Playing With Fire (Jocelin, pre-dawn Mon. 4/2/07)

[Detritus]

After dismissing the meeting, Rebekka gathers all the New Orleans Kindred to her. Before dealing with them, she addresses you and Sarah.

"Sarah, please contact the Chantry in Houston and have someone there contact Mariel on my behalf. Let them know that we are looking for one of her clan named Sylvester Simms. After that, you may take Jocelin downstairs to begin practicing with fire. The kitchen is probably best. There is a gas stove?" she asks Mr. Johnson, who replies that he isn't sure, but he thinks so.

Rebekka begins herding everyone in her group downstairs to the parlor, assigning Sabine to coordinate the overall search effort and Mr. Johnson to take charge of the Toreador search effort specifically. All the native New Orleans Kindred come with her, including Roman, Antoinette, and the Brujah.

"How do you feel?" Sarah asks you. "Are you ready? I'll be a couple minutes on the phone, so that'll give you a little time to prepare yourself, mentally. Just don't freak out too much about it, that will just get in the way."

[Kalzazz]

"I feel okay . . . Ill try to uh, clear my mind and such"

Jocelin starts praying quietly and tries to focus herself to confront the coming flame

[Detritus]

"I feel okay . . . Ill try to uh, clear my mind and such"

Jocelin starts praying quietly and tries to focus herself to confront the coming flame
After a few minutes, Sarah returns from making the call to Houston.

"Let's head down to the kitchen," she says.

When you get there, she heads over to the stove, and turns one of the knobs for the burners.

"Yep, we got a working gas stove here," she says when a bluish flame pops up on the front left burner.

"When was the last time you turned on a stove?" Sarah asks after turning the burner off.

***Jocelin's answer, if any***

"Give it a shot," she says.

((Can I get a Courage roll at Jocelin's new IQ + 1?))

[Kalzazz]

"I dont recall ever turning on a stove in my life . . . either phase of it. I took study hall instead of home economics"

((You can roll for me))

[Detritus]

"I dont recall ever turning on a stove in my life . . . either phase of it. I took study hall instead of home economics"
"Well, you can give it a shot now," says Sarah. "Just turn this knob like I did, and a little blue flame will come out of the burner. Nothing to it," she says with an encouraging smile.

When you approach the oven, you gather your courage, and in one smooth motion reach out and turn the knob. The blue flame obediently pops up from the burner. Its appearance makes you jump a bit, but you're otherwise none the worse for wear.

"Nice," says Sarah. "See, piece of cake. Turn it off," she says. When you do that, she says, "That's what it's like to snuff out a flame. Let's try it with hands, now."

She walks over to the sink, and then lays her right palm out face up. Then a little flame springs up that fills the hollow of her palm.

"This is what we call the Palm of Flame. Try putting your palm down on top of mine. It won't hurt."

You try it once, but with no luck. After freezing for a few seconds, Sarah encourages you to try it again. You're unable to bring yourself to do it the second time.

"This is weirding you out some," says Sarah. "That's OK, we'll try something else. I'll be right back."

Sarah leaves the kitchen and returns with a candle. She sets it by the sink and uses the Palm of Flame to light it. Then she wets her fingers and extinguishes the flame with a little hiss. Then she relights it.

"Your turn," she says. "Try it with moist fingers first."

((Even with wet fingers, the roll will be at (Courage - 1). You can bump that to (Courage + 1) if you spend a Blood Point, otherwise I'll make a roll for Jocelin at (Courage - 1).))

[Kalzazz]

((Go ahead and try it without blood))

[Detritus]

((Go ahead and try it without blood))
You wet your fingers and screw up your courage to extinguish the candle. It takes you a few seconds, but you manage to thrust out your arm and pinch the lighted wick. Your knees feel weak and you jerk your hand away from the candle as fast as you can, but you managed it.

"Good job!" cries Sarah. "Why don't you catch your breath, and we'll try the Palm of Flame again."

((This will be at (Courage - 3), but you lessen the penalty to -1 if you spend a Blood Point.))

[Kalzazz]

"R right . . . nothing to it"

((Roll an Overconfidence check for me please, if fail it dont spend the blood point, if pass it do spend the blood point))

[Detritus]

((FYI, Jocelin missed the Overconfidence roll, but made the modified Courage roll by 2.))

