.

As soon as the jackals have gone, someone blows a horn and soldiers go and get by every tent, checking on who needs help and telling them they should go to the center of camp, there a crowd is gathering.

The messenger also comes to the tent of the actors and Lucious and they come with him, regrettably, at least for Lucious, this all happens before Ulysses even touches the cup with his lips.

In the tent of Triple A, the discussion is also interrupted. Lorena seems glad, she started feeling a bit uncomfortable with Eva asking questions. She’d answered: “No, not looking for new guards in particular, but you never know. I heard Constantinople is a dangerous place.” Triple A decides to go with the messenger and with that the meeting ends. He figured he’d made his point and shown them his goods. If they’d be interested, they’d now come to him. He felt content, chances were good he’d at least convinced some to buy some of his slaves.

A crowd gathers in the middle of the camp. In the middle lies the dead body of one of those creatures. Next to it stands Kratos, the centurion, originally from Greek origin, that leads the caravan. All of you, stand relatively near the center and can see both Krator, the dead creature and each other. You hear people whisper: “What were those things?” “What if they return?” “I don’t want to die!” “Look at those teeth!” “I want my mommy. Where is my mommy?” “Those can’t have been regular jackals.” “Mommy?” “Maybe they were were-jackals?”

Then, Kratos shouts: “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?”.Kratos is a big, stocky man. He has long brown hair, a big nose, wears an eye-patch. His arm is bleeding and his cloak is torn. He, it seems, fought bravely against the jackals.

He’s ignored and people continue talking. “Were-jackals? Never heard of those.” “Me neither.” “You’re just making things up!” “We should get to Constantinople as soon as possible.” “I wish I’d just stayed in Rome!”

Kratos shouts again, now, more angrily: “Ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention please!?”

“Tonight, we were attacked by these… these creatures.” He points to the dead body.

“I don’t know what they are. Some say they’re just a breed of particular savage jackals, others say they’re the devil’s spawn.”
You can see the dead body wither away, oddly quickly. It’s that you knew the body had just died minutes ago, otherwise you’d have guessed at least a week had past. You look at it, and see it’s large hooked teeth, it’s strange long legs and the foam coming out of its mouth. What is this thing? [You may roll to see if you know anything.]

“Ladies and gentlemen, rest assured that those soldiers that didn’t protect you during the attack, but hid, will be punished severely. Those that risked their lives fighting the jackals, and tried to protect the caravan,” he looks at Marcus, Taran, Aurelius, Alaric and some other men, “will be rewarded for their courage.”

“These creatures, I don’t think they’ll attack by day, I’ve heard reports that jackals were sighted following the caravan during the day, but ran when approached. So they are likely to afraid to attack in full day-light, which means we have until next nightfall to reach the city or we’ll face another of their attacks. Constantinople is our only safe heaven. I suggest we start packing and moving as quickly as possible. I’ve heard some of you are thinking about taking your horse and just riding to Constantinople yourself, but I strongly advise against that. With creatures such as these, it’s better not to travel on your own.”

Triple A stands within hearing distance for a lot of you and you hear him whisper: “These things aren’t natural. They can’t be. Are these the lupines?”

You hear his body slave reply: “Master, I’ve seen lupines before. These aren’t Lupines. I don’t know what they are though.”

Kratos: ”Go, pack your things. We start moving in an hour. If you can’t get your things together that quickly, if you need help. Address one of the soldiers and we’ll help you get your things together. God will guide us and protect us on our journey to New Rome. We will prevail.”

A full red moon rises from behind the dark clouds. It is a sign of the blood that has been spilled this night? Or is an omen of more terrible things yet to come?

Okay guys, I’m sorry it took a day, I had trouble writing this and the first time I did, yesterday, an error message ate my post… Anyway, here it is. This is the end of the prelude, so although you can still rp (this scene isn’t over yet, although it will be short) and decide to do things this night, they’ll have to take place off-screen. So, act how you want to act now, say to each other what you want to say. Tomorrow (or late this evening, depending on how quickly you reply), we’ll move ahead to Constantinople. Don’t worry, I have already written the intro post for that (together with a map and all), so even if I get an error message, I can just copy paste it again. I hope you liked the prelude overall, I feared it started to drag a bit in the end, but I hope it did give you the opportunity to role-play and introduce your character and interact a bit. But now, the game can actually begin, with chapter 1: Homo demens - the mad man.

[daelrog]

Eva, Taran

Eva and Alaric began to head away, to gather their belongings. Before they left, Eva approached Taran, her hand gently touching his shoulder. "Thank you for earlier."

She motioned to her own protector and they left the scene quickly so that she would not be stopped unless someone specifically was searching her out.

[Calenestel]

Following AAA to the site of the attack Ambrosius finds the carcass and the gathering. Sorting through the babble the monk soon gets a decent picture of what he had heard earlier, an attack by these... monsters. The jackal creature before him would have sent shivers down Ambrose's spine if had still been alive. Now he just leans against his staff and studies the creature with a detached kind of dread, the discomfort of contemplating going up against something like this without anyone to help him. The plans for breaking camp didn't concern him much, he travelled with little more than the clothes, staff and coin he actually carried on his person. In a tent there was a crate he slept in during the day now containing a simple satchel with a second robe and a few other things: a bone comb, a razor, a wooden set of bowl, cup and spoon for eating (he hadn't used them in a long time but it could be useful to give the impression that he still did), and a few other things. He was more or less packed already. Looking around Ambrose then notices that several of the other cainites has their own bodyguards already, that meant that his need was even greater. But also that he had people to talk to about training one of his own. Turning around the priest hobbled away, intent on seeking Arvinus out again, he had business to take care of.

Might edit the post a bit after this: Intelligence (5) + Occult (2):
[roll0]

Off camera Ambrose will seek out triple A to buy one of the three slaves. He will choose one who can speak as many languages as possible. Latin and Greek are most important and after that languages he doesn't speak himself. He has a soft spot for the nubian, but will choose another if he finds one that is a christian, has previous combat experience or is an accomplished manservant. At least if he trusts the slave in question to be truthfull about it. Faith is most important, followed by combat experience.
He will point out the fact that they have all been flogged and "obviously been troublesome". Implying that it's either that or that AAA has been unneccessarily cruel, but not outright saying it. All in an effort to lower the price of his purchase. If he's really successful he'll even buy two slaves. But not if it lowers my Resources rating.
I guess we'll take further discussion and rolls OOC?

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious finds himself more disappointed at the opportunit lost with Ulysses then he does with the attacks. In a time of ignorance and superstition, not like that of old Rome, Lucious finds himself skeptical at talk of supernatural forces at work. It isn't until he sees the jackal like beings that he gives the possibility in this situation some credibility.


Determine what the Jackals are: Int + Occult: 6
[roll0]


At news that the caravan will be leaving early Lucious will first speak to Ulysses then Niobe asking them if they wouldn't mind if he travelled with them for some of the trip (obviously just during the night). He will then head back to his wagon and make sure things were ready. Without a manservant and having only stopped for the night there wouldn't be much if anything that needed to be put away, so he checked his horses and then climbed into his wagon to relax and study until it was time to depart.


Lucious will use the downtime to practice obtenebration.


Once the caravan gets moving (I would assume that Lucious paid a driver... No way he's driving the cart himself) Lucious would continue studying for another hour before making his way over to the actors wagons. While there he'll attempt to discover where they will be staying and make plans to meet up with them inside the city. He'll stay for a short time before making his way back over to his wagon where he will go back to practicing his disciplines.


If the caravan is moving too fast to walk over to the actors wagon then Lucious will take one of his horses.

[Soras Teva Gee]

As the battle ended Marcus felt the rush of vitae leaving his body. He pulled off the helm and gave the carcass a final kick. Moving to the one that he had slain single handed he ensured it was likewise dead before finally cleaning the blood off his sword and putting it away. Having finished he made his way the the center where the soldiers were gathering. He listened the caravan head's speech with little caring. He'd done his job and survived, that was all there was too it. His employer was not strictly Kratos anyways.

Locating Triple A in the crowd Marcus approached his employer. He'd not seen any Cainites from the slavers little party in the battle. On the one hand a good thing, fighting in the open with that many mortals around limited the wise Kindred's options. Still he had a desire to know what had occured.

"The Hellspawn are no extra charge by the by," Marcus said to his employer, "And I think you're little toy there has it right. These things were smarter then any jackal has a right to be, but I think they went down too easy for a Garou. My sire always said facing Garou was worse then fighting an Elder. Wouldn't know though. What went down at your little affair though since I was engaged with more pleasant company..."

Marcus listened carefully to any reply. He figured the slaver wouldn't tell him everything, but one never knew. He listened carefully for any lies told all the same. Marcus wasn't going to get drawn into any conversation though. He needed to check on a few things before the caravan got underway. Anything topic other then summary of the events of the tent Marcus politely declined to pursue promising to bring it up the following night if need be.

That completed Marcus made his way from to his own wagon briefly making it ready for the coming day. He planned to be to return before the caravan started moving once more. That done he veiled himself once more and made his way across the camp to where the beasts had come from. He was no great tracker or woodsman but he had some skill in the matter and now put it to work spending as much as a half hour examining and following signs as far from camp as he dared, only unveiling after his return.

Finally he spent the final half hour moving about the camp, asking surreptitious questions. Had anyone seen anything out of place before hand. Anything that stuck out. Here Marcus was on more familiar territory, he knew how to ask questions and get answers. Perhaps someone in the camp knew something more then he.

Once that was done he'd return the to wagon, he'd no interest in trying to duck into his temporary haven on the run. He wanted his report to the old man to be as complete as possible.

Okay so several items presuming we are about to skip ahead with the end of the prologue I'm making several actions:

-Speaking to Triple A and asking about what went on in the tent. For this I'll make a Perception+Subterfuge roll to pick up on any deceptions. Assuming that skill would work, if not then just a Perception roll as I have nothing else so disregard the last dice roll:

[roll0]

-Being sure my own property is unharmed so I won't get sun roasted or something.

-I'm going to do a bit of Tracking work on the jackals that fled, while using Unseen Presence to conceal myself. This is Perception+Survival:

[roll1] (+1 Success for Diff 6 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12762756#post12762756))

-Using the remaining time I'm going to make an Inquiry at the camp itself to see if anything unusual can be found. Which is Perception+Investigation:

[roll2]

-Finally put everything from the night together and go use my Pebble from the Mountain to call my sire Darius and report what occured since he asked me to keep a look out for the signs of the unholy and all. This will be once the caravan starts to move.

I'm assuming we are wrapping up the prelude there is no need to do any of these in greater detail, but if so then disregard anything after that bit.

[Burnheart]

Ramesses, Aurelius

Ramesses half listens to everyone around him while gazing at the creatures rapidly decaying corpse and pondering its origin Shapeshifter? Possible but unlikely, spirit possessed? not in such numbers hmm what could create something like that? Ah of course Tzimisce he smiles suddenly Vicissitude could create such creatures, though not easily it would take a truly ancient master of the disiplince to unleash such horrors stepping forward he signals Aurelius and together they approach Centurion Kratos.

"Excuse me good sir" he says holding Kratos gaze a moment before bowing respectfully "I am Ramesses, a scholar of strange and mysterious lore from the desert sands of far Egypt, ably assisted by my friend and bodyguard Aurelius whom you have already met" Aurelius steps forward and gives the centurion a military salute "If you truly fear more attacks by these creatures perhaps i could examine the body and attempt to unlock its secrets, it may helpfully should they attack again"

Rolling Manipulation (3) plus Expression (3) vs Difficulty 4 (6-2 from EV) to convince Kratos to let Ramesses directly examine the jackels corpse [roll0]

Assuming success i'll spend a point of willpower and roll Int. (2) plus Occult (4) vs Difficulty 6 (I assume) to see what i learn [roll1]

I'll also spend another willpower point and roll Perception (3) plus Medicine (3) vs Difficulty 6 (I assume) to try and get a sense of the creatures physical construction and capabilities [roll2]

[Ichneumon]

This isn't going to be a regular "complete" update, only updating and giving the results of some of the most important things you did, so that you may respond to it or take it into considering when planning your next moves.:smallsmile:

Marcus

Triple A smiles :smallamused:. He likes Marcus, especially because doesn't charge extra. "You sure you don't want to continue working for me, once we get to Constantinople? A strong man like you, I always have work for a man like you."

He answers his question briefly: "We talked business. Nothing special. I think I was able to convince at least some of them to buy some slaves as guards."

"Managed to convince them once I told them all that I'd heard about Constantinople."

[You may assume that Triple A will tell you most of the political stuff he told the others]


Ramesses

Kratos looks surprised, but glad, completely convinced: "Please, good man, go ahead. Look at the creature and tell us if you know anything about them.":smallsmile:

Everyone looking for info on the jackals

[Since all of you rolled very well, I'm just going to write a collection of stuff you've all heard. You yourself can define what your character actively 'knows' or finds the most important information to focus on.]

Looking at the beasts, there is one, short, word that immediately comes to your mind: Bardi.

Ancient mortal legends speak of the 'Bardi' as mystical shapeshifting spirits that often take the shape of female jackhals. They're said to have a strong connection to the after-life and the Underworld, serving as Gate-keepers and guardian between the land of the living and the land of the dead. Being giften with the 'curse' of precognition, being able to see how long someone still has to live, they watch the living and help guide their souls to the land of the dead when their times comes. They are feared as presages of death, as they're sometimes seen stalking those that will die soon, following them, waiting for them to die in the way that God planned it and at that point fulfilling their duty by guiding the soul to the land of the dead. It seems likely this last part of the legend is also connected to Anubis, the Egyptian jackal-faced god, in some way, although you don't know how, it just seems too much of a coïncidence, both being connected to jackals and to the dead.

They are said to communicate by wailing long high-pitched sounds, and are almost always sighted in small packs of two or three, rarely seem to do anything else than watching and howling, crying for the fate of those who are about to die. You know no tale of them ever showing hostility, although they are said to fight monsters or people that try to cross the barrier between life and death but shouldn't like sorcerers or ghosts and other undead. There are tales of heroes negotiating with the bardi, tricking them into riddle games, hoping to save their souls and escape the inevitability of death.

The fact that there were so many of them seems weird as the legends tell of them being highly territorial, hunting alone in small packs of no more than five. Often people hear them before seeing them, since they emit these siren-like howls.

These stories though are, as far as you know, nothing but mortal myths from a less civilized and Christian age. You've heard nothing about them from Kindred sources. Although stories of shapeshifting animals might lead you to believe that they are connected to werewolves (being some kind of were-jackal variety), the myths connect them more to wraiths and other spirits or images of death and there are no stories of any kind of were-jackals existing. Since you have no knowledge of them actually existing until, it's hard to think of a motivation for their attack, but the legends to give many examples of them hunting down ghouls (the flesh-eating corpses variety, not ghoul as in the way vampires use the term) and other undead, trying to drive their souls back into the underworld, so one could think they'd be hostile towards Kindred as well. Why they'd team up in such large numbers though or how they knew you were here, is a mystery.

Some more info that Ramesses knows

Apart from what's written above, you know a bit more about the jackals connection to the god Anubis. In ancient times, Anubis would guide the dead souls to the afterlife, where he would weight the hearts of the deceased on a great scale. If the heart would not be in perfect balance with the feather placed on the other plate, it would be considered to be weighed down by sin and the soul of the deceased would be fed to a great monster and destroyed. Anubis acts as the gatekeeper of the tyrannical Osiris, who rules the afterlife. However things have changed since ancient times. The size of the population has grown and you've read that Anubis no longer has time to collect each soul and guide it to the gate and scale himself. Therefore he chose a few spirits, shaped them into jackals, that would do the work for them. The identity of the spirits is disputed. Some say they are the spirits of the worst sinners, saved from destruction by the Devourer. That would explain why they howl so much, since they know what awaits the souls of the damned.

[Sunfall]

Taran (and possibly Marcus)

As the beast veers around, avoiding Taran's spear altogether and loping away into the night, the young Pict slowly straightens up, frowning. It's not only the missed hunt that bothers him, though. This whole night feels... so wrong.

When everyone gathers at the encampment's center, he seeks out Lorena, standing at her shoulder and listening grimly to the caravan leader's words. The thought of a reward doesn't please him, as he fears that he might have drawn unwanted attention to Lorena and himself. And from what that lowly slaver told them, things just won't get easier once they arrive in Constantinople... When Eva touches his shoulder, Taran's head snaps around, but he relaxes visibly upon seeing her. Nevertheless he just manages a furtive glance and a small nod at her thanks.

He then accompanies Lorena to their own tent, taking her gently by the arm. "Will you be alright if I..." He nods to the night outside the encampment. Taran desperately needs to hunt, having squandered a good portion of his power on the futile attempt at battle earlier. If he doesn't find any blood tonight, he will not be able to heal come tomorrow evening.

If Lorena affirms his question, he will leave the dogs with her and go out, using the last hour to hunt small game in the wilderness. If he comes across the jackals' tracks, he will take a closer look.

One hour should be just enough for one hunting roll...
Stamina+Survival: [roll0]
Reroll: [roll1]

And for the tracks...
Perception+Survival: [roll2]
Reroll: [roll3]

@Soras: You might see me while we're out. That's why I put you in the headline :smallwink:

[Burnheart]

Ramesses, Aurelius

After spending a few minutes examining the dead creature Ramesses straightens and walks over to Centurion Kratos "I have completed my studies and i believe i know what these creatures are, spirits of death called Bardi. Normally they hunt in packs of 3 to 5 and only seek out those who are about to die though so something must be very wrong if they have taken to hunting in larger groups" Ramesses says before swaying slightly as though from weariness before pleading "I am sorry but tonights events have been quite a shock for a simple scholar, i think i shall retire to my wagon and rest" Aurelius steps forward and gives Ramesses his arm to lean on while they return to the wagon.

Passing through the camp Ramesses carefully explains the details of what he learned about the Bardi to Aurelius, giving Titus Postumius a nod as they pass him. When they reach their wagon Ramesses lays down and says "Aurelius let us use our time to finish my lessons on Greek if you please" "Of course master, its like this..."

Going to spend time learning Greek

[Ichneumon]

After Kratos had his speech, the crowd is dismissed and everyone quickly goes back to their tents, to pack up.

Both Marcus and Taran try to track down the jackals, but it's no use: very early on their footprints just seem to stop, as if they just appeared out of thin air not far from the encampment of the caravan.

Everyone breaks camp and the caravan continues their journey to Constantinople. Occasionally, the every few hours, screams break the silence, when people claim to see Bardi stalking the caravan for far, but they always disappear and don't attack again.

Taran returns to his tent to find Lorena silently, laying on the ground, watching the night sky, counting stars, dreaming away, taking a break from breaking up the tent. She smiled when she noticed Taran's return."Isn't it odd? As a small girl, I used to sneak out at nights and just watch at all those lovely stars, yet my parents would always catch me and send me back to bed. And now... there are always stars when I'm awake, yet I never look at them anymore, at least not in the way I used to."

"You know what I found out, Taran? That whenever you try to look at one star in particular, it just dims, fades out a bit, so it's easier to looks at starts when you look not at the star itself, but at the blackness right next to it?" She covered on of her eyes with her hand and pointed to the sky."I guess that's rather poetic, in a way. That true beauty can only be observed, not by looking at it directly, but my looking elsewhere."

Meanwhile, Lucious had some talks to Ulysses and the other actors. They gave him the address of the place they were staying at and they looked forward to see him again in Constantinople. "Please visit us. If you take a friend, you'll get free admission to one of our shows."

Unknown to Ramesses, who spent his time in his tent studying, Ambrose managed to buy a slave from Triple A, the nubian, Kamenwati. Although he doesn't speak much greek or latin, he is Christian and he seems to have a very kind, polite, innocent and introvert personality. He doesn't speak much and has not yet told you much about his past. His mind seems troubled though, as if he has experienced some kind of trauma.

Marcus once again contacted Darius, who reacted pleased to hear that Marcus would be with him soon. When Marcus told him about the Bardi, he was shocked, but somehow not very surprised. He knew of Bardi and questioned Marcus on if he knew who the Kindred were that were travelling with him.

"I've gathered a small group of faithful followers in Constantinople. Once you arrive in new Rome, go to Hesiod's bath house, an Elysium. There one of my men, Regulus, will contact you and bring you to me. If at all possible, try to persuade the other Kindred to go to the bath house as well. I suspect someone might be trying to kill one of them, once they get to Constantinople. I can't talk to long now. You'll get answers, all that I have, once you're here, but stay vigilant, Marcus, like you've always been. You've not disappointed me."
The next evening, just after sun set, the caravan reaches Constantinople, the New Rome, city of Prince John of Cappadocia, also called John the Wicked.


Chapter 1: Homo demens- "The Mad Man"

The caravan has been following the Via Egnatia or Egnatian Way for hour nows. The scenery along the Egnatian Way, right outside of Constantinople, consists of one-room farms with small cultivated fields, orchards and small groves of trees. You pass small houses, most likely the homes of the laborers that work on the fields, structures whose walls are painted white, light blue or pale yellow. Curls of smoke and candlelight that escape from between the cracks of small shuttered windows are the only signs of nocturnal life within these buildings. The Egnation way leads through the southern gate, also called "Golden Gate", passing through the first and largest wall around the city, called the wall of Theodisius II. Inside the Golden Gate, the Egnatian Way becomes Constantinople’s main boulevard.


http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/11/mapconstantinopelgame.png

Although a lot of people have dropped off already, going their own way, most of the people in the caravan move on, continuing to follow the Egnatian Way to the Forum of Theodius, the great market place, since it seems a lot of people want to go there first.

This region of the city is known as the Exokionion, and has always been regarded as an outside district, despite its presence within the city walls. The reason for this dates back to the proclamation of Christianity as the city’s official religion, and the Church‘s sanctioning of the Exokionion as a place for the Greek population to practice their “heretical religion.” Over the last few centuries, the area has become home to a small number of rich citizens. The valley in which Exokionion is located descends toward the Lycus River, north east of the Golden Gate. Proud and fashionable villas, churches and walled-in monasteries with cultivated fields dot the land. Otherwise, the valley is dominated by sweeping plains of wild grass and rocky outcroppings. You pass the Monastery of St. John, an impressive holy building, housing the University of Constantinople, a seat of high learning and knowledge compiled from the philosophers of Greece, mathematicians, astronomers and artists. Beneath all these grassy-fields, you hear from other travelers, runs a series of aqueducts, transporting water from the Lycus to all over the city, and subterranean passages, tunnels that connect the Great Walls of Theodosius II and the city itself, that are used for communication.

Before you enter the inner part of the city, going through the Wall of Constantine, you pass the Roman garrison. You notice that a silver-haired man attended by soldier comes forward to greet Kratos. You manage to hear that his name is Quintus Varro, first spear centurion and that he asks Kratos to send all the physicians that came with the caravan to the medical tents to tend to the sick soldiers. Both Varro and Kratos leave the caravan at that point, together with all the soldiers. The rest of the caravan continues down the Egnatian way.

