Storyteller Shadow
A little defiant, a little defeated....
"where are we going and to serve what purpose?"
Alessandro's appetite did not join them for the meal this evening. In a way, he missed it. His appetite was never for quantity, but quality. He savored everything just a little more when it was there.
He forced himself to eat, he'd need his strength. A deep breath... in stark contrast to his partner at the table. A heavy sigh, which wasn't meant to be that loud.
Seems we're into deep waters, now. Ghoul, huh? I'd come across the term, but didn't quite understand its meaning. Something about drinking blood. What was the term... Vitae? I should know more about ghouls. How are they created and how do I destroy one?
Do I even have a chance? Alessandro opens and closes his hands, looking at them in dread of what they may be required to do. Brutality wasn't his thing.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"A trap my friend. Do I hear doubt in your voice? Come let us pray as tha man whom did doubt.....I believe help mine unbelief..."
Andrew waves off the servant and has the men join him in prayer......
Xing Shi thinks to herself how men think they are always better than women and this man is no different making her wait for him.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Moses scratches his chin. "It appears we have a few options here. We can locate the Scotsman and question him. We can locate the woman and question her, I doubt she will still be outside though I suppose anything is possible. Third, I can request a favor, though it will cost you more than coin, to ascertain what happened here".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini
The man laughs, perhaps the most sinister laugh you have ever heard.
"We travel to Vincenzo to meet with my Master. He is looking for someone you know as he has business with the snake. Do not be so glum Signore, I shall see that no harm befalls you".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
Sebastian shakes his head. "You need not take the task on yourself if you do not have the stomach for it. There must be some daggers you can employ in a city so large my friend. A ghoul receives vitae from its master which it then may use to empower itself and extend its own natural life. The older the ghoul, the more powerful the ghoul. They are easier to destroy than my kind, take heart in that. If you tell me what you know of her perhaps I can tell you what to expect from her. Beshter keeps memories of this woman well locked in his/my mind..."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
The old man sighs, "Very well then sirs, starve if you wish to". He steps out of the room leaving you and your companions alone in the hall of desks and chairs.
After the round of prayer Sir Martin responds, "I do not doubt, I simply do not wish to let our guard down. Why should this man wait until the night to see us?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
Fifteen more minutes pass and still he does not arrive.
Alessandro tries to think.
To employ the unwitting would be akin to murder, sending them to the slaughter. If she threatens my city, it is my duty to deal with her.
But, with dozens of... your kind descending upon Venice, what makes her so special? So dangerous? Who is her master?
Xing Shi sighs and moves out.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
"Doing duty includes making hard choices. Is it better to sacrifice a few to save many or to sacrifice yourself, fail and doom the rest?"
Sebastian pauses for a moment to consider your second question. "Are you familiar with Demons?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
You hustle through the early evening streets using the cloak of darkness as best you can.
The necessity for speed though does not allow you complete cover which frustrates you all the more.
Finally you arrive at the streets before the Querini Patriarch compound. A fine mist seemingly made of darkness swirls around the area. Ahead you see your employer who somehow seems to hear you...
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini and Xing Shi
Your contact turns to regard you Xing, still keeping Michele Querini within his peripheral vision. Querini looks mildly surprised to see you but reacts no further than that outwardly.
"YOU! Alive? I am impressed. I surely believed that Marijava assassin would put an end to you woman. It seems that my maser was right, you are more talented than I gave you credit for".
"Seems like the logical first step would be to question the woman, if by chance she is still here. Otherwise, I believe we should seek out the Scotsman."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Dominic stretches out and yawns. "Scotsmen? I saw a man wearing some sort of dress as we entered our rooms last night. Not fashionable here so it must have been him. They have room down the hall. I can inquire with them if you would like Lorenzo".
Moses grins, "I will leave you two to discuss that, in the meantime I will check to see if the woman is still nearby". Moses heads out of the room as quickly as he can.
Xing will make her way toward him as quietly as possible even though he sees her she doesn't want to draw to much attention to herself with other possible on lookers.
"I thought we were meeting someplace else." she says a bit flabbergasted to show her frustration.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini and Xing Shi
"Yes, well when I told you that I assumed that you would be dead by tonight. In addition, I sent you there so the assassin could easily locate and dispatch of you. As you are here now I see no harm in allowing you to come with us. You have proven yourself to me".
