Back on the boat... (pre-dawn, Wed. 3/28/07) [Archive]

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Detritus

07-26-2007, 09:02 PM

Leo's and Jocelin/Menachem's groups meet in the pre-dawn blackness, with the hunting party having added Sabine to their ranks. The boat pilot explains that the other groups have already made their way out to the prince's haven.

At the sight of Dieter's body Gunther gives a wordless wail of alarm, but is quickly silenced by a touch on the shoulder from Rebekka. Sarah gives a subdued account of the events that took place outside the Drake manor to both Rebekka and Kallista, who looks upon Adrianne's still form with concern. Kallista then demands of Leo whether he has anything to add, to which the answer is that he does not, save that the Drake manor was basically the same as how Menachem found it, minus the personal audience with the owner.

Rebekka then directs Sarah and Gunther to lie Dieter's body flat on the ground, away from the autos, and for Sabine to check that no mortals are observing the dock. Once satisfied as to the security of the dock, Rebekka warns everyone to stand well clear of the body.

Once everyone is clear of Dieter's remains, Rebekka begins to concentrate. You notice that the nighttime stillness is disturbed by a gentle breeze, which then builds into a moderate wind that blows out to sea. Dieter's body then begins to rise, untouched by any hand, until it reaches waist height. Searing, orange-white flame consumes the body from within until nothing but ashes are left. They spiral upwards and over Rebekka's head, and turning as she commits Dieter's remains to sea, she eulogizes her servant with but four words:

Cinerem cineribus, pulverem pulveri.

Without further ado, Rebekka boards the waiting boat, followed closely by her underlings, and the prior stillness of the night returns.

Detritus

07-26-2007, 10:56 PM

((OOC - For those on the second boat back to the Prince's haven, you can still ask questions or meet to converse, though the mood on the boat is a bit on the down side of things. You've got about half an hour before reaching your destination.))

Detritus

07-30-2007, 02:10 AM

On the trip back to the prince's haven, the somber mood is punctuated by Gunther venting his spleen at Sarah in harsh German. This time Rebekka does not stop him, allowing Gunther to wind down of his own accord. Sarah says very little, but what little she does say is also uttered in German. You don't catch very much of the meaning in the discussion, but you do hear the phrase "mein Brüder" repeated a few times.

Once everyone is back aboard the yacht, the meeting that occurs thereafter begins to take on the feel of a debriefing session, as you learn what the others have been up to while ashore. Things don't get very far, however, before Mr. Johnson makes an announcement:

"These came for the Dallas Kindred," he says, revealing four envelopes that were delivered by messenger service while everyone was out. Each of the Dallas investigators is addressed by name on one envelope in neat, old-fashioned calligraphy.

Within each envelope is a greeting card embossed with the word "Welcome." You see the same careful script within your cards, which contains the words:

Thank you so much for coming! I'm terribly sorry I haven't had the chance to greet all of you earlier -- I've been out of town. I will be returning to town late tomorrow night. If you're free, perhaps you can join me at my estate at midnight of the following night, and we can get acquainted at discuss the business at hand?

Very truly yours,

Samantha Drake

RSVP ((Drake manor phone number))

The other Kindred in the room divide their attention between the Prince and the PCs as they finish reading.

"What do the cards say?" asks the prince.

SD Anderson

07-30-2007, 02:55 AM

"Location, Location, Location." Jack says. "She wants to have the inquest held at her estate."

"Leo, you and I need to have a serious chat about this and recent events."

"A Privacy screen of some sort seems appropriate. Hell, at this point, I'd settle for that crazy thingamajig Maxwell Smart and the Chief used."

{Fast Forward to a place and time of privacy, such as can be attained] "My official recomendation is that the Justicar not show up. And for the official reason that Demetrious cannot properly answer or defend himself against the charges. It would be pointless to bring the Justicar in to convene a hearing that cannot be held."

"Secondly, and I'll use this ONLY if he still wants to come here. I'll certify that because of the twin assualts on the two of us tonight that this Domain is not presently safe for the Justicar to come here. I will report this to the Prince of Dallas, my client in this matter and he'll pass it along to the Elders. Since this would be a very very bad thing for us career wise and ruinous to Prince Johnson, I don't want to do this unless my hand is forced."

