Wave of Mutilation (pre-dawn Tues. 4/3/07)

[Detritus]

((FYI, the layout of the parlor is such that there's two doorways, one near the SE corner of the room that leads to/from the entry way, and on near the NE corner of the room. The front door to the house opens outwards to the south. The twine circle covers most of the floor. The western wall of the parlor has a fireplace around 6 feet across with a shoulder-high or so lintel.

We'll say you're all generally arrayed between Sarah, who stands near the fireplace, and Muaziz, who stands near the southern wall of the room. Ramiel and Sabine will have left the building on their various tasks in connection with keeping suspicions down about Al's hospitalization. The other Gangrel (Camille & Eric) and Brujah (Uma, Yuri, and Antoinette) NPCs watch from the entryway (Brujah) or the other doorway (Gangrel).

You can find a picture of Meerlinda here (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=288681&postcount=35) if you haven't taken a look at this image yet.))

EDIT -- Here's (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=291623&postcount=48) the last post from the previous thread, which is basically a prelude to whatever will happen in this thread.

Gwynnis and Meerlinda enter the parlor at last, the Justicar leading the way. Rebekka stands at the eastern wall, between the two doorways to the room (she was standing in the northern part of the room at the end of the last IC-thread). Sabine exits the circle, heading off to deal with Al's hospitalization as best she can. Sarah lays the ends of the twine over each other once the final two arrivals have made their way within, after Sabine's exit.

The Justicar walks across the circle, the dagger and censer drawing her eye for part of the way, until she reaches her childer, standing together as far as they can get from the doorway joining parlor and entryway and still remain in the circle. There is a brief, somewhat fractious exchange in which Gwynnis appears like nothing more than a mother dealing with rebellious teenage daughters, despite the fact she appears no older than Dee Dee, and perhaps even a few years younger than Anneke.

After watching the Toreador bicker for a few seconds, Meerlinda walks over to face Rebekka and begins the recitation of her lineage, silencing Gwynnis and her brood. She is taller than Rebekka by a good two or three inches. It is a short introduction; Meerlinda is a Tremere of the 4th generation, and her Sire is Tremere himself. Sarah's eyes goggle a bit during the introduction, but the Prince and the Tremere archon don't really react to Meerlinda's words.

"Be welcome to New Orleans, Councilor," Rebekka says, "and on behalf of all the Camarilla Kindred of the city I thank you for lending us your assistance tonight." A graceful inclination of her head is Meerlinda's only acknowledgment.

[Detritus]

Meerlinda turns away from Rebekka and scans the room, meeting the eyes of each other Kindred within the twine. Muaziz, still holding the scabbarded sword given to her by Anneke, meets the Councilor's gaze calmly. Sarah is a bit wide-eyed when her eyes meet Meerlinda's, but otherwise manages to keep hold of herself. When the Councilor's gaze reaches the Toreador, Gwynnis is calm but resolute, but her childer are tight-mouthed, and Dee Dee's eyes are hard. You imagine that Anneke's mismatched eyes share a similar quality behind her shades. Meerlinda's expression never alters as she sweeps the room with her eyes.

After this, the Councilor takes a position near the northern side of the dropcloth in the center of the room and addresses all those within the twine circle without preamble. Her voice is perhaps a shade lower than the average female voice.

"We have gathered this night to perform the Spiritlink ritual. In truth, at ritual's end there will be a link both of body and mind between Gwynnis and each of the recipients of her flesh. They who are part of the link will be able to draw on certain talents and capabilities that the Justicar possesses.

"Briefly, the ritual will proceed along the following lines. We will raise a warded circle." Meerlinda gestures towards the other three Tremere in the room with her. "Then I will remove the flesh to be donated, one whole eye for each other Kindred in the link. Each eye will have to be steeped in the blood of both donor and eventual recipient. Once that is done, I will open the link and insert each eye into its proper recipient. Are there any questions?"

[Brother Brian]

Francois steps forward,

"You'll have to excuse me, but I am unfamiliar with", Francois pauses, searching for a word, "magic", he inserts questioningly. "What exactly will you be doing to us, and to what end?"

[Detritus]

((OK, this got a little info-dumpy, but please just churn through it the best you can.))

Francois steps forward,

"You'll have to excuse me, but I am unfamiliar with", Francois pauses, searching for a word, "magic", he inserts questioningly. "What exactly will you be doing to us, and to what end?"
"Thaumaturgy, to be precise," Meerlinda says to the half-question, a little smile forming briefly on her lips. "You did not tell them?" she asks Rebekka. The Prince moves to the eastern side of the dropcloth before answering.

"I'm not completely sure what is about to happen myself, Councilor. I thought it best to wait for your explanation." Gwynnis takes a position immediately to Meerlinda's right, and her childer remain a couple steps behind and to the Justicar's right.

