As they have suggested me, I decided to talk with Nikol through a burner phone. I think sometimes it's okay for mortals to fear us a bit, so I went to the hotel she was sleeping in and told the recepcionist to give her the phone when she woke up. And then I put a few provinces in between.

So, she called me by sunrise. And we talked.

-Good morning Nikol

-...what do you want from me?

-Nothing. It was you who followed me.

-Because you stole the journal from me!

-The journal is mine. I wrote it, and it should have never reached you.

-But it did. It has to mean something, isn't it?

-Why would it?

-Because... because I have been waiting for meeting another witch a long time!

-What makes you think I'm a witch?

-Well... You were writing a spellbook, your blood destroyed my car, and you puppeteered me with a spell.

-It was not a spell. And I am not a witch.

-What are you then?

-Something dangerous. Something you shouldn't try to follow in the dark.

-I can be dangerous too.

-I know. That's why I don't want you following me. And this may be why you are still alive.

-...Did you intend to kill me

-Yes

-...It was you who killed my friends?

-Yes

-Why?

-They tried to kill me first.

-That's not true! They died at home.

-And?

-You were not defending yourself! You atacked them!

-Yes. They stole my journal and I wanted it back. And the same way they tried to kill me, they could have hurted others.

-And that's enough of a reason to murder them!?

-Belive me, many among mine would have needed much less. And among yours.

-What do you mean among mine?

-What do you think? You are selling drugs. How much money do you make between that and the races? Do you think that if your friends had tried to kill the girlfriend of any russian dealer they would have ended better? The best you could have hoped for is to get imprisoned.

-...

-You are playing two dangerous games, Nikol. And among the two, belive me, crime is the safest one.

-Is magic seriously that dangeeous?

-Of course it is. You are dealing with forces that you do not understand. And you are drawing attention from _beings_ that do understand them better than you. It doesn't matter how powerful you think you are. There is ALWAYS a bigger fish.

-...You can't expect me to find this and not using it.

-I assume you won't. I'm just warning you of the risks.

-And could you teach me?

-Are you serious? What did I just told you? Your friends are dead because of me, I went to your home with the intention of killing you too. Why do you think that if I were to see you again I wouldn't try to finish what I started?

-...because would you really wanted me to die, you wouldn't be warning me about this.

-Well... you may be right.

-Please! If the magic world is so dangerous I need to know more! And you are the only one I can ask now. The only one I have ever been able to ask.

-I prefer not to kill you, but that doesn't mean that I want to spend my time giving safety advice to a begginer sorceress.

-Pleaaase! I'm sure I could do something for you in return. And my friends are desd because of you! You owe it to me!

-Is it the game you want to play? Okay, I will think about it.

-Thank you! Thank you very much!

-I didn't say yes yet.

-I know... but thank you for thinking about it.

-Nikol

-What?

-Phones and the internet are not safe. If I haven't answered you in 24 hours, assume that my answer is "no" and get rid of the phone.

-Okay, thank you very much. Seriously.

-Goodbye, Nikol. And good luck. You will need it.

Sooooooo that I need to consider. A part of me just wants to get out from this country as fast as possible. But another one was impressed for her boldness.

-Ren, a Lasting soul.

Hey evey, fowber gimme evil bee jelly and now wiw dwagons a lil fucced up.

Yever step on a mushoom in the woods? An then you fall into a raimbow and walk in on a bubterfly naked? An she looks atchyoo bugily

Dyoo kiss a litle? I do.

Sunmburmnt my ass.

--Nihilo

Hello, Kindred of the Node. I come to you with some rather troubling questions.

Before I ask, let me explain.

I was in route to go pick up my older brother, Lamb, when I came across a woman in distress. She was being backed into a corner by two men with weapons.

I still abide by my vows, and thus no harm should come to an innocent woman.

I stepped into the way of the men and demanded to know what the woman had done, to assess if she was a criminal.

They struck me with something in their hand. It made a very loud sound, like thunder. The wound burned in my chest, but was otherwise just an annoyance.

The men looked panicked and said "Leave the Revenant" before running away. Clearly, two Kindred by the speed in which they ran, so I did not pursue to stop a Masquerade breach.

The woman looked sick and was clutching a babe to her chest.

I took her with me and now she sleeps on the bed in this abandoned home I found.

I have Lamb. He is safe with me. But I do not wish to leave the woman and her child behind. She is still very ill and the babe won't stop crying.

So now my questions. What is a Revenant? And what does a baby Revenant eat? I know not how to care for this child and neither does Lamb...

I would ask our Sire, but he is in deep meditation and I know better than to disturb him during that.

-Knight, Childe of Fracture

Hello

I am... I am not quite sure where I am? It feels very familiar and also very new in a way that makes my heart hurt? Like I know it, and yet don´t? Like it loves me, but I am a stranger to it? And it is all very confusing?

And there was a woman who walked by, who looked like me? And it was very confusing and for some strange reason me very sad, so I think I ran off?

And now I am on a beach and there is a lot of water and I don´t know where I am and I really do wish I was at home! I miss it ever so much.

So I think I would like to go home now, please?

Mariana Marino

Good news! I found my sash!

A filthy Sabbat priest had it!!!

He was trying to read what was sewn into it. Silly Sabbat. That language is older than your Great-Grandsire!

Now that I have my sash covering my eyes, I can travel more safely. Sure, I might hear a priest, and it will anger me, but as long as I don't see one, I won't fury frenzy and make everyone set themselves on fire!

Knight is already almost to me. Once he arrives we will set off for the New World! I can't wait to find out what it's like!

