Summoned In Haste (Leighton, various dates, beginning Tues. 4/3/07)

[Detritus]

((Here are some quick notes about the structure of clan Tremere. The Council of Seven is the ruling body of the clan, and Meerlinda is one of the Seven. The colonel will also know that Oliver Thrace is the Tremere Regent in London, essentially the leader of the clan in the city, at least as far as the internal workings of the clan are concerned. Leighton knows that he will have to go to the Chantry, which is located in St. Etheldreda's, in Ely Place, to meet with Oliver.))

It is shortly after sunset on Tuesday, a night that seems much like countless others you've experienced in your thus far quasquicentennial immortal existence. Exhibiting a preternatural awareness of your needs borne of long years in your service, your trusted batman Edmund approaches shortly after you waken, a paper folded into thirds in his hands.

"Good evening, Sire. I trust you slept well." Handing you the paper, he says, "This came for you by facsimile during the day."

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Colonel Beaumont,

Your presence is requested and required forthwith in New Orleans. Present this letter to Regent Thrace as countersign to orders I have issued to him; he will release you from your obligations in London after reading it. Upon arrival to New Orleans, you will be invested with the authority of Regent of the city.

Yours in fellowship,

Meerlinda
The Councilor's spare writing style is unmistakable in the missive. Edmund gives you a quirk of an eyebrow once you raise your head from the letter.

[hidufel]

Leighton rested the palm of his right hand on the warm fire opal that sat atop his cane... reassuring himself of its presence. As Edmund approached, he moved his gaze from out in the city and focused on his servant.

Nodding in acknowledgement at the valet's, he could only agree. "Indeed. It is a good evening, Edmund."

Taking the letter, he momentarily chuckled to himself at its mode of delivery, knowing well his batman's dislike for the new technology of this era. He read the letter while Edmund prepared a new coat for him, and adjusted his shirt. Fond of the old clothes from his time as a mortal, his long gentlemans coat was stitched with several arcane symbols along the lining, also in black.

Focusing again on the letter, he read to the end. Ah, he thought... Meerlinda must have a pressing need indeed, to hasitly call him to the Americas. Well there was no question, when the council, or in this case a councilor, calls for his attendance, his duty is clear.

Looking now at Edmund, and his Arched eyebrow, Edmund probably already knew what the facsimile stated, but as always, a good servant, he would show ignorance to the contents.

He began to feel a spot of excitement, a new adventure awaits!

"Edmund my good man, it appears we shall be taking a trip. One of the seven has called for my presence in the colonies." Shrugging into the fit of his clothes, as always a perfect fit, he stepped forth. "Be a good chap, and call me a cabriolet will you? I'll need to visit the chantry before we head out. Also, begin making arrangements for our immediate trip to New Orleans. I intend for us to be away as soon as possible."

After a few moments, the modern cab had arrived, and Leighton quickly got in cane in hand, and set forth to his destination, the Chantry.

[Detritus]

The ride to St. Etheldreda's takes you through Hatton Garden, London's jewellery district. You recall the times you spent procuring fire opals and other gems from various vendors across the district, as virtually every Tremere who has spent any length of time serving the clan in the British Isles has done, including Councilor Meerlinda herself.

You arrive to the Chantry between Vespers and Compline services. Regent Thrace awaits in the vestibule, as does Lille, London's Tremere Primogen and public face of the clan in the city, who represents Tremere interests during periods of interclan strife or negotiation. Oliver holds a piece of paper similar to the one Edmund gave you earlier this evening. Lille also holds some sort of note, but it looks different from the correspondence that you and the Regent have received.

"Ah, Leighton, good. Let's go back to my office, we'll take care of things there. Lille has received a royal summons, and I suspect it has something to do with the Councilor's orders."

You pass through the cathedral proper into offices that lie deep within the building. No one seems to give the three of you a second look. The Regent's office is that of a deacon of the church. Oliver goes to his desk and then reaches an expectant hand towards you as Lille takes one of the two chairs facing the desk.

[hidufel]

Stepping into the study, Leighton handed Oliver the paper to which he was expecting. Pulling up his own chair, Leighton sat nextto Lille, and waited for the regent to read his missive.

"I must say i am surprised to hear from councilor Meerlinda on this occasion, and to have her summons come so quickly has one wondering what must be going on. Perhaps you can shed some light on the subject?"

Taking out a little metal box, Leighton quickly inhaled a small amount of snuff... and then offered some politely to Oliver and then to Lille.

[Detritus]

Stepping into the study, Leighton handed Oliver the paper to which he was expecting. Pulling up his own chair, Leighton sat nextto Lille, and waited for the regent to read his missive.

"I must say i am surprised to hear from councilor Meerlinda on this occasion, and to have her summons come so quickly has one wondering what must be going on. Perhaps you can shed some light on the subject?"

Taking out a little metal box, Leighton quickly inhaled a small amount of snuff... and then offered some politely to Oliver and then to Lille.
"Thank you, no," Lille replies. The Regent simply shakes his head in negation. He unfolds his letter, and Meerlinda's placid face projects upward from the page, her head slowly turning as if surveying the room.

"That isn't Thaumaturgy," Lille says, mild surprise in her voice. Upon closer inspection of the image, you realize the Primogen is correct. The projection exhibits none of the telltale signs of thaumaturgical work. The Regent gives you both a darkly significant look as he opens your letter and touches it to his.

Oliver lies the second page flat, and an identical image to the first image projects upward. It rotates in the direction opposite of the first image, their spins synchronized such that the two faces will look inwards towards each other, this despite the fact that the Regent took no particular care about the timing with which he opened the two letters. When the gazes meet, the images suddenly shift into those of a golden-haired woman with a coquettish grin on her face. Two pairs of lips pucker in unison when the gazes come to look upon the Regent.

"That foul shrew!" the Regent exclaims. "I should have known that she would be in the thick of it."

"Tut tut, Regent," Lille says in mock-scandalized tones. "You know as well as I that that relationship will endure through anything short of the Final Death of one or the other."

"I do not have to like it," Oliver replies. A glint in the Regent's eye fraught with malice dims as his gaze draws in on itself.

"Of course not." Lille's reply is a bit distracted, and the memory of all three of you are drawn backwards to a time nearly seven decades in the past, a late July evening in 1940.

((No particular reply is necessary here, it's basically setup for the flashback, beginning the next post.))

[Detritus]

"But this is highly irregular, Councilor," Oliver said. "The door warden's sword is the one that must be used in raising the ward, and that warden must be of our clan. This is a Tremere operation. Outsiders shouldn't even know of it, let alone be involved."

In your memory, you find yourself in the same office, dimly lit by pale orbs of cool handfire. Oliver and Lille are there then as well as now. Councilor Meerlinda is present, as is a German Tremere named Rebekka, who had fled Munich barely a year ago. She had never given a surname that you could recall. In the short time you've worked with her thus far, she had proven herself to be every bit as competent a ceremonial mage as either Oliver or Lille. No, Rebekka was not the problem here.

You feel your gaze being drawn back to the interloper, a golden-haired woman that Meerlinda had introduced as Gwynnis, an elder Toreador. A visitor that the Councilor had brought unannounced, and one wearing a sword at that. The weapon seemed a touch too long for her frame, yet she did move as if she knew how to use it, as if it belonged on her hip. Surprise guests were the Councilor's prerogative, of course, but her proposal that Gwynnis should replace you as the primary door warden for the Lammas Night ritual had caught you completely off guard.

"That is not quite correct, Oliver," Meerlinda said in a stately, almost languid, cadence. "The operation is to protect Britain against incursion by German forces. The Tremere will undoubtedly play an important role in this venture, yet it would be foolish to turn away aid on the basis of a petty tribalism."

Regent Thrace did no more than grunt in reply to the Councilor's words. The Regent shifted an even gaze between all the other occupants of his office before finally settling it on you.

"And what do you think of the Councilor's proposal, Colonel? Shall we hand over the responsibilities of the door warden to an outsider?"

[hidufel]

((My apologies if i assume too much in the post... feel free to correct me if ive assumed to much about the events in question.))

Leighton squared his shoulders held his posture stiffly erect. His moustache twitched and betrayed his inner turmoil at the perceived insult.

"I find this highly irregular. We've already discussed the ritual in detail and are ready to enact it. To replace a warden at the last moment does not bode well for an easy success."

Turning to Councilor Meerlinda, he bows, "with all due respect, My Lady, this is not about 'petty tribalism' I assure you. to replace me with someone," he turns and gestures at the other participants present, "that is an unknown to us, not to mention one we have not vetted with the skills necessary... well, It would seem most... unwise."

After his comment Leighton shifted his posture back to his old military ways, assuming one of attention. His cane held at his side, as though it were a weapon on display.

[Detritus]

A look of grim satisfaction appears on the Regent's face after you finish speaking. The Councilor's expression does not change, and Gwynnis studies those in the room with an unreadable expression. Rebekka's lips compress slightly, but she remains silent for the moment. Lille wears a guarded look upon her face, but she seems uncommitted for the moment. Seeing the indecision on Lille's face prompts Rebekka to speak.

"Why do you remain silent, Sire?" she asks of Lille. Her words are measured, but there is an edge to her voice. "Would you deny her fitness to assay the role of warden after all I have reported to you through the years?

"It is difficult, childe. Secondhand reports are a poor substitute for firsthand experience, and I have never worked with Gwynnis."

"But I have," replies Rebekka. "I have trusted my life to her martial prowess, and her insights into the hearts of men, on more than one occasion for each. These are the key qualities necessary of a warden, and neither requires one whit of Thaumaturgical ability."

As you consider Rebekka's words, you find that Gwynnis has fastened her gaze onto you. Slowly, carefully, she unsheathes her sword, and then hands it to Rebekka, who holds it a bit awkwardly atop her upturned palms. The elder Toreador approaches you unarmed.

"With all due respect, I believe your Regent is a bit overwrought. I would not presume to usurp pride of place over you or any other member of your august clan. Yet this is a matter that involves more than clan Tremere. This is the land of my birth, and has been for half a millenium before the Tremere clan came into being. I have no more wish to see the German hordes overrun the Isles than you, or any other subject of the Empire, any more than I did the Spanish Armada, or Napoleon's armies."

Gwynnis turns to motion Rebekka over, and she holds the sword out towards you after she comes to you.

"Would you at least consent to learn some of the contribution I would be able to make before dismissing my participation in your endeavors?"

[hidufel]

Leighton Listens to Gwynnis' words, and as she holds her sword, thinks about what they mean. He had never been an expert swordsman in his service to the Queen, and his time studying the ancient thaumaturgy of his clan had not lent him much time to increase his skill... still, Rebekka was right, the role of warden need not have thamaturgical expertise.

Nodding to Gwynnis, Leighton replied "Very well My Lady, far be it for me to deny one with such history and provenance of our homeland. Let me judge your contribution, and if indeed you are worthy i will not stand in your way... Nay i would champion you myself. We cannot allow the "German Hordes" to gain foothold here."

With that Leighton steps his left foot back and readies himself into a posture of combat readiness, unsure of what exactly she means. Though if she intends a duel hi is prepared to entertain her.

[Detritus]

((Note: It's Rebekka holding the sword, not Gwynnis, but we'll just roll with things as written. It's kind of funny.))

A lopsided smile appears on Gwynnis's face when she sees you ready yourself.

"Present the hilt to him, dear," she says out the side of her mouth to Rebekka. "He thinks you're my second when you hold the hilt in my direction."

After Rebekka adjusts her hold on the sword to present the hilt to you, Gwynnis flicks her eyes to it for an instant in the middle of a nod of encouragement.

[hidufel]

Leighton Smiled himself, as he realized his mistake. Bowing towards both Rebekka and Gwynnis, he replied, "ah, I see my mistake. My apologies."

Settling himself and adjusting his grasp on his cane, he couldn't help but lift his left hand to his moustache and give it a slight stroke, as he adjusted his compusre.

"I hope you may forgive this old soldiers ways, even after 60 years, i find it hard to shrug off old habits." Coughing slightly, he continued, "yes, well. Let us take a look."

With that he will hold out his left hand, not grasping the sword, but rather placing his hand open, palm up. Unwilling to actually grasp the sword without permission, despite the apparent nod of encouragement. He waited for Rebekkah to place it in his palm, if that was indeed what they expected him to inspect.