Once you pass through Wall of Constantine, you get to the Forum of Theodosius, the center of the city, where the caravan dispatches and everyone starts going his own way.

Although you'd expected this to be a busy place, even at this hour, it's eerie tonight at the forum: Many storefronts are closed, vendor's tabled are empty, and the streets are quiet. Those few people in the streets, who aren't part of the caravan, cover their faces with rags or the corners of their cloaks, hurrying home. In the distance, surrounding a nearby well, you notice three musicians with depressed faces playing musical instruments.

[XianTheCoder]

As the caravan approaches the forum a bubble of excitement creeps up into Lucious. The forum is where he plans on making his way up the political ranks of Constantinople. During the final few miles of travel he will discontinue his practice in the use of Obtenebration, happy with his progress thus far, and he will watch through the wagons window as the complete their approach.

As the caravan enters the forum the mood is not missed by Lucious, even at this hour there should be some markets still open. When they finally come to a stop Lucious will exit his wagon and pay his driver whatever is still owed, after which he will dismiss him with thanks for a job well done (and in the process uses dominate 3 to remove any memories that Lucious doesn't want him remembering). After the driver leaves Lucious will attempt to find Lucentio and pull him away for a private conversation.


Assuming Lucious is able to find Lucentio, he will briefly tell him how he appreciates a person who is passionate about current events and if Lucentio finds himself with the desire to chat about them in the future he will be around. Lucious will also make it clear that he'll never put Lucentio in a position to betray his master.


After the conversation with Lucentio, Lucious will attempt to find an inn with an available room near the forum. Once he finds one he will get himself setup and stable his horses. Then he will go to the tavern ( if the inn has one then he will go there, otherwise he'll go to one close to the forum).


The purpose of going to a tavern is for information gathering and possibly feeding.

[Sunfall]

Rest of Prelude

Recap:
Taran returns to his tent to find Lorena silently, laying on the ground, watching the night sky, counting stars, dreaming away, taking a break from breaking up the tent. She smiled when she noticed Taran's return."Isn't it odd? As a small girl, I used to sneak out at nights and just watch at all those lovely stars, yet my parents would always catch me and send me back to bed. And now... there are always stars when I'm awake, yet I never look at them anymore, at least not in the way I used to."

"You know what I found out, Taran? That whenever you try to look at one star in particular, it just dims, fades out a bit, so it's easier to looks at starts when you look not at the star itself, but at the blackness right next to it?" She covered on of her eyes with her hand and pointed to the sky."I guess that's rather poetic, in a way. That true beauty can only be observed, not by looking at it directly, but my looking elsewhere."

Taran listens to Lorena’s musings with a quizzical expression on his face. The fact that she can still see so much magic in this dark, cruel world continues to fascinate him. As she talks about seeing beauty by averting her gaze, he turns his head away from her, a little smile on his shadowed features.

“Stay and watch, then”, he answers quietly and makes for the tent, breaking it down and packing their things up all by himself.

+++

Chapter 1

Taran watches the strange city go by with a frown on his face. He really hopes that the two of them will be safe here. Ah well, if not safe, at least staying here will be interesting… He’s totally stumped as to what to do now. They probably should find a shelter, somewhere to stay in daytime. Does Lorena have any plans as to what to do next? His gaze wanders to her, presumably also intently watching the unfamiliar surroundings.

As the wagons stop at the forum, Taran steps from their wagon, his dogs yapping at his heels, looking around in wonder. He’s wandered around in Rome, sure, but everything here seems just so much… newer. It takes a moment until he, too, notices the unusual silence of the place.

Frowning, he watches the people hurrying by, covering their faces. A memory tugs at his thoughts, a time when his sire took him into one of the greater cities back in Britannica, where some sort of sickness was rampant. A plague of sorts that had shooed the people into their houses like frightened chicken. Yes that’s what this reminds him of! Right down to the disheartened musicians!

“That can’t be good”, Taran murmurs, involuntarily shuddering at the memory. He wonders what kind of plague – sickness, person or idea – could be responsible for this big city to fall into fear.

[Calenestel]

Chapter 1
Ambrosius

As soon as they reach the Forum of Theodosius Ambrose depart from what's left of the caravan. He nods and exchanges pleasantries with any of the cainites he had met in AAA's tent, but has little in common with them and an agenda of his own to take care of. First of was to seek out Sarah, his main contact in the city and the one who'd help him get an introduction to those who held sway in Constantinople. He needed to make himself known and to get permission to stay here for a while, honouring the Traditions of Caine. After that he should seek out Abbot Georgios at the Church of the Apostles t find himself a haven. Kamenwati in tow Ambrose quietly heads for the bathhouse that Sarah had made her haven and domain.

In time he'd see if there was anything he could do to help out the suffering kine. But he was sure that the monks of the city did what they could and he was himself more than anxious to resume his Quest.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus
Marcus woke troubled. The previous night events did not sit well with him. Though loathe to admit it he knew only of the living and the dead, and how much the two resembled each other. Creatures beyond that though were outside his depth. He had never had patience for the hidden scrolls and secret lores, well he knew he was no deep thinker either. What he knew came from long experience, but here he was but a fresh neonate. It irritated him more then he cared to admit.

At least this night they would return to familiar territory. A decent feeding ground, things to entertain in the long night with. Old or new, he could trust the name of Rome for a little while at least. Of course he was not here on business. He was not called here for no reason though. The old man did little without purpose.

Leaving his hiding place Marcus drifted around the caravan, a final set of rounds to fufill his contract. As he drifted by each of the kindred he knew of he left a simple message.

"I've recieved a message from one knowledgabe about the city and knows something of the creatures that attack the caravan." he told each in turn, "If you are interested visit an Elysium at Hesiod's bathhouse."

While recieving any answers Marcus made no further comment, he had no glib tongue so he stuck to the simple truth. He had already sent the descriptions of each Kindred he knew ahead in his report last night. If the old man had any sense he'd have word spread to the contact after extending the invitation. The last on the list was Triple A.

"The city of Constantine this concludes our agreement," He said to the slaver, "You spoke of working together, but I might be able to offer you that in the other direction. I've got a contact of sorts in this city. After you've seen to settling in your property you might try Hesiod's bathhouse some night.

[Burnheart]

Ramesses, Aurelius

As Ramesses and Aurelius ride their wagon through the streets of Constantinople they glance around, taking in the sights to try and gauge the mood of this city they now call home.

"I don't like this master" Aurelius murmurs softly, gazing at hostile streets where people shy away from strangers and hurry about their business eager to return to their homes "The people here are tense, we won't be able to just slip in without notice" "True" Ramesses replies "But these nights hold great opportunity for us, we can win much for our Dark Father if we remember caution"

As the caravan halts Ramesses goes looking for Titus, nodding his head in recognition when Marcus tells him about Hesiod's A den of Assassins here? Hmm this complicates matters, entrenched Assassins what connection do they have to the disappearance of my kin? Ramesses wonders as he approaches Titus "My friend?" he says when he reaches Titus side "What are your plans now we have arrived?"

[daelrog]

Eva

When they arrived at the crossroads, Eva turned to her kine protector. "Come on Alaric. I should see the good Prince sooner than later, and see if he will grant me the feeding grounds of one of the kindred he has killed." She did not like the idea of approaching a supposedly mad kindred, but she also couldn't hide from him forever. Best to deal with the problem as soon as possible.

[Ichneumon]

The group dispatches, with each of you going his or her own way.

Lucious

Before leaving, Lucious attempts to find Lucentio, which he does. Lucentio, busy with carrying all sorts of documents, making sure his master didn't forget anything. When Lucious says he'd like to talk sometimes, Lucentio smiles and says he'd like that as well.

After that, Lucious manages to find an inn, called "The Dented Helm", just a few minutes walk from Forum. It's nice and clean, and the inn-keeper seems friendly. Lucious settles there and next goes to tavern in the same inn to find out some more information.

The tavern is quite full, with lots of people walking around and standing, drinking. But no laughing, somehow the mood isn't quite good. While you walk around, you catch some conversations:

"Still, I think it's the Egyptians with their strange sorcery that have poisoned the waters."

"No, just because an Egyptian caravan had arrived when the epidemic started three months ago, doesn't mean they did it. "

"No, but he does have a point. Magic must be involved. My mother always used to talk of creatures that invaded the water."

"Yeah, and we've been trying to appease these 'water spirits' for weeks now. The musicians don't seem to be doing any good."

You are approached by a young magician. He's dressed in Greek robes, and wears at least 20 amulets. A big smile on his face, he twitches with his face, limbs, he looks somewhat insane, instinctively you know he's Kindred too, Malkvavian, most likely: "Greetings, you must be new here? Welcome to Constantinople. My name is Alexander, maker of the best protective talismans of Constantinople. You've come at a bad time to New Rome, my friend. A plague, a strange disease strangles the city. I'd offer you some of my amulets, they'll protect you and keep you safe from the diseases that plague the citizens of Constantinople, but my eyes tell me, you're already dead, am I right?" He giggles and looks somewhat mad, but not untrustworthy. His seems to be sincere.


Ambrose

When the caravan dispatches, you go to the South West, to the bath house of one Opimius, which you know to be the haven and domain of Sarah.

The Bathhouse of Opimius s the largest of the three bath houses in Constantinople and caters to the rich.

The balneator, or keeper of the bath-house, introduces himself to you as Iunius, the grand-son of Opimius, former owner of the bathhouse.

Some clientele are in the bathhouse, but fewer than expected. Only half-dozen clients walk around the bath-house, in various states of undress, but only get in the water for the briefest amount of time.

You walk around the different rooms, trying to think of how you're going to find Sarah, when you suddenly stumble upon a scene. In the corner of the room, hidden behind a pillar, stands a man, in trance by The Kiss, and a young woman, that you recognize as Sarah, feeding from him.


Ramesses

Titus replies to Ramesses question: "I plan on going first to Hesiod's bathing house. I've made some arrangements and he has provided me with a haven for the first few weeks. I'm sure he has room for you too. It's in the cellar of a nearby inn."

Titus asks if Ramesses would join him to the bathing house. If he does, he arrives a few minutes later than Marcus and Eva:


Marcus & Eva

Marcus and Eva went south, to the other bath house, namely that of Hesiod. It's a similar bathing house, less big, but also with fewer people. Once you enter, you are greeted by Hesiod himself, a fellow Kindred and he leads you to the 'special' room. Once you enter, you find a room with baths, sauna's and all the regular things, but most of them unused. All the people in the room, around 8, are Kindred and ghouls and they just stand in small groups, talking to each other, some laughing, some talking angrily.

One of them, signs at Marcus, this must be Regulus. He doesn't say much. Only nods and asks you to follow him.

There is one group that catches Eva's attention most, a group where half of the Kindred are dressed as soldiers and one of them wears the helmet of the city Prefect. All Kindred seem to carefully walk around him and treat him with a huge amount of respect. He must be the Prince.


Ramesses

You arrive at the same scene (see above for description). When Hesiod sees Titus, he smiles. "You must be Titus Postumius of the House of Lentulus! I've been looking forward to your arrival! I hope you didn't encounter any problems on your journey?"

"No, not at all, my friend, not at all," Titus lies.


Taran

Uncertain what to do, Lorena waited at the forum, seeing everyone go another way. "And now we're alone.", she says to Taran, in a trembling voice. She doesn't sound happy. Now, they'd accomplished what they've been aiming for, for weeks: Arriving in Constantinople. Now, she hadn't planned on what to do.

"I guess we should find a place to stay, right?"

Then she noticed the musicians playing music near the well. A strange hungry, animal-like predatory look came over her. "I'm hungry, aren't you?" and she starts walking to them slowly.



"Greetings, gentlemen," she says in an alluring way.

They look up from their instruments. Some of them almost immediately attracted to her and ogle and stare at her beautiful face and figure.

"Forgive me, I am new here and I'm quite lost. Could one of you maybe escort me to a near tavern or inn?"

One of them, replies, while staring at her "I eh I am terribly sorry, young mistress, but we've been hired by the city prefect to continuously play to music and sing to the water, hoping to calm the spirits. I don't we're allowed to leave."

"Oh, but surely you could use a break? How long have you been doing this?", Lorena sighs. Taran noticies she likely uses a Discipline (Presence), since she's even more attractive now than ever.

"We...we'll, we've been doing this only for a few days, but the crew they originally hired, fell ill and died. We're the third round of replacements." he says, while staring in a lecherous manner at her curves.

"Please, [I]come." she says in a dominating voice.

"I guess we could talke a break and bring you safely to an inn. These are dangerous hours and young lady like you shouldn't go unprotected."

At that point, Lorena and him cross the street and walk in a dark alley, where Taran knows she'll jump him and feed from him.

[daelrog]

Marcus & Eva

Eva approaches the man who is clearly the Prince. She moves wiftly towards him, she kneels down in front. "If I am not mistaken, you are John of Cappadocia, Prince of Constantinople. I am Eva Reims, childe of Calver Velance or Clan Lasombra, here to humbly declare my presence in your city."

Perhaps the tales were exaggerated, even her own sire who who a genius had his moments of curiousity, staring into the night sky for no reason, muttering words of some language long forgotten. All elders were mad in their own way, were they not? Even if John was as they said, he had naught to fear from her. She was here to escape whatever had killed her sire, to escape the downfall of Rome, and to find somewhere to continue her studies, just as Calver would have wanted.

These thoughts raced through her head, clear as day if anyone was reading her mind as she waited for John's response, keeping her eyes low.

[XianTheCoder]

The group dispatches, with each of you going his or her own way.

Lucious

Before leaving, Lucious attempts to find Lucentio, which he does. Lucentio, busy with carrying all sorts of documents, making sure his master didn't forget anything. When Lucious says he'd like to talk sometimes, Lucentio smiles and says he'd like that as well.

After that, Lucious manages to find an inn, called "The Dented Helm", just a few minutes walk from Forum. It's nice and clean, and the inn-keeper seems friendly. Lucious settles there and next goes to tavern in the same inn to find out some more information.

The tavern is quite full, with lots of people walking around and standing, drinking. But no laughing, somehow the mood isn't quite good. While you walk around, you catch some conversations:

"Still, I think it's the Egyptians with their strange sorcery that have poisoned the waters."

"No, just because an Egyptian caravan had arrived when the epidemic started three months ago, doesn't mean they did it. "

"No, but he does have a point. Magic must be involved. My mother always used to talk of creatures that invaded the water."

"Yeah, and we've been trying to appease these 'water spirits' for weeks now. The musicians don't seem to be doing any good."

You are approached by a young magician. He's dressed in Greek robes, and wears at least 20 amulets. A big smile on his face, he twitches with his face, limbs, he looks somewhat insane, instinctively you know he's Kindred too, Malkvavian, most likely: "Greetings, you must be new here? Welcome to Constantinople. My name is Alexander, maker of the best protective talismans of Constantinople. You've come at a bad time to New Rome, my friend. A plague, a strange disease strangles the city. I'd offer you some of my amulets, they'll protect you and keep you safe from the diseases that plague the citizens of Constantinople, but my eyes tell me, you're already dead, am I right?" He giggles and looks somewhat mad, but not untrustworthy. His seems to be sincere.
Lucious

Lucious is please with the inn and it's proximity to the forums and with its attached tavern. He makes sure to keep any valuables locked in a trunk and the trunk hidden as best as he can manage. When he is done he he departs to the tavern.

Upon walking it, the mood is apparent, and Lucious walks around before deciding where to settle in. Before he completes his circuit, the kindred approaches. What luck, one kindred offers up Elysiums location without me needing to inquire and now only mintutes after arriving I find a local kindred. Lucious smiles at Alexander, We could all use a little more protection in these times. Tell me, Son of Malkaf, what would you charge for the protection of that amulet?. Lucious will point to one that is the closest to his ascetic (dark/gray/ or black). Lucious will wait for a price and as long as its not insane he'll hand over a the coins and take the amulet, placing it in his pocket. After the transaction is complete Lucious will extend his arm for a shake, I'm Lucious Gious, Magister, of Old Rome and as you have so keenly guessed I have just arrived in Constantinople.. Lucious will wait for Alexander to shake and then continue on, So tell me Alexander, what brings these dark times on Constantinople? I hear there is not just plagues but political unrest as well?

[Calenestel]

Ambrose

Finding Sarah's haven was easy enough but finding the vampiress herself proved less so. After handing a coin to the balneator he enters the bath house without undressing. Not that he didn't want to wash the dust of the road of his body, and it did feel slightly weird to enter fully clothed, but he didn't want to be seen as someone who took too many liberties with another's domain before presenting himself, and he wasn't completely alone in not undressing and enjoy the hot and cold baths. For maybe half an hour he walks the different rooms while trying to look like he was in no hurry and looked for nothing in particular, until he finally found his "cousin" in a room he'd been through twice already. Figures.

Finding her in the midst of the Kiss was slightly awkward, of course. But it was to be expected that she enjoyed the comforts of her own home, so the ashen priest cleared his voice softly and took a step back, flanked by Kamenwati, assuming a relaxed posture that seemed to say: "I've got time, don't hurry for my sake".
While he waited for the jewess to finish her meal Ambrose reviewed the one and only time he had met Sarah before, on a visit of hers to Rome before Hieronymos had released Ambrosius himself from fledgling-hood.
She had called him "brother", and he had first thought her a Faithful for it. But while she had started out as a Seeker of Golconda just like their respective sires, she had long abandoned the Quest. Instead she studied the dark powers of Obtenebration with a fervor few could match, and had called him her brother because they shared clan and thus a connexion with what she called "the Abyss". It had been a chilling revelation that, but they had gotten along reasonably well. He believed they would one day be joined in the House of the Lord, she had her ideas about all Lasombra joining the quintessential Darkness of the Abyss, but still they had held an idea of community few kindred shared and she had been a respectful guest. He had enjoyed their debates, even though he had half a feeling she had humoured him. He held no illusions about her knowledge about the occult, eldritch and arcane were greater than his.

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran knows how Lorena is feeling right now, but in the constant state of running and hiding that he’s been in for the last few years, this is just but one more arrival with uncertain things to come. He understands that it must be hard for her to adapt to this sort of life, but he is convinced she will.

As she asks where to stay, he raises his eyebrows. “How about that bathhouse… thing the mercenary mentioned?” Baths in houses. He’s never understood that. Why have baths in houses when a river or creek is perfectly fine? Bemused, Taran then watches as Lorena tries her best to entice the musician into her embrace. There is a pang of jealousy, and he turns away from the pair that recedes into the dark alley.

“So”, he says to the remaining musicians, trailing behind the closely entwined couple, but giving them enough space for Lorena to feed unnoticed. It comes out rather more abruptly and loudly as he might have intended. “You’re playing for the water? Explain!”

Meanwhile, Conan and Cailean trot behind, eagerly sniff about on the city’s flagstones, enraptured by all the unfamiliar smells. Cailean casually lifts a massive hind leg and adorns a nearby building with his… signature.

[Ichneumon]

Marcus and Ramesses haven't acted yet, but since both are in other private scenes, I think I can update the other scenes already.

Taran

The man looks somewhat surprised. "Don't you know what's going on? You new here too?"

The balding middle-aged man man lays down his flute and starts talking:

"For three months now, a strange disease has fallen over Constantinople and the city has suffered much. At first confined to a small part of the northwestern districts, now only the most eastern part of town remains unaffected. More than thousands have died. I got a friend, who's a physician, who has been treating the ill. He says they are afflicted with a variety of illnesses, not just 1 disease, most most of them associated with fouled water. Well-known cures have no effect. The only survivors are those afflicted with minor illnesses. Soon after, though, even these survivors contract something else. With each new illness, they grow weaker and weaker, until finally they, too, succumb. Nothing the physicians or anyone else has done has slowed the spread of the disease."

Another play, playing a string instrument, joins the conversation:

"Most of the common citizenry believe a creature called a Kul, a spirit, has invaded the water. To mollify the citizens, the prefect has hired musicians to play for the kul they believe is in the water supply. We're playing the best songs in own repertoire, yet it seems to do no good. If you ask me, I begin to doubt anything will help."

"If you'd ask me, I'd say someone should check out the sewer system and the aquaducts. The epidemic has hit so fast, that as far as I know, no one has had a chance to thoroughly investigate if there isn't a dead animal lying somewhere polluting the entire water supply. Who of course would listen to the opinion of a simple musician, hey?"

"Say, where do you come from, young lad? You are a slave or a free man? My name is Antonius and this is good old Myca.":smallsmile:


Lucious

"Ah! That's a good choice sir, I can see you have an eye for these kind of matters! That one costs 500 sestertii." [Which you judge to be a reasonable price and isn't much at all.]

"Hahahaha! These are dark times indeed, good sir, much more than just a plague or political maneuvers. The city is going mad! There are things, moving in the shadows, much more dangerous that Kindred these days. People are afraid. Thousands have died by the hand of a mysterious plague. There are rumors of kul poisoning the waters, bardi haunting the midnight streets, and changelings, skin thieves and demon worshippers walking amongst the crowds. Everywhere you hear of these sightings. I don't know how, but something or someone attracts these creatures, these magical and dark forces. Even the Prince himself has changed. No longer a son of Malkaf is seen as the most insane Kindred in town.... A few months ago, three, maybe four, his personality just... shifted, as if he was struck by insanity, something got to him. One would only recognize him by his visage, all else is seems different. And now everyone is to afraid to do something, afraid to get at his bad side and end up hanging dead and naked at the market place next morning, beaten and tortured to death."

He laughs, maniacally. "You know, one could see it as a good thing. Before our mighty Prince got 'possessed' many Kindred would war against each other and fight for power. Yet now, they're united in fear and all of them are too afraid to move a muscle or else the mighty lion of Cappadocia might notice and devour them."

Alexander appears young, maybe in his mid twenties, with a bushy beard. Although he wears Greek clothes, he doesn't appear to be Greek, instead appearing to be from Syria or somewhere around that region.

"Let me give you some advise, Lucious Gious, Magister of Old Rome, be like an ant. Hide under rocks and leaves. That's the way to survive around here, just go unnoticed, don't let the Prince or his men notice you. If you got their attention, that usually doesn't end well, so run, as fast as you can."

Eva

You caught Prince John's attention, all right. The Prince, first doesn't seem interested and quite annoyed, but as soon as he looks at Eva, things change, a big warm smile appears on his face. He watches you with fascination. "Rise, my child." He says with a kind voice. John was Embraced late in life. He has a weathered face and deep brown eyes. His head is topped with a few gray hairs. His frame is impressive and he stands with regal dignity.

"I welcome you in Constantinople, Eva Reims. Please, for as long as you decide to stay, call Constantinople your home. Indeed, you are correct. I am, John of Cappadocia, Prince of New Rome." He bows. "Tell me, miss Reims, where do you come from? Have you found a place to stay already? If not, I'd consider it my duty as Prince of the Constantinople, to help you find proper accommodations."