"Third, my gut is telling me Drake's our killer. I can't prove it, but she's awfully good for it. There's too much of this that plays out like a lucky amateur is opposing us. She fits the bill too well. She's focused too much on getting the Justicar here. Exposed Lucian, exposed the nit wits she's got here in New Orleans, revealed that Demtreous is under some kind of mental hoodoo. If she's stopped here, all her efforts so far become wastes of time."

"And time is not her ally, it's ours. She becomes the Prey and we the Predators if the Justicar doesn't come here. We can grind those newly arrived vampires down with time. Make them talk, learn more about her operation. Expose her alibis as frauds. Prove her guilt. And if she's playing the innocent in her home, we'll know where to direct the blood hunt."

"If she runs, well pursuit is fun to our kind."

"And lastly, absolute minimal knowledge of the Justicar's absence. The more people who think he IS coming, the more convincing it'll be that he's going to show up."

"She's playing this like an amateur but she does have a good spy network. The less we let others know, the better chance she won't find out."

SD Anderson

07-30-2007, 03:14 AM

(Back with the others.) "Let me propose a reply to Ms Drake." Jack says.

"Dear Ms. Drake,

Thank you for your kind invitation. We must, however, decline. The office of the Justicar is, however, a legal one and it's buisess must be performed formally and without any hint of unfairness, bias or favoritism. Enclosed is the formal document to bring this matter to fruition.

Yours,

Johnston N. Constantine, Esq."

"And the other document:" Jack says, smiling predatorily.

"To: Drake, Samantha.
From: Leolin Friskin, Archon to Justicar Walsh.

You are hereby notified that you are summoned to a hearing to be held at 12:30 am 3/29/07 at the main Gymnasium Jackson High School [Address]. Failure to appear could result in a summary judgement against your case. If you have any questions or need to change the time or date of this hearing, please contact my assistant, Jack Constantine."

Detritus

07-31-2007, 01:34 AM

SD Anderson

07-31-2007, 02:31 AM

"I would not presume to interfere in official matters concerning Arcadian's office, but where do you propose to send this reply?" asks Mr. Johnson. "Sammy hasn't been home recently. Do you really think this reply will bring her home?"

"She's doing this formally. Trying to show she has better manners than us bastards here do. She has to be able to recieve our replies. RSVP and all that rot eh what?"

Huxley

07-31-2007, 09:54 AM

"Leo, you and I need to have a serious chat about this and recent events."

"A Privacy screen of some sort seems appropriate. Hell, at this point, I'd settle for that crazy thingamajig Maxwell Smart and the Chief used."

Leo nods in silence, and waits until said privacy is in place.

My official recomendation is that the Justicar not show up. And for the official reason that Demetrious cannot properly answer or defend himself against the charges. It would be pointless to bring the Justicar in to convene a hearing that cannot be held."

"I was having similar thoughts, and I second this opinion. There's too much at risk, and as you've said, no point to having a hearing."

"Third, my gut is telling me Drake's our killer. I can't prove it, but she's awfully good for it. There's too much of this that plays out like a lucky amateur is opposing us. She fits the bill too well. She's focused too much on getting the Justicar here. Exposed Lucian, exposed the nit wits she's got here in New Orleans, revealed that Demtreous is under some kind of mental hoodoo. If she's stopped here, all her efforts so far become wastes of time

"This is where I contend. . . she does seem to be the killer. Very much so. All clues point to her, but it seems so conveniant. I do not want to approach this situation thinking her innocent, but neither should we approach it thinking her guilty. We continue the investigation to find the truth, not to prove her guilt"

Leo looks at his greeting card. He scratches his chin. "We should try and RSVP the meeting place you have found, Jack. But, in the event that she does not respond, or is not there, what choice have we other than to go to her manor at the appointed time? At least then we'll know it's a trap, and have to come prepared as such. Since the Justicar will not be with us, we should plunge into this Conrad-ian search of truth."

Parzival

07-31-2007, 11:15 AM

I have a bad feeling about this.