"Gimme five," says Sarah, her right palm afire.

You gather your courage, and manage to put your hand on top of Sarah's. The flame is uncomfortably warm for a couple of seconds before it goes out.

"Nice!" says Sarah. She's about to return the five, but stops in mid-motion when something catches her eye.

"Hi," says Antoinette, but the word is very labored, completely unlike the Antoinette you know. "Rebekka said I was supposed to give you some my blood?"

"Right," Sarah replies. Her expression is guarded, but not hostile. "Let me find a glass." Sarah rummages through the cabinets until she finds a pint glass. She looks back and forth between you and Antoinette during the bloodletting.

"I think I can set up shop upstairs somewhere. I'll be back in a bit," Sarah says, giving the now full glass a swirl. "You did great," she says to you. "You might be ready to face the fire now."

Antoinette watches Sarah leave before speaking again.

"What were you doing?" she asks. She looks at the extinguished taper with a bit of puzzlement on her face.

[Kalzazz]

"Im practicing my penance for giving Heather an impromptu strip search . . . . it would have perhaps gone better if Id just cut her in half"

"How are you? You seem a bit, ah stiff"

[Detritus]

"Im practicing my penance for giving Heather an impromptu strip search . . . . it would have perhaps gone better if Id just cut her in half"

"How are you? You seem a bit, ah stiff"
"I'm OK, I guess. Warlocks kind of creep me out," Antoinette says quietly. "What's she like?"

[Kalzazz]

"Sarah is pretty cool, though she clearly isnt to thrilled with the menial task of helping me out . . . . I cant really blame her though"

[Detritus]

"Sarah is pretty cool, though she clearly isnt to thrilled with the menial task of helping me out . . . . I cant really blame her though"
"Do you trust her?" Antoinette asks.

[Kalzazz]

"Sarah? Yes . . . . though, I think Sarah is well, not entirely her own concern, I think her concerns are determined by our new Prince, though I dont know how far or such"

"However, the fact I still exist says good things about Rebekka, and I thought good things about her before that. So, I trust Sarah"

[Detritus]

"Sarah? Yes . . . . though, I think Sarah is well, not entirely her own concern, I think her concerns are determined by our new Prince, though I dont know how far or such"

"However, the fact I still exist says good things about Rebekka, and I thought good things about her before that. So, I trust Sarah"
"Do you really think that Rebekka was just looking out for your, for our, best interests?" A pensive look crosses Antoinette's face for a bit before she continues in a soft but insistent voice.

"Camille tried explaining it to me earlier tonight. I'm not really sure what she was talking about, something about boons, or something. Bottom line, I think Camille was trying to say that Rebekka might be under the impression that she has us by the short and curlies. She might not put it that way, and it might not come up right away, but it will come up. How well do you really know them, Joss?"

Antoinette take the time to breathe in deeply and exhale slowly.

"Do you have any idea what's going to happen with that blood I'm going to give Sarah?"

[Kalzazz]

"My understanding is its some kind of parentage test . . . . I dont think anything bad happens from the giving of blood, just the getting it"

"Rebekka's interests lie in furthering her own interests Im sure, and Im sure she expects her help to be paid back in full . . . . but, Ive no problem with that, debts do need to be repaid. But I doubht she wants us cavalierly discarded in her service, she was quite upset when Dieter fell and so, if she sends us to our doom, I am sure our doom shall come with glorious martyrdom. Alsol, if she just wanted cannon fodder, there would be much less bothersome ways to get it"

" . . . still, I dont really know them . . . but, our former Prince we knew, and we knew he didnt like us"

[Detritus]

"My understanding is its some kind of parentage test . . . . I dont think anything bad happens from the giving of blood, just the getting it"
"But you saw how much blood I ended up giving up. Was all that really necessary? Is there going to be any of it left over? What will they do with it if there is?"

"Rebekka's interests lie in furthering her own interests Im sure, and Im sure she expects her help to be paid back in full . . . . but, Ive no problem with that, debts do need to be repaid. But I doubht she wants us cavalierly discarded in her service, she was quite upset when Dieter fell and so, if she sends us to our doom, I am sure our doom shall come with glorious martyrdom. Alsol, if she just wanted cannon fodder, there would be much less bothersome ways to get it"

" . . . still, I dont really know them . . . but, our former Prince we knew, and we knew he didnt like us"
"Yeah, I get that debts have to be repaid, and that Mr. Johnson played favorites with his brood, but there's so much we don't know about our new Prince, or her pets. Just, be careful, I guess is what I'm saying. You play with fire often enough, and you'll get burned."