The others around him, likely his ghouls and childer, looks unimpressed, they'd seen this act too many times before, although they were surprised at how polite the Prince responded. The Prince does seem very kind and genuinely interested.

In the corner of her eyes, Eva notices something though. In the corner of the room, talking to some Nosferatu, stands a man... looking exactly like her sire, Calver Velance, dressed exactly the way he was the day he died. Your eyes meet, yet in his there is no sign of recognition.

Ambrose

With a bit smile, Sarah, after having finished, turns to Ambrose: "Little brother, welcome!"

She pays no attention to Kamenwati, who just stands there, uncertain what to do or how to respond, waiting for orders.

"Given your presence here, I'd say things aren't going well in Rome, are they? Nothing wrong with Hieronymos I hope?" She smiles, although she clearly meant what she said, she seemed amused by the awkwardness he felt, standing there while she was feeding.

"Or have you come here seeking Golconda? Still following that path, little brother?"

Meanwhile, she looks around, making sure no one is eavesdropping or spying on them. Although it's more routine, that paranoia. She looks good, relaxed, healthy. You notice she wears expensive jewelry, some of them are amulets, with strange mystical symbols on them. It seems she has been doing very well, here in Constantinople.

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran listens intently, brow furrowed. The tale of the older musician strikes a chord within him that makes him momentarily forget the other man in Lorena’s embrace. He has seen towns where the water makes people ill, alright, but a whole city? And with all different kinds of sickness? Even for someone with Taran’s limited knowledge of such things, this seems strangely out of place.

He knows water spirits from his own home country, but the Kelpies and Each Uisge of his people look like horses and they don’t make people sick. They just grab the unfortunate soul that ventures too close and pull them under water, drowning them. He figures that music would probably just summon them, not soothe their murderous spirit.

Taran has never heard of a water spirit that makes people sick or that can be placated by music. His practical nature is rather inclined to agree with the musician’s theory that the water might be spoiled instead. The lute player Antonius’s question takes him by surprise and jolts him from his musings. He considers the question carefully.

He certainly doesn’t see himself as a slave, albeit he has made the experience that, in his position, it might be easier to pass as one. Problem is, he doesn’t consider himself a man either. Ever since his violent death, he hasn’t felt like a man. And is he free?

Pushing the more philosophical implications of that last thought aside, he finally answers: “My name is Taran. I was brought from a tribe far away from here, over the sea to the west. I’m…” He motions vaguely in Lorena’s direction. (He hopes she’ll be done soon.) “I’m here to protect her.” There. That’s something he can be sure of.

“Say, with those water spirits and all… On the road, there’s been talk of… erm… spirits, too. Take the dead with ’em. Look like skinny wolves… jackals, they called ‘em. Big black jackals. About this big?” He raises the hand not holding the spear and shows the beasts’ height. “Seen any of them around?”

[daelrog]

Eva

That's impossible. Eva's eyes waver. Am I mad?

She focuses back on the Prince smiling genuinely, relieved that he was far more accomodating than she thought. Perhaps it was just the kind front of something darker beneath, but even that was better than outright hostility from the start.

Unsure whether the Prince asked for her birth of origin, or where specifically she had come from she answered both. "I was born in the Gaul region, raised by the church until my sire took me under his wing, until the day I had become a woman grown." She looked at either side of him, seeing if there was anything to be seen from those around him, any details. "I came here directly from Rome, and only arrived but an hour ago, my Prince. In truth, I do not truly know anyone in the city yet."

She tried to bury the thoughts of the kindred whose resemblace was unmistakeable. Surely it was a coincidence and many kindred wore the cloth of a priest. The Prince was offering her what she needed right now more than anything, and she did not want to lose it.

A couple of rolls, just cause I can.

First roll is Eva trying to hide her shock at seeing what appears to be her dead sire.
Expression (2) + Manipulation (3)= 5
[roll0]

And Eva's roll to see if she notices anything from his retinue. Looking more for emotion here so we'll go Empathy (1) + Perception (2) = 3
[roll1]

In case of 10's for either.
[roll2]

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

"Ah! That's a good choice sir, I can see you have an eye for these kind of matters! That one costs 500 sestertii." [Which you judge to be a reasonable price and isn't much at all.]

"Hahahaha! These are dark times indeed, good sir, much more than just a plague or political maneuvers. The city is going mad! There are things, moving in the shadows, much more dangerous that Kindred these days. People are afraid. Thousands have died by the hand of a mysterious plague. There are rumors of kul poisoning the waters, bardi haunting the midnight streets, and changelings, skin thieves and demon worshippers walking amongst the crowds. Everywhere you hear of these sightings. I don't know how, but something or someone attracts these creatures, these magical and dark forces. Even the Prince himself has changed. No longer a son of Malkaf is seen as the most insane Kindred in town.... A few months ago, three, maybe four, his personality just... shifted, as if he was struck by insanity, something got to him. One would only recognize him by his visage, all else is seems different. And now everyone is to afraid to do something, afraid to get at his bad side and end up hanging dead and naked at the market place next morning, beaten and tortured to death."

He laughs, maniacally. "You know, one could see it as a good thing. Before our mighty Prince got 'possessed' many Kindred would war against each other and fight for power. Yet now, they're united in fear and all of them are too afraid to move a muscle or else the mighty lion of Cappadocia might notice and devour them."

Alexander appears young, maybe in his mid twenties, with a bushy beard. Although he wears Greek clothes, he doesn't appear to be Greek, instead appearing to be from Syria or somewhere around that region.

"Let me give you some advise, Lucious Gious, Magister of Old Rome, be like an ant. Hide under rocks and leaves. That's the way to survive around here, just go unnoticed, don't let the Prince or his men notice you. If you got their attention, that usually doesn't end well, so run, as fast as you can."


Lucious's mind whirls around with the possibilities. Could this be nothing more than a political manuevor to quell the factions from moving against him? Or is there trully something more sinister happening?I appreciate the advice. May I call you Alexander? But I'm afraid going unnoticed never played to my strengths. I will, however, be careful. Tell me Alexander... Do you enjoy the theater? I happen to have a couple tickets to an upcoming show, and being new in town I don't currently have anyone to share the experience with, all of us could use friends in nights like these.. Lucious smiles after making the offer, feeling as though things are lining up nicely. If Alexander accepts then Lucious will use it as a means of indirectly asking where Alexander can be found on any normal night, and then he will provide a show time (I assume Ulysses let Lucious know where and when they were happening). If Alexander declines then Lucious will shrug and accept his decline.

After matters of the theater are handled Lucious will see what other useful information Alexander can offer up. There are two prominent men in the city I really should speak to. The first is of member of my blood, Spurious Corva. The other is our friend that has recently had some personality changes (the prince). Would you know where either could be located?. Lucious attempts to keep descriptions as vague as possible in case people try to overhear. Even though Lucious was already told that the bathhouse is where Elysium is, he's not trusting, so he's double checking with Alexander. It also gives Lucious a means of catching Alexander in a lie if he answers something different.

[Calenestel]

Ambrosius

"Sister, I hope you're well," Ambrose replies, a friendly smile breaking through as he bows in respect for his hostess. Noticing the discomfort of his newly procurred servant the priest puts a hand on the bigger mans upper arm mumbling: "Relax, brother. Sarah is a friend and a kinswoman of mine and we're her guests for the time being. I have business here but nothing to worry about. Relax, but stay near."

Turning back to his "cousin" he bows again, in apology and with a new smile he starts to explain: "A little bit of both actually, sister. The Eternal City is not what it once was, I'm afraid. Not that he had experienced the city during it's heydays, but Rome was a concept and something more than it's contemporary state. And that state didn't mirror the concept well any longer. "But my sire is well, even if Rome is in decline. Mainly I'm following a lead in our Quest. There might be more to find in the libraries here than we thought."
Ambrose uses the word "our" as in his and his sire Quest, but it's hard not to feel a slight sense of disappointment in that it couldn't be his and Sarah's as well. She had a brilliant mind and a deep understanding of the Unseen. Her defection was a great loss to their bloodline's search.
Still, he knew that it was a difficult path he chose to follow and he could easily find it in himself to forgive those who failed to walk it. Especially since he could loose his way or the strength to follow it himself by the time he was her age. "I won't intrude on your time and attention unless you want to, sister. But I need some reliable intelligence on this New Rome and it's prince. What I've heard has been disturbing to say the least but it's source was a Charlatan slave trader..."
He left the sentence unfinished, knowing full well that the politically more experienced Sarah would easily make all the correct assumptions. He has a bit of dramatic flair to himself, after all.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus

Preemptive measure. I've adopted

{Colored Text}

To represent speaking in Farsi/Persian throughout this post

"It is good to see you brother," Marcus said in Farsi as he and Regulus slipped out of a side door. They pair now stood in a deserted alley behind the bath house.

They had not lingered long in the crowd of Kindred. As Eva had stepped forward to introduce herself, both men had slipped obliguely out. So that had been the dreaded Prince. A mere sight was not enough to judge a man though but Marcus carefully avoided drawing attention to himself all the same. Something had his sire concerned, best to be cautious.

"Indeed brother it is always a pleasure to be joined by another of the Blood, Darius has spoken highly of you." the other Assamite replied in the same tongue. It was said that all tongues were spoken on the Mountain, and certainly the clan recruited from across the known world. Yet the Persian influence was strong in Alamut, and every apprentice had the tongue pounded into them. No son or daughter of Haquim went without means to speak with one another. We should tarry though, I must return before over long in case any beside that girl arrive. Thankfully the streets of a city are straight."

Marcus understood at once. The streets of the city were straight, but the only path up the Mountain was twisted. An old clan proverb often used as a code phrase. The meaning was simple, approach with all stealth and allow no followers. Marcus raised up a veil around him. He lacked means to see if Regulus did as well, and with both present they would be immune to the others. Without another word the clansmen were off.

Had they walked a straight path it would not have taken long long, but Regulus took a winding course around through allies and side street. Twice they swiftly and silently went over a ladder. Well versed in stealth Marcus followed with the ease of long practice though he was not entirely sure of their direction. If his sense of direction served him though their twisted path was taking them south of the baths.

It was not long though before Marcus found himself facing a small building nestled against the city wall. From the sounds and smells he gathered they were near the harbor. The building itself was innocous, three stories or so of stone construction. The neighborhood seemed prosperous but not elite, a merchant district perhaps. From the light and noise streaming out a columned entrance he took it for an inn or tavern. Regulus stopped only briefly to nod at a burly man by the door before entering through a curtain of beads.

Following Marcus was struck first by the heavy smell of the place. Incense and other odors hung in the air, a heavy aroma of many competing smells. Smoke filled the room, a cloud dimming and diffusing the light of the many lamps. Beneath the smoke were scattered circles of heavy cushions and low chairs about round tables. Lining the walls were more private coves, each with a curtain to pull closed though only some were. About half the places were occupied by men and women. Some spoke in a low mummer sampling food and drink as they talked. Others were silent and still, staring distantly into the night or with eyes closed as if asleep. Others writhed in their places adding to the noise as if in some sort of pain. A few more writhed in a way that was more, amorous; alone or with others. Few moved but the serving girls that flitted about, clearly providing more then simple food to the patrons.

"Welcome to the Veil of Night, brother. A house of pleasure and relaxation where status outside does not exist. Here men and women may find whatever they hunger for. Not for us though, you may visit if you wish but take no sustenance here or within sight of this place. Nor is this a haven for the rigors of the day."

Marcus allowed himself a little smile at the irony of such a restriction in such a place. Though there was an entirely practical aspect to it. The blood carried the effect of many substances, and those served here it seemed went well beyond a simple drunk. Many a fool young vampire thought the inebriated easy prey, the lucky survived to stumble into their havens to sleep it off the unlucky wound up too confused to recognize the dawn.

He had no time to dwell on such matters as Regulus kept moving through the room, Marcus followed close behind. Ducking through another veil of beads brought Marcus into a long hall. One direction seemed by the noise to go through the kitchen, the other was quiet. Storerooms perhaps? It was in this direction Regulus went coming to the end of the hall he reached down into a crack in the stone floor, pulling up a slab. Standing aside he motioned Marcus to go ahead. Apparently the path was only one person wide from here. As Marcus climbed down Regulus replaced the stone above. Marcus found himself alone in the dark passage. It was narrow, a little dank, and only the faintest of light illuminating the shadows from the other end. He moved toward it, though there was only one direction to go. He emerged into a torchlit chamber.

Any of the Children of Haquim would recognize it the style at once. Simple, but with a timeless quality that spoke of high craftsmanship the same minimalist stonework as characterized the Mountain. Stone benches lined each wall, broken only by stone portals to other passages. The only other detail of importance in the empty room was a small table, and on that table rested a sword. Stepping up to the table Marcus eyed the sword for a minute and did nothing. Interminable moments passed as the mercenary cast his eyes around the chamber. Marcus began to tap his foot impatiently.

“If you want to play this game after this many years old man then why don't we change it up and fight with real blades. Or do you still fear I might misjudge a strike,” Marcus said at last.

“Well you may still be blind but at least you aren't quite as stupid, boy,” Said a voice behind Marcus, right where he'd expected it. Turning he found himself face to face to face with his sire. Darius appeared to be a man just entering his middle years, of moderate height with a thick muscular build. His skin was a dusky hue. His black hair and carefully trimmed beard were salted with touches of grey and white. A man of solidity. His clothes were dark and plain but of some fine material, tailored to fit. At his side hung a sword of the spathion style. Perhaps his most memorable feature though was a black eye patch over his left eye. “Let us see if you are skilled enough to play with a real sword then.”

In the blink of an eye the fight was on. Two swords in two hands rasped as they came out of their sheaths and the air rang with the clang of meeting blades. Again and again the ring of steel filled the air as the two men danced with their swords, each moving with effortless grace. Both were at the peak of human skill, there were no Disciplines in this dance merely movement and skill raised to a high art. A near miss here, a barely parried strike there, they were seemingly evenly matched.

Then in a moment it was over. Marcus struck with all his strength at Darius' blade and caught it just so sending it flying. Another swift movement brought Marcus' blade to Darius' throat. The fight was his. In silent assent Darius nodded and Marcus sheathed his blade while Darius retrieve his and did the same.

“It seems you are ready for a real blade Marcus,” Darius complimented

“Ehh. I doubt I could stand against you in a real fight old man,” Marcus said with a shrug.

At that Darius gave a laugh and a sly style. Certainly Marcus had no illusions of defeating his sire. The old man was centuries ahead of him. They had fought only in purely mortal terms. Any man with training and talent could equal the display. If he was on par with his sire in swordplay, it didn't change that Darius would still easily overwhelm him with the far great breadth of powers the elder could access. And there was a matter of some disquiet. Darius seemed to sense it.

“What troubles you boy?” Darius said in a a tone that brooked no argument.

Marcus paused for a moment and then let out a sigh, no use delaying the inevitable. “The fight. I feel I have gone as far as I can go with my blade. Even if I could find opponents of real challenge in pure skill, I feel like something has gone out of me in the past years. The sword, the life of selling it for hire, it begins to feel empty. Always different yet always the same. Some men I kill, some men pay me to kill another. It has been enough for now, but I feel like I need something more in life.”

“Hmmph,” that from Darius, “You sing a familiar tune Marcus. You are no longer a neonate, you've achieved something. You are now feeling the price of you unlife though, the march of time. Most thing grow dull as nights become years and become centuries. Have you ever wondered why so many in the other clans scheme and jostle for position. They may wrap it in many forms and lies but it all comes down to boredom. This is why they are unworthy, why the Ancestor was set over them to judge and we as his decedents do as well. Though we too feel the same weight of ages. Every ancilla feels it at some point, and every elder has made some accommodation to it. Those completely unable to deal with it entirely sink into torpor for a time. Many deal with it by finding something beyond them, those that fail to find a noble purpose turn to politics, those of worth find better diversions then scheming. Your grandsire Tahmina went on long travels and developed a certain wildness to her. I turned to study. And the both of us is seems felt a desire to sire childer. That last I forbid to you for now though, think on something to give you satisfaction while you are hear. I trust this concern does not interfere with nightly activities though yes?”

At that Marcus let out a laugh. No it did not, I was a nagging sensation in him. Too small to ignore entirely, but not one to often break into his nightly thoughts. Feeling some release he stilled his face and bowed with lightly mocking respect. “Old man you've always had a lot of words for me. Still.... thank you... for the counsel. I will consider it long and at length, but no it will not interfere with any task I take on. So let us talk of business, I've gathered by this locale you must lead our brothers and sisters in this city. Why have you called me here then?”

[Ichneumon]

Ambrosius

Sarah smiled faintly, while answering to Ambrose's questions about the political situation in Constantinple and it's Prince:

"A few days ago, I talked to a friendly Malkavian from Syria, called Alexander, he makes a living selling amulets and magical items to tourists and commoners, near the forum. You should talk to him sometimes, he's really a nice regular decent guy. He described the Kindred of Constantinople to me as a flying tortoise." :smallamused:

"There are birds of prey, he explained, that catch tortoises and grab them, and, to crack their very hard shell, fly up and carry them high up into the sky and then just drop them. Alexander said we, the Kindred of Constantinople, are that tortoise. We might for a while think WE are the ones who are flying, we might think we are kings of world, living rich and wealthy. Yet through the clouds and winds, we do not see the inevitable horrid doom, the ground, approaching us fast. We are, in a way, not flying, we are falling and approaching our inevitable invisible doom. Some say it are the Final Nights that are coming, or it might be something else. No one knows. Whatever it is, at least something is coming and it won't be good for the Kindred of Constantinople, at all. Personally, I didn't buy it, I thought he was joking, or just talking gibberish, like many Malkavians do, yet some Kindred claim to have seen the ground coming. One of them is an Assamite, called Darius. He has been warning us for months now, claiming things are conspiring against us Kindred and that we should unite and get to the bottom of this, before it's too late. Most Kindred have been making fun of him, especially Marina, a rich and influential Gangrel, owning a large domain in the southern part of the city. She effectively made Darius and all who dare believe him, into outcasts. Now, no one dares talk to him. First, I didn't believe him either, but now I'm beginning to see he might be right. I still can't put my finger to it, but things just are... off. Don't you feel it too? Like a shadow slowly closing in on you, strangling you in your sleep."

She sighs, like casting of a veil, she decides to show more of her inner thoughts and feelings. Her eyes widen as she tells you what's really going on in her mind for the past few weeks. :smallfrown:

"I know you don't care much about our path" - she referred to 'our' as in she and the other 'normal' Lasombra - "but listen, I've been making huge progress, sometimes, I can hear voices, voices in the Void, talking to me, talking to each other. They whisper eerie things, I often can't make out what they say exactly and most I don't understand, but they are fearful, terrified even of what's coming and what's here in Constantinople already. ... I don't know what's so terrible that they would fear it, and I don't think I really want to know."

"Oh Ambrosius, look around. I'm doing fine, great even, yet I am more afraid than I've ever been", she says with a trembling voice. :smalleek:

"Sometimes, even, when I look outside my window, up into the night sky. I don't see stars, but thousand of eyes, looking terrified, begging me to leave Constantinople, now that there is still time. Now, there are few others among the Lasombra who see this and together we've been thinking of leaving Constantinople, at least for a while, and go to Perinthos for a few months. Maybe contacting Darius and the other Assamites. We have kept this a secret for Spurius Corva, the leader of the local Lasombra clan, who wouldn't allow it. He'd never leave Constantinople, I'm sure."

[You know Perinthos to be a small-sized city, lying not far south of Constantinople.]

"My point is, whatever the slave trader told you about the Prince and his monstrosities... I think we have much more to fear than an evil Prince, if you ask me: he's the least of our problems."

Lucious

Alexander answers with a big grin, "Of course, you may call me Alexander, Lucious, and I'd love to go to the theater with you. People pretenting to be someone else has always had my interest, and you are right: The Final Nights are approaching and we could all use some friends to face the darkness of the eternal nights."

[The actors told you when and where they'd play and their next performance is tomorrow evening. If you want to, you make an appointment with Alexander to go then and there.]

As soon as you mention the name of Spurious Corva, Alexander starts laughing: "Aaah! Corva! I don't know where to find Corva, I'm afraid. He doesn't often show himself publicly anymore. I think you should try to talk to some local Lasombra, they'd know where you can find him. If you've heard of Corva, you must also have heard about the Nosferatu Caeso Silanus and the personal vendetta between those two, usually he goes to the biggest Elysium, Hesiod's Bathing house, to talk and make political allies. That's why Corva never goes there, plus he prefers to do his business less in the open, I guess. The Prince is either at the Elysium too, or in his personal quarters at the garrison."

Taran

Antonius smiles: "Nice to meet you, Taran."

When Taran starts describing the Bardi, his face, as well as that of Myca, turn pale.

Myca replies: "N..no, thankfully, we haven't seen any of that. Although there are rumors of dark dog-like beings, but to be honest, there are always such stories, don't you agree, Antonius?"

"Well, it's true these rumors and tales often take on a mythical ridiculous shape quickly, but to be honest, there are an awful lot of sightings these days of Dog headed men walking the streets at nights, stalking people, and not all of them have been by drunks. If I were you, I'd stay close to that girl," he points in the direction Lorena went, "as Constantinople is a dangerous place, full of dangerous men, even if they aren't dog headed. A young, pretty girl like her, Taran, is bound to catch the attention of the wrong kind of people."

Eva

"Oh really? In that case, I insist that you come to my quarters in the garrison later this night. Then we can talk some more and I'll make sure you find a good place to stay." The Prince doesn't seem to notice her surprise at seeing her sire.

There are three other Kindred standing around him. Two of them, dressed as soldiers, the other is a "lictor", a personal body guard. All of them, seem nervous and start looking at each other and making signals to one another, especially when the Prince says he wishes to have you later, alone, in his quarters. It looks as if they know something dreadful that the Prince had really in mind. One of them, even tries to make eye contact with you, shaking his head, warning you not go to his quarters.

When John hears you come from Rome, he jumps up and his entire demeanor changes. From friendly and informal, it turns serious and almost violent. "You came with the caravan? I heard it got attacked by wild jackhals and there were casualties. Tell me, quick, did any Kindred die?" A strange mad fury burns in his eyes. The others seem surprised and somewhat confused about the Prince's strange sudden behaviour.

You notice in the distance, a woman, hiding herself, spying on the Prince and you. You also notice that your "sire" laughs as he speaks with the Nosferatu. The Nosferatu is dressed in expensive purple robes. His face is horrid: His dead, dry skin is tightly drawn over his bones. It cracks and splits whenever he moves or contorts his face. He lacks hair, even eyebrows, and his nose is knife-thin. Yet the signs of his clan fade in contrast to his bearing. Despite a touch of rictus, he is noble and tall, thin and regal. He never seems to avoid eye contact and stares at people with meaningful intensity. This must be Caeso Silanus, the Eldest Nosferatu in the city.