SD Anderson

07-31-2007, 05:44 PM

Leo nods in silence, and waits until said privacy is in place.

"I was having similar thoughts, and I second this opinion. There's too much at risk, and as you've said, no point to having a hearing."

"This is where I contend. . . she does seem to be the killer. Very much so. All clues point to her, but it seems so conveniant. I do not want to approach this situation thinking her innocent, but neither should we approach it thinking her guilty. We continue the investigation to find the truth, not to prove her guilt"

"I can't prove she's guilty, so I am not going to take her down on the spot. I do plan on giving her every opportunity to screw up one more time, hopefully in front of enough witnesses."

Leo looks at his greeting card. He scratches his chin. "We should try and RSVP the meeting place you have found, Jack. But, in the event that she does not respond, or is not there, what choice have we other than to go to her manor at the appointed time? At least then we'll know it's a trap, and have to come prepared as such. Since the Justicar will not be with us, we should plunge into this Conrad-ian search of truth."

"If she doesn't show, she's gone to ground and she's a fugitive at large. The Justicar goes nowhere without a really effective bodyguard. Technically her failure to appear is grounds for an arrest, she justifies our going into her home with force, and without the Justicar. If we have to go through that deathtrap with an armored bulldozer, we do." Jack says.

"But she's got a conflict here. She doesn't like things not going the way she plans them. She didn't expect the Justicar to send folks ahead of him, so she arranges to stop us on the road to Houston. We plan a meeting place somewhere other than her home, try looking over her home, she sends nutjobs to shoot us up. We ask Demetrious some questions she shuts his mind down."

"She does not so much respond to the unexpected, she lashes out at it destructively. I just told her 'NO!' and she was already going to bring a sledgehammer to the show anyway. Now she'll be coming with steeltoed boots. But she will be coming."

Detritus

08-01-2007, 11:51 PM

"She's doing this formally. Trying to show she has better manners than us bastards here do. She has to be able to recieve our replies. RSVP and all that rot eh what?"
The Prince sets his palms on the conference room table and seems to study the place between them.

"You will dismiss Sammy's case," he says before looking up, "without hearing either her or Demetrious's testimony? Arcadian will back up your dismissal?" he asks, a shrewd, calculating look plain on his face.

SD Anderson

08-02-2007, 12:06 AM

"No sir. If she fails to attend the hearing without giving proper notice beforehand she's subject to a summary judgement against her. It's not exactly out of line for any court proceding. Not showing up when and where you're supposed to often has bad consequences. Hell, judges have been known to have folks arrested for being half an hour late to a hearing. And I'm not stating will be made if she doesn't show. I said 'could be made against you'. It's not technically my call to make. The Justicar himself is the person to decide what to do."

"But it does set a tone I want set with her."

SD Anderson

08-02-2007, 05:55 PM

I have a bad feeling about this.

OOC did you say that aloud in character?

Detritus

08-04-2007, 09:23 PM

Parzival

08-04-2007, 10:16 PM

OOC did you say that aloud in character?

Yes.
(mandatoryfillercrap)

SD Anderson

08-05-2007, 01:47 AM

"But, surely you have some pull with the Justicar, else why would he have sent you here to investigate? He's going to listen to whatever you tell him. You will recommend that the case be dismissed if Sammy is a no-show?"

"It's a possibility, then again I may get my ass thoroughly chewed out by the Justicar when he gets here. Given that Demetrious' existence hinges on this hearing, she's treating it a bit too casually if she thinks a spot of tea and discussion is all she needs." Jack says.

"The Justicar will listen to us, but he may not agree with what we recommend. I worked with him once before, the first time Leo and I shared a case. Leo can confirm this much more than I can, but the Justicar can say 'NO!' quite effectively."

"I honestly expect her to show up at the designated place. She's invested quite a lot of energy and resources into arranging this meeting with Mr. Walsh and she's not going to throw it away."

SD Anderson

08-05-2007, 01:49 AM

I have a bad feeling about this.

(ooc: Quotation marks around this statement would have been a help.)

"You have a problem with what I'm suggesting?" Jack asks.

