A Date With [s]Desti[/s] Samantha (Wed. 3/28/07)

[Detritus]

Pool status as of sunset on the 28th:

Jack - 12 pool
Jocelin - 14 pool
Leo - 5 pool (but see the PM I sent you, Huxley)
Menachem - 11 pool

0030 is the appointed meeting time with Samantha, assuming that she shows.

As far as I am aware, the Justicar has not yet been apprised of the events of last night.

Given the relatively early meeting time, we'll say that Sarah stayed up until about noon to research the blood-detector work that will be done tonight.

Mr. Johnson can supply about a squad's worth plus change of firepower (squad of infantry + a few snipers) for the meeting at Jackson High this evening.

Any Kindred attending the meeting will want to head to shore around 11 pm. Before we get to that, anything that you want to take care of, we will deal with while everyone is still on the boat.

[Detritus]

More administrative stuff:

What I have in my notes for possible actions by the PCs this evening:

Leo becomes a blood-sniffer.

Jack gets things ready for the meeting tonight.

Menachem may or may not pay a return astral visit to Mme. Desmoulins.

Jocelin is kind of a free agent (maybe she is heading back ashore with Jack?).

I don't really have that much planned in terms of dialog right at the beginning of the evening (hint, hint)...

[Kalzazz]

What are others doing also, and do any of them want help?

In particular is Thomas planning any cool adventures tonight?

[Huxley]

Upon waking, Leo looks for Jocelin.

"You mentioned that your friends have all left the city, because of the hurricane. Could you show me where your Caitiff friend resided? Perhaps she has returned. In particular, with the early night, I'm hoping to search out the Anarchs."

[SD Anderson]

Jack gets Leo to a private spot. "Have you contacted the Justicar about the schedule change we spoke about?"

[Kalzazz]

"Antoinette? We could try to visit her, sure"

[Parzival]

At some point while people are muddling about, I give Leo the document my friends in Boston forwarded to me.
With a warning that they could get into a lot of trouble if he makes it public.

[Detritus]

At some point while people are muddling about, I give Leo the document my friends in Boston forwarded to me.
With a warning that they could get into a lot of trouble if he makes it public.
((OOC -- Can you please PM me a reminder about the subject matter of this document? I'm on the road and don't have my game notes with me. Thanks.))

[Parzival]

Done deal.

(fillerfillerfiller)

[Detritus]

What are others doing also, and do any of them want help?

In particular is Thomas planning any cool adventures tonight?
The only Tremere likely to go ashore tonight would be Sabine. The Texas Tremere are going to be busy either with Leo's ritual or perhaps studying Lazarus's condition.

[Huxley]

Jack gets Leo to a private spot. "Have you contacted the Justicar about the schedule change we spoke about?"

"No, I have not. Is there something that you want me to pass along?"

[Parzival]

I want to find out more about Lazarus. Starting with who he is.

[SD Anderson]

"No, I have not. Is there something that you want me to pass along?"


Making DAMN SURE this is said in private:

"Just the basic idea we discussed. namely that he doesn't come here. Demetrious can't defend himself because he's in Torpor and no real hearing can be held. Unofficially it's far too dangerous to come here, one of his investigators was murdered as part of a two prong attack - send a decoy if he can but don't come here himself under any circumstances whatsoever. And just a hint. Stay safe and sound and don't come down south right now."

"Aside from that, tell him to have a nice day."

[Detritus]

Kallista comes by around 830 pm and asks of both the Tremere and the Justicar's agents which of you will be coming ashore tonight. She asks the Tremere first, and you hear that only Sabine will be going ashore.

What do you tell her?

[SD Anderson]

"Meeting the Justicar could prove... interesting tonight." Jack says.

"How do you want to proceed Leo?"

[Huxley]

"We will all be going ashore. Unless you were planning on finding more about Lazarus from the boat, Menachem?"

((OOC: The Justicar's arrival is tommoro night, isn't it? Or am I adding a night in my head?))

[Detritus]

"We will all be going ashore. Unless you were planning on finding more about Lazarus from the boat, Menachem?"

((OOC: The Justicar's arrival is tommoro night, isn't it? Or am I adding a night in my head?))
((OOC -- Correct, it's tomorrow night, and what's more, it's late tomorrow, i.e. pre-dawn Friday a.m.))

[SD Anderson]

"We will all be going ashore. Unless you were planning on finding more about Lazarus from the boat, Menachem?"

((OOC: The Justicar's arrival is tommoro night, isn't it? Or am I adding a night in my head?))

"tomorrow night being 12:30 am tonight. Approximately 7 hours from now. Which is why Jack really really wanted you to pass that message mentioned to Leo in http://www.criticalfumble.net/forum/showthread.php?p=96328&highlight=Justicar+Decoy#post96328

[Detritus]

"tomorrow night being 12:30 am tonight. Approximately 7 hours from now. Which is why Jack really really wanted you to pass that message mentioned to Leo in http://www.criticalfumble.net/forum/showthread.php?p=96328&highlight=Justicar+Decoy#post96328
No, this is not correct, at least the timing isn't.

Think of it this way -- you left for Houston after sunset on Sunday. The Justicar is following with a ~ 72-hour time lag, i.e. he is leaving for Houston tonight. He will not be traveling between Houston and NOLA during the day on Thursday, the way that you did during the day on Monday. This is where the "extra" night in NOLA is coming from, because you got there at sunset Monday instead of pre-dawn on Tuesday.

If he is not deflected from his current schedule, Arcadian arrives in NOLA in the pre-dawn hours of Friday morning.

[SD Anderson]

No, this is not correct, at least the timing isn't.

Think of it this way -- you left for Houston after sunset on Sunday. The Justicar is following with a ~ 72-hour time lag, i.e. he is leaving for Houston tonight. He will not be traveling between Houston and NOLA during the day on Thursday, the way that you did during the day on Monday. This is where the "extra" night in NOLA is coming from, because you got there at sunset Monday instead of pre-dawn on Tuesday.

If he is not deflected from his current schedule, Arcadian arrives in NOLA in the pre-dawn hours of Friday morning.

You are correct to the extent the Justicar is coming to a metting sceduled 24 hours or so later. The meeting is pushed forward a day specifically to mess up any plans Drake may have, if she is the killer.

The fact that the Justicar was not notified about changes in plan last evening may prove... interesting.

[Detritus]

You are correct to the extent the Justicar is coming to a metting sceduled 24 hours or so later. The meeting is pushed forward a day specifically to mess up any plans Drake may have, if she is the killer.

The fact that the Justicar was not notified about changes in plan last evening may prove... interesting.
Well, you can still contact him in Houston tonight...

[SD Anderson]

OOC: As one of a number of non-archons in the group, I hope *I* don't have to.

[Detritus]

Shortly after Kallista departs, Sarah arrives and informs Leo that the ritual will begin at 900 pm. There's about 20-25 minutes left for any important phone calls or the like before the ritual starts...

[Parzival]

"We will all be going ashore. Unless you were planning on finding more about Lazarus from the boat, Menachem?"

I don't even have the foggiest idea who this person is. And I seem to be alone in that regard.

[Detritus]

I don't even have the foggiest idea who this person is. And I seem to be alone in that regard.
He is an elder Tremere and sometime instructor of Rebekka. That's pretty much all you know about him right now.

[Huxley]

Leo nods, "I'll be there". He waits a few moments, then slinks away from the group in search of a telephone. He picks up the reciever, and stands quietly for a moment to make sure no one is near.

Leo dials the Justicar's phone number, and tensely waits for a response.

[Detritus]

Leo dials the Justicar's phone number, and tensely waits for a response.
"Hello..."

[Huxley]

"Hello..."

Leo whispers into the phone, sounding like a snake who gained the ability to speak, "Please put me through to Justicar Walsh, this is Leolin Friskin"

[does so]


"My liege, I felt the situation here warranted contacting you early. There are a number of signs that point to this hearing being little else than a trap for you. In addition, Demetrious is dead. We're meeting with Drake tommoro, but I urge you to send a decoy. Jack has made many preperations for the defense of this hearing, should it come down to that, but he and I both agreed that your life was not worth risking for the sake of this particular trial."

[Detritus]

Leo whispers into the phone, sounding like a snake who gained the ability to speak, "Please put me through to Justicar Walsh, this is Leolin Friskin"

[does so]


"My liege, I felt the situation here warranted contacting you early. There are a number of signs that point to this hearing being little else than a trap for you. In addition, Demetrious is dead. We're meeting with Drake tommoro, but I urge you to send a decoy. Jack has made many preperations for the defense of this hearing, should it come down to that, but he and I both agreed that your life was not worth risking for the sake of this particular trial."
"Demetrious is the Kindred against whom Miss Drake is lodging her complaint? And he has been destroyed? How did this happen?"

[Huxley]

"Demetrious is the Kindred against whom Miss Drake is lodging her complaint? And he has been destroyed? How did this happen?"

"My apologies for being misleading -- he is dead, not destroyed -- sent into torpor by. . . I would guess some kind of magic. He was about to give his testimony, and his mouth shut up and he fell into torpor. I am uncertain, at this point, of the exact circumstances of the case, but I am certain that someone is trying to harm you, and signs point that they have a fairly capable force"

[Detritus]

"My apologies for being misleading -- he is dead, not destroyed -- sent into torpor by. . . I would guess some kind of magic. He was about to give his testimony, and his mouth shut up and he fell into torpor. I am uncertain, at this point, of the exact circumstances of the case, but I am certain that someone is trying to harm you, and signs point that they have a fairly capable force"
"I understand. Please conduct your interview tonight and apprise me of the results before sunrise.

Is there anything else?"

[Huxley]

"I understand. Please conduct your interview tonight and apprise me of the results before sunrise.

Is there anything else?"

"No, my liege. I will do as you command"

Leo hangs up the phone and stands still. He listens for anyone's nearby presence, then returns to the main group.

[Detritus]

As you complete your call and head back to your room, you see the Tremere bustling back and forth between their guest quarters and the room in which Menachem began his trans-Atlantic astral sojourn. At a few minutes before 2100, Sarah stops by again:

"We're ready for you now, Leo," she says. "Your companions are welcome to observe tonight's proceedings if they wish, it will be a pretty short affair," she says before returning to the ritual room without waiting for anyone to join her.

((OOC -- Who wants to observe?))

[Detritus]

As you complete your call and head back to your room, you see the Tremere bustling back and forth between their guest quarters and the room in which Menachem began his trans-Atlantic astral sojourn. At a few minutes before 2100, Sarah stops by again:

"We're ready for you now, Leo," she says. "Your companions are welcome to observe tonight's proceedings if they wish, it will be a pretty short affair," she says before returning to the ritual room without waiting for anyone to join her.

((OOC -- Who wants to observe? If you aren't going to observe, what do you want to do?))

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin wants to observe

[SD Anderson]

Jack tells Leo "I'd better get over to the meeting site. A few things I need to get ready."

(Assuming there's no problem, Jack will get Ramiel and any other NPCs the Prince may want over there and set up a perimeter at the school.)

Once there, Jack will call the Bats as arranged previously and let them feed on summoned bugs so they may stick to the rafters and hopefully may obscure the vision of presumed raiders coming in through the front door.

This will be all fatigue powered btw.

[Parzival]

If they've got any surviving official records here, I'd like to look up Lazarus.

[Huxley]

Leo follows Sarah into the ritual room.

[Detritus]

If they've got any surviving official records here, I'd like to look up Lazarus.
Nothing on board the boat itself, but there are records ashore, at least for the Camarilla.

Jack tells Leo "I'd better get over to the meeting site. A few things I need to get ready."

(Assuming there's no problem, Jack will get Ramiel and any other NPCs the Prince may want over there and set up a perimeter at the school.)

Once there, Jack will call the Bats as arranged previously and let them feed on summoned bugs so they may stick to the rafters and hopefully may obscure the vision of presumed raiders coming in through the front door.

This will be all fatigue powered btw.
When did you want to go ashore? I had originally thought 11 pm, but that might be a little late in retrospect. I can move the departure earlier, but you'll probably want to wait for Leo's blood-sniffing abilities to activate and have him come ashore with you.

EDIT -- Another possibility would be to prevail upon Mr. Johnson to move his boat to shore at least for the departure, if people want to leave at different times.

[SD Anderson]

Actually, given the fact there is a more or less abandoned school building to prep ahead of time and little time for that prep work Jack will go there as soon as feasible. This will include looking over positions for the Prince's snipers if we get any. And everyone is keeping an eye out for the fuse lightin' idjit.

Once he's been enchanted, I assume Leo will go with Tremere who cast the spell to the school.

[SD Anderson]

A compromise for the Prince's boat. Anything that large almost certainly has a motorboat that acts like a dinghy and if not he certainly has access to a swift boat or several in the Marina. He could anchor a half mile to a mile off shore and still have a quick turn around transit to shore time. (Assuming the Prince can get the harbor police to look the other way as the boat breaks the speed limit near the docks, 40 mph vs 1/2 a mile to a mile, not a problem.)

[Detritus]

A compromise for the Prince's boat. Anything that large almost certainly has a motorboat that acts like a dinghy and if not he certainly has access to a swift boat or several in the Marina. He could anchor a half mile to a mile off shore and still have a quick turn around transit to shore time. (Assuming the Prince can get the harbor police to look the other way as the boat breaks the speed limit near the docks, 40 mph vs 1/2 a mile to a mile, not a problem.)
OK, we can do that. We'll assume the necessary arrangements are made off-screen.

I'll be posting some more game stuff shortly...

[Detritus]

Those of you who accompany Leo see a similar layout to that from two nights before, although only Rebekka, Sarah, and Sabine are present when you arrive. There are low tables that have a number of candles on them in all four corners in the room, and the same waist-high table in the center of the room. The table holds the same silver dagger and brazier used in the previous warding, a silver goblet large enough to be held with two hands, two bowls of powder (one of which you recognize as incense), each with its own spoon, a unit of blood, and Sarah's Crown Royal bag. There is no circle of twine on the floor, however.

Once you all arrive, Sarah fishes out the eight dice she used to ward the conference room last night, and another die that is red and has pentagonal faces with edges about half an inch in length. The face that is directly up reads 8, and the five adjacent faces read 4, 9, 14, 12, and 13. Sarah pushes the cubic dice towards Sabine, who picks up pairwise a white and black die and moves her hand up and down as if weighing them by feel.

Rebekka turns to Leo and says, "Tonight, we will attune a magical object to help you to determine the generation of a vampire, and also to tell whether that vampire has a blood relation with Justicar Walsh. This is the object," she says, pointing to the red die. "Will you please give us a demonstration of its operation, Sarah?"