Marcus

Marcus sighs friendly. :smallsigh:

He laughs. "Yes, where do I begin?":smallamused:

"It all began four months ago. I had ordered some of our men to permanently spy on the Setites of the city. It just seemed like the wise thing to do, you see, you never know what they're up too and we had reasons to believe they were up to no good. Within a few days, each and every Setite in the city we found brutally murdered, their bodies torn apart by some kind of savage infernal beast and all within just moments... all without my men ever seeing who or what did it. With the blink of a eye, they were killed. Of course, I couldn't go admit to the Prince and everyone else that I had my men spying on the Setites, so I couldn't share this information, but I did have contact with other Assamites from other cities and they were very concerned by these events. Now, soon after, this plague came, which has after 3 months now caused more than a thousand deaths. My men have found strange markings, signs of demon worship, throughout the city and their having been cases of demonic unholy creatures, often in the shape of Cynocephali, attacking civilians, Kine and Kindred. Slowly, they've been trying to kill us too. I've lost many good men, including Afer."

[You know that the word Cynocephalus refers to creatures with the head of a dog or jackal. See this wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynocephaly. Afer was Darius' old ghoul.]

"Now, I've asked for your presence here, because I need the best of the best, here in Constantinople, to get to the bottom of this. This could be a threat to us all. Not only us, but all the Kindred, not only here, but in all the known world. I've talked to Ezras of Alexandria and he has sent his two childrer, Mozes and Gemina to help me."

[You know Ezras to be a respected wise Assamite, living in Alexandria.]

"I tried to involve the other clans, warn them. But it backfired. The Prince somehow doesn't see it or he is affected by it too. And the other kindred mock me and don't take me serious. I have Gemina and Mozes spy on the Prince constantly, to see if he's acting strangely. Apart from his corruption, they say he's often talking to himself when he thinks he's alone. It's quite disturbing actually."

"I still don't know who's behind all of this though or what they are after. The fact that you were attacked by Cynocephali while you were coming here, tells use that we are getting to them, somehow, and they're getting nervous and really didn't want someone to get to Constantinople. Whoever is behind all of this, knew who was coming to Constantinople and, I think, wanted to kill someone of the present Kindred in the caravan. This could be the link we've been searching for, Marcus."

He looks enthusiastic, as if he has finally reached a break through in a long running project.

"I need you to go the Kindred that travelled with you in the caravan. Question them. I'm sure one of them is the key, even if they don't know it themselves. If we can just find out why our enemy wants one of them dead, we might know who and what we are dealing with here. Try to find out who they've had contact with in Constantinople. Someone our enemy had to know about who was coming. Don't trust them completely though, but tell them all you need to to get them to tell you what you need to know."

He adds with a smile: "And whatever you do, stay vigilant and beware the signs of anything unholy."

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran, whose eyes have been uneasily straying to the dark alley while they talked, nods slowly.

“You’re right”, he murmurs. Lorena is taking quite long in there… With a gentle slap to his thigh, he calls the dogs to his side, and without another word takes a couple of long strides to the entrance of the alleyway.

“Lorena?” he softly calls as he enters the darkness, squinting, trying to make out her and her victim’s forms in the shadows, gripping his weapon just a little tighter.

[Calenestel]

Ambrosius
Ambrose stays silent throughout Sarahs long and winding explanation. But as she goes on his eyes grow larger. He'd blanch to if such things hadn't been beyond him these nights. He'd never seen her so rattled before. Granted, he hadn't seen her more than that one week years ago... but it had been enough to make at least some safe assumptions. And noone who made a specific study of their mastery over Darkness frightened easily. "I... By God's Wounds, Sarah! That is a lot to take in at once. I hardly know where to begin..." Sitting down on a stone bench the ashen priest seems to collect his wits and his calm and after quickly crossing himself he continues: "First of, sister, tell me about our... leader here. Is he only too set in his ways to move? Or is it something more? Would he try and stop you if you decided to leave, as a group or as individuals?"
His mind racing Ambrosius turns the problem over and over in his head, intent on studying it from any considerable angle. It was an enigma, a puzzle to be solved and he enjoyed those, didnt' he? Morale boosted he set to it with increasing vigor: proponents among the assamites and the malkavians. The latter were seers, if you could deduce anything useful from them. The former were mostly muscle, but they had some great minds among them too, and an insight into the occult, at least he had heard such. That a gangrel was the most vocal detractor was a surprise. He would've suspected the ventrue. But clan only mattered that much, in any case he probably trusted her less than malkavians and assamites until he had a chance to get to know everyone involved. His own clan was split on the matter, no surprise, they always went to either extreme in cases like this, either trying to understand the knowledge gleaned from outside the Faith or thoroughly denouncing it as pagan superstition and it had nothing to do about Road. The Ravnos probably knew about as much as AAA, nothing, and the Toreador and the Ventrue were probably too wrapped up in mortal affairs to notice if the Abyss rose up to swallow them... Then there remained: "And have you heard anything from the Salubri? Or the Brujah, Cappadocians or Nosferatu?" The Healers were the most important, their understanding of darkness rivaled his own clan's. But the Brujah and the Cappadocians were keepers of great lore and the Nosferatu had a knack of finding information about anything. "Or are they all too intimidated by this... gangrel? And what about the Tzimisce and the Setites? They'd probably flock to this place like flies to horse dung if something was really happening... By the True Cross! Please tell me there's no Baali in the city?" If that accursed bloodline were showing up like maggots, then something would be really wrong. Probably beyond salvaging.

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

Alexander answers with a big grin, "Of course, you may call me Alexander, Lucious, and I'd love to go to the theater with you. People pretenting to be someone else has always had my interest, and you are right: The Final Nights are approaching and we could all use some friends to face the darkness of the eternal nights."

[The actors told you when and where they'd play and their next performance is tomorrow evening. If you want to, you make an appointment with Alexander to go then and there.]

As soon as you mention the name of Spurious Corva, Alexander starts laughing: "Aaah! Corva! I don't know where to find Corva, I'm afraid. He doesn't often show himself publicly anymore. I think you should try to talk to some local Lasombra, they'd know where you can find him. If you've heard of Corva, you must also have heard about the Nosferatu Caeso Silanus and the personal vendetta between those two, usually he goes to the biggest Elysium, Hesiod's Bathing house, to talk and make political allies. That's why Corva never goes there, plus he prefers to do his business less in the open, I guess. The Prince is either at the Elysium too, or in his personal quarters at the garrison."Lucious

Lucious will make plans to attend the theater with Alexander on the following night.

I've heard of Silanus, and I have hopes of keeping myself out of there squabblings. Perhaps I should visit the Prince at his garrison rather than he bath house, just to be safe. So tell me Alexander, how long have you resided in New Rome? How many of our Kin do you think there are within the Prince's Domain?.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus

Marcus face grew visibly grim as his sire spoke. Certainly he could see why he had been called. What could wipe out an entire nest of snakes without being seen. He doubted the even Warriors could accomplish such a thing with skilled eyes watch. Just what had stirred in this city, it stank of sorcery and unholy power just as his sire said. It was puzzling, something a finer mind then his would have to reason out, his own mind was suited to intuition not logic. Though come to think of it.

"There was a snake in our caravan, perhaps whatever this is knew that. Only what if..." Marcus fumbled to fit pieces together in his head, "Its not the snakes directly. The snake is hiding something with a Toreador flower. Since whatever this is evidently goes beyond the Setites... perhaps this Jackal knows the snakes know something and tried to flush it out. Only to miss its mark because the secret wasn't in the city yet?

That last was an invitation for the old man to jump in and give his thoughts. It was only a guess, though but it made a strange sort of sense to Marcus. The unholy sign before the attack, it was easy to think it related to the Setite. But that was perhaps too fitting. Yet at the same time Marcus had eavesdropped on Ramsesses it had been to conceal Titus Postumius secret. It was worth pursuing at least.

Marcus waited for his mentor's response to his idea.

[Burnheart]

Ramesses

"Of course my friend after you" Ramesses indicates that he and Aurelius will follow Titus lead to Hesiods Hesiods is the bathhouse mentioned by the Assimite, i wonder what business he has there he thinks while walking, then he leans into to quietly order Aurelius "Keep your eyes on the one who told us about the bathhouse earlier when we arrive" to which Aurelius gives a sharp nod.

Once they arrive and are greeted by Hesiod Ramesses waits for Titus to introduce him "This is my Friend Ramesses, Scholar of the Occult"

Ramesses gives Hesiod a bow "Greetings to you noble one, how fairs your fine city these nights?" he asks while glancing around the room, noting Eva speaking to the prince only to be nudged by Aurelius who nods to a side door though which Marcus is swiftly exiting.

[Ichneumon]

Ambrosius

Still, carefully monitoring if they're not being spied on, Sarah answers Ambrose's questions:

"Corva isn't a violent man, but he'd consider leaving Constantinople as a personal insult and he'd certainly use force to keep us here."

"I'm sure the Nosferatu know something, but they're very secretive and I have no idea what they know and what they think of it. I'd be surprised if the Brujah knew anything. The Cappadocians, if they know anything, don't say much, like you said, likely to afraid to go against Marina. I'm not aware of any Salubri in the city and I haven't seen a Setite for a while either."

She smiles slighly when she sees Ambrose react shocked to the idea of Baali in the city, it amuses her somewhat. "Thankfully, I haven't seen anything that would suggest the Balli are involved. As for the Tzimisce, most of them stay hidden in their monasteries, philosophizing. To be frank, I'd be surprised if they had any idea of what was going on. Those very few that do get out and walk the streets at nights, well, they are the type of monsters I'd rather stay very far away from. "

Taran

Taran quickly walks towards the dark alley. It's quiet and the dogs respond fearful. At first sight, the alley seems deserted, so sign of either Lorena or the musician, then, your nose catches a smell that's very familiar to you: the smell of fresh blood. Because of the darkness, you almost trip over the body of the musican, lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood: his throat is cut and blood is still streaming out, he's still not completely dead yet. Farther away, in the distance, you hear a voice, whisper:

"We shall kill her, that's what we'll do, won't we? Yes, that's what we will. These streets are ours, and not even the Prince dares to hunt in our streets, doesn't he? No he does not. Did she really think we'd let some insignificant Ventrue girl hunt on our kine? She's just like all the others of her clan, isn't she, thinking they own the world? Yes, she is!"

You carefully, walk onwards in the dark, following the sound. Quickly, you see Lorena, pinned against a wall, by a man, dressed in a long brown hooded cloak. His long clawed fingers around her neck. She looks terrified, tears run down her cheeks and her neck and face are full of scratches, he's treated her rough, it seems. The man's face is fully covered in shadows under the hoot, but what you can see is monstrous. His hands are misshaped and full of thorns and boney spikes and you see strange tentacles coming from under the cloak and hood.

He is choking her [although since she doesn't need to breath, this isn't technically as bad as it would be, though she can't speak and of course it hurts and isn't comfortable at all]. "Don't even try calling for help, Ventrue. Your servants, your minions won't come. You'll just have to face it: You are alone, completely alone. Don't cry. That's just the natural way it is, that's the one thing we all share, even if your kind, just like the Toreador, tries to deny it."

He starts, touching her face with his other hand, gently, slowly moving his hand over her face, scratching it with his nails. You can see she fear in her eyes, she's repulsed by him.

"She'll die here, alone, just as alone as we are. Yes. We are born alone, we live alone and we die alone. Loved by none, noticed by none, missed by none. There is no one to help her, no one to hear her scream, isn't there? No, there isn't. You'll die by our hand, Ventrue, as punishment for praying on our herd, in our own streets. This is where you'll die, here with us, yes. Alone in a dark filthy street, here, alone with us!"

Having said that, he seems to strengthen his grib, likely trying to break her neck, to kill her. He seems so occupied with his own thoughts that he hasn't noticed you or the dogs. Lorena has also not yet seen you, likely because of the darkness, the tears in her eyes etc.

Lucious

Alexander smiles. "You think it's save to go meet the lion in his own lair?", responding to Lucious' remark about trying to meet the Prince at the garrison.

His demeanor changes, becomes somewhat poignant, as he starts telling about his own life: "I've been here for a couple of years, now. Around ten, I think. Originally, I came from Syria, like my father I was a merchant. I started to specialise in the occult and dark arts, until, while I was in Athens, I was embraced. One bad night... It's ... weird...." he pauzes.

"First, you don't know what happened, think it's just some bad night that you can put behind you, like all the other bad nights or mistakes you've made, not realizing that everything, your entire life has been changed. Your body doesn't feel like it's your body any more, like there is void inside you that you can't fill and just keep getting bigger and bigger. Your senses are sharper, your vision is clearer, you feel like you somehow suddenly have better perspective on.... well, everything really, yet, everyone around you, your friends, your family, says you've lost all touch with reality."

His smile is gone.

Ramesses

Hesiod smiles and greets Ramesses back. Hesiod is dressed in simple robes. His shoulder length black hair frames a round face that features full rich lips and a strong chin. "It's an honour meeting you, Ramesses. Although I might be more familiar with the streets of Constantinople and its people, as a scholar of the occult, you might be able to tell me more about how the city fairs. The people are restless and I'd be a fool if I didn't realise we're being haunted, chased, hunted down, by someone or something. I'd be very interested, if you could share with us any of your insight in such matters you might have. " :smallamused:

"You come from Rome as well? I hear it are tough times. I had some connections there, long ago, but they all.. vanished, when Rome fell. I guess it's not what it's just to be. I guess the future lies in the East, right? History is no longer made in Rome, but in Constantinople."


Marcus

Something twinkles in Darius' eyes, when Marcus mentions Ramesses. "Really? That would be a big coïncidence, if it is one, of course. Worth checking out. I'd suggest, trying to find him as soon as possible. However," he adds, "we shouldn't rule out any of the other Kindred on the caravan."

"Toreador? That's... interesting. To be honest, the Toreador are quickly overlooked here in Constantinople. They don't have as much influence here as in Rome and the little power they had, has been slow but steadily been diminished on the past 200 years. They are often seen as nobodies, but maybe that'd give them motive of course. It'd be very interested in learning what's behind that."

At that point, Regulus entered the room again, he walks to Darius and whispers something in his ears.

"Interesting. I got a word from one of our men in the bathing house. It seems that your friend the Setite, has just arrived, together with the Toreador, at Hesiod's bathing house."

[Sunfall]

Taran

For a moment, Taran just stands in the shadows and stares at the scene, fighting back the familiar red veil that is laying itself over his vision. He has forgotten the unknown city, the weary musicians, the dying man at his feet. He can only see Lorena's tears.

Taran feels the blood raging in his ears. The Beast rising from within, together with the terrible heat of wrath that he has since learned to despise and fear. Conan and Cailean cower beside him, slowly inching backwards. The big black dogs are afraid of the creature in the dark - but they have learned to fear their master, too, when he's like that. They can feel the Beast.

Taran has gone deadly still.

No. You might hurt her.

Through sheer force of will, he fights back the urge to let go, to give in to the Beast which claws its way upwards through his cold and rotten innards. Instead, he channels its power into the blood coursing feverishly through his veins, making it hot, using it for strength and prowess.

Spending a Willpower point to fight back frenzy for one combat round, spending 2 Blood points on Strength & Dex.

His hand grips the hasta's shaft even tighter, and he makes a quick step forward that brings him just behind the attacker's back. With a swift motion, he loops the spear's thick pole over the grotesque stranger's head and around his neck, then suddenly pulling it back with crushing strength.

"She is not alone", Taran whispers hoarsely into the beastly attacker's ear, barely contained rage still audible in his voice. "Release her, or what you do to her, I'll do unto you tenfold."

I think this is technically a grapple.
Dexterity + Melee
[roll0]

And, just for added effect:
Strength + Intimidation
[roll1], plus 2 automatic successes for Potence

Reroll: [roll2]

[daelrog]

Eva

This was not going as she had hoped, and though young and naive, she was not blind. "N-no my Prince. No kindred were killed in the attack... some thought they were not jackals, but creatures called Bardi. I... I took no part in the fighting, I was trained by my sire to stay out of such conflicts. I... believe I should excuse myself and leave you to your affairs."

[Calenestel]

Ambrose

No Salubri? Too bad, the healers would have been a great help in more than one way and he liked dealing with them. But then again, they were a secretive bunch, mostly keeping to themselves. "Right... I will have to study this matter more closely, sister. And a visit to this Assamite is very much something I'd like to do. On top of that I think you and the others are wise to prepare to leave Constantinople for a time... But it's not why I'm here to begin with. So! A few more questions more common to a newcomer, if I may?"
It was interesting how he had landed himself in the position of a problem solver, maybe even halfway to a leader, like this. But he had always liked mental challenges, and this was a great puzzle. For now it really had to wait, though. He wanted to focus mostly on his Quest. And he wanted to be a gracious guest too, to focus on things that Sarah would enjoy. He had a little tidbit that should both make her happy and thouroughly amused... "First off: I guess I have to visit the Prince as soon as possible, does our Eldest... Corva... demand the same? A formal introduction? Or is he more lax, maybe settling for a message? And what areas are free for feeding and which are restricted by the Prince or by other factions?"

[Soras Teva Gee]

"Hmmph friends with a snake, I may be from Egypt but snakes went out of fashion with Cleopatra old man," Marcus said with a smirk, "I'll start with the Toreador, I'd doubt anything the Setite would say unless we have some leverage. If an opportunity arises I will not ignore the others though."

With that Marcus readied to leave, "A small request since I imagine you wish me to begin at once. I tire of sleeping in a box on a wagon, I've the resources to acquire mine own haven and will when there is time. In Rome though we maintained a couple of locations for our brothers and sisters in transit. Are there temporary arrangements available in the New as well as the Old?

[Burnheart]

Ramesses

"Indeed" Ramesses nod his head slighty when Hesiod finishes "As to my knowledge of the strange occurrences happening in and around Constantinople i know little, having only just arrived. I can tell you one thing however, the caravan we journeyed with was attacked by servants of Anubis called Bardi and the creatures were acting very differently then normal, in fact i've never heard of them acting as they did during the attack"

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

Alexander smiles. "You think it's save to go meet the lion in his own lair?", responding to Lucious' remark about trying to meet the Prince at the garrison.

His demeanor changes, becomes somewhat poignant, as he starts telling about his own life: "I've been here for a couple of years, now. Around ten, I think. Originally, I came from Syria, like my father I was a merchant. I started to specialise in the occult and dark arts, until, while I was in Athens, I was embraced. One bad night... It's ... weird...." he pauzes.

"First, you don't know what happened, think it's just some bad night that you can put behind you, like all the other bad nights or mistakes you've made, not realizing that everything, your entire life has been changed. Your body doesn't feel like it's your body any more, like there is void inside you that you can't fill and just keep getting bigger and bigger. Your senses are sharper, your vision is clearer, you feel like you somehow suddenly have better perspective on.... well, everything really, yet, everyone around you, your friends, your family, says you've lost all touch with reality."

His smile is gone.

Lucious

Lucious will let Alexander's thoughts run their course before responding. My father was a merchant as well. He was dead before my my embrace.. Lucious will put on a slight frown and look thoughtful, The only other real friend I had died in a fire... I guess I never had the opportunity to see their reactions to this new life, perhaps it's for the best. As for voids and perspectives... Perhaps that's a gift from your sire, we Magisters don't get wiser, we get more hungry for power, control, and authority. The only void we know is that of the abyss which now infuses our souls.. Lucious will give a little shrug, Gifted or Damned? I'll let you wiser breatheren decide.... Lucious will look around the room and see who is close, assuming they are still able to speak freely without being overheard he will make his next inquiry. You mentioned the Dark Arts? Dangerous time and place to admit such a thing. Even for the damned there are those who would frown on such a thing. Although Rumors say that this city has become a hotspot for such things?

[Ichneumon]

Taran

The man didn't see Taran and is unable to get himself free from Taran's grip. He starts laughing hard though when hearing Taran's words. "Hahahahaha, We recognise that smell. You're Brujah! That surprises us, yes, quite a bit. Have you any idea who you're dealing with? We've lived for hundreds of years. We've seen Carthage burn down by the hands of Roman Ventrue!. We were there when the Ventrue wiped the Brujah's dream from the face of te earth. So why are you he helping her? We don't understand. Has she dominated yuo? Or how much gold did she had to pay for you to betray your clan and lineage?"

"Did you really think you could intimidate me?"

While he's so close, you get a glimpse from what's under the hood: a very mutilated, scarred deformed face.

Eva

The Prince seems troubled when hearing no Kindred were killed, almost as if he'd hoped some would have died. He nods as you want to leave his presence. You see him walk away as well, whispering to the servants around him, planning, scheming.

Your "sire" is still talking to the Nosferatu, not paying any attention to you.


Ambrose

Sarah smiles: "Don't worry about that. I can send a message to Corva for you. He's not that demanding. He'd probably like to meet you, but it doesn't have to happen right away. Most areas of the city of free to hunt for everybody, except some of the alleys around the forum and in the eastern part of the city. Those are the domains of some of the Elders of the city and they don't like it if you feed of their 'cattle'."

Marcus

Darius smiled. He had faith in Marcus and he liked the way he thought. "Yes, that seems like a good idea, starting with the Toreador."

"Now, about the sleeping arrangements, don't worry about that. The Assamites will provide you with a proper haven. There are a few common sleeping areas in the city for our brothers. Regulus will point them out to you."

Ramesses

Hesiod reacts genuinely shocked. "Servants of... Anubis, you say?" He clearly doesn't know a thing about who Anubis is, but he tries to hide it.

He seems befuddled and slightly terrified when you mention the jackals.

Not knowing what to say, he looks at both you and Titus, "Have eh, have you, eh, have you already met our Prince?" He turns around to where the Prince stood before, but you see him leave.

Lucious

When you look around, you notice that the inn is slowely emptying. People are leaving and there is no one who can hear you talk.

Alexander smiles, but remains quiet when you mention the Lasombra's curse, he seems to like it. :smallsmile: When you continue about the Dark Arts he says: "You are a strange kind of bird, aren't you? Afraid to get notices, but also desperate to fly high in the open."

"Strange things lurk in the shadows, Lucious." He looks around scared as if he just expected to be jumped by something.

"Try to find friends. All of us have to carry our curse alone, but surviving the cold nights, is easier with a little company."

[Sunfall]

Taran

Brujah. Oh how he hates that word. And Carthage, that blasted pet peeve of Longinus’s. Taran can practically hear his sire’s voice in the hissing words of the misshapen creature.

Taran smiles a cold smile in the night, white-hot fury just behind his eyes, and wills more blood into his muscles.

Spending 2 blood points for 1 more on Dex+Str respectively, bringing them up to 5 each
With the ghastly attacker firmly under his spear’s handle, Taran now pulls him back with all his force, trying to hurt him, to break his grip on Lorena. He’s done with being delicate.

Dex+Melee
[roll0]

Damage
[roll1] plus 2 automatic successes for Potence

Rerolls / Additional damage
[roll2]

“Run”, he hisses in Lorena’s direction, hoping to weaken her attacker’s grip. And amongst the red haze before his eyes, Taran realizes that this is likely the last coherent word he is going to utter before the beast claims him another time.