Detritus

08-05-2007, 04:46 AM

"You have a problem with what I'm suggesting?" Jack asks.
"Ooh, is it a Malkavian premonition? Those are so cool!" says Jocelin.

Mr. Johnson gives a quick sidelong glance in Jocelin's direction before turning to the Tremere.

"Adrianne is the second member of my court to succumb to torpor tonight. What happened out there?" he asks of Sarah and Leo.

Sarah gives a subdued account of the events that took place just outside the Drake manor. After receiving this report, the prince grimaces in concentration, and then asks:

"How long have you been back in town, Sabine? You should have told me you returned."

Sabine does not quite meet Mr. Johnson's eyes when giving her answer.

"Less than a week, my Prince. I regret not presenting myself sooner, but I had pressing matters to attend to immediately upon my return."

"So pressing that you could not have spent the hour it would have taken to announce your return in person? So pressing that you could not even spare the time to call?"

Sabine keeps her eyes downcast, but does not answer these questions. The Texas Tremere studiously avoid looking at either Sabine, Mr. Johnson, or each other. A chilly, awkward silence stretches until it lasts the better part of a minute.

"Have you seen any sign of Ignatius, or the others?"

"No, my Prince, I have not seen or heard from any of my Chantry mates. I did not even realize that Lazarus had been found before speaking to the Elder on our way out here."

"I see that the Tremere information network is as efficient as I have come to expect it to be," says Mr. Johnson, as he looks at Rebekka. The elder Kindred exchange unreadable looks before the Prince turns his attention to Thomas and Merill.

"How long do you think Lazarus has been out of commission?"

"Difficult to say for sure," replies Thomas, "but it is true that those of ancient blood tend to sleep deeply. I suspect he has been inactive for months, and perhaps even years."

"I would like to see Lazarus for myself," says Rebekka. "I do not doubt Thomas's assessment, but I could perhaps confirm or refine his impressions."

"Of course," says Mr. Johnson. "He is already in your guest quarters."

Mr. Johnson's gaze lingers on Rebekka for a moment. You get the sense that a silent challenge has passed between them, but don't really know who initiated it and who answered.

Turning back to Jack, the prince says, "It will take some doing, but I think that I will be able to accommodate your request for reinforcements for the meeting with Sammy on Thursday.

"Have you had any word from Barcelona?"

"No," answers Rebekka, "nor from Vienna. I am afraid that I do not know if any of Justicar Beg's agents are near enough to make it here in time."

"A shame, that...

"Is there any other business to attend to before we adjourn for the day?" asks the prince.

SD Anderson

08-05-2007, 05:21 AM

"Is there any other business to attend to before we adjourn for the day?" asks the prince.

"A big one: Bottled blood. I don't care if it's animal blood. If things get as hairy as I fear they might, the ability to renew our vitae in a couple of seconds with this could be the edge that lets us win, and certainly should reduce our casualties."

"And a minor one. I'd like a computer with some sort of broadband hook up and some web cameras for the meeting. And a live feed made available over the net for the Elders. If the meeting is attacked by a large force of Anarchs, I want it recorded so facial recognition software can be used to identify as many of the principals as possible. Regardless of tomorrow's outcome, I want those facilitating Fratricidal Diablerie nailed!"

Detritus

08-05-2007, 03:38 PM

"A big one: Bottled blood. I don't care if it's animal blood. If things get as hairy as I fear they might, the ability to renew our vitae in a couple of seconds with this could be the edge that lets us win, and certainly should reduce our casualties."
"I do have a small emergency blood supply that you can have access to for Thursday," replies Mr. Johnson.

"And a minor one. I'd like a computer with some sort of broadband hook up and some web cameras for the meeting. And a live feed made available over the net for the Elders. If the meeting is attacked by a large force of Anarchs, I want it recorded so facial recognition software can be used to identify as many of the principals as possible. Regardless of tomorrow's outcome, I want those facilitating Fratricidal Diablerie nailed!"
The prince doesn't really grok this request, but Kallista, Jocelin, and Sarah all blurt out something to the effect of "You want to put the hearing on the web?!" after hearing this.

