Truth and Honor (Letter to Brujah Justicar, François, Wed. 4/4/07)

[Brother Brian]

Francois sits at his desk, pen flicking his signature at the bottom of a piece of fine bond paper. He glances over his writing once, folds the paper, and in an archaic twist, seals it with a bit of wax and a stamp.

Standing, he places the letter in a standard One Day shipping envelope. Filling out the address, he seals his letter in.

"Jeremy:, he says, and a servant enters the room. Please see that this is delivered with all haste.

Jeremy nods with a quiet "Yes sir", and leaves the dark, windowless room.

Jeremy knows nothing about the contents that he carries for his employer. Some nominal business paperwork he assumes. He has no interest in reading it; but if he had, he would not have understood. Even in New Orleans, some things are beyond belief.

To his highness, Don Cruez, Justicar of Clan Brujah:

I declare unto you under pain of blood, that my name is Francois Pierre Laroux Petit; I serve clan and sect, and currently represent our clan as Primogen in the domain of New Orleans. I further swear by my life’s blood, that the information conveyed in this report, written by my own hand, is true, and that any conjecture’s I may add are supported by such information as I have.

I write to you due to concerns of events that I have witnessed over the past few nights, events which I believe place the Camarilla at risk. I will begin with what I have witnessed;

I came to the city understanding it was the domain of a Mr. Johnson, only for him to meet his death the night of my arrival. While normally there is opportunity for any interested to make a claim for the domain, Justicar Gwynnis, of clan Toreador, installed one Rebekka, of clan Tremere.

I pondered why a Toreador would go so far beyond custom to install one of the Tremere into such a position.

I believe that recent events have given me insight into that. The Justicar, though of Arikel’s blood, has surrounded herself with Tremere. I gather from various conversations that she has been with these Tremere for a half century or more.

Additionally, a Brujah who goes by the name of Crusher was captured after climbing from a grave. He claims to be of your retinue, on a mission to infiltrate the Sabbat. There was concern by all involved that he may have been tainted through Sabbat rituals, with concern that your blood may have fallen to the enemy. I know that they are utilizing what appears to my eyes as a binding, not dissimilar from that which our enemy uses.

The final incident which prompted this report happened only a few hours ago. A Gangrel of my new acquaintance, a soldier, one who would be quite valuable in our efforts here, raised the pique of our new Prince. He offered an insult to Justicar Gwynnis, comparing her to Adolph Hitler.

In this fit, she told of Gwynnis’ involvement in Tremere ritual during the last world war. Then, invoking the tradition of domain as justification, she used foul magic to open a light on Jack which burned him to dust. Clearly, Jack made no effort to question her word, even in the most literal of senses, much less challenge her position of leadership.

I must ask myself, what purpose is served killing a soldier who offered the most minor of offense? Is the new regime truly acting in the best interest of our sect? Or has clan Tremere, led by their councilor Meerlinda, found a hold in which to manipulate your peer from the Toreador clan.

Conclave comes to New Orleans, but I fear it comes too late. I do not have enough to make accusations against any individual or clan in New Orleans. But what I have raises suspicion and concern.

Clan Brujah stands ready to repel the Sabbat from this domain, or to die in the attempt. But as a soldier, it is a strange feeling to worry about those that stand with me.

With the situation here as tenuous as it may be, I felt it my duty to inform you both of what I know, and what I fear may be true.

Yours in kinship and clan,

Francois P.L. Petit

[Detritus]

I'll stick this thread, though it'll have to lie dormant for a bit. Since it's a snail-mail letter, there's going to be a bit of a lag in response time. A couple of things that might be doable in the flow of the game is for François to reach out to either Crusher or Charles, after sunset Wednesday. If you like either of those options, carry on in this thread.

[Brother Brian]

Sun sets over the marshy swamp, and the red fire of the sky slowly retreats down the white clapboard of the stately manse. A man stands on the porch, watching the setting sun, waiting for it to fall below the trees before he turns into the house. He climbs the stairs and walks down the hall. He abruptly stops, and knocks three measured beats.

