Reach Out And Touch Someone (Mon. 3/26/07)

[Detritus]

You all begin to stir perhaps half an hour after sunset, safely, at least for the time being, in New Orleans. Sarah and Rebekka look as if they have been awake for a few moments already, but Thomas and Merill rise about the same time that you all do. Sarah has just ended a cell phone conversation with one of Prince Johnson's servants, in fact, and Rebekka lowers the divider so that Sarah can relay instructions to Gunther.

"I hope you are all well-rested," says Rebekka, "tonight should prove to be a full night of activity. I hope no one is afraid of water," she finishes, as it sinks in that Sarah is giving Werner directions to head to the coastline.

[SD Anderson]

"Not that I know of" Jack says. "How dee;p are we expected to dive?" he adds smiling.

[Parzival]

I'm going to sip that unit of blood I managed to cage to offset the daily drain.
(With the upcoming exertion, I'll want to start the ceremony at max blood points.)

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin is going to check out the window to make sure her car is still with us

[Detritus]

I'm going to sip that unit of blood I managed to cage to offset the daily drain.
(With the upcoming exertion, I'll want to start the ceremony at max blood points.)
As you start to do this, Rebekka reaches out and says, "You do understand, the Tradition of Hospitality will lead Prince Johnson to see that your needs are met."

[Detritus]

Jocelin is going to check out the window to make sure her car is still with us
Jocelin finds her Caddy safe and sound as Werner waves cheerfully at her.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin waves back to Werner

[Parzival]

"I do, but I do not wish to abuse his hospitality. I fear this ceremony will prove extremely draining."
<brief pause while Menachem thinks it over>
"But I also do not wish to give offense. I will defer to your greater experiance."
<seals the container, and tucks it into his jacket>

[Detritus]

"I do, but I do not wish to abuse his hospitality. I fear this ceremony will prove extremely draining."
<brief pause while Menachem thinks it over>
"But I also do not wish to give offense. I will defer to your greater experiance."
<seals the container, and tucks it into his jacket>
A ghost of a smile crosses Rebekka's lips as she replies, "I was not given all the details of your mission that Jürgen knew of, I'm afraid, but if your investigations can clear Prince Johnson's name, and that of his childe, I believe you will find him more accommodating than you expect."

[Detritus]

Jocelin waves back to Werner
As she does this, she notices that Merill is looking intently at her katana.

"That is a fine blade that you wear. How did you come by it?"

[Detritus]

"Not that I know of" Jack says. "How deep are we expected to dive?" he adds smiling.
This elicits no direct response, but soon after, you hear Sarah softly sing, "Holy Diver, you've been down too long in the midnight sea, oh what's becoming of me..."

[Jocelin Danis]

Jocelin smiles and nods to Merrill. "Indeed, this is an exemplary blade of origins shrouded by the mists of time and uh, non Euclidean times . . and . . uh, well . . " leans over to Merrill and whispers, "eBay"

[Detritus]

Jocelin smiles and nods to Merrill. "Indeed, this is an exemplary blade of origins shrouded by the mists of time and uh, non Euclidean times . . and . . uh, well . . " leans over to Merrill and whispers, "eBay"
Merill arches an eyebrow. "With your permission, could I hold it for a moment?"

[Huxley]

Leo stirs, and pulls himself up into a more comfortable sitting position.

"I hope you are all well-rested, tonight should prove to be a full night of activity. I hope no one is afraid of water"

Leo sits pondering for a moment while the early evening conversation ensues, then looks at Rebekka, "Where are we heading right now?"

[Jocelin Danis]

Jocelin is a bit puzzled by this, then nods and carefully hands her katana to Merrill. "Sure. Go ahead"

[Detritus]

Leo stirs, and pulls himself up into a more comfortable sitting position.

Leo sits pondering for a moment while the early evening conversation ensues, then looks at Rebekka, "Where are we heading right now?"
"Mr. Johnson's haven, at least the one in which he will receive us tonight, lies off the coast. We head towards a harbor where a boat awaits to ferry us there."

Jocelin is a bit puzzled by this, then nods and carefully hands her katana to Merrill. "Sure. Go ahead."
Merill bows in acknowledgement of Jocelin's assent, and then sights along the blade's edge. Thereafter he tests the heft and balance of the blade, visibly impressed. Another inspection follows, closer this time, and from hilt to tip, after which he bows again, slightly more deeply than before, and hands Jocelin back her weapon.

"A very fine blade, in excellent repair, and one that is witness to a centuries-long tale, I believe. I thank you for the privilege of handling of such a martial exemplar."

Merill pauses for a moment, drawing inward as he collects his thoughts. “If I may be so bold, Madam Jocelin, Elder,” he continues, looking at each woman in turn, “I believe that the blade has been witness to many… esoteric ceremonies. Not exactly of the kind we will perform tonight, but there are certain lingering residual energies that suggest to me that it would be the ideal implement for the final step in the definition of the circle. With Madam Jocelin’s consent, and yours, Elder, I would like to use it for this task tonight.”

[Detritus]

Rebekka gives Merill a half-puzzled squint before turning to Jocelin. "We do have our own such blade, but I trust Merill's judgement if he deems yours to be better for our purposes. It is entirely your decision, however, as to whether to permit our use of your blade in the ritual warding."

[SD Anderson]

"Mr. Johnson's haven, at least the one in which he will receive us tonight, lies off the coast. We head towards a harbor where a boat awaits to ferry us there."



'So much for easy access to the rest of the city... Jack thinks to himself.

[Jocelin Danis]

"Warding, protection. Such is the purpose of a blade, I would be honored were you to use mine."

[Detritus]

"Warding, protection. Such is the purpose of a blade, I would be honored were you to use mine."
"Very good, that's settled, then.

"When we reach the Prince's haven, we will all present ourselves, of course, but it is probably best if the leader of your delegation informs him of the additional task that need to be done tonight," Rebekka says as she looks inquiringly between Jack and Menachem.

[SD Anderson]

Jack nods to Menachem. "He's doing the work tonight. He can sit at the head table."

[Jocelin Danis]

"Isnt Leo our leader?"

[Detritus]

"Isnt Leo our leader?"
OOC - Yes, he certainly is. ;)

[Huxley]

"I am."

Leo is silent a moment, ponders his next words, and watches Rebekka. He clears a lump of mucus from his throat.

Leo's words are slow, deliberate, and grave. "Their reaction will not be kind or favorable towards us should they have to deal extensively with me. I can see the wisdom in your nuance, however much you may have been meaning to slight me. At the moment, we seek favor with the Prince. We need to be accepted into his domain, and not be viewed as a threat. It never looks good to have the one performing the task at hand to be the apparent leader -- it indicates weakness in the followers. Therefore, Jack: You will be speaking in my behalf, but you will not say so. Tell him we are searching for a diablorist: That is our main goal in coming to New Orleans. Tonight we will need lodging, and the Tremere will want to investigate their Chantry. We will be concerning ourselves with searching out the diablorist, and confirming the diablorist's identity, if indeed one has come to reside here".

[Jocelin Danis]

"Ah . . . noble Archon. If you believe that they'll be overmuch concerned regarding aesthetics, I wouldst be happy talking to them. I can be both useful and ornamental."

Jocelin pauses and looks at Jack. "Uh, unless you think the Prince has more of a, well, uh . . that . . uh, cast to preferences?"

[SD Anderson]

"The Prince of New Orleans is a lot of things. He has many and varied interests. His primary aesthetic interest, I believe, is music. He ahh... has had some influence in that area over the decades. My own tastes tend to run towards Gillespie, Parker, Coltrane and Getz but I've had many a pleasant hour listening to his stuff too. Be happy to sit at the table with him."

[Detritus]

"I am."

Leo is silent a moment, ponders his next words, and watches Rebekka. He clears a lump of mucus from his throat.

Leo's words are slow, deliberate, and grave. "Their reaction will not be kind or favorable towards us should they have to deal extensively with me. I can see the wisdom in your nuance, however much you may have been meaning to slight me. At the moment, we seek favor with the Prince. We need to be accepted into his domain, and not be viewed as a threat. It never looks good to have the one performing the task at hand to be the apparent leader -- it indicates weakness in the followers. Therefore, Jack: You will be speaking in my behalf, but you will not say so. Tell him we are searching for a diablorist: That is our main goal in coming to New Orleans. Tonight we will need lodging, and the Tremere will want to investigate their Chantry. We will be concerning ourselves with searching out the diablorist, and confirming the diablorist's identity, if indeed one has come to reside here".
Leo's answer puts Rebekka off-stride for just a moment before she collects her composure.

"My apologies, no slight was intended, it's just that you didn't say very much in Houston last night, so I assumed that one of them," she says, waving towards Jack and Menachem, "was your group's leader. Assuming that you will speak as the leader of the investigation during subsequent nights, would it not be best for you to assume that role from the outset?"

[Huxley]

"My apologies, no slight was intended, it's just that you didn't say very much in Houston last night, so I assumed that one of them was your group's leader. Assuming that you will speak as the leader of the investigation during subsequent nights, would it not be best for you to assume that role from the outset?"

"Toreador -- every one of them -- have an absolute obsession with the beautiful, and a absolute hatred of the ugly. This will put us at a disadvantage, should I be the one this Prince is forced to look upon. I trust Jack is able to hold himself, as he did in Houston, and will be able to gain access to New Orleans with the intention of finding a diablorist. Should any subsequent meetings come about, I will parlay with The Prince, but for now we are dealing with a Prince with too much power, and we need to gain his favor. Anything that can show our group in a positive light to the Prince must be used".

[Detritus]

"Toreador -- every one of them -- have an absolute obsession with the beautiful, and a absolute hatred of the ugly. This will put us at a disadvantage, should I be the one this Prince is forced to look upon. I trust Jack is able to hold himself, as he did in Houston, and will be able to gain access to New Orleans with the intention of finding a diablorist. Should any subsequent meetings come about, I will parlay with The Prince, but for now we are dealing with a Prince with too much power, and we need to gain his favor. Anything that can show our group in a positive light to the Prince must be used".
"As you wish," answers Rebekka as the limo slows and then stops.

"Here we are," she continues, nodding in the direction of her fellow Tremere. Opening various storage compartments, Thomas extracts a thurible from one, and Merill a sheathed sword from another.

Sarah retrieves an aspergillum, numerous candles, a small silvery bowl and spoon, and a container holding some powdery incense by the aroma that emanates from it. She places them in a small duffel bag as she softly sings, "Holy Diver, you're the star of the masquerade, no need to look so afraid..." favoring Menachem with a sly wink as she sings.

Rebekka produces a silver dagger from somewhere on her person and sets it to be obviously visible from her belt. "Shall we go?" she asks, as the other Tremere are already heading outside.