SD Anderson

08-05-2007, 06:57 PM

"No, I want to put it somewhere on a computer system, If guys with machineguns and lit fused dynamite show up at the hearing I want THEIR faces recorded and identified and if they escape New Orleans I want to be able to hunt them down the world over."

Jack thinks it over a bit. "One of the concerns we've been dealing with is that the Justicar doesn't want to appear like he won't listen to the plights of younger generation kindred. If all Drake does tomoorow is plead her case to the Justicar and gets a fair hearing, it's to the good of the Camarilla that a record proves it."

"Those of us in the security trade will have to work a bit harder to protect it from exposure."

"We are entering an era where privacy is a myth. Those of us in the security trade are going to have to work a bit harder anyway. The Camarilla better get some experience in dealing with Information Technology or everyone's going to know vampires exist."

Detritus

08-05-2007, 10:40 PM

"We are entering an era where privacy is a myth. Those of us in the security trade are going to have to work a bit harder anyway. The Camarilla better get some experience in dealing with Information Technology or everyone's going to know vampires exist."
"And you would know how to implement this information technology if you were provided with it?" asks Mr. Johnson.

SD Anderson

08-06-2007, 01:18 AM

"Not at all. I don't expect it to have any impact on events tonight. Those who manage to escape could find things interesting in a few months after folks who CAN implement the technology go through the video."

"Might prove interesting to see who did join in." Jack says. "That's why I put it in as a minor thing. Having the blood at hand is the important thing though."

Huxley

08-06-2007, 11:48 AM

"And you would know how to implement this information technology if you were provided with it?" asks Mr. Johnson.

"I could. It'd be best if it were set up in a remote network, not on the internet itself. . . but provided the technology, I could make it work. The hard copy will be in a safe place. . . such as here".

Detritus

08-07-2007, 06:25 PM

"I could. It'd be best if it were set up in a remote network, not on the internet itself. . . but provided the technology, I could make it work. The hard copy will be in a safe place. . . such as here".
Mr. Johnson gives Kallista an uncertain look before asking Leo, "And you will be hiding your own face, I take it? If you ask Sammy to come to a meeting place not of her choosing, why wouldn't her... associates take similar precautions?"

He then turns back to Kallista and asks, "Will you be able to get a hold of the needed equipment?" which Kallista answers in the affirmative. She then leaves the room forthwith.

SD Anderson

08-07-2007, 11:22 PM

Mr. Johnson gives Kallista an uncertain look before asking Leo, "And you will be hiding your own face, I take it? If you ask Sammy to come to a meeting place not of her choosing, why wouldn't her... associates take similar precautions?"

He then turns back to Kallista and asks, "Will you be able to get a hold of the needed equipment?" which Kallista answers in the affirmative. She then leaves the room forthwith.

"No, I see no reason to cover our faces tomorrow. Among other things having our faces, known to the Camarilla faces there will help calibrate the system and the software. If anything on the video breaks the masquerade, the Elders will either secure, destroy or alter it as they see fit for it's final fate. Keeping a secure copy for investigating the crimes already committed and those we likely will face tomorrow is simply a weapon to destroy those who have violated one of the primary laws governing our kind."

Detritus

08-09-2007, 12:21 AM

"No, I see no reason to cover our faces tomorrow. Among other things having our faces, known to the Camarilla faces there will help calibrate the system and the software. If anything on the video breaks the masquerade, the Elders will either secure, destroy or alter it as they see fit for it's final fate. Keeping a secure copy for investigating the crimes already committed and those we likely will face tomorrow is simply a weapon to destroy those who have violated one of the primary laws governing our kind."
Mr. Johnson looks at you like you're a bit crazy for even suggesting that you record Leo's image but doesn't press the point for now. He says that he'll know more about exactly how much firepower he can bring to bear for Thursday's meeting tomorrow night, and then takes his leave of the conference room.

The Tremere also start to leave, although Sarah lingers long enough to remind Leo that he has an appointment with them sometime tomorrow night, probably on the later side of things, so that they can rig up a way for him to be a blood-sniffer.

What next?

SD Anderson

08-09-2007, 03:19 AM

"And if you can have ghouls and folks in the know help ready the school in the daytime, things may go a bit better for us all tomorrow night, Prince Johnson." Jack says. "I don't object to places to duck behind if someone bursts in shooting."