"Very well then, less briefly than before, the ritual will result in the formation of a bond of the spirit between the Justicar and the recipients of her flesh. Each of you will have your own separate link, but you will all be linked to Gwynnis. It is the Justicar's opinion that you are most in need of timely knowledge, and to this end, you will each receive one of her eyes. It will grant you each enhanced capabilities with Auspex as long as the link between you and the Justicar remains active."

"In your last engagement," says Gwynnis, "the Sheriff managed to send a parting gift with one of your assailants. My dagger, which I am able to locate by concentrating on it. It is... difficult to put down if you are given it without first asking for it.

"When the link is active, you will all be able to track the dagger in the same way yourselves. Ultimately, the mission is to retrieve the dagger, by destroying its bearer. In fact, it may come to pass that you will have to lose the dagger several times to various enemies, and then use the dagger as a beacon to track their whereabouts, depending on how future engagements turn out."

"In order to complete the link," says Meerlinda, "it will be necessary for me to remove one eye from the Justicar for each of the recipients. After removal of the first pair of eyes, Gwynnis will heal herself, and then I will harvest the new pair. Then each eye will be steeped in the mingled vitae of the Justicar and the eye's eventual recipient. I will perform one last act to open the link, and then insert each eye in the forehead of the appropriate recipient. Because of this, the best place to draw blood would be from each of your foreheads, so that you must only heal yourself once. You may make the incision yourself; it need only be long enough to pass the circumference of the eye."

"There will be other enhancements to your capabilities," says Gwynnis, as if she were not about to have four eyeballs cut out of her head. "In addition to Auspex, I will be able to lend other of my disciplines through the link. Your generation will be closer to Caine. There will even be a bodily link; you will be able to draw upon certain aspects of my physical and mental strength, and transfer part of the wounds you suffer to me."

"This last is true, but there is a certain amount of peril to one's Humanitas by passing wounds along in this manner," Meerlinda says. "And if the Justicar is damaged enough to be sent to torpor, or even the Final Death, all enhancements from your link with her will vanish." The faces of Gwynnis's childer behind her are full of the promise that you would not survive the Justicar long should she somehow be destroyed as a result of this passing of damage.

"Your link may also break as a result of the damage I take, unless I am able to concentrate well enough that the distraction does not disrupt the link. It is meant as a last resort. With luck, you will not need to avail yourself of this particular feature," this last said in a dry tone.

"The link will last so long as the Justicar does not heal her eyes back after completion of the ritual. Does this answer your question?"

[Brother Brian]

Francois does a masterful job of not showing the abject horror he feels at the non-plussed way Meerlinda described the process, but a couple of eyebrow twitches escape none the less.

"I see. One question, will we look like the nearly extinct followers of Salot with the third eye in our forehead?"

[Detritus]

Francois does a masterful job of not showing the abject horror he feels at the non-plussed way Meerlinda described the process, but a couple of eyebrow twitches escape none the less.

"I see. One question, will we look like the nearly extinct followers of Saulot with the third eye in our forehead?"
"No," replies Meerlinda, a hint of sharpness in her voice for that one word, "the eye will actually reside fully below the surface of the skin. While it is emblematic of its primary function, the eye does not need to be exposed to air to serve as the link's conduit, nor will it emerge in its secondary functions." Rebekka and Muaziz exchange unreadable looks during the Councilor's reply.

"It may be best not to think too carefully about where it ends up," says Gwynnis, perhaps blinking more rapidly than normal for the moment. "The overall effect should still be... salubrious." The Tremere all raise eyebrows at that word.

"They will have the right to refuse the procedure, will they not?" Rebekka asks, the direction of her gaze changing mid-question as Meerlinda looks to Gwynnis.

"Of course," replies the Justicar. "However, it also warrants mentioning, you will be able to track down your nemeses more easily, and deal with them as you see fit, if you consent to undergo the procedure. You, whose wounds still heal a week after you received them," she says to Jack.

"You, who have suffered humiliation and watched the source of that humiliation repeatedly elude your grasp," she says to Jocelin.

"You, who have lost your Regnant to the fangs of one of our enemies," she says to Leo. Gwynnis pauses, giving a questioning look to Rebekka.

"And you," the Prince says to François, "whose ancient enemy has been revealed to walk the city of New Orleans." Gwynnis nods in assent and turns back to you.

"The choice is yours to participate in the ritual or not," Gwynnis says to you all. "How do you choose?"

[Brother Brian]

"No," replies Meerlinda, a hint of sharpness in her voice for that one word, "the eye will actually reside fully below the surface of the skin. While it is emblematic of its primary function, the eye does not need to be exposed to air to serve as the link's conduit, nor will it emerge in its secondary functions." Rebekka and Muaziz exchange unreadable looks during the Councilor's reply.

"It may be best not to think too carefully about where it ends up," says Gwynnis, perhaps blinking more rapidly than normal for the moment. "The overall effect should still be... salubrious." The Tremere all raise eyebrows at that word.

A hint of glee appears in Francoi's eyes at the choice of words, and he covers his mouth with the back of his hand, feigning shock, to cover a smile.