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin shudders a bit at the mention of playing with fire and looks toward the stove

"I dont know . . . . yeah, Ill be careful"

"After the revelations about our former informal leader, well, careful is a very good thing"

[Detritus]

"That's all I'm saying," says Antoinette, smiling. "Although," she says, and looks in the direction where Sarah left the kitchen, "it would be kind of cool to be able to shoot fire from your hands. I wonder how she does it."

[Kalzazz]

"Yeah, that is cool. She must have a really strong connection with Him"

"Hmm . . . I wonder how Bianca flew, I didnt know my clan could do that"

[Detritus]

"Yeah, that is cool. She must have a really strong connection with Him"

"Hmm . . . I wonder how Bianca flew, I didnt know my clan could do that"
"Did you ever ask Sarah about that?"

[Kalzazz]

"Uhm, actually . . . I didnt think to"

[Detritus]

"Ask me what?" Sarah says, startling Antoinette a bit. She no longer holds the glass of vitae that Antoinette gave her.

((I think it's about a three-minute conversation since Sarah left, which might be a little short, but narrative time has the awesome property of being completely subject to GM's fiat.))

[Kalzazz]

"How could Bianca fly, can my clan usually do that? I cant fly"

[Detritus]

"How could Bianca fly, can my clan usually do that? I cant fly"
"Her Sire might have been one of those who had magical ability, yet were not Embraced by the Tremere," replies Sarah. "The talent can also be bestowed upon another, but it requires a great deal of commitment. Camarilla Tremere would basically make someone an honorary member of the clan, and that is extremely difficult to achieve."

Sarah thinks for a moment and says, "Of course, it sounds like this Lucian fellow is a Tremere antitribu. Maybe he either taught her or figured out a way to awaken her Thaumaturgical potential. We know so little about them."

[Kalzazz]

"Hmmm . . . she made flapping motions before the flight took place, could it have been a signal to her invisible friend to cast stuff on her?"

[Detritus]

"Hmmm . . . she made flapping motions before the flight took place, could it have been a signal to her invisible friend to cast stuff on her?"
"Yeah, it could have been. Lucian was there, so he could have done it. It sounds like the Assamite that messed up Jack might have had some Thaumaturgical skill, too," she says, somewhat grudgingly. "Either that or Lucian is really good."

After watching this exchange, Antoinette finally pipes up with a question.

"The blood I gave you, what do you need to do with it to figure out who my vampire daddy was?"

"I meditate for a while and then I drink it once I'm deep in trance," says Sarah. "I'll probably be able to get you two or three generations back in your lineage. Plus, I might be able to figure out the names of all the Kindred who contributed to the vitae you drank at Samantha's. I'm not sure, I've never done this ritual with blood from someone who's gone even part way in a group bond."

A shadow crosses Antoinette's face at mention of the tainted vitae.

"Don't worry, we'll get you straightened out. Both of you," Sarah says, smiling. "We gotta make you legit before that can happen, though," she says to Antoinette. Sarah twines one of her magenta locks around her finger a couple times and gives it a few idle tugs, and squints in thought for a moment before continuing.

"I think between Gwynnis and Rebekka," she says, "they can keep Anneke in line. I don't think she'll bother either of you, especially once we get you of the Caitiff ledger," she says to Antoinette. "Plus, even though she was smart enough not to drink, she wasn't smart enough to warn everyone else off that junk. Remember that if it comes up. Rebekka made the exact same point just before we revived you guys, and it shut Anneke down pretty good. Of course, they were sisters way back when, that might have had something to do with it."

[Kalzazz]

"Ill just try not to bring it up if I can avoid it"

[Detritus]

"Ill just try not to bring it up if I can avoid it"
"I'm sure that'll work if no one else brings it up, either," replies Sarah, "but I'm not sure if everyone else is going to let it go or not. Once an elder gives you the stink eye, they don't forget about it, that's for sure. It might even be better if they bring it up rather than leave it looming for an indeterminate amount of time. And if Anneke does bring it up, you need to be prepared for it."

[Kalzazz]

"Right . . . it does rather seem were living in interesting times"