Xing Shi stares at the man with venomous eyes that only a woman scorn at a man could make. Her hands twitch as if to go for the blade hidden under her cloak but thought better of it with the traffic on the street.
"Proven myself?" she spits barely holding in her anger. "I was forced to kill some fool that you sent to kill me! Your only luck I didn't find out it was you sooner else we would probably be meeting under different circumstances right now."
She looks around a bit to see if anyone has taken notice to their conversation.
"Why are you here? Why am I here is a better question now I think?"
Storyteller Shadow
"Very we'll then. Let's be done with this. Will you at least share your name with me?"
Storyteller Shadow and Xing
Looking to Xing as I start walking towards her
"Can someone explain to me what is going on. Assassin? What am I involved with. What is in Vicenzo?
Alessandro's mood darkens. Sacrifices and Demons. Of demons, I have a vague notion. It just keeps getting better, doesn't it?
I do not relish sending men to their doom, so long as there is a chance for success. We can use hardened men.
Now, please... tell me about these particular Demons.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini and Xing Shi
The man smirks, "Different circumstances eh? I assure you, the fortunate one in this scenario is you. I was sent here to locate Signore' Querini the same purpose for your being here. The difference between us is that you I consider expendable. At least I did until now. Now I see your value. The fool that you killed was a rather skilled assassin. You should be proud to have bested him. You have a choice. Forget that I almost had you slain or choose to remember and challenge me. The choice is yours".
He turns from Xing to you Michele, "You my friend are going to Vincenza to meet with my Master. He seeks an acquaintance of yours whom you have done business with for some time. He is a hard man to reach and my Master believes that through you he can be reached. Come, let us talk no more of assassins, that is not your concern anyway Signore' Querini. I assure you, until my mission is complete, you are quite safe. As for my name, I have no name to which I answer any longer".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
"It gets no better my friend. Ma-Ri was resurrected by Vampires who worship demons as their masters. They call upon their masters for powers which make even the Kindred quiver in fear. Vampires hate these cursed vile creatures and seek to destroy them whenever possible. Ma-Ri became one of the Demon worshiping Vampires. She sought to claim the Blood of Beshter as vengeance for abandoning her and to increase her own powers here on earth. I shudder to think what she would have accomplished had she been successful. You see my concern now? If Beshter were to make her like him and she indeed houses the soul of this foul being, she could be successful yet in her endeavors to claim his/my blood. That is why at all costs she must be slain".
Forgive me, my head is swimming with new knowledge... But, hadn't you said she was a ghoul? Alessandro tries to put the pieces together.
He remembers "Ghost" and wonders how that piece fits. Ally, enemy?
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
"Yes, she drinks the blood of my kind to extend her own life and to gain strength as she did in her past life. Either she is not aware of her past life or he is cleverly hiding that knowledge. Either way, if the woman can call upon her former masters is it a risk that can afford to be taken?"
Cappelli, something about a storage unit... Her brother Sergei was upset. What of her brother?
Michael Stands
" Aye, I am ready to meet"
michael begins to follow his failed assassins men
"is there anything you can tell me about your employer, that I would need to know before hand?
Michele Querini and Xing Shi
Xing Shrugs "Whatever, you have your Senior Querini now that you wanted to meet with. What's next?"
Storyteller Shadow and Xing Shi
"what I do understand is that I have no choice in the matter and this puzzle will not solve itself. Let us be on our way then.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"I know not, yet still Fedirico and I would like nothin more than tah conclude our business with them in full, an if I never again darken their door, so much tha better."
Lorenzo contemplates Dominic's thought momentarily.
"I certainly see no harm in checking into such things while Moses is seeking your 'friend'. Shall we go?" he says, getting up to go along with Dominic.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
"Beshter has no thoughts regarding the brother. He is a non-factor. I would leave him be. As to the rest of what you are saying, I know nothing".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo
"I will let him tell you what he feels you should know. I do not presume to speak for my betters. Let us be off".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini and Xing Shi
"Now as Signore' Querini has stated, we go my dear".
He gives a slight bow with a flourish gesturing towards the north where presumable he has a boat awaiting to carry you all to the mainland.