(Unless someone really objects, Jack will write or word process and print out the replies that he composed and arrange for a courier to deliver them to her home. If he reacts to the bullet evidence around there, that's Drake's problem. He will also call the number her invitation left to notify her to expect the delivered message.)

When he's alone, Jack takes out his notepad and pencil and goes over what he knows or supposes.

1) It was given to us that the killer is female. What passed for an 'investigation' in France did not appear to even consider the possibility that the scene Delbert was found in was staged, let alone check to see if it was.

Given the time and resources we have, the conclusion reached by those investigators cannot be challenged. The Justicar takes those conclusions as fact and has charged us with dealing with what he sees as the case. We're stuck with it.

2) Whomever is behind this has decent spies. Sticking with the assigned assumption, 'She' knew of our assignment, route and the car we used to travel to Houston. The Justicar, and the Princes of Dallas and Houston all knew this information, her spy could

That strongly implies her spy or spies were in Dallas. The car we took was not selected by the Justicar. It would be a problem, but not an insurmountable one for him or someone in his staff to learn this. Similarly the Prince of Houston is a step removed from identifying the car. Either could have people in place to find out, but the odds are her spy is part of the Dallas retinue.

Interestingly enough we had no opposition to speak of while in Houston. That suggests Houston may not be tainted by the opposition. Or her spy or spies in Houston kept quiet. Which is a chilling thought given how many Houston kindred came with us.

3) She seems to have made in roads to two or more anarch groups. Lucian's group executed a good, militarily precise ambush. The even had the foresight to bring a tow truck along to repair our vehicles. I never saw any sign of additional ambush points, but then again, not seeing them is something appropriate for the quality of Lucian's troops.

The idiots who attacked us tonight were not professionals by any stretch of the imagination. Lit fuse dynamite? These guys learn the trade back when Butch and Sundance were riding? That tech is at least 50 years out of date. It's the sort of thing a couple of cowboys might rig up, if they happened to bring along dynamite, cap and fuse.

Wouldn't be surprised if that dynamite was decades old either.

Lucian would have either trained them better or drank them dry if they were part of his group. So she has arrangements with other anarchs. This is confirmed by the simple fact that if Lucian was really on her side, we'd be dead on the road between Dallas and Houston.

He and his group may be in town however. Whatever it was that she promised them may be here. And if he is, he's probably acting as her lackey. The question is, can this deception be of aid to us?

4) As I noted to Leo, she, whether she is Drake or not, is an amateur a lucky one at that. There is a 'chess game' aspect to assassin vs guards. Moves by the other side that you have to allow, and in this case moves by us she NEEDED us to do. Instead she actively tried to stop them. Exposed her resources rather badly in the process. We know, for example to be heavily armed and as fortified as we can arrange things.

I suspect sending those teams of thugs after us at least TRIPLED the security force the Prince was going to let us have.

5) Drake as the killer.

She appeared until recently, to be a later generation vampire, and the abilities she's demonstrated are a surprise to kindred who've known her for decades. Fairly good evidence that she's been improving on her generation. Not conclusive evidence however.

There is no evidence she's ever had any experience intriguing and running paramilitary operations. She fits the profile of the killer I made a few paragraphs up.

She was known to Delbert. Lucille knew her too. If we take point one as true, she's the sort of person who could engage Delbert in the activities he supposedly died doing.

She has a good spy network. That stunt with the individual invitations addressed to us personally proves she has the sort of resources we KNOW our enemy has regarding information gathering.

It's actually fairly good evidence that she's rubbing our noses in her 'cleverness'. But that presumes she is the killer.

The charge she makes against Demetrious does look suspiciously like something convenient to bringing Justicar Walsh to New Orleans. No solid evidence that would allow say Prince Johnson to settle the matter, it calls for bringing in the Justicar. And the lineage of the two previous victims does make Walsh the next in line for killing.

6) Drake as not the killer.

The killer is powerful enough to plant suggestions in Demetrious' mind and to shut that mind down when he was being questioned, in a place that was supposedly protected from supernatural observation.