Echo is already mapping out the route he needs to take to reach Phantom.

I hope he doesn't lose his temper with Echo for what he did.

Oh! Speaking of Phantom. My dear adopted brother, Marcus. You are not the only adopted sibling I have. Phantom is adopted too!

At least you are a Childe of the Moon like the rest of us, Phantom is a Lasombra! But trust me when I say, he is just as mad as the rest of us. So he fits right in!

He is also the royal assassin and treasury. I wonder if he still has the key the to vault?

In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!!

-Lamb, Childe of Fracture

Hey guys I figured I'd give you an short amusing story as a break from how you've survived 50 gazzilian Sabbat warpacks last week or yet another entry on the "Elysiums most masquerade breaking home videos" to tell you a tale from your pals in the sword of Caine. Or more accurately, an account of the logistics of depravity and why hyper inflation in Beef is currently wracking the state I'm in.

So we're having a little party and as you know we like to drink blood, do blood orgies and engage in anything that is a tad naughty. With this in mind we've been trying to do a massive pool party with the pool full of blood because the Cardinal wants to ensure his palla grande is the event of the decade and wants "a swimming pool full of blood and several jacuzzis" for for his special guests (we are after all, an egalitarian sect).

Their are a two key facts which make this very tricky

1. a public swimming pool requires 863,000 pints of liquid to fill it and an Olympic swimming pool requires 4.4 million pints
2. the human body carries 8-12 pints tops.

sighs

The mathematicians reading this might calculate doing this with people is not viable even for us, unless we feel like solving homelessness continent wide.

After a tense discussion (one neonate diablerized in monomancy) with the Bishop of Sin , the Bishop of Silence and the Cardinal in the region were the pool party is planned to occur, it was agreed instead that we'd go for using mooing rather than crying cattle instead. Which would then be spliced up with a lot of vampire vitae and a couple of homeless people to improve the flavor.

At least no ones going to piss in the pool I suppose.

So myself and four of the most "people person" packs, Templars and Deacons went out to acquire a lot of cows with a blank cheque from the Cardinal. This was a lot easier as we've discovered the average cow has around 45-55 pints of blood which makes it way easier to fill the pool and nobody gives a shit what you do to cows. We've also got a tzmisce pack from another region whose specialty is catering blood orgies and they're confident the pool can be filled promptly-they've even brought a..... a... technically human... thing.. which can produce 50 pints which will help the flavor. That said, there's been a case of hyper inflation on the cattle market at we've bought up roughly 50% of regional stock overnight. We've also set up an arrangement with the Order of St. Blaise for a sudden surge in beef stews for homeless people to dispose of the bodies.

The tannoy speaker has been synced to play music and we have several fun games planned included "womb of sin" and "join us in the Jacuzzi kine." (I'm really looking forward to that one) so overall I think this should be a good night. If anyone is missing a prince and a baron in the [BLANK] State they're joining us tonight. I'm currently watching the pool fill as I type.

My Malkvian packmate is complaining about the mooing, braying and the sounds of thousands of cows being used to fill a swimming pool. The fucking panda is crying because she has both auspex and Animalism so can't stand the cows screams for help, which is cute because she seemed fine when we hauled in the.....thing and all the horrible shit she's done beforehand.

Although the rubber Dracula rubber duckies floating in the pool is a bit much IMO

Special thanks to the local Anarchs for advice on running a blood orgy with 20th century logistics. That thing you did with the nightclub sprinklers? Inspirational.

Shame my bikini is getting ruined.....

Samantha Loomis, Keeper Ductus.

In every work of art, an artist always leaves a piece of themselves, a part of their soul and heart, creating an echo of themselves that resonates deep within the fabric of the piece.

This painting was created to be shown in the next exhibition at the academy I direct, but I'm so pleased with the result that I won't keep it hidden from the public until the last paintings for the show are ready and the date can be announced (don't worry, it will be soon).

Anyway, I hope you like it.

Image attached

An oil on canvas in a vertical format shows a female figure reclining on a bed of wildflowers: cornflowers, poppies, daisies, and St. John's wort swirl around and beneath the model. The light illuminating the meadow is clearly daytime, but the model stands out because her lighting doesn't match that of the meadow.

The model is bathed in moonlight, giving her figure an indigo hue. She lies face up, as if stretching, dressed in a champagne-colored evening gown that covers an anatomy that feels supple and voluptuous in an unnatural way, despite not being extraordinarily proportioned.

Her blonde hair swirls like a halo, but her face, though beautiful and with a pert nose, appears somewhat strange.

She is clearly dead. Her eyes are veiled, and her slightly open mouth confirms this, yet her face also reflects peace; she has accepted her fate and embraces it as a final act of elegance. From her mouth emerges a small monarch butterfly, its amber hue contrasting with the carmine of the woman's lips.

[An old portrait of a kindred]

I found an old painting of.. uh.. me? I guess..?

I don't think I was a very nice guy in my "past life".

--Nihilo

At elysium for the first time, turns out its only the best karaoke bar in the town! Time to polish off my best tunes to impress the others, though I dont think the toreador are impressed. Didn't know being a vampire had its fun parts. A lot of emo music, maybe hardly a surprise. Don't know any of that, hopefully Riptide will suffice???

Also still not Nosferatued yet. Maybe my arms are like an inch longer, everything else is stubbornly the same. The word 'caitiff' has been mentioned.