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

When you look around, you notice that the inn is slowely emptying. People are leaving and there is no one who can hear you talk.

Alexander smiles, but remains quiet when you mention the Lasombra's curse, he seems to like it. :smallsmile: When you continue about the Dark Arts he says: "You are a strange kind of bird, aren't you? Afraid to get notices, but also desperate to fly high in the open."

"Strange things lurk in the shadows, Lucious." He looks around scared as if he just expected to be jumped by something.

"Try to find friends. All of us have to carry our curse alone, but surviving the cold nights, is easier with a little company."


Lucious

Lucious will smirk at Alexander's observation about his character traits, We all have our internal contradictory struggles. . Lucious will look around when Alexander looks scared. Trully a son of Malkaf, is this insanity or true awareness and wisdom?. Lucious smiles at the last part of what Alexander's said, Well I am hoping that I have just made my first? So it's getting late and I should go. I'll see you tomorrow evening at the theater?. After receiving an answer Lucious will get his things together, shake Alexander's hand, and depart the tavern.

Wanting to go see Corva first but not knowing where to look, Lucious will make his way towards Hesiod's bathhouse, he'll ask locals the directions whenever he gets lost, but he also won't be in any hurry to arrive. Lucious believes that a great politician must understands his subjects to rule completely and he will take the opportunity to watch the local people and see what he can understand about them.

[daelrog]

Eva Reims

“Perhaps you will be ready in fifty years, if you do not disappoint.” Velance took mesaure of Eva, appraising her as a man would appraise a statue. “If only your mind was as keen as your body beautiful, you would be one of the most dangerous neonates of the Clan. Alas, you may have to make due as bait to the Toreador. Still far better than most of what our wayward Clan is turning into, complacency and decadence are taking root already. Now then, tell me what you have learned from your readings about the true nature of obtenebration.”



Calver Velance had seemed invincible then. A hard, but fair tyrant over her. Never once had he hit her. In fact, the only time two times he even laid a finger on her was during her embrace, and before that holding her hand on the way out of the church when he had first taken custody of her. No, it was his constant disappointment in her failures that drove her, the way he would only be mildly satisfied when she had done well. Even when he took her out to meet the other kindred of Rome, he seemed above them all, even with speaking deferentially to them, at least in her biased eyes.

That had changed when she was what little of him was left. A severed hand was strewn about the floor, as well as part of a leg, though she never knew which leg it was. Deep down she knew he had died, so who was this stranger in front of her? Did her instincts betray her?

Reality gripped her, and she needed protection against a mad Prince. The Nosferatu elder and a familiar face, true or not, were there. A sad truth to admit that between the Lasombra and the Nosferatu, the lepers were most likely more trustworthy, though not by much. She moved forward, collecting herself as she walked.

“Excuse me.” She gave a quick, but deferentially bow. “You are Caeso Silanus, are you not? I am Eva Reims of Clan Lasombra, recent arrival from Rome…” She waited for the Elder Nosferatu to answer, not wishing to offend him, or at least as little as she could being of the same Clan as his rival.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Marcus

"Excellent that shall suffice most aptly," Marcus said.

He still hoped he would have time to arrange for his own haven. He trusted his brother's implicitly, but had gotten used to a more private arrangement over the last few decades. Besides which it paid to have a few secret boltholes one could fall back upon in times of trouble. And the best way to keep such a thing secret was to tell no one.

"Brother should we be going then?" Marcus said making his way out of the hidden chamber.

Barring anything further Regulus might need Marcus quickly returned to the streets and veiled and let Regulus lead him on a different route back to Hesiod's Bathhouse. Being sure to collect the haven locations along the way.

[Calenestel]

Ambrosius

Nodding slowly the ashen priest files the information about Corva away. Relaxed about formalities but with, probably, a combination of paranoia and care for his own prestige that would lead him to attack clan members for simply wanting out of New Rome? That made little sense, and for less comfort. "I'll write him myself, sister. Unless you'd think it better that you do it, of course. You are the voice of experience here. Now... I know that I need to visit the Prince to introduce myself and visit this Darius. In between I should see to finding a suitable haven."

He pauses briefly before continuing with a widening, friendly smile: "But for just a spell, let's talk about simpler things. That which is for our pleasure rather than business. You said that you have been making great strides in your chosen field of study. I think you'll be... if not pleased then at least amused by my own. I've finally learned to call forth shadows enough to blanket a room, not only to flit across an occasional wall." He says this with more self-irony than pride. It's not a big step, but considering her earlier frustration with how slowly he made any headway with Obtenebration (not to mention how little he cared about his pace in the matter), it'd probably make her laugh.

[Ichneumon]

Ambrosius

Sarah started laughing. Ambrose's words certainly cheered her up: "Hahaha, it's good to see you again, Ambrosius. I always believed there was a talented shadow disciple somewhere in you. It seems the Voices are listening to you, even though your blasphemous ways. Well done!", she said, jokingly.

"Now, about that haven you were talking about, I might have something you'd like. Follow me."

Having said those words, with quick steps, she hastily guides you to the back-end of the bathing house, there, she takes a torch and leads both you and Kamenwati down a narrow stairway curling down into the deep. It's dark and the walk takes a few minutes. The air is cold and wet. The only light comes from the Sarah's torch and shadows dance around you.

"The water of all the bathing houses comes from the Lycus. A subterranean system of aqueducts transports the water to all places in the city. The network of aqueducts is connected with 2 other networks. One, a system of sewers, two, a system of tunnels..."

You stop descending and after making a few turns, passing the 'aqueduct' area, you come in a more 'rough' area: cut into solid rock, fortified by wooden beams and are barely a shoulder breadth in width. The ceilings are low, forcing an adult to hunch over.

"It's said that these tunnels were used by Constantine himself, for military purposes. They connect to almost everywhere in the city."

She pointed in one direction and handed you a large iron key. "If you go left, you'll find a small door. Look carefully, it's easy to miss. The door leads into a series of three medium sized rooms. Originally used to store military equipment in Constantine's era, but long since abandoned. As far as I know, no one know about it, except for me. The rooms are now still full of dirt and garbage, but it won't take long to clean it up. I can get some of ghouls and servants to help you."

And with a smile she pointed in another direction: "If you go that way, you'll get to the sewers and are able to get to the ground without going through the bathing house."

"You want it? I guess that would make us neighbours of some sorts.":smallwink:

Taran

The man lets go of Lorena, who fell to the ground, to weak to run though, she doesn't move, but simply stares in horror to both of you, somewhat still in shock.

Taran fails to hurt him though, as the man's agility takes Taran by surprise. With a jolt of strength, the man tries to break free from Taran's grip.

Strength (3) + Brawl (0) = [roll0], if it's 1 succes, he's free (I think).

"Now," he says with a voice, sounding even more angry then he did before, "who are you?"

Lucious

Alexander smiles and bows in a somewhat over the top, ridiculous looking way. "You certainly have made a friend, Lucious Gious. I'm looking forward to the play tomorrow. See you then."

You see him quickly walking away, getting back to business, trying to sell him amulets to the few tourists that walk the streets.

As you leave the tavern, you don't bump into a lot of people, many stay at home and those that do leave their house, are quick and cover their faces with rags or their clothes, afraid the plague might hit on them next.

You arrive at Hesiod's, only to almost bump into the Prince who, rather hastily seems to want to leave. He doesn't look happy. Unless you adress him, he ignores you and continues, and you enter the same room as the others in the bathing house without any difficulty.

Marcus

A few moments after Lucious has arrived, Marcus enters as well. It took a little longer than last time, since Regulus had to show him the locations of the havens: one near the harbour, in an old storage building for caught fish, and another, more in the East, near the forum of Constantine, in a small church.

Once you arrive, you notice that many of the Kindred you've travelled with are present: Lucious, Ramesses, Titus, Eva.


Eva

The old nosferatu smiles. Even though he has a horrid appearance, his demeanor is that of a gentlemen. He bows. "It is true, I am Silanus. It's an honour meating you, miss Reims. May I, on behalf of all the Nosferatu in New Rome, welcome you to our beloved city.", while saying this, he stares at you with meaningful intensity. He takes you very serious, and although it might be a bit discomforting given his looks, it also again gives the impression of him being an honest and honourable man, giving each person who talks to him his full attention.

Meanwhile, your 'sire' listens carefully. Not a sign that he'd recognize you.

[Calenestel]

Ambrose

Giving his "cousin" a sly grin Ambrose shrugs and replies: "It's not that big a deal, really. The Lord has seen fit to grant me this strange power over the Darkness. If I'm to be a Light to His people then I should learn to use all the powers available to me, shouldn't I?" His tone is equally teasing and friendly. Just like when she had visited Rome. She was... surprisingly cheerful and friendly for a follower of her Road, it never seized to amaze him, but it made for both amicable and interesting discussions. He knew he couldn't trust her too far, anyways. They were what they were, after all. But it felt good to be around a cainite who wasn't all doom and gloom.
"Still, I thought you'd enjoy that piece of news," he adds, standing up, curious as to what Sarah was thinking about when it came to havens. He guessed she had some room somewhere in the bath house that he could use for a while.

Which turned out to be close, but not quite right. She did indeed have a nice little fixer-upper for him to use, but it wasn't really in the bathhouse. Still, it suited his purposes perfectly, and it was close enough to her haven that they could rely on each other for support and strength in numbers. A red light springing up in the ashen priests eyes looks ahead, already looking for the door. "I can't say without actually seeing the place, of course. But it sounds like it'll do more than nicely. Three rooms... one for me, one for Kamenwati and one for my books. Yes, that'll do very well. Agreed. Would you mind if I continued to use your domain as my entry point? And does this lie within your domain or outside it?" He was already thinking about how to move furniture in there. And what books he'd like to have copies made out of to begin with. He'd need a small library for his studies as well as his investigations.

The reason he wanted to use her haven as an entrance was that it'd mean that he wouldn't expose a possible escape rout. Nor would he give anyone a way to sneak into Sarah's haven. But if she wanted to keep their aquaintance secret, then he'd oblige of course.

[daelrog]

Eva

Eva smiles. "You are too gracious. I wish I could say the same for the entire city." Though subtle, her eyes drifting slightly back towards where the Prince had been, though not all the way.

"I wonder what I am to do in such times as these. Certainly it does no good to stand aside." She smiled at the elder Nosferatu.

Her offer was thrown to him, to aid him for protection. She waited for his price.

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

Lucious, not knowing what the Prince looks like, will let the man pass him as he tries to enter the bath house. Once inside Lucious will look around, noticing his former travelling companions. I guess this should have been expected... Lucious will make sure there are no Kine around before speaking. Is everyone here waiting to see and speak to the Prince?

[Sunfall]

Taran

The attacker has let go of Lorena. Taran strives to concentrate on that thought, as he turns, the stranger still in his grip, bringing himself between the horrid creature and the girl in one fitful movement. Then he simply lets go. The attacker is free, and the hasta clatters onto the flagstones.

Standing between Lorena and the stranger, slightly trembling from the effort to keep the wrath down, Taran looks his opponent in the eyes. He can’t speak, as it takes all his willpower not to break out in beastly growls, so he keeps his mouth clamped shut, feeling the pointed tips of his teeth crushing against his lips.

The little part in him that’s still able to rationalize dearly hopes that Lorena might gather herself and answer the stranger’s questions so that the situation might be defused, as it is not in his power to do so himself. He knows that if he lets go now, none of them might live to see another night.

The black dogs have slunk closer and now cower behind their master, tails firmly between their haunches. They’re nudging Lorena and gently nip at her clothes, trying to get her to stand up.

If the stranger should attack in this round, Taran will do his best to counterattack and drive him away from Lorena and the dogs before he falls into frenzy, as undoubtedly he will after that.

[Burnheart]

Ramesses

"Not yet" Ramesses replies looking over to the prince only to see him leave "It seems that shall have to wait for another night good Hesiod" he says with a slight frown before adding "Other than the prince whom do you suggest i introduce myself to?"

[Ichneumon]

Ambrosius

"Mind? Of course not, as long as you promise to visit me once in a while too, instead of just passing by." :smallamused:

"It lies just outside of my domain, yet, as far as I know, no-one claims this area, certainly not underground."

"Now, excuse me, Ambrosius, it was delightful, but I'm afraid I need to go. The night is running late and I still have other appointments. Maybe we can catch up some more tomorrow? If you ever need me, talk to Junius, the keeper of the bathing-house. He's one of my ghouls and will know where I am."

Lucius & Ramesses

Hesiod nods to Lucius, and replies to Ramesses question: "Well, it does seem the Prince just left. But any person of interest is of course, Caeso Silanus, that Nosferatu over there."

He points to the well-dressed Nosferatu, standing in a corner of the room, talking to other Kindred, one of them you recognize as being Eva.

Eva

The Nosferatu listens to you, he looks fascinated at the young Lasombra. "You are, of course, completely right, miss Reims. In times like these, one can not stand idle. Happiness is only for the man or woman who acts."

At that point, Eva's sire, or at least the one who looked like him, interrupted. "But surely, Silanus, there are more important things than what side you choose to stand on?"

"No, Cassian, that's the thing: there is nothing more important!" He said with complete dedication. It seems they enjoy debating with each other.

"Sorry to interrupt by the way. Nice to meet you, Eva. My name is Cassian Decimus.", your sire says to you.

Taran

Something within the Tzimische changed. Maybe he saw Taran's will, his dedication, his commitment, maybe the will with which he managed to control the beast. "We could tear you apart, you know that, Brujah? You show foolish bravery by defending her, yet one could say that foolish bravery is the most admirable bravery of them all. Now, we could kill you, yet we want an explanation, we want a name, we deserve to know your name."

It remains silent, as Taran tries to gather the strength to answer.

"Well?" :smallconfused:

At that point, Lorena breaks the awkward silence, shouting, while still in tears: "His name is Taran the Red! And we didn't mean any harm. And you are right, he is brave. He is the most bravest man I know."

"Taran the Red?" The man does a step back. He seems somewhat amused by such a name, like if he only now noticed his red hair and his blue tattoos. "Taran. That's a gaul name isn't it? You come from far. Like we once did."

[daelrog]

Eva

Eva was young even by human standards. Willfull, arrogant, and naive, she must have been a disappointment to her sire, a Cainite embraced before the birth of Christ who had established himself amongst Methuselah's back in Rome. However, the strange, comforting aura about her was a rare, and precious gift, and so he sculpted her intellect as best he could. Her own heart was unprepared for kindred life, as her rolly with Triple A was but the most severe example, her instincts, when her thoughts could not get in the way, were razor sharp.

At the moment it did not matter whether Cassian Decimus was Calver Velance or not. If it indeed was her sire, he did not wish their acquaintence to be known. If it was another purposefully taking his visage, he clearly did not know her, and it was in her best interest not to reveal any information she did not have to. And if by some impossible stroke of ill luck that this man simply looked exactly the same, then she would look the fool to bring such nonsense up. However, Eva did not think this, but feel it. It came natural that she simply treat him as a stranger.

"There is nothing to forgive Cassian. I interrupted your debate." She looked between the two of them now, speaking to both. "After arriving here I did as any lawful Cainite would do and introduced myself to the good Prince, but I found... that not everything is stable in Constantinople as it would seem." She tilted her head down slightly, and a golden curl dropped in front of her eyes. As she brushed it back, her finger delicately tapped her head twice, inferring that what not might be stable was someone's head. "I am afraid I do not understand the rules of this city yet. I had hoped to continue my research in this here, but I think that will have to be put on hold. I would be devastated if, when lost in my work, some villain snuck up behind me with dark desire in their heart." She smile radiantly at her feigned humor of someone trying to take her body, but it was not lust she was concerned about, but wrath.

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

Since the Prince has already left and Lucious has no deisre to make his presence known to Caeso Silanus, Lucious will take a walk around the bath house and see if anything else interesting is happening. If he notices nothing of interest then he will depart from the bath house and make his way to the forum, where he will try and learn about the state of the local businesses.

[Calenestel]

Ambrose

"You know I will, sister," the ashen priest answers calmly, and with a brotherly warmth uncommon to the cainites. Then again, he wasn't the typical cold-hearted monster. Even if he was dead. As Sarah walks back to her own haven Ambrosius mumbles the tenth Solemn Blessing, or the Priestly Blessing as she'd probably think of it still, at her retreating back. After that he heads for his new haven for a quick look and then moves on to find his back door.

Not much to say this time. Unless it's nearing dawn Ambrose will move on to find either the Prince or the Assamite.
Sorry for my tardiness. No real excuses. Just... forgot that I hadn't replied already. :smallfrown::smallredface:

[Sunfall]

Taran

With the Beast's flames still raging from them, Taran closes his eyes and falls back against the stone wall of the passage. "Yes", he says huskily in the lilting language of his homeland, "I've come far, haven't I?"

Lorena's praise, his native language and the feel of the rough stones grinding into his unclad back bring him back to the present, pushing the writhing rage back into its white-hot cage. When Taran opens his eyes again, really taking in his opponent's appearance for the first time , they're as clear as the sky after a storm.

"You know, I'd apologize", he finally addresses the stranger in a low voice, changing back to Latin, "but you tried to kill her. Made me angry… more foolish, if you like. Wouldn't have been good for any of us." It's just a statement, without any threat, but spoken with the firm conviction that the Tzimisce's victory might not have been quite that easy...

Without taking his eyes off the stranger, Taran offers Lorena a hand to help her up.

[Ichneumon]

First some OOC bussiness:

Wow, it's been exactly 2 weeks since I made an IC-post. I'm not proud of this at all, this is, at least for my doing, unprecedented. I promisse this won't happen again. Now, to get things back quickly again, I think it's best to end the scenes of everybody (almost everybody was leading up to that anyway) and skip ahead a day. Everything that happened in between (if you go hunting, searching for information etc) you'll be able to discuss, do and roll etc. in the OOC thread.

Taran

"Apologies are meaningless in these wild, uncivilized nights. Respect, is more important and you've earned ours, Taran the Red. Welcome, to Constantinople."

The cloaked figure backs away, looking one more time at Lorena. "You are right, Taran the Red, it would have been foolish."

"Till next time, Taran the Red." Then, before running away in the night, he makes a horrid high pitched sound, somewhat looking like laughter. "Oh, and feel free to feed, wherever you like."

He disappears. Lorena takes Tarans hands, standing up, bursting into tears and hugs him. "Th-that m-m-monster!"

It's been a rough night and with the emotional condition Lorena's in, you decide it's better to leave going to Elysium for another night. After comforting her, you check on the man lying the ground. He's dead. There is no one around who noticed what happened here. You quickly go back to the well to get some water to clean both you and Lorena. The musicians have, thankfully, left. After having cleaned up, you go search for an inn. You find a moderate - but cheap - tavern and stay for the night. No trouble at all. It's clean, although a bit small.

Next evening, right after you two woke up and leave the tavern, you almost immediately bump into someone...


Lucius & Ramesses & Eva

The discussions in the bathing house last for yet another hour, when finally Hesiod calls out: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am afraid we must close down. Dawn is approaching. Thank you for your presence and I hope to see you all soon again."

All the Kindred, one by one, leave the bathing house, to go back to their havens.

Eva's conversation with Cassian Decimus and Silanus was pleasant and entertaining. Silanus had a certain wit and charm that's not often seen in Nosferatu, in fact, he even tried flirting with Eva once or twice. Cassian Decimus is a lot more quiet, but also not unfriendly. He seemed almost completely disinterested in Eva and a couple of times he tried to steer the focus of the conversation away from her, without much success. Silanus explained the rules of the city to Eva, but none are really exceptional (all following the standard tradition) [In the potential case it becomes relevant, I'll provide information that you can be assumed to know now.]

If Eva tries to follow Cassian Decimus, she looses him in the crowds, almost as if he went up in thin air, right when he turns around the corner of an alley.

Ambrose

After having checked your new haven (it's as Sarah had described it: big, but still dirty and full of mud, it's will require some cleaning to do), you go look for the back door. You find it and find your self in the quiet streets of Constantinople. It's quiet, awfully quiet. You feel uneasy, yet don't know why. Since dawn is approaching, you decide not to go to the Elysium and instead find a sleeping place (either in your haven or either someplace else).

All of you

The next day, all of you have an encounter with a servant of Darius, ruler of the Constantinople Assamites.

Taran and Lorena bump into Mozes, a strong fierce-looking Egyptian Assamite. Ambrose is approached by Gemina, a mysterious Italian woman with sparkling green cat-like eyes. Eva is approached by Regulus, a quiet man with a rather negative demeanor. Lucius and Ramesses both get contacted by a Greek ghoul called Stavros. All of them though bring the same message: Darius wishes to speak to you, right away, and he won't accept any refusal.

Although the messengers aren't themselves hostile, but the way they bring the message, the overwhelming urgency that's communicated, convince you to go with them. They bring you to a small apartment on the second floor of a small building in the most poor region of the city. Once you go up the stair, you get into a small room, with all of you people, it's quite crowded: apart from you there are the messengers and Darius himself.

Darius appeared to be a man just entering his middle years, of moderate height with a thick muscular build. His skin was a dusky hue. His black hair and carefully trimmed beard were salted with touches of grey and white. A man of solidity. His clothes were dark and plain but of some fine material, tailored to fit. At his side hung a sword of the spathion style. Perhaps his most memorable feature though was a black eye patch over his left eye.
As soon as all of you have arrive, he immediately starts speaking: "Fellow Kindred, thank you for coming on such a short notice and I apologize for bringing you here in such impolite manners. Hopefully, you will pardon me, after you've learned of the predicament I am in."

"I am Darius, leader of the Assamites of Constantinople. I believe all of you have met my childr, Marcus before. He travelled with you from Rome."

"The reason I have brought you here is that I think things aren't going well with Constantinople and I think your lives are in grave danger. I asked Marcus yesterday to contact you, he never arrived at Hesiod's bathing house and my men can't find any clue about his current location. Not only that, but they've found the dead body of a certain slave trader you all know very well: Triple A."

"As some of you might have already learned, Constantinople isn't doing well. I think somebody is trying to break down Constantinople, with magic, monsters, such as the Bardi that attacked the caravan, and plagues. Who, how and why? I don't know. But I do know that whoever he is, he really wants at least some of you dead, and I was wondering if any of you could fill me in on why that might be the case? I am running out of options. I want to save this city and at this point, I don't know what to do. I was hoping, you might want to help."

He looks friendly, although somewhat stressed and pushy.

[daelrog]

All of Us

Eva listened, her arms folded across her chest, and her right leg crossed over her left. The only word she spoke during the Assamite's explanation was a half hearted "Pity." upon news that Triple A had died. It was none too amusing to see such an influencial kindred asking them for their advice, let alone an Assamite.