"They will have the right to refuse the procedure, will they not?" Rebekka asks, the direction of her gaze changing mid-question as Meerlinda looks to Gwynnis.

"Of course," replies the Justicar. "However, it also warrants mentioning, you will be able to track down your nemeses more easily, and deal with them as you see fit, if you consent to undergo the procedure. You, whose wounds still heal a week after you received them," she says to Jack.

"You, who have suffered humiliation and watched the source of that humiliation repeatedly elude your grasp," she says to Jocelin.

"You, who have lost your Regnant to the fangs of one of our enemies," she says to Leo. Gwynnis pauses, giving a questioning look to Rebekka.

"And you," the Prince says to François, "whose ancient enemy has been revealed to walk the city of New Orleans." Gwynnis nods in assent and turns back to you.

"The choice is yours to participate in the ritual or not," Gwynnis says to you all. "How do you choose?"

Francois steps forward, clicking his boot heels together.

"Justicar" he says nodding at Gwinnis, "Though I am unworthy to recieve the gift you offer, I accept your gracious generosity as my need, and the need of the Camarilla is great." He pauses for a beat. "If others have concerns about the procedure, I will be an example for them."

Turning to Meerlinda, "Tell me what I am to do, revered elder."

[Detritus]

Francois steps forward, clicking his boot heels together.

"Justicar" he says nodding at Gwinnis, "Though I am unworthy to recieve the gift you offer, I accept your gracious generosity as my need, and the need of the Camarilla is great." He pauses for a beat. "If others have concerns about the procedure, I will be an example for them."

Turning to Meerlinda, "Tell me what I am to do, revered elder."
"Will the others also consent?" Meerlinda asks. "We cannot form the ward until all the participants have expressed their desire to proceed."

((Since things are structured as in an "opt-in" format, I'll need the explicit consent of each PC before we move on.))

[Kalzazz]

"Yes, Im in"

Jocelin murmurs a prayer, then enters

[Huxley]

"I consent"

[SD Anderson]

"It's not like we're not getting dumped on as is... What's a little intrusion or an elder vampire on our immortal souls?" Jack says. "But if that eye starts to itch, I'm going to be pissed off."

[Detritus]

Rebekka stoops to remove a censer from the box on the dropcloth as soon as Jack gives his answer, and gets some incense burning within it in short order.

"The eye will cause no physical discomfort," Meerlinda says. "Although, it is not proof against, how do you say? Psychosomatic disorders?"

"Neither will it improve your judgment," Gwynnis says wryly, somehow managing to look down her nose at Jack despite being several inches shorter than him. To the whole group she then says, "I am given to understand that there are... some avenues of improvement for you to pursue in this area."

While the Justicar speaks, Rebekka has begun censing the circle, starting in the east and moving towards the southern compass point. Sarah has picked up the aspergillum and begins making her way to the eastern compass point. Muaziz struggles with removing the sword from the scabbard, at which point Anneke and Dee Dee come over.

"Allow us," the Sheriff says, and her brood mate grips the scabbard while she takes the hilt and removes the sword smoothly from its sheathe. She proffers the sword hilt to the Tremere archon with a bow and a murmured "Dominus Vobiscum." The Councilor raises an eyebrow, but the Justicar's childer do not subside until they receive a frown from their Sire.

[Detritus]

Gwynnis and her childer retreat to the northwestern portion of the twine circle. When Rebekka is heading from the western compass point to the northern, Meerlinda recites the following:

Dominus reget me et nihil mihi deerit

In loco pascuae ibi me conlocavit super aquam refectionis educavit me

Animam meam convertit deduxit me super semitas iustitiae propter nomen suum

Nam et si ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es virga tua et baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt

Parasti in conspectu meo mensam adversus eos qui tribulant me inpinguasti in oleo caput meum et calix meus inebrians quam praeclarus est

Et misericordia tua subsequitur me omnibus diebus vitae meae et ut inhabitem in domo Domini in longitudinem dierum

Rebekka has completed her circuit and begins censing everyone within the circle, beginning with Muaziz, continuing to the four of you, and then on to the Toreador. She censes Meerlinda next-to-last, and then hands the Councilor the censer to be censed herself. Sarah, following the path Rebekka took around the circle, is just finishing asperging the circle at this time, and Rebekka takes the censer from Meerlinda to cense Sarah.

Muaziz starts her circuit in the east, and a ribbon of light about six inches tall issues from the sword, pointed downward at the twine, the bottom of the strip of light touching the floor. The sword still looks to handle a bit sluggishly in her hands. She draws the eyes of the Justicar's childer with her as she moves, and you think you might see Dee Dee's eyes glazing a bit, although Gwynnis herself does not seem to be paying any particular attention to her.

"Once the third circuit is complete, we four Tremere will invoke the quarters and raise the ward. Then the ritual will begin, though at first it will be just the Justicar and myself who need do anything."

((We're into another narration-heavy section here, no response is necessary for now, although you certainly can respond as you see fit here. François is the only one of the PCs who hasn't seen anything like this yet, the other PCs saw it last week in-game, or at least a close variant of this particular ward-raising.))