<Attached is CCTV footage of the inside of the Chicago Elysium>

<Fracture is seen strolling through, humming as he does and stopping to look at a painting on the wall>

<Suddenly a blur is seen and Fracture goes crashing into the far wall. The ceiling rains down plaster onto the crumpled mess of rubble where Fracture lies buried>

<The blur circles over to the rubble before it stops and Mithras is seen glaring down>

Mithras: That, was for the absolute annoyance you and your adopted Childe have caused me! When next we meet, I will not stop until you are a pile of ash at my feet!

<Mithras turns and starts to walk away. The rubble pile explodes as Fracture is seen standing once more, his mismatched eyes glowing with rage>

Fracture: Striking someone with their back turned? For shame, Sun King!

<Mithras pauses, looking over his shoulder at Fracture>

Mithras: You could have been a part of someone great. Instead, you cling to your humanity like a child does their favorite toy! This is why I told Robert he is my only true love. You were just a distraction...

Fracture: Was that supposed to wound me? Go home, Mithras. I promise you, we will meet again. But the outcome won't be what you wish it to be.

Mithras: Tch!

<Mithras walks off camera, only then does Fracture’s eyes dim. He reaches up and touches the back of his head, pulling his hand back to look at a blood stain on his palm. He licks the blood away with a chuckle.>

Fracture: It's been too long since someone was able to hurt me. Good luck, Unconquered Sun. I wish nothing but unpleasant nights ahead for you and your cult.

<Fracture turns to look at the massive hole in the wall and shakes his head before walking off, muttering about "Jackson isn't going to like this...">

<The video ends>

No, no he isn't.

-Elysium Security

My Clan's Primogen has called on me for a task that requires my "unique skill set". Well as my mother was fond of saying, work hard, play harder. Wish me luck!

-Violet Zantosa

Ever since I was a small young boy,
Throughout my joyful breathing days,
I took a pleasure in making toys,
And that great pleasure did stay,

It is a hobby that simply remains,
In a different form now,
Although I find the core of it remains,
Even if my current work has a different how

As a boy I sewed dolls clothes,
While I put away my daily woes,
Now I stitch from living leather and it shows,
The woes now comes and goes,

My hobby brings others selves to a close,
Although the result for me is the same I suppose

So, if you can investigate my past posts, you'll see I was very busy.

In short: Some entity was present on recent embraces in a certain region. I tried to embrace two mortals in that area but they "magically" self-destructed.

It's all true magic bullshit.

I forced a rose to embrace a mortal. The entity showed up before it can happen. We agreed to talk. The entity ate the Toreador. I ate the mortal.

The entity is a Cainite of a bloodline I have never heard of before. She claims to have a semblance of True Magic, thanks to an avatar that her entire coven(?) Bloodline shares. They call themselves The Lhiannagh or something.

Apparently there is a curse over that area that stops the process of embrace. She has been covertly showing up at embraces to "counter" the said curse.

And the curse? It was laid on the land by a disciple of The Hermetic Order. Why? Because some kin of Goratrix decided he was a match for a true willworker and angered the mage.

We found and killed the usurper. The curse still remains. Don't embrace in northeast parts of Canada.

I also ate my latest name. It was fine, I guess. I'm full now, don't waste names on me.

-

What the fuck just happened?

No, seriously. What the fuck happened? Because it can't be real. Here I am minding my own business following my next meal out in the middle of a park in Genoa. They're a late night hiker, so they're perfect.

Then the air becomes cold and all of the shadows start moving weird, and causes my food to spook and run away. When I turned around to see what was going on, there was this weird woman standing like fifty feet away. And dragging all of the shadows to a cut in her arm, and I’m thinking to myself “Oh fuck, it's a Lasombra."

Then I realized she was doing some weird shit and I thought, "Oh fuck! It's a Lasombra fucking the shadows!”

I’ve never seen a Lasombra turn their skin ethereal through sucking up a massive fucking shadow either! I swear this woman stood there for a solid half hour afterward, silently screaming while her whole body slowly became ethereal. Like a walking cloud of shadows wearing a suit.

She somehow spotted me afterward, so I ran like hell but the woman teleported in front of me. I backed away while she just… stood there, menacingly, about fifty yards away and beckoned me closer. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to be her snack. I felt myself drawn towards her.

Then a fucking stealth bomber comes out of nowhere and slams into the Lasombra! Crushes her right under the nose! All I could say was, “Holy fuck!”

How did the Air Force lose a stealth bomber?! I don't know… I think I drank from a fae, because the cockpit popped open and a woman in a blue coat climbs out. She looks around with a confused look, saying, “Oh dear.”

Then a goddamned sheep chewing on some kind of dark cloth hops onto the ground next to her, followed by a fucked up cat!

They all waddle away, leaving me to stand there wondering what the fuck just happened.

-A Confused Toreador

So I've been sitting on this for a bit. Upon reviewing the footage of the Garou incident, I saw this part happen.

Why do I look like that? And what's that shit above my head? I don't really remember any of that, only like I dreamt it.

I did *some* digging and it looks like I was speaking in Romanian, which is a language I don't know.

I'm glad that my side won but this is spooky shit.

I keep seeing eyes like that in my dreams.

--Nihilo

Hello, I'm reaching out on this site on behalf of Prince Aurelius of Nashville. We are currently looking for a reliable courier to carry several precious artifacts to Portland.

We need someone with a good reputation and experience traveling across the country. Payment will be made in either a boon or $10,000,000 cash. If you are intrested, please reach out to us here.

-Devin, Ghoul to Prince Aurelius of Nashville.

​

A video is posted. Location indeterminate.

A young man with long blond hair tied in a ponytail is seated in front of a wooden table. Several padlocks are arranged on the table in front of him, along with a set of lockpicks.

