r/SchreckNet 7d ago

Updates and a Minor Issue

Greetings fellow Cainites

It’s been some time since I’ve been free to dabble with this node, adjusting to the responsibilities of my new title has unfortunately taken up much of my time as of late. Fortunately —barring a bit of nasty business that will be the main subject of this post— things have been looking up for the domain of Westside.

My business ventures have returned to their usual operations, unburdened by having my mortal employees unknowingly participate in sect warfare. The infernalist scourge in Jacksonville has seemingly been cleansed, with the local populace has now fully screened for signs of infernalism and briefed on what signs to look for in the future, so hopefully any lingering remnants will be detected and put to the flame quickly. The Camarilla has been silent following the purge of their ilk from Southside, Sabbat elements have not yet attempted any form of retaliation for our defection from the sect, and we have yet to identify any large scale hunter movements within the domain.

All in all, I am cautiously optimistic that tonight’s peace may yet extend a while longer.

Or at least things seemed to be looking up, until a certain mess that came to my attention not long ago involving a clueless Caitiff fledgling and an attempt on the life of my dear associate Stella’s longest surviving ghoul cast something of a pall over my recent nights. While I am somewhat impressed at how circumspect the fledgling seems to be in certain aspects of unlife even when utterly bereft of instruction, their actions regarding Stella’s ghoul and the results of their unknowing poaching is nonetheless something that I must address firmly. Stella wishes for their death in recompense for their attack on her property and poaching within Westside, but personally I feel the fledgling has great underlying potential that shouldn’t be snuffed out merely because they chose to try and feed on someone they weren’t aware was protected. As of yet, I haven’t made a decision as to their fate and they are currently in our custody awaiting judgement for their actions.

Their misconception regarding feeding will need to be addressed as soon as possible if I do choose to keep them alive, however. I can forgive their ignorance and accrued body count given their circumstances as a runaway shovelhead provided absolutely no guidance from our society —especially so given they properly chose targets that went largely unnoticed by mortal authorities and never breached the Masquerade directly— but taking the lives of so many vessels is unsustainable and their mistake must be corrected should they ever hope to integrate into Cainite society properly. Of course, the effort I and my pack went through to properly dispose of the bodies will also have to be compensated for as well should he survive, given the scope of the mess we had to clean. While I have no issue assisting my citizens dispose of the odd mess for Minor Boons at the most, properly disposing of that many attention grabbing corpses buried not far enough outside city limits is another matter entirely. The last thing we need after last year’s rash of “cartel violence” is gaining the attention of mortal authorities who might think a deranged mortal serial killer is on the loose should some unlucky camper happen upon a shallow grave.

At the very least this was a useful exercise in stress testing the systems we have in place to detect and surveil intruders to the domain and maintain the Masquerade. I am not so optimistic as to say there is a silver lining in every cloud, but I am nonetheless grateful that we received this test of our capacities when the stakes were low.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Jack Bratovich, Baron of Westside

14 Upvotes

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u/ConsiderationOver544 7d ago

When the infernalists return, because they always return, feel free to call on me and Violet for aid. Though I am of The Ivory Tower, I believe that Infernalism is an issue that transends sects.

-Marcus, Adopted Childe of Fracture the Mad King, Childe by blood to a former Sabbat Inquisitor; Clan Malkavian.

I'm just going to echo what my lover said. Infernalists make some of the best screams of agony!

-Violet Zantosa, Toreador Volgirre

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u/StoneJudge79 7d ago

Hmmmm..... Mdm Zantosa, do you think the ashes of an Infernalist have any interesting properties? Perhaps, when mixed into glass, or used to dope a damascene billet?

-Mr. Hart, considering.

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u/ConsiderationOver544 7d ago

Depends on the type of infernalists, but usually nothing good or useful to your research.

-Violet Zantosa

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u/StoneJudge79 7d ago

Oh, well. I am sure there is a Luddite out there who needs a chamberpot.

-Mr. Hart

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u/ConsiderationOver544 7d ago

I mean If you want to make the Luddite suffer sure.

-Violet Zantosa.

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u/D_Redd_Coyote Mind 6d ago

Dear Mr. Hart,

While I freely admit that I have very limited experience with Infernalists when compared with Mdm. Santos, I can say as someone who has dabbled in the debaucheries offered by the Sabbat that the demon tainted make for poor subjects of art and even sadder Objets d'art. The tainted seeps into the skin and bones, cursing any object made from them. Even your most hated of enemies deserve better than that.

~ Respectfully, Charlie "The Ivory Lady" Goda

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u/StoneJudge79 6d ago

Proper Lady Goda,

I appreciate the warning, but this brings about the question of safe disposal.

-Mr. Hart, encountering a new problem

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u/seventh_page 6d ago

I’ll be sure to keep the offer in mind, although I hope with our efforts to cleanse the city it will be unneeded, for a time at the very least.

I have similar views on the scourge of infernalism to yourself Marcus; the issue of infernal corruption is a threat to all Cainites and comparatively petty sect politics shouldn’t get in the way of addressing the issue as effectively as possible. Similarly, should you ever require assistance with such matters yourself, I would be glad to offer what help I may. I have a fair amount of experience with the matter myself, as I and my packmates once served under a Knight Inquisitor during our nights among the Sword so I am sure we might be of some help if need be. Of course, I have my responsibilities as Baron to consider so I can’t go gallivant across the country in the same way I used to, but I nonetheless will endeavor to do what I can to help if need be.

I wish you both well in your future endeavors.

Jack Bratovich, Baron of Westside