As you all begin to move forward another voice calls out from the darkness, "Oh, I think not. You are unknown to me Signore' No Name. Before you bring one of my servants anywhere, you should ask me my permission".
As you all turn around, none of you can see the form to which the voice belongs.
The man with No Name responds, "One of your servants is it? Tell me, Master of Signore' Querini what is your name?"
The voice responds from the gloom once more, "You I would wager have not announced yourself to the Prince. I on the other hand am welcome here. Perhaps you should explain yourself and if I find your explanation satisfactory, I will not bring you to him..."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"Then I guess we continue to wait", Baldemar replies.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
"Should you be coming along? Are you not the one which I should be protecting?"
"Would it do me much good to be left alone?" Lorenzo responds with a grin.
Xing Shi will move back behind her contact and Michele placing her hand on her hip where the blade is hidden just in case and watching as the events unfold.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Dominic grins back, "I suppose you are right! Now let's go see what these men in dresses have to say"
You and Dominic walk down the hall to the rooms where he believes he saw a man wearing a kilt enter earlier in the day. Dominic knocks firmly and awaits a response.
A man wearing a kilt does indeed answer the door, it is not Lord Andrew but another man. He is larger than either of you but not a huge man like Moses. He appears to be a bit tired as he glares at you both, "What business have you here?!"
Storyteller Shadow and Xing Shi
Trying to hide the surprise and relief coming over my face I start to back away a bit from the man with no name. I know I am overmatched.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michele Querini and Xing Shi
The man with No Name laughs, "You believe that you, a serpent are more welcome than a descendant of Narses himself? I am sure that you would find such a meeting one that would not end in your favor. Tell me, Master of Signore' Querini, is your name Sadir Childe of Fahdi Mohammad, Childe of Lady Amisa, Childe of some other wretched Serpent?"
The voice from the darkness speaks out again, "If I were this Sadir, what would it matter to you?"
"To me it matters little, to my Master, it means something".
"Who is your Master?" the voice responds.
"I am not at liberty to say its name. Come to Vinenza and find out Sadir", the man responds to the darkness.
"Much business is there to attend to here", the voice responds.
"Then leave your servant behind to handle it and come with me, it is you and not this mortal that is the ultimate goal. I will pledge Xing to protect him while you are away. She is looking for something else to do and she has proven herself quite capable".
"I fear that is not an option. Both I and Signore' Querini must stay at this critical moment".
The man with No Name chuckles, "Ferrying a few vessels to various Inns can be accomplished by him. You are not needed. You will be back in time for the Conclave, in fact it is imperative to my Master that you be here".
The voice from the shadows is quiet for long moments, "You presume to know a great deal about my business".
"Sadir. Most know the arrangement you have made with the Prince. That is what you seek no? Fame enough that your skills will make you indispensable to those in power?"
"You play a dangerous game, man with No Name", the voice from the darkness responds.
"Indeed, I do. We banter about on the street like common peasants. Come let us enter the household of Signore' Querini's father. There we can speak face to face. I will tell you what I am able and you can make a decision as to whether you will come or stay. My Master wishes only to talk".
The voice in the darkness pauses for long moments, "Michele. Is this agreeable to you?"
Storyteller Shadow and Xing Shi
Pausing for a moment
"So far it seems reasonable but all hinges on what he is able to tell you. I can handle the rest of what was laid out. Let us go in and discuss."
"Please, pardon the interruption. My brother had made a passing comment about seeing a man dressed in a kilt earlier in the day down this direction and I thought that it may have been Andrew the Hardy. I had spoken with him a few days ago and was stopping by to see if perhaps he wanted to have a drink or two and a bit of conversation."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
"A drink hey? Well that's reason enough to wake any man!" He laughs and slaps you on the shoulder forcing you to take two steps to the left.
"Come then friends of Andrew are friends of mine. I am Donnach Dunsirn let's go have that drink". The man steps out into the hallway and begins to approach the stairs not waiting for you to follow.
Xing does not say anything continuing to listen and may entertain the contacts offer if the price is right she thinks to herself, even if he tried to have her killed...
She will follow inside always at the ready just in case if they enter the house.
I have no idea where she would have gone.