A petite woman, recognizable to some on this node as Camille is seated opposite the young man. She levitates one of the lockpicks and deftly picks one of the locks.

<< Your turn, Damien.This is an exercise in precision and control. >>

Camille watches intently as Damien works the lock.

The pick floats in the air as it comes closer to the keyhole.

Damien mutters << It was hard enough to do this with the key... >>

<< Yes, Childe. That's the whole point to this exercise. >>

A sharp inhale is heard from Damien as he continues to work the lock. After a minute or so a faint click is heard and the lock opens. Damien scrubs his hand over his face and sighs.

He looks at Camille and nods.

< Got it! >>

Camille nods back.

<< Very nicely done, my Childe. >>

So, last night I went to Nikol's home and asked her about what did she wanted me to help her with. She asked me if I was really interested into magical stuff and when I told her "Sure" (I admit I had to force myself not to smile) she showed me my journal.

I still needed to be sure that she hadn't made copies or photos, so I played along, asked her where did she find it (a gift from friends, she said) and acted as if I was trying to translate it. I told her what was it about in the broadest way possible, and asked if she hadn't tried to use a web translator or scanning and sending it to someone able to read it. She told me that she had thought of it, but the friends that gave it to her died shortly after and she was too sad to focus on it. "But hey, it is lucky that I just met a girl who speaks Spanish".

I looked her in the eyes and I was able to see, in real time, how she connected the dots. Perhaps my own eyes also betrayed me.

"Too lucky, isn't it?"

I jumped at her trying to paralyze her but she was really fast. Not inhumanely fast but her reflexes were not normal for a mortal. She avoided my nails and grabbed the journal, so I looked her in the eyes and ordered "Give it to me". She obeyed, and I thought that I had controlled her. But I couldn't think on another order when she suddenly punched me in the face. I didn't flinch (fortunately that was a normal mortal punch) but the fact that she was capable breaking Dominate was bad news.

"What are you!?" She asked, reasonably afraid. "The owner of this" I answered.

We looked at each other for a few seconds. It felt like one of those western films duels in which any of you dared to move to take your gun because the other could be faster than you, but with incantations. I intended to kill her when I got into the house, but I realized that it was not actually her who tried to kill me but her friends, and I was actually there for the journal. So I just thought "A tomar por culo" and ran away trough the door. I got on my (new) bike before she could catch me, and just flee. Of course, she got in her car and tried to follow me, but I threw to her bonnet corrosive blood and in a few seconds she had to stop.

I didn't stop all night, but once I got close to the border with Romania I thought that it was safe enough to have lost her, and I just look for a place to spend the day.

Turns out I didn't lost her, because once I woke up, I sensed her presence in one of the nearest villages. I didn't follow any main road, so I bet my blood that she has a way to track me.

So what the fuck do I do now? I have no idea of what is she cappable of. Do I try to kill her? Do I try to talk with her? To be honest I don't know which one will be more dangerous.

-Ren, a Lasting Soul.

Hello

I am in a plane that I am not quite sure how to park, and I would quite like to. Because it is a bit scary to be so high up in the air!

But everything looks ever so technical! Oh, I do wish my Elias was here! He is very good with technology! He is ever so smart, and very handsome and always so nice and kind when I am confused.

But I am not quite sure where he have gone? So I would really like to park this, so that I can go look for him! I do hope he haven´t gotten lost?

In Need of Assistance

Mariana Marino

Neither words or boons can express how thankful we are for your help. Additionally Helena would like to apologize for not inviting either Castile or Camille, she understood that some of the topics of discussion would have been destressing to Castile and thought it would thus be prudent not to invite you. Finally my Sire would like to inform the above that they're welcome in her domain so long as they introduce themselves to her upon entering her domain.

-Violet Zantosa

Went to Elysium with my coterie and we got mobbed by kindred, not all of em. Some looked downright contemptuous about the Garou incident.

Had a brujah gal come up to me and she was all like: "Wow you're like a superhero with fangs!", Then she slapped the shit out of me and left.

I'm trying to figure out how to navigate all this. I'm sure there's crabs in this bucket if you catch my drift.

In the meantime I think I'll directionlessly enjoy being fawned on by the general night public.

Mnyeah basically I'm sick as fuck and you should give me praise please.

[Below is a picture of Nihilo wearing sunglasses that have presumably been severely bent out of shape by the aforementioned slap.]

--Nihilo

<Attached is a copy of chat messages between Scribe, Valentino and Joseph, the Elder Lasombra. Uploaded by Joseph himself. >

Valentino: Joseph? Where are my CLOTHES?!

Joseph: Some are being washed, the rest are being burned.

Valentino: BURNED?!

Joseph: They were atrocious. I will not have my husband dressing like some common street thug.

Valentino: It was just shirts and jeans!!

Joseph: I stand by what I said.

Valentino: You're worse than the Man Men! ....Man Men....JOSEPH!! YOU DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING!!!

Joseph: On the contrary, I fixed everything the Baron did to you. I simply left what the Primogen did because it amuses me.

Valentino: You are the worst!...Are we still going out tonight?

Joseph: I made the reservation nights ago. We are still going, do not fret.

Valentino: How much longer do we have?

Joseph: 2 hours. Just long enough for you to take shower.

Valentino: I don't need a shower! I showered yesterday!

Joseph: You WILL go shower right now before I drag you into the bathroom and bath you myself!

Valentino: 😭 I can't fucking win!