"Yes Jeremy, I am aware. Thank you." The voice on the other side of the door has a french accent, not the patois of the locals, but one purer and more true. It's owner sits on the edge of his bed, sitting in shadow. He removes his phone from it's docking station, and presses a few keys. He rubs his brow as he waits for his friend to answer.

"Hello", comes the voice of Charles.

"Charles, I need to brief you on the situation here, and have little time to do it. I am afraid that what I tell you will be disturbing to you, but truth is superior to lies, and trust must be maintained."

(to be continued...)

[Detritus]

"Go on," Charles says, his voice pleasant, if neutral. "You know that you can tell me anything."

[Brother Brian]

Sorry for the delay, I was away from the interwebs for most of the long weekend.

"Charles", Francois starts, "I am concerned that the lady Gwynnis has, for lack of a better term, come under the spell of Clan Tremere. Indeed, her actions seem to benefit the clan more than the Camarilla, including her personal placement of the new Prince of New Orleans. This Rebekka, a Tremere, is wholly unsuited for the position."

Francois pauses for a second. "I know that my views are colored by my opinions on the usurpers in general, and that any domain ruled by a Tremere is in fact ruled by the Tremere elite, but this Rebekka has neither the temprament for command, nor, from what I can tell, the abiltiy to marshall the forces neccesary to combat the Sabbat incursion.

"Indeed, I have informed Don Cruez of this. As you are aware, Conclave is coming to this city. I felt it only right to inform my clan's leader of the situation prior to his arrival."

[Detritus]

"I see," Charles says after a bit of a pause. "Can you tell me more of the reasoning behind your conclusions."

[Brother Brian]

Francois pauses, "I can share some. She stood by while her puppet princeling destroyed a loyal Camarilla solidier for a mild insult given to the Justicar. She accepted as reasonable a claim this was done under the tradition of domain, a case of which the wiliest of Ventrue could not make convincing." Again Francois pauses. "Charles, I have lead armies, I have seen politics played. I know the birth of a tyrant when I see one. I am certain that the lady Gwinnis does as well. So I am forced to ask myself 'How does the Camarilla gain by installing a prince that will drive the loyal out of the area?' The answer is simply that it doesn't. It does however benefit the Tremere, who find themselves promoted and brought in from outside. It also, inadvertantly I believe, offers aid to our enemy."

[Detritus]

"You are certain that there was no treason, or even insubordination, involved?" asks Charles. "The former is certainly grounds for execution. The latter less so, yet it is not unheard of, especially in times of conflict. The events as you describe them, however, they certainly sound like an overreaction on the part of the new Prince."

Charles pauses, but not long enough for François to make a reply.

"And yet, even if the new Prince has overstepped the authority traditionally given to the office, I am unsure whether that alone is grounds enough to suspect that Meerlinda has exerted some sort of magical influence over Gwynnis. They have worked together for a very long time, even as Kindred would reckon it. Not continuously, mind you, but I have it on fairly good authority that it is a partnership that predates the formation of the Camarilla by several centuries, reaching as far back as the Norman invasion of the British Isles."

[Brother Brian]

"I am not at liberty to go into details, but I can confirm that. And I am certainly no expert on the usurpers magik. It could well be that their influence has a more mundane explanation. As for possible Treason, I saw none, the prince claimed none, and in fact, happily admitted that her action was predicated on the insult to Gwynis."

Here Francois pauses for a long moment. "I have seen things traveling with the Justicar that I can not go into. That said, I have seen foul workings on her; which Meerlinda claimed to alleviate, but who's to say if she was the cure or the cause? Listen friend, I don't claim Gwynnis to be a traitor. I do believe however, that for whatever reason, her priorities are compromised. That is what I informed my Justicar."