(EDIT -- I'm moving the second half of this post to its own post. Also, you learn about the info about the seance that I gave in the OOC thread when Menachem informs the PCs on the boat ride.)

[SD Anderson]

Jack goes up to Leo.

"When I tell the Prince about the Diabolist, the odds are he'll want to know who within his realm is a suspect. What do you want me to tell him?"

[Huxley]

Jack goes up to Leo.

"When I tell the Prince about the Diabolist, the odds are he'll want to know who within his realm is a suspect. What do you want me to tell him?"

"Considering the circumstances, I'd go with the truth. No doubt he's heard something about Drake calling the Camarilla on him, and a crime such as diablere would supersede any misconduct he may have had towards her."

[Detritus]

You board a sleek powerboat that comfortably holds the pilot, all eight Kindred, and Dieter (Gunther and Werner remain with the vehicles). After about half an hour's worth ride, you approach a massive yacht that rolls gently with the waves, anchor down. You all climb up a rope ladder, and when the last person from Texas is aboard the yacht, the pilot speeds off in the powerboat. A pair of female crew members lead you into the bowels of the craft.

As you approach the prince's quarters, you hear the sounds of a guitar being tuned. As you draw nearer the source, you hear someone break into a classic R&B tune:

I keep drinking malted milk, trying to drive my blues away
I keep drinking malted milk, trying to drive my blues away
Baby, you're just as welcome to my lovin' as the flowers is in May...

You can tell that Sarah is pretty geeked to hear that which comes from behind the door before which you now stand. One of the crew members knocks vigorously on the door, which elicits the reply, "Yeah, man, it's open."

You enter a room that would be a library, if its walls held books instead of the guitars that are mounted upon them. A man sitting behind an electric slide guitar, the only one in the room seated, is obviously the Prince. A nervous looking man stands to his immediate right, and two women stand to his right. A man and a woman stand to the Prince's left.

One of your escort removes the slide guitar, and the prince says, "Thank you, that will be all for now." As he turns his attention back to the visitors, he says, "Welcome to New Orleans. I'm Mr. Johnson, prince of this domain."

Your formal introductions go smoothly enough. Mr. Johnson eyes the gear that the Tremere carry curiously but does not ask about it during the presentations. The prince also receives Leo with grave formality, no hint of displeasure showing on his features, but it's obvious that several of his companions are at the very least uneasy with his presence.

After introductions are finished, Mr. Johnson says, "I only talked to Justicar Walsh briefly, so I didn't get much about why you all are here, except that it has something to do with Sammy's accusation." After this opening statement, he looks at the Texas Kindred expectantly...

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

(Scene note - Demetrious Slater is the nervous man next to Mr. Johnson. Kallista and Adrianne are to Slater's right, and Ramiel Dupre and Radeyah are to Mr. Johnson's left. Images for everyone but Radeyah is in the "Dramatis Personae thread, and Radeyah's image is in the Sample PCs thread)

[SD Anderson]

"A rather serious matter, I fear. In Roman times treason was sometimes punished with short exiles. The one crime they rarely showed mercy for was Patricide. We have two vampires who were drained to destruction by a younger generation vampire and we strongly suspect the younger one is diablerizing up a line of sires, grandsires and perhaps great grandsires. There is some evidence the principle in this has been operating from New orleans."

[Detritus]

"A rather serious matter, I fear. In Roman times treason was sometimes punished with short exiles. The one crime they rarely showed mercy for was Patricide. We have two vampires who were drained to destruction by a younger generation vampire and we strongly suspect the younger one is diablerizing up a line of sires, grandsires and perhaps great grandsires. There is some evidence the principle in this has been operating from New orleans."
"This is a very grave matter, indeed, but what does this have to do with Sammy's complaint?" asks a somewhat perplexed Mr. Johnson. "It was my understanding that her allegation that she was attacked by Demetrious here was what brought you to New Orleans."

[SD Anderson]

"Samantha Drake looks like our chief suspect. Her allegation may have just been a ruse to get her close to her next victim."

[Detritus]

"Samantha Drake looks like our chief suspect. Her allegation may have just been a ruse to get her close to her next victim."
Demetrious seems to relax somewhat as Jack states this. Mr. Johnson eyes Jack appraisingly for a moment before replying, "Hmm, that does make a lot more sense than Demetrious here attacking her. I bet you that's it. Do you have any proof concerning Sammy's guilt in this matter?"

[SD Anderson]

Demetrious seems to relax somewhat as Jack states this. Mr. Johnson eyes Jack appraisingly for a moment before replying, "Hmm, that does make a lot more sense than Demetrious here attacking her. I bet you that's it. Do you have any proof concerning Sammy's guilt in this matter?"

"Evidence, but not quite proof." Jack says. "What we do have is something we'd rather not mention at present. If she is guilty it could well tip her off."

[Detritus]

"Evidence, but not quite proof." Jack says. "What we do have is something we'd rather not mention at present. If she is guilty it could well tip her off."
"I see. And all this?" asks the prince, waving toward the paraphenalia in the hands of the Tremere. "I would have thought that you'd be the one to speak," he continues, nodding towards Rebekka.

[SD Anderson]

"I see. And all this?" asks the prince, waving toward the paraphenalia in the hands of the Tremere. "I would have thought that you'd be the one to speak," he continues, nodding towards Rebekka.

"A possible witness to the last murder is in Torpor. Interviewing her isn't going to be easy, but it's not impossible." Jack says.

Jack then thumbs toward Menachem. "The kid there is supposed to know how to pull it off, but he's going to need a lot of help. If he can pull it off and the witness knows something, we may just have that proof."

[Detritus]

"He speaks rightly, my Prince," Rebekka adds, cautious but impeccably observant of the formality of the situation. "The task is long and arduous, and Menachem will be particularly vulnerable during its commission. Under normal circumstances, the relative isolation of this haven would provide adequate protection, but Justicar Walsh does not want to take any chances, and has requested that the task take place within a warded circle. I must say I agree with the Justicar's assessment, meaning no offense to you, of course.

"We would need a moderate-sized room, the less furniture the better, with perhaps some low tables at the corners, and a waist-high table at the center of the room."

Mr. Johnson takes this all in, and then asks, "I assume also that you will want to be at full strength before proceeding?" Rebekka nods swift agreement after the question.

As the prince turns toward Demetrious, he says, "Well, son, looks like tonight is your lucky night. Have the crew set up one of the guest quarters to their specifications. Ramiel, see to our guests needs before they set to their task. Ladies, I do believe my mood tonight is picking up," he finishes with a bright, infectious grin.

[SD Anderson]

"One question, Highness." Jack says to the Prince before he leaves. "Drake's whereabouts last year around [period circa Villon's murder] could be important. Could anyone in your domain provide her with an alibi or establish she'd been out of town at that time?"

[Detritus]

"One question, Highness." Jack says to the Prince before he leaves. "Drake's whereabouts last year around [period circa Villon's murder] could be important. Could anyone in your domain provide her with an alibi or establish she'd been out of town at that time?"
Mr. Johnson replies, "Well, Sammy did leave town for a while after the hurricane, all of the Kindred outside of the Toreador clan left for a time. It was several months before she came back. It could've been as long as 8-9 months before anyone else in town knew she had returned. She could have been during that time."

[Detritus]

Rebekka's underlings feed off of Mr. Johnson's herd quickly in order to get the preparatory work underway as soon as possible. The PCs and Rebekka herself may feed at their leisure. A bit over half an hour after she left, Sarah returns to inform Rebekka that the room stands prepared for the working of the ward.

As Sarah leads everyone to the ritual room, Rebekka begins to explain about the ceremony. "I gather that this will be the first time many of you have seen Tremere at work during one of their Thaumaturgical rituals. Do not be alarmed at anything that happens during the warding ceremony.

"There will be open flame at the corners of the room, and a shrouded brazier within the thurible we will use to cense the circle. You must master your fear of the flame. I find that such mastery helps to center my thoughts; simply relax, and think of the flame burning away all anxiety and excess thoughts, leaving you free to proceed with your work tonight.

"Miss Danis, once we enter the circle, please give your sword to Merill, as he will need it for the final step in the definition of the ward's boundary.

"None of you will have to do anything other than gather your energies for the further task that lies beyond the setting of the ward."

[Detritus]

As you reach your destination, you enter into a tile-floored room that has been stripped of all furniture save for five tables. Four of the tables are approximately knee height and hold several fat, burning candles that act as the sole light source for the room. The fifth table comes just short of waist height, and is within a circle of twine, perhaps 8 feet in radius. The circle's ends, which lie between the northern and eastern compass points, are pointing outward from its center, as a stylized doorway. The table holds the silver bowl and aspergillum you saw Sarah pack into her duffel bag on the shore.

Merill and Thomas stand within the boundary of the twine, Thomas holding the thurible. The glow of a lit coal shines a dull orange out of its top. Dieter, standing outside the circle, holds the sword that Merill brought with him to Mr. Johnson's haven.

Sarah steps into the circle and beckons all the Kindred to come into its interior. After everyone but Dieter is inside, she folds the ends inward to complete the circle. Rebekka and Sarah go to the table, and Sarah picks up the aspergillum as Rebekka move to the northern quarter of the central table and places her silver dagger to the right of the bowl. Merill moves near to Jocelin as Dieter exits the room to act as door warden.

Turning to the PCs, Rebekka says, "The twine is but the physical perimeter of the ward. We will now begin the more esoteric definition of the circle."

[Detritus]

As Jocelin hands Merill her blade, Sarah begins to sprinkle water on the twine, starting in the west and heading towards the south. Thomas sets down a pair of tongs onto the center table and scoops a spoonful of incense into the thurible, which begins to smoke sweetly. As Sarah reaches the eastern compass point of the twine, Thomas begins to cense the circle in the west, following Sarah's circuit.

As Sarah reaches the nothern compass point of the circle, you hear Rebekka, still standing at the northern quadrant of the table, begin to recite the following verse, to your mild surprise:

"The Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green
pastures.

"He leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of
righteousness
for his name's sake.

"Yea, even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.

"Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil,
my cup overflows.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of
the LORD forever."

As Rebekka's recitation ends, Sarah has completed her circuit, and Merill takes his place in the west to begin his.

[Detritus]

With the pungent sweetness of the incense smoke still heavy on the air, you see a glowing white ribbon of energy issue forth from the tip of Jocelin's blade as Merill begins to trace the same path of his two companions. The ribbon goes to the floor and is a few inches high, but very thin. You watch with fascination as the blade traces out a glowing arc in the wake of Merill's path around the circle, hardly noticing as Thomas finishes his circuit and places the thurible on the eastern quadrant of the table.

Once an unbroken circle of energy surrounds the circle, Merill returns Jocelin's blade to her with a solemn bow before taking his position at the southern compass point of the circle.