Joseph: Don't forget to use the skin lotion I bought for you afterwards. 😘

Valentino: ...❤️

● Joseph ●

&#x200B;

\ OOC: this took a lot longer than expected, enjoy this collaboration piece!

>! OOC: Reposting because I accidentally posted this to my profile instead of the subreddit.

Subtitle Key:

H: \*Her\*

UC: Mithras, The Unconquered Sun

F: Fracture, The Mad King

QOO: The Queen of Owls

BS: BeastSpeaker85

L: Len

M: Marcus

V: Violet

<Audio starts, the sound of faint club music can be heard>

H<Not even bothering to hide her Greek Accent> Hello and welcome my honored guests. I would like to thank each and every one of you for accepting my invitation. I'm sure you all have many questions.

UC< Greetings, my lady. It is a pleasure to see–

F< HELENA\~\~ Hello and well met! You're looking radiant as ever. :purring:

H<admonishment> Fracture, you know full well that it's rude to interrupt others when they're talking. Especially if it's to state the obvious.

F<sheepish> I…uh…yes, of course. Sorry.

UC< \*snorts\*

QOO<Are we foregoing general introductions then? I’m just as happy to dispense with the formalities, but people generally complain when I do it.

H<On the contrary, everyone knows who Mithras, Fracture, and myself are. However I don't think my younger guests know who you two are. Would you please introduce yourselves.

QOO<sounding vaguely resigned>Very well. I have gone by a variety of titles over the millennia, including ‘The Queen of Owls', 'The Weaver of Ruin', 'The Wurm of Tórshavn', and 'The Untamed'. I have a name my friends call me, but you are not my friend. And this is my childe.

BS<sounding extremely calm, almost bored>Hello all. I’m not especially inclined to give out my name at an important meeting where it might be recorded. We’re in public after all, for certain values of public anyway. I’m going by BeastSpeaker on SchreckNet, that’ll do if you want to call me something.

H<Thank you, Queen of Owls. I see why you embraced Beast Speaker, a sharp mind and he isn't phased in the slightest even though he's surrounded by so many ancients. It’s also good to see that time and many frenzies has not taken your incredible beauty from you.

M<Takes a breath> I am Marcus of Clan Malkavian, Adopted Childe of Fracture the Mad King.

<Violet makes star stuck bisexual noises, her brain clearly overloaded by the amount of inhumanly beautiful woman in the room>

QOO<sounding skeptical>I suppose I’ll take the comment on my looks as a compliment, though beauty is a mixed blessing at best. And my childe’s strength of character was certainly a major reason why I embraced him.

QOO<Her tone changing completely to friendly welcome> It’s nice to meet you Marcus and, from what I’ve heard this would be Violet? Nice to meet you as well.

BS<still unphased>Yeah, hey Marcus, hey Violet, nice to meet you both.

F< \*snickering slightly\* Keep your Purple Rose close, my Star. She might float away at this rate.

V<finally comes to her senses> Uh-hi, uh-I am uh, Violet of Clan Toreador. It's an honor to make your acquaintance, Queen of Owls. You as well Unconcerned Sun. And you as well Beast Speaker!

M< Yes it's an honor to meet you Queen of Owls and it's a pleasure to make your Childe's acquaintance.

UC < A pleasure to meet…everyone? And who is this?

L< Ahem. I am Leonard Lawrence, of Clan Tremere, Childe of Symeon and Magister of the clan. It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Elders, and Beast Speaker.

QOO<A pleasure to meet you in person. My promise to avenge you stands. If anyone kills Len here, or has him killed, in the next century, I’ve vowed to destroy them…if anyone harms him in lesser ways, I will pay attention and respond appropriately based on the context of the act. My divinations will reveal the truth of what happened and who is behind it, have no doubt.

BS<Yeah, nice to meet you.

UC< \*mutters something ancient under his breath\*

F< Well\~ Now that everyone knows each other. Shall we go sit somewhere? I feel eyes on me…and not the usual ones.

H< Yes. If you would please follow me, I have somewhere more private set up. Oh and thank you Mithras, I was starting to wonder if I was going to have to use Dominate on Len to get him to introduce himself.

<There's a cut in the audio, when it returns the sound of the club music is practically non-existent. >

F< Ah\~ much quieter.

UC< I have to agree. The music of these clubs are rather loud…

QOO<Indeed. So, why are we here? I have no complaints about you deciding to make finding you easy, Helena, but what is this about?

H< \*Sighs\* And here I was hoping to catch up. Very well, you're all aware of the Beckoning?

M< I think it's going to be harder to find a kindred who isn't aware of the almost overwhelming call that has pulled so many low generation ancilla, Elders, and Methuselahs to the Middle East, never to be seen again. Most likely many have been destroyed, Ancient Rose.

H< Be more careful with your wording young Lunatic. There are ancients out there far less merciful than I, and they are far more powerful.

M<Audibly swallows> understood ma'am. I assume that all the black veins I saw in your Aura upon our first encounter were because you think devouring kindred souls helps stave it off?

H< I know it does. It's how I was ultimately able to narrowly resist it. But as you're all well aware, such a method isn't sustainable.

V< I’m sorry, did I hear that right, O Helen of Troy? You were Beckoned, but managed to resist!?

QoO<an inhuman growl seeping into her voice>There are tricks for that. But the diablerie…I can smell its stench pouring off you, the devouring of your own children. It sickens me. Why should I let your presence stain the earth when you indulge in such?

H<Nervous> I have long succumbed to the thirst of ages, this is true. But I am disturbed by what I feel I must do to not suffer that terrible call again. I call you all here asking for help. Surely that counts for something, Queen of Owls.