[Detritus]

((I had to look back to see whether Charles knew of Rebekka's ascension to the throne in New Orleans. It turns out that he does, as of François's "Where in the World is Sylvester Simms" thread, two nights ago in-game. So he'll be referring to Rebekka by name from this point forward.))

"But it doesn't sound like Rebekka at all," Charles says, his perplexity plain in his voice. "From the time that Gwynnis arrived in Paris with her and her sister in tow, back around the time of both of our Embraces, Rebekka has always been the more level-headed of the two. I could almost believe it was Rebekka herself under some sort of malign influence, except I doubt that both the Justicar and the Councilor would let it pass unremarked. Neither of them said anything at all when she destroyed one of her subjects on such flimsy grounds?"

[Brother Brian]

"Not a word at all, and my impression is that they supported the decision."

[Detritus]

There's another pause at Charles' end, and then he asks, "What can you tell me of the relationship between the deceased and the Power That Be in New Orleans?"

[Brother Brian]

"Little. He was of the Gangrel clan. He was a bit standoffish with everyone, but not openly rebellious. He had a military mind and bearing, and I had pegged him as a field commander of some variety. He was reletively new to town, having arrived with a coiterie sent specifically to thward the Sabbat invasion."

[Detritus]

"Hmm, that isn't much to go on either way. Let's see... Mr. Johnson's removal from office, I think we were agreed that he didn't handle the end of his tenure very well, were we not? What can you tell me of the options for his successor at the time of his removal?"

[Brother Brian]

"So far as I could tell, and being my first evening in town I was not well versed with the local politick, there was no option. The Justicar decided, on her own, who would rule New Orleans. At the time, I had no stake in the matter, so I did not object. Further, I was named primogen of clan Brujah, above some of my clan who have proven their worth to the city for years. Another decision that I must question."

[Detritus]

"So far as I could tell, and being my first evening in town I was not well versed with the local politick, there was no option. The Justicar decided, on her own, who would rule New Orleans. At the time, I had no stake in the matter, so I did not object. Further, I was named primogen of clan Brujah, above some of my clan who have proven their worth to the city for years. Another decision that I must question."
"Is that so? I was under the impression that there weren't that many in the city outside of the Toreador clan, owing to Mr. Johnson's policies. How has it gone with the Primogen of the other clans?"

((For the Brujah Primogen, who exactly does François have in mind? I'll remind you that the closest thing there is to a native New Orleans Brujah elder (Bianca) turned out to be one of Samantha Drake's Sabbat confederates.))

[Brother Brian]

"Is that so? I was under the impression that there weren't that many in the city outside of the Toreador clan, owing to Mr. Johnson's policies. How has it gone with the Primogen of the other clans?"

((For the Brujah Primogen, who exactly does François have in mind? I'll remind you that the closest thing there is to a native New Orleans Brujah elder (Bianca) turned out to be one of Samantha Drake's Sabbat confederates.))

That may be so, but Uma and her coiterie were in the city before Francois, and he has no idea how long they have been there. Certainly Uma seemed...distressed that Francois was named.

"I can not say for sure that the other clan's selections were as...novel...as my own. It was done so quickly upon my arrival that I had yet to suitably measured the situation."

[Detritus]

"What you've told me is troubling, and yet, there isn't much in the way of specifics that might be considered actionable. Is there anything you wish for me to do?"

[Brother Brian]

"What you've told me is troubling, and yet, there isn't much in the way of specifics that might be considered actionable. Is there anything you wish for me to do?"

"No Charles. As you said, there is little here that is so far beyond the pale as to be actionable. I informed you solely because I have long been, and remain friend of clan Toreodor; and my actions could be viewed by the clan in an unfavorable light. I wished you to hear it from me, lest there be confusion."

[Detritus]

"A prudent measure, no doubt," Charles says, a touch of sadness in his voice, "and I shall do what I can on your behalf, should your concerns become more widely known. I should warn you, however, that my clan is one riven by bitter rivalries. Gwynnis is no exception to this, and she tends to engender either fierce loyalty or the bitterest opposition imaginable to her, frequently with few standing between those two poles. Armed with this information, you will quickly come to realize that people will reach out to you with agendas of their own, should it become known that you are the source of... intriguing speculation as concerns the Justicar."

