Dark Ages Vampire - Bloodlines (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Harry

She smiles slyly at him.

offers his hand quickly.

"Been awhile ago."

Knife Attack 4d10 ⇒ (3, 7, 3, 10) = 23
1/2 Soak (rounded down) 1d10 ⇒ 1

During the attack upwards I will grunt and loudly proclaim "You curs go and get the Captain!

Replies in Gaelic...
"Indeed Brian, years has it been since I had pleasure o yer company an countance, I noted you at tha palace o tha Doge an now here yer are before me. Help is something I have need o, an likely yerself has some needs as well."

motions the waitress over...

"Drinks, in plenty."

Michael follows the two ladies into his humble abode. watching them "closely" and wonders .oO(what could I possibly say or do to get them both to start to go a round with him"

"Would you like something to drink? "
Michael gestures to his wife for some drinks

"Please Honey if you dont mind some beverages for all of us."
Michael starts to address Anyas concerns

"About your brother I did speak with the Good Doctor Arrigino which he said it was a simple drowning. When I needed your referral for a second opinion that doctor who I later found out is not a doctor began speaking of reasons that cannot be explained scientifically."

Michael looks as if he is thinking for a moment.
this cannot be a simple drowning because all employees must be able to swim. Do you know if your brother was mixed up in any one of the wrong crowd?!? Did he drink a lot did he have problems with substances that would cause him to take a swim?!? I notice that the location which you live is not, well the best place to raise kids in?"

As you stumble back you bring the easterner forward and strike a glancing blow. Dagger damage 2d10 ⇒ (4, 7) = 11
Easterner soak 1d10 ⇒ 8

Your growl for the Captain does send one man into action who races across the ship and down to the Captain's quarters. You will need to hold out a bit longer though as the old man lunges forward and the crowd roars.

Dagger Attack 4d10 ⇒ (1, 7, 6, 10) = 24
This time the cagey easterner steps to your left and slices into your oblique muscles drawing blood!

Dagger Damage 3d10 ⇒ (9, 6, 8) = 23

You may soak the damage again at 1/2 of your dice pool as the damage is lethal.

The patrons that do arrive you give courteous service to. One in particular catches your eye, the man sits with an air of supreme confidence about him. He is pleasant enough to serving girls but watches the door quite carefully as if he is expecting someone. Each time you consider coming out from behind the bar to greet him a new patron comes in and walks up to the bar asking what happened the last few days.

A few hours later the man is still there, still waiting. You see a chance to step out when the door opens again, you groan inwardly expecting another regular to engage in a thirty minutes conversation about why the Tavern was closed.

This time though it is a man dressed as a foreigner, in what appears to be a skirt! He has a noticeable limp and he scans the room paying you and the serving wenches little mind. As he scans to the far side of the room the stranger who caught your eye before beckons to him. The man goes over and sits. You are too far to hear what they say though the newest patron does call for more drinks.

Brian takes a chug on his ale, "This is why your pleas fall on deaf ears. The city is split in half, the Doge's foes want the Doge to pull the land forces back ratehr then risk the ire of the Pope. The Doge sees it as weakness to pull out simply because the Holy See has demended it. He also sees the Pope as a greedy land grabber who wants to send in Vatican forces to "prop up" this regime. The Doge takes great risks here refusing the Pope, especially as the Pope has a long standing feud against the city which stems from his time as a Cardinal. If you can find a way to solve that problem I am sure the Doge will look upon you and your entourage favorably".

Brian sucks down the rest of his ale and finishes, "Luckily or unluckily, I have a way for you to help the Doge in this time of crisis. My superior in the Knights Templar has sent me here to root out Vatican radicals in the city known as the Inquisition. These fanatics see withcraft at every turn or at least they claim to. Generally though they use their inquisition powers to strip families of wealth. Those who support them by rooting out heretics and witches are looked upon favorably and often inherit most if not all of the wealth of the accused. A rash of such rampant nepotism was stamped out of Venice fifteen years ago. It left a stain on the reputation of the church in Venice and the Pope was forced to pull back all Inquisition forces from the city never to return. The fact that they are here now is a direct contradiction to the Papal Bull issued at that time. If you can prove these Inquisitors are here, the Doge can infer that the Pope acted out of turn and sent them here as a strike force of assassins against him! This will give the Doge some room to negotiate a solution with the Pope as the Pope will be seen to be in the wrong for such an action. It may not seem evident at first glance but if other Christian leaders think of the Pope's Inquisition as a force of assassins looking to strip the powerful of their titles it will force the Pope to backpeddle. After all he must rely on the help of such leaders to give the excommunication some teeth. Are you up for this challenge?"

Kat blurts out, "What about being a gondola driver? One of you could work for that Santo character, that would give us a better idea of the lay out of the city. Plus with the death of this Hans, he is a man down".

"Bah, that is a horrible idea. We should simply set up shop on a roof near the canals where this body was found. With a few crossbows we can bring one of the beats down. Everyone knows killers like to hunt in the same spots when the eating is plentiful even unnatural predators will be lulled into false security when not under threat", responds Francois.