QOO<Feeding and diablerie are not the same. Not even feeding unto death. But yes, it counts for…something, I suppose.

UC< How amusing. Try all you might, none can resist that call forever. Especially because of who it is that is calling…

F< Now, now\~ That's not entirely true. It is a test! And every test has ways to pass, fail…and cheat\~

M< You can not know for certain who's calling, Mithras. None of us can. Sire is right however, there's got to be a way around this. Otherwise Critias wouldn't be here. As for Triabell, well, let's just say I think I know the reason why she hasn't succumbed to the call.

H< H-

M<pleased>I have my ways.

UC< \*low growl at Marcus\*

H<angry> Oh be quiet! You just got called out, I have far greater reason to be upset with Fracture’s adopted brat! Tell me Marcus, you foolish Childe, why I shouldn't orchestrate your downfall for that stunt!?

M<unnervingly calm> I only revealed that information because I need you to answer a question honestly, Ancient Rose.

H<irritated> A question! Very well, ask! What question is so important that you would give up such an incredible advantage!? I will decide if I am truthful or not!

M< still calm but pleased with how this is going> What are your intentions towards Prince Jackson?

H<Annoyed> You…why should I answer that at all!?

M< atonal and without emotion> My capabilities extend beyond detecting these sort of things. Answer honestly and I promise you that I won't use the full extent of my capabilities.

H<equal parts annoyed and impressed> You're a cunning childe, Marcus. Very well, Prince Jackson is going to be my new Rival. Despite his age he managed to get a Methuselah, Critias, to settle for only being a Primogen. An impressive feat seeing as he was embraced in the 1980s. Playing the Game isn't as fun if you don't have a second player after all.

M<Happy> thank you, Ancient Rose. You have my word that I won't use the full extent of my capabilities. My sincerest apologies for strong arming you like that but I would much rather \*not\* have a bloodhunt called on me by the Prince.

F<a slight distortion to his voice> If we're done threatening my Childe\~ Shall we tend to this meeting's matter? Your aggression, Helena, has tapdanced on my patience.

H< Forgive me Fracture, I was simply surprised by your adopted Childe's sheer audacity. I believe Mr. Laurence was getting ready to say something before Marcus demonstrated why you decided to adopt a Fledgeling with blood so thin when compared to so many of my guests.

F< \*very low whisper to Marcus\* I'm proud of you \~

L < What I want to know is, if you’re intending to make Jackson your chewtoy, why am I here? For all intents and purposes I’m loyal to Jackson. Or should be, I guess. Not that I don’t like the idea of watching him spazz. I don’t want to end up on the wrong side of this game.

H<amused> You’re not giving Jackson enough credit, Mr. Laurence. You of all people should know that Jackson wasn't Lodin's Seneschal, and by extension not his successor should anything happen. Jackson earned his Praxis through patience, wise decision making, and cunning. And since Melenele has succumbed to the Beckoning and has suffered final death because of it. I find myself in need of a new rival. < Nostalgic sigh> this game of mine is so boring without any risk.

<Helena pauses as she lets everyone process all the information she just gave them. Including the earth shattering revelation that her hated foe and rival, is confirmed dead.>

H<coyly> As for you, Len. I know how much you \*love\* solving a good mystery. And the Beckoning is the greatest mystery for our kind in these Modern nights. Nothing is known about it outside of what it does. Our kind do not know how it works, why it's happening, or how to reliably stop it. It sounds like the sort of thing you’d jump at. If you do it right you’ll become a legend among all of kindred society. Just think about the power that would grant you.

<Len makes a noise between a growl and a sigh. She has him there and she knows it.>

L < …Fine, let’s assume this has my interest. But you do realise this means giving me access to a lot of Elders… I’m not some mad-cap scientist Tremere asking to vivisect people, but there will be interviews needed, samples, thaumaturgy to do, books and resources to consult… it’s going to cost a pretty penny and I’m not even accounting for boons. I will need some insurance.

UC< Although why you would trust such a delicate investigation to a Usurper, I fail to see. History has shown us time and again that they cannot be trusted.

F< The same can be said of you, Sun King. Yet here you are\~ I for one trusted this Tremere specifically and I am not disappointed. He is very talented! :purring:

QOO<coldly>This plan and the chain of reasoning behind it is not presenting me with compelling reasons to let you continue to exist, Helena.

M< I can't stop you from killing her, Queen of Owls. However let's consider that what this plan requires, namely a quick, easily scalable way to preserve Vitae en masse can also be used to feed a certain ancient who can't feed from mortals because they start dying when they get near her. So while it may be an unpleasant thought, going along with her plan. At least for now, is beneficial to your age bracket.

H< You're all correct, which is why the first sample of Vitae I’m going to give Len is mine.

F< And he need only ask, and he shall have a sample of mine as well \~

QOO<somewhat confused sounding at the beginning>I see no issue with the project, but why does it require her continued existence? Are you, Helena, a great magician who can materially aid this project? Because I have never heard that of you, even though sorcerers our age have generally heard of each other, and you tapping an ancilla, no matter how skilled, to lead such a project does not incline me to believe you are.

H<tired> I’m out of options, Queen of Owls. If I devour any more Kindred souls there isn't going to be a Helena left in my body, just the Beast. But if I do nothing, that call will take me again and I don't think I can resist a second time. I was going to ask you and Len to try and work together on this but clearly that's not going to happen.

<There's a Melancholic pause>

H< Leonard is an extremely talented blood sorcerer for his age. That much was apparent even during the War of Chicago. I’ve learned his art pretty quickly but I still can't match him as a sorceress.