"Now that the circle is defined, we will invoke the quarters and raise the ward. After that, Menachem may proceed with his task."

Having so informed the PCs of this, the Tremere turn outward at the compass points of the circle. Sarah, standing in the west, starts the invocation of the quarters by raising her outstretched arms in a sideways semicircle until her hands are directly overhead. Thus poised she calls out:

"In the name of night descending," lowering her arms in a westerly arc as she speaks until her hands are at her side, "do we call the mighty archangel Gabriel, the Herald. Carry our entreaty across the water, that we may find whom we seek this night."

Pivoting smartly until she faces inwards, Sarah approaches the table, takes the silver dagger in her right hand, and slices across her left palm in an exaggerated motion. After wetting the side of the blade with her blood, she heals her wound, picks up the aspergillum, and rinses her blood off the blade into the bowl.

"Fiat fiat fiat voluntas mea," she intones, breaking the solemnity of the moment with a wink in the PCs direction.

[Detritus]

Merill positions his arms so that his right hand points diagonally away from him towards the horizon, and his left arm lies across his body. His arms move across in a downward arc until the left points away and the right points across:

"In the name of night enfolding do we summon the mighty archangel Michael, Guardian of the Gate. Rend all obscuring veils with your fiery sword, that we may find whom we seek this night."

Employing the same pivot that Sarah used, Merill approaches the table from the south and cuts his palm in the same ritualized manner as did Sarah. After wetting the blade with his blood, he heals his wound and pours his blood off the blade into the bowl. The droplets of his blood burst briefly into flame before splashing into the bowl.

"Fiat fiat fiat voluntas mea."

[Detritus]

Thomas holds his arms at his side as he begins to speak. "In the name of night retreating," he says, raising his arms in an outward semicircle until they are directly over his head, "do we call the mighty archangel Rafael, the Healer. Lend us aid and succor, and may our call be borne swiftly on the winds, that we may find whom we seek this night."

Turning inwards, he approaches the table from the east. Once there, he scoops more incense into the thurible and then performs the same ritual cutting of his left palm. His blood on the dagger leaps upward and mingles with the incense smoke before going into the bowl.

"Fiat fiat fiat voluntas mea."

With her subordinates now all facing inwards, Rebekka raises her arms so that her right arm points diagonally upwards away from her body, and her left arm points diagonally across her face. She moves her arms from right to left over her head as she speaks.

"In the name of night returning do we summon the mighty archangel Uriel, Dark Lord of the Earth. Stay our return to the dust from whence we came, that we may find whom we seek this night."

After her inward turn, she pauses where her underlings did not, evidently steeling herself for... something. Approaching the table from the north, she picks up the dagger and then cuts herself with a much more vigorous stroke than did the other three Tremere. A most unceremonious splattering sound issues from the bowl.

"Fiat fiat fiat voluntas mea," she intones, before picking up the tongs and removing the glowing coal resting inside the thurible. You watch with dread fascination, The Beast squirming inside each of your breasts, as Rebekka uses the coal to cauterize the stump where her left pinky finger used to be before replacing the coal in the thurible.

Eight pairs of Kindred eyes remain transfixed on Rebekka's disfigured hand for several seconds before Sarah initiates the conclusion of the rite:

"We stand outside time, in a place not of earth. As our ancestors bade before us, we are joined together as one."

And then Rebekka:

"By water, fire, air, and earth are we now met. Let us regard the ancient ways. We shall not walk this path again. So be it."

As she concludes, raising her arms upward, the contents of the bowl incinerate as a shimmering dome of energy rises from the ribbon of light on the floor, and you sense that the same thing occurs beneath you as well.

"Gentlemen, Miss Danis, we have until sunrise. Caine himself could not breach this circle, physically. All stands in readiness."

[Parzival]

Menachem looks on in open suprise for a moment, but then regains his composure.
"The soonest begun, the soonest done, I suppose."

He lays down near the center of the circle, crosses his hands upon his chest, takes a deep breath, and...
slips the surly bonds of earth.

[SD Anderson]

Not really being part of the ceremonies, Jack checks the perimeter of the place. He figures Johnson's Brood provides their Sire plenty of security, but the opposition in this case has been very resourceful. Another set of eyes and ears can't hurt.

[Detritus]

Not really being part of the ceremonies, Jack checks the perimeter of the place. He figures Johnson's Brood provides their Sire plenty of security, but the opposition in this case has been very resourceful. Another set of eyes and ears can't hurt.
OOC - It had been my intention that the other PCs besides Menachem would actually conduct the interview. All the PCs are inside the warded circle. However, there is a way out of it...

IC - Merill asks Jocelin again for her katana in order to open a doorway in the ward from the inside.

[SD Anderson]

(ooc: if we are participants, Jack can't reconoiter...) or to paraphrase Gilda Radner "never Mind!"

[Detritus]

(ooc: if we are participants, Jack can't reconoiter...) or to paraphrase Gilda Radner "never Mind!"
(OOC - Given the timing, there actually would be time to reconnoiter. Based on the written works by which the ritual was influenced (i.e. ripped off from), cutting a door into the protective sphere from the inside is legit.

But, you really are on a boat out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, manned by an attentive and canny crew. There isn't that much to see, and plenty of time in which to see it...)

[Jocelin Danis]

Jocelin will happilly feed provided the dinner provided seems reasonably sinful sorts

She lets Merrill use her katana, and winces and if she wasnt undead would get rather greenish as Rebekka hacks off her finger

"I sure hope you're plan turns up an awful lot of use," she whispers to Jack after the finger hacking incident

[Detritus]

Once Menachem begins to Abandon his Earthly Form, Thomas and Merill move the table off to the edge of the ward. Menachem has gone deathly still, and the male Tremere linger near the table, then sit and begin to meditate. Rebekka looks a bit peaked as she sits, with assistance from Sarah, and begins slightly labored speech.

"It will be some time yet before Menachem makes the appointed rendezvous. I believe I will rest a bit," she says, as she lays down and goes as still as Menachem.

[SD Anderson]

"Anybody bring a deck of cards? I sure don't want to start a '99 bottles of Beer on the Wall' contest." Jack says.

[Detritus]

"Anybody bring a deck of cards? I sure don't want to start a '99 bottles of Beer on the Wall' contest." Jack says.
Sarah's lips quirk into a lopsided grin as she sits next to the PCs. "Turn around," she says, making swirling motions with her hands, "t... turn around."

Grimacing in mock chagrin, she says, "No? This is going to be a lot harder if you're all watching."

Sitting with her legs crossed, she places her empty hands with palms upturned on her knees. She murmurs an incantation, lips still creased in a faint smile, and then claps her hands together. As she parts them, she fans a deck of cards in her right hand.

"Who's up for some Texas Hold 'Em?"

[SD Anderson]

OOC: Putting reply on 'Hold'. First IC response ought to be the Brujah's. Not because the character has any particular gambling ability. It's just that this scene seems ideal for a Brujavian reply... ;)

[Jocelin Danis]

"At a time like this?" pauses a bit. "In fact, when better? Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."

Jocelin considers the cards. "Hey . . . think I could actually cut the deck with a katana? The expression must have started that way . . . "

[Detritus]

"At a time like this?" pauses a bit. "In fact, when better? Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."

Jocelin considers the cards. "Hey . . . think I could actually cut the deck with a katana? The expression must have started that way . . . "
"I'm sure you could, but when Mom wakes up," Sarah replies, nodding toward Rebekka, "she might not like it if we've been roughhousing."

Turning more serious, Sarah asks, "Your buddy there, is he going to be able to do this?"

[Jocelin Danis]

"Oh . . . . didn't think of that"

Jocelin glances at Menachem's still form. "I have complete faith he shall pull it off. Whether there is actually something to be learned . . . well. I really hoped so. I really didnt know this plan called for such valiant sacrifice"

[Detritus]

Jocelin glances at Menachem's still form. "I have complete faith he shall pull it off. Whether there is actually something to be learned . . . well. I really hoped so. I really didnt know this plan called for such valiant sacrifice"
"She knew," replies Sarah softly, waving the fanned cards in Rebekka's direction. "As soon as the Justicar asked, she had to have known. How could she not?"

After stacking the cards together and setting them down, Sarah begins to toy with the end of one of her purple locks. A shadow that has nothing to do with the dim lighting of the room crosses her face as she looks at Rebekka's stump.

"But she did it, and with barely a second thought. That's my Regent," Sarah says, the pride in her voice echoed by the glint in her eyes. "Can you truly appreciate what you've seen? She is magnificent, a master Adept. The flesh, it can grow back, though it's thirsty work, but mastering the fear of the flame... It wasn't idle encouragement, what she said on our way down here tonight.

"I hope tonight's work bears fruit, I truly do, but no matter what happens, remember what she did tonight. Just... don't spread the word too far, we Tremere have a reputation to maintain," she finishes, taking the lock of hair and drawing it across her upper lip, her right hand twirling its end.

[SD Anderson]

"At a time like this?" pauses a bit. "In fact, when better? Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."

Jocelin considers the cards. "Hey . . . think I could actually cut the deck with a katana? The expression must have started that way . . . "

"Yeah, but that was back in the days when cards were on ivory plaques." Jacks says. "Besides, your katana is ahm, occupied at present."

"I think Texas Hold'em is overrated. Blackjack?"

[Detritus]

"I think Texas Hold'em is overrated. Blackjack?"
"You a card counter? I'm not conjuring another 5 decks and a shoe, not tonight. Maybe I should deal," says Sarah, as she taps the deck and then produces the Ace of Spades.

[SD Anderson]

"Well if you want proper equipment, we need TV cameras to look at everyone's hole cards in Texas Hold'em. "

"No Cribbage board, so that's out. I don't care for vodka martinis, shaken not stirred, so Baccarat is out... Anyone got suggestions before we end up playing Go Fish!?"

[Jocelin Danis]

"We don't have enough cards for books and runs . . . . . we could play hearts?"

[Detritus]

"Well if you want proper equipment, we need TV cameras to look at everyone's hole cards in Texas Hold'em. "

"No Cribbage board, so that's out. I don't care for vodka martinis, shaken not stirred, so Baccarat is out... Anyone got suggestions before we end up playing Go Fish!?"
"Hearts? I guess that's a good 3-player game. I don't think any of the other boys are going to play."

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

Yeah, let's say Hearts. Jack and Sarah split the hands pretty evenly; Jocelin doesn't seem to be having much luck tonight. About an hour into the game, Jocelin really starts to get the upper hand for the first time, just as the cards disappear.

"What can you do?" says Sarah with a shrug, "sometimes those are the breaks."

Shortly thereafter, Rebekka begins to stir even as Menachem maintains a deathly stillness near the ward's center.

