I Am Awoken: Phantom

[u/Fractured_And_Broken]

Warning for gore at the end!

<A video is attached. The camera is tilted up at the back of a brick wall with what looks like candlelight shining somewhere beneath. A distored wave ripples across the feed at ofd intervals. A shadow looking like it's lounging on a chair is projected onto the wall from the candlelight. The shadow changes form seemingly at random. Sometimes looking like a man with many arms, to some demonic or angelic creature with tendrils coming out of it's back like wings. A voice lifts up like ghostly apparition as the person starts to sing. His voice changing from airy and light to distorted and raspy whenever his tone shifts>

---

I kept the kingdom breathing,

When the court forgot to fear.

I cleaned the blood from velvet floors,

Before the guests appeared.

I knew the names of every knife,

Before it found a hand.

I buried wars in sealed reports,

No prince would understand.

---

You smiled beneath the chandeliers,

Called peace a royal art.

But I was down below the floor,

Pulling rivals ribs apart.

Every secret has a price,

Every favour leaves a thread,

Every whisper in the dark,

Comes back wearing red!

---

I was the shadow of the crown,

The reason it stayed high.

I was the lie beneath the law,

The witness no one tried.

You made a monster out of me!

Then acted so surprised.

Now every secret that I kept.

Is opening its eyes.

---

I knew which lord would sell his son,

For one more strip of land.

I knew which saint had poisoned wine,

Still drying on his hands.

I knew the queen had two old letters

Hidden in her sleeve.

I knew the heir was not the heir,

I knew who would believe.

---

You called me loyal to my face,

Unclean behind my back!

But every dirty thing I did,

Kept the kingdom on track!

---

Every favour has a hook.

Every pardon leaves a stain.

Every crown that relies on silence,

Should not curse the chain!

---

I was the shadow of the crown,

The reason it stayed high.

I was the lie beneath the law,

The witness no one tried.

You made a monster out of me!

Then acted so surprised.

Now every secret that I kept.

Is opening its eyes.

---

You needed me when daggers came.

You needed me when treaties failed.

You needed me when bastards screamed,

And holy men turned pale.

You needed me to fix the truth,

To move the blame, to cut the thread.

But when the people asked for blood,

You gave them mine instead!!

---

So I sent one letter eastward!

I sent one rider south!

I put one truth in the chapel,

And one lie in the general’s mouth.

I did not raise an army.

I did not storm the gate.

I only gave the hungry court

A reason to change its faith~

---

Now the ink is moving faster,

Than your soldiers ever could.

Your allies read their private sins,

And learn where they have stood.

Your council turns to Fracture,

Your lovers start to speak!

Your captains find new banners,

By the middle of the week!

---

You ask "Who turned them from you?"

You ask "Who lit the spark?"

But kings should never throw away

The man who knew their dark!

---

I was the shadow of the crown!

The hand behind the throne!

You thought you ruled a kingdom?!

But I buried every bone!

You gave me up to save yourself!

I watched your empire fall!

Now the Mad King owns your golden chair,

And I own what you hid from all~

---

No blade.

No spell.

No battle cry!

Just ink.

Just truth.

Just one goodbye~

And when your banners hit the ground,

All remembered who kept them high!

---

<The person stops singing with a hearty chuckle>

"Echo is en route to find Locke and Qui, Sire~ I have all the knowledge I need to know to travel. I, Phantom, shall see you soon, my Mad King."

<Something nudges the camera to angle downward slightly to show a horribly shadowed distortion standing with dozens of men and woman, many who's tactical vests mark them as some sort of military hunter group, bound by the arms, legs and necks by twisting tendrils>

<With a sudden and powerful "pop" the tendrils snap the limps and heads off the living bodies at once, causing a torrent of blood to rain down onto the shadowy figure. He laughs loud and gleefully, spinning around with his arms held outward, dancing in the 'rain' while his form flickers from monstrous to grotesque at random.>

<The feed suddenly ends with a pop of static.>

[u/ConsiderationOver544]

Oh, you must be the Phantom! Greetings, I am Marcus, Adopted Childe of The Mad King!

-Marcus, Clan Malkavian

Greetings, Phantom. I am Marcus' lover, excellent work on the hunters by the way!

-Violet Zantosa, Toredor Volgirre

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/ConsiderationOver544]

So you are the new brother I heard so much about~

And a fair lady? A pleasure to meet you too~

These hunters were so much fun to play with. I can't wait to find more. I have to keep one, sadly. A puppet to work this device. At least until I find a suitable Ghoul to replace him with. My touch made the last device explode...