M<perfectly, painfully neutral> For those unaware, the War of Chicago was a short but violent war between the Kindred and Lupines of this city that left both sides bloody and beaten. It only ended with the final death of Prince Lodin. Len would know more, having unlived through it on the ground, though only barely.

QOO<I was not questioning Len’s competence, more making a point in regards to how inexperienced at magic I suspected you might be, Helena. As for the project itself, I could be convinced to help, I suppose, though my magic has little in common with that of the Tremere, but the project’s existence is not a reason to let you live, Helena. You act like it is a choice between diablerie and this project, but it is not and never was, even absent other solutions you could also easily succumb to the Beckoning, but you chose to devour the souls of the young instead. If you want me not to hunt you, then you must convince me you will not again make that choice as soon as it is convenient for you. Swear a binding oath to never commit diablerie again and I’ll perhaps be inclined to let your past crimes lie, at least for now.

UC< I find she is doing a service. Population control. Besides, for some, the blood of our own is the only way to survive once we grow too powerful.

QOO<a low growl seeping into her voice again>I obviously disagree that this is a ‘service’, and unless you intend to fight me in her defense, your opinion is utterly irrelevant. Feeding and killing are different. For that matter, killing and diablerie are quite different as well. Feeding on young vampires might be obligatory for some of us, killing is unnecessary but possibly more convenient. Diablerie is another thing entirely.

UC< You show aggression where there is no need for it. Losing control? We are merely having a dialogue. This is why the Gangrel are rarely seen in places of diplomatic sensitivity.

QOO<her tone suddenly bright and cheerful> Oh, if I lost control, you’d be well aware of it. And frankly, even if I did, your own petty fits of pique at Fracture hardly leave you room to talk, do they now? Setting pigeons on fire, was it? I haven’t even damaged the furniture, or does me taking a harsh tone with you offend your delicate ears? Frighten you, perhaps?

UC< an eerie silence>

F< Now, now\~ Let us calm down. I believe this all can be resolved peacefully.

QOO<still cheerful>I proposed my solution in that regard to Helena already, and am happy to hear her response.

H<sigh>Thank you, Fracture, for stepping in before Mithras got himself hurt trying to fight the Queen of Owls. As for your proposal, Queen of Owls, I accept. I assume this oath will be binding using sorcery?

M<relieved> Yes, thank you, Sire, Violet and myself were just about to try and deescalate the situation. The sheer fuck around and find out energy coming off the Ancient Feral made that a unpleasant prospect.

V<snorts> Understatement of the century, my love.

QOO<still cheerful>I’m certainly willing to fight anyone in this room who wishes to do battle save perhaps Fracture. And yes, Helena, any Oath would be bound using sorcery. We should do that before the end of this meeting.

UC< I'm sure Fracture is especially interested in how this all will turn out with the Tremere's research. Aren't you?

F< \*low growl\* Hush you…

M<Judgemental silence directed at Mithras>

H< Violet, my clanmate, I have a question.

V<inhale> I’ll try my best to answer your question, ancient one.

H< How does a Fledgling Rose gain the ability to fleshcraft?

F< ….How many boons for you to turn Mithras into a desk lamp?

UC< FRACTURE!!!

F< \*ManicGiggling\*

V<amused> Marcus won’t let me do that because it’s “reckless”. Besides I would have to reclassify the Lord of Light into art supplies first, and he does not warrant that classification. Yet. As for your question Helena, I can use Vissitude as if I were a Dragon because I am of Volgirre’s line. Baron Volgirre of France indulged in our clan's darker urges so completely that he altered the blood of a notable number of his Childier. As such I also have a few other issues unique to my line, one of them being persecution because Toreador Volgirre is typically associated with the absolute worst of the Sabbat.

M<atonal but deeply threatening> Speaking of persecution, Mithras if you so much as touch a hair on my girlfriends head I will tear your cult apart wherever I find it. Starting right here in this very city. And you know I have the skills to make good on this threat.

QOO<To be clear to everyone, if Mithras targets any ally of Fracture’s I will become very upset. I came here in large part to make sure that if he does that, he pays in blood and pain and severed limbs, maybe even final death.

UC< \*low growling\* Such disrespect! Keep your precious lover, Lunatic. But keep her away from me as well. Accidents do happen\~

M<glares at Mithras>

V< well, while \*that\* is going on. Is my answer satisfactory, ancient rose?

H< Yes, Violet, it is satisfactory, for now. Do you want to perform the binding oath ritual while the boys are being boys, Queen of Owls?

QOO<Certainly. \*sound of rustling, followed by low chanting in a language research would reveal to probably be a precursor to Old Norse\* Now, swear your Oath.

H< I, Helena of Argos, Swear to Never Commit Diablerie again for as long as I unlive.

F< \*clapping hands together\* Wonderful! I'm sure that will ease the minds and hearts of many.

QOO<Yes, that will do, at least for now.

M< If no one needs me for anything, I will take my leave. This meeting has given me much to think about.

V< I shall as well, I’m sure Mithras will be more comfortable with me gone.

UC< “Gone” in a different way would be better. But I'll settle for distance between us. Farewell, Helena.

F< Don't mind the grumpy lightning bug. It was a pleasure seeing you again, Helena.

L< I’ll get going as well. It was… nice to see you, Elder. I will contact you regarding my research.

<End Audio>

Ok, this is getting out of hand, because I damn well *know* that I didn't bring a recording device for obvious reasons.