"The time of the rendezvous draws near," she says, sitting up and idly rubbing her pinky stump. Rebekka moves near Menachem's head, which now lies within easy reach of her right hand. The other Tremere array themselves so that they are all within arm's length of their leader.

"I do not believe physical contact will be necessary," says Rebekka, "but you still may want to be near Menachem's body when the time comes."

[Detritus]

Shortly after Rebekka's last words, something on her person starts to emit a beeping sound.

"Internal chronometer," says Sarah to Jocelin, tapping her nose three times with her right index finger. Rebekka gives Sarah a brief but piercing stare as she turns off her wristwatch alarm.

"Well, maybe it's an external chronometer," Sarah says a bit more meekly while Rebekka starts to gather her concentration in earnest.

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

OOC - I've just PM'ed Parz about what Menachem wants to do as Rebekka concentrates, and after I get a reply we'll proceed with the interview.

[Detritus]

Rebekka breaks her concentration after a few minutes, saying, "The meeting looms imminent. I recommend that you school your minds to stillness for when Menachem makes mental contact, so as to minimize the possibility of confusion that might arise from the joining of so many sets of thoughts. He will be occupied with maintaining the mental link between New Orleans and Marseilles, so it will fall to you to ask the questions.

"This procedure is energy consuming in the extreme. My associates and I will supply the strength for the beginning of the interview. I should hope that the interview will conclude in the quarter hour's worth of time we can supply, but if not, Menachem will be left to his own resources to extend the interview.

"In fact, we will have to supply him with strength at the outset and every fifth minute thereafter. One of you should signal when he requires more energy, as he will be unable to do so himself. Whomever he contacts first should signal when it has happened, in addition to the signals that might be needed during the course of the interview. He should be able to so inform you of his need, but will be unable to do anything more than that, unless I have gone far astray in my surmise."

Menachem contacts Leo first, who then signals that contact has been made. Jack and Jocelin follow Leo into the mental link. When you have all joined in Menachem's mind, you sense the sluggish but not quite dormant mind of the torporous Mme. Desmoulins. Beneath this first impression, you also sense an undertone of Menachem's passive but potent intellect holding the conduit between you and the mademoiselle open.

[SD Anderson]

"This procedure is energy consuming in the extreme. My associates and I will supply the strength for the beginning of the interview. I should hope that the interview will conclude in the quarter hour's worth of time we can supply, but if not, Menachem will be left to his own resources to extend the interview.

"In fact, we will have to supply him with strength at the outset and every fifth minute thereafter. One of you should signal when he requires more energy, as he will be unable to do so himself. Whomever he contacts first should signal when it has happened, in addition to the signals that might be needed during the course of the interview. He should be able to so inform you of his need, but will be unable to do anything more than that, unless I have gone far astray in my surmise."



"How about energy from us?" Jack asks. "Folks say I don't have much taste, which helps me down plastic bottled blood." And smiles to make sure his little joke while likely very little indeed was a joke. "What I want to know is if we can burn some blood to aid Menachem or any of you, then replenish." He adds and taps his sports bottle.

[Detritus]

"I do not believe that you will be able to contribute your strength, unless you have arcane talents, that is, but it should be possible for you to feed Menachem with any blood you have, held either in containers or within your body. You might want to ask him, however, before pouring any of your blood down his throat; he should be able to manage a simple yes or no if the question is put to him."

OOC - No Lend ST = no lending ST to Menachem. If you sit him up you can essentially feed him a bottle; I'll rule that a swallowing reflex takes hold if you put some blood in his mouth and then close it.

[Parzival]

Ask.
Questions.
I.
Am.
Busy.

[SD Anderson]

"I do not believe that you will be able to contribute your strength, unless you have arcane talents, that is, but it should be possible for you to feed Menachem with any blood you have, held either in containers or within your body. You might want to ask him, however, before pouring any of your blood down his throat; he should be able to manage a simple yes or no if the question is put to him."




"Feeding him MY blood probably would complicate matters. I may be the earliest generation of the four of us."

[Huxley]

Leo remains largely silent and compliant during the proceedings (funny what happens when your OOC away from the internet), and awaits the interview process. As soon as the conduit is open, he begins to speak(think?) to Desmoulins.

"Mademoiselle, I'm sorry, but I must be blunt, for we haven't much time. We are investigating a diabolerist, and it has come to our attention that your going into torpor may be connected. Why have you gone into torpor, and what do you know of Delbert and a Samantha Drake?"

[Detritus]

"Mademoiselle, I'm sorry, but I must be blunt, for we haven't much time. We are investigating a diabolerist, and it has come to our attention that your going into torpor may be connected. Why have you gone into torpor, and what do you know of Delbert and a Samantha Drake?"
"Delbert? Delbert, is that you? Where have you been, love?"

[SD Anderson]

Damn, she's sleepy headed... Jack thinks.

"Begging your pardon ma'am. We are not your Delbert, but we have questions about him. If you can help us we might be able to give Delbert some peace." he says.

"You are sleeping, ma'am. In Torpor to be precise. We need to know what you know about Delbert." Can you help us?

[Detritus]

Damn, she's sleepy headed... Jack thinks.

"Begging your pardon ma'am. We are not your Delbert, but we have questions about him. If you can help us we might be able to give Delbert some peace." he says.

"You are sleeping, ma'am. In Torpor to be precise. We need to know what you know about Delbert." Can you help us?
"Torpor? I?"

Some ponderous and not quite coherent cogitation follows...

"Delbert, where is he?"

And then,

"Who are YOU?!"

[SD Anderson]

"Torpor? I?"

Some ponderous and not quite coherent cogitation follows...

"Delbert, where is he?"

And then,

"Who are YOU?!"

"Ma'am, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but... he was attacked and destroyed. We are investigators for both the Malkavian Justicar and the Prince of Dallas. We have strong reason to believe his murder was part of a chain of murders and that this chain has more victims attached to it if we do not catch the killer."

"If there is anything you can tell us about Delbert's activities and those of any vampires he may have encountered recently, it may help us stop his killer."

[Detritus]

"Delbert... gone? No..."

All present feel the gears of a mind long in denial grinding slowly to retrieve unwanted memories ruthlessly suppressed.

Concern... as the absence of the semi-reclusive Delbert stretches from days to weeks...

...Concern growing to worry, as weeks become months...

...A sense of foreboding, as you approach Delbert's isolated estate with no hint whatsoever of challenge...

...A flash of impotent rage upon seeing the debased form of Delbert's inert husk...

...A desperate struggle to contain the Frenzy about to overtake you, one that you win only at the cost of being overwhelmed by heartbreaking grief...

...A numb appraisal of Delbert's personal effects, hoping against hope to find some psychic trace of Delbert's attacker...

...Assailed by sorrow, the defense of denial already forming, you perceive a gloating presence, a vague resemblance with someone you cannot place, lording over Delbert's demise...

...You barely reach your own haven before blessed oblivion shields you from a truth too terrible to contemplate...

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

These impressions surge into your minds in the blink of an eye, once the floodgates of memory open.

(OOC - Can the PCs all give me a Fright Check roll?)

[SD Anderson]

OOC: Failed by two. Assuming you'll want a Fright check table roll next,

NOW I roll spectacularly... Five.

I don't know if you're going to use the Fright Check table or a modified version of it, so I don't know if Jack's stunned for a couple of turns or something else.

[Detritus]

OOC: Failed by two. Assuming you'll want a Fright check table roll next,

NOW I roll spectacularly... Five.

I don't know if you're going to use the Fright Check table or a modified version of it, so I don't know if Jack's stunned for a couple of turns or something else.
For this I'll just use the regular FC table, so Jack snaps out of his funk after a couple of seconds. He also loses contact with the Menachem-Lucille link for the remainder of this first application of Auspex 4, but if the interview lasts for more than 5 minutes, he can link back in on the second casting of Auspex 4.

EDIT -- I'll also roll Menachem's FC roll...

He passed by 2, so the whole thing doesn't collapse... ;)

[Detritus]

OK, Jack and Leo get knocked out of the mental link based on the intensity of the recollections, Jocelin and Menachem ride out the storm a little better and are still in the link with Lucille. Jack is just dazed for a couple of seconds, but Leo remains stunned for more like 15-20 seconds, and he starts sweating blood. He'll be down a blood point after this, and I'm also going to rule he'll be down 3 Fatigue because of how badly wrenching the experience was to him.

I'll further rule that 60 seconds have elapsed per question and answer. There's still two minutes left in the first mind link. None of you got much of a look at the gloating presence the first time around, but there's still some time to try to bring that memory to the forefront of Mme. Desmoulins's mind, if you wish. Leo and Jack can come back in if they want if the interview gets extended past the first five minutes.

Menachem can be a little more communicative with Jocelin since he only has two minds to juggle, but Jocelin will still have to ask further questions...

[Detritus]

Back In Character...

After the flash of recollection from Lucille, Jack, Leo, and Jocelin all reel from the sudden onslaught of emotion. Menachem exerts some scholarly mental discipline to maintain the link to Lucille, and Jocelin manages to stay a part of the link as well.

Jack and Leo aren't as lucky. Both are stunned as the drop out of the link. Jack recovers in a couple of seconds, but Leo remains stunned for perhaps another 15 seconds. Towards the end of this time, little red droplets start to appear on his brow, and as he begins to come to, he starts shaking in reaction.

"What the hell..." says Thomas as he sees Leo's reaction. "What happened out there?"

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin shudders a bit then turns to Menachem, "Whoa . . . that's like intense . . bonjour Mademoisselle Desmoulins, Jack will be taking a break, uh . . . mystical jet lag. I am Jocelin Danis, Blue Hurricane of New Orleans."

"So then, I need to know anything you know on the slayer of Delbert, that I might wreak divine vengeance in his and His name. Didst she have this countenance?" tries to envision Samantha Drake

[Detritus]

Jocelin shudders a bit then turns to Menachem, "Whoa . . . that's like intense . . bonjour Mademoisselle Desmoulins, Jack will be taking a break, uh . . . mystical jet lag. I am Jocelin Danis, Blue Hurricane of New Orleans."

"So then, I need to know anything you know on the slayer of Delbert, that I might wreak divine vengeance in his and His name. Didst she have this countenance?" tries to envision Samantha Drake
Recognition comes slowly for the Mme., but eventually she thinks, "Samantha? No... She was always such a lovely girl. And she lives so far away..."

You can examine Lucille's recollection of the impression of Delbert's attacker a bit more at your leisure. There is some resemblance -- both are dark-haired and cut a nice figure, but the facial features in the recollection are pretty indistinct, and don't really match either your or the Mme's memory of Samantha's face.

[Huxley]

"What the hell..." says Thomas as he sees Leo's reaction. "What happened out there?"