[Detritus]

A sheepish grin appears on Rebekka's face.

"The fault is mine, I'm afraid. I've no experience walking down the Path of Iron." She places the hilt in your hands when you don't reach for it, and then releases her hold on the blade.

Your first impression is that you hold an object of significant magical power. It is not of the sort as contained in the gems and enchantments on your own blade, but you sense that it would be a fearsome weapon in the hands of one skilled in swordplay. Strangely, it feels somewhat sluggish when you try to move it, considerably more than could be accounted for by the increased mass of the weapon compared to your preferred fencing-style blades.

As you begin to probe deeper, you're overcome by a vision. It is somewhat disorienting at first, but after a few seconds you realize it is one of Rebekka's memories, perhaps just implanted after Gwynnis had handed her the blade.

((The vision is basically the content of this post (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=266727&postcount=12), although probably more impressionistic than an actual written vignette.))

[hidufel]

Shaking himself out of the reveries of experiencing anothers memories, he slowly turned and focused his eyes towards Gwynnis. The memory observed appeared to be quite genuine, and he was taken aback at the shear, fluidic, almost brutal efficacy with which he witnessed the Toreador elder wielded her justice.

Leighton refocused his eyes and looks at Rebekkah... He also couldn't help but wonder at Rebekkah, whom it appeared to be deeply involved with the Toreador. Could she be a childer of the Gwynnis? if so how is ti she is now Tremere?

turning his gaze back to Gwynnis, "It would seem, my Lady, that I am quite fortunate that you did not indeed take arms against me... your skill is quite... skillful."

Turning the hilt towards Gwynnis, he hands it towards her, and bows while handing her the blade.

"Regent, I can only humbly suggest that Gwynnis would be a worthy choice for Door Warden.

[Detritus]

Gwynnis makes a shallow but respectful curtsy before taking the blade from you. Instead of sheathing the blade, she holds it in the crook of her arm. Turning slowly towards your Regent, she looks every inch a queen of battle despite being the shortest person in the room.

"That was a trick, whatever it was," he says, "it had to have been. And it is well-known that Rebekka's mortal sister is one of Gwynnis's brood. Her testimony is biased."

"The fact of Anneke's lineage does not change the soundness of my argument," Rebekka replies heatedly. Oliver opens his mouth to make an angry retort when the Councilor cuts in.

"That will be enough from both of you." Her voice is no louder than its normal conversational volume, but resounds with the authority of one whose pronouncements brook no opposition. "If you would impugn Rebekka on the grounds of her prior history with Gwynnis, Regent, then you must do so doubly and more for me, for I have worked more closely with her than any in our own clan, save the other Councilors and the founder of our line. She will not play us false, nor falter in the obligations she takes upon herself.

"Furthermore, I seem to have left you with a mistaken impression, so I shall correct myself. The matter of Gwynnis's participation is not up for debate, I have simply informed you of her inclusion in the ritual. If there are any who cannot abide by this decision, I shall be forced to reevaluate the list of other participants."

The bland gaze and even tone with which Meerlinda delivers her rebuke seems only to strengthen the sting of her words. The Councilor's eyes shift to Lille, who raises her hands, palms outward, to shoulder height.

"Once the original warden agreed to the change, I considered the matter settled. You won't be winning this argument, Oliver."

=================

The sound of Lille's voice in the present snaps you out of your reminiscence.

"I've received word from Rebekka herself that she has ascended to the rulership of New Orleans, in the hours before sunrise yesterday. She also told me that the Councilor and the Toreador Justicar are both in the city." Lille nods towards the images that shift between Meerlinda and Gwynnis projected from the two letters on the desk.

"Apparently, Gwynnis removed the prior Prince of the city, one of her own clan, from the throne in the wake of the destruction of the Malkavian Justicar by a member of the New Orleans Kindred community, one who turned out to be a member of the Sabbat. She also mentioned that Gwynnis had some sort of request of Queen Anne ((OOC -- Anne is the Prince of London)), perhaps more than one. Gwynnis has also called a Conclave to convene on the evening of Easter Sunday. I'd guess that's what this is about."

Lille sets down an invitation for an 10 pm meeting tonight with Queen Anne on the Regent's desk. All three of you are named in the invitation.

"She may already know about the Colonel's transfer, and may send others in the city with Leighton."

"It does seem likely," says Oliver. "Do you think you're ready to handle being Regent, Colonel? One Justicar destroyed, a second to repel a Sabbat incursion, it sounds like interesting times have come upon New Orleans."

[hidufel]

Leighton Slowly grinned at the regents quetion... "It would seem that the game is afoot, to borrow a phrase... As for my readiness, i do feel up to the task at hand. This business with the sabbat and losing the Justicar is troubling, indeed."

He nodded again, and took out his pocket watch, and checked the time. "Perhaps we ought not keep Queen Anne waiting. Perhaps she can shed some more light on this."

[Detritus]

Oliver makes some excuses for being unable to attend the evening's Compline ceremony, and then the three of you head over to the Somerset House, Queen Anne's preferred abode during the days she ruled the Empire. When you arrive, you marvel at the results of the recent refurbishment of the complex, and marvel anew at the realization that that refurbishment happened nearly a decade ago. Somerset House has become a cultural center for fashion, art, music, and film in recent years. The courtyard is empty, but finds use as a skating rink during the winter months.

Inside, you're led to the basement, passing a display of a few pieces of the curve-legged furniture bearing Queen Anne's name on the way. Your attendant shows you to the meeting room, and says that the others will be arriving shortly. Six chairs arranged in a semi-circular arc face a single chair slightly heavier and more ornate than the others.

With nothing much to do for the time being, your memory drifts back again to the summer of 1940, and another meeting with Queen Anne...

((This is another flashback setup piece which you're free to let pass without comment. I'll get the second flashback up as soon as I can.))

[Detritus]

The Somerset House of your memory is more run down, more dank, than its modern-day counterpart. A feel of dampness is in the air, and the coolness of the cellar in summer. It's a bit musty, and dimly lit. All buildings are dimly lit at night, lest they become targets of opportunity for German bombers.

The basement meeting room is lit by four oil lamps with bulbous glass chimneys. You're seated in a chair at the rightmost end of a set of six chairs facing Queen Anne. Councilor Meerlinda and Lille have the two center seats, and Oliver is between you and Lille. Gwynnis sits to Meerlinda's left, and Rebekka at the other end of the arrangement.

"There is no question that occult practitioners from Germany will be involved in arcane efforts against the British Isles," says Meerlinda. "The rumor is that there will be some sort of sacrifice in effigy of one of the members of the living royal family. Word from Councilor Etrius in Vienna suggests that the renegade Goratrix may be involved in some way."

"My concern is for what he might do to those of the Kindred who used to be of the royal line, my Prince," says Gwynnis. "He may attempt to arrange for a sacrifice that is no effigy, but the real thing. Will you not reconsider your decision to remain in London over Glastonbury in two nights? My childer are already there, and will make sure you are treated in accordance with your station."

Anne considers these words for a long moment before shaking her head, answering in a high-pitched, regal voice.

"Our place is in London, just as yours will be in Glastonbury in the coming nights. We appreciate your concern for our safety, but we cannot help thinking that the thrust of the enemy's efforts will be directed at the ritual on Glastonbury Tor. London may well be more secure than Glastonbury in that regard."

"I would still feel better if I could see to your security arrangements myself," replies Gwynnis.

"It would not be your place to do so," says Meerlinda. At a questioning look from Gwynnis, the Councilor continues, "You will still be warden, but there will be others of my clan there at Glastonbury on Lammas Night. They will act under the direction of Col. Beaumont. It is they who would form any security contingent, unless you are going to divert any of your childer from field operations."

"You know that they'll be needed in the field."

"Then we are agreed, it is not your place," says Meerlinda. Gwynnis frowns but doesn't press the point any further. Anne takes in this interplay with a speculative look on her face, and then turns to you.

"And what about you, Colonel? Where would you have us on Lammas Night?"

[hidufel]

((OOC: I'm unsure how to address Queen Anne... how does one address the prince of a city, especially since she was once the queen of england... something that he is most respectfull of and duty bound to... if ive gaffed let me know and i'll adjust accordingly))

Leighton bowed his head in deference to Queen Anne, and commented. "I would not presume to have you go where you do not wish to go, Majesty, but my desire would be for your safety in all things... as such I believe you may have the best protection here in London. Our resources will be occupied with the success of the Glastonbury ritual."

[Detritus]

((OOC: I'm unsure how to address Queen Anne... how does one address the prince of a city, especially since she was once the queen of england... something that he is most respectfull of and duty bound to... if ive gaffed let me know and i'll adjust accordingly))
"Majesty" is fine here. I'll have a reply up as soon as I can.

[Detritus]

"It would seem the matter is settled, then," says Anne. "We shall remain in London, and you will do your best in defending the Isles in Glastonbury. Godspeed to you in your endeavours."

Gwynnis opens her mouth as if to speak over the dismissal, but subsides at a look of surprise from Anne. The Toreador rises from her seat and favors the Prince with a shallow curtsy before turning on her heel and exiting. Rebekka watches her leave and then makes a little shrug, evidently taking the display as par for the course for Gwynnis. Oliver smirks, and you think that Anne herself enjoyed the moment strictly more than necessary. A sharp gaze from Meerlinda wipes the smile off Oliver's face.

"You will still have to coordinate with Gwynnis, come the night of the ritual," Meerlinda says to you as you all depart from the royal presence. When you exit the meeting room, the Toreador is nowhere in sight. Noting the absence, a thoughtful look appears on the Councilor's face.

"It may be best if you think of her and her brood as a unit on detached duty. Her childer will respond best to her own direction. She also has a surprising amount of experience in wilderness settings. I believe she even served as a scout in her father's army for a time, back in her mortal days. Her abilities in this area will be a valuable complement to the more arcane forms of reconnaissance of our clan.

"Do you have any questions?"

[hidufel]

"None that come to light at the moment. As we gather in Glastonbury, I'd like to go over specifics of placement, of course."

Noting the absence of the Toreador... he arches his eyebrow, "She's not used to not getting what she wants, isn't she?"

[Detritus]

"None that come to light at the moment. As we gather in Glastonbury, I'd like to go over specifics of placement, of course."
"Naturally," replies Meerlinda.

Noting the absence of the Toreador... he arches his eyebrow, "She's not used to not getting what she wants, isn't she?"
"Quite observant of you," says Lille, a droll smile on her face.

"And no doubt her solicitousness was borne entirely of altruistic motives," adds Oliver.

"I wouldn't go so far as to impugn her motives," says Rebekka. "I believe her heart was in the right place. She does occasionally forget that there are other Kindred as resourceful as she."

"Gwynnis is unaccustomed to being thwarted, it is true," says Meerlinda. "That stems in part from there being relatively few who can stand up to her. You would do well to bear that in mind in your dealings with her, Colonel."

[hidufel]

Leighton Smiles at this last bit of advice. "indeed, I shall, councilor."

[Detritus]

The sound of footsteps brings you back to the present. Queen Anne has entered the room, accompanied by London's Ventrue Primogen, Natasha Volfchek, and another member of the city's Ventrue, Jazz Wentworth. The Toreador Primogen, Elliott Sinclair, is also with the Ventrue.

When you begin moving to rise, Anne waves you to remain seated. She sits on the lone chair facing the semicircle of six chairs, erect in her posture with her back not in contact with the chair's back.

"We'll dispense with the formalities. I have received correspondence from New Orleans, from the Toreador Justicar. Gwynnis has named you both," Anne says, indicating both you and Elliott, "to come to New Orleans. You're to leave immediately; evidently the Justicar's personal aircraft will be landing just before midnight, to take you to New Orleans before sunrise on Wednesday, local time."

The Prince pauses momentarily to let her words sink in.

"Gwynnis has convened a Conclave in New Orleans, to begin after sunset on Easter Sunday. She is the second Justicar to visit the city in the past week. The Malkavian Justicar, Arcadian Walsh, was destroyed five nights ago by one of New Orleans' natives, a woman called Samantha Drake.

"Drake was one of Arcadian's great-great-grandchilder. One possible motive therefore is that she is working her way up her lineage; apparently Drake is a suspect in the diablerie of others down Arcadian's lineage. She also has Sabbat allies, and her attacks seem likely to be part of the prelude to a Sabbat incursion in New Orleans."