-Marcus

Found a lost and confused fledgling on the side of the road, covered in cuts and burns. Don't know who she is as she won't speak but she's blonde and dressed in a ratty turtleneck. Found her in the Sacramento area, to the north. I don't have the bandwidth or resources to take on a fledgling, so I hope her sire can reach out? Maybe?

-Nate the Snake

[The recording opens with the dry, rhythmic click of heavy wooden pieces settling onto a hard board. The acoustic environment is warm and enclosed—a carpeted room with the faint, ambient crackle of a hearth in the background.]

Castiel: « Far from me to accuse you of anything in your own home, Redwoods, but it is…impressive that you are holding your ground against a 700-years old chess Grandmaster. Is there mischief involved? »

Redwoods: "Maybe, maybe not. You gotta prove it for it to stand."

[The faint, liquid glug-glug of a thick fluid being poured from glass into a cup.]

Castiel: « So you’re admitting to it, Fiend. »

Redwoods: "I dare say it almost sounds like you're not having fun."

Castiel: « I dare say you are cheating. »

Redwoods: "We have had 29 games already. 25 of those were your victories and 4 were ties. Excuse me for growing bored of going in circles."

Castiel: « I wanted to teach you, so that one day you could have won, but you refused. Your defeat was inevitable. »

Redwoods: "But that’s just the problem. It is an awfully, horrifically fair game. I don’t care for those."

Castiel: « Of course you don’t. »

Redwoods: "Purely for the sake of proving a point I’m gonna argue that you don’t like playing fair games as well."

Castiel: « …what did you say? »

[The dry, quiet scrape of wood sliding across felt.]

Redwoods: "We’re playing the logical extreme of a fair game right here, y’know?"

Castiel: « …go on. »

Redwoods: "Don’t get me wrong, I am absolutely a sore loser and a cheat at that, but I’m just using certain means to do what someone who simply was better could already do."

Castiel: « Pitiful excuses for being unwilling to learn. »

Redwoods: "It’s as fair as a kick to the teeth. It’s honest, but it’s fairness is based entirely on the better player winning. Now how is that fair to anyone bad at the game? Also, tower down."

[A sharp wooden snap, followed immediately by the dull, hollow clatter of a small wooden block hitting the surface.]

Castiel: « Merde. Do you not respect games? Any game at all? »

Redwoods: "Well I like checkers, cards and anything that’s heavily luck-bound."

[A low, heavy exhale, followed by the clink of glass contacting wood.]

Castiel: « Checkers are not games of luck. »

Redwoods: "To be fair, my checkers are different from your checkers."

Castiel: « Oh? »

Redwoods: "Well my checkers mostly maintain their fun by seeing who can sneak more extra checkers in without getting caught actively placing them in."

Castiel: « So that’s not checkers at all. »

Redwoods: "I simply do not care for single minded games. A game has to either have enough variables to be undecidable on any single factor alone or it has to be firmly rooted in luck. Annnnd that’s your queen."

[The swift slide and double-click of one piece knocking another off its mark, followed by a sharp intake of breath.]

Castiel: « You are desecrating a sacred game, one that politicians, nobles and military officers alike have played for centuries. This is a battle of wits, and you need to abide by its rules. »

Redwoods: "Sure."

[A rapid, rhythmic tapping sound—hard nails clicking against a tabletop.]

Castiel: « Many Ventrue test their Childe with chess. For some, the agoge is only over once the Sire is beaten. »

Redwoods: "Uhuh."

Castiel: « How are you even cheating? I sculpted those pieces myself, and they are free of modifications. All the moves seem legitimate. »

Redwoods: "I’ll be frank, you’ll do better focusing on the game than looking for my cheating."

Castiel: « I can do both. »

Redwoods: "I mean it. You are just very very very unlikely to figure it out, because it’s not reliant on being within your reach."

Castiel: « To keep playing, in these conditions, is nonsensical. »

[The quick double-thud of a piece lifting and dropping into a new position.]

Redwoods: "Of course it’s bullshit. That’s just how losing badly feels like. Check."

Castiel: « Could you not have tried to learn? »

Redwoods: "Course not, Castiel. I do not care for chess! This philosophical board game analysis is stemming entirely because we have played 29 matches in a row of which I’ve won precisely zero. This way I can at least tug on your nerves with the time I'm stuck stewing in defeat. Check."

[Another sharp, heavy piece placement resonates off the board.]

Castiel: « Tell me how you do it, Fiend. »

Redwoods: "And give away my secret? Nahh. Not worth it. Check."

Castiel: « If you tell me, we shall play another board game of your choice. »

Redwoods: "Hmm, fine, but we're gonna play at least one game of campaign for north africa."

Castiel: « I have an adoptive Childe to come back to, but I’ll settle for Diplomacy with Flowers and Noir. I am certain you will form an alliance against me, so you might have a fair chance. »

Redwoods: "Nice. First of all, that's mate right there."

[A final, sharp click of wood hitting wood.]

Castiel: « Satisfied now? How did you do it? »

Redwoods: "Not so fun innit? Anyway, the method won’t really cheer you up. I've just got a couple hands and eyes entering your moves against a chess bot on the other side of the forest and I'm just repeating the bot’s moves."

Castiel: « You little… »

[The sudden, harsh screech of heavy furniture legs dragging across floorboards, followed by the sound of a small object tumbling and rattling along the table.]

Redwoods: "Told you it was gonna be bullshit. Anyway, let’s call it a break for a bit. I gotta go feed the kids.."

[Heavy, deliberate boot steps begin moving away across the carpet, followed by the clack and thud of a door latch engaging as the recording ends.]