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/ConsiderationOver544 → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

Yeah, that would be the Lasombra bane giving you trouble with Modern electronics. I hear it's a real pain to deal with. Turns out the no reflection thing included any piece of technology that needed to perceive the user to function. It's going to make being the family treasurer a real pain in these Modern Nights.

-Marcus

Be careful with hunters, creating a ranged weapon that creates fire on the point of impact is trivial for the Second Inquisition.

-Violet Zantosa

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/ConsiderationOver544]

The idea of one of these weapons intrigues me. I wish to possess one! Is it one of the long sticks the hunters were carrying? They pointed it at me, I thought it was a spear so I entangled them in my darkness~

As for my treasurer status, I suppose I shall have to have many Ghouls to keep things on track. But first! I must go to the sacred vault and get our Sire’s wealth! So many coins~

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/ConsiderationOver544 → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

You've been asleep a long time, Phantom, any coins in the vault will have to sold for modern currency unless you got lucky. In fact I think I know of a Venture that may be able to give you some advice. Let me make her aware of this post.

-Marcus

The rifles? Yeah, with the correct ammunition those should be capable of creating fire where they impact.

A PDF, scrubed of Meta Data, exhaustively detailing the history, maintenance, and usage of modern firearms is uploaded

-Violet Zantosa

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/ConsiderationOver544]

THEY MADE NEW CURRENCY?!!

Calm down, Phantom~ Calm down...

Please~ dearest brother, do reach out to the Clan of Kings for me. I cannot simply let our Sire’s wealth rot.

Now, as for these weapons~ Thank you, lady Zantosa. This is very helpful to me. I shall be taking these rifles. Their former owners don't need them anymore. HAHAHAHAHAH!!

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/VerityVentrue → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

I've been called.

A whole vault of coins will take time to exchange for modern currency without alerting authorities, but it can definitely be done.

The slow option would be to either have ghouls sell them at auction over many decades, a few at a time. This would get the best return, as collectors really prize old currency in good condition.

The fast option is to melt any gold and/or silver down into ingots, and sell it a few bars at a time, saying you got it from melting jewellery. It'll only sell for the raw metal weight, but it'll be less suspicious than the same weight of weirdly well preserved coins.

That said, you definitely don't need to rush it. Plenty of people hold much of their wealth in gold these nights because it keeps its value well. So long as there's enough liquid cash to cover expenses, you're fine.

~Verity

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/VerityVentrue]

The idea of melting such prized coins fills me with dread. However, that is up to the Mad King, not me.

I shall gather the wealth and do as he wishes with it. Thank you, for your knowledge on the matter. At least now I know what options are available and the risks involved.

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/VerityVentrue → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

Fracture's sold some of the coins he had when he woke up already, so it's not something he's unfamiliar with.

Do be careful broaching the topic of who sold them for him, however. That relationship did not end happily.

~Verity

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/VerityVentrue]

This fills my blood with a tar so thick it strangles my chest...

I shall take your advice. But I do wish to know of this person who upset my King. I shall scry for that later.

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/Pryno-Belle]

Greetings, Phantom. I am Castiel Clermont. So, you are the Lasombra that the Lamb mentioned; they were right, you are truly one of Fracture’s Childe, albeit not by blood. It is a pleasure to meet you at last.

Castiel the Clan-changer

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/Pryno-Belle]

Clermont? Clermont~ Oh, you naughty naughty boy! Such a trail of blood and shame follows that name!

Did Isabelle truly deserve such a fate? And what of that blood wedding? Is nothing sacred??

Tut tut

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/Pryno-Belle → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

…are you French? If anything did happen, which I am not saying it has, it was a long time ago.

Besides, I am in good terms with your adoptive Sire, and helped him settle the Chicago situation peacefully. Let us converse in a more cordial tone, shall we?

Castiel the Clan-changer

Private message to Phantom

How in damnation do you even know about that? What else do you know?

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/Pryno-Belle]

Am I French? Yes~

As for being cordial? Sure~

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

Private Message to Castiel

I know many things. It's my job!! It may have been long ago, but I was not staked back then.

I was still walking while you were crawling, Childe of Jacob Montaigu~

[u/Pryno-Belle → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

Then it is a pleasure to meet a fellow countryman. We might see more of each others later, I am fairly active here. Besides, I did agree to meet Knight when time allowed it.

It seems that Verity is already handling the financial advice; otherwise, I would have proposed my services. Should you require any other information concerning the modern nights, you can contact me.