Anne turns to Elliott, a touch a sympathy in her eyes.

"I am afraid that I must also report that Mr. Johnson, the former Prince of New Orleans, has also been destroyed. Nominally, the reason for your summons to New Orleans is to protect you, on the chance that one of the Sabbat has taken it upon themselves to work his or her way up Mr. Johnson's lineage."

"Was he destroyed by one of his brood, or by one of their descendants?" asks Elliott.

"Gwynnis did not say one way or the other, but I'm inclined to guess not. Nonetheless, you will obey her summons posthaste. I have no desire to give her any reason to bring any official attention to bear on London. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, my Prince," Elliott says, a troubled look appearing on his face. Anne turns to back to everyone else in the circle.

"New Orleans is now the Domain of Rebekka of Clan Tremere, whom many of you are already familiar with."

"I hadn't realized that she was in New Orleans," says Natasha.

"She wasn't, until just over a week ago," replies Anne. "From what I have gathered, she was in Houston, and then became part of the investigation when Arcadian's agents passed through the city from Dallas on their way to New Orleans. On the Justicar's orders. A bit unusual for the Tremere, I must say."

"None of our clan would gainsay a Justicar on official business," says Oliver, sounding a bit put out.

"Of course," replies the Prince. "Yet you must agree, it is a bit unusual for Tremere to be moved thus. Especially one as important as Rebekka; she was Regent in Houston, was she not?"

"She was," replies Lille, "and Tremere Primogen besides. Was, but as you say, New Orleans is now her domain."

"Indeed, and I don't doubt that Prince Casimir welcomes her removal to New Orleans," says Anne. "However, that is somewhat far afield of the matters we have come to discuss tonight. Did Colonel Leighton receive orders from the Tremere chain of command?" A look part speculative, part knowing appears on the Prince's face.

"He did, Majesty," says Oliver, "from Councilor Meerlinda. He is to be Regent in New Orleans." Anne gives a subtle nod conveying expectations confirmed upon hearing the Councilor's name.

"Ah, I congratulate you, Colonel, on your promotion," Anne says to you formally, but with a trace of warmth in her expression.

[hidufel]

Bowing graciously towards Queen Anne, "Thank you, Majesty. I am excited to get into action again, and hope to help get to the bottom of this mystery."

straightening his posture, he continued... "though it pains me to have to do so under the circumstances. A justicar and a prince destroyed? so close together? Troubling times indeed."

"Is there a specific plan of action we should persue, or shall we take that up in new orleans?"

[Detritus]

"No doubt Rebekka requested your transfer because of the potential outbreak of violence stewing in New Orleans. I'm afraid I'm not privy to her war counsels, however.

"There is something else, though, another thing the Justicar wrote in her orders." A momentary glint appears in Anne's eyes, clearly resentment of Gwynnis pulling rank on her. "Arcadian's sire was none other than Sylvester Simms, sometime Malkavian Primogen of London. He has not been in the city for several years now, of course, but providing solid leads on his whereabouts might gain one some credit with the new regime in New Orleans."

"Perhaps you won't be made to answer for your scapegrace childe's shortcomings after all," Natasha says to Elliott.

"Perhaps not," replies Elliott, giving the Prince the stink eye. Anne returns the look with an expression of bland innocence. Oliver opens his mouth, likely to plant a barb of his own, but Anne's words of the impending tumult in New Orleans send you back once more to 1940...

((Another flashback setup. I'm working out the company of Tremere that will be under Leighton's command for the Lammas Night ritual. We should also work out what equipment he would have had by 1940.))

[Detritus]

After the audience with Queen Anne, Meerlinda sends you ahead to Glastonbury so that you might learn some about the lay of the land. Some of the Tremere tabbed to patrol during the ritual will also be arriving before sunrise. You and Edmund leave London by chauffeured Rolls-Royce motorcar shortly before midnight, and arrive at Glastonbury Abbey around 2 am, the waning crescent moon low on the eastern horizon. Its faint illumination is still enough for you to make out the shape that dominates the view as you approach the abbey: Glastonbury Tor, and the stone spike that is the remains of St. Michael's church atop the hill.

The driver lets you out at the gate in the wrought-iron fence that surrounds the abbey retreat house. The ring of steel meeting steel and the clacking of wood against steel are clearly audible. A woman (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=172866&postcount=24) looks through the gate at you, somehow familiar, yet you can't put your finger on what is triggering your memory. By the faint moonlight you can tell that her right eye is green, but her left eye is blue. She speaks, and her left eye suddenly begins to glow, a soft light within what you now recognize as a glass eye.

"Please identify yourselves."

[hidufel]

Leighton takes in her countenance, and with a slight bow, replies briskly, "I am Colonel Leighton Beaumont and this is my batman Edmund Bathe. We have business here this night, and we have much to discuss. I trust word has been sent ahead about our arrival?"

[Detritus]

Leighton takes in her countenance, and with a slight bow, replies briskly, "I am Colonel Leighton Beaumont and this is my batman Edmund Bathe. We have business here this night, and we have much to discuss. I trust word has been sent ahead about our arrival?"
The eye stops glowing when you finish speaking. The woman produces a key and unlocks the gate.

"Yes, Gwynnis said you'd be arriving tonight. I am Anneke. Please come in, and follow me." Anneke locks the gate behind you after you enter.

Upon hearing the woman's name, you realize why she seemed somewhat familiar to you. There is some facial resemblance between Rebekka and her sister, although Anneke is a few inches shorter, and there are burn scars around her left eye that mar her appearance.

Anneke leads you towards the retreat house. Two women are sparring out front, both dressed in what you identify as men's clothing at first, yet upon closer inspection there's no doubt that their outfits are finely tailored, and accentuate their feminine aspects quite nicely. You recognize Gwynnis, wielding the same sword she presented to you the night before. Her sparring partner is a redheaded slip of a girl, no more than 15 or 16 years old, wielding a black-hafted spear that she uses as both spear and staff.

Gwynnis presses her attack, a rain of thrusts and swings that the girl barely manages to keep from hitting her, yet she does come through the barrage unscathed. She ducks a sword thrust and swings the butt end of the spear towards Gwynnis's midsection, and nearly strikes home before the sword blocks the riposte. Just like that, the girl's opening has vanished, and Gwynnis resumes her assault.

"Sire," Anneke says over the din. Gwynnis and her sparring partner both cease their fighting mid-swing on the word. "The first of the Tremere has arrived, Colonel Leighton Beaumont, and his servant, Edmund Bathe."

"Ah, Colonel, welcome," says Gwynnis, waving the girl to join her in coming to you. "You've already met Anneke," she says, grounding the point of her sword. "May I introduce you to Sidana." The girl also grounds the point of her spear and favors you both with a shallow curtsy.

"Welcome to Glastonbury Abbey," she says, a cheerful smile coming to her face, and it's obvious that her voice hasn't quite completed the transition from a girl's voice to that of a woman. "I take it this is your first time here?"

[hidufel]

Leighton bowed at the girls greeting. No doubt the word 'girl' was as misleading as her figure was. What he had just seen belied more then just her age... as there was most certainly more hidden behind that facad then just a grim competence with a spear. "Indeed it is. I would wish there were other circumstances that required my presence here then what we have to do, but never the less, i do look forward acquainting myself of the abbey."

Turning to Gwynnis, he bows even further, a slight admiration in his voice... "My Lady does well with her training and if i may say so, i am impressed with what I've seen."

[Detritus]

Gwynnis makes a small curtsy of her own before replying.

"Have we a flatterer in our midst?" the golden-haired elder asks, a coy smile on her face. "You'll do very well here."

"So that's the game now, is it?" says Anneke. "In that case, may I say that our illustrious sire is far better than most men at sword-handling. I cannot recall even a single man who is her equal in this regard. You would do well to be on your guard, Colonel, if you should cross swords with her."

"Mmm, quite so, sister," replies Sidana. "Of course, she does have the experience of many lives of men below her belt."

"I believe the expression is 'under the belt'," says Gwynnis, affecting tones of mock injury. Sidana puts on a look of wide-eyed innocence.

"It can be dreadfully trying to keep up with the latest modes of speech," Anneke says in a perfect deadpan.

"Isn't there a gate that needs guarding?"

"Honor to serve, m'Lady. Colonel." Anneke sketches a bow, turns on her heel, and returns to the gate.

After this little exchange, you receive the tour of the grounds from Gwynnis and Sidana. You're shown the ruins of the abbey and the Lady Chapel, and the abbot's kitchen, which is the only building of the old abbey complex that remains intact. The abbey and especially the Lady Chapel resonate with arcane power of a sort, potent yet muted from long centuries of infrequent use.

You end up atop Glastonbury Tor, at the base of the ruins of St. Michael's cathedral. From this vantage point, you can just make out the gently rolling countryside with the occasional apple orchard by the dim moonlight. You also sense a similar resonance to that you felt at the Lady Chapel when you near the ruins of the church.

"The ritual will take place inside the ruins here," says Gwynnis. "It will be easy to notice what's going on by anyone who knows what to look for, yet lookouts at the top of the hill will be able to see any hostile force approaching from a considerable distance. I imagine the Councilor will want to ward the other ruins, to keep from having them used as a base for advancement towards St. Michael's. Do you have any questions?"

[hidufel]

Leighton thought about everything hed seen... and did have a few questions. " can you tell me what you had in plans for defense, and any contingencies for assault? Also what forces do you have to martial. I'd like to get an idea of how we can protect this place."

[Detritus]

"The forces at my disposal are myself and my childer," Gwynnis replies. "Sidana, here, and Anneke, whom you met at the gate. There is a third, Bonnie, but she is less than two years Kindred. I haven't yet decided whether to bring her out to the field or leave her in the post of castellan of the retreat house."

"There comes a time when each fledgling must spread her wings, Sire," Sidana says softly, the comment seeming odd coming from one so young in appearance.

"A great deal is at stake," Gwynnis replies in the same quiet tones. "It is a lot to lay at the feet of an unseasoned recruit."

"Perhaps the lookout?" Sidana asks. "Post her atop the hill, and she can at least get some idea of what lies in store for her if she makes a sortie away from the cathedral."

Gwynnis ponders this for a moment before saying, "I shall give your suggestion some thought." She looks off in the distance, slowly turning to survey the land before coming back to face you and Sidana.

"Regardless of Bonnie's eventual assignment, you may be assured of both Sidana and Anneke's capabilities, Colonel. We shall do our very best to prevent any assault from approaching the tor, and we will be sure to have the greatest knowledge of the local terrain. We are very near the ancestral homelands of both Sidana and myself, and we have both shed and given blood in its defense before.

"As to the ruins themselves, they are better fortified than they seem at first sight. Surely you must feel it somehow. Come, follow me to the entrance, but approach carefully after I pass through."

You follow the two Toreador and watch as Gwynnis enters the ruins without breaking stride. Sidana slows down, and you match her gait instinctively, keeping your distance from the entrance. Then Sidana signals you forward. You approach slowly, as instructed, and find that an unseen barrier keeps you from getting any closer than one stride's distance from the opening.

"Only those attuned to the ruins may pass its walls, unless one has one of the keys. Two of the keys are before you," Gwynnis says, indicating her sword and Sidana's spear. "The third is a dagger that Anneke bears. It will be our job to repulse those who are capable of attuning themselves for entrance into the ruins."

"Or gaining a key for themselves," adds Sidana.

"Yes, or that, but I am afraid I have no contingency for my destruction," Gwynnis replies dryly. Sidana shrugs at this before going on.

"Our main limitations, Colonel, are that we will be earthbound, and are not dwimmer-crafty," Sidana says. "We are given to understand, however, that these are strengths of your company."

"And, of course, we know that your rank has been hard-earned in Her Majesty's the Queen Victoria's service," says Gwynnis. "Our knowledge of the local terrain is unmatched, but it will be up to you to determine how best to use that knowledge when deploying your company."

[hidufel]

"yes, i believe i can provide what support i can in the air. Let us hope it will prove sufficient." Leighton looks around again at the ruins and those present. "let us get to the 'brass tacks' to borrow a phrase from the colonists. we have much tactics and plans to formulate and discuss."

