Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Andrew sees the rungs and realizes the absurdity of trying to hold his cane while going down into the hidden abode, he slips the cane through his belt and gingerly eases his way down the rungs, counting each one through slow progress....
"How many rungs to tha bottom?"
=> 1 sucess
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"Twenty-one Lord Andrew".
As you come to the bottom rung, you see that Brian has set a few lanterns to provide light in the shelter which is much larger under the water than it first appeared above the water.
A chalice stands on a small altar. Icons of Jesus, Mary, the Holy Spirit and other Saints adorn the walls. The cross of the Templers sits on the far wall nearest to you. There are three seats
"Welcome, this is the respite which has been created for us by our forefathers in the Order. There was always doubt as to the Church's support of our organization as we grew in power. There are similar safe houses near other Chapter Houses across Europe".
He turns his back to you and begins to prepare the Chalice for communion.
"Tell me Andrew, do you trust the Teutons which you have aligned yourself with?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Finn Garrety
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Andrew manages the rungs coming to the bottom he turns to take a seat....
"A man warned me gainst trustin any, claimin all err subject to tha machinations o tha evil one...it seems much remains a mystery."
"My trust is in tha Lord."
Xing Shi nods and tries to make herself comfortable. She uses an old rag to wipe whatever blood may still be on her face.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo and Michele Querini
Hans pauses, "I was not aware you were coming here Signore Santo".
He walks to the door and opens it, "Enter if you have business with me again this night".
Behind Hans Michael you do see the familiar form of Michele Querini.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Brian turns to you. He begins a brief prayer to the Lord and drinks from the Chalice, he then hands it to you.
"The Lord is our light and our life. It is through Him, that we will see the true path. The blood of Christ".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Xing Shi
You reset the traps and lay down to sleep along with your companion, the man with No Name.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Andrew raises the chalice and responds .....
"May the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you unto eternal life."
He then drinks......
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the
You drink deeply, the Blood of Christ is as potent as you have ever tasted before... Almost like Faith given liquid form.
Brian stands as you begin to wobble in your chair, "Yes, The Lord promises those who stay the Road of Heaven Life Eternal. It is a difficult path to walk and one fraught with peril. How are you feeling my friend?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Stamina
"I feel uncanny....."
Andrew slumps into the chair....
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Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"For that I am sorry. Events have moved far too rapidly. I will need you on my side. You have fallen too far into the camp of the Inquisition for me to reason with you. Instead, I must bring you across..."
You see Brian come over to you and take you into his arms, you feel a pinch in your neck, a flash of pain and then...
Your heart begins to beat rapidly, then slower, then slower, you feel lightheaded. Unable to struggle, you lay limp. Confusion, fear, wonder, anger all course within you but whatever was in that drink prevents you from acting. You black out.
Some time later your eyes open, you feel a white hot stream of molten lava poured down your throat. You attempt to fight the feeling away but you are still too weak to move... Brian away from you. t is Brian doing this to you!
He staggers backwards as you fall off of your chair, "Mayhaps I gave you a bit much. But it was necessary. You will see, I can explain it all to you now, now that you have no choice but to aid me..."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
The pain continues as Andrew tries to find some solace in prayer, his eyes blur as his vision goes into and out of focus, strange colors swirl around.....
"God!" screams out Andrew as he falls into total blackness....
Sometime later he necomes aware of the sounds of the ocean and some distant drip...
He sits up, the world appearing much different to his new sight...
@Brian
"Wha have you wrought? What maddness?"
Michael enters the room
"Sorry to interupt but needed to discuss news with the both of you. I went to meet with my would be assassin after leaving sergeis operation. To learn that signor Pietro has a huge facination with your operations. He wants me to inform him of any future transportation of cargo and where they are going. He hasnt asked for who they were for yet but i believe he maysoon ask. Sergei is ramping up his hunts and has been following me. He still does not trust me and i fear he would not. If we were to make any future deliveries we may new new venue and pick up locations. I can still navigate the waters but with both Sergi and Pietro watching may need to revamp our strategy "
Michael awaits a reply
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
The blood continues to change Andrew, his former injuries in life and endurance shaping his body into a much greater fortitude than it ever had in life, his eyes change as well the holiness of this place floods over him as he sees colors as contours of surrounding Brian.