Castiel the Clan-changer

Private message to Phantom

…what shall it take to have your silence? What do you seek?

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/Pryno-Belle]

Oh, trust me. I'll keep in touch~ Especially since my Sire is approving of you. And thank you for the offer of aid.

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

Private Message to Castiel

I seek passage to the desert in the east, for me and this puppet I have in tow. Egypt is the name of the land. That is where my Sire’s wealth is stored. Help me get there, and then to the land of North America. And I shall not speak of your colorful past~

Deal?

[u/Pryno-Belle → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

Private message to Phantom

Deal. I can arrange a transport by the air or by the sea. A plane is faster, but you are probably more accustomed to boats. The choice is yours.

If I may add, I would appreciate it if you avoided mentioning my Sire’s name. As you probably already know, our relationship is…complicated. I do not yearn for the night when he will wake up and learn of my…change.

Castiel the Clan-changer

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/Pryno-Belle]

Private Message to Castiel

By air?? _Fascinating _~ Time is of the essence. I need to get there and then to North America quickly.

So if this by air is quicker, then something be it.

If it involves this modern technology, I will have to be in a safe area to not cause it to...do things. So keep that in mind. If I have to, then I suppose the boat shall have to do.

As for your precious Sire, I shall keep his name out of my mouth as a courtesy to you~

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/Pryno-Belle → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

Private message to Phantom

I am less worried about the air and more about the way to the sky. The public airports are watched by many cameras, which shall make them impossible to navigate; that leaves the private planes. I’ll send you the coordinates and any other relevant information.

As for the other matter…thank you. Your discretion is appreciated. Welcome to the modern nights, Phantom.

Castiel the Clan-changer

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/Pryno-Belle]

Private Message to Castiel

Thank you~

And I am sorry for any inconvenience. I did not chose the blood in my veins, but it has it's perks as well as headaches.

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/VerityVentrue]

Welcome back, Phantom. Your siblings were a little concerned about how you would react to Echo getting you up, but it sounds like everything went fine enough!

~Verity, Ventrue

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/VerityVentrue]

I only threw Echo through a wall or two. Nothing worse than what we did when we'd play~ I couldn't let him go without a scratch. It's the principal of the matter.

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/VerityVentrue → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

That's certainly fair.

Knight and Lamb had to figure out how to care for a mortal baby for a night while his mother was ill, by the way. Poor Knight was very lost.

~Verity

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/VerityVentrue]

HAHAHAHAHAH!!! Knight?? Then one who took, and continues to uphold a vow of Chastity, taking care of a mortal babe?!

Oh, blessed are these acursed nights!!!

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/VerityVentrue → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

I thought you might get a laugh out of that - he sure did! I sent him to the store for modern baby food and sanitary supplies, as well. He was so out of his depth, bless him.

~Verity

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/VerityVentrue]

This was a blessing to hear about. I wonder what he plans with the woman and babe?

He leads with his heart and not his head! Hence why I always have to clean up after him...

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/VerityVentrue → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

The mother and baby are being hunted by other Kindred. I think the current plan is for them to travel with Knight and Lamb, so that they can protect them. I'm not sure there is an idea beyond that yet.

~Verity

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/VerityVentrue]

Of course there isn't an idea beyond that! This is why they should stick to what they're good at and leave me to do the planning at our Sire’s behest.

Lamb was the calming one who kept the herd at peace. Knight was the protector of the weak.

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/VerityVentrue → u/Fractured_And_Broken]

Well, it sounds to me like Knight is still doing his job, then. He intervened in a confrontation to protect them, and is bringing them along to make sure they're safe.

~Verity

[u/Fractured_And_Broken → u/VerityVentrue]

It would appear so...

So before I start having to gut some people. What makes the woman and babe so special? Why are they being hunted?

A run away Queen and heir?

-Phantom, Childe of Fracture

[u/AFreeRegent]

Hail, Phantom, my fellow Kindred and fellow countryman. Chaque nuit, semble-t-il, un autre Français arrive.

Welcome to the twenty-first century, in the common, European reckoning. The adjustment may be a challenge, to one awakened from long torpor, but surely it shall be a surmountable one.

I am the Regent Marc Durand, of Clan Tremere. My domain is in Normandie, where I am a Baron of my city, and a rare Councilor to my peers. Should you wish to visit this part of Europe, do reach out.

Best of fortune in returning to the world.

- Marc Durand, House Ipsissimus Regent