[Detritus]

The present momentarily intrudes on your recollection when you realize you've arrived back at your estate. Sensing your preoccupation with your reminiscences and upcoming duty, Edmund begins making travel preparations in silence. The images from the letters in the Regent's office trigger the memory of that initial planning session in the Glastonbury Abbey retreat house.

You're in one of the larger guest rooms on the second floor. Edmund had withdrawn when it became clear that planning was about to begin in earnest. The windows are tightly shuttered, yet even still there are only a few candles for lighting, in observance of the wartime blackout rules.

The three Toreador you met on the abbey grounds are there, as is a fourth woman, introduced to you as Bonnie. She is the oldest-appearing of the women with you, perhaps in her early 40s, but she's a bit ill at ease as the only neonate in a room full of elders. Her hair is bobbed short, much shorter than any of the other women in the room, and she wears several strings of pearls with a cardigan jacket and slacks.

Gwynnis and Sidana are seated on one side the bed, the redheaded girl closer to the pillows. You're standing a few feet from the bed with the other two Toreador. Gwynnis explains what's about to happen, mainly for the benefit of you and Bonnie.

"The terrain is pretty flat in the immediate vicinity of the tor, but there are a few spots here and there where an assault force might be staged. We'll want to be proactive in patrolling these spots every so often in addition to a more generic vigilance on the night of the ritual. It's late enough in the night, and the sites of interest just far enough separated that we might not be able to cover them all on foot tonight.

"Sidana and I will be using a memory projection technique so that we might get you acquainted somewhat with the lay of the land before personal inspection tomorrow night. It is not magical in the sense that many Tremere workings are, but it is a craft of Auspex and Presence combined, and thus related to such Gifts of Caine that are bestowed upon those of our clan. The techniques is certainly not a substitute for scouting in person, but I think it will be a useful first step in getting you up to speed."

((I generally know what I want to come from the NPCs next, but I need to iron out some details, so I'm posting what I've got in case you've got questions, or want to interact with Edmund after the first paragraph in this post.))

[Detritus]

Gwynnis directs Sidana to lean back against the headboard and get comfortable, and then kneels at the bedside. She then begins to speak softly, lulling Sidana into a trance.

"Be at ease, eldest of my Get, for we shall walk down paths we have taken together one hundred times before. One hundred times one hundred. Every leaf, every branch, every blade of grass is known to you. Let yourself go, and go deeply, to retrieve the memories of these places as familiar to you as your own face.

"The ways are lit only by starlight. The winged horse has just begun its flight, striving in his pride to overtake the eagle that flies before him, and the swan that flies above him. Mighty Hercules stands high in the sky, proud and defiant, undaunted by the fierceness of the dragon that blocks his path. The light of your conscious mind dims to the faintness of the starlight as your recall of the grounds around the tor comes into focus: the dimness of the starlight, the feel of the grass under your feet, the sound of the murmuring nighttime breeze, the faint scent of apple blossoms carried on the wind."

Sidana approaches a state of complete and total relaxation as her Sire continues speaking. Her head lolls slightly, but she's still quite lovely in her repose. It's evident that Bonnie has never seen anything like this before, and even Anneke's one good eye holds a glimmer of anticipation as she turns to face south.

"Though the starlight is dim, it is enough for you to make out the countryside. Bring yourself to the tower, to the ruins of St. Michael's, namesake of the archangel. You feel Michael's presence, feel it most strongly at the southern face of the tower, where Michael stands in eternal vigilance, the guardian of the gate.

"His fearsome sword is drawn, alight with flame, of which all blades of mortal work are but the faintest echo. Yet you are not afraid, and draw strength from its heat, and clarity from its light. The light becomes brighter, bright enough for you to make out every detail of these familiar lands, bright enough for you to show all those around you the land of your mind's eye."

A faint glow begins to emanate from Sidana's head, much like a subdued version of the saintly nimbus found in religiously inspired artwork. There is a bright flash for an instant, and then darkness falls, and Sidana seems to be leaning against stonework. Looking up, you see the ruins of St. Michael's, lit only by the stars from the open sky that now seem to be above you.

Bonnie gasps when the image of the outdoors appears, and you realize for all the magical wonders you've encountered in your time as a Tremere, you've never quite experienced anything like this. You can still feel the hardness of the floor you're actually standing on, and the air is still only in the way it can be while indoors, but the appearance is such that you really seem to be standing atop Glastonbury Tor, at the southern face of the ruins of St. Michael's. Gwynnis checks on Sidana one last time and then rises, a smile on her face.

The abbey grounds are just to the south of you. The small town of Glastonbury lies just to the north and west of the abbey proper, and it's pretty much apple orchards dotting a rolling countryside after that. The land near the Tor itself is pretty much flat and unadorned by much in the way of vegetation.

Once you've eliminated the buildings from the abbey proper as enemy staging sites, the most likely direction of ground assault is from the town itself. But, if you pay exclusive attention to it, there are orchards to the east and southwest where an assault might be staged from. Things are just spread out enough that aerial reconnaissance will be a pretty handy thing to have on the night of the ritual.

[Detritus]

Here's the 2010 version of Glastonbury, as given by Google:

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=glastonbury+england&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Glastonbury,+Somerset,+UK&gl=us&ei=LxhES6bKGpTMsQOs3ZEP&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAkQ8gEwAA

What I'm going to say is that in the WoD 1940, none of the development south of the abbey proper exists, it's all to the north, west, and a bit to the east. The vegetation nearest to the city sufficient to hide a staging area for an attack are to the east and southwest, maybe a bit less than a mile distant.

[hidufel]

Leighton paused a moment as he considered the data. "I believe i can provide an eagles point of view... i can be your air support in this endeavor. As to the grounds, i see some areas likely to prove most useful for an enemy preparing for assault." He points to east vegetation and the moves his finger over and along the southwest borders. "Both appear to be about a mile away from this abbey, and appear to provide enough cover for such forces."

"From the air i can see quite far, and should be able to signal should something come up. I would recommend scouts afield in those areas, but unless we wish to engage them that far away from the abbey, i suggest the bulk form up here."

[Detritus]

"Perhaps a pair of scouts, one Tremere, one Toreador, at each remote site, and patrols of the town and abbey grounds at irregular intervals? We could also hold a reserve force atop the tor itself."

[hidufel]

"This mirrors my thoughts on the matter." Leighton pauses to think about the upcoming events, and absentmindedly pulls out a little tin from his inside pocket, opens it and takes a small pinch of a substance that smells strongly of camphor, and inhaled it deeply through the nose.

"we should also test our readiness to respond to such an attack. Perhaps a small and short drill?"

[Detritus]

"This mirrors my thoughts on the matter." Leighton pauses to think about the upcoming events, and absentmindedly pulls out a little tin from his inside pocket, opens it and takes a small pinch of a substance that smells strongly of camphor, and inhaled it deeply through the nose.

"we should also test our readiness to respond to such an attack. Perhaps a small and short drill?"
The conscious women eye you a bit curiously when you dip, but don't remark on it.

"We may be able to arrange a brief exercise tomorrow night, once some of your fellow Tremere have arrived and have situated themselves," Gwynnis says to you. "It would also give Bonnie here a chance to learn what field deployment is like when the stakes aren't so high." After a moment's thought, she asks, "Are there any particular exercises you have in mind?"

***((Reply as you see fit here, and then the scene shifts back to the present, briefly))***

Edmund's presence brings you back to the here-and-now once again.

"All the mundane details are in order, my Lord. Have you readied all your esoteric affairs to your satisfaction? We should depart for the airport soon."

[hidufel]

"We may be able to arrange a brief exercise tomorrow night, once some of your fellow Tremere have arrived and have situated themselves," Gwynnis says to you. "It would also give Bonnie here a chance to learn what field deployment is like when the stakes aren't so high." After a moment's thought, she asks, "Are there any particular exercises you have in mind?"
perhaps a test of readiness and reaction times... we will set up our plans as necessary and test an actual incursion."

Edmund's presence brings you back to the here-and-now once again.

"All the mundane details are in order, my Lord. Have you readied all your esoteric affairs to your satisfaction? We should depart for the airport soon."
"Indeed. no need to waste further time, if we intend to be in time for dawn. let us make our way, Edmund. Leave orders for the staff here, were going to be away for a bit."

[Detritus]

"Very good, sir," Edmund says, and within five minutes the two of you are on your way to Heathrow after your batman leaves instructions for the remaining staff. As you leave the city proper, your memory drifts back to those battle drills the night before the ritual.

((In terms of organizing the Tremere Leighton will be leading, there's a natural division between the Italians and the English. Preston would be your second, and Salvatore would lead the Italian contingent. One member from each group will be on patrol at any given time. I'll also say that the English contingent is generally better at flight than the Italians, although Salvatore and Elisabetta are OK in the air, too. Cesare is definitely the brawniest of the Tremere on your side of the drill.))

"Bonnie, ladies and gentlemen of the Tremere, look sharp, our quarry is exceedingly crafty," Gwynnis says to the assembled Kindred atop Glastonbury Tor. "They may approach by land or air. We must not let them reach the tower."

The sliver of the westering crescent moon provides scant illumination on this night of relatively little cloud cover. Preston and Blythe are with you from your squad, and Salvatore has Cesare and Elisabetta with him. Though your targets -- Javier, Rebekka, and Sidana -- are friendlies, you still feel a tremor of anticipation as you pit yourselves against some of the venerable elders of your clan and the woman-child get of Gwynnis.

"Orders, sir?" Salvatore asks you.

[hidufel]

"All right lets hop to it gents, and ladies" Leighton bows. " we have Two possible areas that our quarry may come at us, the orchards to the east, and the southwest." I'm going to deploy us in a crescent, Salvatore, your squad will concnetrate on the eastern orchard, My team will concnetrate on the southwestern. I mean to cover the entire 180 degrees south of the abbey proper. However we will not ignore the possibilty of a ground assault as well, the most likely location for that coming from the town itself."

Leighton looks around. "now our grounded troops should look to covering that direction, but i do however want one of our number still in the air and covering the town. Be on the lookout for airborne and/or grounded activity, everyone."

"Elisabetta, Blythe, you'll be our eyes to the north."

"Keep in mind we do not know what kind of assault we will be expecting, be it air or ground, from either direction... but our primary goal is to keep them from the abbey proper."

"I want to you to realize as well, this would be a good time for our enemy to attack, when we least expect it. Be aware that this may not end up being merely an excersize, i want you all ready for action at a moments notice."

With that, Leighton concentrates for a few moments, and then rises into the air. "places everyone! Keep your eyes sharp and your ears focused!"

[Detritus]

Is there any particular search pattern you want to carry out while you're in the air?

[hidufel]

I am personally not familiar with any kind of arial tactics for searching... perhaps a crossing sweep? would you like a tactics roll for my character to divine a good pattern, where i am deficient?

[Detritus]

I am personally not familiar with any kind of arial tactics for searching... perhaps a crossing sweep? would you like a tactics roll for my character to divine a good pattern, where i am deficient?
I don't think there's any need to roll. Maybe an expanding square (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Expanding_square.JPG) pattern to start out with, starting at the ruins of the cathedral?

I guess more to the point, does Leighton want to go straight to the town, or one of the nearby orchards, or does he want to perform a more general aerial reconnaissance at the outset?

[hidufel]

I don't think there's any need to roll. Maybe an expanding square (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Expanding_square.JPG) pattern to start out with, starting at the ruins of the cathedral?

I guess more to the point, does Leighton want to go straight to the town, or one of the nearby orchards, or does he want to perform a more general aerial reconnaissance at the outset?

I'm thinking more of the later...

[Detritus]

A couple of final things:

Leighton will be at full blood capacity at the start of the drill.

Do you want to activate any Auspex powers at the outset? The advantage is that they'll improve your ability to detect concealed targets. One downside is that the power only lasts for minutes per activation -- 1 minute per point of success on the roll for the power in question. You're also sensitive to things like loud noises and bright lights in the case of Enhanced Senses; such things can be potentially incapacitating for a short period of time if they're loud/bright enough.

Enhanced Senses adds directly to your sensory rolls, which are based on IQ + Alertness. Cost is 1 Blood Point or 2 Fatigue

Aura Reading automatically defeats concealment from soft cover by allowing you to spot the aura of the hidden target. You can't see auras through walls or anything like that with Aura Reading, though. Cost is 2 BP or 4 Fatigue.