"I think Kat's idea has merit", retorts Brice. "You would, if for no other reason then to get in her good graces", snaps Francois leering at Kat.

"Being a gondola driver is the same thing as being bait is what it looks like to me. We will need to find a way to follow our would be driver around I think", opines Brice.

"Let me talk with my employeer and I will come back in 2 days time to provide you your "taste"."

She stands and holds out her hand to him and smiles toward Gino.

"Was nice seeing you again Gino I will keep in touch."

"Aye tis a mission o less than diplomacy I'd wager an one we might enjoy a bit tis true, any chance any o these agents err English an they are here also hope'in tah keep allies away from tha homeland?"

"Iffen they were English it would make a bit more sense why were gonna take offense at ther actions."

Soon after Marco exits the apartment, dons a cape with a large symbol on it and stalks through the Venetian streets.

Make a Dexterity + Stealth check difficulty 7 to follow, these men are on alert and watching the shadows.

"So ken I expect tah see tha lad yah sent round again as our contact?"

Xing Shi is not very stealthy with their awarness

As soon as she realizes shes spoted she will just boogey out of there.

You will never see that man again, I never use the same messenger twice. From now on if you get a message that somoene claims is from me ask the following question, "The cup must pass but to who?" The answer is "to the Order of the Third Eye". If that is not the answer given the person is a spy and I have been compromised. Do you have any other questions before you begin?"

A sudden flash of suspicion crosses Lorenzo's face as he asks Dr. Benne, "How do you know about my Constancia?"

"What ken I do to get started? I suspect tha diplomatic mission will take over-long givin good reason fer me tah remain."

"Have faith mah friend obviously God almighty brought us together, after these long years."

"I will not be made a fool of brother! Each one of us has done just as much as you have, maybe even more. I am this close to leaving!!

Katriana storms off, presumably up to her room.

"I cannot say that this is the most unusal circumstances. Your brother was how can I say this... My best employee. He didnt speak much about his personal affairs, I guess since he was new to the city and didnt know many people but he was always at work on time, first to show up last to leave. Hard working someone I could trust and depend on. When he didnt show up for work I never pressed the Issue cause I believe something would have to move the stars for him to miss an appointment."

Michael gives Anya a reassuring gesture

"Leave it to me though I will find out who is responsible for this. Your brohter reminds me so much of my self and after hearing your story. A man tring to make a honest living in a strange new City and afford the luxury for his family. I know that story all to well. The world needs more people like him."

Michael downs his glass of wine.
"I did speak with the Good Doctor and the results will be in soon enough. We will lay the body to rest. Have you deciede what your going to do in the mean time. Will you stay in the city? return home? any employment opportunities? Whats your next move."

"I know many things about you Dr. Now let's discuss your strange incident shall we?"

Brice turns to Sergei, "I will reach out to Michael tomorrow". He then excuses himself and steps outside.

Wilhelm turns to Sergei, "You treat her as if she was still as young as she looks. I told you that this approach is unnatural. Hopefully soon we will find what you are looking for and you can find what you seek. If this keeps up, the journey may well destroy you both more thoroughly then these monsters ever could". With that he too steps outside.

Katya wraps her arms around Sergei's neck, "I will do as you ask milord, is there anything else you need of me?"

He takes her by the hand, and leads her to his room......

"Name a few places in tha general area, tha way I ken, if questioned say why I might be in tha area. Or does a merchant sell pipeweed an an eel-skinned pouch, fer tha stuff?"

Andrew will go to enough trouble to write a business name and pipeweed on a scrap of paper for a cover.....

Then he will head to the warehouse

Your counterstrike sinks home! Roll just your strength for damage.

You see the man again jab forward with his dagger.
Easterner Dagger Attack 3d10 ⇒ (5, 1, 7) = 13

At that moment you slip on the slick blood on the deck and his strike narrowly misses.

As you raise your arm for another thrust the Captain comes across the ship with impossible speed, slamming the man in the back of the head with a club.

Club attack 7d10 ⇒ (10, 2, 9, 6, 6, 5, 10) = 48
Club Damage (Non-lethal) 8d10 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 6, 1, 9, 9, 1) = 36

The Captain scremas at him in an unknown language.

Easterner Soak 2d10 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

Clearly wounded and intimidated by the appearance of the Captain, the man drops his dagger and grabs at the back of his head.

"Perhaps after we have discussed the oddity that I have seen, we can discuss your studies a bit more?" he asks, hopefully.

Lorenzo pours himself a fresh glass of wine, offering another glass to his guest before continuing. "A few nights past I was called in to determine the survivability of an intruder in one of my brother's warehouses. The wound was grave, and there was certainly little chance the intruder was going to survive the night."

"He said something before he died, 'Take me to Prince Narses, I must tell him what I have seen here. He will reward you as he always does.' Obviously I do not know who this supposed Prince Narses is. Upon telling the dying man that I did not know of this Prince Narses, he said to me, 'Wait I don't know you... What have I done? That is where you are wrong. There is a Prince and you will rue this day that you have made this discovery.'. Almost immediately afterwards, the man died and to my shock and surprise, turned to dust. I did manage to keep a bit of the dust to study."