"Tha scales have fallen from mine eyes and now I see!"
"You oppose tha evil I have seen an need my aid tah continue, wha shall we do?"
As far as I can tell, Sir. Is there anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable?
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Finn Garrety
You spend the remainder of the evening gathering the contacts you believe that you need to perform the services you believe that you require.
Exhausted, you return to your room for much needed sleep.
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Brian's shoulders slump. " Truly I am sorry for what I have wrought upon you Lord Andrew. You are now blood of my blood. I am a member of an Order which has been fighting evil for centuries. Sometimes it becomes necessary for the lesser evil to go on while the greater evil is confronted. I will try to explain everything to you but first we must discuss what you have become. You are now, through my blood a member of the Salubri Clan, an order comprised of Vampires".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo and Michele Querini
Michele seems stunned to find you here, "How did you know I would be here? Who is this Pietro and why would he want to know anything about my operations, more importantly, who wants you dead?!"
Hans holds back allowing you to answer Michael...
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
"My comfort is irrelevant, it is my goals which matter to me most. It seems you are one who spends a great deal of time out in the night, do you find comfort in darkness?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
The process of change has completed and Andrew indeed feels Hardy, the pain in his leg is gone completely, though the function was not fully restored.
"I was told tha the creatures were agents o tha Devil, an yet I am not onesuch. Obviously thar is much I do not yet comprehend."
"Teach me what I need tah know."
I hardly favor it, nor do I dislike it. And, specifically for me, business is about relationships, hospitality. Meeting associates on their own terms goes a long way.
Anything I can help you with to meet your goals, Sir?
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"I am sorry that there was no time to repair your leg before the change, this change in your physical makeup should enable you to feel better. No, we are not agents of the Devil. We still have free will, well most of us do, our only true master is the thirst. It is that which you must master to ensure that you retain control over your actions. While the Devil may tempt me, God still favors me, as he favors you, Lord Andrew. Where to begin? There is so much to teach you and such a short space of time for you to learn everything!"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
"A pragmatist, like your father. I am glad to hear it. Yes, there is something which you can do to assist me with my goals. You can stay alive. I am wary of where you go and who you interact with Alessandro, you seem to know too much of our ways".
Knowledge is power, but also just a tool. Much like a sword, the intent is stems from the user. Alive and ignorant, I am off no use to you.
Why are you or your faction the most suitable to gain power through this... struggle. What is it you wish to gain or prevent another from gaining?
I find that... that is when individuals and nations go to war, in some form or another.
Michael turns his attention to Querini. To answer his barrage of questions.
"I didnt know you would be here, it was luck that you two were here so i can update you both at the same time. I am involved with a spe ific group of people that would like to see these nocturnal patrons eliminated. I have infiltrated their group to keep an eye on their movements and learn of their hunting methods, but in doing so we ran into another group tried several times to take me out. They failed horhorribly. I just met with the man signor Pietro. Seemed like a well established fellow, very well informed and very much interested in your transaction of cargo. Both groups dont trust me, they wat h the boat house consistently so and transports would havd to be done from a remote location or we will have inquiring minds wanting to know. Sergi Volkov is the mans name who is bad for business but he has lost something precious to him. His sister Katriana, if you should happen to know of her whereabout or can locate her, you can keep him at bay or have him do you bidding."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Andrew stokes the fire looking deeply into the coals.....
"You spoke of clans families of vampires, many who seem tah be evil. Tell me o tha origins of...."
Andrew pauses and looks at his own hand.....
"Vampires."
"And then speak o tha clans....."
"last tell me o tha self control I must gain."
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
"You seek enlightenment of some sort by traipsing through the dark of night? All true knowledge of the hidden world must be learned through interactions with those possessed of such knowledge. One who leaps from shadow to shadow will never gain such an audience. If you wish to know more, let us enter your home and we will speak, such knowledge comes with a price, are you willing to pay that price?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Michael Santo and Michele Querini
"You have said much but told me very little Signore Santo. What does this Pietro want your assistance for and how would he even know of my dealings with Sadir? You have not told me who wants you dead, if someone does want you dead, why? Due to your dealings with those who seek to slay nocturnal patrons?"