[hidufel]

i think that given the length of time a patroll is going to take, and the duration of auspex, it would be foolish and too draining to power auspex untill there is a need.

so for now, normal senses.

[Detritus]

The others carry out your orders as you take flight. You begin your square spiral outwards, but don't see anything in particular at the start of your flight. As you come near the nearby eastern orchard, you hear a few somethings take wing. Looking around, you see what you think are three fruit bats emerging from the treetops, maybe a few hundred yards away from you.

[hidufel]

Leighton will concentrate for a moment and the open his eys with aura sight, drawing upon his own fatigue rather then expend any blood. With his eyes now focused he will take a look again at the fruit bats and the surroinding orchard.

(Sorry, roll will have to wait till iget home, corporate it audit is happening this week. Imstaying off the net and using my phone exclusively.)

[Detritus]

((Since it's Aura Reading that you're activating, I went ahead and made the roll myself. I'm supposed to give you false info if you miss the roll, so it needs to be made in secret.))

After concentrating to bring your Aura Perception to bear, you find that the bats don't exhibit anything like a Kindred's aura. A brief search of the orchard does yield one vampiric aura maybe a couple dozen strides inside of the western edge of the orchard.

[hidufel]

Making a quick scan of the orchard, Leighton slopes around to bring himself near to Preston, "ware the western edge of the orchard... i spot an intruder with the aura of our kind. Investigate and then send a signal to the rest of us if you require assistence."

Leighton will then swing back up into his route, checking quickly the other side of the search pattern for any other irregularities.

[Detritus]

Preston fans over towards the eastern orchard after you give him your orders. As you continue your circuit, you see nothing of note passing over the far edge of the village of Glastonbury or the southwestern orchard. Though you can't say for certain, such soldier's intuition as you've developed in Her Majesty's service tells you the others you're looking for are somewhere in or near that eastern orchard, using means more powerful than mundane concealment to hide themselves.

When you near the eastern orchard again, Preston has coordinated with Lucas, and the two are doing a reasonably good job of approaching the Kindred you spotted earlier in a pincers-like formation. Salvatore has also sent Cesare towards the northern edge of the orchard.

Right as you begin another aerial scan of the orchard, abrupt movement in Cesare's general direction catches your eye, and you just catch him being tripped up by someone several inches shorter than him. In his startlement he can only watch as his attacker renews her assault; a chance glint of starlight reveals the point of a spear being leveled at Cesare's neck just as he hits the ground. Sidana looks southward for a moment to size up the situation, and then bolts towards hill.

[hidufel]

Leighton slides in soundlessly behind Sidana, and concentrates on casting a spell, a simple apportation to lift her up and off the ground, halting her movement towards the hill.

((i assume you will want several rolls from me? 3d6 correct? i shall send you perhaps twenty or so?) Fatigue cost of 3 (reduced from 4 by skill), paid from personal reserves)

[Detritus]

She's moving fast. It takes a couple of seconds for you to stop mentally gaping at the raw speed she exhibits, her red hair streaming nearly horizontally behind her, a few seconds more to adjust your bearing to an intercept course, and several more seconds after that to catch up to her. Her legs move as a blur, and by the time you're close enough to make an attempt at apportating Sidana, you judge that she's made at least three hundred of the thousand or so strides it would take for her to reach the tower. And then it gets interesting.

You exert your will, and feel the spell take shape, yet Sidana does not move into the air. Laughing, she flings her spear behind her, and it twirls towards you with uncanny accuracy, forcing you into a clumsy dodging maneuver to avoid being struck by the butt end of the weapon. She somehow intuits which way she needs to go to angle away from your adjusted heading, and as soon as you have a bead on her, she tacks against your new approach vector. By the time you reach her again, after a second course correction, Sidana is about one hundred strides closer to the tower, and her spear is in her hands once more.

((Sidana won the Quick Contest of her IQ + Strong Will vs. your Apportation spell roll. Since it was a resisted spell, you lose the full 3 Fatigue casting cost. Rolls used from your list were #18 = 13 for the Apportation check, and #3 = 16 (Ouch!) for the spear-dodging.))

[hidufel]

Leighton calmly above sidan and shoots off a flame jet, to alert others to the intruder approaching, before swooping in lower to try one last attempt at an apportation, avoiding his more lethal spells in the interest of the excersize.

[Detritus]

You're about halfway between the orchard and the tower when you manage to snag Sidana. The moment her feet leave the ground she grounds the point of her spear to turn to face you, a smile on her face.

"Well spotted, Colonel," she says, "although not quite well enough." She scans in a southerly direction and then lifts her spear to point southwards. The point tracks something you can't see at first, but eventually you discern a faint aura making a beeline for the ruins from a southeasterly direction.

"There!" Gwynnis shouts, and her sword points at the same thing Sidana's spear does. "Leave Sidana to me!" she says, and then gestures towards the aura, though it's clear you won't be able to intercept it before it reaches the ruins.

[hidufel]

Nodding quickly, and dropping sidana, leighton resumes a full speed rush towards the disturbance, and alters his vision enroute to enable him to pierce the invisible. Sliding a hand into his breastpocket, he grasps a stone and mutters a word, invokeing the incantation.

((OOC using powerstone to power the see invisible spell, 3 points. the flame jet was no cost to cast, the second apportation was also off personal reserves. leighton should be down 6 fatigue personal (out of 15) and 3 from a powerstone)))

[Detritus]

Sidana lets out a squeak at the moment you let go of her, but she recovers enough to point her spear downwards to help cushion her fall.

Even with the arcane enhancement of your sight, all you can make out is the outline of a body. Once it reaches the top of the tower, you're able to close in enough to see the body resolve into Rebekka. Anneke rushes onto the top of the tower a couple of seconds before you make it there.

"Welcome, sister," Anneke says a trifle sourly.

"Shall we go down?" Rebekka replies, a smug little grin beginning to turn up the corners of her mouth. She suits her words by flying down towards the ground. Anneke turns to head back to the stairwell leading to the top of the tower.

When you're all gathered together at the base of the ruins, Gwynnis says without preamble, "I think a second team member in the air would be useful. Agreed?"

[hidufel]

I think so... we should also have a way of communicating with each other, should we encounter an enemy.

[Detritus]

I think so... we should also have a way of communicating with each other, should we encounter an enemy.
"An excellent suggestion, Colonel," replies Gwynnis. "I believe we can arrange it."

She looks to Sidana first, who flicks her eyes in Bonnie's direction. Gwynnis gives her youngest childe a long, appraising look, before finally nodding her head.

"Perhaps it is time for the fledgling to spread her wings after all. Very well. Attend us closely, Bonnie. Sidana will show you how to effect the Spirit Link. I will aid her this time, as I will aid you tomorrow night.

"It will take us a little time to get Bonnie up to speed, Colonel," Gwynnis says to you. "If you wish to take this time to confer with your clan mates, please feel free. I think there will be time for another drill, perhaps in an hour or so." Anneke goes to join her brood mates as Gwynnis gathers Sidana and Bonnie a little ways around the ruins.

[hidufel]

Leighton will turn to the assembled Tremere, "after action reports, if you please. Tell me how this you fared." Looking at preston, he asks "Preston what happened after i left?"

and after preston he will look towards the italian tremere, "Salvatore, Cesare tell me what happened."

[Detritus]

"Lucas and I were able to close on Javier without further incident, Sir," replies Preston. "It's clear he was only meant as a decoy, though. I would consider it a qualified success, since he was able to divert two of us by himself. Nothing of note to report from the southern sortie."

"I think no more than the bruised feelings with Cesare when the little girl caught him flat-footed, no?"

"The elder Toreador, they bring such speed, it takes a little of the getting used to it," Cesare replies a bit sullenly.

"Ah, but next time, it may be the mother we hunt." Salvatore looks over to Gwynnis while she makes an emphatic correction of Bonnie's Auspex technique. "I think she is one for the giving of the sharp lesson, yes?"

[hidufel]

Any suggestions? A good strategy is one of well informed opinion. You who were out there may have insight, i would have it from you.

Also, we may consider for the morrow, one or two of us, or more, should consider expending our reserves to enhance our perceptions. I would suggest we have a well stocked larder for the patrol. I myself intend to be well prepared.

[Detritus]

"I would say the elder Toreador is right about having a second aerial patroller," says Preston. "Maybe one who stays near the ritual site itself, so that we can have one of the fliers able to investigate any hot spots and still have air cover near the ruins."

[hidufel]

((OOC: I was under the impression all the tremere were flight capable, and were in the air?))

"Agreed then, we'll put more into the air. I see a need for better sight during the operations tomorrow, as well, and i've still got a few tricks up my sleeves."

Looking at Gwynnis... "I'll need a substantial amount of blood available for tomorrow night, do you have any reserves or such we can utilize, or a readily availble hunting ground?"

((OOC: For the evening of the ritual, perhaps an hour or so prior, I'll plan on bringing my generation down to 6, and will consequently need to replenish my blood, this will also allow me to add almost double my blood pool. do they have anything sufficient to give me 20 blood? ))

[Detritus]

((OOC: I was under the impression all the tremere were flight capable, and were in the air?))

The Tremere assembled are all capable of flight. However, no one else has a magic item that allows them to fly for low fatigue costs. Flying is expensive in terms of fatigue unless you've got a very high skill (the cost to maintain the basic Flight spell only goes to zero at skill 25, and skill 30 for Hawk Flight, and maintenance occurs every minute) or an item. I can probably change things so that one or two others have items that give them at least the basic Flight spell.

"Agreed then, we'll put more into the air. I see a need for better sight during the operations tomorrow, as well, and i've still got a few tricks up my sleeves."

Looking at Gwynnis... "I'll need a substantial amount of blood available for tomorrow night, do you have any reserves or such we can utilize, or a readily availble hunting ground?"

((OOC: For the evening of the ritual, perhaps an hour or so prior, I'll plan on bringing my generation down to 6, and will consequently need to replenish my blood, this will also allow me to add almost double my blood pool. do they have anything sufficient to give me 20 blood? ))
Gwynnis is engrossed in her instruction of Bonnie at the moment, and doesn't appear to hear you. It is Rebekka who answers.

"Some of the clan elders are preparing reserves right now. They'll instruct everyone in its proper use tomorrow evening."

[Detritus]

While we're waiting to sync up with Rosalyn's memory recovery session, here are some things that happen after the battle drill:

Bonnie's education in Auspex will take somewhat longer than first anticipated. Rebekka leads the other Tremere still outdoors to the retreat house. You eventually end up in a fairly large wine cellar with a cauldron about belt-high to Meerlinda in the middle of it. There's a lot of wine in the cellar. Several of your clan elders are emptying wine bottles into the cauldron while the Councilor observes.

Once the cauldron is nearly full, Meerlinda leads the full circle of the 12 elders who will be part of the ritual tomorrow night in some sort of incantation over the cauldron. The end result is the wine appears to become somewhat deeper in color and more viscous. The Councilor then explains the nature of the new substance to those unfamiliar with it, while the elders recover their strength and the younger clan members begin refilling the empty bottles.

((This is the blood wine that has appeared in various other threads throughout the campaign. It works like regular vitae except that once you drink the stuff, any unused Blood Points derived from it evaporate at sunrise. It will keep indefinitely if held in an inanimate vessel. There should be enough to go around and then some come tomorrow night.))

Once all the blood wine is bottled (aided greatly by judicious use of Apportation), Meerlinda orders the cauldron cleaned, and also sends some of you (including Leighton) out to ward the buildings on the Abbey grounds. Right around the time you finish with this, Anneke comes down to inform those of you on patrol duty that they're ready to test the communications setup.

You reconvene at the base of the tor. Gwynnis softly talks Bonnie down into a deep trance. Bonnie then starts linking with the other Toreador, or so you're told, and then you're the first of the Tremere that Bonnie links with. It's a bit of an odd sensation at first, the strangeness heightened by the mental greetings the other three Toreador give you. Though their lips clearly do not move, you hear each of them as if they were speaking into your ear.

While you accustom yourself to the link, the other Tremere are brought into it. When Bonnie has linked with the other eleven of you, she opens her eyes and mentally asks, "Did I do well, Sire?"