That sort of power suggests someone of a generation earlier than the Justicar. It could be done by a vampire of the presumed effective generation of the killer, 10th, but it's a stretch. Unless she could achieve that sort of power at that generation, she'd need an ally who could.

The Tremere, including our Houston associates, do not care for Prince Johnson at all. The New Orleans chantry is dissolved thanks to Johnson's efforts. New Orleans is rich in magical history and power. If the power is not used by the Chantry, someone or something here will. And likely not Camarilla associated either. If Johnson thinks his brood will take over this task he's insane. The Camarilla have one Giovanni to deal with. They won't tolerate a second one led by a vampire who doesn't have the generations Giovanni did.

He will be destroyed and likely every vampire spawned from him or his Get will be exterminated too.

Could the Tremere ousted from here be doing this to remove him? Certainly letting a Justicar be murdered in your domain is ruinous to your career. Is Drake simply their version of Marinus van der Loob?

The answer is maybe she could. The problem is I can't prove it. If it is a Tremere conspiracy, Menachem, the person who could test her to see if she's been controled, is likely part of the plot. He certainly was as ready and willing to try to harm Johnson's career as the Houston Tremere the other evening.

If it is a Tremere plot, the over elaborate murder line indicates they don't want to kill Prince Johnson themselves. Better to let the Elders do that dirty work, which wuold almost certain continue down to his lieutenants and break up the political power of any suviving 'kin' here in the city. At the same time they appear clean and well positioned to have one of theirs become Prince.

And if it is a Tremere plot, with Tremere deep inside our perimeter, counted as part of our number, Leo, Jocelin and I are very likely going to be dead by 2 am tommow morning. Our stories likely wouldn't gel with whatever tale they want the elders to hear.

I don't like this scenario, not just because our survival chances suck. It is more complicated than complex, doesn't seem to have a back up fall guy to take the blame if the case against Drake falls apart.

More to the point they have a much better direct action alternative. If Drake's their pawn whe need only have hired the ahem formidable Lucian and his people to take Johnson and his main people out and stay on the sidelines.

Warn Jocelin and Leo of possible betrayal by the Tremere and see to making escape routes if the Tremere do turn on us. But otherwise treat Samantha Drake as our prime suspect.

7) If Drake does attack, we have her. If she plays (or is) the aggrieved Kindred who seeks Justice, go through the process as planned. At the very least we buy time and time is actually on our side.

With that, Jack makes as many Will rolls at it takes to burn his notes, mash up the ashes, mix them in water and dump them into the toilet and there to the sewers.

SD Anderson

08-09-2007, 03:22 AM

OOC: Yes that's a helluva a lot of exposition there. Then again I am running a Private Detective character...

:naughty:

Huxley

08-10-2007, 06:17 PM

"No, I see no reason to cover our faces tomorrow. Among other things having our faces, known to the Camarilla faces there will help calibrate the system and the software. If anything on the video breaks the masquerade, the Elders will either secure, destroy or alter it as they see fit for it's final fate. Keeping a secure copy for investigating the crimes already committed and those we likely will face tomorrow is simply a weapon to destroy those who have violated one of the primary laws governing our kind."

"I think there are enough of us to serve as witnesses that we won't need a video copy of the event"

The Tremere also start to leave, although Sarah lingers long enough to remind Leo that he has an appointment with them sometime tomorrow night, probably on the later side of things, so that they can rig up a way for him to be a blood-sniffer.

What next?

Leo nods, indicating that he'll meet Sarah, et al, where the Prince has them lodged.

If there is any time left in the night, Leo will use it to call rats for feeding. If not, he'll feed at the beginning of the next night.

SD Anderson

08-10-2007, 07:21 PM

"I think there are enough of us to serve as witnesses that we won't need a video copy of the event"

"Assuming we live through this and we also recognized the people. But not my call to make. I'm just making a suggestion."

Kalzazz

08-12-2007, 03:07 AM

"I've nothing against being on video, actually that sounds fun! Uhmm, I mean, justificating? Justifying? If Miss Drake is the diablerist, it will be veni, vidi, vulnerabiti de gladium for her."