After his shaking dies down, and he feels the pain subside, Leo wipes the blood from his forehead and flings it onto the ground. Still shaken from the experience, turning it over in his head, he looks at Thomas, "Mental anguish. . . that's really all I can say at this point. . .". Leo rests, waiting until his head stops throbbing and his muscles are fully under his control before attempting to reconnect to the mind link.

[SD Anderson]

Back In Character...

After the flash of recollection from Lucille, Jack, Leo, and Jocelin all reel from the sudden onslaught of emotion. Menachem exerts some scholarly mental discipline to maintain the link to Lucille, and Jocelin manages to stay a part of the link as well.

Jack and Leo aren't as lucky. Both are stunned as the drop out of the link. Jack recovers in a couple of seconds, but Leo remains stunned for perhaps another 15 seconds. Towards the end of this time, little red droplets start to appear on his brow, and as he begins to come to, he starts shaking in reaction.

"What the hell..." says Thomas as he sees Leo's reaction. "What happened out there?"

Jack shakes his head "We got the kibosh. She'd managed to forget about finding Delbert's body as it was. It was often pretty bad as a cop when I broke the news to grieving relatives. Being hooked into those emotions is one helluva rollercoaster ride."

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin thinks on Lucian, "What do you know of this man? Was he involved at all?" pictures and describes Lucian

[Detritus]

Jocelin thinks on Lucian, "What do you know of this man? Was he involved at all?" pictures and describes Lucian
This question elicits nothing more than blank negation. The name and the image are meaningless to Lucille. You're pretty sure the attacker was female, and acted alone, so far as you can tell.

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

Parz -- Can you give me a Psychology roll for Menachem?

[Detritus]

Parz -- Can you give me a Psychology roll for Menachem?
OK, this doesn't really turn up anything specific. The whole operation seems a bit off-kilter to Menachem, but he can't really tell if it's because of contacting so many minds in such a short time span, and over such great distances, or because of the Mme's mental turmoil, or something else.

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

Executive Summary to date:

Leo is down 1 Blood Point and 3 Fatigue.

Menachem is down 2 Blood Points, but at full fatigue after the Tremere have Lent him some ST. There needs to be an executive decision about whether to extend the interview with Lucille or not.

Jocelin is presently in the mental link with Menachem and Lucille. Jack and Leo can rejoin at a cost of 2 extra fatigue per person beyond the normal 8 that it costs to activate Auspex 4. Alternatively, the present link can be maintained for 8 fatigue, or can be allowed to lapse. The Tremere are still standing by for whatever Fatigue needs are required.

Delbert's attacker was a female, evidently acting alone, roughly matching Samantha Drake's build and hair color, but facial details don't really match up.

So -- Continue the interview, yes or no?

[SD Anderson]

OOC: has the incremental line been passed yet. AFAIK, Leo and Jack CANNOT yet reengage in the questioning.

[Detritus]

OOC: has the incremental line been passed yet. AFAIK, Leo and Jack CANNOT yet reengage in the questioning.
After Jocelin's question about Lucian, the initial mind link is about to expire. If Menachem re-casts Unveil the Shrouded Mind, he can bring Leo and Jack back into the link.

[Parzival]

Do you know what Delbert was working on prior to this unfortunate event?

(I think I'll let it lapse. We've gotten some relevant information, but I don't think we'll get too much more.)

[Detritus]

Do you know what Delbert was working on prior to this unfortunate event?

(I think I'll let it lapse. We've gotten some relevant information, but I don't think we'll get too much more.)
As the mental link begins to dissolve, you get the sense that Delbert had more or less dropped out of Kindred society in Marseilles, except for paying calls to and being paid calls by Lucille.

(I've got a PM I need to send to Parz, and then we'll see what happens.)

[Detritus]

OK, executive decision made -- the link lapses after Menachem's last-second question. He informs Jocelin of his intent to travel astrally back across the Atlantic and spend the remainder of his out-of-body time looking for Samantha once he gets back to New Orleans. Her main haven is located at 2000 Farmington Road, on the outskirts of the metro New Orleans area, which info we'll assume that the PCs got from Mr. Johnson off-screen.

Once Jocelin emerges from the link, Rebekka will inquire a bit distractedly whether the PCs found all the information they needed, absently wiggling the three remaining fingers on her left hand.

[SD Anderson]

OK, executive decision made -- the link lapses after Menachem's last-second question. He informs Jocelin of his intent to travel astrally back across the Atlantic and spend the remainder of his out-of-body time looking for Samantha once he gets back to New Orleans. Her main haven is located at 2000 Farmington Road, on the outskirts of the metro New Orleans area, which info we'll assume that the PCs got from Mr. Johnson off-screen.

Once Jocelin emerges from the link, Rebekka will inquire a bit distractedly whether the PCs found all the information they needed, absently wiggling the three remaining fingers on her left hand.

"Not really." Jack says. "She and Delbert knew Drake. We don't know what the relationship was. Goes to motive, as the shysters put it. Knowing why she's doing this could give us an edge in stopping her."

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin shakes a bit as she comes out. "Ah! Well, was most interesting. We know Samantha Drake and the assailant are the same build and hair color, but the faces dont precisely match, and Mademoisselle Desmoulins thought she was a nice girl. And that Lucian is a complete unknown to her."

[Detritus]

"Not really." Jack says. "She and Delbert knew Drake. We don't know what the relationship was. Goes to motive, as the shysters put it. Why she's doing this could give us an edge in stopping her."
"Rumors persist that if you work your way far enough back through your lineage, you can regain your Humanity," Thomas offers.

[SD Anderson]

"Rumors persist that if you work your way far enough back through your lineage, you can regain your Humanity," Thomas offers.

"Then she' becomes powerless then very shortly thereafter, dead for putting a lot of powerful undead through this grief. Moron." Jack intones. "Let's see what we can do to speed up her death wish, shall we?"

[Detritus]

"Then she' becomes powerless then very shortly thereafter, dead for putting a lot of powerful undead through this grief. Moron." Jack intones. "Let's see what we can do to speed up her death wish, shall we?"
"Nobody said that Malkavians are the most rational of Kindred," replies Thomas. "What other motive could there be, though? If you're gunning for a Justicar, why alert him to that fact by working your way up one of his lines of descendants? If it is Miss Drake doing this, does she really believe no one will figure out what's going on?"

[SD Anderson]

"She doesn't care if anyone figures it out." Jack says. "In her mind, at least, she's convinced regaining her life is worth it."

"Is there an angle there I'm missing?" he adds a moment later. "Could this be sort of a Mummy like resurrection for her? That is she will stay alive, reincarnate a few decades or centuries after she's killed?"

"Or, her idea of what Golconda is?"

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin, "I still like my split personality theory, Loco Nocturnus!"

[Huxley]

"I think the best course of action is to watch Drake without her knowledge. I don't see enough evidence to accuse her of anything, yet. If she thinks she is alone, perhaps something will slip. We can search her quarters. Find anything besides the sketchy memories of a love sick vampire in torpor."

[Detritus]

"Or, her idea of what Golconda is?"
"Golconda through diablerie?!" asks an incredulous Thomas. "That's crazy even for a Malk."

Jocelin, "I still like my split personality theory, Loco Nocturnus!"
"Almost anything is possible concering the derangements of Malkavians," replies Rebekka, "but we are talking about murders that have happened on both sides of the Atlantic. Could someone with multiple personalities retain the focus to do something like this?"

"I think the best course of action is to watch Drake without her knowledge. I don't see enough evidence to accuse her of anything, yet. If she thinks she is alone, perhaps something will slip. We can search her quarters. Find anything besides the sketchy memories of a love sick vampire in torpor."
"And hope that she isn't watching you," says Merill.

[SD Anderson]

"I think the best course of action is to watch Drake without her knowledge. I don't see enough evidence to accuse her of anything, yet. If she thinks she is alone, perhaps something will slip. We can search her quarters. Find anything besides the sketchy memories of a love sick vampire in torpor."


"If she's anywhere to be watched, that is. Assuming for the moment she's our principal in this, her pretext to get Mr. Walsh down here gives her a good excuse not to be found prior to his arrival."

[SD Anderson]

"Golconda through diablerie?!" asks an incredulous Thomas. "That's crazy even for a Malk."




The insane do not kill randomly or just to kill. That's the berserker's role. The insane kill for reasons they understand and find fully justify their deeds. There are death cults and murder cults among the mages. Drake could well be influenced by some of those philosophies or hold that blood cleanses sins and that the blood that created her unlife is it's cure."

"Facts don't have to matter so long as she is convinced her beliefs hold truth. Personally I think she wasted the existences of two respectable members of our community. I don't expect my opinion to stop her hwever. That's what my gun, my fists and my fangs are for."

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin considers then turns to Jack. "Hey, Jack . . . you kept talking about forensics and stuff. Couldn't we just ask her to take a polygraph?"

[Huxley]

"And hope that she isn't watching you"
[QUOTE=SD Anderson;63436]"If she's anywhere to be watched, that is. Assuming for the moment she's our principal in this, her pretext to get Mr. Walsh down here gives her a good excuse not to be found prior to his arrival."

"True enough, to both of you. But, we can do little about the former, as far as I know, and I suspect that Menacham can help us with the latter...?"

[Detritus]

"The insane do not kill randomly or just to kill. That's the berserker's role. The insane kill for reasons they understand and find fully justify their deeds. There are death cults and murder cults among the mages. Drake could well be influenced by some of those philosophies or hold that blood cleanses sins and that the blood that created her unlife is it's cure.

"Facts don't have to matter so long as she is convinced her beliefs hold truth. Personally I think she wasted the existences of two respectable members of our community. I don't expect my opinion to stop her hwever. That's what my gun, my fists and my fangs are for."
"You could be right about that," concedes Thomas. "Insanity no doubt has an internal logic all its own, and I suppose that the attempt to regain one's mortality might just be an alternate route through which one pursues Golconda." Thomas becomes a bit distant as he ponders this last exchange.

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

OOC Notes - Vampires lack a pulse and the galvanic skin response, so no dice on a biomechanical polygraph test.

Also, the conscious PCs are free to continue their discussion for as long as they like, but I'm going to start describing Menachem's astral visit to Samantha's haven in a little bit. Since he won a Quick Contest of wills, I am freed to narrate here instead of by PM. ;)

[SD Anderson]

Jocelin considers then turns to Jack. "Hey, Jack . . . you kept talking about forensics and stuff. Couldn't we just ask her to take a polygraph?"

"You ever beat a lie detector test to get a job?" Jack asks.

"Lie detection and biofeedback are mutually exclusive concepts. One reason you ask a suspect to volunteer for one is that maybe you'll get some results you can use to make them change their stories."

"Beside, vampires don't have heartbeats. Even if the Lie Detector wasn't crap to begin with, we're immune."