"Very well, dear," comes the reply, the pride just as evident as it would have been had the words been spoken instead of thought. "I trust this arrangement will be satisfactory, Colonel?"

[Detritus]

Some notes in preparation for the coming battle:

There will be lots of wine-blood available, I'm estimating around 1500 BP worth total. It'll be just enough for everyone to turn on anything that lasts all night and to re-fill whatever blood that uses, I'm going to say. Hidufel can tell me what he wants for Leighton. I'll have specifics for Kalzazz once I have Sidana sufficiently written up.

Leighton's max. capacity will be 14 higher than normal after he does Blood of Potency, 30 instead of 16. Half of the 30 will be blood wine (1 to replace the loss from The Draining, and then the extra 14 capacity). Sidana's capacity is somewhere in the mid- to possibly upper 30s, and 8 of it will be blood wine at the start of the battle (-1 for The Draining, -7 for Celerity 7, that much I already know about Sidana's build ;)).

Meta-narrative reasoning tells us that both Leighton and Sidana survive this battle, as will several of the major NPCs already in the campaign in the present day. Therefore, the intent on my part will be to throw the kitchen sink at you. Partly this is to give the PCs a chance to really cut loose with their abilities, and partly as a dry run for a possible engagement with the Sabbat hordes in New Orleans. I'm not exactly sure how it will go in running a battle of such scale.

[Detritus]

The Sun sets on Lammas Night while the Moon is still hours below the horizon. 10 pm, the appointed hour of the ritual, approaches, and Meerlinda addresses the score of other Tremere just outside the Retreat House.

"After the invocation of the quarters and the warding is completed, the ritual will be obvious to anyone who knows what to look for, or can otherwise sense magical activity. I do not believe that any foes we might encounter will bother with staying hidden. Nonetheless, the vigilance of our sentinels is of utmost importance, should this surmise be incorrect. Remember also that the first assault may not be the one that is intended to get through our defenses.

"You should also bear in mind that despite our numbers, we are the interlopers here. Do not be alarmed at anything that occurs before we enter the ruins. Gwynnis will take her responsibilities as door warden very seriously, and she is fell-handed warrior, as are her elder Get."

Meanwhile, atop Glastonbury Tor, Gwynnis addresses her childer.

"They'll be coming soon. None may pass until they have stood at the point of Caledfwlch, and paid the blood price. You'll collect that, Anneke, with Carnwennan. Keep Rhongmyniad handy, Sidana, in case any of the Tremere in the ritual balk. I don't expect it to happen, but be alert regardless."

As the hour of the ritual nears, Meerlinda leads the Tremere up the slope of Glastonbury Tor. Gwynnis stands a few paces from the entrance to the ruins, flanked by Sidana to her right, and Anneke to her left. The point of her sword is grounded, but when the Councilor gets to within her reach, Gwynnis suddenly raises the sword and levels the point at Meerlinda's throat.

((I need to work out the dialog in the upcoming exchange. You're free to respond to anything in the setup text while I'm doing that.))

[Detritus]

((Not quite to the battle yet, but you're still free to react to anything that happens in this post... One more setup/transition post from me, and I think we'll be at the start of the patrolling/fighting.))

Gwynnis does not stop the advance of her blade until its point comes into contact with Meerlinda's neck. Several of the Tremere stiffen at this, and twin gasps come from opposite ends of those arrayed behind the Councilor. The tense silence that follows is eerily reinforced by the complete absence of sound from bird, beast, or even insect in the dimness of the starlit countryside.

"Who presumes to pass these walls?" Gwynnis asks, initiating the ritual challenge.

"One who seeks to act in defense of this land," Meerlinda replies evenly, giving no sign of any notice of the blade at her throat.

"Art thou willing to pay the price for passage?"

"I am so willing."

Gwynnis allows her gaze to linger on the Councilor's eyes for the span of a mortal heartbeat before lowering her sword and directing Meerlinda to Anneke, who produces a white-hilted dagger. She takes one of Meerlinda's hands and cuts along the palm, and then gathers the blood that trickles out of the wound on the flat of the blade.

Oliver barely manages to stifle a strangled cry of outrage before aggressively approaching the scene of the bloodletting. Anneke turns away as if not seeing his approach, but Gwynnis's quicksilver flow in reaction neatly cuts off Oliver's advance. When she reaches the walls of the ruins, Anneke plunges the dagger into the stone, and when she extracts the blade, it is clean. A trace of surprise passes over the Councilor's face, which is once again smooth when she begins speaking.

"Your eagerness to participate credits you, Regent Thrace, but we must proceed one at a time. This is as much for the protection of the ritual's participants as anything."

"Heed the Councilor's words," Gwynnis says in a low, deadly voice. The point of her sword now rests against Oliver's neck. "The high esteem in which I hold her is all that stays my hand now. Do not test my resolve, for that can only end in your destruction."

[Detritus]

The Councilor heals her wound, and the first flickers of irritation begin to appear on her face as the standoff between Gwynnis and Oliver lengthens, but she remains silent.

"Forgive me, Councilor," Oliver says at last. "I did not properly heed your warning." He begins to withdraw when Anneke reaches out to grab him by the arm.

"Well, now that you're here, you might as well be next to answer the questions," she says, a mischievous grin creasing her lips. Oliver tries to pull his arm free, but Gwynnis reengages the point of her sword with his neck.

"A capital idea, Anneke. So tell me, sir, who are you that presumes to pass these walls?"

"One who lives to do the bidding of the Council."

"And what is that bidding?"

"The Councilor has already spoken for us all."

Gwynnis moves in a blur at this reply, and when she stops, well over a foot of her blade protrudes out of Oliver's back, just under his right clavicle, just inside the scapula, before he has the chance to react.

"Please, make me ask a third time. I want you to." A cruel smile forms on the door warden's lips, and her blade begins to glow a dull orange. Anneke finally releases Oliver's arm and takes a careful step backwards away from the glowing blade.

"I seek only to act in defense of this land," Oliver answers tightly. The sword flares in a brilliant orange for an instant as Gwynnis extracts it, cauterizing the wound she just made.

"I think we'll stipulate that you've already paid the price of passage," Gwynnis says with an overly sweet smile. Anneke comes over to wipe some of Oliver's blood from sword to dagger, and then repeats what she did after the Councilor's bloodletting. Oliver moves next to Meerlinda, who gives him a "you were warned" look.

"If there are no further objections to observing the forms of this ritual, it will proceed that much more smoothly," Gwynnis says a touch dryly. A few of the assembled Tremere eye the sword, now returned to its normal metallic color, with a mixture of wariness and respect, but no protest comes. After the full circle of twelve who will support the Councilor have given their answers to the warden's satisfaction, Bonnie undergoes the same procedure.

Gwynnis spends a few minutes inside the ruins with Meerlinda and her supporting circle, and the silence in her absence is a bit awkward. Then she emerges from the ruins and sits down with Bonnie to prepare the telepathic communications link with all those who remain outside. A very short time later, Bonnie any Gwynnis have joined telepathically.

"You'll have to forgive me for my part in that unpleasantness," Gwynnis says aloud as the linkup proceeds. "Maybe it's just bad luck, but in the few times I've worked with the Councilor, there always seems to be someone who feels the need to test me." She shrugs and turns her attention to Bonnie while she works on expanding the mental link to include all of the defenders of the ruin.

((Note that after Gwynnis, Sidana would be next to join the link, then Anneke, then Leighton. Both PCs in the scene would already be familiar with some form of telepathic communication.))

When the link is complete, Gwynnis takes Bonnie back to the ruins, and uses her sword to cut an opening in the ward surrounding the magical working. She ushers Bonnie inside and then returns to you.

"I'm told that the magical activity tonight will be blatantly obvious to anyone who knows what to look for, Gwynnis thinks. "I don't think we'll have to wait very long for any attackers to show themselves. Colonel?"

((As a reminder, Preston and Salvatore are the other fliers. Sidana and Anneke are available to augment foot patrols to the nearby orchards. Gwynnis will most likely stay near the tor/village/abbey grounds.))

[hidufel]

"Yes, if that is the case they won't hesitate to wait long in order to garner maximum disruption time. We should be ready to act accordingly."

Looking over to Preston and Salvatore, thinks, "You two should be ready to take flight at the first sign of trouble, I'll be in the air already, and be wary of the routes in, as we discovered yesterday."

[Detritus]

((Do you want to give out specific marching orders to the other Tremere with you?))

[hidufel]

Leighton looked around at the gathered tremere... <Standard operating procedure here folks, just as we practiced yesterday... set up the search paterns, and stay alert.>

[Detritus]

((Incidentally, though it's never come up specifically thus far in this thread, you can assume that the village itself is abandoned. Those Kindred with l33t Dominate skills took care of that over the course of the past couple evenings.))

After Leighton gives his orders, Gwynnis directs Sidana to go with the eastward-heading group (the Italian Tremere), and Anneke with the southwesterly-heading group (the British Tremere), while she herself will split time between the hilltop and the streets of the village.

You all feel something shortly after splitting up, and the Tremere understand that it was the invocation of the quarters, calling out to the archangels for protection. A few moments after this, a focusing of power builds in a steady crescendo, keenly felt by the Tremere, but only vaguely sensed by the Toreador, and that as much by the reactions of their Tremere companions as opposed to any innate sensitivity to Thuamaturgical workings. A light breeze begins to stir as the power builds.

Those afoot are about two-thirds of the way to their destinations when they feel a slight tremor, which grows as the breeze stiffens. The shaking finally stops when several forms burst out of the ground. Those on the ground see groups of three or four of the beings in the north, east, and south, and Leighton can see a similar group in the west, where currently there is no patrol. The forms are large, roughly humanoid in shape, but seem to have earthen bodies. The forms are between the patrollers going to the orchards and the Tor, but don't seem to be moving particularly fast.

The breeze also dies down after several large, inchoate shapes, vaguely discernible to Leighton, coalesce around him.

Now what?

((There's probably going to be a lot of rolling in the near future, so I'd say send me a list of 20 3d6 rolls and we'll go from there.))

[Detritus]

Some notes on the disposition of forces:

Leighton is over the abbey grounds, to the southeast of the tor, when he's met by the air elementals. There are 5 around him, though they are a few hexes away. There's one overhead, one underfoot, one in front of him, and one each to the left and right. He about equidistant from the two foot patrols.

The patrols heading to the orchards are 1,000 yards from the ruins. The earth elementals are 750 yards from the ruins. They're moving quite slowly. After a turn of pursuit, it'll be clear that the mega-celeritous Kindred can catch up with them well before they make it to the ruins.

EDIT -- There are four earth elementals in the group nearest to Sidana.

Those of you with either Strategy or Tactics twig on to the fact that it's kind of weird that the earth elementals surfaced when they did when they were able to burrow.

[Kalzazz]

Sidana thinks toward Leighton, ~We could run these down easily, but it looks like a decoy. Can your magic see the real thrust?~

[Detritus]

Sidana thinks toward Leighton, ~We could run these down easily, but it looks like a decoy. Can your magic see the real thrust?~
((The answer to this question is negative right now.))

[hidufel]

Sidana thinks toward Leighton, ~We could run these down easily, but it looks like a decoy. Can your magic see the real thrust?~

((The answer to this question is negative right now.))

Leighton projects his thoughts through the link, < unfortunately, my thaumaturgical faculty doesn't extend to that skill set.>

[Detritus]

The earth elementals continue plodding towards the ruins. It'll take them a few minutes to get there.

Meanwhile, the air elemental directly facing Leighton approaches until it gets within arm's length, swings in his general direction with a whip-crack sound, and then retreats back to its original position. Leighton manages to dodge this first sally pretty easily.

((I have rolls from hidufel from last month, of which only two were used, so I'll just hit the reset button and use that list again. I still need rolls for Rosalyn, 20 will do to start.))

[hidufel]

Leighton will dodge back, yet not out of range of one of his spells... he will take a moment to study the tactics employed, as something doesnt seem quite right.

he will then cast a 1d fireball at the air elemental. (no cost) (if possible hed like to gauge how the earth elementals are being handled by sidana...)

[Detritus]

The elemental evades the fireball quite nimbly, and your spell vanishes in a puff a few seconds after it missed its target.