[Brother Brian]

"A prudent measure, no doubt," Charles says, a touch of sadness in his voice, "and I shall do what I can on your behalf, should your concerns become more widely known. I should warn you, however, that my clan is one riven by bitter rivalries. Gwynnis is no exception to this, and she tends to engender either fierce loyalty or the bitterest opposition imaginable to her, frequently with few standing between those two poles. Armed with this information, you will quickly come to realize that people will reach out to you with agendas of their own, should it become known that you are the source of... intriguing speculation as concerns the Justicar."

"Any who try will learn that my loyalty is to the Camarilla, and I have no interest in their agenda."

[Detritus]

"I do hope that will be enough." You hear the faint drumming of his fingers, and can visualize the look of concentration on his face that he often gets while he chooses his words.

"Have you ever wondered why it was that you alone from Rochette's brood survived?" he finally asks.

[Brother Brian]

Francois pauses for a second. "I was not entirely sure that I was. I have assumed the possibility that others may lay in the same toporious state I was in, forgotten as Rochette's plans to seize power fell apart."

[Detritus]

Francois pauses for a second. "I was not entirely sure that I was. I have assumed the possibility that others may lay in the same toporious state I was in, forgotten as Rochette's plans to seize power fell apart."
"The only one that either of us knows about, then, although once tasked with finding his illegitimate childer, I believe I was quite thorough. And prompt, might I add. I had learned enough about how Rochette's mind worked that it was a matter of mere months to track down all those whom he Embraced. And then my duty was clear, to report my findings with the same promptness as I had conducted my investigation.

"The list of names I gave to my Sire included yours. As you well know, a death sentence awaited each person on that list. I beseeched Prince Villon to spare you. Long and cold was the look he gave me for reply, and it occurred to me that he may have been thinking whether to strike me down on the spot, now that I had completed the task for which he Embraced me.

"When at last he deigned to answer, he said that you might be spared. Yet he gave his mercy not in token of our closeness during our mortal lives, but simply because you shared a first name with him. Such caprice forms the basis for many princely actions, yet rare indeed is the occasion when they are called down for it. So I fear it may be with Rebekka."

[Brother Brian]

Francois pauses for a long moment. "Know this Charles; if it is, as a fear, more than mere capriciousness that guided Rebekka's actions tonight, she will answer for her traitorous ways, Prince or no. My duty to the Camarilla is greater than to any individual."

[Detritus]

"If it should come to that, then your duty is clear, François," Charles says after a brief pause. "But Princes tend to be given a rather wide latitude in interpreting and enforcing the Traditions. Hopefully that much is plain from my story of your Embrace. And from what you've told me, I can only reinforce your own conclusion that you haven't enough to go on to force a confrontation right now."

[Brother Brian]

"No, I merely had enough to inform my superior officers. A glint of suspicion is all...plus a distrust of the usurper clan."

[Detritus]

"When you put it that way... usurper clan... it sounds like you've already decided on the guiltiness of the Tremere," Charles says in a neutral tone.

[Brother Brian]

"When you put it that way... usurper clan... it sounds like you've already decided on the guiltiness of the Tremere," Charles says in a neutral tone.

"I speak only historical fact, and use a not uncommon bon mott amoung the brujah. I wouldn't turn my back on a Tremere, but I don't believe them all to be traitors. I'll not judge Rebekka based on the actions of her leaders."

[Detritus]

"I speak only historical fact, and use a not uncommon bon mott amoung the brujah. I wouldn't turn my back on a Tremere, but I don't believe them all to be traitors. I'll not judge Rebekka based on the actions of her leaders."
"I can't help but point out that one of those leaders is in the city herself. One who's notoriously difficult to read, as you're finding out. And extremely powerful to boot, let's not forget. If your suspicions are borne out, it will shake the Camarilla to its core. You must find out."