Sarah picks up the die and shows all 12 of its faces, each of which is distinctly numbered from 4 to 15 in white print. "Basically, you concentrate on a vampire you can see, mentally ask the die to tell you her generation, and then one of the numbers lights up." She then closes her hand around the die, looks at Leo for a few seconds, and opens her hand. The side that reads 11 now glows with a faint white light.

"Did I get it right?" she asks with a smile.

[Huxley]

"Did I get it right?" she asks with a smile.

Leo regards the ritual with interest. "Precisely. But what indicates that one is or is not related to the Justicar? And would someone who normally has mental powers be able to detect the probing?"

[Detritus]

Leo regards the ritual with interest. "Precisely. But what indicates that one is or is not related to the Justicar? And would someone who normally has mental powers be able to detect the probing?"
Answering your second question first, Rebekka says, "The probe should not be detectable, so long as you do not give it away by more mundane means. It is important that the die be held in the hand when you concentrate. Before proceeding with tonight's work, you shall have a chance to practice using it.

"In order to verify consanguinity with Arcadian, it will be necessary to perform tonight's ritual. In brief, the theory underpinning the ritual is as follows. It will be necessary to immerse the die in your blood. You will then think of Justicar Walsh while your blood is burned away. In so doing, we will ensure that the die is not confused by the signature of your own blood, which will be far more potent due to your proximity whenever you employ the die. At the same time, your concentration on the Justicar will allow the die to signal when you are concentrating on a descendant of the Justicar. In memory of the flame, the die will heat to the touch whenever this occurs. Not enough to cause damage, or even be painful, but it will warm up."

Rebekka waves towards the unit of blood and the bowls of powder as she continues. "Prince Johnson has graciously provided this unit of blood from his private reserves for tonight's ritual. In order to facilitate the concentration procedure, the blood will be laced with a small amount of psilocybin. The more vivid the imagery, the better the result of the ritual."

At this, Rebekka pauses, and then asks, "Are you willing to consent to participate in the ritual, knowing what lies before you?"

[Detritus]

((OOC -- For those of you heading immediately ashore, you can be ashore a bit after 930 pm. Kallista will accompany Menachem, and Ramiel and Radeyah will both go with Jack. I'll get to these arcs in a bit...))

[Detritus]

The prince informs Jack that he'll be meeting with Staff Sergeant Charles Baker, commanding officer of the infantry squad to help provide firepower for the good guys' side, at 2230 on the grounds of Jackson High.

[Detritus]

Menachem and Kallista (and her ghoul from last night) are headed to the Louisiana State Museum, located in the French Quarter at the triangle formed by Decatur, Barracks, and Esplanade. Kallista explains that the museum is part of the city's Elysium, and that the records are open to anyone who cares to peruse them.

When you get to the museum, Kallista leads you to a side entrance, and then to where the records are kept. This is the report you find on Lazarus:

Name and lineage - Lazarus, childe of Olaf Stromberg, childe of Etrius

Embrace - AD 1606

Clan - Tremere

Generation - 6th

Known childer - Astrid Thomas, Ian Forrestal

Camarilla offices held
Primogen, Munich (1698-1735)
Primogen, Stockholm (1780-1821)
Primogen, Boston (1866-1894)
Primogen, Washington DC (1932-1965)

Current residence - New Orleans (1979-present)

No known violations of the Traditions.

[SD Anderson]

The prince informs Jack that he'll be meeting with Staff Sergeant Charles Baker, commanding officer of the infantry squad to help provide firepower for the good guys' side, at 2230 on the grounds of Jackson High.

"Excellent!" Jack says to the Prince. "We might just not only put the fear of God into our presumed army of anarchs, but even make sure they greet Him personally to be afraid before the night is out."

"Although it must be like Clarence and Ober from the Airplane! movie what with his name and the Able Baker Charlie Delta Easy call sign systems the Army uses... a minor bit of hell for him."

Assuming there aren't any ambushes between the dock and the school, Jack will meet with Sgt. Baker. And he won't make any such cracks about the name either.

[Parzival]

Well, as long as I'm here... I'll look up Astrid Thomas and Ian Forrestal.

[Detritus]

Well, as long as I'm here... I'll look up Astrid Thomas and Ian Forrestal.
The records only include Kindred who are living or have lived in New Orleans, and neither of Lazarus's childer have ever done so.

[Huxley]

At this, Rebekka pauses, and then asks, "Are you willing to consent to participate in the ritual, knowing what lies before you?"

"Yes", answers Leo, his voice deep and rasp.

[Detritus]

"Yes", answers Leo, his voice deep and rasp.
"Very good," replies Rebekka.

"Before we proceed, you should familiarize yourself with using the die, while you are in full command of your faculties. Take the die and concentrate on whomever you wish with the purpose of learning their generation," she says, with a knowing look in her eyes.

[Detritus]

((OOC -- Time and place summary for the PCs as of this post:

Leo/Jocelin - With Rebekka, Sarah, and Sabine aboard the prince's yacht, shortly after 9 pm.

Menachem - With Kallista at the Louisiana State Museum, shortly after 10 pm.

Jack - With Ramiel and Radeyah at Jackson High, shortly before 1030 pm.))

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

Jack and the Toreador arrive at Jackson High shortly after 10 pm. After making a quick sweep of the grounds, the Kindred meet the infantry squad deployed from the Jackson Barracks.

The team is led by Staff Sgt. Charles Baker. ((For a visual image of Sgt. Baker, think of Brock Peters portraying Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird, except that he's just starting to go grey.))

Sgt. Baker introduces you to Sgt. Michael Joehnk and Sgt. Hal Davis as the fire team leaders. The mission specialists are Sgt. Lance Collins and Sgt. Cedric Darby. After introductions are made, Sgt. Baker asks where specifically you would like the sharpshooters to set up.

[Huxley]

"Did I get it right?" Sarah asks with a smile.


"Very good," replies Rebekka.

"Before we proceed, you should familiarize yourself with using the die, while you are in full command of your faculties. Take the die and concentrate on whomever you wish with the purpose of learning their generation," she says, with a knowing look in her eyes.

Leo picks up the die, and looks at Sarah. Not being adept at using mind powers, he inclines his head forward, raises his fist, and is generally obvious that he is concentrating on Sarah and her generation. He opens his hand. . .

[Detritus]

Leo picks up the die, and looks at Sarah. Not being adept at using mind powers, he inclines his head forward, raises his fist, and is generally obvious that he is concentrating on Sarah and her generation. He opens his hand. . .
Please give me a Will roll...

[SD Anderson]

((OOC -- Time and place summary for the PCs as of this post:

Leo/Jocelin - With Rebekka, Sarah, and Sabine aboard the prince's yacht, shortly after 9 pm.

Menachem - With Kallista at the Louisiana State Museum, shortly after 10 pm.

Jack - With Ramiel and Radeyah at Jackson High, shortly before 1030 pm.))

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

Jack and the Toreador arrive at Jackson High shortly after 10 pm. After making a quick sweep of the grounds, the Kindred meet the infantry squad deployed from the Jackson Barracks.

The team is led by Staff Sgt. Charles Baker. ((For a visual image of Sgt. Baker, think of Brock Peters portraying Boo Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird, except that he's just starting to go grey.))

Sgt. Baker introduces you to Sgt. Michael Joehnk and Sgt. Hal Davis as the fire team leaders. The mission specialists are Sgt. Lance Collins and Sgt. Cedric Darby. After introductions are made, Sgt. Baker asks where specifically you would like the sharpshooters to set up.

"Well the morons who hit us at MLK last night just came in a pick up truck. Two guys one got out. He had a submachinegun and ahem a lit fuse bundle of stick dynamite or TNT. The other group at least deployed from a distance, crept in and set up an ambush. Given the set up here, I'm expecting a pretty direct assault. There's not a good deal of cover around the buildings. I'd like the snipers set up to be able to pin them down outside the building we're using. We have a VIP attending and first priority is to be able to get him out safely if any trouble starts at all. Where they're deployed exactly I'll leave to your judgement." Jack says.

"And what did they tell you, and what have you heard or otherwise know about these guys? You're local and I'm not." (OOC: I'm trying to determine if these guys are aware of the Masquerade.)

[Detritus]

Leo picks up the die, and looks at Sarah. Not being adept at using mind powers, he inclines his head forward, raises his fist, and is generally obvious that he is concentrating on Sarah and her generation. He opens his hand. . .
As you take the now-dark die in your hand and put forth your mental effort, you are rewarded with a faint glow that illuminates the crack between your middle and ring fingers. Upon opening your hand, you turn the die until you see the number 11 glowing yet again. Sarah turns towards Jocelin and gives her a somewhat exaggerated affirmative nod while tapping her nose three times, which prompts a droll grin from Sabine.

"Yes, you see, that is all there is to it," says Rebekka with a slight smile of encouragement. "In future usage, you might want to be a little less conspicuous in your concentration, however. As I have already said, the die's effect is not detectable by the subject, but unusual activity or expressions in conjunction with the scan may alert the subject that something is amiss."

On that note, Sabine begins to set the protective ward using Sarah's six-siders, and Sarah empties the unit of blood into the goblet and stirs in a bit of the hallucinogen. Rebekka asks, "Do you have any final questions before we proceed?"

[Detritus]

"Well the morons who hit us at MLK last night just came in a pick up truck. Two guys one got out. He had a submachinegun and ahem a lit fuse bundle of stick dynamite or TNT. The other group at least deployed from a distance, crept in and set up an ambush. Given the set up here, I'm expecting a pretty direct assault. There's not a good deal of cover around the buildings. I'd like the snipers set up to be able to pin them down outside the building we're using. We have a VIP attending and first priority is to be able to get him out safely if any trouble starts at all. Where they're deployed exactly I'll leave to your judgement." Jack says.

"And what did they tell you, and what have you heard or otherwise know about these guys? You're local and I'm not." (OOC: I'm trying to determine if these guys are aware of the Masquerade.)
Sgt. Baker gives orders for the sharpshooters to cover the main entrances to the portion of the building nearest to the auditorium, in such a way that they can also both target the parking lot. The remainder of the squad receive orders to do perimeter sweeps of the building and report every 10 minutes.

Once his men leave, Sgt. Baker says, "As far as the men know, they're up against a well-armed gang that needs to learn a lesson about force multipliers. On some level, they understand the magnitude of the threat, but... not consciously.

"As for me, you or one of your associates might be able to confirm that there is a bit more to me than first meets the eye."

Following this statement, both Toreador peer intently at the sergeant, and Radeyah says with a touch of surprise, "He is a Ghoul."

Sgt. Baker nods and says, "My men are good, but they might not be able to repel a sizable contingent of your brethren. Will there be ...reinforcements on your side of things?"

[SD Anderson]

Sgt. Baker gives orders for the sharpshooters to cover the main entrances to the portion of the building nearest to the auditorium, in such a way that they can also both target the parking lot. The remainder of the squad receive orders to do perimeter sweeps of the building and report every 10 minutes.

Once his men leave, Sgt. Baker says, "As far as the men know, they're up against a well-armed gang that needs to learn a lesson about force multipliers. On some level, they understand the magnitude of the threat, but... not consciously.

"As for me, you or one of your associates might be able to confirm that there is a bit more to me than first meets the eye."

Following this statement, both Toreador peer intently at the sergeant, and Radeyah says with a touch of surprise, "He is a Ghoul."

Sgt. Baker nods and says, "My men are good, but they might not be able to repel a sizable contingent of your brethren. Will there be ...reinforcements on your side of things?"

"I may have to take animal form. If you see a fanged red eyed Gorilla with a gun and holster running around, please hold your fire."

[Huxley]

Rebekka asks, "Do you have any final questions before we proceed?"

"None".

3[filler^2]

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin isn't quite sure what Sarah is trying to say, so she smiles and nods

[Detritus]

"I may have to take animal form. If you see a fanged red eyed Gorilla with a gun and holster running around, please hold your fire."
Sgt. Baker gives you a bit of a dubious look and asks, "Is your going ape shit on these guys going to be enough?"

((OOC -- Has a fake Arcadian been worked out yet? If not, I can probably do a bit of behind-the-scenes retconning that would manifest itself shortly in this thread...))

[Detritus]

"None".

3[filler^2]
Upon hearing your reply, Rebekka gives a swift nod, and Sarah pushes the goblet towards you. She offers a quiet "chug-a-lug" with a quirk on her lips once the goblet comes to rest before you.

"Please drink the contents of the goblet now," say Rebekka. "Before we come to your part in the ritual, we must sever the affinity between Sarah and her die."

After Leo finishes drinking, Sabine concentrates on the die, which then begins to float upward until it is about 6 inches above the surface of the table. Sarah then takes the silver dagger and opens a small cut on her hand. Her bleeding does not drip towards the table, but instead bubbles toward the die until blood coats all its faces.

After healing her wound, Sarah says, "For three days hence, I relinquish all claim to this object." As she finishes, Rebekka cups her hands several inches away from the die, as if they gripped a basketball with the die at its center. The space between her hands becomes wavy to vision, and then begins to glow white-orange with supernal flame that scourges the die clean of its coating of vitae.

((OOC -- The crux of the ritual will be forthcoming soon...))

[Detritus]

With the first portion of the ritual completed, Rebekka now instructs Leo to open a wound on his wrist using his fang. Once his blood coats the die in the same way that Sarah's did, she then gives the go-ahead for Leo to lick his wound shut.

With the drug beginning to take hold of the edges of Leo's consciouness, Rebekka says, "Before we proceed to the ritual cleansing, you must now focus on Justicar Walsh, as you know him."

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

From this point onward, this is how Jocelin sees the ritual unfold:

Rebekka gives Leo perhaps 20 seconds to call forth his visualization of Arcadian. She then briefly closes her eyes and appears to assume a perfect likeness of Arcadian's physical form. A few seconds later, Sarah says, "For three days hence, he whose blood covers you shall be your possessor."

Rebekka-Arcadian then cups his hands around the die. As the white-orange glow appears again, Sarah then says, "When you encounter those of your master's master's blood, you shall warm in token of the memory of the flame."

The flame then recedes, and the die, bearing no outward sign of the two trials by fire it has undergone, floats slowly downward until it rests upon the table once more.

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

This is what Leo experiences during the final portion of the ritual:

As the drugs in your blood begin to take even further hold over your awareness, you begin to visualize the essence of Arcadian's being as you understand it. Shortly into the visualization exercise, you feel the brush of Rebekka's mind on yours.