She turns and whispers to Leo, "I wouldnt be to worried, on TV people can see your inner beauty like Nanny McPhee. Or if not you shouldnt worry about them"

Jocelin will also offer her condolences to Sarah and Rebekka on Dieter's death, and offer her blade to assist in avenging him should they like

She also is going to make sure she's all fresh looking and cleaned up for tomorrow and her weapons ready, and will pray for Dieter and also pray to St Michael for the upcoming battle

SD Anderson

08-12-2007, 04:54 AM

Detritus

08-12-2007, 05:37 PM

((OOC -- The invitation is for midnight overnight Thurs./Fri., i.e. the night after tomorrow.))

SD Anderson

08-12-2007, 06:18 PM

OOC: HER invitation may be for that time and date at her home. Her SUMMONS is for tonight at 12:30 at the school. If she's guilty she's not getting time to prepare her ambush.

Detritus

08-16-2007, 08:35 PM

"I just had an interesting thought." Jack says. "If Drake is our killer, and we don't attend her mansion, she's still going to use it as a staging area for the people she has on her side."

"There was a shooting over there tonight. Suppose, someone..." he said eyeing Prince Johnson "with some clout with the local cops and news media, arranged to have a forensic team, a couple of black and whites, and a news van sitting around her place investigating this crime. Have them there till oh, 12:30 tommorow morning or so."

"It just might hamper any organizing the other side was planning to do."

"And if Ms Drake's innocent, it's a minor nuissance."
The Prince senses a disturbance in The Force and returns to answer this question...

He looks a little dubious and says, "This sort of active interference on my part, it will not be seen by Arcadian as my trying to unduly bias the case in Demetrious's favor?"

((OOC -- If anyone wants to ask anything more of Mr. Johnson, his household, or the Tremere before sunrise, get it out there...))

SD Anderson

08-17-2007, 01:05 AM

"I don't speak for the Justicar, but I do speak for myself. I will take FULL repsonisibility. I'll put it in as a request in writing if you wish. Feel free to note any reservations you have for butt covering purposes. If I fuck this up, the Justicar can have me for breakfast and reschedule the hearing for her."

"But if Drake is a Patricidal Serial Diablerist leading a small army of well armed Anarchs on an attack of this City, I want to throw every roadblock and disruptive tactic in front of her we can get away with throwing in front of her."

Detritus

08-17-2007, 01:17 AM

SD Anderson

08-17-2007, 03:42 AM

Mr. Johnson arches an eyebrow and says, "OK, put your request in writing, please, and I'll do as you ask tomorrow night."

Jack puts the request in writing.

To: Robert Johnson Prince of New Orleans
From: Jack Constatine

Samantha Drake, a member of your Domain, is a suspect in at least two murders of kindred and for that mater the death of a ghoul, Dieter (in the service of Rebekka, a Tremere from Houston), in your domain, specifically at her home this evening.

She is also suspected of being the one who has hired anarchs to interfere with our investigations. It is further suspected that her residence here is where she and her minions plan to meet with intentions of doing further harm to your domain.

To obstruct and prevent this from occuring, I am asking you to arrange an extended police and media watch on her home, based on the factual events concerning the death of Dieter at her home.

Huxley

08-18-2007, 02:37 PM

Leo looks at Jack, impressed. He nods to himself, and has a small smile.

Detritus

08-18-2007, 02:43 PM

((OOC -- I changed "Ramiel" to "Dieter" in Jack's note, as it was Dieter who died at Drake Manor.))

Detritus

08-18-2007, 03:09 PM

The Prince looks at Jack's written request and says, "OK, this seems like it's in order, I will do as you ask."

((OOC -- If there is anything else you want to ask of any NPCs before sunrise, get it out there, otherwise we'll be moving on to Wed. night.))

SD Anderson

08-19-2007, 02:06 AM

(Not off hand, unless the Prince of New Orleans makes some of his presumed humongous music librarry available. ;) In which case some Howard McGhee would be much appreciated.

(Samples)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000000YWJ001001/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_001/002-8183032-5136823

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00000DCJZ001003/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_003/002-8183032-5136823

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000000YWJ001005/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_005/002-8183032-5136823