"This may also be a probe," Gwynnis broadcasts mentally, "something designed to test our defenses. There are three of these creatures fairly close to the village. I would prefer preserving the village's buildings, if possible. I'm moving to engage; recommend Toreador agents either engage surface units or active Eagle's Sight to help search for other threats."

Leighton catches a streak of motion to the north just as the elementals he backed away from move so that they are all in front of him, and they begin to make wind jets that start pushing him away from the tor at a clip of a few yards per second.

((Note that Eagle's Sight only takes a skill roll to activate. You can shift your vision so that it emerges from a point above you up to 250 yards in height, for a bird's eye view of the immediate area.))

[Kalzazz]

Sidana will try to bring up Eagle's Sight

[Detritus]

Sidana will try to bring up Eagle's Sight
You're able to do this no problem. As you move your vantage point upwards, you see the other groups of earth elementals, and your sire closing in on the northern group. You also see Leighton begin to drift outwards away from the tor, while he is over the abbey grounds. He looks as if he's being blown in that direction.

[Kalzazz]

((Can you roll tactics or strategy on where a likely attack point might be?))

[hidufel]

Leighton will drop a little below his current altitude and attempt to move in underneath the air elementals. he will scan the area below him, activating his aura perception. these air elementals are meant to distract him, he thinks.

[Detritus]

((Can you roll tactics or strategy on where a likely attack point might be?))
Sidana will definitely understand about the Aura Reading trick to penetrate mundane concealment, if you want to give that a go. The orchards, abbey grounds, and the village are pretty much all the places to hide.

[Kalzazz]

Try Aura Reading

[Detritus]

Try Aura Reading
For bookkeeping purposes, will you use blood or fatigue to power Aura Perception?

As to what happens:

Leighton can fly below the air elementals pretty easily, but as he does, he's caught in a sudden downdraft, much more powerful than the gentle breeze that pushed him along horizontally. The ground is approaching quickly, and the elementals track downward with Leighton's descent.

((If you want to try and evade the downdraft, it will be a Quick Contest of Leighton's DX vs. the air elementals DX. You can also try a spell to disrupt them, or try flying "upstream" against the downdraft. That'll be a Quick Contest of ST, though Leighton won't have much hope of determining what the elementals' effective ST is.))

You both glimpse auras in the orchards, although a glimpse is all Leighton gets. Sidana will see that the auras seem to be up in the trees, maybe 10-12 feet off the ground, with five auras in each orchard.

Also, Gwynnis engages one of the northern earth elementals. It falls after a few strokes with her blade, but when it does, the tremors return, and more elementals appear at all four groups. Those groups of elementals not engaged with an opponent (which is all except for the northern group) then merge into one larger form ((EDIT 3/6/10 -- One larger form per group). Gwynnis is now surrounded by six or seven elementals.

((What would Sidana like to do now?))

[hidufel]

Leighton will attempt to evade the downdraft, while angling his course towards the orchard. Looking back he will manipulate the magical energies and create a sphere of fire above the nearest elemental, so that when it coalesces it drops on top of the elemental. Leighton is still unsure of the efficacy of fire vs these creatures, his own expertise being more towards the earthen element.

[Detritus]

Leighton dodges the downdraft, and can make his way towards one of the orchards. The elementals seem to be close to an even match for Leighton's speed and maneuverability, but as a result of his evasions, he can beat them to the eastern orchard. It looks like blowing him to the ground is the most likely way they can do serious damage to him. The elemental that Leighton shot at evades the fireball quite deftly.

Meanwhile, in each orchard, a sixth aura appears, seeming to materialize directly in the branches of one of the trees near the edge of their respective orchards.

Gwynnis has a definite speed and quickness advantage over the elementals that surround her. She's able to dodge out from the middle of them, but having seen the result of her first attack, she refrains from striking the elementals for the moment. Her sword does begin to glow from an inner light, a soft white glow that extends an inch or so from the perimeter of the blade.

[Kalzazz]

"Well now, they want to hide up in trees"

Sidana turns to head for the nearest orchard

[Detritus]

"Well now, they want to hide up in trees"

Sidana turns to head for the nearest orchard
That's the eastern orchard. It'll take about 15 seconds for you to make it to the edge of the orchard.

Sidana's augmenting disciplines are activated as specified in the character sheet I PM'ed you a while back. If you wish, you can stack on more augmentation during your approach, though it will cost an extra blood point (Fatigue isn't an option for this particular expenditure) beyond the usual activation cost of the discipline, which can be paid for through Fatigue or BP, as normal.

It's not strictly necessary; you do have a lot of BP right now, but you may need it for other things. I can go over specifics of costs vs. benefits if you need more info.

While Sidana is approaching the orchard, Gwynnis manages to take out a second earth elemental. This time, no additional elementals appear after it's destroyed. She broadcasts that it seems that aggravated damage is need to the destroy elementals in such a way as to not spawn replacements after their destructions.

[hidufel]

Leighton will think through the link, <Report on your status, what have you encountered or seen? I saw some movement to the north, Elisabeta, blythe anything? Gwynnis, they are slow enough, and shouldnt have wasted their advantage so easily, those earth elementals are meant to draw you from the tor>

Heading towards the eastern orchard leighton will activate eagles sight and observe the tor proper.

[Kalzazz]

If possible Sidana will try to time herself to arrive at the same time as Leighton, and when in range will throw Rhongmyniad toward one of the auras (one of the original auras, not the new one)

[Detritus]

Heading towards the eastern orchard leighton will activate eagles sight and observe the tor proper.
Note that Eagle's Sight is an advanced Auspex (Auspex level 6) power. Leighton doesn't have access to that one.

[hidufel]

Ahh my mistake... for some reason i thought it was something Leighton could do. Leighton will stick to aura sight then.

[Detritus]

Elisabetta and Blythe report negative on sighting any foes in the village thus far.

"My opponents have all fallen," thinks Gwynnis. "They are easy enough to fell when encountered separately, but I suspect their larger cousins could do some damage if they get close enough to the tower. I will return to the tower and engage those that approach."

When Leighton and Sidana near the edge eastern orchard, you both see some sort of monstrous, winged man-sized insectoids in several of the trees that are the source of the auras. ((Think thri-kreen with wings, but no weapons or armor.))

Sidana hurls her spear at one of the insectoids. Her aim is true, but the weapon seems merely to lodge in her target's exoskeleton without doing any further damage. Her reward is a putrescent, bilious jet that issues forth from her target, which she barely manages to sidestep.

Two of the creatures climb through the branches of their chosen trees with frightful dexterity, then launch themselves upwards once they make their way close enough to the treetops. Once airborne, they make their way towards Leighton while clacking their pincers, with a clicking sort of speech on their mandibles as they approach.

[Kalzazz]

Sidana recalls Rhongmyniad to hand, and looks for the source of the freshly appeared aura

[Detritus]

Sidana recalls Rhongmyniad to hand, and looks for the source of the freshly appeared aura
It's somewhat further into the orchard, although still relatively near to the edge. It's another insectoid.

The one you speared alights from its perch in the tree and flies towards you, as does a second insectoid. This one spews in your direction but you manage to dodge once again. Seeing the ease with which you evade their spit attacks, they try to close on your position, looking for all the world like they want to give you each a four-armed hug.

As they near, you begin to understand why the spear throw wasn't very effective -- those exoskeletons look pretty thick.

[Kalzazz]

"I'm so adorable you simply must try to hug me to pieces?" Sidana smiles, and will attempt to target any apparent chinks in their exoskeletons, and try to use Rhongmyniad's length and her vast speed to keep away

[Detritus]

The creatures both attack with all of their upper and middle limbs. Several of the blows were headed towards landing on you, but you manage to parry them all relatively easily. However, your most powerful thrusts, plenty sufficient to skewer most mortals, are unable to penetrate the hides of the insectoids, although you do tear the wing off of one of them by following through on a whirling staff-style parry, forcing the damage creature to hand.

((Sidana is presently doing 3d thrust and 4d swing damage. I ruled six thrusts and a swing for her attacks this round. She got a 14 for her highest thrust damage, FYI.))

[hidufel]

((for purpose of spells, can i concentrate on a spell with casting of more then 1 second and still be able to move/maneuver?))

((are the air elementals still persueing Leighton towards the eastern orchard?))

[Detritus]

((for purpose of spells, can i concentrate on a spell with casting of more then 1 second and still be able to move/maneuver?))

((are the air elementals still persueing Leighton towards the eastern orchard?))
You can continue flying without changing direction or speed if you cast a spell with more than 1 round casting time.

The air elementals are following Leighton, the ones closest to him presently are about 8-10 yards behind him.

[hidufel]

As leighton makes his way to the eastern orchard, he thinks, <Sidana, im heading to your location, lets switch up our targets, or get them working contrary to eachother.> he begins manipulating the arcane energies, and begins to cast a spell. ((Invisibility, 4 fatigue to cast, 3 second casting time, payed for with 2 blood.)

[Detritus]

OK, Leighton is invisible. For bookkeeping purposes, I'll say he arrives at engagement range just as Sidana has made it through everything narrated thus far in the thread.

When Leighton drops from sight, the insectoids that began flying towards him move to engage Sidana. The elementals pursuing him continue their original course, eventually moving over the orchard.

[hidufel]

Coming up on one the winged insectoids... leighton will reach out and cast cauldron of blood, boiling away 2 points worht of blood. (3 blood cost) hopefully this will affect them... well see in a moment.

[Detritus]

Coming up on one the winged insectoids... leighton will reach out and cast cauldron of blood, boiling away 2 points worht of blood. (3 blood cost) hopefully this will affect them... well see in a moment.
((The spell costs 5 Fatigue total, since Leighton has skill 15 with it, so 2 BP and 1 Fatigue. For the future, you might also want to read up on Deathtouch, which given Leighton's load-out is a bit less dangerous of an option here.))

You're able to touch the insectoid no problem. It lets out a sort of chittering shriek, then strikes at your hand much as a human swatting at a mosquito that's biting her would do, and manages to hit. You take 4 (regular, not aggravated) damage, and the force of the blow breaks your hand, which causes you to cry out in pain. You also have the one insectoid's attention, which has a general idea where you are at the moment, but not your exact location.

[Detritus]

((Here are some augmentation options for Sidana, while you're mulling her next set of actions:

+25 ST for 1 hour = 1 BP + 14 Fatigue (or equivalent)

+15 ST for 2 hours = 1 BP + 12 Fatigue

+6 ST until dawn = 1 BP + 12 Fatigue

For the high-strength augmentations, each step downwards on the duration column (6 hours --> 2 hours --> 1 hour --> 30 minutes --> 10 minutes) saves 1 Fatigue. For the "until dawn" option, each step downwards on the augmentation column (+6 --> +4 --> +2 --> +1 -->) saves a Fatigue, although it might be inefficient to go for a low-power, long-duration enhancement. Similar augmentation bonuses/durations are also available for Sidana's DR.))

[hidufel]

((The spell costs 5 Fatigue total, since Leighton has skill 15 with it, so 2 BP and 1 Fatigue. For the future, you might also want to read up on Deathtouch, which given Leighton's load-out is a bit less dangerous of an option here.))


Me still being a noob... am i debilitated by the broken wrist? 4 points of damage... would my armor take some of that? i think it is something like 2pd or somesuch.... also is the 4 points a lot? (how much do i take before im out for the count?)

also... can you run me through my last attack? since you mentioned death touch being less dangerous... if id have spent 2 fatigue (or 1 blood) id have done 3d damage... versus the 8 points i think i did with cauldron of blood.) but i still would have moved in to touch the target...

Leighton winces at the broken wrist, but quickly casts another spell on the winged insect, this time rooting its feet to the ground, hopefully hindering it some. (payed with 1 blood.) then steps to the side to aid his invisibility in hiding his location.

[Detritus]

Me still being a noob... am i debilitated by the broken wrist? 4 points of damage... would my armor take some of that? i think it is something like 2pd or somesuch.... also is the 4 points a lot? (how much do i take before im out for the count?)

also... can you run me through my last attack? since you mentioned death touch being less dangerous... if id have spent 2 fatigue (or 1 blood) id have done 3d damage... versus the 8 points i think i did with cauldron of blood.) but i still would have moved in to touch the target...