"Do not be alarmed, I wish only to aid you in your focus on the Justicar," she says, and then briefly closes her eyes.

Upon opening her eyes, she no longer carries her own form, but wears instead the perfect likeness of Arcadian's physical body. You then hear Sarah say something, but the words are lost on you.

The Arcadian-spectre then closes his hands around the die, as Rebekka did earlier in the ritual, but where last time you saw a ball of flame between Rebekka's palms, Arcadian holds what you are certain is your unbeating heart in his hands. You feel your heart warm inside your chest even as the vision of your heart begins to glow orange-red. You then notice the flesh of Arcadian's face and hands begin to melt like wax as your external heart explodes in a burst of searing flesh and blood.

((OOC -- Can you give me a (Rötschreck - 5) roll for Leo, Huxley? This would be Will + Courage - 5.))

[Detritus]

As the die comes to rest on the table, Leo begins to waver on his feet. Rebekka's assumed external form dissolves, and she and Sarah each reach out a steadying hand towards the stunned Archon as Sabine moves the table out of the way.

"Leo, can you hear me?" asks Rebekka, but no reply comes for several seconds. A thin stream of blood trickles from each of Leo's tear ducts until he comes to. Rebekka and Sarah lower Leo to a sitting position, and after moving the table aside, Sabine kneels in front of Leo and gives him a searching look that lasts for many seconds.

"I think he will be OK, but he may need to be talked down a bit while the drug runs it course," she says to Jocelin and the other two Tremere. "He probably won't be fit for much of anything for an hour yet."

Rebekka turns to Jocelin and says, "I am afraid it will be up to you to watch over your colleague, there is still much for the rest of us to do before we go ashore." At Rebekka's signal, Sabine dismisses the ward, and they both begin to leave the room. Sarah lingers for a moment, still seated beside Leo, takes his right hand into both of hers, and begins to sing with a soft but clear voice:

"Hush now don't you cry
Wipe away the teardrop from your eye
You're lying safe in bed
It was all a bad dream spinning in your head..."

"Sarah," Rebekka calls to her from the doorway with a gentle, indulgent voice. "Come, there is still much work for us to do tonight." Sarah meets Jocelin's gaze for a moment, and then nods at Rebekka, rising from the floor and leaving the room with her Regent.

A few seconds after they leave, Jocelin hears Sarah say, "Franzia, Thomas?! You got Franzia for this?!" from down the hallway.

Thomas does not respond, but Rebekka says, "Peace, Sarah, it will suffice..." before the door to the Tremeres' quarters is shut.

[Detritus]

((OOC -- Leo will be at the same level of Blood Pool between the blood he drank and the blood that was used in the ritual and its aftermath. He is down 6 Fatigue, which will take an hour to recover, and in that time, he'll be clear of the effects of the psilocybin.))

[Detritus]

OK, to sum up the status of the party, after the completion of Leo's ritual:

Leo and Jocelin will be ready to head ashore right around the time that Jack is coordinating with Sgt. Baker, and at that time we'll say that Menachem is wrapping up his research. Hux and Kal may, at their discretion, RP as much or as little of Leo's 'shroom time as they wish before they head ashore.

The GM is given to understand that Leo wants to visit Jocelin's friend Antoinette before the meeting with Samantha at 0030. There should be sufficient time to do this, but Jocelin does not know for sure if Antoinette has returned to the city. Jocelin also knows that Sabine was seen with Bianca (the leader of the Brujah clan/Anarchs in NO) and Camille Devereux (the Toreador-ish Gangrel) at the Storyville Jazz Hall last night (since she attended this gathering herself), and that Sabine probably knows how to get in touch with them.

At the players' discretion, they may confide in Sabine and take her along into the city. Or not, if you want to get away from the Tremere for a bit. Either way is fine, just be forewarned, finding Antoinette is not necessarily a sure thing. Jocelin could probably arrange to meet with Bianca herself, but whether in enough time to happen before the hearing with Samantha is an open question.

The GM is also given to understand that 1) the Tremere are expected to have a presence at the meeting tonight, and that 2) there is some sort of as of now unspecified plan to have a fake Justicar at tonight's meeting. Neither of these things has been worked out in much detail.

Having some Tremere at the meeting is fine, we can just say that they were told about the specifics off-screen. Thomas and Merill were specifically charged to recover and protect Lazarus, so they can't come, but the female Tremere have more flexibility in what they can do. The plan for a decoy has also not really been worked out, but we can also stipulate that Rebekka has agreed to be the stand-in for Arcadian, if that is satisfactory at the PCs' end. If there's any question about her motives here, she is keen on possibly capturing Lucian, should he show his face at the meeting. (Now that I think of it, I suppose Leo and Jocelin may bring along all three female Tremere while they go into the city looking for Anarchs, or not, as they see fit.)

Let me know whether you want to fast-forward through Leo's 'shroom time, or if there is anything that Menachem or Jack want to do while Leo and Jocelin go looking for some Anarchs.

[Huxley]

Trying to retain some semblance of self-control and power, Leo remains in the position that Sarah and Rebekka sat him on, hands on knees, staring at the wall, unconsciously quivering underneath his loose clothing. As soon as the Tremere leave and shut the door, he pulls his legs up to his chest, and begins to deliberately breath. Occasionally he glances left and right, but more often he seems to move his head as if his ear were leading it.

After a long silence, he speaks to Jocelin without looking at her, "Sometimes. . . I wish I could shut my eyes. . ."

[Detritus]

OK, so Jocelin provides mainly silent comfort for Leo as he comes down. After the hour immediately following the ritual has passed, the three female Tremere return to the ritual room, where the Dallas Kindred have remained during that time.

Rebekka approaches Leo and kneels beside him. "Are you ready to go ashore?" she asks. As you look at her, you think she might be a bit more rosy-cheeked than usual, perhaps as if she has fed upon a large quantity of vitae.

[Huxley]

Rebekka approaches Leo and kneels beside him. "Are you ready to go ashore?" she asks. As you look at her, you think she might be a bit more rosy-cheeked than usual, perhaps as if she has fed upon a large quantity of vitae.

Leo nods. "There is a lot to be done. No need to waste what time we have".

[SD Anderson]

Jack does a perimert check around the auditorium then climbs up to the rafters and sets up a swing line using available electrical cable. (ooc: The computer has been back and operating all of ten minutes so far. ;) )

[Detritus]

Leo nods. "There is a lot to be done. No need to waste what time we have".
"Yes, we have much to do tonight," says Rebekka, meeting Leo and Jocelin's gazes in turn.

"If all goes as planned, we may well meet an adversary that is determined, resourceful, and utterly ruthless. A foe, in short, that has embraced The Beast with both arms and now channels its destructive urges into a union with calculating reason to achieve her ends. If the time comes when it is necessary, will you grasp the legacy of Caine as completely as she has in order to defeat her?"

[Huxley]

"If all goes as planned, we may well meet an adversary that is determined, resourceful, and utterly ruthless. A foe, in short, that has embraced The Beast with both arms and now channels its destructive urges into a union with calculating reason to achieve her ends. If the time comes when it is necessary, will you grasp the legacy of Caine as completely as she has in order to defeat her?"

"If she needs to be disposed of, then she will be slain. There's no need to become a monster in order to do that, if that is what you are suggesting"

[Huxley]

". . . which reminds me. Do your magics have the ability to change what you look like?"

[Detritus]

"If she needs to be disposed of, then she will be slain. There's no need to become a monster in order to do that, if that is what you are suggesting"
"It is not exactly what I am suggesting. I think she is in touch with her Beast without having lost control, and that will make her an even more formidable opponent than we might think of her right now," replies Rebekka

"Have you ever slain one of your fellow Kindred before?" she asks.

". . . which reminds me. Do your magics have the ability to change what you look like?"
"It would be a similar method to what you use, I think," she says.

((Can you give me an IQ roll for Leo?))

[Huxley]

"Have you ever slain one of your fellow Kindred before?" she asks.



[Lies] "Yes."

(Vampiric filler)

[Detritus]

[Lies] "Yes."

(Vampiric filler)
Please give me a Fast-Talk roll.

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

After a brief moment of concentration, Rebekka's outward form changes to an exact likeness of Arcadian's.

"You are familiar with the technique?" she asks. ((OOC -- She asks in Arcadian's voice; I'll house-rule that Mask also covers vocalization...))

[SD Anderson]

Please give me a Fast-Talk roll.

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

After a brief moment of concentration, Rebekka's outward form changes to an exact likeness of Arcadian's.

"You are familiar with the technique?" she asks. ((OOC -- She asks in Arcadian's voice; I'll house-rule that Mask also covers vocalization...))


Anything seen during that perimeter check? (post #72)

[Detritus]

Anything seen during that perimeter check? (post #72)
As of 1030-1100 pm, you see nothing but the other patrollers.

[SD Anderson]

Jack will then make sure the Bats undestand what I want them to do in return for calling the bugs in. I give a signal and they fly into the faces and buzz around the intruders.

He's also setting up a command overview point up in the rafters and setting up a swing line to get down fast via brachiator if/when trouble comes in.

He'll check in again with the national guards and see if they have road flares handy. Could be useful.

[Huxley]

After a brief moment of concentration, Rebekka's outward form changes to an exact likeness of Arcadian's.

"You are familiar with the technique?" she asks.

Leo is silent for a moment. "Yes. . . of course". He scratches his head, thinking the drugs must still be effecting his thinking, then pauses. He speaks with his finger beating for emphasis, "You know. . . if conflict evolves, it could be useful to have multiple Arcadian's to draw smaller groups into pre-set traps".

[Detritus]

Jack will then make sure the Bats undestand what I want them to do in return for calling the bugs in. I give a signal and they fly into the faces and buzz around the intruders.

He's also setting up a command overview point up in the rafters and setting up a swing line to get down fast via brachiator if/when trouble comes in.

He'll check in again with the national guards and see if they have road flares handy. Could be useful.
You can set things up before others arrive, no problem. Honestly, I don't know whether road flares would be standard issue for the soldiers, but we'll say that Sgt. Baker can radio the base and get some flares by around 1130 pm.

Leo is silent for a moment. "Yes. . . of course". He scratches his head, thinking the drugs must still be effecting his thinking, then pauses. He speaks with his finger beating for emphasis, "You know. . . if conflict evolves, it could be useful to have multiple Arcadian's to draw smaller groups into pre-set traps".
((Rebekka just sort of nods when Leo tells her that he's already sent at least one Kindred to their destruction.))

"Whom do you suggest would play these parts, and how will they be disguised?" she asks.

[Huxley]

"Whom do you suggest would play these parts, and how will they be disguised?" she asks.

"Us, all in the same clothing. If everyone who looks like Arcadian dissapears in the same direction, then splits up, it won't matter that they saw us transform".

[SD Anderson]

You can set things up before others arrive, no problem. Honestly, I don't know whether road flares would be standard issue for the soldiers, but we'll say that Sgt. Baker can radio the base and get some flares by around 1130 pm.


It occured to me that Kindred might not like the flames those flares produce. Could just be a critical tactical edge for us...

[Detritus]

"Us, all in the same clothing. If everyone who looks like Arcadian dissapears in the same direction, then splits up, it won't matter that they saw us transform".
Rebekka looks a bit perplexed as she asks, "So, you are proposing that several of us disguise ourselves, all but one of whom remains hidden until such time as the meeting breaks down, and then the visible fake Arcadian flees towards the hidden ones after which they all separate?

"If the real Arcadian were present, I could see the need for such measures, but he will not be there, correct? Why should we do this? Who will be manning these traps?"

((OOC -- Seriously, WTF?!))

[Huxley]

"If the real Arcadian were present, I could see the need for such measures, but he will not be there, correct? Why should we do this? Who will be manning these traps?"


"Well, perhaps the multiplicity won't be necessary. But I presume that Jack has a standing force, and luring the enemies with one Arcadian into say, a courtyard, where the force could stand on top of the building and the battle will take place below would help keep that force alive. I'm assuming the force will not be comprised of Kindred."

[Detritus]

"Well, perhaps the multiplicity won't be necessary. But I presume that Jack has a standing force, and luring the enemies with one Arcadian into say, a courtyard, where the force could stand on top of the building and the battle will take place below would help keep that force alive. I'm assuming the force will not be comprised of Kindred."
"Have you coordinated this with Jack or his standing force?" asks Rebekka.

[Detritus]

Jack will then make sure the Bats undestand what I want them to do in return for calling the bugs in. I give a signal and they fly into the faces and buzz around the intruders.

He's also setting up a command overview point up in the rafters and setting up a swing line to get down fast via brachiator if/when trouble comes in.

He'll check in again with the national guards and see if they have road flares handy. Could be useful.
You're a little ahead of Leo, time-wise, but at some point some or all of the Tremeresses are going to arrive at the school, and it'll be quiet around the school until then...

[Detritus]

"Have you coordinated this with Jack or his standing force?" asks Rebekka.
OK, let's just move this forward without dialog...

First question -- Do Leo and Jocelin want to take any of the Tremeresses with them when they go looking for Antoinette? If so, who? Any answer from 0-3 will do, just let me know. As a reminder, Sabine is a local Kindred, and you know enough about Sarah and Rebekka at this point to make whatever decision you please concerning their attendance in this search.

Second question -- How many fake Arcadians do you want at the meeting, who will be the stand-ins, what do you want to do with them, and how will this affect the deployment of the snipers and/or foot patrols? There are two snipers, each of whom will be accompanied by one other infantryman. There will then be 8 infantrymen left for patrols and Staff Sgt. Baker. Rebekka is confirmed as a fake Arcadian at this time.

Let me know what you want to do, and we can proceed with the story, or, if there are other issues you want addressed, please bring them to my attention.

[Huxley]

OK, let's just move this forward without dialog...

First question -- Do Leo and Jocelin want to take any of the Tremeresses with them when they go looking for Antoinette? If so, who? Any answer from 0-3 will do, just let me know. As a reminder, Sabine is a local Kindred, and you know enough about Sarah and Rebekka at this point to make whatever decision you please concerning their attendance in this search.

Second question -- How many fake Arcadians do you want at the meeting, who will be the stand-ins, what do you want to do with them, and how will this affect the deployment of the snipers and/or foot patrols? There are two snipers, each of whom will be accompanied by one other infantryman. There will then be 8 infantrymen left for patrols and Staff Sgt. Baker. Rebekka is confirmed as a fake Arcadian at this time.