[Detritus]

The Tremere invoke the archangels and their elements: In order, Rebekka (Raphael, Air), Muaziz (Michael, Fire), Sarah (Water, Gabriel), and Meerlinda (Earth, Uriel). Each of them puts a little bit of their blood in a small chrome-colored bowl. Rebekka's blood mingles with incense, Muaziz lights the droplets of her blood on fire, and Sarah uses the aspergillum to rinse her blood in the bowl. Meerlinda shears a lock of her hair off and wipes the blood off her palm with it, and then and drops in the bowl.

Once this is done, Sarah recites, "We stand outside time, in a place not of earth. Let us regard the ancient ways. We shall not walk this path again."

And then Meerlinda: "By Fire, Water, Earth, and Air are we now met. Selah. So be it." She raises her arms and a shimmering, opaque dome of energy rises above you, shielding the other not in the circle from your view.

[Detritus]

Gwynnis takes the scabbard and girds Dee Dee with it. The Sheriff's face is blank while this occurs. Muaziz takes the sword, which had been lying flat near the southern edge of the dropcloth, and cuts a doorway-sized opening in it that opens upwards away from the dome, reminiscent of the doors to a DeLorean. She still labors to move the sword in making the cut.

The Tremere archon then holds the sword before her and offers back to Dee Dee, addressing her as "Door Warden." The Sheriff takes the sword and twirls it once in a lazy circle before sheathing it with a bit more force than is strictly necessary. She then exits the dome, stepping over the foot-high rim between the floor and the opening's bottom as she does.

"I will remain, thank you," you hear Anneke say, a hint of challenge in her voice. Meerlinda and Rebekka exchange looks with each other, and then with Gwynnis.

"It would not disrupt the procedure," Rebekka says. Meerlinda looks back and forth between Sire and Get, and finally nods acquiescence. Anneke releases a breath she seems to have been unaware she had drawn.

"Do you have your cubes, childe?" Meerlinda asks of Sarah, who gives a start at being addressed. She reaches into a deep pants pocket and produce her Crown Royal bag, then rummages around until she can dig out a small container that holds four black cubes and four white cubes, all marked as dice. Meerlinda eyes the set askance for a moment before taking them with a shrug.

"For everyone's protection, I shall now ward myself and the Justicar separately. Do not be alarmed at anything that occurs in the next while. It is all part of the ritual."

[Detritus]

Meerlinda sets a pair of black and white cubes about a foot outside southern corners of the dropcloth, and then the other pair extending to the same extent east-west, but somewhat further north of that edge of the dropcloth. It's enough room for someone to lie flat and another person to move around them. She beckons for Gwynnis to join her within the smaller perimeter defined by the cubes.

Each pair of cubes merges into a silvery oblong piece when the Councilor points at them, and then she raises her hands to form a clear, rectangular border that extends six feet in height. Gwynnis lies down, her heels just on the northern edge of the dropcloth. Meerlinda suddenly conjures a stake and pierces the Justicar's sternum. You hear Sarah gasp, and then a wordless cry and a sort of ringing crash, and then Anneke is lying on the floor next to the smaller ward.

"That will not help, now," Rebekka says, helping Anneke up. Muaziz gives her a smug little smirk at seeing Anneke come a bit unhinged.

[Detritus]

With the Justicar lying immobile before her, Meerlinda takes to hand the dagger the Tremere used to cut themselves in spilling their blood for the ward. She makes a lifting motion with it, and Gwynnis's right eye begins to bulge.

After a moment, it rises enough that the full eyeball is out of its socket, now only held in place by orbital muscles and the optic nerve. Grasping the eye with her free hand, she severs the muscles where they join the eye, and then the nerve about an inch below where it enters the eye.

Anneke buries her face in her sister's bosom, and Rebekka's gaze has taken on a steely quality. Sarah gapes openly at this surgery, and Muaziz no longer wears any hint of smugness on her slack-jawed face.

Meerlinda moves to the dropcloth and reaches for one of a stack of small silvery bowls and places the eye within it. She then repeats the procedure, excising Gwynnis's left eye and placing it in another bowl. She removes the stake and guides the Justicar in slowly sitting up, muscles and nerves dangling from out her empty eye sockets.

"We are nearly done with this segment of the ritual, dearest friend, but you must heal yourself and submit once more to the blade." Gwynnis turns her head in the direction of Meerlinda's voice and gives her a nod, and then turns her eyeless gaze in your direction for a moment, somehow seeming to be able to focus on you despite her impairment.

((I got bidness to attend, so I'll let things breathe here for a bit. The ritual posts should be finished some time this evening, I'm guessing.))

[Detritus]

Gwynnis "looks" straight ahead, and you see the bud of an eye begin to sprout from her right optic nerve, which pulls inward as the bud begins to grow. The orbital muscles reach downward and anchor on the half-grown orb, pulling it into place as the eye finishes healing. The whole process replays on the left side of the Justicar's face.