He pauses for a moment, "With respect to the shipments, I pay you to handle the logistics, as far as I know, the docks on which they land cannot be changed. The destination of these goods are not even known to me yet, as we did not use your boathouse before, I do not see why we should use it now".
He sighs, "The Volkov's again. I have had a run in with them before, it is best to avoid them I think, perhaps I can have them exiled from the city through the Council".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"I cannot tell you everything, as an initiate, some secrets must be left until you prove that you are capable of handling them. I can tell you of the basic structure of my... our kind. The Clans as they are known are divided in much the same way human kind is divided, those who have and those who have not. Each Clan is descended from a Progenitor, Vampires who claim to have been born before the flood. I have met but one of these mythical beings though never did I have a chance to question him myself. This was our Progenitor, Saulot. We Salubri are members of the High Clans, the faction of the “haves”. We are the defenders of the weak and the innocent, we cultivate our Humanity and our connection to Heaven. We slay the wicked and the vile, though you must understand that amongst our kind this means those who would trek with and harbor he agents of the Devil. These beings are not Clan members but a Sect known as the Baali, they cloak themselves as members of the Clans and perhaps once they even were members of the Clans. They are difficult to detect and once discovered dangerous to bring down”.
Brian pauses, “For centuries, we have allied with the Low Clan Assamite in the East to combat them. We have been the bulwark in the west with these Assamites in the East. Over the past century, agents of the Baali have weakened both of our respective Clans through guile and baseless lies about us. The result, the strength of the Baali has grown. Over the centuries, the Clans have manipulated the power centers of humans to protect themselves. Our power center has been the Knights Templar. But in recent decades, the Templar have been under attack from the Church as well as from the Kings of the West, jealous of the Templars power despite the fact that all factions should be working for the same purposes! I and many of my fellows believe that the Baali are behind this attack on the Templars. Give me a few more moments and I will explain how this fits into the larger framework of the Clans”.
The Low Clans are the Assamites, Vizers and Warriors of the East; the Followers of Set, Vampires who believe they are descended from an ancient Egyptian God, Gangrel, Pagan nature worshippers from the North, Malkavians, seers and madmen, Nosferatu, the deformed spies lurking in the shadows of our shadow world, and the Tremere Wizards who stole their gift from another Clan which they have all but vanquished. The High Clans are the Brujah, scholars whose tempers have been ever increasing with the ages, Cappadocian’s, purveyors of the realm of the dead, Lasombra, masters of the shadows and political intrigue, Toreador, patrons of the arts and beauty, Tzimisce, nobles of the kievan rus and masters of fleshcraft, and the Ventrue, rulers of men and often times of Vampires. For nearly a century, the Clans have been at war. Now that relative peace is about to be restored amongst the Clans we believe that the Baali plot to prevent that peace from happening. The Inquisition members that you have allied yourself with are the very tool which the Baali will use to tear the proposed peace asunder!”
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Andrew seems to take in the full weight of what Brian has said...he loads pipeweed into his pipe, lighting the pipe....
"So the Baali err using tha Inquisition to launch an attack upon tha Cappadocians?"
"Be tha Baali, followers of Baal, whose temples an altars men o God destroyed o'er an o'er?"
"Fear not, what secrets you can not say I may come to in time, man ken not pray fer wisdom, whilst his great need is his unbelief."
With some effort Andrew makes the pipe work, though it does not taste or feel as he remembered it.....
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Andrew stokes the fire looking into it deeply. He pauses briefly to wait for Brian to reveal more to him. Though as he thinks about it he has more faith in God and expects that God's truth may hold more about his current state than Brian can or will say.
Andrew walks over to the table seeking a bible. Some clue must then be held within in the time before the flood.
"I believe tha truth resided within tha Word o God."
Andrew pauses again waiting for Brian to tell him more......
There seems little choice. Alessandro it's not ago much reluctant as bearing a very heavy weight.
From within...
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Brian shakes his head, "Much of what is in that book was written by man, few are the words of God within. It is we who are his conduit in the world. You and I have direct contact with the Lord, he works his will directly through us, that is how I know that He has not forsaken me".
"We must address more mundane matters and soon as tomorrow you will have to visit your Inquisitor compatriots. First though I must impart upon you the danger we face".