[Detritus]

As Menachem approaches Miss Drake's residence, a two-story mansion located in a relatively secluded, semi-exurbish part of the greater NO metro area, he finds that it looks abadoned. No light can be seen from outside the structure, and in fact all the windows appear to be shuttered.

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

Two questions for Menachem - Where do you want to start exploring the mansion, and do you want to do any buffing before going in?

[Parzival]

I want to circle the mansion once and note the exits. Then (assuming being astral lets me move in 3-d as well as being no-corpreal) I want to enter through the roof.

Yes--Enhanced senses, just before entering.

[Detritus]

I want to circle the mansion once and note the exits. Then (assuming being astral lets me move in 3-d as well as being no-corpreal) I want to enter through the roof.

Yes--Enhanced senses, just before entering.
There's the main entrance, a relatively large one in the back, and then another smaller one near one of the rear corners of the building, with what looks like cellar doors next to this entrance as well.

There isn't much in the way of anything stored in the attic. Is there anything in particular you want to look for on the second floor?

[Parzival]

<grin> A CD labeled "extremely incriminating evidence".

People, souveneirs from other lands and cities, and books. But if something else happens to catch my eye...

[Detritus]

There are several bedrooms on the second floor that look like they haven't been used in some time, although they look spotlessly kept to the best of your ability to tell. They are all tightly shuttered against daylight, and there isn't much of interest, a simple bunk and lighting fixtures, and not too much else. The floor appears to be abandoned.

After a few smaller bedrooms, you encounter the master bedroom at one end of the floor. The room is larger, and has a queen size canopied bed that is neatly made against the left wall of the room as seen from the door. Across from the door are a set of shuttered windows, and a couple of end tables with lamps are placed near the bed. Closed sliding doors shield what look to be a large walk-in closet on the same wall as the bedroom's door, near the canopied bed.

As you head over to the more interesting side of the room, you hear a voice come from the bare right wall, somewhat above your head.

"A guest has come calling, and the hostess of the manor is nowhere to be found," announces none other than the lovely and charming Samantha Drake. "Where are my manners?" she says, as she finishes her descent to the floor.

[Parzival]

(OK, that's just spooky.)

Good evening. <bows> My name is Menachem Cohen, and I'm enchanted to finally meet you.

[Detritus]

(OK, that's just spooky.)
Behold, the awesome power of Auspex! :D

Good evening. <bows> My name is Menachem Cohen, and I'm enchanted to finally meet you.
"The pleasure is all mine, no doubt. Samantha Drake, as you seem to know already. To what do I owe the honor of this visit? Are you... from Dallas?"

[Parzival]

Yes, ma'am, I am.
I was pursuing some related periphrial investigations, and decided to drop by while I had the opportunity. I do hope you'll pardon the intrusion.

[Detritus]

Yes, ma'am, I am.
I was pursuing some related periphrial investigations, and decided to drop by while I had the opportunity. I do hope you'll pardon the intrusion.
"It isn't as much of an intrusion as it might have been, under more normal circumstances. You understand, after the incident," Samantha says, lowering her voice at the word incident, "I felt it was safer to relocate temporarily. There's not much to find here at the moment, as you'll no doubt confirm," she says with a warm smile.

She thinks for a moment, and then asks, "You have other... official business in New Orleans? Or, are you even here, physically? This isn't the usual sort of visit, after all..." Samantha trails off at this, looking faintly expectant.

[Parzival]

I just arrived, and am doing a bit of preliminary groundwork for the Justicar. Can you tell me more about the incident? Everything I've been told has been infuriatingly vague.

[Detritus]

I just arrived, and am doing a bit of preliminary groundwork for the Justicar. Can you tell me more about the incident? Everything I've been told has been infuriatingly vague.
"I'm not surprised of the vagueness your investigation has turned up so far. That's how cover-ups work after all. We must all of us protect ourselves as best we can."

At this statement, Samantha's eyes turn into pools of quicksilver. For the briefest instant, Menachem feels something suggestive of mind-to-mind contact tickle his awareness before he is able to avert his eyes.

"You see?" she says calmly at Menachem's reaction. "The elder has the potential to exert enormous influence over the childe. Oh, I've been around longer than Demetrious, I won't deny that, of course, but he is the Get of a Prince, and very powerful because of this. It was only barest good fortune that I was able to react in a similar manner to his attack as you did for my demonstration."

The intensity that built during this latest monologue abates as Samantha reverts to the charming hostess.

"But these are all elementary considerations, aren't they?" she continues with another dazzling smile. "In brief, following my return to New Orleans after the storm, I began to exert the hunting rights ceded to me at the Port Authority. It is an area that Demetrious has had his eye on ever since Mr. Johnson sired him, and I think he suffered great disappointment when I returned. That led to his attack on me."

[Parzival]

Could you tell me about the attack itself, and the events leading up to it?

[Detritus]

"My testimony, it will not be discounted because of its private and somewhat unusual circumstances?" Samantha replies, a bit cagy in her response. "After all, there's a decent chance I could just implant whatever memory I wanted to, if there aren't any witnesses," she continues archly.

"Not that I would dream of doing such a ghastly thing, of course. We're on the same side on this one, and I believe the Justicar has always been fair in adjucating matters concerning his clan.

"Suffice to say for now that with so many kine displaced, resources are strained, even with a segment of the old Kindred structure relocated. The Port Authority is an attractive hunting ground, as it always sees its share of traffic. Demetrious was envious of my station, and moved to eliminate me by use of Dominate.

"For my own ease of mind, however, I would prefer to give a more detailed account to more than one person. I plan on bringing in a disinterested witness for my own sake. I would suggest you do the same. Shall we meet here again, say three nights hence?

"And the manor is so gloomy now. This is no way to treat with such important guests. Better to have the full conversation with the manor in all its illuminated glory. Feel free to continue looking around tonight, if you wish, although I assure you once again that there isn't much to be found here while I'm away," she concludes before abruptly vanishing from sight.

[Parzival]

(Darn it, I was going to do the dissappearing trick! But I wasn't done yet.)

I'm going to continue snooping around a bit.
I think she was stalling me to let someone or something escape. If she doesn't stay at the mansion, she couldn't have sensed me via Auspex. Something or someone must have warned her. I'm going to look for evidence of that. (And be prepared for the other possibility, that she was stalling me so an ambush could be set up. At the first sign of trouble, I'm pulling the dissappearing trick.)

Did I notice anything at all unusual/interesting about her aura at any point?
Do I have any idea what happened when her eyes went quicksilver?
Do I have any idea how she could implant memories?

[Detritus]

I'm going to continue snooping around a bit.
You've got about half an hour left in astral form.

Your Enhanced Senses have worn off at this point. You're down to 4 Fatigue. Each casting of Enhanced Senses will allow you to explore one floor of the mansion, but you'd have to spend another blood point to have them operative for both the first floor and the cellar, if you want that.

I think she was stalling me to let someone or something escape. If she doesn't stay at the mansion, she couldn't have sensed me via Auspex. Something or someone must have warned her. I'm going to look for evidence of that. (And be prepared for the other possibility, that she was stalling me so an ambush could be set up. At the first sign of trouble, I'm pulling the dissappearing trick.)
You haven't seen anything yet that would serve as a warning beacon, however you do recall to mind that it's possible that Samantha is in league with a renegade Tremere. Who has any idea what Thaumaturgy can do? ;)

Did I notice anything at all unusual/interesting about her aura at any point?
Her aura does not change much during the discussion. In retrospect, in the gloaming of the astral plane, it's possible that "suspicion" (dark blue color) might be confused with the black veins of a diabolist, but you've never really seen a diabolist's aura, so you can't be sure, especially in the astral dimness/paleness.

Do I have any idea what happened when her eyes went quicksilver?
Do I have any idea how she could implant memories?
You're pretty sure that was a demonstration of Dominate, see The Forgetful Mind (level 3 Dominate power) for specifics on memory alteration.

[SD Anderson]

Jack looks apologetically at Rebekah. "Didn't get all I hoped I might have gotten. You paid a pretty hefty price for what little we got. 'Sorry' seems wholly inadequate a word."

[Detritus]

Jack looks apologetically at Rebekah. "Didn't get all I hoped I might have gotten. You paid a pretty hefty price for what little we got. 'Sorry' seems wholly inadequate a word."
"I thank you for your concern, it is very kind of you. The wound is not permanent, but it will take some effort to heal. Yes," Rebekka says, smiling faintly, "this is not the first time I have performed this ritual, nor will it be the last.

"Let us wait for whatever else Menachem may be learning, even now, before we conclude whether our efforts were worth the payoff."

[Parzival]

I'll spend the blood point. If there's a threat, I want to be ready for it.

[Detritus]

The first floor is abandoned. There is a large parlor with a fireplace (and Menachem would've seen the chimney on his way in, but I just forgot to mention it before) on the side opposite the master bedroom. There's also a largish living room and dining room, and a fairly primitive kitchen connected to the dining room. The stairway leads into an entryway that divides the parlor from the living room.

The basement is similarly abandoned. There's a 3-room fallout shelter, complete with fairly ancient canned goods that never got cleared out after Miss Drake took up residence here. One of the shelter's rooms contains pull-out bunks for 12. There's also a bare-walled room with a slightly concave floor; it's pretty obviously a larder.

No sign of anyone there, or anything that's obviously a beacon or an alarm.

[Parzival]

My turn to pull the disappearing trick, I guess. <poof>

[Detritus]

My turn to pull the disappearing trick, I guess. <poof>
Your physical body stirs for the first time in nearly 5 hours, joints somewhat stiff after the long period of inactivity. All eyes turn in your direction as you shake the rust off...

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin looks down at Menachem as he starts to move again. "Bonjour Monsieur Menachem, how was France?"

[Parzival]

I didn't get to see much of it, I'm afraid. You were there for much of what transpired, so I'm sure you've already updated everyone.

But on the way back, I did meet the formidible Miss Drake. She's not staying at her mansion, but somehow still knew when I arrived, and met me there. She was less than completely honest with me, and contridicted her own story on at least one notable point.
She is obviously hiding something, but I don't think she's a diabolarist. I think her unknown sire is, and she's blood-bound in her sire's service.

Menachem stands up and stretches. Then he takes the opportunity to slake his thirst a bit from the container of blood he brought with him.

[Detritus]

But on the way back, I did meet the formidible Miss Drake. She's not staying at her mansion, but somehow still knew when I arrived, and met me there. She was less than completely honest with me, and contridicted her own story on at least one notable point.
She is obviously hiding something, but I don't think she's a diabolarist. I think her unknown sire is, and she's blood-bound in her sire's service.
"Contradicted her own story? How so?" asks Rebekka. "This could be significant."