"Are you ready to proceed?" Gwynnis takes a deep breath before giving Meerlinda her reply.

"I am." She takes one last look around the dome, her eyes seeming to drink in all details of the people and objects around her. "I am now," she says, and then slowly leans back to lie flat upon the floor. Meerlinda replaces the stake, once again immobilizing Gwynnis.

Anneke flinches and begins to turn away when she sees her Sire's right eye begin to twitch again, but instead breaks contact with Rebekka and wraps her arms around her torso as if to compel herself to watch what happens by main force. Each cut elicits another flinch, but she manages to watch the whole affair. Meerlinda places each of the Justicar's second pair of eyes into its own little bowl, removes the stake, and then releases the smaller ward. Rebekka and Anneke move to either side of Gwynnis to help her rise while Meerlinda gathers the bowls and sets them before you.

"Now we are come to that part of the ritual that requires vitae from each of you," says Meerlinda. "You may choose to make your own incision in your forehead or have me do it with the dagger."

((OK, I misspoke about the ritual finishing tonight, but we have gotten to the point where you may all choose who makes your incision.))

[SD Anderson]

Jack takes the knife. "Where exactly on the forehead?"

[Detritus]

Jack takes the knife. "Where exactly on the forehead?"
Meerlinda traces a line halfway up her forehead that extends from above the center of one eye to the other.

[SD Anderson]

Makes mitt der skratcatching on der forekopf - like ein dumbkopf!

[Detritus]

Makes mitt der skratcatching on der forekopf - like ein dumbkopf!
There's a bit of your blood on the blade after the deed is done. Meerlinda gestures for the knife, and after she gets it wipes the blood onto the eye directly in front of you. She then gives the remaining three participants an inquiring look as to who's next.

[Brother Brian]

Francois holds his hand out for the knife. Forcing a small smile to his face, he drags it across his forehead.

[Detritus]

Francois holds his hand out for the knife. Forcing a small smile to his face, he drags it across his forehead.
OK, then once Meerlinda has the blade back again, she coats the eye before François with his blood. Two down, two to go.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin holds out her hand for the knife without saying anything

[Detritus]

Jocelin holds out her hand for the knife without saying anything
Meerlinda hands the knife to you in silence. After you make your incision, presumably also in silence, Meerlinda wipes the blade on your donor eye. In silence.

((:grin:))

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin is silently silent throughout the silence, yes

[Huxley]

Through the eye removal procedure Leo looks perturbed, but tries to remain composed.

When it's his turn to cut he grabs the knife, and makes the incision quickly to get the process over with.

[Detritus]

Once Leo's vitae is on the final eye, Meerlinda gestures for Rebekka and Anneke to guide Gwynnis to her. You see that the Justicar has donned her childe's sunglasses, and Anneke's glass eye glitters in the faint, shimmering illumination from the protective dome above you. When she is guided to the Councilor's side, Gwynnis holds out her right hand, and Meerlinda places the knife's hilt on the Justicar's palm. Gwynnis reaches over with her empty hand and grasps the blade, leaving a red smear behind as she slides her hand back off the knife.

Meerlinda wafts each small bowl to her hand in turn, placing it beneath Gwynnis's bloodied palm. A few drops of her blood fall upon each of her eyes, and soon the bowls are back where they started, now laden both with an eye and your blood mingled with the Justicar's. Gwynnis licks the knife clean and hands it back to Meerlinda, who closes her eyes for a moment once she holds the knife again, evidently centering herself for whatever comes next.

The Councilor's eyes open suddenly, and she thrusts her tongue, curled upward, out of her mouth. She deftly slices through the small fold of skin beneath it, then grips the end of her tongue and pulls it out as far as she can. You watch in horrified fascination as she severs a segment of her tongue nearly the length of her hand from out her mouth.

With eerie calmness Meerlinda calls the slate block that held the now-extinguished brazier before her. She lops off the tip of her tongue and then quarters the remainder on the block, which floats at table height with no apparent support. She smears one of the tongue quarters on each eye, which seems to absorb both flesh and blood once the tongue makes contact.

This task done, Meerlinda raises each eye one by one level with your forehead before inserting the eye into your incision. The eyes move as surely and as firmly as if the Councilor held them throughout the insertion procedure. There seems to be hardly any resistance at all as the eye moves completely within your body. An brief flash of vertigo comes upon you, and then you can feel the potency of your vitae increase as your disorientation subsides. Gwynnis leans heavily on Anneke as the eyes integrate with their new hosts.

"The ritual is complete," Rebekka says, and Meerlinda nods in affirmation at this statement. "There is always something new to learn, it seems."

"What happened there at the end?" Gwynnis asks.

"I'll tell you later," Anneke replies, looking askance at Meerlinda as she speaks.

"How do you feel?" Rebekka asks you.

[Brother Brian]

How do we feel? Any different (minus the vertigo)?