Let me know what you want to do, and we can proceed with the story, or, if there are other issues you want addressed, please bring them to my attention.

OOC:
Sure deal. Was swept up in the debates and school work, my bad. No, I'll go alone with Jocelin. Best to have as much concentration on the attack site as possible. And you're right, one Arcadian will do. I was thinking breaking up into small groups that the total group could concentrate on, systematically going from group to group, but I don't think we have that kind of terrain in a school yard -- best just to draw or place the whole group into an advantageous location (If one exists). I was also wondering who would be more likely to not be at this meeting, Rebekka or I? I was thinking Rebekka, all things considered, but then again, perhaps Drake doesn't know of my connection.

[Detritus]

OOC:
Sure deal. Was swept up in the debates and school work, my bad.
No worries, I've been pretty sporadic with my posting, too, so I just decided to streamline the decision-making process.

No, I'll go alone with Jocelin. Best to have as much concentration on the attack site as possible. And you're right, one Arcadian will do. I was thinking breaking up into small groups that the total group could concentrate on, systematically going from group to group, but I don't think we have that kind of terrain in a school yard -- best just to draw or place the whole group into an advantageous location (If one exists). I was also wondering who would be more likely to not be at this meeting, Rebekka or I? I was thinking Rebekka, all things considered, but then again, perhaps Drake doesn't know of my connection.
OK, when you reach shore, you and Jocelin part company with the Tremere. Rebekka does not break character on the trip in, and once you shake off the last vestiges of your hallucinogenic fog, you see that she's dressed in a fairly conservative business suit complete with blue silk necktie. You both also notice that Sarah and Sabine are wearing diaphanous blue neck scarves, which look a bit out of place with their outfits (blue jeans and black sweater for Sarah, and a vaguely gothy all-black ensemble for Sabine).

((OOC -- I'll come back to the search for Antoinette in a little bit.))

[Detritus]

Jack will then make sure the Bats undestand what I want them to do in return for calling the bugs in. I give a signal and they fly into the faces and buzz around the intruders.

He's also setting up a command overview point up in the rafters and setting up a swing line to get down fast via brachiator if/when trouble comes in.

He'll check in again with the national guards and see if they have road flares handy. Could be useful.
Shortly after 11 pm, while Jack is touching base with Sgt. Baker in the auditorium, Rebekka-Arcadian, Sarah, and Sabine are escorted in by one of the four-man fire teams patrolling the school's grounds. Rebekka has Arcadian's "game face" already on, Sabine looks a trifle bored with the whole affair, and Sarah is meeting with less than perfect success in her efforts to suppress a little smirk from crossing her lips.

Without waiting for a report from the patrol leader, Sgt. Baker asks Jack, "Are these your friends?"

[SD Anderson]

Shortly after 11 pm, while Jack is touching base with Sgt. Baker in the auditorium, Rebekka-Arcadian, Sarah, and Sabine are escorted in by one of the four-man fire teams patrolling the school's grounds. Rebekka has Arcadian's "game face" already on, Sabine looks a trifle bored with the whole affair, and Sarah is meeting with less than perfect success in her efforts to suppress a little smirk from crossing her lips.

Without waiting for a report from the patrol leader, Sgt. Baker asks Jack, "Are these your friends?"


"Well, I wouldn't go that far. I'm not sure Tremere have friends. I think they have rules against that sort of thing. But they are with us."

[Detritus]

"Well, I wouldn't go that far. I'm not sure Tremere have friends. I think they have rules against that sort of thing. But they are with us."
As Sgt. Baker dismisses the patrol, Sarah winces a little at this comment, and Sabine gives it the classic arched eyebrow response.

Faux Arcadian merely smiles and closes his left hand as if grasping a pole, before sticking his left pinky outwards horizontally.

"Next time we use one of your fingers, ja? We have one of your ghouls be destroyed," he replies.

"So, I take it the preparations are going well?" asks Sarah, her voice a little higher than usual. "What do we have to do?"

[SD Anderson]

As Sgt. Baker dismisses the patrol, Sarah winces a little at this comment, and Sabine gives it the classic arched eyebrow response.

Faux Arcadian merely smiles and closes his left hand as if grasping a pole, before sticking his left pinky outwards horizontally.

"Next time we use one of your fingers, ja? We have one of your ghouls be destroyed," he replies.

"So, I take it the preparations are going well?" asks Sarah, her voice a little higher than usual. "What do we have to do?"

"I'd suggest setting up ambush spots for your hoodoo and back up plans for the voodoo."

"Ask yourselves 'If I was attacking this place, what would I do? Then ask 'What would really ruin it?".

[Detritus]

"I'd suggest setting up ambush spots for your hoodoo and back up plans for the voodoo."

"Ask yourselves 'If I was attacking this place, what would I do? Then ask 'What would really ruin it?".
"You wish for us to secure the perimeter of this building?" asks Rebekka-Arcadian. "It can be done, very tightly, but there is a chance that he would suffocate, eventually, if he remains inside," she says, pointing at Sgt. Baker.

[SD Anderson]

"Air tight... well the Sargeant and his men are going to be outside, I don't think we have any breathers who have to be inside, No. WE may have to retreat if she brings in more force than we anticipate. Getting trapped in there would definitely hurt the Domain of New Orleans, something to avoid."

He thinks for a moment, then brightens. "How about this? Misdirection. Some kind of Hallucination spell that doesn't affect us. They see that playground over there as this Auditorium and the building area as the playground. They make their attack against a pair of blacktop basketball courts, a painted on hopscotch areas and the monkey bars and put themselves directly in our killing zone."

[Detritus]

"Air tight... well the Sargeant and his men are going to be outside, I don't think we have any breathers who have to be inside, No. WE may have to retreat if she brings in more force than we anticipate. Getting trapped in there would definitely hurt the Domain of New Orleans, something to avoid."

He thinks for a moment, then brightens. "How about this? Misdirection. Some kind of Hallucination spell that doesn't affect us. They see that playground over there as this Auditorium and the building area as the playground. They make their attack against a pair of blacktop basketball courts, a painted on hopscotch areas and the monkey bars and put themselves directly in our killing zone."
Rebekka's clanmates both shake their heads in negation as she replies, "The power of illusion is not one of the gifts of Caine accorded to the Tremere. This outward form I now wear, it is not precisely illusory, as your Archon companion well knows."

Rebekka ponders the situation for a moment before continuing. "In its strongest form, the ward would work against even the heaviest of firepower, and we could make a temporary light-tight haven here if needed. But, there is also the matter of the other Dallas Kindred arriving on the scene. It would not do to have them cut off from us and surrounded by hostile forces."

The elder Tremere begins to think out loud. "Fog would blunt the advantage of numbers, but that advantage may still be ours. The Piercing Gaze has uncertain prospects at best against a wary adversary, and you must make eye contact to use it. A ward could separate us from late-arriving reinforcements. Fire can bring fire in response from a numerically superior foe and can adversely affect the concentration of allies. Unseen sentries retain the element of surprise but there is a hefty cost either in weariness or vitae. Majesty can cow the stoutest opponent but cannot be conferred upon anyone who lacks the ability to employ it."

Rebekka considers this litany in silence for nearly a minute before concluding, "I believe that misdirection may be the best course of action after all. As the appointment draws nigh, we will have unseen sentries. I propose to cloak my associates and any members of the Prince's court now present shortly after midnight. Will that suffice?"

[SD Anderson]

"I'm not a magician, most of that litany of magical effects made me go 'Huh?'. You know your craft best. Work them as you see fit. Good luck to your endeavors and Confusion and Indecision to our foes!"

Jack will see how the guardsmen are doing and get back inside to prepare the second line of defense."

[Detritus]

"I'm not a magician, most of that litany of magical effects made me go 'Huh?'. You know your craft best. Work them as you see fit. Good luck to your endeavors and Confusion and Indecision to our foes!"
At this the Tremere and Toreador on site convene for a brief meeting as Rebekka explains what she intends to do.

Jack will see how the guardsmen are doing and get back inside to prepare the second line of defense.
The flares arrive a bit before 2330. We'll say that you get an even dozen. How does Jack want them deployed?

[SD Anderson]

At this the Tremere and Toreador on site convene for a brief meeting as Rebekka explains what she intends to do.


The flares arrive a bit before 2330. We'll say that you get an even dozen. How does Jack want them deployed?

Keep three inside the auditorium. Check and see if there is any plumbing pipe in the Janitorial storage. If not we may have to break up a few student chairs for their legs. Ideally we get lengths of something to make the flares more like WWII German hand grenades, a throwing arm. Duct tape the flares to the pipes. If the trouble does arrive I want plenty of visible flaming jets arcing their way. I figure any vamp who fails the will check(s) is highly likely to catch a burst of M-16 fire.

And the burning flares may hold the vampires back.

[Detritus]

Keep three inside the auditorium. Check and see if there is any plumbing pipe in the Janitorial storage. If not we may have to break up a few student chairs for their legs. Ideally we get lengths of something to make the flares more like WWII German hand grenades, a throwing arm. Duct tape the flares to the pipes. If the trouble does arrive I want plenty of visible flaming jets arcing their way. I figure any vamp who fails the will check(s) is highly likely to catch a burst of M-16 fire.

And the burning flares may hold the vampires back.
Jack can scrounge up some pipe and rig the flares to burn inside them. The flares will last for one hour.

[Detritus]

Back to Leo and Jocelin:

You can make it to Antoinette's haven shortly before quarter past eleven. She doesn't appear to be there -- a knock on the door is met only with silence. Jocelin knows that Antoinette was in Dallas for a while, but they lost touch a couple of months ago, so she might still be in the city.

You've probably got around an hour to look for her in some of her regular haunts, if you wish, and still have time to make it to the scheduled meeting with Samantha.

You might also try finding Bianca (leader of the Brujah clan in New Orleans), whom Jocelin has seen the previous night.

If you're feeling adventuresome, you might also try forcing your way in to Antoinette's haven.

Or, other...

[Kalzazz]

((Would it be possible to phone Antoinette?))

[Huxley]

Leo looks dissapointed, "It's been rather hard to find some unbiased information. . .but I don't want to waste the hour we have in hoping to find someone who may not be in the city"

Leo thinks for a moment then speaks to Jocelin, "Think you can handle trudging through the sewers for a bit?"

[Detritus]

((Would it be possible to phone Antoinette?))
Yeah, sure, you're BFF, Jocelin probably has a cell phone number. However, you happen to get her voice mail when you try to call tonight.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin flips her cellphone closed. "Voice mail"

"Ano . . . are you really sure we want to go the sewers? Theres alligators . . . not that Im afraid of alligators or anything, but alligators are like dragons, and the Morning Star was a dragon and it wouldnt be good if an Archon had to lower himself to the level of the devil"

[Huxley]

Jocelin flips her cellphone closed. "Voice mail"

"Ano . . . are you really sure we want to go the sewers? Theres alligators . . . not that Im afraid of alligators or anything, but alligators are like dragons, and the Morning Star was a dragon and it wouldnt be good if an Archon had to lower himself to the level of the devil"

"If man is five, and the devil is six, then we are four", says Leo with the hint of a smile. "It will only be for an hour. And if something turns up, I think this is the closest thing to politically neutral information we can hope for, outside of a Caitiff".

[Detritus]

OK, once you've figured out who is going into the sewers, what are the objectives of this foray?

[Huxley]

OK, once you've figured out who is going into the sewers, what are the objectives of this foray?

OOC: Look for Nossie's who might've taken refuge from the storm. I figure it's difficult for them to travel, so they had to've taken refuge somewhere, and are probably still in town. If nothing comes up, nothing comes up, and back to the school it is.

[Detritus]

Can I get an Area Knowledge (New Orleans) roll for Jocelin?

[Kalzazz]

"Well, uh, okay . . . we can do that" Jocelin still seems somewhat not to thrilled with the idea

((Will send rolls))

[Detritus]

OK, Jocelin would know that there isn't really much of a sewer system in New Orleans, with it basically being built on a swamp and all. The two Nosferatu that Jocelin knows of in the city essentially live in a van down by the river, several miles upstream from where the Prince's boats have dropped you off/picked you up. She would be able to find the stretch of the waterfront that the Nossies usually haunt pretty easily, but doesn't have any info as to their whereabouts tonight or a phone number to reach them.

The only New Orleans Kindred that aren't in the Prince's household that Jocelin has seen in the brief duration of her return to the city are Sabine, Bianca, and Camille. Sabine is at the meeting place awaiting the arrival of Samantha. Bianca, as the leader of the Brujah clan in New Orleans, would be on Jocelin's list of cell phone numbers. It's not a number that she would normally dial up, but it might be important enough to do it tonight. Camille's number isn't in Jocelin's list; basically what Jocelin knows of her is that she likes to hang out at museums, the opera, etc., all that artsy Toreador stuff, even though she is a member of the Gangrel clan.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin suddenly looks relieved. "Actually, there isnt a sewer system! New Orleans is a swamp."

She will relay the info just posted to Leo if Leo wants/indicates, so Leo can now know it

[Huxley]

Leo nods. "Well, let's try Bianca then".

[Detritus]

Jocelin can reach Bianca, no problem. Do you want to tell her that Leo will also be attending this meeting, and if so, how much about him do you plan on revealing?

[Kalzazz]

I cant think very creatively at the moment, so, in boring not creatively phrased format

Yes, about Leo. Leo is a Cool Philosopher, Archon, and the Toreador dont like him. Also, he wants to know the cool Not the Official Toreador or Tremere Party Line stuff regarding New Orleans

[Detritus]

OK, when you mention Leo, Bianca goes silent for a moment and then says she'll meet you at the Storyville Jazz Hall in 15 minutes (this is where you and Menachem et al. met with Bianca, Camille, and Sabine last night).

She is alone when you meet. Now what?

[Huxley]

Leo

Leo keeps his hoodie up, but is unable to disguise his mucus-laden voice.

"Hello, Bianca. Thank you for taking the time to see us. Things are well, I presume?"

[response]

"I have some questions I'd like you to answer -- regarding the Prince, his brood, and Samantha Drake -- if you do not mind?".

While speaking, Leo is moving to any closet, and opening it, checking under beds, looking behind curtains, and keeping his ears open for any movement that wouldn't be accounted for outside of the three present here.

[Kalzazz]

((Were at the bar/piano place, not a private residence or hotel etc I think))

[Huxley]

((Were at the bar/piano place, not a private residence or hotel etc I think))

((I'd still be searching it out. Guess I got the room confused, though))

[Detritus]

The meeting with Bianca is taking place at the Storyville Jazz Hall, which is where this scene happened:

http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=90752&postcount=66

This is the start of a ~ 15-post sequence of the conversation that occurred at the jazz hall after everyone left the 544 Club.