(OOC - I'm pretty sure she didn't, if I've pegged the suspect phrasing properly, but we'll RP it out...)

Menachem stands up and stretches. Then he takes the opportunity to slake his thirst a bit from the container of blood he brought with him.
(OOC - How big is the bottle/how full was it?)

[Parzival]

She stated that the "incident" took place in private, and then stated she would be bringing a "disinterested witness" to the proceedings with the Justicar.

She talked of being able to implant memories, so this "witness" might not be a major threat. But it also might be.

OOC: One pint/unit of blood. I'd started taking a sip, but Rebecca suggested I save it.

[Kalzazz]

"If its in private and theres a witness, then its quite likely my multiple personality theory!"

"But even if it isnt and there really are the two of them, what is there to worry? I couldst send them to there eternal reward so fast theyd be gone before the dust of there bodies hit the floor. And there will be two of them, the four of us, the Justicar, Demetrious Slater and his party . . . surely she cant expect to prevail in that sort of battle royale?"

[Detritus]

She stated that the "incident" took place in private, and then stated she would be bringing a "disinterested witness" to the proceedings with the Justicar.

She talked of being able to implant memories, so this "witness" might not be a major threat. But it also might be.
(OOC - Well, it wasn't what I thought, but in case it wasn't clear from the context, Samantha was talking about wanting to give detailed testimony in front of multiple witnesses, not that she was bring a witness from the incident. That's why she suggested that you follow her example right after she mentioned her witness -- why would she think that you had access to a witness to the incident?)

OOC: One pint/unit of blood. I'd started taking a sip, but Rebecca suggested I save it.
(OOC - OK, that's +1 to Menachem's blood pool, then; he's two below full.)

[SD Anderson]

I didn't get to see much of it, I'm afraid. You were there for much of what transpired, so I'm sure you've already updated everyone.

But on the way back, I did meet the formidible Miss Drake. She's not staying at her mansion, but somehow still knew when I arrived, and met me there. She was less than completely honest with me, and contridicted her own story on at least one notable point.
She is obviously hiding something, but I don't think she's a diabolarist. I think her unknown sire is, and she's blood-bound in her sire's service.

Menachem stands up and stretches. Then he takes the opportunity to slake his thirst a bit from the container of blood he brought with him.


"What was the contradiction?" Jack asks.

<reply>

"An observation was made here after Leo and I got booted back to reality."

"Legend has it a vampire can regain humanity by killing off the line of Sires. I assume you don't actually have to work back to Cain. This brings up the subject of the killer's generation, both current and original. If Drake, his presumed Childe by your theory is 'formidable', we have an interesting paradox."

"If the theory is true, Drake is not a diablerist and thus is at her original generation. Her sire, the killer is at least two generations younger now. What generation would you estimate she's at?"

"Let's plug in numbers. Leo what's your boss' generation? We can backtrack from there. By Meanachem's theory she should be three or more generations removed from Mr. Walsh."

[Parzival]

Delbert was 10th Generation.

[Huxley]

Delbert was 10th Generation.

Leo raises an eyebrow in Menachem's direction. He frowns and looks at Jack, "He. . . has reason to be nervous. Besides that point, how can we objectively determine what Drake's generation is?"

Leo contemplates a moment, "Jocelin brings up a good point, however -- assuming she is alone, she couldn't hope to succeed against such a large force. Did you name a location for the meeting? Somewhere where we'll be safe ground, and she'll have to enter the wolves den and prove herself? If not, the balance tips towards her guilt. . ."

"Either way, we should find her surrogate sire. First withour her knowledge, and then we can come out of the shadows and interrogate".

[Detritus]

"Either way, we should find her surrogate sire. First withour her knowledge, and then we can come out of the shadows and interrogate".
"Isn't she in France?" asks Thomas. "That's a pretty daunting trip to arrange on such short notice, at least, in the flesh," he says with a nod in Menachem's direction.

Besides that point, how can we objectively determine what Drake's generation is?"
"If you can procure some of her blood, it is a simple matter for a Tremere to make this determination," answers Rebekka. "I am not sure if she will surrender any willingly, however."

[SD Anderson]

"We can guestimate based on abilities she's shown." Jack says "Now Menachem's theory holds she's the killer's childe. Our evidence makes the killer Delbert's grandchilde - 12th generation in this case. So she should be 13th generation IF both Menachem's theory about her origins as the killer's childe and the basic assumption that these two murders are related are true."

Turning to Menachem "What exactly made you describe her as 'formidable'?"

[SD Anderson]

"If you can procure some of her blood, it is a simple matter for a Tremere to make this determination," answers Rebekka. "I am not sure if she will surrender any willingly, however."

"I'm not that knowlegable about the Hoodoo you do." Jack says. "However if you wizardly types can come up with some sort of blood test relevant to determining the facts of her charges. We just overestimate the amount of blood this test needs and use the rest for our purposes."

"If you cannot come up with such a first test, we ah lie say we have it and wing it from there."

Pausing a moment Jack says "Another test. Can you determine if she is blood bound?"

"I don't know if it's worth the effort, but a question I would have LIKED to ask Lucille was how she and Delbert came to know Samantha Drake. Lucille saying something like 'Oh, she is the grandchilde or great grandchilde of Delbert.' would be damned useful to know."

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin considers. "Since this is a formal investigation and all, cant you issue a sub poena and demand her blood?"

[Parzival]

I would definately consider her formidible.
While in astral form, she demonstrated a second high-power discipline, evidently without outside support. <he pauses to consider> If I wanted to, I could duplicate the feat, barely, but doing so would leave me both exhausted and drained.

[SD Anderson]

I would definately consider her formidible.
While in astral form, she demonstrated a second high-power discipline, evidently without outside support. <he pauses to consider> If I wanted to, I could duplicate the feat, barely, but doing so would leave me both exhausted and drained.

"So, you're leaning towards a conclusion she has a blood reservoir appropriate for an elder vampire? Or around that of someone in the range of Justicar Walsh's generation?" Jack asks.

"And before I forget, what was the contradiction in her story again?"

[SD Anderson]

"I have a question to anyone here who knows about what she's able to do." Jack adds.

"She presumably sensed Menachem in her home. Could she be able to track him back here and oh, I don't know, maybe listen in to what we are saying here and now?"

"If it's even remotely possible I want some sort of jamming done as of two hours ago."

[Detritus]

"I have a question to anyone here who knows about what she's able to do." Jack adds.

"She presumably sensed Menachem in her home. Could she be able to track him back here and oh, I don't know, maybe listen in to what we are saying here and now?"

"If it's even remotely possible I want some sort of jamming done as of two hours ago."
"I do not believe the results of your long-distance investigations have been subject to psychic eavesdropping. It is possible to breach the ward psychically by linking to someone who is physically within the ward, but mentally beyond it, but I gather that Miss Drake did not do this tonight," says Rebekka. (OOC - No, she did not, it would have been obvious to Menachem if she had done so.)

"But she may very well know where we are now. This "jamming" you suggest," she says, turning towards Jack, "it is simple enough to do for a fixed location, but I do not think it is possible to hide altogether the very sight or sound of you from astral monitoring, should you conduct investigations on the mainland. To throw her off your trail will require the arts of stealth and subterfuge, I think."

She faces Leo and asks him, "Are you able to cloak others?"

[Huxley]

"Isn't she in France? That's a pretty daunting trip to arrange on such short notice, at least, in the flesh," he says with a nod in Menachem's direction.

"Exactly. You shouldn't strain yourself, Menachem, but when would you be able to make contact again?"



She faces Leo and asks him, "Are you able to cloak others?"

"I am only able to hide myself. But we can still make due -- distractions for would-be watchers, while anyone who is capable of hiding themself investigates. My question is, where to? She wants to meet in three days, when Justicar Walsh will be in town. Not a good time frame to get information directly from her. Where was her old haven located? Or, how do we get to the area where the attack supposedly took place?"

[SD Anderson]

"She's effectively forestalled being interviewed etc until the arrival of the Justicar. Barring someone finding her actual location between now and then we're reasonably screwed." Jack says. "Under the circumstances I suggest we investigate what we can, but assume the worst. She's arranged this charge to bring Walsh into her grasp in order to assassinate him."

"Plan A was Investigate. We'll continue to do as much of that as we can, we might yet get lucky. But we'd better move to Plan B, which is Defend. She picked the time. We have control over the place and have some time to prepare it. And we arrange a way to get him the hell out of both the meeting place and the city of New Orleans she or her master if she has one, expect."

"If we can't smash her here, we can still get the Justicar where she can't reach him. After that, whether or not any of us are still ahem alive, and she's at large, we resort to bloodhunt."

[Detritus]

"Exactly. You shouldn't strain yourself, Menachem, but when would you be able to make contact again?"
Menachem is temporarily preoccupied with listening to voices that only he seems to be able to hear.

"I am only able to hide myself. But we can still make due -- distractions for would-be watchers, while anyone who is capable of hiding themself investigates. My question is, where to? She wants to meet in three days, when Justicar Walsh will be in town. Not a good time frame to get information directly from her. Where was her old haven located? Or, how do we get to the area where the attack supposedly took place?"
"This would seem to be information that the local Kindred are best able to provide. It has been nearly 6 hours since we took our leave of the Prince. Would it not be prudent to apprise him of at least some of what you've learned tonight?" asks Rebekka.

[Parzival]

"Exactly. You shouldn't strain yourself, Menachem, but when would you be able to make contact again?"<glances at Rebekka> I fear such a visit would not nearly be worth the price. <ne stops to consider for a moment> But the information may be availible through other channels. I'll check once I've recovered a bit more.

In the meantime, I would suggest everyone avoid the purported residence of Miss Drake. The building itself has a malign aura.

If Plan B is to defend, it might be to our advantage to assist these worthies <indicates the Tremere> in their endevours.

<nods in agreement with Rebekka> We should talk to the Prince.

[Detritus]

In the meantime, I would suggest everyone avoid the purported residence of Miss Drake. The building itself has a malign aura.
Rebekka asks, "You do not wish to find out more about her residence, especially while Miss Drake is absent?"

After asking this question, Rebekka releases the ward, which vanishes with one final, bright shimmer.

[SD Anderson]

"It's a temptatation, but if we are right, Drake is involved in a serial murder plan that's been going on for a couple of years. She clearly has a base of operations elsewhere, and likely is staging most of her operation from that secure hidden place. She presumably will know if anyone enters her home, which makes things more difficult for us. And Menachem seems supernaturally sure the home itself is dangerous."

"In addition to all of that, we have three days to make sure the Justicar gets in and out of this city unharmed. The risk/benefit ratio isn't looking too good for now."

"On a slightly different note, one of the more disturbing note about the hurricane, the Louisiana National Guard didn't have much of presence in it's home state, but Blackwater had loads of mercenaries in the US proper to use here."