[Detritus]

How do we feel? Any different (minus the vertigo)?
Not really. Although the question may also be interpreted as addressing how you might be feeling after witnessing a kind of gruesome ritual. Which you're free to share or keep to yourselves, as appropriate.

EDIT -- I should also add, there is that rush of power you feel when your effective generation lowers.

[SD Anderson]

"About what I expected from previous mystical dealings with that woman." Jack says . Macabre, sick, and disgusting, his thought balloon adds for any eavesdropping telepaths.

[Detritus]

Text deleted for a lengthier response after François's latest post.

[Brother Brian]

Francois absently rubs his forehead, but otherwise looks undisturbed.

[Detritus]

"About what I expected from previous mystical dealings with that woman." Jack says . Macabre, sick, and disgusting, his thought balloon adds for any eavesdropping telepaths.
"I had not realized you had worked with the Councilor before," replies Rebekka. "When you were both in Dallas?" The Prince's inquiring look moves from Jack's face to Meerlinda's, and the elder Tremere shakes her head in negation. Gwynnis speaks into the brief silence that follows.

"If my eye offends thee, cut it out. You may do so at your leisure. I believe there is a knife suitable for that very purpose close to hand." A smile crosses the Justicar's lips, but it is not pleasant.

"This woman may be blind now, but she has already seen that you've lost one Justicar on your watch. Some... investigation as to motives and loyalties seemed prudent. If you think my information-gathering techniques are extreme, then I hope for your sake that you never have cause to be investigated by one of my peers."

[SD Anderson]

"I had not realized you had worked with the Councilor before," replies Rebekka. "When you were both in Dallas?" The Prince's inquiring look moves from Jack's face to Meerlinda's, and the elder Tremere shakes her head in negation. Gwynnis speaks into the brief silence that follows.

"If my eye offends thee, cut it out. You may do so at your leisure. I believe there is a knife suitable for that very purpose close to hand." A smile crosses the Justicar's lips, but it is not pleasant.

"This woman may be blind now, but she has already seen that you've lost one Justicar on your watch. Some... investigation as to motives and loyalties seemed prudent. If you think my information-gathering techniques are extreme, then I hope for your sake that you never have cause to be investigated by one of my peers."


She ah sort of woke me up out of a real deep sleep a couple of days ago." jack says absently.

[Kalzazz]

"Divine . . . like directly in her presence . . " Jocelin looks kind of dazed

[Huxley]

"I am fine. The effects are beneficial. Given our circumstances so far in this battle, one might argue that this was necessary. So, yes: I am doing quite well"

Leo's body language, and thoughts, betray him. He is obviously uncomfortable, and rubbing his forehead.

Why is it that I always feel guilty despite the many sins I commit?

[Detritus]

"I am fine. The effects are beneficial. Given our circumstances so far in this battle, one might argue that this was necessary. So, yes: I am doing quite well"

Leo's body language, and thoughts, betray him. He is obviously uncomfortable, and rubbing his forehead.

Why is it that I always feel guilty despite the many sins I commit?
There might be a trace of sympathy on Rebekka's face when she speaks again.

"I am afraid there will not be much time to become accustomed to... your new accessory. There are five nights until the start of the Conclave. I believe the Justicar will want her sight restored then."

"We will have to see how the next few nights go," replies Gwynnis. "If there is progress made, but not completed, in that time, we will make the determination then as to how to proceed. I believe I can make some other accommodation, if necessary. Perhaps we should bring early arrivals for a personal audience."

"Within this ward?" asks Rebekka.

"So long as it can be maintained indefinitely, there are worse places I can think of to meet."

"This house is surely watched. The observers will notice who comes out, and who doesn't," says Anneke. "I don't like the Justicar as a sitting target."

"There are accommodations, and then there are accommodations," replies Gwynnis. "We shall discuss it in what remains of the night."

"Will you see the others out?" Rebekka asks of Muaziz, who takes the dagger and begins to tap on the surface of the ward, near Dee Dee's position just beyond.

"Are there any questions you might have, before leaving the ward?" the Prince asks you.

((I moved the time of the ritual a bit earlier than previously stated, so it's around 330 am right now. About 1.5 hours left of useful night, FYI.))

[SD Anderson]

"Of course, if they see someone they THINK is Gwynnis leave, they won't consider her a sitting duck." Jack points out.

[Detritus]

"Of course, if they see someone they THINK is Gwynnis leave, they won't consider her a sitting duck." Jack points out.
"Are there any volunteers for this?" Rebekka asks. "And how long would you propose maintaining that particular ruse?"

[SD Anderson]

"Are there any volunteers for this?" Rebekka asks. "And how long would you propose maintaining that particular ruse?"

"I've been told, around the time I asked for what turned out to be the generation detection die, that magic can do practically anything. I suggest that such a ruse would fit under the 'practically anything' clause. Ghosts exist, if we could conjure one up and make it look like Gwynnis long enough to get her into a limo and say off onto a plane, we can then send it back."