Certain ideas did run through her mind. There was the fact that her sire had been turned into little but red stains across their church's interior back in Rome. There was also the fact that a man who looked identical to him was at Elysium that night before. She did not know whether it was worth revealing this or not to Darius. She did know that she did not want to say it all to a room full of others.

However, there was one thing she had gained yesterday. "Whatever is behind it, the good Prince is probably involved. He was quite insistent on knowing if any Cainites from our travelling party met final death to the bardi. There was no mistaking his disappointment when I told him I knew not of any. From what I hear, he's already destroying this city from hunting and murdering any he thinks are traitors. What difference if he, or his ilk, are using a plague as well? If the kindred will not rise up to him now, what will a few more examples of his madness accomplish?"

[Calenestel]

Ambrosius

Ambrose had spent the night in his newly acquired haven. He had spent a little while cleaning it out, at least sweeping it with a broom he'd sent Kamenwati to fetch, but it had still not been a very far cry from a luxurious abode. But for the time being it would have to suffice. Soon enough he'd get some furniture, and start building a small library of his own, but there were other things to take care of first. And on top of the list of priorities had been succumbing to the weakness of flesh and actually sleep.

After waking, and administring another dose of vitae to Kamenwati in a short but solemn Mass, hardly more than Communion, he had sent his servant away to take care breakfast for himself while his master prayed. And over a simple breakfast of fresh bread, some hard cheese and a pitcher of goat's milk (at least for the nubian slave) they had talked abit. Their discussion had lasted beyond breakfast (or supper, come to think of it), but as Ambrose was early to rise for one of his kind they had time until the rest of the Cainites of Constantinople woke up. The priest had found out that while his new slave wasn't a seasoned fighter he was actually not very bad with a paint brush and knew enough about the Gospel and the Saints to be trusted with decorating their new home. And Ambrose had in turn taught his servant a bit about the origins of the Kindred and the nature of the Curse, and the role of the Faithful in it all. It was something they had touched upon before but he wanted his slave to understand the complexity of the Curse of Caine. That they weren't monster all the way through, or rather that they didn't have to be even if that were at their basest nature. If the man was to serve well he had to comprehend the nature of his master's race, after all. In time he'd lift the topic of Kamen himself being turned into a Cainite. If he was willing and deserving. And could be trusted to resist those baser urges.
In time the discussion ended and as Kamenwati had hardly slept during the day Ambrose had told the nubian to rest for a while. He wasn't overly comfortable with it but an exhausted body guard would hardly serve his function anyway.

After leaving through Sarah's bath-house, he was almost immediately confronted by a servant of Darius, one of two cainites he needed to see. Very well, the Assamite first then. It was probably for the best.

- - - - - - - - - - -

At Darius' meeting place (he didn't for a second believe this to be a place of importance to the old Assamite) Ambrose listened intently. So Arvina is dead and Darius is missing a childe who traveled with us? That's surprising, and a fair bit disconcerting. First the attack on the caravan and now this? Why? There must be more to this than random attacks. 'Once is nothing and twice is a coincidence but thrice is a pattern.' The question is... what is that pattern... The ashen priest stays silent a good while before speaking, and even then he sounds pensive and doubtful: "I am unsure about what the prince have to do with this, to be frank... I haven't seen the esteemed cainite yet... but someone I trust claims that this is beyond the temporal power of a ventrue prince. Of course, that's not saying a possibly mad prince won't be a problem for us if we try and get to the bottom with this..."
At that the ashen priest pauses, not for added dramatic flair but to gather his thought a bit before continuing. "I can see only one reason for anyone to seek me out and even that is farfetched. If you would like to hear about it anyway I might tell you in private, master Darius. It's a personal issue but I'm willing to betray my own secret as a show of good faith. With reasonable precautions, of course." He doesn't even glance to the strangers around him, but to his mind telling all these, even those of his own clan, would probably be unwise.
"As for helping, I'm not sure what I can do to contribute, but I have my own reasons to stay in Constantinople for a good while and to like that stay to be calm and uneventful..."

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran only inclined his head at the ghastly stanger’s praise to show that the respect was mutual – and once more in thanks for the permission to hunt, while steadfastly holding on to the shivering Lorena. He didn’t share her trepidation for the “monster”. His sire had told him about the clans and such, but Taran never really cared who was which. Some looked human and some didn’t. His own experience was that those who didn’t look human usually were a mite easier to get along with. More human on the inside, maybe, than those who looked the part.

When Lorena calmed down a bit, he gently let go of her and crouched down to examine the poor musician whom she had enticed to such an ultimate fate.
“Dead”, he murmured.
Well, there was no reason to waste good sustenance. This one wouldn’t have need for his blood anymore. Taran took from the corpse what he needed, but only after trying to convince Lorena to drink some herself (if she would). They’d need their senses with them in this dangerous place. He decided to leave the corpse where it was. It would blend in nicely with all the rumors and strange happenings in this cursed city.

+++

As Darius’s messenger bumps into him, Taran can just refrain from taking the Assamite by the collar and starting another ill-advised fight. He’s nervous as it is and has already started to wonder if Constantinople is the right place for them to stay. Although, he thinks wryly, the problems of this city might well overshadow those which drove the two of them here. In the current state of affairs, no one will even think about asking for anyone’s sire.

He curtly nods at the Assamite’s message, and after gathering consent from Lorena, they follow the Egyptian to the meeting place. Cailean and Conan, who are yapping at his naked heels, their spirits recovered from last night’s fright, he leaves at the door of the house when they arrive, telling them to wait for his return. They plonk their ample backsides down onto the pavement, left and right of the door, with their long pink tongues lolling out of their crumpled snouts, their eyes and ears ever watchful on their surroundings.

+++

Everyone

Taran listens to Darius’s speech with his customary scowl on his face. That’s bad; he quite likes Marcus and his quiet, efficient ways. Triple A, on the other hand, not so much. He just raises his eyebrows at the news of the slave trader’s demise.

He carefully listens to Eva’s deliberations about the prince. It fits what Triple A had told them beforehand. He can also see Ambrose’s point, but he thinks that the prince is very likely part of this whole humbug, even if he isn’t its instigator…

“Them creatures at the camp,” he finally says quietly when there’s a lull in the conversation, abruptly changing the topic “,seemed to be headed for one certain point. Or person.” He pauses, thinking. “And inside the city they, too, talk about dog-like creatures. Might only be rumors so far, though. There’s also been talk about dog-headed men. But they think it’s the water that’s making people sick. The water from below.” He softly knocks his spear's shaft against the floorboards, making a hollow sound.

Taran has completely ignored Darius's question as to who might want to see him destroyed. Just like Ambrose, he figures that it would be really far-fetched to think that Longinus could possibly have something to to with this...

[XianTheCoder]

Luscious

After walking around the bathhouse and hearing it was closing time, Lucious departs and heads back to the inn where he is temporarily making his haven. Once in his room, Lucious will make sure that the room is sealed up tight from the suns raise and make sure the doors are secured. Lucious will then pull out his journal and attempt to write down in as much detail everything that he has seen and heard throughout the night. As the sun comes up Lucious will hide his journal and lay down to consider the possibilities as sleep takes him.

The next evening as Lucious rises he immediately prepares himself for a long evening of machinations. He dresses in a nice outfit and leaves his room heading out to the Forum. As he arrives he spends some time walking around and listening to the speakers. As he walks he is eventually approached by the messanger and dragged to the meeting.


Everyone

Lucious sits and listens to the Assamite and then to his former travelling companions speak. How is it that I continually end up in rooms with this group? At mention of Triple A's demise Lucious will perk up, So that means Lucentio is a free man... I must find him and extend my desire for a ghoul of his passions. I hope that he took kindly to my reaching out that last evening. Lucious will sit quietly listening to each person in turn, attempting not to offer any thoughts or opinions through his reactions. After Taran has spoken Lucious will think to himself. So the leader of the Assamites is so desperate he calls us into a room, without knowing our allegiances, and requests our help, while not actually telling us anything beyond ghost stories. In the process he has secured help and proprietary information from several kindred in attendence. I'm sorry my dear Darius, but if you want my assistence I need more than ghost stories and I need more assurances I am not a pawn in your games. For all I know you are behind the destruction of this city Lucious will sit quietly offering nothing and not speaking unless directly spoken too. He continues to keep his eye on the time, as he doesn't want to be late for the theater and meeting his Malkavian friend.

[Ichneumon]

Everyone

Darius remained quiet, while the others spoke. He looked carefully, judging, weighting, trying to interprete what was being said.

When Eva talks about the Prince, he nods. "Yes, I'd say the Prince is involved somehow as well. I'm not sure though if he's also just a pawn or something more. I've had Gemina and Mozes here spy on the Prince a while back and, well, he's not normal. They say that they caught him, when he thought he was alone, talking to himself sometimes, like if there were multiple people, inside his head, talking to one another. Quite unnerving. If he wasn't Kindred, I'd say somebody must have poisoned his mind. I don't have an explanation for this, but the fact that he actually seems to know and want Kindred to die, does give the idea that he's not just being a victim, but he's somehow much more involved."

Darius' attention shifts to Ambrose. "Don't share anything you think is not important. But if you think it is, please do."

While Taran speaks, although he listens, he looks at Lucious, as if he's trying to figure out what Lucious is thinking.

"Listen, I realise I maybe should've told you a bit more about my situation. At this point, I am desperate. I truely believe," he looked at Ambrose, "we are now Constantinople's only hope."

Saying, while looking at Lucious, "The plague. The odd behaviour of the Prince. My men have found strange markings, signs of demon worship, throughout the city and their having been cases of demonic unholy creatures, often in the shape of jackals, attacking civilians, Kine and Kindred.", while mentioning the jackals, he points toward Taran, indicating he did hear everything he'd said just now about the Bardi, "Slowly, they've been trying to kill us. I tried to warn everybody, but no one wants to listen. I've become a laughing stock, an object of redicule. They see me as a doomsayer. No one takes me serious. I've lost many good men. You are the only one's who KNOW I am at least partly right, since you've seen the Bardi. Even if you don't trust me, I hope you understand the difficult predicament we're in and the necessity of action."

Looking at Lucious, serious, as if he looks right through you and has read your mind. "I don't just ask random strangers for help without knowing anything them. I know you have an appointment with that Malkavian later tonight. You'll get there in time, don't worry. I've had spies watching you ever since you came here to Constantinople. I know enough about you that you're not our enemy."

"Now, are you in? I think Taran made a good observation there about the water systems below the city. No one has had time yet to check them out, but I believe the network of tunnels is large enough for creatures to go from one point to another and for someone to systematically poison the waters."

[daelrog]

Everyone

Eva thinks for but a moment and gestures by rolling her hand out, half opening her palm in a sign of generosity, half point at the Assamite elder as she spoke. "Like the priest, I want to stay in this city comfortably and establish myself. It seems that such a humble desire is out of reach." She paused for a moment, delicately touching her lips with her other hand, feeling for the right words. "If I am to help you Darius, I will need protection. My own guard can fight off brigands and bardi, but he is no match for a trained ghoul, let alone anything more dangerous. I will also want to know everything there is about the kindred of this city, and more than just who follows who. Other than that, I believe I can be of service."

She considered mentioning that she would expect a reward of some sort for her service to be determined. Perhaps old tomes of magic to start a library, perhaps a domain, perhaps servants, perhaps prestige amongst the Assamites. However, it would have been tactless at the moment. Such could be discussed another time, perhaps when this matter was dealt with.

[XianTheCoder]

Everyone

Spies... That's good to know.. Lucious will look rather disinterested at Darius. For arguments sake, what does 'Being In' entail? I have little interest in dedicating the entirety of my nights to engaging in endeavors designed to undermine and antagonize the most powerful kindred in the city. I have no roots in Constantinople, so I see all downside risk for me, where is the upside?

[Ichneumon]

Everyone

After hearing Eva and Lucious, Darius sighs disappointedly. *face-palm* He mumbles, more to himself than to you, "You just don't want to understand, do you?" Their answers just rubbed him the wrong way. He had expected more enthousiasm, more readiness and less reservation to coöperate.

Tired, he looks up again, but before he can reply, Mozes burst into a tantrum of frustration, and start yelling to Darius.

"Didn't we tell you, sir? These self-centered Lasombra won't help us. They don't want to get their hands dirty. It's impossible to unite the different clans, even if it's to their own benefit. They only think of themselves. Please sir, we beg of you, we've already lost so many good men, come with us, please, we've asked you before, let's leave Constantinople, let's save ourselves, let's save our clan. Let's go to Perinthos, Verona or Ravenna, or even Alexandria. I'm sure our master Ezras would welcome you with open arms."

His voice turns from anger to desperation, he also says some other things, but they are in Persian. From what you can understand, it seems they've had this discussion within their group multiple times before, both knowing each other's position. The other Assamites remain quiet, uneasy, but you feel they agree with Mozes.

Darius looks at Mozes, listening to his argument, carefully, even though he has heard them many times before. His response is different though than it was before, as you can deduce from the surprise in the eyes of his followers. He doesn't object anymore and instead he gives. Something within him, breaks, and he replies, in Persian, something that you think means: "Okay."

Darius turns towards you guys again. "I give up. For months, I've tried to unite the different clans and by doing so, by staying in Constantinople, have I endangered my own clanmates. Enough is enough. You ask what's in it for you, Lucious? There is really nothing I can further say to convince you, if you don't see the benefit, the big need of such a union between the clans, between Kindred, to preserve and better protect vampire society, to protect Constantinople against the dark forces, natural and supernatural that threaten it."

"Miss Reims, I can give you all the information I have, but I can not offer protection. I can barely protect my own men. We can only protect each other, as a team. Hopefully, in the future, some Clans do see the need for such an organisation. If you refuse to work as a team, instead only operating as individuals for your own benefit, Constantinople is lost and I'm wasting my time here. Maybe I was just naive, out of touch with reality to think you could and would help, set aside your own agendas for a moment and help an Assamite. I only wish I'd realized that before I endangered Marcus' life."

Angry and disappointed, Darius stands up, ready to leave.

[Sunfall]

Everyone

Taran gives a soft derisive chuckle. It's such an unusual thing for him to do that Lorena might even jump a little at the noise.

"You want to stay here?", he asks the others in his lilting, slow accent. "Want to find shelter in this place? Seems you got to earn it. Make it. It's not that man" - he motions toward Darius - "who wants you to get him a trinket or serve him in another manner. He knows what's wrong and tells you so you might do something for your own safe place here. If I show you a flood coming towards us, will you ask me to pay you to run from it?"

Taran shakes his head. "I'm tired of running. Tired of 'em clans and their bickering. City out there's tearing itself apart and here you stand, foolishly gabblin' away about 'establishing' and 'antagonizing'."

Taran falls silent, a bit abashedly, but determined not to let this slide. That has got to be the single longest speech he has ever given. And there he still has half a mind to ask Darius if Lorena and he himself can come with him. This really doesn't seem like the right place for her. But he will be damned if he doesn't even try to make it that place!

[daelrog]

Everyone

"Please, sit down Darius." Eva's tone was genuine asking, not a derisive comment of his sudden frustration. "Perhaps I had misunderstood you intentions. I had thought each of us were to help in our own way. To have us work together... you have my support Darius, and I know more than just the Prince's own madness. However, I would prefer only those who intend to stay to hear it."

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

Lucious is unmoved by Darius's outburst, Well I understand why he's a laughing stock at least. I wonder if everyone who refuses to blindly agree to help him gets this same outburst. I'm no Malkavian Diviner, but I predict a change in Assamite leadership in the near future, leadership demands composure even in the face of despair.. When Darius stands up as if it leave Lucious thinks to himself, Oh good, this meeting is finally over.. He remains seated hoping for a casual exit which unfortunately doesn't come as Taran begins speaking. It takes every ounce of self control for Lucious not to roll his eyes at the little speech that taran gives, What an ignorant speech from a naive child.. As Eva begins speaking he settles himself in for what promises to be an extension to the meeting,Well Played Darius, make these children rush to a decision with the prospects of you leaving while your ghost stories still haunt their little heads.

[Burnheart]

Ramesses

"I would be willing to aid you assassin but i have other bussiness to attend to, locating my brothers and sisters of Constantinople who have cut themselves off from the rest of our clan"

[Calenestel]

Ambrosius

Darius' comment about him telling the assamite more about his quest if it would be important but staying silent otherwise suddenly fills the ashen priest with doubt. Doubt about whether he should tell even Darius about it, that he should keep his quest hidden in his heart was something he had been told from the start but in a way the leader of the Assamites were different. He seemed a visionary interested in helping them all. Of course, many kindred upheld facades like that but it seemed... sincere in this case. Letting the other speak is an easy way out but he pays some attention to what they say as he thinks things through.
Lucious is the ordinary Lasombra, apparently. Scheming and only concerned about one person: himself. Not surprising, Ambrose knew the quality of most of his clan. In comparison Eva seemed much more naïve and innocent but he couldn't be sure about her just yet. The egyptian cainite was even more unknown, probably a Setite and thus probably a snake even compared to most of their kind, but he wasn't going to assume the worst just yet.
The one who really stands out in the end is Taran. The man's honest and down-to-earth point of view makes the lasombra Seeker feel a growing amount of respect and he finds himself nodding to the celt's words. Finally Ambrose finds himself forced to speak up again...

"I have my own pressing concerns as well... But I agree with Taran. This needs to be looked into. As for my own, far-fetched, suspicions I will say this: My own bloodline has made it a long term quest to study certain esoterica about the cainite condition. It's unlikely but it could be part of the puzzle. If it should prove needed either myself or Sarah bat Yitshak can tell you more. But for now I think it is of little concern."
He has a slightly pompous air, the good priest. But he seems rather unware of it and it doesn't seem to stem from an overly inflated sense of his own worth.

[Ichneumon]

Everyone

Darius calms down. Impressed by the words of both Taran and Eva, he sits down and listens to what the others have to say. The other Assamites don't make a move.

He listens to the words of everyone, carefully trying to calculate and figure out where everybody stands. By staying quiet, Lucious seems to be making him nervous and Darius tries to avoid eye contact with him.

He seems interested in what Ambrosius says. A smile appears on his face as soon as he mentions Sarah, a sign of recognition.

He says to you all: "Maybe we started wrong. Of course, I understand that you don't want to commit yourselves to anything, yet. You are free to do whatever you want, free to walk away or back out whenever you like and share as much with the group as you like."

He seems a bit more cheerful, although maybe still a bit naive, wanting to see the bright side of everything.

"This is what I propose: We keep in contact, all of us. I don't have a plan of action, I don't want you as my henchmen, my followers. I see us as partners. If I find something, I'll let you know. If any of you find something, I hope you share it with the rest of us. If any of you need to contact me, Regulus can usually be found on the forum."

"My men will continue to spy on the Prince. Like I said, I don't have a real plan, so unless you guys have anything further to say or have any other links or clues, any suggestions on how to proceed. I think we're done here. We can just continue doing what we do and hope some of us find something that might lead us further.":smallamused:

With a smile, somewhat fake, he adds. "It's nice doing business with you. I have faith in the future."

[daelrog]

Everyone

Eva remained seated. If others wished to leave immediately it was their business. She did not know if she could believe Darius's tale, but among the Bardi, the mad Prince, and a kindred identical in appearance to her sire, she was wise enough to know that all was not right.

"Tell me about the kindred named Cassian Decimus. I met him briefly speaking with Silanus."

[Ichneumon]

Everyone

Darius raised an eyebrow.:smallconfused:

He didn't expect the question. "Decimus? Him? Why you ask?"

"He's a no-body, really. Came to Constantinople a month or two ago. Said he came from the city of Ravenna. He doesn't do much. Spends most of his time in Elysium, being al fancy, pretending to be important, talking and debating with guys like Silanus. I don't like the guy. He's quite witty, but my impression was behind the interesting facade, he really is quite shallow and uninteresting."

[daelrog]

Everyone

"I ask because your shallow and uninteresting new resident in Constantinople is the reason I believe you." She closed her eyes, as if recalling her past. "My sire, a Lasombra named Calver Velance was well respected and feared by his peers in Rome. Something killed him. Too violent to be the work of men, too efficient to be the work of lupines, and not one drop of his blood was taken, instead it ran all along the walls of the church we stayed in. Last night, Decimus was wearing a priest's attire, the exact same that my sire was wearing the last I saw him alive, and Decimus's voice, face, features, even a small scar next to his right eye are the exact same."

"Darius, I mean not to critique an elder, but perhaps you should be more wary of those you think little of. I've read up enough on infernalists to know that they do not tend to stand out, if indeed we are dealing with the twice-damned."

[Sunfall]

Everyone

Taran's eyes flicker over to Ambrose when he backs him up, as if he hadn't really expected any of them to react in his favor - if they reacted at all. Now he doesn't really listen to Eva's deliberations about Cassian Decimus, but stares before him, his face hidden in the tousled shadow of his fiery hair.

Taran is already thinking about how he can make a difference in this city, make it a safer place without endangering Lorena. He looks at her, as until now she hasn't said anything at all at this meeting. How can he go down into the bowels of the city and keep her safe at the same time?

[Burnheart]

Everyone

"Infernalists? If that is truely what is invovled in this matter you have my aid Lady, should you wish it of course" Ramesses says with a charming smile.

[Ichneumon]

Everyone

Darius' jaw dropped open. He didn't know what to say. This, this was something he hadn't expected at all, yet, yet at the same time this was exactly what he had foreseen.

"I knew it." He smiles. "I knew that it was simple. I only needed some other people to look at things, with other eyes. With a new perspective. Foolish of me."

The other Assamites remained silent, but it was obvious to anyone they were listening. The fact that Eva just said something that might give them a lead, was a victory for Darius and Moses knew this.

"Right. Infernalists. Yes, there is a good chance we might be dealing with them, I'm afraid. We need to proceed carefully. I don't know where Decimus lives, but I can find out. We can stalk him next time he leaves Elysium. That an idea?"

He looks gratefully at Ramesses, after he pledged his help.

Lorena remained silent. She simply nodded. She felt uncertain, scared and didn't know what they were talking about. Infernalists? She vaguely remembered having heard the term before. It was better to say nothing, she figured, than to say something stupid.

[daelrog]

Everyone

"That would be most ideal, dear Darius. I have many questions for our brother Cainite as I'm sure you do as well. I think when the time comes, several of us should be present to keep him in check." Eva stood up, signifying that she was ready to leave. "Unless there is anything else, I would like to pay a visit to the Cappadocians. I wish to speak with those who are far more apt than uncovering knowledge than I am."

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

Lucious sits quietly with a blank expression on his face as those around him speak. As they speak about infernalism his ears perk up and he listens a little more closely. As Eva stands up Lucious will once again prepare to leave.

OOC: Assuming people are finally preparing to depart, on the way out Lucious will try and grab either or both of the other Lasombra to ask them if either knows the haven of Spurious Corva.

[Ichneumon]

Everyone

Darius smiled. "The Cappadocians? Haven't seen those in a while. If you see them, tell them I said 'hi' will you? Yeah, I think we're done as well. Thank you all for coming. And see you soon, hopefully."