[Detritus]

Leo

Leo keeps his hoodie up, but is unable to disguise his mucus-laden voice.

"Hello, Bianca. Thank you for taking the time to see us. Things are well, I presume?"

[response]

"I have some questions I'd like you to answer -- regarding the Prince, his brood, and Samantha Drake -- if you do not mind?".

While speaking, Leo is moving to any closet, and opening it, checking under beds, looking behind curtains, and keeping his ears open for any movement that wouldn't be accounted for outside of the three present here.
Note that the meeting is taking place in one of the balconies holding boxed seats, so that is the sort of thing that Leo would be checking out.

Bianca looks out the back of your booth, and surveys all the other ones that she can see before answering, "What do you want to know? I don't exactly spend a lot of time with either the Prince's 'family' or Sammy."

[Kalzazz]

((I dont have any ideas on questions, so, dont wait on me))

[Detritus]

((I dont have any ideas on questions, so, dont wait on me))
((Huxley has PM'ed me to state that he's reviewing some of the prior threads before asking questions, so we'll proceed after he feels he has sufficiently reviewed what has already happened.))

[Huxley]

Leo takes his hood off, keeping his eyes on Bianca, trying to read her emotions.

"First: I'm assuming you've resided in New Orleans for awhile, and have run against the Prince a time or two, politically. Have you noticed any policy changes that seemed out of character? Or personality quirks?"

[response]

"What do you know about the anarchs in this city?" (looking for more of a response on this question)

[Detritus]

Leo takes his hood off, keeping his eyes on Bianca, trying to read her emotions.

"First: I'm assuming you've resided in New Orleans for awhile, and have run against the Prince a time or two, politically. Have you noticed any policy changes that seemed out of character? Or personality quirks?"
Bianca gives a quick smirk when Leo lowers his hood.

"I don't spend that much time in Elysium, if that's what you're asking," says Bianca. "But, it's pretty common knowledge that the Prince would prefer it if all the Kindred in New Orleans were of his direct lineage. Recently there have been some indications that some... 'free agents' might have hit the streets as some of the regulars have made their way back to the city after the hurricane."

"What do you know about the anarchs in this city?" (looking for more of a response on this question)
"What do you want to know?" she asks. "I'm not even sure if what I know is even up to date any more. I've been gone, and not everyone has returned that I thought might return."

[Detritus]

OK, in the meantime, Menachem will set out for the meeting place and arrive there shortly before midnight. Upon his arrival, one of the patrols makes contact and escorts him to Jack and Sgt. Baker (whom I assuming are more or less sticking together). The sergeant asks whether Menachem is one of Jack's companions...

[SD Anderson]

OK, in the meantime, Menachem will set out for the meeting place and arrive there shortly before midnight. Upon his arrival, one of the patrols makes contact and escorts him to Jack and Sgt. Baker (whom I assuming are more or less sticking together). The sergeant asks whether Menachem is one of Jack's companions...

"He is, Sarge. Very definitely one of us." Jack says with a minor emphasis on the last word in that sentence.

[Huxley]

"I don't spend that much time in Elysium, if that's what you're asking," says Bianca. "But, it's pretty common knowledge that the Prince would prefer it if all the Kindred in New Orleans were of his direct lineage. Recently there have been some indications that some... 'free agents' might have hit the streets as some of the regulars have made their way back to the city after the hurricane."


"And how has the prince responded to these free agents? And do you know anything about them aside from the fact that they are not part of the expected returnee's?"


"What do you want to know?" she asks. "I'm not even sure if what I know is even up to date any more. I've been gone, and not everyone has returned that I thought might return."

"Numbers, capabilities, and motives. How dead-set are they to overthrow the powers that be, and are they capable?"

[Detritus]

"And how has the prince responded to these free agents? And do you know anything about them aside from the fact that they are not part of the expected returnee's?"
"I'm not sure if he even knows about them, although that would be the kind of thing he is normally interested in. Maybe he's slipped off his game a little bit while everyone else was gone."

"Numbers, capabilities, and motives. How dead-set are they to overthrow the powers that be, and are they capable?"
Bianca flicks her gaze towards Jocelin for a second as a dubious look begins to play on her face. She narrows her eyes a touch before answering.

"You can't really expect me to answer that, even if I was up to date on everyone's whereabouts. If I were a little more paranoid, I'd think this whole thing was a setup for a crackdown on the Anarchs.

"The natives don't get that restless, if that's what you're asking. It would be too much trouble to run things ourselves, and replacing the Artistes with the Warlocks is a step sideways. We don't have any motive other than the wish to be judged by our individual merits instead of our lineages."

[Kalzazz]

"Uh, dont mind Leo to much . . . . he's an Archon, and you know with the whole . . . " lowers her voice "hemo amore thing going on, he would be kinda overprotective. Like a mother bear . . . not as good on tact"

"Any a ways, why he's curious is we ran into a guy named Lucian and his merry men who claimed that Miss Drake hired them to waste us. He said he didn't like the idea of working for her, but I think he was scared of us . . . he brought a slew of human mooks and even flamethrowers, that isnt a sign of confidence and bravery right there. Fortunately it wasn't my car they shot the tires off of, so not worth dustying my blade. And I wouldn't care to risk paintjob flambe over them either"

"So, theres a shot that the enemy might be mobilizing another pack of barrel scrapings to send against us. With His assistance of course the more that come against us is merely our greater glory. But something may be going on, Antoinette isn't home and she didn't return my phone call, and she like always always returns my calls"

"Oh, right. And theres evidence of Sorcery supposedly, and the Diablerie charges . . . . so they may be in a pact with the Devil . . . and so we have to face like zombie alligators called from the depths with dark voodoo, and other dark things sent to test us, His children"

"So, we also wanted to send out a invitation to the fun-filled upcoming juris gala in case anyone wants to come, if enough real folks show up it may actually be quite party. Not that anyone would need invitations, I mean, were all part of Umbrella Corp"

[Huxley]

Leo silently watches Jocelin try to cover his lack of tact with a small smile. He pauses after she finishes.

"No. I did not expect you to reveal all -- there's no need for pretty words when I can ask what I want straight forward. What you have told is enough to satisfy my curiosity"

"About these strangers again... the Prince does not know much about them, but do you?"

[SD Anderson]

"Any a ways, why he's curious is we ran into a guy named Lucian and his merry men who claimed that Miss Drake hired them to waste us. He said he didn't like the idea of working for her, but I think he was scared of us . . . he brought a slew of human mooks and even flamethrowers, that isnt a sign of confidence and bravery right there. Fortunately it wasn't my car they shot the tires off of, so not worth dustying my blade. And I wouldn't care to risk paintjob flambe over them either"


OOC: Factual correction. Jocelin actually said what she said of course. Lucian never said Drake hired him. He named a Tammy Seton, who fits Drake's description. I suspect Drake's stunt of inviting us by name to her home erased the last doubts anyone of us might have had that she's not the bad guy here, but as of this moment, we don't have anything close to proof she's guilty.

[Detritus]

"Uh, dont mind Leo to much . . . . he's an Archon, and you know with the whole . . . " lowers her voice "hemo amore thing going on, he would be kinda overprotective. Like a mother bear . . . not as good on tact"

"Any a ways, why he's curious is we ran into a guy named Lucian and his merry men who claimed that Miss Drake hired them to waste us. He said he didn't like the idea of working for her, but I think he was scared of us . . . he brought a slew of human mooks and even flamethrowers, that isnt a sign of confidence and bravery right there. Fortunately it wasn't my car they shot the tires off of, so not worth dustying my blade. And I wouldn't care to risk paintjob flambe over them either"

"So, theres a shot that the enemy might be mobilizing another pack of barrel scrapings to send against us. With His assistance of course the more that come against us is merely our greater glory. But something may be going on, Antoinette isn't home and she didn't return my phone call, and she like always always returns my calls"

"Oh, right. And theres evidence of Sorcery supposedly, and the Diablerie charges . . . . so they may be in a pact with the Devil . . . and so we have to face like zombie alligators called from the depths with dark voodoo, and other dark things sent to test us, His children"

"So, we also wanted to send out a invitation to the fun-filled upcoming juris gala in case anyone wants to come, if enough real folks show up it may actually be quite party. Not that anyone would need invitations, I mean, were all part of Umbrella Corp"
Bianca's irritation shifts to amusement as she listens to Jocelin's rambling. Smirking ever so slightly, she answers, "Jesus, I always have trouble following whatever the hell it is you're trying to say, Joss.

"This Lucian fellow, never heard of him. Doesn't mean Sammy hasn't had dealings with him, but they haven't happened in the city, as far as I know.

"As for needing muscle, why should I care if some 'Pillar of the Camarilla' bites the big one?" she asks.

Leo silently watches Jocelin try to cover his lack of tact with a small smile. He pauses after she finishes.

"No. I did not expect you to reveal all -- there's no need for pretty words when I can ask what I want straight forward. What you have told is enough to satisfy my curiosity"

"About these strangers again... the Prince does not know much about them, but do you?"
"These strangers, they aren't Artistes," says Bianca as she ticks up a finger on her right hand.

"They aren't Warlocks, or Blue Bloods, or Brujah, and I'd be surprised if they were Caitiff or Gangrel," she says, now with all five fingers on her right hand splayed away from her palm.

"If they're Nossies, they're really good," she continues, nodding towards Leo. "Maybe you should ask Sammy about them when you see her."

[Huxley]

In response to her "Bite the Big one" question: "You may care if those who replace the Camarilla are harder to get along with than the Camarilla. Just something to think about..."

"So long as you do not know anything else about these strangers, I do not have any more questions. Thank you for your time"

[Detritus]

In response to her "Bite the Big one" question: "You may care if those who replace the Camarilla are harder to get along with than the Camarilla. Just something to think about..."
"And will the Camarilla disappear if one elder steps off?" she retorts.

"So long as you do not know anything else about these strangers, I do not have any more questions. Thank you for your time"
At this, Bianca gets to her feet, favors Leo with a rather flaccid salute, her eyes twinkling, and turns on her heel and leaves the booth.

[Huxley]

Leo stands, and begins walking. "Need anything on the way, Jocelin?"

When they get into the car to take them back, Leo tries to call Menachem.

[Parzival]

<hearsphoneringingfiller>
Hello?

[Huxley]

"This is Leo. I am calling to see where you are at, what you have found out. We have not found much... though I do not believe we have too much to worry from the local anarchs. A few might show, but there seems to be another power player here that was not here before the storm..."

[Parzival]

I'm back on the site. I'll keep my ears open, but I haven't run into anything about a post-storm player yet. Just the two I've already given you a heads up about.

[Huxley]

I'm back on the site. I'll keep my ears open, but I haven't run into anything about a post-storm player yet. Just the two I've already given you a heads up about.

"Granted. Jocelin and I should be back at the school site soon. Goodbye"

Leo hangs up, and looks out of the window of the car, waiting to arrive at the school.

[Detritus]

OK, we'll assume that the proper people have been alerted to the imminent arrival of Jocelin and Leo. They learn of the presence of Sgt. Baker and the foot patrols/snipers, "Arcadian" and the female Tremere, and Radeyah and Ramiel from the Prince's household.

Shortly thereafter, Arcadian/Rebekka gathers together the Kindred whom she will cloak for the upcoming meeting. Do any of the PCs want to be a part of this?

[SD Anderson]

OK, we'll assume that the proper people have been alerted to the imminent arrival of Jocelin and Leo. They learn of the presence of Sgt. Baker and the foot patrols/snipers, "Arcadian" and the female Tremere, and Radeyah and Ramiel from the Prince's household.

Shortly thereafter, Arcadian/Rebekka gathers together the Kindred whom she will cloak for the upcoming meeting. Do any of the PCs want to be a part of this?

Jack will be up in the rafter, electrical line ready and catching reports as they come in.

[Detritus]

((OOC -- Who is supposed to be the face in this endeavor?))

[Kalzazz]

((OOC if were voting I say we dont need one, let everyone talk or not talk, organization evil, anarchy good))

[Detritus]

((OOC if were voting I say we dont need one, let everyone talk or not talk, organization evil, anarchy good))
The GM takes it that this is Jocelin voting "no" for her Vanishing From Mind's Eye for the start of the meeting?

[Kalzazz]

Ah, yeah. Jocelin wants the badguys to be fully aware its her when she vanquishes them

[SD Anderson]

Nosferatu face or not, the Archon of the Justicar pretty much has to greet/do the initial admin work when Drake arrives. It's not like Leo's face will frighten or surpise Kindred and Ghouls.

[Detritus]

Nosferatu face or not, the Archon of the Justicar pretty much has to greet/do the initial admin work when Drake arrives. It's not like Leo's face will frighten or surpise Kindred and Ghouls.
Agreed, Leo pretty much has to be visible. This answer also seems to imply that the fake Arcadian should start out the meeting Obfuscated or at least mundanely concealed (?).

Same questions for Menachem -- Obfuscation, mundane concealment, or in the open?

[Parzival]

Mundane concealment

[Huxley]

OOC: Leo expects to be the face, and wants the meeting to start civil. As soon as he sees people he doesn't recognize on the tops of the roofs when pulling up, he'll "Face-up" to look not like a monster that only exists in story books.

[SD Anderson]

OOC: I hope the hell Leo has some good Kevlar or other body armor. If Drake is our killer, her first order of business might be to eliminate the Archon. The fact that the four vampires she knows are here aren't immediately argetable may work to Leo's advantage.

Edit: Try to meet them outside where at least two snipers can cover you.

[Huxley]

OOC: I hope the hell Leo has some good Kevlar or other body armor. If Drake is our killer, her first order of business might be to eliminate the Archon. The fact that the four vampires she knows are here aren't immediately argetable may work to Leo's advantage.

Edit: Try to meet them outside where at least two snipers can cover you.

OOC: Nope, no Kevlar here. But I'm good for starting the meeting outside, so long as their is a way in where the rest of the group will be waiting (I assume).

[Detritus]

At twenty minutes after midnight, fake-Arcadian gathers the other two Tremere present and Radeyah. They exchange a number of silent glances amongst themselves, after which the fake Arcadian closes his eyes. A beat later, the entire group of four Kindred disappear as one.

Ramiel indicates his willingness to accompany Leo outside and be part of the initial meeting, both as a representative of the prince's household and also as a potential claimant given the attack on Jack and Ramiel last night.