[Detritus]

"I've been told, around the time I asked for what turned out to be the generation detection die, that magic can do practically anything. I suggest that such a ruse would fit under the 'practically anything' clause. Ghosts exist, if we could conjure one up and make it look like Gwynnis long enough to get her into a limo and say off onto a plane, we can then send it back."
"What you were told is that Thaumaturgy is a remarkably flexible discipline. Which it is, but it cannot do everything, and not all that can be done with it can be performed on the instant. It takes time to avail ourselves of that flexibility to the fullest extent possible. Long enough in this case to be a significant fraction of the Justicar's isolation, I would guess. To do it quickly would be more a matter of Obfuscate, I think."

Meerlinda nods in agreement with Rebekka, and then another opening is cut into the ward. Rebekka waves Dee Dee into the dome, and Muaziz shuts the opening once the Sheriff is inside. The ward is seamless again when she's finished.

"I'm not sure I want to send my private aircraft away, even temporarily," says Gwynnis, then cracks a little smile. "And I don't think anyone would believe I'd fly commercial. No one who matters, anyways."

"There are a lot of girls here," says Sarah. She looks like she's counting to herself, then says, "11, if I've counted right, including three outside the ward right now. We could press the menfolk into service, too, but I think 10 decoys would be enough."

Her eyes look inward for a moment, and then a duplicate pair of Anneke's shades appears in her hand. She puts them on, and then shortly thereafter assumes the likeness of Gwynnis.

"I am Spartacus," she says, smiling, and then looks down at herself. "Ah, the clothes, need to get them right, too. That's gonna cost extra." Meerlinda arches an eyebrow at the antics of the very junior member of her clan.

"More clothes can be conjured," Muaziz says. "The timing would have to be right, too. The conjury would cease to exist after an hour, but if the duration overlaps with the imminent approach of sunrise, it should be sufficient."

"And alternate havens," says Rebekka. "Unwarded, if everyone goes separately. Warded if in pairs."

"They may follow the sword, or note its absence," says Gwynnis.

((I'll stop in mid-thought here, if you want to contribute any ideas or suggest a different course...))

[SD Anderson]

"I'm not sure I want to send my private aircraft away, even temporarily," says Gwynnis, then cracks a little smile. "And I don't think anyone would believe I'd fly commercial. No one who matters, anyways."

"Which would make it a viable option. Few people prepare for the inconcievable." Jack says.

[Detritus]

"Which would make it a viable option. Few people prepare for the inconcievable." Jack says.
"No one would believe it if it happens by day, I should think," says Anneke. "That pushes it back to tomorrow night. I'm sure we could find a mortal double by then."

"This," says Dee Dee, giving the ward a tap that produces a faint crystalline chime, "stands out like a signal flare. I will stand as warden to it if I must, but I think we'd be better served if I were in the field."

"Perhaps we would all be best served if we could engage those who might be watching as quickly as possible. I shall risk one night as a sitting target," says Gwynnis. She turns her head to Anneke, and from the expression on her face below her childer's sunglasses, you think the Justicar would be rolling her eyes, if they were intact.

"Some brief instructions in the operation of the link are in order, I think, and then we can call in the other who are outside the ward to remain within for a similar period of time after the instructions are completed. Will that be to everyone's satisfaction?" Anneke gives a grudging shake of her head in the affirmative.

[SD Anderson]

"Simple question: Does whatever they use to sense this ward show up under the same abilities they use to detect it? If we send up magical white noise that's loud enough, can we spot their magical sonar?"

[Detritus]

"Simple question: Does whatever they use to sense this ward show up under the same abilities they use to detect it? If we send up magical white noise that's loud enough, can we spot their magical sonar?"
"It is a matter of Astral Projection," replies Rebekka. "The 'sonar' is merely normal sight. Even if the magical noise of which you speak were to work in the manner you suggest, it would not remove the knowledge of this locale from the eavesdropper's memory. Although... someone else in astral form would be able to see anyone who watches, if they are close enough."

"This ward is proof against psychic incursion," says Muaziz. "In both directions, although the link between you and the Justicar will pass it. Whoever scouts will have to step outside the ward."

"We could raise another, one that would allow astral passage," counters Rebekka.

"We could. I think you might be the best choice for that one, Sire." Rebekka thinks about this for a moment.

"I agree," she says finally. "And the points about knowing where we are and that the dome ward is already active are also well taken. Perhaps we should send pairs of decoys out into the city, one in the guise of the Justicar, and the other in the guise of the Councilor. Imitate the ward once the decoys reach their destinations, which will require as many Tremere as there are pairs of decoys." Rebekka pauses once more, pursing her lips as she thinks.

"What about this proposal: I will raise a ward to protect the bodies of our astral scouts. I will summon Thomas and Merill, and then they, you and Sarah escort the four who wait just beyond the ward. The Tremere will take Meerlinda's likeness, and the other the likeness of Gwynnis. You will disperse throughout the city, and then the Tremere will use ward cubes to raise dome wards such as this. The Justicar's childer would then be free to be deployed as needed."