He nodded to the others and stands up as well, ready to leave.

OOC: okay, guys. I think this scene is over. :) So, please post what you're planning to do next and I'll update later this day for those I can. I know Eva is going to try to find the Cappadocians and Lucious indicated he wants to talk to Eva and Ambrose seperatedly and I figure he's going to the play with Alexander later? If Taran wants to wait and see what Lorena wants to do, I'll think of something and post it as well.*If not, just tell me what and I'll post an update. :smallsmile:

[XianTheCoder]

Everyone

As people stand and prepare to leave Lucious will grab the attention of both Eva and Ambrosius indicating for them to hold up a second. As people filter out Lucious will step to the side of the room and say to whichever of them come to speak with him, Thank You for giving me a second. As it happens, I have need to speak with our Elder Spurious Corva, yet I find myself unaware of his location. I was hoping one of you potentially knew where he may be found? Lucious will ask with a hopeful smile and a friendly demeanor.

___

After departing, Lucious will make his way towards the theater and his meeting place with Alexander.

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran steps out of the house, absentmindedly petting the broad heads of his dogs who greet him and Lorena, their tail stumps frantically wagging.

"What now?", he asks his companion, quietly. He's a bit taken aback by her silence throughout the meeting, although he knows her mortal fear of saying something stupid (a fear that Taran himself doesn't know, that even his own sire never could pound into him). The next thing to do might be getting proper place to stay, one that is less conspicuous than the inn and can be better defended, he thinks - but waits for her to make a suggestion of her own. If he knew her to be safe, he could probably go and take a look at those pipes in the ground…

He wonders if Lorena wants to get in touch with her brethren, as all the other Kindred are wont to do. Taran for sure knows he doesn't desire to meet any other Brujah, though…

[Ichneumon]

Taran

Lorena think for a moment, before answering Taran's question.

She looks at Taran with big sad and tired eyes. "Taran, aren't you getting tired of this? I'm tired of being afraid. Tired of being alone, being uncertain. We're giving a chance now, let's just jump right in.". She quickly walks to Darius, hoping to stop him before he might leave, so nervous she bumps right into him. She apologizes, but he seems more amused then offended.

"Good sir, I've.. eh um... remained quiet for quite a while during our conversation with the group, but I want you to know I trust you and have thought deeply about what you've said, and I want to offer my help, although I am not strong, nor have I much experience, nor do I know a lot of people.... I do have a pair of hands and eyes though that I can put to good use. It's just eh... I eh.. just wanted to say, before we left... Thank you, thank you for sharing this with us and genuinely being concerned for our well-being. I want you to know you have my... my full trust and complete support."

Darius looks surprised, not knowing what to answer at first.

"Me and... Taran, here, are searching for a safe place to stay, here in Constantinople, would you know of any such place? Would you be able to give us a save place to stay"

Darius looks confused, almost as if he didn't believe what he just heard and looks at Taran for a moment, as if asking for a confirmation of some sort, to make sure he just heard it correctly.

Lucious

After each of you went their own way, you rush to the theater. You're late and you also don't particularly remember where you exactly agreed to meet Alexander. You arrive in front of the theater and see an almost empty street. Some other people, also late, quickly go through the entrance and rush up the stairs, hoping to still be able to get a good place. The theater is built like a classical greek theater:

http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/arts-architecture/architecture/greek-theater.jpg

In the middle of the so called 'orchestra', you can see some of the actors guiding the visitors up the stairs and pointing to empty seats. They're joking. Obviously having a good time and enjoying that so many people come to see their play. Amongst them, you see Ulysses, or at least, that's who you think it is, since he's wearing a theater mask and long black robes, but you recognize his voice as he shouts, asking people to take a seat, since they want to begin shortly.

You look around, yet see no sign of Alexander in either the masses already seated or the people still standing before the public entrance. Would Alexander have left? Why wasn't he here?

You look around and walk away from the theater's entrance a bit. The streets are empty. Not a single soul, except for one strange fellow. Based on his gait and the odor, he’s drunk. A young man, blond hair. He might be lost, or he might be homeless. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you hear a voice “Kill. He's an easy catch.” You don’t have time to make that decision, though, since a hand grabs the man from an alleyway, pulling him into the dark shadows.

You quickly follow and see Alexander feeding on him, quite hungrily. After having sunk his teeth in the poor man and having taken quite a load of blood, he smiles at you, wiping away some of the blood from his face, and says in a playfully arrogant manner: "Sorry bro, I saw him first and I really needed that drink. Did you take my advise on staying low or has one of the lion's of Constantinople already caught your scent?":smallamused:

Although he acts all relaxed and calm, you notice he's all bruised and bloody, his hair all messed up and clothes full of dirt.

[daelrog]

Lucious, Ambrose, Eva

Eva shook her head in the negative. "No, I have yet to ask where Spurious Corva is. I hope to speak to a few more Elders soon and establish an acquaitance before I am told anything to the contrary by our Clan. Friendship is often underrated by our kind."

Eva departed, her aim was to see if she could find where the Cappadocians had hid themselves. Until her sire's imitator's domain was found, it seemed the best she could do.

[Ichneumon]

Eva

After wandering through the city for a while, carefully looking around, approaching the right the kind of people, you get a clue and head your way to the Monastery of St. John, in the south western part of the city.

There, in the libraries of the most important monastery of Constantinople, you find Caelina, one of the two Cappadocian Elders in Constantinople, hidden in the utter most back of the library, she sits at a small table in a dark corner, filled with books. Only one small candle is lit. Because of the darkness and because of her concentration, she hasn't noticed you yet.

She looks old, maybe in her late 50's, but still beautiful. Grey hair, sharp features. She looks patient and focussed.

You hear her talking to herself, or actually, it's more like reading out loud from a big old dusty tome. She's translating from one language to another and finds it difficult to understand what's written: "Shadows. Before. Creation. Before creation, darkness was all, and it waits even now... eh before? No, Beyond. Beyond the edges of all worlds. In time. The greatest of sun. No. In time, the greatest of lights and the brightests of suns must dim and gutter. Shadows are not just the absence of light. Light, is the absence of darkness." She shivers and continues reading.

[Sunfall]

Taran

A slight smile flits across Taran's face. Finally! Now that she's made a decision, he's happy to go along with it. "Just as my lady says: We need a safe haven", he nods. "Not that we're asking for unwarranted favors, though", he specifies after a moment's thought, pride flashing in his grey eyes. "But maybe you'd have... a tip?"

All these dealings with other Kindred make him slightly nervous. They'll need a secure haven, first and foremost. And, he inwardly sighs at the thought, they probably need to see the prince, for permission to feed or some such nonsense. Nevertheless, he wouldn't let Lorena meet the guy alone, oh no. Not after what he's heard about him. Or maybe, Taran figures, they can skip that and restrict themselves to the city's quarter where the monstrous stranger gave them permission to hunt… Which gives him another idea.

He hesitates a moment in the conversation with Darius before broaching the subject. But after all, Lorena decided to trust the old Assamite, and he himself does not suspect him of any hidden agenda, at least not where the matter of the city's well-being is concerned. "Oh - and while you're looking for allies in all that… curse business", he ventures, "Have you thought about asking the monstrous one in the quarter to the east of the… Forum of Theodor something or other… thought about asking for his opinion in this matter? He seems…" Taran pauses, looking for quite the right word, but finally just settles for: "…reasonable…"

Taran figures that the stranger from the alleyway might also have an interest to protect his realm from whatever is going on. And maybe Darius can tell them who he is?

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious, Ambrose, Eva
Lucious will thank Eva anyways and watch her go.

OOC: If Calenestel returns then Lucious will have waited for a response, if not then I assume he tells me no and Lucious leaves.

------------

Lucious, Alexander

It's quite alright, I am content for right now. What happened to you my friend? You look like you've been through a rough evening? Lucious will use Alexander's appearance as a means of avoiding the question about keeping a low profile. Come, the show is going to begin soon and we want to get a good seat. We can discuss more on the way and during intermission. Lucious will take a last look at Alexander's meal and then lead him away from the alley and into the theater where he will locate Ulysses. Once he finds Ulysses he will introduce Alexander and give an appreciative 'thank you' for the seats. Once they are seated Lucious will take a glance around to see if there are any suspicious characters near them, if there are none then Lucious will will lean over and speak softly to Alexander, So tell me friend, who roughed you up this evening?

[daelrog]

Eva

"What language are you trying to translate?" She tried to keep her voice soft as to not startle or upset Caelina. In truth, she felt this meeting far more important than the Assamite and the Nosferatu. Whereas Silanus was a major political player, Darius seemed to be her key to solving the obstacles that were before her now, it was the Cappadocians whom she sought for a long relationship. She wished to continue her studies into the occult, the secrets in this world.

[Ichneumon]

Eva

With big, surprised eyes she looks up from her book, her gaze piercing right through you. "Arabic. Who are you?", she said coldly. Neither hostile nor welcoming.

Lucious, Alexander

"I wish I knew, my dear friend. I'm confused and I don't understand it. I'll tell you what happened, but I hope you can explain it to me, as it doesn't make any sense."

As he talked, you guys went to the theater. Ulysses smiled and lighted up when he saw you again. "Friend! You have come! You fill my heart with joy! Hahaha", he bows deeply and laughs. "Please, take a seat and when we are done, come and have a drink with us."

It was very noisy (laughing, people shouting, small children crying) and it still took a few moments till the play began, meanwhile, Alexander started explaining what happened, talking soft, whispering, making sure no one but you could hear him. No one was paying attention.

"I was walking around in the North-West part of Constantinople, visiting a kine friend of mine. Fortune hasn't been good to him lately. He owns a small butcher shop with his brother. Both of their families have been fallen victim to sickness. I came to see if my amulets could help. Well, I was shocked. He couldn't even walk anymore. He had a huge seeping boil on his left leg. When I was examining it, a thick grey worm protrude from it. I'd never seen something like that..." He pauzed. "None of my amulets could help him."

"Anyway, I had just left when I-", he stopped. The play was beginning.

Three men were standing on the stage, each with a torch, in the middle stood Ulysses.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. We, Apollo's Actor's Guild, have come all the way from Ravenna, to perform for you to night. As you can see, I am the one who's wearing a black robe. In theater traditions, this means I am playing the villain of this story." A smile appears on his face.

"In real life, villains aren't dressed as recognizably, I'm afraid. So, I ask you, please, enjoy yourselves during the play, but when you leave this theater: be vigilant. Look around. Just as we actors do in theater: everyone changes rolles. A friend one day, can become an enemy another day." He puts on a mask. "So take my advise, fine gentlemen, please remember! We're all wearing masks, in some way, only mine is more clear than yours. Be distrustful!"

Then, all three, throw the torches on the ground, and the play starts...

The play isn't very good and during the most boring parts, Alexander continues his story, whispering in your ear.

"Well, I was leaving my friend's house and was on my way to this theater, to meet with you, when I noticed a strange, subtle, sickly sweet smell, permeating from the bathhouse of Kratos. You know Kratos' Bathinghouse? It's one of the three in Constantinople. I followed the scent to the bathinghouse. There were no customers. Just then, out of no where, several man ran out of the bathhouse and attacked me! I could barely escape alive! They were so ferocious..."

At that point, Carlos, one of the actor's (playing the lead-role) shouts something and dramatically falls to the ground, pretending to have died. The play is over. People applaud, but not very enthusiastically.

Taran

Darius listened to Taran's words and you could easily see he was taken by Taran's charm and honesty. "Of course, my children. I'll help you out. Feel no fear any longer. Let Darius take care of you!"

"I'll have one my men take you to one of my old spare havens, in the inner chapel of Monastery of St. John. It's one of the most safe places in the city."

He looks surprised and somewhat shocked, when you mentioned the encounter with the scary Tzimisce. He looked at you in awe. "You met... him? And you survived?" :smalleek:

[Sunfall]

Taran

After solemnly nodding his thanks at the Assamite Elder's spontaneous offer of a haven, the scrawny youth just shrugs at Darius's following exclamation.
"Had a bit of a run-in", he murmurs, his gaze flitting over to Lorena, just for the fraction of a second. "It was a misunderstanding, and he was quite gracious about it", he finally continues. "Who is he?"

[daelrog]

Eva

Eva smiles, charmingly. "Eva Reims. Like you I take an interest in the world's secrets. Unlike you, I am new to this city, and still am still finding my way. I happen to speak and read Arabic fluently. If I may?" She stepped forward to the Cappadocian in offer to translate the work. She was tempted to look at the tome, to get some clue as to what it was, but she kept her eyes focused on Caelina, waiting for permission.

There was an order to these things.

***


"But why must I learn all these different languages? Will I ever go to these places?" The young, human Eva was not fully complaining, having learned her lesson quickly, but she was curious, and emobldened by her affinity for language. Still, she had started on the actual intonations, to speak the language as a native would, and there she hit a wall, the frustration getting to her.

Calver measued her for but a moment before responding. In time, you may. If you do not learn, than such places will be closed off to you."

Eva tapped her fingers on the table. "Why haven't you taught me how to have social graces as the other ladies, or to fight like the slaves?"

"I do not teach the ladies social graces, the head servant does so. If it is your wish to be a little bird, then I will clip you wings and you will be as one of them. If you wish to fight I will take the clothes from your back and throw you in with the slaves and see how you fair. Stay within my library and I will teach you how true Cainites fight, with force of will. First, you will learn, you will understand the secrets of the world. Power can be gained by anyone, but learning is best at a young age. Do you have any more questions?"

Another test. Calver believed his answer sufficient, and wished to discuss it no further. "No, master."

"I see."

[Ichneumon]

Eva

"You may, Eva Reims", she says in a somewhat surprised, amused manner. She moves the book in your direction and points to a paragraph. "I'm especially interested in what's written over here. My Arabic is very basic, I'm afraid."

You glance at the book. It appears old. As your finger touch the dark black leathery cover, you instantly get a small light shock, electricity, static. As if some current was flowing through it. It's gone in an instant. The book has something... mesmerizing, something magical.

You look at the written page. Multiple handwritings. Some drawn clearly, others are not. Pentagrams and other "magical' symbols are written all over the place. You also see different mathematically formulas. You recognize the names of stars and other heavenly constellations. The book seems to be a magician's book, a tome of magic and witchcraft. Although it's old and some of the vocabulary is strange to you, the subject of this book is not: shadows magic. It's source is unclear to you. It must be an old book and the person who wrote it, obviously knew a lot about the art of Obtenebration, but the way he wrote it down and his philosophical associations aren't the conventional Lasombra teachings. It's highly unusual.

You read the following:

"I've had a vision of the future. In a hundred years, on these planes, a city will be built, a city honoring the divine. The city will grow and become the most prosperous city on earth, more prosperous than Rom ever was. Yet by the hands of the king of leeches, it will fall, and darkness will cover the earth. Darkness will come. It will."

As far as you can tell, from reading other parts, the book belonged to an old obscure Lasombra sect, calling themselves the Nightshade Brotherhood and, as far as you call tell, took it upon themselves to rid the world of all light and believed the end of the world was near. You've never heard of them before, but the fact that such sects existed is not new information for you, as many similar sects have appeared throughout the ages.

Taran

Darius smiles. "You've been lucky. We all just avoid him. He's a bit crazy, I think."

"He refers to himself as Sasha. He's the oldest vampire around here, I think. They say he was there when Constantine has his famous vision. In the year 324, when he was fighting for the title of emperor. During the battle, a vision came to him: the image of a cross in the setting sun, with the words In Hoc Signo Vinces, in this sign you will conquer. He defeated his enemies near the city of Byzantium. His first act as Emperor was to rebuild the city there, as New Rome. As far as I know, Sasha was one of the first vampires to inhabit the city and one of the only ones native to the area."

"He's a mysterious fellow. He doesn't seem very happy. He always looked 'damaged' to me, scarred by his past. I wish I knew what has happened to him."

[XianTheCoder]

[QUOTE=Ichneumon;13241288]
Lucious, Alexander

"I wish I knew, my dear friend. I'm confused and I don't understand it. I'll tell you what happened, but I hope you can explain it to me, as it doesn't make any sense."

As he talked, you guys went to the theater. Ulysses smiled and lighted up when he saw you again. "Friend! You have come! You fill my heart with joy! Hahaha", he bows deeply and laughs. "Please, take a seat and when we are done, come and have a drink with us."

It was very noisy (laughing, people shouting, small children crying) and it still took a few moments till the play began, meanwhile, Alexander started explaining what happened, talking soft, whispering, making sure no one but you could hear him. No one was paying attention.

"I was walking around in the North-West part of Constantinople, visiting a kine friend of mine. Fortune hasn't been good to him lately. He owns a small butcher shop with his brother. Both of their families have been fallen victim to sickness. I came to see if my amulets could help. Well, I was shocked. He couldn't even walk anymore. He had a huge seeping boil on his left leg. When I was examining it, a thick grey worm protrude from it. I'd never seen something like that..." He pauzed. "None of my amulets could help him."

"Anyway, I had just left when I-", he stopped. The play was beginning.

Three men were standing on the stage, each with a torch, in the middle stood Ulysses.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. We, Apollo's Actor's Guild, have come all the way from Ravenna, to perform for you to night. As you can see, I am the one who's wearing a black robe. In theater traditions, this means I am playing the villain of this story." A smile appears on his face.

"In real life, villains aren't dressed as recognizably, I'm afraid. So, I ask you, please, enjoy yourselves during the play, but when you leave this theater: be vigilant. Look around. Just as we actors do in theater: everyone changes rolles. A friend one day, can become an enemy another day." He puts on a mask. "So take my advise, fine gentlemen, please remember! We're all wearing masks, in some way, only mine is more clear than yours. Be distrustful!"

Then, all three, throw the torches on the ground, and the play starts...

The play isn't very good and during the most boring parts, Alexander continues his story, whispering in your ear.

"Well, I was leaving my friend's house and was on my way to this theater, to meet with you, when I noticed a strange, subtle, sickly sweet smell, permeating from the bathhouse of Kratos. You know Kratos' Bathinghouse? It's one of the three in Constantinople. I followed the scent to the bathinghouse. There were no customers. Just then, out of no where, several man ran out of the bathhouse and attacked me! I could barely escape alive! They were so ferocious..."

At that point, Carlos, one of the actor's (playing the lead-role) shouts something and dramatically falls to the ground, pretending to have died. The play is over. People applaud, but not very enthusiastically.

I wish I could provide you answers, but I am afraid I have none. Were these kine that attacked you? If so, they would have to have been formiddable to have you fearing final death. Do you believe they knew of your condition? Lucious is a little disappointed with the play, but tries to put a good face on it. They may not win any acting awards, but they certainly are entertaining to have a drink with. Lucious continues watching the play until the next boring part. I only know of the bathhouse, I haven't been there yet, but there must be a reason you were attacked. What do you think about your friends sickness? It certainly doesn't sound good, expecially with the rumors of disease and plague running around.

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran furrows his brow, absentmindedly scratching Cailean behind the nicked ears, the big dog emitting a low rumble of pleasure. Native? Hadn't the stranger said he came from far away? Apparently he's been here for so long that no one else remembers this.

"But… then… he should have a stake in all this, shouldn't he?", he slowly muses. "It's his city, too. First and foremost."

Taran wonders if Sasha would reveal himself to him if he wanders the streets of the Elder's domain once more. After all, he did imply they'd see each other again… And he does seem a lot more approachable as some other Cainites Taran has met thus far. Maybe I'll go and talk to him, he muses, wisely not voicing his thoughts. I wonder what his opinion is in all this.

[daelrog]

Eva

Eva reads the passage to Caelina as she reads. She gently places it back down in front of the Elder. "There has been an ill wind passing through Constantinople. I had come here hoping to continue my own research, but I fear between the mad Prince, and the dark omens that surround this place that this city does not welcome me." To an inexperienced Cainite, or a mortal, she would have appeared a shining beacon of hope in need, an aura about her that would have made Kings raise their armies and men leave their families behind. Caelina was not such though, not as an Elder, and not as a member of a Clan focused on knowledge and death. As such, Eva needed more than innocence. She needed proof.

"Have you seen the same omens?"

[Ichneumon]

Lucious

“They seemed normal at first. A bit weird maybe, all of them wore green cloaks and strange amulets I’d never seen before - I’m an expert when it concerns amulets, you know -. But Kindred? No, they weren’t Kindred, that’s for sure. But they can’t have been mortal either. Not with their strength and the fire that burned in their eyes.”

“At one point, I tried to use my clan’s discipline’s on them, trying to instill them with hallucinations, but it didn’t work, at all. I’ve never seen something like this. They acted like… madmen, enraged, savage. I don't know if I knew I was a vampire. I really don't know why they attacked me.”

"No, it doesn't look good. Things don't look good and we're heading towards a disaster of some kind. I don't know what or how, but I just feel it. I just know it. You know what I mean?"

Ramesses & Marcus

You wake up. For a moment you can’t remember what happened. Then, it all come back to you. You left from the meeting with Darius and went into the suburbs, looking for some game, some impressionable mortals you could impress. Take the first steps to re-introduce Clan Setite in Constantinople. You walked around for a while, when you noticed you were being followed. A shady figure, wearing a hooded cloak - green - partially covering his face. You didn’t panic, at first. You carefully tried to loose him, but it didn’t work. What followed was a short chase scene.

You looking around, is there a way to escape? You careen past stray animals feeding on the unspeakable contents of the city gutters, sleeping beggars, the abandoned furniture of the day. A flight of steps leads up the side of a town house… you try to escape to the roofs. Thundering across a roof, avoiding a rain-hatch, over a narrow gap onto a nearby, lower building. You look behind you. Did you loose him? You don’t look ahead of you and bump right into him. Everything turns black.

You have an headache. You open your eyes. You don’t recognize where you are. Torches in sconces light the spacious room. In the four corners of the room stand statues depicting monstrous humanoids - with horns, wings and claws - nearly reaching the chamber’s 15-foot-high ceiling. Dozens of manacles are set in the room’s walls. You are chained to one of them and you see four other prisoners chained to the walls as well. One of them you recognize: It’s Marcus. He’s badly hurt and seems to be unconscious- maybe in torpor? All other prisoners are in a similar state.

You try to get loose, but you can’t. The silence is broken by the awful screams of somebody far away, being tortured. At that point, the single door in the room opens and a few people enter. All of them, dressed in long green hooded cloaks, all of their faces, hidden in shadow. One of them, slowly walks towards you. He has a pale white skin and freakishly long fingers and nails. He smiles. You instantly know he’s a vampire too. He touches your face. You try to resist. He examines you, as if you were a horse or animal he just bought.

“You look good. I like your face. Handsome. I particularly like your eyes. Handsome.” There is something alien, otherworldly about that voice.

“You know. I despise you, vampires. All of you. You all think you are so much better than the rest of human kind, while you are really not that much different. Mankind was made to be enslaved. Made to be ruled and for kindred, that's really not all that different. We'll be your kings, your lords, your Gods, your executioners."