"Likely you are correct, the Baali took their name from the Demon Baal though they serve whatever Demons and Devils will grant them their unholy powers, Lucifer's legions are many and scattered in their own interests, often they combat one another, thank the Lord. Before I continue, tell me based upon what I have said, what makes you believe that the Inquisition is targeting the Cappadocian's? Perhaps there is something I have missed".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
Ayssa's 'father' walks with you to your own quarters removing his shoes and sitting on the floor with you.
He addresses you, his gaze piercing. "Now, tell me Alessadro Khadaji, I asked you before now I ask you again, are you willing to pay the price for knowledge?"
Responsibilty is the price of knowledge. Once you know, you must act... The universe demands it.
Why are you here?
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"Aye your story did tell me much in tha Cappadocian's deal with death, it was in tha halls of tha Giovanni I came face tah face with a soul bound tah evil servitude, In my earnest prayer tha tortured soul bid me flee from tha place. Twas Pietro Giovanni who claimed dealins wit tha knights, so ah did supposed tha Giovanni were in peril, purveyors o death, an Cappadocian's all in one."
....
Andrew usually more patient and quiet lets a question slip out, as his mind has yet to grasp the full weight of his burden.....
"How does God direct our hands?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
The Duke smiles, his Canines in full view. This is the first time you have seen a Vampire fully reveal its form.
"As Alyssa has informed you, we are of Clan Ventrue. The Clan of Rulership and Nobility. Despite our best efforts, a rival Clan, the Lasombra has hammered out an agreement to end a century of infighting amongst our kind. This has been the greatest upheaval amongst our kind since the fall of the Eternal City if not before then. Under the agreement, all Clans will be represented in a Council where grievances will be aired and settled without resorting to violence. For this to happen, each Clan must elect one member to represent them at this Council. That member may delegate their authority to another who will be located here, in the City of Venice. Most Clans have already elected or an individual member has had the power or cunning to place themselves as the Council member. The Ventrue have yet to make that decision. It is my Master who wishes to be a member of this council, to take a place as a leader of the Camarilla. I am here to see his will done. This is my duty, though I have more personal reasons for being here as well".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"Yes, I had heard rumors that these Giovanni members were Necromancers in addition to purveyors of the dead. This is why the Cappadocians sought to bring them across. Are the Giovanni a target that the Inquisition has identified or is this a lead you have identified on your own through experience?"
Brian changes his tact to address your question, "I can see your soul and I can teach you to see the souls of others. It is how we identify friends from foes in many cases. It also reveals those who stand in God's light, your soul shines brightly. Have you not seen that you are able to work miracles that others cannot or are your powers just burgeoning?"
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"Not directly tha inquisition sought a murdered victim an tha perpatrator o tha gruesome murder. I saw tha body her head near torn off. Tha inquisition hopes tah bring proof to tha world, I thought tha idea very poor."
"I doubt tha Giovanni murdered tha girl an then arranged her burial, though did seem they wanted tha murder covered."
"I thought I saw a glimpse as I changed, but tha colors faded an has not returned."
"Show me tha way."
DM
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"The Inquisition thought she was a victim murdered by these fiends. Very sloppy feeding to say the least. I would agree that the purpose of the service provided is to ensure that such sloppiness is covered up. It is one way they keep themselves useful to the Prince. I will have to give this revelation more thought".
"The Lord will show us both the way. First we must discuss control. There are two ways to maintain control of your faculties, the first to feed off of the blood of only animals or to feed off of the blood of the guilty".
Venice by Night –I Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"You mean to say I must feed upon blood?".....What waits me if I do not?"
Andrew thinks about the prince Brian mentioned.....recalling that tha Doge is regent here at least it seems of the mortal realm.....
Instead he pulls his sword out.....
"Wha did tha Inquisition do upon mah sword?"
And, you are this... delegate.
Venice by Night Monday March 10, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"There are those who have fasted in their refusal to take blood. To do so they had to isolate from the outside world and ave servants bring them sustenance. Those who are not isolated will eventually lose control and kill, if their will even remains their own. It is better for the soul to choose the time and nature of your prey".
"Let me see the sword and I shall let you know".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
The Duke smiles, "If my Master wins a seat at the Council, it is you who will be the delegate".
Venice by Night – Monday March 10, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
I persuasiveness a trait of the Ventrue? It would seem this is an offer I cannot refuse.
For Venice...