I am assuming that Menachem will be strategically positioning himself inside the auditorium (?). Is Jocelin coming out for the initial meeting (I assume so, but want to make sure)?

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin will indeed want to go out in the open with Leo. Actually, if Leo doesnt object she'll go a bit to the front and to the left of Leo (so she can draw her sword readily, and so she can readily move between Leo and the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune if a frontal attack occurs)

Knowing a fight is likely imminent she prepares herself for it, touching up her makeup and hair and such and also attempting to compose a haiku on her cellphone, as these are pre battle steps for a warrior

All is still, waiting
Death of night fore death of dawn
PE holds trembling

And promptly sends it off via text message to all her friends (which includes the party, Antoinette, and also Sarah, Rebekka and Thomas if she has a number to send to them)

((OOC got a 9/9 on that, so can interpret in that framework, but wanted to write it IC))

Jocelin will wear her sword and gun openly, and her armor not so openly. She'll chamber a round in her pistol, eject the clip, load a new round, and reinsert the clip

After that Jocelin heads over to join the party, halfway to skipping

[Detritus]

OK, after this magisterial pause in honor of Jocelin's battle haiku, let's proceed...

Leo, Jocelin, and Ramiel head outside to await Samantha's arrival. At precisely 1230 AM, a white Lincoln Town Car with white wall tires drives through the road flares set at the entrance of the parking lot and pulls around so that the passenger's side faces towards the greeting party. One of the four-man patrols begins to close on the position of the car in a leap-frogging two-by-two advance.

The chauffeur gets out and walks around the front of the car, ignoring both the advancing soldiers and the waiting Kindred in the distance as he takes several strides to reach the rearmost passenger-side door. A single female dressed in a white taffeta cocktail dress exits from the passenger side, but it's clearly not Samantha (see attached photo); she looks like she's barely out of high school. She appears to give the driver a brief set of instructions as the soldiers reach the car.

Two soldiers remain behind to search the auto while two escort the young woman to the waiting Kindred. As she advances she seems completely at ease with her escort, making them appear almost as a royal honor guard. When she reaches a position a handful of steps away from the Leo et al., she stops and speaks:

"I wish to speak with the Justicar's representative," she says in a clear, slightly girlish voice, as she eyes each of the Kindred before her in turn. "I am Heather, of the clan Ventrue, and an associate of Samantha Drake. I am unarmed," she says, posing with her hands on her hips, "but if you wish to search me, perhaps it can be arranged," she concludes, looking at both Ramiel and Jocelin with an arched eyebrow.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin shakes her head. "I don't need to search you, armed or unarmed, it wouldnt make a bit of difference in the final tally if you came against me"

[SD Anderson]

OOC: They LIT the roadflares?????????????????????????? BEFORE the attack and alerted all of her supposed minions roadflares were in use and took away the element of surprise they had by being able to lob fire at the vampires????????????????????

If there is ANY possibility of a retcon, I'm going for it NOW.

[SD Anderson]

IC: Jack gets on the phone to Leo. "Ok we need Arcadian up on the stage."

[Detritus]

OOC: They LIT the roadflares?????????????????????????? BEFORE the attack and alerted all of her supposed minions roadflares were in use and took away the element of surprise they had by being able to lob fire at the vampires????????????????????

If there is ANY possibility of a retcon, I'm going for it NOW.
They didn't light the road flares? OK, fine.

[SD Anderson]

Just to be sure we're on the same page here, the Guardsmen are out of sight and here as insurance against a Lucien sized contingent of anarchs armed with lit bundles of dynamite, sawed off shotguns firing solid slugs and law rockets raid.

Trouble comes up, they're to lob flaming flares first, to hit the attackers with a lot of Rothschrek rolls and to gun them down while they stand there, before they act, use disciplines or bring their own firepower to bear.

[Detritus]

Jocelin shakes her head. "I don't need to search you, armed or unarmed, it wouldnt make a bit of difference in the final tally if you came against me"
Heather straightens up, once again all business, after Jocelin's comment.

"Shoot or stab the envoy if you must, but I have no wish to quarrel with anyone here. Indeed, I can hardly be considered a threat, unarmed as I am, surrounded by soldiers, and evidently also confronted with belligerent childer who betray not the slightest hint of discipline in their manner. If you do not recognize the parley flag, please direct me to someone who does."

[Detritus]

Just to be sure we're on the same page here, the Guardsmen are out of sight and here as insurance against a Lucien sized contingent of anarchs armed with lit bundles of dynamite, sawed off shotguns firing solid slugs and law rockets raid.

Trouble comes up, they're to lob flaming flares first, to hit the attackers with a lot of Rothschrek rolls and to gun them down while they stand there, before they act, use disciplines or bring their own firepower to bear.
OK, one set of guardsmen and the snipers are out of sight, with the hidden guardsmen armed with flares. The other foot patrol has proceeded as I have already described.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin steps forward and glares at Heather, "What?! Your the one who was implying there was a need of searching, I was merely saying there wasnt! And for your information, a parley flag is a FLAG. Le Blanc Banner, not dress, car or tires. Ill set aside my weapons if it pleases you to make something out of it, and I am Jocelin Danis, Blue Hurricane of New Orleans"

[Detritus]

Jocelin steps forward and glares at Heather, "What?! Your the one who was implying there was a need of searching, I was merely saying there wasnt! And for your information, a parley flag is a FLAG. Le Blanc Banner, not dress, car or tires. Ill set aside my weapons if it pleases you to make something out of it, and I am Jocelin Danis, Blue Hurricane of New Orleans"
Jocelin's sudden move forwards takes her companions by surprise, and neither Leo nor Ramiel react quickly enough to restrain her. Heather looks right past Jocelin and says, "I suggest that you talk some sense into your associate before she does something rash."

Can I get a Self-Control roll for Jocelin?

[Kalzazz]

((I rolled. I imagine something rash happens about now))

[Detritus]

((I rolled. I imagine something rash happens about now))
It does, although for the moment exactly what happens is still up to you...

[Huxley]

As Leo attempts to pull Jocelin back with a grasp to her wrist (and failing to do so), he speaks in a harsh but quiet tone:

"Jocelin, Calm!"

[Detritus]

Jocelin draws her katana in a flash as Ramiel yells out, "NO!" He then mutters something that sounds like "fool girl" as he makes his way in the general direction of the two women, albeit much too late to stop the first stroke of Jocelin's blade. The soldiers seem like this activity might be outside the parameters delineated in their orders, and stand irresolute as Jocelin charges.

[Huxley]

Leo bolts after Jocelin in an attempt to restrain her!

[Detritus]

As Jocelin closes with Heather, she snips the bow off the front of her dress with an upward stroke of her katana, and then slices open the right side of her dress with a downward stroke, and the left side of her dress with another upward stroke, just as Leo and Ramiel gang-tackle Jocelin to the ground. Heather gives a frightened squeak of surprise as Jocelin attacks, but recovers her composure quickly enough to interpose one of the soldiers between herself and the Kindred struggling on the ground after Jocelin is tackled. The soldiers regain enough of their poise to train their guns on Jocelin.

Heather picks up one portion of her tattered garment and waves it while holding it at arm's length. "Will this suffice for 'le blanc banner'?" she asks sardonically over her soldier/shield's shoulder. "I knew you wanted to get a closer look at me, but as I said, it could have been arranged, and without the drawing of steel," she says with a twinkle in her eye.

Leo and Ramiel barely keep their hold on the thrashing Jocelin. A speculative look crosses Heather's face as she says, "You know, I wonder..." She concentrates for a second, and then assumes a perfect likeness of Jocelin.

Stepping out from behind the shielding soldier, she looks down at Jocelin's naked form, saying "well, not bad, but a little less than I am used to up here," as she handles her new form in an embarrassingly familiar manner.

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

Need another Self-Control roll for Jocelin. ;)

[Detritus]

Jocelin is about to go into full-blown frenzy mode after a second failed self-control roll. Ramiel holds on for dear life and gives a couple of strangled-sounding calls: "Radeyah!" "Sabine!"

What is next for Leo and Jocelin?

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin tries to claw free of Ramiel in order to hurl herself at Heather, hissing, spitting, showing her fangs and in general doing her very best impression of an extremely ticked off cat

[SD Anderson]

Jocelin tries to claw free of Ramiel in order to hurl herself at Heather, hissing, spitting, showing her fangs and in general doing her very best impression of an extremely ticked off cat

(ooc: As I recall, only Sgt Baker was aware of the Masquerade... I forsee some unhappy elders.)

[Detritus]

(ooc: As I recall, only Sgt Baker was aware of the Masquerade... I forsee some unhappy elders.)
There's also an Archon floating around the scene somewhere...

:satanlook:

[Huxley]

((OOC: Archon, where!? :D. I'm going to use Potence for this... even if it puts me in the "Red Zone" with regards to blood))

Leo wraps his arms around Jocelin's waist, and pumps blood into his muscles to keep her in his arms. He moves towards the gymnasium, and calls to one of the soldiers, "Open the door, and shut it behind me!"

[SD Anderson]

((OOC: Archon, where!? :D. I'm going to use Potence for this... even if it puts me in the "Red Zone" with regards to blood))

Leo wraps his arms around Jocelin's waist, and pumps blood into his muscles to keep her in his arms. He moves towards the gymnasium, and calls to one of the soldiers, "Open the door, and shut it behind me!"

Jack looks down from the rafters as Leo shouts.

[Detritus]

A pumped up Leo (with Ramiel's assistance) doesn't have that much trouble keeping Jocelin in his grasp. The three of them start to move slowly towards the nearest entrance. As this happens, Radeyah arrives on the scene with celeritous dispatch, at which point Jocelin is triple-teamed as she is carried towards the entrance.

Sabine starts to approach from somewhere off in the distance, and she yells out "Sarah, stake!" as she closes in on the struggle. A moment later Sarah emerges from the entrance, stake in hand, and manages to plunge it into Jocelin's heart, after which Jocelin immediately goes limp.

After Jocelin gets situated inside the building and the door is closed on her, Sarah tells Leo, "The stake will last for an hour, but then it vanishes. We can take it out earlier if the business outside doesn't take that long, of course. She's still going to be pissed when she wakes up, though."

Heather watches from a distances but otherwise does nothing, nor does she approach the building if asked.

What now?

[Huxley]

Sarah tells Leo, "The stake will last for an hour, but then it vanishes. We can take it out earlier if the business outside doesn't take that long, of course. She's still going to be pissed when she wakes up, though."


Leo speaks in a hushed tone, obviously pissed, "At this point, I really don't care".


Heather watches from a distances but otherwise does nothing, nor does she approach the building if asked.

What now?

Leo composes himself and turns to Heather. He approaches, a stern look on his face: "I apologize for her behavior, but your taunt was completly unnecessary. Remain civil for the rest of this hearing."

Leo adopts his normal, stoic stance, then proceeds. "I am the Justicar's representative. You stated that you wanted to speak to me."

Leo looks at one of the nearby soldiers, "Is it possible to get something for her?" He indicates her nudity.

[Detritus]

Leo composes himself and turns to Heather. He approaches, a stern look on his face: "I apologize for her behavior, but your taunt was completly unnecessary. Remain civil for the rest of this hearing."
Still wearing Jocelin's form, Heather replies, "I had every right to sound out the recipients of my message!

"I am alone, save for my driver, unarmed," she says, waving the portion of her dress she holds, and kicking at the pieces on the ground, "provided with an armed escort, and greatly outnumbered by my brethren, many of whom were hidden at the outset of this meeting, it seems. What possible danger could I have posed, given the forces arrayed against me?!

"If you'll recall, I was threatened by your charming companion before any serious verbal fireworks began. If she cannot control herself when confronted with such a mild level of provocation, perhaps the Justicar should reassess whom he sends on his diplomatic missions."

Leo adopts his normal, stoic stance, then proceeds. "I am the Justicar's representative. You stated that you wanted to speak to me."

Leo looks at one of the nearby soldiers, "Is it possible to get something for her?" He indicates her nudity.
"I have come to inform you that Samantha sends her regrets, and is unable to attend this meeting tonight herself. She is returning to the city, having fled last week in fear of her safety. Given my reception tonight, I can see that her instincts were absolutely correct on that point," says Heather-Jocelin, her words lent momentum by her righteous indignation.

"Her invitation still stands, should you choose to accept. She wishes only to plead her case in person with at least some confidence that she isn't walking into a trap."

[Huxley]

"I have come to inform you that Samantha sends her regrets, and is unable to attend this meeting tonight herself. She is returning to the city, having fled last week in fear of her safety. Given my reception tonight, I can see that her instincts were absolutely correct on that point," says Heather-Jocelin, her words lent momentum by her righteous indignation.

"Her invitation still stands, should you choose to accept. She wishes only to plead her case in person with at least some confidence that she isn't walking into a trap."

"Does this Samantha expect the Justicar to wait on her beck and call? His coming down here is part of his duty, but her not choosing to show up does not speak well of her. This, here, is far from a trap. What happened just now with her", Leo nods towards Jocelin,"will be dealt with later. The Justicar, however powerful he may be, does not show up alone and without friends. These are his friends, and this is when she may speak to him. If she is so afraid of our ambushing her, then she may speak to me. I will go to her, listen, and report back to the Justicar. However, it is more than discourteous to "reinvite" the Justicar to her hearing that she requested."

[Detritus]

"Does this Samantha expect the Justicar to wait on her beck and call? His coming down here is part of his duty, but her not choosing to show up does not speak well of her. This, here, is far from a trap. What happened just now with her", Leo nods towards Jocelin,"will be dealt with later. The Justicar, however powerful he may be, does not show up alone and without friends. These are his friends, and this is when she may speak to him. If she is so afraid of our ambushing her, then she may speak to me. I will go to her, listen, and report back to the Justicar. However, it is more than discourteous to "reinvite" the Justicar to her hearing that she requested."
"Ah, but unless I am misinformed, Samantha did not invite the Justicar personally to meet with her at her home, but rather his subordinates. Has the Justicar arrived in the city since her invitations were sent out? A regrettable oversight, if it is so."

Heather-Jocelin pauses a moment before continuing. "Did you not investigate her haven, and find it unoccupied? And armed with this information, what did you do? You accelerated the time frame of the meeting. Your counter-invitation did not arrive at a time when a Kindred could have checked for it until sunset tonight. Forgive me for saying so, but it appears to me as if you don't want to give Samantha a hearing at all.