He smiles.

“It were the Setites who discovered our presence and our activities in the city first, a few months ago. It’s funny that of all of the clans, it were they that first tried to stop us. It’s even funnier how little the other Kindred cared about the disappearance of the Setites from New Rome. How little of them cared to investigate. Only that fool Darius cares.”

Another man walks in. Wearing a similar cloak, but he isn’t hooded, yet. You recognize him, you saw him a few hours earlier at the bathing house, the Elysium. It’s Cassian Decimus. He waits in silence near the others.

“We are growing stronger. In a few days, we’ll be able to fully manifest our powers in these shells, these skins, and no one will be able to stop us anymore. I've been waiting to have a meeting with Ambrose. With him, it’s personal.” An evil smile.

“It’s too bad you can’t be there to see it...I really like your face. You know, this is going ti hurt, but don’t worry, I’m going to use it well.”

He starts laughing maniacally, lays both of his warm hands on your face. It becomes warmer and warmer until you start screaming as you can’t bear the heat any longer. The screams continue for a few seconds and then they stop.

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

“They seemed normal at first. A bit weird maybe, all of them wore green cloaks and strange amulets I’d never seen before - I’m an expert when it concerns amulets, you know -. But Kindred? No, they weren’t Kindred, that’s for sure. But they can’t have been mortal either. Not with their strength and the fire that burned in their eyes.”

“At one point, I tried to use my clan’s discipline’s on them, trying to instill them with hallucinations, but it didn’t work, at all. I’ve never seen something like this. They acted like… madmen, enraged, savage. I don't know if I knew I was a vampire. I really don't know why they attacked me.”

"No, it doesn't look good. Things don't look good and we're heading towards a disaster of some kind. I don't know what or how, but I just feel it. I just know it. You know what I mean?"

Lucious

You sound like the Assamite Darius, do you know him? He pulled me and a few others of our kind into a meeting earlier this night. He was speaking desperately about the need to find the source of the disruptions and believes the Prince is involved. He has a network of spies watching everyone, including both of us.... Lucious watches the tail end of the play, hoping the ending is better than the rest. When it isn't he puts on his best fake smile and claps loudly. Come, let us share a quick drink with the actors before we depart, you look as though you could use a little more. Although, please don't drink too much, I may have need of this band in the future. See the girl, she's one step already, and I have plans for the rest. Lucious will motion toward Niobe indicating which female he was referring to. As the patrons filter out, Lucious will slowly make his way down towards the stage. When Ulysses has a moment to speak, Lucious will give him a hearty clap on the back and tell him how wonderful the performance was.

[Ichneumon]

Eva

"Thanks, that's great", she says enthusiastically, while laughing. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. How rude! My name is Caelina. Nice to meet you, Eva."

When Eva asks the more serious questions, she replies: "No, I haven't seen omens personally, yet I feel something, always present, it's deep, in my bones. I feel like 'they', who ever they are, are watching us and that something demonic is very close to the Kindred of Constantinople, in some form or another."

"I've had contact with Sarah, a local Lasombra. Nice girl. She's gifted, or cursed, I guess, her expertise in Obtenebration is allowing her... forcing her to see things. When she looks outside her window into the sky... she doesn't see stars, instead she sees thousands of eyes, begging her to leave the city and hears voices, coming from the black void between the stars, whispering to her of Constantinople's immanent destruction, everywhere where she goes. It's driving her crazy. Poor thing."

"Yeah, I'm happy I don't have omens like that." she jokes. :smallamused:

"But it does concern me a great deal, though. That's why I'm looking through all these old books. Trying to learn more about the secrets of the old Lasombra of the city. Since Sarah is the only one seeing these things, I figured it has to do something with her expertise in obtenebration. Maybe the things that are beyond the Void are trying to tell her something about what's happening. Either they are behind it, or know who's behind it, somehow. Maybe we can prevent it or at least learn what's going on."

She points to the book."These books, as far as I know, belonged to an old Lasombra sect, living in the city right after it was founded. These prophecies, they warn of about that King of Leeches. Leeches are bloodsuckers. You think he's talking about vampires? The King of Vampires?"

Taran

"You want to ask him?":smallconfused:

"Listen, kid. I wouldn't do it. He's kinda crazy, but do whatever you feel is right. It was nice seeing you. Good luck and we'll keep in touch."

Having said those things, Darius makes his way to go.

"Taran, I don't like it. That thing... It's a monster. I'm not going near that thing again. If you go, please be careful. You... you were planning on going now? In that case, I'll go to the new haven and I'll see you there?"

[Please assume that Darius has explained to both of you what the new haven and the "secret entrance" to it, looks like. :smalltongue:]

"You are too good for this world, you know that? Even though it is his city. That thing doesn't deserve any consideration." She was angry and now, having found new allies and a safe place to stay, she finally felt so confident to be uncompromising. She looked beautiful and strong.

Lucious

"Darius? Of course, I know him!" He laughed.:smalltongue:

"He is, or was, a good friend of mine actually. We both saw this danger coming, but we disagreed about how to approach it. I wanted to play it safe, while he was shouting it all over the roof tops to any Kindred that might be interested. No one of course believed his conspiracy theories. Everybody started mocking him. It's a shame though. He's a good fellow. Right heart, maybe a bit naive. But then again, aren't we all?" :smallamused:

You then go to drink something with the actors. Alexander laughs when you tell him you've been busy with the girl already. "You really are a Lasombra, aren't you? If you continue like this, you'll make it far, to the heighest tree, catchy monkey. You really don't know how to take thing slow, do you? Well, good luck.":smallsmile:

Ulysses greets you: "Friend! Did you enjoy the show? From what I could see, people were having the time of their life! I think this was our best performance yet!"

[OOC: Funny, this is something I hadn't counted on when I started this chronicle, having both Ulysses and Alexander in one scene, since I gave both of them the same speech colour. Well, I think we'll manage.]

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

"Darius? Of course, I know him!" He laughed.:smalltongue:

"He is, or was, a good friend of mine actually. We both saw this danger coming, but we disagreed about how to approach it. I wanted to play it safe, while he was shouting it all over the roof tops to any Kindred that might be interested. No one of course believed his conspiracy theories. Everybody started mocking him. It's a shame though. He's a good fellow. Right heart, maybe a bit naive. But then again, aren't we all?" :smallamused:

You then go to drink something with the actors. Alexander laughs when you tell him you've been busy with the girl already. "You really are a Lasombra, aren't you? If you continue like this, you'll make it far, to the heighest tree, catchy monkey. You really don't know how to take thing slow, do you? Well, good luck.":smallsmile:

Ulysses greets you: "Friend! Did you enjoy the show? From what I could see, people were having the time of their life! I think this was our best performance yet!"

[OOC: Funny, this is something I hadn't counted on when I started this chronicle, having both Ulysses and Alexander in one scene, since I gave both of them the same speech colour. Well, I think we'll manage.]

As they walk towards Ulysses, Lucious responds to Alexander While I agree that there are unusual things happening in the city, but I think I disagree with you both how to deal with it. Which means I am just as naive as the rest of you. Lucious will give a genuine smile with the statement. And I thought I was moving slowly? Only one kine one step bonded and I've been in the city for only a night and half. I haven't even killed anyone yet. With that Lucious gives another genuine smile. Before they arrive in front of Ulysses.

Hello Friend! Yes, the performance was excellent, a successful opening show to kick off your stay in Constantinople. I suspect that you will have many more patrons for your future shows. Lucious will follow Ulysses to wherever he wants to have a drink.

[Sunfall]

Taran

"Thank you. We appreciate your help", Taran nods once more as Darius takes his leave.

He suppresses a smile at Lorena's beseeching him. "Don't worry", he answers, taking her hand in his. "I'd never do anything to endanger you. You know that, right? I didn't plan on going back tonight anyway. I'll see you safe first." Just then he realizes that he's holding her hand and lets go, just a tiny bit too quickly.

He understands that she is still rattled by her encounter with Sasha, after all it was her unlife on the line. But Taran himself is intrigued by the monstrous Kindred, just as that one seems to be intrigued with him. Once he was able to look past the bloody veil of frenzy, he believes he sensed a kindred soul behind the ravaged face of the stranger. Somehow, even amongst all that talk of foolishness, he understood.

And as far as Taran is concerned, Sasha has just a right to Constantinople as any other Kindred - even more so if what Darius has said is true. He feels that the monstrous vampire has a role to play in the events to come, and Taran will not deny that right to him. But - first things first.

"Guess we'll need to see the prince, too", he sighs, as the two of them start walking into the direction that Darius indicated, not quite changing the topic. "Can't put it off any longer, can we?" Tongues lolling, the dogs lope in the rear, two hulking shadows in the darkened streets.

[daelrog]

Eva

Roll to see if she's familiar with the King of Leeches or not.
Intelligence (3) + Occult (3) = 6

[roll0]

In case of 10s [roll1]

"The King of Leeches..." Eva tapped her finger to her lips as she tried to recall the term. She continued as she thought. "Dear Caelina, every word you say fits far too perfectly. Would it interest you that three Lasombra have recently just arrived in the city? One masquerades as a priest, another seems of noble stock, and the last is, I daresay myself."

She lets the words sink in, and continues. "I'd like to see the city whole again, Caelina. I want to help you make that happen."

[Ichneumon]

OOC: Sorry for the delay. I had a very rough weekend and some personal problems. Nothing too serious.

Eva

Eva thinks long about the term "King of Leeches". Caelina is probably right about her guess that 'leeches' refers to vampires. Although within vampire circles the term 'leech' usually refers to a human who drinks vampire blood, yet acknowledges no master, like ghouls do. Other creatures, such as werewolves and kine such as vampire hunters refer to Kindred though as leeches sometimes. Combined with the term "king", this interpretation is much more logical. Although since the founding of the Roman republic Roman Kindred have avoided using the term "king", in other cities outside the Republic, Kindred leaders have chosen often chosen the term "king" instead of the slightly more common "Prince". "King of Leeches" therefore likely refers to the Prince of Constantinople.

Caeline looks somewhat surprised when you reveal yourself as a Lasombra, but laughs, clearly enjoying such 'dramatic revelation'. "Really? Is that a coincidence? Or are the Lasombra preparing for something?", she asks. Judging from her face, she doesn't really expect a serious answer.

Lucious

You guys go to soemthing what could be called a 'dance club'. The bar is filled with lots of people, some drunk, all jolly and most of them singing or talking and a lot of them dancing, while musicians play string instruments and flutes. It's a nice atmosphere. "Funny, he decides to pick this spot.", Alexander whisphers in your ear. "This is THE most popular feeding ground for Kindred. It's also the place where you want to go if you want to meet other... monsters that lurk in the dark."

You take a look and moving between the drunks, the addicts and addled tourists, you see the monsters of legend: you see other Kindred hunting, you see a pair of savage, almost animal-looking men sitting in the corner (would they be werewolves?), trying to flirt with a couple of ladies. You see other strange folk too, man and woman, their hair always waving, as if by the wind, sparkling eyes, would they be mages? faeries? Something else?

"There are a few simple rules.", Alexander continues. "No killing for any reason. No fighting for any reason. No supernatural powers, for whatever reason."

Ulysses and the other actors order a drink and have a good time with some of the 'regular' (mortal) customers. They don't seem to know about how special this place is and seem to have picked this by accident.

Taran

As you guys walk to the Monastery of St. John, the place of your new haven [which, if you hadn't noticed yet, is also the place where Eva currently is], you guys talk some more about the Prince.

Lorena is a hesitant, obviously she's a bit scared, but she agrees. "Yeah, we should most likely have a meeting with him. Should we visit him in private or in public? Maybe trying to visit him at Elysium is best?"

Darius listens, but he's polite and stays quiet, not wanting to interrupt your discussion/negotiations, unless asked.

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

You guys go to soemthing what could be called a 'dance club'. The bar is filled with lots of people, some drunk, all jolly and most of them singing or talking and a lot of them dancing, while musicians play string instruments and flutes. It's a nice atmosphere. "Funny, he decides to pick this spot.", Alexander whisphers in your ear. "This is THE most popular feeding ground for Kindred. It's also the place where you want to go if you want to meet other... monsters that lurk in the dark."

You take a look and moving between the drunks, the addicts and addled tourists, you see the monsters of legend: you see other Kindred hunting, you see a pair of savage, almost animal-looking men sitting in the corner (would they be werewolves?), trying to flirt with a couple of ladies. You see other strange folk too, man and woman, their hair always waving, as if by the wind, sparkling eyes, would they be mages? faeries? Something else?

"There are a few simple rules.", Alexander continues. "No killing for any reason. No fighting for any reason. No supernatural powers, for whatever reason."

Ulysses and the other actors order a drink and have a good time with some of the 'regular' (mortal) customers. They don't seem to know about how special this place is and seem to have picked this by accident.


Lucious
Very Interesting, who had the power to make the rule and enforce it? And a better question is who has the connections to actually communicate with all the supernaturals?. Lucious will look around and take everything in. What can you tell me about the monsters that are present in here?

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran sighs inwardly. He really doesn't like going near the Elysium, where so many other Cainites are, but Lorena is right. Trying to meet the Prince alone somehow really doesn't strike him as a good idea. He'll just have to suck it up and hope none of the local Brujah get too friendly. There is one thing that Taran has learned during his flight across the vast continent of Europe - his sire has many friends, in places high and low.

"The Elysium, then", he agrees. "Do we have time to do it tonight? Or do you just want to stay here while I get our stuff from the inn? Do you need to feed?"

[Ichneumon]

Lucious

"Who has the power? Well, the guy who runs this place, Ariston. He's a warlock, a mage of some kind. Although we, or I at least, don't really know the limits of his strength, or that of his friends, it really is a group thing. All of us benefit from this facility, and we don't like it if one group ruins it for the rest of us. I mean, for example, if we vampires were to violate the rules, we'd soon have groups of werewolves, mages, ghosts, etc. after us, trying to up hold the rules and make this thing a possibility. Same for all the other groups. Sure, if all groups decided to work together and agree on not enforcing these rules, there wouldn't be such a bar, but then again, chances of that happening are small. Who'd benefit? And really, don't get me wrong. We are all very secretive, doing our own things, and even with such a place, we don't really mix a lot. It's just nice to know where you got to go to find someone. Although if you pay attention, you do learn a thing or two about the other supernaturals.... at least enough to learn to keep your distance."

"I remember that once, a few years ago. The Prince had called a blood hunt on this rogue Kindred, a gangrel called Salomon the Bold. Salomon had diablerised one of the Prince's childer. He decided to hide here, in the dance club, since he figured the Prince wouldn't dare violate the rules and kill him in here or use violence to get him out. Well, he was right, I suppose. The Prince didn't, and Salomon remained here for an entire week, feeding on the guests and sleeping inside the basement. Well, it lasted for a while, until the Prince got in touch with Ariston and Ariston closed the bar for a week, thus driving Salomon out. It's better to keep the peace between all of our different communities and Ariston didn't like that Salomon was threatening it.", Alexander said with a faint smile. :smallamused:

"Ah, there he is!", pointing and waving to a man in the corner. The man sees him, nods back, and continues his business talking to some other folk. Ariston is a tall and gaunt man with long black hair, wearing it in a topknot. There is a deep scar on the left side of his chin. He's dressed casually.

Taran

You arrive at the back of the monastery and Darius leads you to the gardens. Looking around, to make sure no one else is watching, he guides you through a hole, hidden behind a big bush. A long dark corridor, leads to a small door. Darius hands two keys to Lorena. "Only I and a few of my men know of this place. It's perfectly safe. The monastery's library is frequently visited by a lot of people, including Kindred, but not many visit the gardens, especially at these hours. Still, be careful when leaving and entering."

He smiles and says goodbye. Inside you find two medium sized rooms, with some basic (but expensive looking) furniture like two beds, a table, a desk, and things like parchment & ink, towels, a few books and a map of the city. There are no really personal items belonging to Darius though and no real sign of anyone actually having lived here.

There is no window or anything that would lead to outside. It's easy to think that in such a large monastery, people would eventually forget about the existence of such two rooms and not miss it at all. On the walls you see weapons (old impressive swords, shields and daggers), all of them decorated with gold and silver, a painting of a man, looking vaguely similar to Darius (family perhaps?) and a tapestry.

Lorena's eyes light up when she sees the luxurious room. "Amazing!"

"I think I'll stay here, Taran, if you don't mind. I've already fed and am quite tired and want to look around some more. Don't worry, I'll stay inside. I've had a bit too much adventure for one night." She gives you one of the keys and while laughing jumps on one of the two beds. "This one's mine."

[daelrog]

Eva

Eva's laugh is rich, and for a moment it takes over the room. She stops it short, remembering that she was in a place of learning. "No doubt they are, but then again that can be said of most our kind. I was waiting to introduce myself to my own Clan last. Make sure my elders don't tell me who I can, and cannot associate with before I try. You know how Clans sometime become more important than anything else. A pity that."

She considered for a moment. "I am afraid time is not my ally. Of nine kindred who have just arrived in the city but a night ago, one has met final death, and a second has disappeared. Whether its ancient Lasombra, or your mad Prince, or the vanished Setites, something is amiss. I'd like to speak with Sarah. Even if her tales of eyes staring at her hold no merit, the mad do have a tendency to see what more reasonable minds cannot."

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

"Who has the power? Well, the guy who runs this place, Ariston. He's a warlock, a mage of some kind. Although we, or I at least, don't really know the limits of his strength, or that of his friends, it really is a group thing. All of us benefit from this facility, and we don't like it if one group ruins it for the rest of us. I mean, for example, if we vampires were to violate the rules, we'd soon have groups of werewolves, mages, ghosts, etc. after us, trying to up hold the rules and make this thing a possibility. Same for all the other groups. Sure, if all groups decided to work together and agree on not enforcing these rules, there wouldn't be such a bar, but then again, chances of that happening are small. Who'd benefit? And really, don't get me wrong. We are all very secretive, doing our own things, and even with such a place, we don't really mix a lot. It's just nice to know where you got to go to find someone. Although if you pay attention, you do learn a thing or two about the other supernaturals.... at least enough to learn to keep your distance."

"I remember that once, a few years ago. The Prince had called a blood hunt on this rogue Kindred, a gangrel called Salomon the Bold. Salomon had diablerised one of the Prince's childer. He decided to hide here, in the dance club, since he figured the Prince wouldn't dare violate the rules and kill him in here or use violence to get him out. Well, he was right, I suppose. The Prince didn't, and Salomon remained here for an entire week, feeding on the guests and sleeping inside the basement. Well, it lasted for a while, until the Prince got in touch with Ariston and Ariston closed the bar for a week, thus driving Salomon out. It's better to keep the peace between all of our different communities and Ariston didn't like that Salomon was threatening it.", Alexander said with a faint smile. :smallamused:

"Ah, there he is!", pointing and waving to a man in the corner. The man sees him, nods back, and continues his business talking to some other folk. Ariston is a tall and gaunt man with long black hair, wearing it in a topknot. There is a deep scar on the left side of his chin. He's dressed casually.


Lucious will look over at Ariston, Interesting, seldom do you find such inter-supernatural relations to be so civil, regardless of the mutual benefit. Lucious will go back to looking around the bar. So tell me, I am still looking for Spurious Corva, you see any Lasombra amongst the patrons here tonight?

[Ichneumon]

Eva

"Yes, it's a pity the clans are so divided." She smiles, amused by the trouble Eva's going through to avoid the Lasombra elders. "We'd be so much better off, I think, if we'd spend all that energy we're waisting now, conspiring against each other, to some common goal."

"Well, I can't blame you for trying to avoid Spurious Corva. The guy is... well, not easy to be around with. We... go back a long way, you see. We used to be very close. Now, I mostly avoid him as well."

Caeline looks troubled when you mention the death and disappearance of the people who've arrive with the caravan. She quickly gets a piece of paper and starts writing something down. "Here. This is the adress of the bar I know she visists quite often. You have a large chance of bumping into her there. Else, you could the bathhouse of Opimius."

Lucious

Alexander nods ands points to one of the corners of the bar. There, in the shadows, sits a jewish woman "feeding" on a man. "There. That's Sarah. She's been feeding on drunkards lately, desperately trying to get intoxicated by the alcohol in their blood. It's a little sad really."

After the Kiss, she stands up, looks around, walking to another part of the bar, hoping no one saw them. No one, except you two, did.

She looks nervous, tired, twitching with her head. She constantly, looks afraid in the direction of the window at the clear night sky.

"I don't know what, but she's obviously quite depressed and dealing with a lot. I'd assume she can bring you to Corva."

[Sunfall]

Taran

Taran, who only gave a disgusted glance at the weapons on the walls, cannot suppress a smile at Lorena's outburst of joy. She's still such a child... And the spirits know he'll do his best to have her remain that way for as long as possible!

"Good", he nods at Lorena's wish to stay and points to the foot of her bed. The dogs pad over and obediently lay down there, pressing their massive foreheads into his palms as he pets them. "Watch her. Protect.", he says in the Celtic language that he uses to command them.

"Rest", he says to Lorena, his hand already on the door handle. "I'll get our things." With that, Taran's slim form slips out into the night. It's really nice of Darius to lend them these quarters, he thinks as he quietly treads the monastery's cloistered gardens. Hopefully they can help him out with what seems to be ailing him as much as the city itself...

[daelrog]

Eva

"Thank you, my Lady. You have been most generous." She wanted to stay longer, but her leave was given to her, and she dared not linger long and prevent an Elder Cappadocian from her studies. She would go to the bar she spoke of, and see if she could find her crazed clanmate.

[XianTheCoder]

Lucious

Alexander nods ands points to one of the corners of the bar. There, in the shadows, sits a jewish woman "feeding" on a man. "There. That's Sarah. She's been feeding on drunkards lately, desperately trying to get intoxicated by the alcohol in their blood. It's a little sad really."

After the Kiss, she stands up, looks around, walking to another part of the bar, hoping no one saw them. No one, except you two, did.

She looks nervous, tired, twitching with her head. She constantly, looks afraid in the direction of the window at the clear night sky.

"I don't know what, but she's obviously quite depressed and dealing with a lot. I'd assume she can bring you to Corva."
Lucious

Lucious will look over at the women that Alexander pointed out. She's.... rather pathetic. But if she can bring me to Corva it's a start. Lucious will keep an eye on Sarah making sure she doesn't leave before he gets a chance to talk to her. When Sarah settles in somewhere in the club and doesn't appear to be going anywhere, Lucious will look around to make sure no one can overhear him, and begin a very delicate line of questioning with Alexander. Yesterday you made a comment, and during the meeting with Darius the topic came up once again. Now I am an open minded individual so fear not judgement from me. Darius seems to think that dark magic... infernalism, is potentially at the root of the trouble in this city. You mentioned that you were once interested and involved in some dark magics. In your past, did you ever rub up against infernalists, and do you think that there potentially is an infernalist conspiracy within the city?