"But the fact they have the bodies on this side of the planet has uses for us. I assume the Prince here made inroads to those mercs while they were here. What I'd like is to have oh a company of "Anti-terrorist Security company operatives" ready near the meeting location in case of trouble. If for instance, she had a contingent of Anarchs backing her play, I have no objection to paying meat shields to block for us."

"Now the next question is where do we have her meet the Justicar?"

[Huxley]

Leo nods in agreement towards Rebekka,"We should speak to the Prince. I will do so, this time. His fears of loosing power seem to have been assuaged"

"But the information may be availible through other channels. I'll check once I've recovered a bit more."

"Good. Perhaps tommoro night, then"

"Now the next question is where do we have her meet the Justicar?"

"In front of The Prince and his court. Hopefully by then we'll have enough information to determine what exactly we need to do with either of them, or what exactly we'll need to do dependant upon what we discover from that meeting -- such as Drake's generation. Until then, let us speak to Prince Johnson, and get permission to traipse about his city"

[Detritus]

Rebekka informs Dieter that the work is done for the night, and instructs him to notify the Prince that you'll be meeting with him shortly. The Tremere will take a few minutes to gather up everything that was used during the ritual. If you want to work out what to ask and tell Mr. Johnson, now is a good time for it. I'll note in passing that you never did get Demetrious's side of the story earlier tonight...

[Parzival]

I'll note in passing that you never did get Demetrious's side of the story earlier tonight...
OOC: That's already occured to me. Definately something we need to do as soon as possible.

[SD Anderson]

OOC: That's already occured to me. Definately something we need to do as soon as possible.


Jack walks up to Menachem and privately asks, "For the third time. What exactly did she say that was a contradiction?"

[Parzival]

OOC: I already said what it was earlier in this thread, and Det already clarified the point into non-contridiction.

[SD Anderson]

"I've been thinking like a 20th century cop here." Jack says. "As in France is someone else's jurisdiction. But Justicar Walsh has had jurisidiction over Malkavian murders. Leo, were you the archon who investigated Delbert's death?*"


*Leo as that archon = potential retcon problems. Leo as another of Walsh's archons who just came into the case a few days ago, = no serious headaches to game continuity.

[Detritus]

"I've been thinking like a 20th century cop here." Jack says. "As in France is someone else's jurisdiction. But Justicar Walsh has had jurisidiction over Malkavian murders. Leo, were you the archon who investigated Delbert's death?*"

*Leo as that archon = potential retcon problems. Leo as another of Walsh's archons who just came into the case a few days ago, = no serious headaches to game continuity.
I'll say that Leo did NOT investigate Delbert's disappearance/death.

Also, I'm willing to stipulate that any confusion about what Samantha told Menachem can be worked out behind the scenes.

It's a bit after 430 am when you see Mr. Johnson again. You can relay any concerns about eavesdropping off-screen, and the Prince will plan to convene a meeting at 10 pm tomorrow night so that you can get Demetrious's side of the story.

If you want to RP out any other questions, fire away, otherwise I'll move ahead to Monday night.

[SD Anderson]

[Leo's reply]

"The problem is, at this point, we don't have the time or resources to do anything except assume she's the killer and that the charge against Demetrious is a ruse to set up an assassination. If nothing but an accusation takes place, Leo, as the Archon, gets to deal with that while the rest of us along with Leo's spare time goes back to square one."

"But lets face it, the Camarilla was formed in the dark ages, consideres the Medieval to be daring, the Renaissance decadent and everything after that untrustworthy. I rather suspect whomever looked over Delbert's murder scene took it on it's face value and reported such to Mr. Walsh."

"Or did they see if the body had been posed that way post mortum?"

"Quite frankly, Leo I'd be a lot more comfortable if you Archons had either your sets of detective, medical and forensic teams at your disposal or at least one set of teams to share. Depends on how often vampiric murders are sent the Justicar's way."

"As it stands now, you have to depend on the feudal system of getting a local noble to loan you some of his people - in this case two local nobles - who haven't worked together before and hope they don't screw things up."

"The Camarilla has lots of cash. It's basically a money laundering system for immortals who have to fake their deaths periodically for God's sake. I wish the elders would stop living in the 11th century and deal with the world they live in."

[Huxley]

[Leo's reply]

"No, I wasn't, and can not provide any more information than what we've heard"


"The problem is, at this point, we don't have the time or resources to do anything except assume she's the killer and that the charge against Demetrious is a ruse to set up an assassination. If nothing but an accusation takes place, Leo, as the Archon, gets to deal with that while the rest of us along with Leo's spare time goes back to square one."

"But lets face it, the Camarilla was formed in the dark ages, consideres the Medieval to be daring, the Renaissance decadent and everything after that untrustworthy. I rather suspect whomever looked over Delbert's murder scene took it on it's face value and reported such to Mr. Walsh."

"Or did they see if the body had been posed that way post mortum?"

"Quite frankly, Leo I'd be a lot more comfortable if you Archons had either your sets of detective, medical and forensic teams at your disposal or at least one set of teams to share. Depends on how often vampiric murders are sent the Justicar's way."

"As it stands now, you have to depend on the feudal system of getting a local noble to loan you some of his people - in this case two local nobles - who haven't worked together before and hope they don't screw things up."

"The Camarilla has lots of cash. It's basically a money laundering system for immortals who have to fake their deaths periodically for God's sake. I wish the elders would stop living in the 11th century and deal with the world they live in."

"We can not assume that she is guilty -- not at the moment. The Justicar is not in danger right now, so we have time to make an attempt for the truth. If we have personel loaned to us by The Prince, the investigation will be slanted in his favor. As I have no "teams", we must rely upon ourselves. It will be nice to hear Demetrious' side of the story, but I do want to investigate the contested area, and I want Menachem to contact Drake's surrogate as soon as possible. Aside from these three areas, I'd suggest looking for local kindred that aren't attached to the Prince, if there are any. Perhaps you Tremere would know where to look?"

[Detritus]

Aside from these three areas, I'd suggest looking for local kindred that aren't attached to the Prince, if there are any. Perhaps you Tremere would know where to look?"
"If we find one of our clan mates in our search, we might be able to help," replies Thomas, "but I believe she is the local," he finishes, indicating Jocelin.

(OOC - Kal, give me an Area Knowledge (New Orleans) roll.)

[SD Anderson]

"Between now and the Justicar's visit we've got a potential suspect who can't be found or interviewed until she meets with him. That means we can only prep for a defense against assassination. We don't even do that, we're really screwed if things go wrong." Jacks says.

[Kalzazz]

((Rolled it))

[Detritus]

Jocelin doesn't seem to be able to supply much in the way of insight to this specific situation.

Can I get the following rolls:

Menachem - Psychology

Leo - Politics (Kindred/Camarilla)

I took a couple of points from Leo's Philosophy skill and put them into Politics, to represent the political know-how of an Ancilla/Archon. He's got it at IQ level (= 15).

[Detritus]

Actually, if SD and Kal want to, they can roll up a Politics skill check at the default (IQ-5), too. Why not...

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin, "It would be pretty cool to see some of my friends again . . . . but, I dont know if any of them are still here or anything"

[SD Anderson]

(rolled)

"Here's the situation as I see it. We have maybe 24 hours of night time to act between now and the Justicar meeting Drake. 'Someone' hired a bunch of local anarchs to try and stop us back in Texas. No reason to expect a new set or perhaps an old set of anarch aquaintances to avoid showing up at that meeting."

"I expect a big gun fight at that meeing. I don't think the Prince will want his primary residence or meeting place ventilated. Therefore I want to find and prepare a site that will let a hearing by the Justicar take place, if that is what takes place. If anything else takes place I want to be able to throw firepower and spells and anything else we can come up with in quantities that will knock a Panzer Division back 20 miles."

"Those places don't spontaneously happen. We need to make it and we don't have a lot of time left." Jack says.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin, "Ohhh. I know. We need a stadium, with stadium lights and everything. Death on the fifty yard line"

[SD Anderson]

"Nah," Jack says, pretending to treat Jocelin's comment as serious, "Something enclosed, with an emergency escape route for the Justicar, ideally a pair of vulcan machineguns with DU bullets." If she does throw an anarch army at us, I want them down, burning from pyroporic ammo."

[Detritus]

FYI, if the Mother Of All Gun Battles does occur in this adventure, it will NOT take place in the Superdome. That just has "ginormous clusterfuck of a Masquerade violation" written all over it.

[Kalzazz]

"But the ambiance would just right for a climatic showdown. And they would never believe it was us, theyd think it was some of the loco hombres of the NFL. Actually, theyd blame Terrell Owens." Jocelin pauses a bit, "Oh. And you could snipers in the nosebleed section and pressboxes, and theres lots of entrances and exits"

[SD Anderson]

"You pay the deposit on the Superdome then." Jack says. "Don't expect to get it back. The damages will be that awful."

"In the meantime, I'm thinking of something with both sewer and rooftop helicopter accesses. Our goal here is to keep the Justicar safe. Giving him options for escape is to our benefit." Jack continues. "Leo, by any chance does the Justicar ride a motorcycle?"

[Huxley]

"Using the Superdome would be. . . unwise. Too much could go wrong, and we'd be too easily seen. I am not against using an open space, however. . . a small house miles from the city would serve well, if we expect a fight on the scale you're suggesting. Any urban environment would be too close to mortals to preserve the masquerade. Even if we can escape, that is not a risk we should take. And while we don't have much time, an investigation of the city and more personel needs to take place. I will not be empty handed when Justicar Walsh arrives and tell him that we could have gotten more information, but we thought it unimportant and just wanted to wait until he got here. Therefore, some of us can set up the defenses while the rest of us go about the city. Jack and Jocelin, you likely have more prowess in these matters, so you should set up the defenses. Menachem and I can look for more information, and talk to Demetrious tommoro. Jocelin, do you have any idea where any of your friends might be? And, what has your experience been with the Prince here?"

[SD Anderson]

Jack talks to Jocelin. "That out of town restriction cuts our options down."

"Seriously, unless the Prince has a large safe house, the best spot out of the city proper might be the cafetorium of a school that hasn't reopened since the Hurricane. There will be space for a helicopter to take the Justicar away, and maybe a storm cellar close enough to a sewer tunnel to allow a second avenue of escape."

"I hope we can talk the Prince out of some heavy ordinance too."

[Detritus]

You'll have about two hours before sunrise to continue hashing things out amongst yourselves after the late meeting with Mr. Johnson, who doesn't feel much like talking shop so late in the night. The Tremere will get a guest room for themselves, as will the PCs. The meeting/interview is scheduled for 10 pm tomorrow night, so there will also be time to finalize the evening's plans before the meeting if the party does decide to split up.