Leighton winces at the broken wrist, but quickly casts another spell on the winged insect, this time rooting its feet to the ground, hopefully hindering it some. (payed with 1 blood.) then steps to the side to aid his invisibility in hiding his location.
You lose use of the broken hand until you can heal it. I'll say it's your off hand, so you can still use your sword. You'll either need to land and stay perfectly still for a turn or let your inertia carry you for a turn while you heal. Cost is 2 BP.

You're presently at 6 HP, starting from 10. HP are based on HT. If you get down to -10 HP (this is also based on HT, so higher-HT characters can go lower) and you're out of blood, you get knocked into torpor. If you don't heal any damage you take, eventually you are "forced" to heal if you take damage if you still have any blood remaining; once you reach -10 HP, healing of further damage takes place automatically. Things work somewhat differently for aggravated damage; in essence agg. damage is harder to heal, and auto-healing doesn't take place at low HP.

Your armor did absorb some of the damage, but you got whacked by something that does 3d+2 swinging damage. This is what happened: your armor absorbed its DR rating (PD makes you harder to hit), then four damage got through, enough to break your hand, and the remainder of the damage basically blew through your hand. You would have taken a fair amount more damage if this blow had landed on your torso.

I'll answer your other questions and your proposed action by PM.

[hidufel]

(amended action) Leighton will let his momentum take him forward for a turn while he concentrates on healing his wrist... then he will turn on the winged insect and strike it wihit his rapier, using his invisibility to his best advantage.

[Detritus]

(amended action) Leighton will let his momentum take him forward for a turn while he concentrates on healing his wrist... then he will turn on the winged insect and strike it wihit his rapier, using his invisibility to his best advantage.
OK, these actions are in the queue. Sidana has the floor for the present turn, while Leighton heals his hand.

[Detritus]

((I'm going to go ahead and resolve Leighton's next attack now. Sidana is two turns behind Leighton at the moment.))

Leighton sweeps around after healing his hand. The antennae of the insectoid he's engaged with twitch as he approaches, but it doesn't otherwise react until after Leighton's rapier thrust, which strikes true. The insectoid lashes out ineffectively, presenting no real danger of hitting Leighton during this sequence of attacks.

[Detritus]

((I'm going to go ahead and resolve Leighton's next attack now. Sidana is two turns behind Leighton at the moment.))

Leighton sweeps around after healing his hand. The antennae of the insectoid he's engaged with twitch as he approaches, but it doesn't otherwise react until after Leighton's rapier thrust, which strikes true. The insectoid lashes out ineffectively, presenting no real danger of hitting Leighton during this sequence of attacks.
Right, forgot to mention -- 12 damage to the creature. Leighton's attacks are definitely starting to have an effect.

[hidufel]

circling the beast, Leighton plans on placing the creature between him self and the air elementals... and will observe for another oppotunity to thrust his sword into the creaturs hide.

(Shall i send another list of rolls)

[Detritus]

circling the beast, Leighton plans on placing the creature between him self and the air elementals... and will observe for another oppotunity to thrust his sword into the creaturs hide.

(Shall i send another list of rolls)
((You're OK for rolls at the moment.))

[Kalzazz]

Sidana is going to channel blood into Rhongmyniad to bring up Death Touch 3

[Detritus]

Sidana is going to channel blood into Rhongmyniad to bring up Death Touch 3
All right, I'm going to say she can do this and still get off five attacks this turn.

First three attacks go against the grounded insectoid. They all hit, none are dodged or parried, and in a blitz of pokes and whirls, Sidana kills it.

You spin to engage your other opponents, and one attack each goes against the still-flying insectoids. Both strikes are true, but they both seem to be parried. However, because of the nature of Deathtouch, each limb used to parry shrivels up into uselessness, and the insectoids both emit chittering shrieks of pain.

They dive, clacking their pincers in the general direction of your wrists, but neither attack hits, and after their dives they pull up until they're out of the reach of the spear, about 12 feet off the ground.

((One round to go to catch up with the Colonel.))

[Kalzazz]

((How does the throwing and returning work? That sounds useful here))

[Detritus]

((How does the throwing and returning work? That sounds useful here))
You can recall the spear once per turn. The way it would work this turn is:

Attack 1 (Sidana's base attack) - Throw spear
Attacks 2/3 - Recall spear
Attacks 4 through 7 - Throw spear again

If, on Attack 1, Sidana were to manage to ground another insectoid, she could use Attacks 4-7 in melee.

[Kalzazz]

"What, afraid to come down and play?"

Sidana throws the spear then and recalls

[Detritus]

"What, afraid to come down and play?"

Sidana throws the spear then and recalls
Sidana hits one of the insectoids square in the abdomen. It's definitely hurting, but is still aloft, flapping its still-intact wings (hint, hint), when she recalls the spear to hand.

((You can target either of the insectoids you're engaged with and throw your spear again, but you won't be able to recall it again until next turn, and thus would not be able to use it to parry, but you could still dodge, of course. It's possible you could kill the one you hit with the first throw, which would allow you to retrieve the spear manually once the insectoid falls, but it's by no means certain.))

The insectoid that Sidana did not hit tries horking up on her again, with limited success. A bit of the vomit does splash on her, but not enough to penetrate her Fortitude. It is quite smelly.

((Once Kal decides whether Sidana wants to throw her spear again, then she'll be caught up with Leighton. For those keeping score at home, Sidana has uncorked 12 attacks in two rounds against opponents on the ground, vs. 1-2 attacks in one round against airborne opponents. Since both Leighton and Sidana have Tactics, they surely understand the importance of getting as many flying opponents grounded as quickly as possible to get Sidana at her maximum effectiveness.))

[Kalzazz]

Sidana will throw, aiming at a wing, hoping to knock an enemy down for easy spear retrieval

[Detritus]

Sidana will throw, aiming at a wing, hoping to knock an enemy down for easy spear retrieval
OK, zing, your aim is true and you spear the more wounded one in the wing. It falls to the ground in a not-terribly-controlled fashion, and seems to expire upon its landing. Sidana zips over and retrieves her spear manually, and she verifies the just-fallen creature verified to be lifeless.

OK, now both PCs are caught up. There are two dead insectoids on the ground near Sidana, and one live one in the air, and Leighton is also engaged with a live but somewhat damaged insectoid.

The fifth and sixth insectoids begin to emerge from the forest and just below treetop height, and you both see two more auras pop into being several paces into the orchard, most likely of another pair of insectoids.

[hidufel]

Leighton, upon noting the tactical advantage of having the winged creatures grounded to face sidanas wrath... flies up towards the airborn creature, and again attempts to strike, this time at the creatures wings. aiming to either sever or ruin them.

[Detritus]

Leighton, upon noting the tactical advantage of having the winged creatures grounded to face sidanas wrath... flies up towards the airborn creature, and again attempts to strike, this time at the creatures wings. aiming to either sever or ruin them.
Duly noted. I'd like to get Sidana's action before adjudicating. The action could be "wait to see what happens," or it could be a spear chuck at the insectoid still flying near & above her. Or other, if specified.

[Kalzazz]

((How high is critter flying? Would like a jump and stab maybe work?))

[Detritus]

((How high is critter flying? Would like a jump and stab maybe work?))
It's not much higher than it needs to be to keep out of the reach of the spear while Sidana is on the ground, so an attack incorporating a jump would reach it. You'd get three attacks this round if you went that route.

[Kalzazz]

((Could I potentially hit a wing or just the feet or so?))

[Detritus]

((Could I potentially hit a wing or just the feet or so?))
If you want to ground the insectoid and attack it later this turn, your best bet is to throw the spear, aiming for a wing, and then recall it to hand and close and attack in melee. This would still be three attacks total, including the wing attack.

If you just want to ground the thing, a jump-melee attack on a wing is probably your best bet. You'll only get two attacks total if you do this.

The following options probably aren't that good for this particular round, but other things you can do either to close with flying critters or bring them to you:

Higher ST through Potence increases max. jumping height.

Summoning calls a creature to within arm's reach. It's kind of expensive, though (Presence 4 = 4 BP/8 Fatigue).

And, of course, technically you and Leighton haven't really coordinated yet. In addition to his being able to engage flying opponents and cut them down from their flight, he might also be able to grant Sidana the power of flight for a limited time. In theory.

[Kalzazz]

Throw at wing then

Sidana cocks her arm back and hurls Rhongmyniad up at the things wing

[Detritus]

OK, here's what happens:

Leighton
Being mindful of the creature's swinging limbs, Leighton manages to avoid them and find an opening that allows him to damage its left wing enough to force it into a wobbly descent. It is hurting but manages to remain upright after a bit of a rough landing.

Insectoid #5 emerges from the orchard and does a long-distance projectile vomit attack which does manage to hit Leighton. He's afforded some protection from his magicks but still takes 3 aggravated damage.

Sidana
Sidana's aim is true yet again, although the insectoid she targets manages to flinch just enough to avoid bearing the full brunt of the projectile. The spear clips its wing. It's clear that the insectoid she's fighting will have to land, but it's able to manage a controlled descent.

Insectoid #6 also emerges from the orchard, but its spit attack misses the mark.

((The insectoid clipped by the spear will be low enough to engage in melee by the time Sidana recalls her spear and closes in on it. There will be time for two melee attacks, if you want to go this route.))

[Kalzazz]

"So nice to fight someone on my own level"

Sidana fetches her spear and makes two attacks, she wants to finish this thing off, so aiming stabs at the vitals

[Detritus]

In a blur of motion, Sidana retrieves her spear, thrusts once in the center of the insectoid's thorax, then thrusts again at the base of the creature's neck. One of the creature's swipes at her arms lands with considerable force, but manages only to scrape along Sidana's left forearm. ((Sidana takes 2 regular damage.)) The creature collapses after taking the thrust through its neck.

((Status at the end of this round: One wobbly insectoid is upright on the ground, about half of Sidana's Move away from her. She could close and attack three times, but her Deathtouch has subsided at the end of this round. One insectoid approaches each of Leighton and Sidana by air, and another pair of auras that presumably also belong to insectoids has just appeared in the orchard.))

[Detritus]

OK, in writing down everything that I was thinking was going to happen in this thread, it probably would have taken several more months to finish. This is a rough outline of the outcome, based on what I had in mind in terms of your opponents.

The last of the second wave (the insectoids) was just about finished. The air elementals that had fiddled with Leighton were going to fan some flames in the eastern orchard, set by an as yet unseen presence. Then with the orchard on fire, fire elementals would appear next.

A new wave of earth elementals would then appear after the fire elementals, to try and trap the Kindred on the ground in the east between themselves and the fire elementals. Sidana leads the effort to punch a hole through the line of the earth elementals, and then Leighton leads a regroup of the Tremere to the base of the ruins.

Just as the Tremere finish regrouping, the other orchard also bursts into flames. Gwynnis opens a portal in the ward protecting the circle of Tremere led by Meerlinda. Rebekka and Ulugh Beg exit the ward, having invoked the archangels Gabriel (and his associated element of water) and Raphael (air), respectively.

The elder Tremere swiftly conclude that there must be at least one enemy mage present, and send Leighton in search of them while they whip up some quick weather magic. Gwynnis moves to assist Anneke in battling the fire elementals to the south while Sidana holds off the foes to the east.

Leighton manages to find a mage in each orchard; both are Garou. A second wave of fire elementals begin to emerge when it begins to rain, dousing the fire elementals. Sidana and Gwynnis each Summon the Garou mages, and it turns out each has a bodyguard who can assume giant size (approximately 25 feet in height in the hybrid man-wolf form).

In the south, Gwynnis battles the giant bodyguard while Anneke engages the Garou mage. Her glass eye glows throughout the battle, evidently having some capability to blunt the magical advantage of her opponent. In the east, Sidana battles the giant while Leighton engages in an aerial battle with the other Garou mage.

With great expenditures of vitae, Sidana boosts her strength and toughness, and draws upon the power of her spear to carry the day against her foe. Leighton's opponent uses its great speed to nearly best him, but between the Colonel's magical accoutrements and mastery of fire magic, he is able to cut his foe down from the sky.

Meanwhile, in the circle in the tower ruins, Meerlinda strives with Goratrix, who is located in Hitler's "Eagle's Eyrie" in Berchtesgaden. The battle is inconclusive, but does have the effect that the ritual is incomplete. It will take a sacrifice of Gwynnis's blood some six weeks later to activate the latent potentials established during the ritual.