Charles pauses for a moment and then lets out a sigh before continuing.

"It's going to be tricky. There are a number of obstacles, the first of which is your own unfamiliarity with the principals. From what you've told me, the person who's acting most out of character isn't Gwynnis or Meerlinda, it's Rebekka. It would be helpful to receive input from someone more familiar with all three of them, preferably someone from a neutral clan. I'm not sure if Don Cruez is that someone, however. I will say that Queen Anne, the Prince of London, and a Ventrue, does have some familiarity with both Gwynnis and Meerlinda. They were all in London together for much of the 18th century, and during the World Wars.

"There's also the simple numbers game. Even assuming that Don Cruez comes to believe that your suspicions are correct, he and Angus, the Gangrel Justicar, would likely be offset by Gwynnis and Ulugh Beg, the Tremere Justicar. A third Justicar that saw things your way would be quite helpful, and of the two options remaining, I would say Democritus, Justicar for Clan Ventrue, is the better choice. It may be prudent to reach out to him, if you can, although you will probably have to be more circumspect about it than you were with Don Cruez.

"Finally, there's the Thaumaturgy aspect. Appealing to the Tremere will not help much, I'm afraid, and thus the need for a magically-skilled neutral party arises. There is one such I can recommend, although..." Charles trails off for a moment, clearly hesitant about this particular recommendation.

"There is another Ventrue, Marcus Vitel, Prince of Washington D.C. The Tremere are quite powerful in that city, yet Vitel has managed to stay at least one step ahead of them for several decades now, and it is rumored that he is highly proficient in Thaumaturgy in his own right. He is also one of the few Kindred in America who would be a match for either Gwynnis or Meerlinda in political power. Given the preeminence of the United States on the world stage, the need for stability in the Kindred community there is of utmost importance, and this affords Vitel a great deal of latitude in how he conducts his affairs.

"As one might expect, life in Washington has affected Vitel, or perhaps he has always been like this and simply was the best at doing what needs to be done to rule there. He is the consummate politician, even more so than your typical Kindred Prince. This will color all your dealings with him, and it is unlikely that he will not have a price tag. If I could recommend any other Kindred to you for this particular issue, I would. But, I cannot think of another from one of the thus far uninvolved clans who has the right mix of power, experience, and magical know-how to figure out if there is Thaumaturgical foul play, and lend such a conclusion the gravitas needed to initiate action to remedy matters."

[Brother Brian]

Francois listens to Charles' recomendations and sighs. "And to do all this while keeping the Sabbat out of New Orleans. To think, a week ago I was simply coming her to fufill a blood hunt on my sire, which has still not yet been done."

"I believe however that once we reach a level of...stability...here, a visit to Washington may be in order."

[Detritus]

"With luck, he may come to New Orleans for the Conclave. And perhaps not much luck will be needed; it is the sort of arena he excels in. Nor would he have to cross the Atlantic to attend, unlike either Anne or Democritus.

"As for the other, if Rochette has come in on the Sabbat's side, defeating him would also weaken their assault." Charles pauses and then says, "Is there anything else you need to talk about, François?"

[Detritus]

((Just curious, are you ready to hang up here?))

[Brother Brian]

"With luck, he may come to New Orleans for the Conclave. And perhaps not much luck will be needed; it is the sort of arena he excels in. Nor would he have to cross the Atlantic to attend, unlike either Anne or Democritus.

"As for the other, if Rochette has come in on the Sabbat's side, defeating him would also weaken their assault." Charles pauses and then says, "Is there anything else you need to talk about, François?"

Francos smiles "Time will tell if fortune smiles on me. And though I would certainly favor time to keep our aquantanceship fresh, our conversation has clearly gone further afield than I anticipated, and I am needed in another meeting. Fare thee well, Charles."

[Detritus]

"Godspeed to you, François," Charles says, and then hangs up.