"Her invitation to you and your traveling companions still holds, and if the Justicar is in town, I am sure he would be welcomed warmly," says Heather.

[SD Anderson]

Jack sees a guardsman who SHOULD like all of his fellows be well hidden by now and Jocelin being overpowered and staked.

"I think I know how the guy who shouted "Iceberg dead ahead" felt on the Titanic." he mutters to himself. This was turning bad fast!

He considers coming down out of the rafters but holds for now. Leo appears to have some control over the situation. He was pretty sure now this last line of defense was going to be used tonight.

[Huxley]

"Ah, but unless I am misinformed, Samantha did not invite the Justicar personally to meet with her at her home, but rather his subordinates. Has the Justicar arrived in the city since her invitations were sent out? A regrettable oversight, if it is so."

Heather-Jocelin pauses a moment before continuing. "Did you not investigate her haven, and find it unoccupied? And armed with this information, what did you do? You accelerated the time frame of the meeting. Your counter-invitation did not arrive at a time when a Kindred could have checked for it until sunset tonight. Forgive me for saying so, but it appears to me as if you don't want to give Samantha a hearing at all.

"Her invitation to you and your traveling companions still holds, and if the Justicar is in town, I am sure he would be welcomed warmly," says Heather.



"It is not so. I'm very interested in giving a fair and impartial hearing. We have given her plenty of time to come. In fact, your presence here establishes that. It was her fear that kept her at home. Why would she fear, when we are here only to listen?"

Leo indicates the surroundings and personell, "This, here, is protocol. Her invitation asked us over, and we responded. She has obviously recieved this invitation in enough time to come, because she was able to have an envoy sent in her place. This is her chance"

"But, if this is how Drake wants it, then I will go with whomever else is willing. Please give us a moment to discuss who will be meeting her"

[Detritus]

"It is not so. I'm very interested in giving a fair and impartial hearing. We have given her plenty of time to come. In fact, your presence here establishes that. It was her fear that kept her at home. Why would she fear, when we are here only to listen?"

Leo indicates the surroundings and personell, "This, here, is protocol. Her invitation asked us over, and we responded. She has obviously recieved this invitation in enough time to come, because she was able to have an envoy sent in her place. This is her chance"

"But, if this is how Drake wants it, then I will go with whomever else is willing. Please give us a moment to discuss who will be meeting her"
"You speak of fear keeping Samantha away from here, but seeing as how the Justicar seems to think that he can treat supplicants as suspects, prudence certainly seems to me to counsel a wary approach. I understand that the office of Justicar is one that commands a high level of respect, but this is ridiculous.

"This is protocol?!" asks Heather/Jocelin, waving her torn dress again. "Hidden Kindred and armed patrols are protocol?! I must admit to having my doubts about this.

"In the interests of facilitating a timely meeting, I am willing to overlook certain indiscretions that have occurred here tonight. I will relay whatever you decide to Samantha."

[Huxley]

"You speak of fear keeping Samantha away from here, but seeing as how the Justicar seems to think that he can treat supplicants as suspects, prudence certainly seems to me to counsel a wary approach. I understand that the office of Justicar is one that commands a high level of respect, but this is ridiculous.

"This is protocol?!" asks Heather/Jocelin, waving her torn dress again. "Hidden Kindred and armed patrols are protocol?! I must admit to having my doubts about this.

"In the interests of facilitating a timely meeting, I am willing to overlook certain indiscretions that have occurred here tonight. I will relay whatever you decide to Samantha."

Leo nods, and turns in the direction of the schoolhouse gym. He gathers Menachem and Jack, and relays what has been said.

"So, who's coming?"

[Parzival]

<sigh> Why do I feel I'm going to regret this?

I'll come.

[SD Anderson]

(ooc: Assuming her little identity theft was mentioned)

"If she can changer he shape she may well be Drake. Can we run the blood test on her?"

"It's certainly a distraction if not a trap." Jack says. "At best we get drawn off from here while the main force hits a reduced defense here. At worst, we won't have to worry about more than one more sunrise."

"Just a reminder, when I wrote that summons I explicitly wrote that failure to appear could result in a summary judgement against her."

"We've been shot at, blown up, one of us was fucking KILLED right by her home. We can justify having an armed guard here. WE are definitely targets and the Justicar presumably is the main one. She doesn't like that, tough. If she's just Demetrious' victime looking for justice, Demetrious can't exactly hurt her now."

"If she's the monster I think she is, she knows she's now the prey, not the huntress and that tonight is here ONLY chance to take Walsh."

"If she's innocent, she loses out on a hearing if she stays away. And appeal to the Elders and have a second hearing a few months from now. Big Whoop. If she's guilty she either shows up or everything she's done to get the Justicar was for nothing."

"I say we we ask the Justicar if he's ready to go home if she doesn't get her ass over here pronto." (ooc: This is for the benefit of anyone in earshot who doesn't know the Justicar here is counterfiet..)

"Call her bluff."

[Huxley]

"Call her bluff."

Leo speaks in a hushed voice.

"Her bluff has been called, and I told her this is her only chance to see our Justicar. I am giving her the opportunity to speak to me. If you wish to come, then come. If not, then don't. She won't get another chance at Arcadian Walsh through this little dillemma."

Leo thinks for a moment, then puts his hand on the enchanted die in his pocket. He glances at Heather/Jocelin, and thinks about Arcadian Walsh. After giving the die enough time to warm up, he pulls it out and glances at it, then returns it to his pocket.

[Detritus]

Leo speaks in a hushed voice.

"Her bluff has been called, and I told her this is her only chance to see our Justicar. I am giving her the opportunity to speak to me. If you wish to come, then come. If not, then don't. She won't get another chance at Arcadian Walsh through this little dillemma."

Leo thinks for a moment, then puts his hand on the enchanted die in his pocket. He glances at Heather/Jocelin, and thinks about Arcadian Walsh. After giving the die enough time to warm up, he pulls it out and glances at it, then returns it to his pocket.
The number 11 lights up clearly on the die, but it doesn't feel any warmer. Sarah happens to notice what Leo is doing, and says in a soft voice, "If it didn't warm up, it might be because you are too far away from her."

You also feel that your concentration might have been hampered a bit by Heather's assumed outward form.

[Huxley]

Leo nods, "I will try it again once I'm in her car."

There is a pause.

"Decided yet, Jack?"

[Detritus]

((OOC -- Just so it's clear, Samantha's invitation was and still is for a meeting at her residence at midnight between Thursday and Friday, i.e., just over 23 hours from now.))

((EDIT -- Link (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showthread.php?t=5727), see post 3 in particular. The "tomorrow night" in the invitations is happening right now, so according to the invitation, Samantha won't be back in town for another few hours yet.))

[SD Anderson]

Leo nods, "I will try it again once I'm in her car."

There is a pause.

"Decided yet, Jack?"

Couple of points. 1) we clear this with the Prince. I'm in enough hot water for keeping things from the Houston Prince. 2) I follow in our car.

[Huxley]

((OOC -- Just so it's clear, Samantha's invitation was and still is for a meeting at her residence at midnight between Thursday and Friday, i.e., just over 23 hours from now.))

((EDIT -- Link (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showthread.php?t=5727), see post 3 in particular. The "tomorrow night" in the invitations is happening right now, so according to the invitation, Samantha won't be back in town for another few hours yet.))

((OOC: OK, just to clarify... the "EDIT" clears the original message, right? So, we can leave to Samantha's tonight in Heather's car? That was what I had been thinking throughout the scene))

[Detritus]

Translating time coordinate systems:

Invitation's "tomorrow night" = this thread's tonight, Wed night turns into Thursday.

Invitation's "midnight of the following night" = midnight of overnight Thursday -> Friday.

[SD Anderson]

"You guys DO realize we are now going into her trap at the time she originally set it for? We really showed her..."

OOC: Leo WILL test 'Heather' to see if she's Sammy, right? I don't want that abstracted into Fast Forward mode.

[Detritus]

"You guys DO realize we are now going into her trap at the time she originally set it for? We really showed her..."
After seeing all the other Obfuscated Kindred once again visible, Rebekka/Arcadian drops her veiling as well.

"Will I be needing to keep this disguise any longer?" she asks.

After a moment's thought, she also asks, "Are the location and the time of the meeting negotiable?"

((OOC -- I decided against having Rebekka conjure an anvil and dropping it on one of the PC's feet, but I'm just sayin'...))

[Huxley]

After a moment's thought, she also asks, "Are the location and the time of the meeting negotiable?"



"I imagine so. Samantha wants to see the Justicar, whether for the reason Jack says, or to present her case. If she isn't in town yet, I'm fine with her coming later tonight."

Leo turns to Jack, "We have yet to see a link between Samantha and the events that occurred. Your diligence is appreciated, but at the moment, Drake is innocent. Therefore, we treat her in that manner"

[Detritus]

"I imagine so. Samantha wants to see the Justicar, whether for the reason Jack says, or to present her case. If she isn't in town yet, I'm fine with her coming later tonight."

Leo turns to Jack, "We have yet to see a link between Samantha and the events that occurred. Your diligence is appreciated, but at the moment, Drake is innocent. Therefore, we treat her in that manner"
"If there are still reservations about meeting at this Samantha's residence, you might suggest Elysium as a compromise. She did not come here, whether by design or accident. If she refuses to come later tonight, it may be wise to reciprocate, on the off chance that it is a trap," says Rebekka with a nod towards Jack.

[Huxley]

"If there are still reservations about meeting at this Samantha's residence, you might suggest Elysium as a compromise. She did not come here, whether by design or accident. If she refuses to come later tonight, it may be wise to reciprocate, on the off chance that it is a trap," says Rebekka with a nod towards Jack.

"If it's a trap, then I have nothing to fear.", Leo nods to the die in his pocket. "Killing me would only attract more unwanted attention. I want to show up on her invitation. We have a paper trail to show our and her intentions, and actively seeking her out is not only good PR, but an act of good will. Elysium will not be necessary."

Leo shows a ghost of a smile, "Besides, who came here thinking this would be a safe matter?".

[Detritus]

"If it's a trap, then I have nothing to fear.", Leo nods to the die in his pocket. "Killing me would only attract more unwanted attention. I want to show up on her invitation. We have a paper trail to show our and her intentions, and actively seeking her out is not only good PR, but an act of good will. Elysium will not be necessary."

Leo shows a ghost of a smile, "Besides, who came here thinking this would be a safe matter?".
"The decision is yours, of course," says Rebekka.

"If you will not be needing me in disguise?" she half asks.

[SD Anderson]

"If it's a trap, then I have nothing to fear.", Leo nods to the die in his pocket. "Killing me would only attract more unwanted attention. I want to show up on her invitation. We have a paper trail to show our and her intentions, and actively seeking her out is not only good PR, but an act of good will. Elysium will not be necessary."

Leo shows a ghost of a smile, "Besides, who came here thinking this would be a safe matter?".

"I don't know. Killing me would seriously hamper my vacation plans." Jack says. Unfortunately, we don't have much choice. But I would urge we avoid her place. The main point of summoning her was to take away her homecourt advantage."

"Elysium as an alternate meeting place?"

[Huxley]

"I don't know. Killing me would seriously hamper my vacation plans." Jack says. Unfortunately, we don't have much choice. But I would urge we avoid her place. The main point of summoning her was to take away her homecourt advantage."

"Elysium as an alternate meeting place?"

"The main point of summoning her was to keep the Justicar safe. Walsh is safe. We now represent the Justicar. If we go, Walsh is generous. If we demand Elysium, then Walsh is cowardly. I realize you may not care what Walsh appears to the outside world, but you will have to deal with him when this is all over. How would you like him to react?"

[Detritus]

OOC: Leo WILL test 'Heather' to see if she's Sammy, right? I don't want that abstracted into Fast Forward mode.
FYI, the way the die works, the heating only occurs at short range, but you don't have to be looking at it to feel it heat up, of course. Should be doable without arousing too much suspicion before Heather leaves.

[SD Anderson]

"The main point of summoning her was to keep the Justicar safe. Walsh is safe. We now represent the Justicar. If we go, Walsh is generous. If we demand Elysium, then Walsh is cowardly. I realize you may not care what Walsh appears to the outside world, but you will have to deal with him when this is all over. How would you like him to react?"

"Not true. I've been kidnapped at gun point, shot at BLOWN up, one of our people was killed, another wounded and I am PISSED OFF. We meet at elysium because the pissed off guy insists on it like a little baby. Walsh isn't going to attend the meeting. Where the meeting is held has nothing to do with him or his courage. It has to do with us. Being shot at justifies the caution."

"And if they want to call me a coward, let them know that I can go apeshit on them like few other people can go apeshit on anybody." there seems to be some secret gleam in his eye when he says this.

Jack pauses a moment then says:

"Strike that first part. She doesn't get to find out we were held at gunpoint. That is still strictly need to know."

[Huxley]

"Jack, I am accepting her invitation despite these things. Make your choice. I'm not keeping her envoy out all evening while we discuss this"

Leo turns to Rebekka, "No, we will not need the disguise. Thank you"

[SD Anderson]

Jack sighs. He looks like he'd love to have access to a truck cab with a loaded 40 foot trailer ready to drive through Drake's wall to get the others out of the trap they were walking into. But he doesn't have the truck.

"You have any ideas for getting us out of the damn place if it is a trap?" he asks.

[Detritus]

Leo turns to Rebekka, "No, we will not need the disguise. Thank you"
Rebekka drops the disguise and organizes a hurried conference with the other Tremere and Toreador punctuated by the occasional gesture in the direction where you left Jocelin. If she isn't already in the auditorium, Rebekka will suggest that Jocelin be moved there before the stake is removed from her heart.

[SD Anderson]

Rebekka drops the disguise and organizes a hurried conference with the other Tremere and Toreador punctuated by the occasional gesture in the direction where you left Jocelin. If she isn't already in the auditorium, Rebekka will suggest that Jocelin be moved there before the stake is removed from her heart.

"Here's a question: What do we do with her? She's a New Orleans domain citizen who broke the masquerade in New Orleans. If we play by the book. she's pretty damn sunk."

"We don't play by the book, we get extra firepower who can't control her temper."

[Detritus]

"Here's a question: What do we do with her? She's a New Orleans domain citizen who broke the masquerade in New Orleans. If we play by the book. she's pretty damn sunk."

"We don't play by the book, we get extra firepower who can't control her temper."
"There can be no question of concealing this indiscretion from the Prince," says Radeyah, "but I suspect that the soldiers were chosen because they have already been subjected to memory modification."