"One of them should search for the dagger," Gwynnis offers.

"Naturally," replies Rebekka, "and that can also be done from within my ward."

"The one who tracks the dagger need not be rendered helpless."

"Making that operation look like astral projection would conceal the tracker's newfound ability, at least that one in particular. We cannot prevent their enhanced capabilities at Auspex from becoming known." Gwynnis gives silent acquiescence to these final points.

[Kalzazz]

"Does this link enable us to talk to you Justicar, and you to us through it?"

[Detritus]

"Does this link enable us to talk to you Justicar, and you to us through it?"
"We may share mental speech, yes, although perceptions, memories, and thoughts that are not specifically speech are not shared across the link. Everyone in the link hears what is said."

"We also share another language, so long as we are linked," Gwynnis says aloud. The meaning of this last statement you understand perfectly, but the individual words sound strange in your ears, oddly inflected and accented. Anneke, Rebekka, and Meerlinda don't exhibit any surprise at this, but the other Kindred in the ward do.

"In case our thoughts may be monitored more skillfully than I expect," she thinks to you in... Welsh?

((At this point there will be a short mental-speech tutorial on your enhanced capabilities arising from the link, as outlined in this post (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=291451&postcount=76) in the OOC #2 thread.))

[Detritus]

((You may feel free to put in any questions about how the link works. You'll get the in-character rundown from Gwynnis of the post linked in the previous post. All such questions will be treated as coming before this next bit.))

Once the mental briefing is over, Dee Dee says:

"If the plan is to set another ward outside this one, that's going to be pretty obvious. I'd recommend just having a watcher to guard Obfuscated scouts. That'd be me. We can make the exchange when we bring the others into this ward."

[Brother Brian]

Francois who looks as if he has been deep in thought speaks.

"It seems to me that we have at least one tactical advantage. I am rather certain that he who sired me did not recognize me. He is a rogue and a coward, and if summoned to face us alone, he might be pressed upon to reveal information helpful to our cause. What say you all?"

[Detritus]

Francois who looks as if he has been deep in thought speaks.

"It seems to me that we have at least one tactical advantage. I am rather certain that he who sired me did not recognize me. He is a rogue and a coward, and if summoned to face us alone, he might be pressed upon to reveal information helpful to our cause. What say you all?"
"Will he bring others with him if he's not alone when summoned?" asks Anneke.
"We shouldn't assume he'll arrive alone, especially if he's familiar with the technique."

[Brother Brian]

"Indeed, and I would not summon him here. However, it might give us an opportunity to prepare a location that gives us suitable advantages. They surprised us with their brawn this evening. Now it is time to surprise them with our brains."

[Detritus]

"Indeed, and I would not summon him here. However, it might give us an opportunity to prepare a location that gives us suitable advantages. They surprised us with their brawn this evening. Now it is time to surprise them with our brains."
"It had already been one of our contingency plans to summon Samantha to a location of our choosing," says Rebekka. "The plan could be adapted for Rochette being the primary summons. It could be done as early as tomorrow evening."

[SD Anderson]

"Setting up Drake may be the better option. I don't know about Rochette, but I do know that right now, Samantha Drake is the most dangerous Kindred this side of Cain. I'd much rather deal with her before she gets to Cain, gets killed by Cain and triggers Gehenna." Jack says.

[Detritus]

"Perhaps we should see as to the disposition of the forces arrayed against us before choosing our targets?" Though phrased as a question, there is a hint of command underlying the Justicar's statement. "It would be nice to turn the tables on our foes in terms of advanced intelligence."

"I think I should go with the others," says Muaziz. "If any of the watchers can perform Thaumaturgy, you will not want to be caught at a disadvantage once you are outside the ward."

"You are capable of Psychic Projection?" Gwynnis asks her.

Muaziz begins nodding her head impatiently before realizing what she's doing. "I am," she answers.

"In that case, I propose one to home in on the dagger, and the others, including the Tremere agent, to search the area immediately around the ward, and with expansion of the search area if nothing turns up nearby."

"You should be one of the others who search the city," Rebekka says to Jocelin, "as the one from the group the most familiar with New Orleans. Do any of you have a particular preference to seek out the current bearer of the Justicar's dagger?"

[Brother Brian]

"Indeed, I would go with Jocelyn", says Francois.

[Detritus]

"Indeed, I would go with Jocelyn", says Francois.
((Just so we're clear, Jocelin won't be looking for the chick with the dagger. She's part of the group that will be doing a more general search, starting at the perimeter of the ward. We just need a volunteer to check out what the Assamite is doing.

When that happens, that person will be using one Auspex power to home in on the dagger, and the others will use a different Auspex power for more generic scouting.))

[SD Anderson]

I rather suspect Jack has some interest in the dagger's present possessor.

[Detritus]

I rather suspect Jack has some interest in the dagger's present possessor.
I thought he might. We'll proceed under the assumption that he's the one who will look her up.