Rebekka nods in agreement, saying, "Yes, the situation is probably salvageable. The first steps in damage control are to gather the soldiers, and to get the childe to calm down.

"Are there any among the Dallas contingent who are skilled at the manipulation of memories?" Rebekka asks Jack.

[SD Anderson]

"There can be no question of concealing this indiscretion from the Prince," says Radeyah, "but I suspect that the soldiers were chosen because they have already been subjected to memory modification."

Rebekka nods in agreement, saying, "Yes, the situation is probably salvageable. The first steps in damage control are to gather the soldiers, and to get the childe to calm down.

"Are there any among the Dallas contingent who are skilled at the manipulation of memories?" Rebekka asks Jack.

"Not to my knowledge, though Menachem has the good sense to keep his cards close to his chest and might. Me? I tend to thump on things till they quit moving."

[Detritus]

"It would be nice to know, one way or the other. There is much damage potentially that needs repairing, and quickly," says Rebekka.

[Huxley]

Jack sighs. He looks like he'd love to have access to a truck cab with a loaded 40 foot trailer ready to drive through Drake's wall to get the others out of the trap they were walking into. But he doesn't have the truck.

"You have any ideas for getting us out of the damn place if it is a trap?" he asks.

"Execution works. We might want to feed before we go"

"As for Jocelin..." Leo pauses, looking disappointed, "Can't one of you Tremere modify the memories of the soldiers?"

[Detritus]

"As for Jocelin..." Leo pauses, looking disappointed, "Can't one of you Tremere modify the memories of the soldiers?"
Rebekka raises an eyebrow as she asks, "All twelve of them by a single Kindred? Will Sgt. Baker permit his men to be used as vessels to fuel the work? Each soldier is a new application of the Piercing Gaze. Very taxing work if all twelve need to be modified."

[SD Anderson]

Rebekka raises an eyebrow as she asks, "All twelve of them by a single Kindred? Will Sgt. Baker permit his men to be used as vessels to fuel the work? Each soldier is a new application of the Piercing Gaze. Very taxing work if all twelve need to be modified."

(ooc: As far as I know, Prince Johnson is attending what could be the execution of his Childe, Demetrious and is a few fet away inside the auditorium as this takes place.)

[Detritus]

(ooc: As far as I know, Prince Johnson is attending what could be the execution of his Childe, Demetrious and is a few fet away inside the auditorium as this takes place.)
Demetrious is out of commission for the moment, and both he and Mr. Johnson are on the Prince's boat.

Kindred present at the school:

Leo, Jocelin, Jack, Menachem

Rebekka, Sabine, Sarah

Ramiel, Radeyah

Heather

[SD Anderson]

Yes, but on the premise we were making the Hearing this very night, I was under the impression that people who would be at the real thing would be here for the sham one. Demetrius of course faked.

[Detritus]

Yes, but on the premise we were making the Hearing this very night, I was under the impression that people who would be at the real thing would be here for the sham one. Demetrius of course faked.
These proceedings are still technically an official Camarilla investigation concerning claims against a member of the Prince's household. To maintain some semblance of neutrality, the Prince has essentially sent representatives of his household while remaining absent himself. The GM's impression is that it was and is highly unlikely for any sentence to be carried out as an immediate result of the hearing. ;)

[Detritus]

FYI, for the moment the ball is in the court of the PCs as far as I'm concerned. Samantha's envoy is still waiting for Leo's return, and Rebekka is still looking for an answer to her query re: Menachem and memory modification.

[Parzival]

I have some minor abilities in that regard, but if you can get me access to an electronics lab, I may be able to save us a bit of effort.

[Detritus]

I have some minor abilities in that regard, but if you can get me access to an electronics lab, I may be able to save us a bit of effort.
A mixture of curiosity and suspicion crosses Rebekka's face as she asks, "How so?"

[Parzival]

Menachem exitedly launches into a rambling exposition, complete with vague references to quantum uncertainty, probability physics unbound by temporal foci, arcane mathmatical formulas, the nature of light and the secret wisdoms encoded within the Torah.

He'll continue prattling on about his obsessions/delusions until threatened with bodily harm.

[Detritus]

Menachem exitedly launches into a rambling exposition, complete with vague references to quantum uncertainty, probability physics unbound by temporal foci, arcane mathmatical formulas, the nature of light and the secret wisdoms encoded within the Torah.

He'll continue prattling on about his obsessions/delusions until threatened with bodily harm.
About a minute and a half into Menachem's explanation, Rebekka looks sideways at Sarah without really moving her head, and sees that she is quivering with suppressed laughter. Sarah moves off as an indelicate snort escapes her mouth.

"Thank you, Menachem, but I believe we will stick to tried and true methods," says Rebekka. "There is too much at stake to trust in a procedure that has such... uncertainties," she says with a sardonic stress on the last word.

Off in the distance, you hear Sarah affect a theatrically gruff voice as she says, "Windmills do not work that way!"

((OOC -- :thumbup: :D))

[Huxley]

Leo stares at Menachem during his rant. He ponders for a second... then walks towards the auditorium door. He pauses when Jack speaks.

[SD Anderson]

Menachem exitedly launches into a rambling exposition, complete with vague references to quantum uncertainty, probability physics unbound by temporal foci, arcane mathmatical formulas, the nature of light and the secret wisdoms encoded within the Torah.

He'll continue prattling on about his obsessions/delusions until threatened with bodily harm.

"Or just bop 'em in the heads and cause amnesia." Jack said. "We have time to prepare for that invitation later. It sounds like Leo's decided to go. What we do need to do now is see if this Shapeshifter is the presumed lady diablerism practicing Childe of the Justicar's lineage. If she isn't she may be who she claims she is, a vampire associate of Drake's. If she does turn out to make your die glow, we need to decide if we take her down now or play her."

[SD Anderson]

Leo stares at Menachem during his rant. He ponders for a second... then walks towards Heather.

"I apologise for the wait. You can expect us at Drake's house tonight"

ooc: Damn, it'd have to be a day when I couldn't get access to the net until after 8 pm Pacific time when you replied to Parz.

[Detritus]

ooc: Damn, it'd have to be a day when I couldn't get access to the net until after 8 pm Pacific time when you replied to Parz.
OOC -- OK, I made a slight modification to Hux's last post. There's some time for planning before he leaves.

Remember also that Heather is outside, and this little gathering is happening in the auditorium. Also, you should already know what to expect if you say that you are going to arrive at Drake manor before next midnight...

[Detritus]

"Or just bop 'em in the heads and cause amnesia." Jack said. "We have time to prepare for that invitation later. It sounds like Leo's decided to go. What we do need to do now is see if this Shapeshifter is the presumed lady diablerism practicing Childe of the Justicar's lineage. If she isn't she may be who she claims she is, a vampire associate of Drake's. If she does turn out to make your die glow, we need to decide if we take her down now or play her."
A faint look of distaste crosses Rebekka's face momentarily before she replies, "It is less effort, but that is still riskier than modifying memories, and I would not want to leave here with such crude methods covering our tracks."

She beckons to those who are evidently on re-programming detail. Sarah comes promptly, Sabine begins to move at nearly the same time, although more slowly, and Ramiel is a reluctant straggler. Menachem is not included in the gesture.

"It would of course be prudent to have one or two Kindred proficient in aura reading to return outside with Leo," Rebekka says before turning to those near her.

[SD Anderson]

A faint look of distaste crosses Rebekka's face momentarily before she replies, "It is less effort, but that is still riskier than modifying memories, and I would not want to leave here with such crude methods covering our tracks."

She beckons to those who are evidently on re-programming detail. Sarah comes promptly, Sabine begins to move at nearly the same time, although more slowly, and Ramiel is a reluctant straggler. Menachem is not included in the gesture.

"It would of course be prudent to have one or two Kindred proficient in aura reading to return outside with Leo," Rebekka says before turning to those near her.

"Sounds good by me. All I have is what little body reading and scent, and I'm not quite in the right species to really check her scent."

[Detritus]

"Sounds good by me. All I have is what little body reading and scent, and I'm not quite in the right species to really check her scent."
Engrossed with some sort of interaction between Sarah, Ramiel, and herself, Rebekka nods absently without appearing to really register this last statement, although Sabine, who is not part of the huddle, gives you kind of a weird look.

Radeyah will fall in behind Leo once he starts heading out of the auditorium.

[SD Anderson]

Jack shrugs. If these vamps are that unaware of what Gangrel do almost as well as the Lupine...

[Huxley]

Leo continues outside, die clasped in hand inside of his hoody pocket. He waits for Radeyah to get into position, and while doing so, thinks about Justicar Walsh.

"Drake can expect us this evening"

[Detritus]

Leo continues outside, die clasped in hand inside of his hoody pocket. He waits for Radeyah to get into position, and while doing so, thinks about Justicar Walsh.

"Drake can expect us this evening"
Still wearing Jocelin's form, Heather raises an eyebrow and asks, "Is there a problem with the time specified in Samantha's invitation?"

((OOC -- The die definitely warms to the touch after concentration.))

[Huxley]

"Yes. It is not soon enough. I would like to leave with you -- just give us time to clean up here, and we'll soon come with"

[Detritus]

"Yes. It is not soon enough. I would like to leave with you -- just give us time to clean up here, and we'll soon come with"
"Forgive me if I have not made it clear, but you do understand that Samantha will not be there for several hours, yes? That is the reason I am meeting in her stead right now."

[Huxley]

"Forgive me if I have not made it clear, but you do understand that Samantha will not be there for several hours, yes? That is the reason I am meeting in her stead right now."

"Oh, I understand. Hopefully she does not mind getting this business underway upon her arrival. Drake should understand that there was a reason we set things for tonight, and that we want to finish this hearing and investigation as soon as possible. That entails going over tonight, and soon"

[Detritus]

"Oh, I understand. Hopefully she does not mind getting this business underway upon her arrival. Drake should understand that there was a reason we set things for tonight, and that we want to finish this hearing and investigation as soon as possible. That entails going over tonight, and soon"
"I trust that you are then also prepared to spend the day at Samantha's haven? She will not arrive home until fairly close to sunrise."

[Huxley]

"I trust that you are then also prepared to spend the day at Samantha's haven? She will not arrive home until fairly close to sunrise."

"Yes"

(brief response filler)

[Detritus]

"Yes"

(brief response filler)
Heather gives a shrug that says "suit yourself" and says, "Is everyone who was invited coming?"

After asking this, she begins to gather up the tatters of her dress and work it into a makeshift tube top and miniskirt.

[Huxley]

"Yes, we will all be coming along." [if she responds here, then I'll respond back before this next action]


Now if you'll excuse me a moment, I'll gather the others for the journey"

Leo turns and heads back into the gym[EDIT: used to be warehouse] with a slight sigh, not looking forward to calming down Jocelin.

[Detritus]

"Yes, we will all be coming along." [if she responds here, then I'll respond back before this next action]


Now if you'll excuse me a moment, I'll gather the others for the journey"

Leo turns and heads back into the warehouse with a slight sigh, not looking forward to calming down Jocelin.
She seems to be preoccupied with her clothes right now...

[Huxley]

Leo approaches Jocelin, and kneels beside her. He looks at Radeyah, "Did you see anything?"


He then motions to Jack and Menachem to come over to Jocelin. "I'll need multiple people to keep her held down, in the event that she's more than a little aggravated about having been staked. As for what happened out there: We'll be leaving for Drake's soon, and we will be staying the night, so after we calm Jocelin, prepare yourselves quickly. Heather is related to the Justicar, and after having seen her change form... I think we might learn more if we leave with her."

Leo looks at Jocelin, puts one hand on her to help keep her down, waits for the others to restrain, then pulls out the stake.

[Detritus]

Leo approaches Jocelin, and kneels beside her. He looks at Radeyah, "Did you see anything?"

He then motions to Jack and Menachem to come over to Jocelin. "I'll need multiple people to keep her held down, in the event that she's more than a little aggravated about having been staked. As for what happened out there: We'll be leaving for Drake's soon, and we will be staying the night, so after we calm Jocelin, prepare yourselves quickly. Heather is related to the Justicar, and after having seen her change form... I think we might learn more if we leave with her."

Leo looks at Jocelin, puts one hand on her to help keep her down, waits for the others to restrain, then pulls out the stake.
Radeyah answers, "She is concealing or lying about something, but she is not a diabolist. Her aura did not otherwise betray any powerful emotions."

Those of you who remained in the auditorium (and don't have stakes protruding from your heart) would have seen rather deep eye contact that lasted for perhaps 30 seconds exchanged between Rebekka and Sarah, and Rebekka and Ramiel, before memory modifications of the soldiers begins. There aren't any soldiers present when Leo removes the stake from Jocelin, however.

[Parzival]

<bad scottish accent>
You pull it out, I'll hold her down.
<bad scottish accent>

[SD Anderson]

Leo approaches Jocelin, and kneels beside her. He looks at Radeyah, "Did you see anything?"


He then motions to Jack and Menachem to come over to Jocelin. "I'll need multiple people to keep her held down, in the event that she's more than a little aggravated about having been staked. As for what happened out there: We'll be leaving for Drake's soon, and we will be staying the night, so after we calm Jocelin, prepare yourselves quickly. Heather is related to the Justicar, and after having seen her change form... I think we might learn more if we leave with her."

Leo looks at Jocelin, puts one hand on her to help keep her down, waits for the others to restrain, then pulls out the stake.

Jack sighs, burns the fatigue and assumes Ape form. Jocelin isn't going to get up anytime before he lets her rise. He also burns some more to speak like an animal. Humans being animals that is. "We all know the supposedly secret rules for Brujah. Like you guys ever made an effort to hide them. Get in the face of the Ventrue, get into the face of any Principality you don't actually run, really get into the face of any Principality you guys DO run, and don't mess with the Gangrel cause they're mean and hold grudges. And you especially don't mess with Gangrel named Jack unless you want to die slow and ugly."

"Feel free to cuss out Leo to your heart's content. Get violent and I WILL FRENZY ON YOUR ASS! So if you want to have me rip your lungs out and try to reinsert them through your nose, please... cause trouble when you get up."

Edit: I figure 700 pounds of Ape with proportionate ST scores (3rd edition ranges 22 to 25 IIRC) should keep Jocelin cooperative.

[Detritus]

((OOC -- Ook!))

[Kalzazz]

((Does this get me bonuses to my self control check?))

[Detritus]

((Does this get me bonuses to my self control check?))
I'm going to say no, but I haven't decided yet what sort of mechanics will attend coming down from frenzy.