Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Stamina + fortitude
Xing Shi nods slowly.
"The sun. Will I ever see it again? Feel it's warmth?"
She looks around.
"So... what is it that our kind do on a night to night basis besides feed?"
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Lorenzo swallows his fear, seeing the "man" who has somehow called him. That was a very strange experience...though I suspect not the last strange occurance I will experience in the coming days... he thinks to himself.
Gathering his emotions and curiosity, he responds to the cloaked figure.
"Dr. Benne, it is good to see you again. As to your question, this gentleman is my brother, Dominic." Lorenzo says gesturing toward his exasperated brother.
"As for the more...aggressively protective gentleman, this is Moses. He has been charged by Brexiano with protecting me for the time being."
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
Alyssa smiles as she closes in on you, her scent is intoxicating. The perfumes she uses enhance whatever raw magnetism she already possesses. She whispers in your ear, "Narses became Prince of Venice by virtue of being here as it was built from a few houses to what it is today. He has remained Prince by being smarter than his allies and more ruthless than his enemies. Do you desire to finally meet him for yourself my Love?"
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
You manage to hold down the wine though the feeling of nausea is perhaps the worst you have ever had in your life. The feeling is a hollow one though, your blood does not race, your palms do not sweat. There is the hunger and the nausea and naught else.
Brian turns, noticing you for the first time, "My Childe, drink deeply of me that the feeling will pass".
He stands offering his wrist.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Finn Garrety
As you peer down the alleyway you see a man hunched over another figure in the passionate throes... No! It is a Kindred who has claimed a victim. You pause and attempt to back out slowly. His eyes though rise as you shift and the gleam of his red eyes focus on you! Blood drips from his chin and sprays forth from the victims throat painting the Kindred and the walls with blood.
He lunges at you!
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Xing Shi
"In your dreams you will see it. But like all memories it will fade. There will be a longing for it as the years roll by and your journey into the long night continues. Some greet the Sun again, when they seek to end their existence. There are other ways to see the sun but not with your own eyes".
The man with No Name smirks, "Our kind are little different from the humans they feed upon. They plot to gain power over one another, to increase their own wealth and to extend their own existence indefinitely. We must be different, we must rise above such pettiness and take those who would come along with us showing them a better way and sending the rest to the graves from which they too long have been absent. Your task this night my dear is to locate Michele Querini, we need him".
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Dr. Benne approaches. "Well met Dominic Cappelli. Your Brother the good Dr. speaks highly of you. Moses the Marijava? I have heard of you but never met you before. I see that you have performed your work admirably. Were I another your aggression would not be appreciated".
As he reaches your side he removes his hood, eliciting a gasp from Dominic.
Dr. Benne smiles, "Yes, my countenance can be unnerving but you will become used to it Brother Dominic. Be at peace no harm will come to you this night".
Moses sheathes his weapon and stands back respectfully bowing to Dr. Benne.
"I have brought you to me as soon as I set foot here. I brought you to this spot as it is here, on this very dock that I was brought across by my Sire. And so it will be with you, are you ready to receive my Dark Gift Dr. Cappelli?"
Xing Shi grins.
"That is something I am greatly looking forward to. Senior Querini has been a thorn on my side with his elusiveness and his father annoying at best."
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
"Moses, please do not allow Dominic to commit any acts that he would regret while this gift is bestowed upon me. Dominic, please be patient. More will be explained shortly."
Lorenzo takes a few deep breaths before turning his attention back to Dr. Benne and answering, knowing full and well that those will be his last.
"Indeed Dr. Benne, if you believe the time is right, I am ready as well. I am honored that you think enough of me that you have chosen to bring me across in the same location that you had experienced the same." Lorenzo says before falling silent and awaiting his soon-to-be Sire's next command.
I suppose this doesn't work unless I do...
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Xing Shi
"I will need him alive my dear. Go now, retrieve him".
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"Is there no other way?"
Self control
Xing Shi will head out sticking to the shadows to the last known location of Michele Querini.
When she reaches his household she will activate Echolocation to determine if anyone else is around outside with her before going to his door.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Dominic looks a bit bewildered. Moses looks a bit perturbed but nods in response to your request.
Dr. Benne takes you by the hand and leads you to the edge of the Docks near the water and out of direct sight of your comrades.
"Lorenzo Cappelli. You have been chosen and found worthy to be granted the Dark Gift of Immortality. The Founder Cappadocious did beget his Childe Japheth, who begat me and now I beget you. Welcome to the Long Night Dr. Cappelli".
As you gaze out at the sea you feel Dr. Benne remove your cowl and his teeth slowly slide into your neck. At first the pain is sharp but quickly, that pain transitions into a near euphoric sensation. You feel aroused and violated at the same time. Your rational mind attempts to analyze the situation but as your life blood pumps into the mouth of Dr. Benne, your concentration begins to wane. Soon after your legs give out and you find yourself floating.
You look down and see Dr. Benne holding your prone form in his arms. A look of peace is upon your face. For a few heartbeats you find the scene fascinating. Your attention to the drama unfolding below is broken by a shriek as Dominic attempts to rush forward. True to his word though, Moses is able to restrain your brother from interfering.
You smile, at least you think you smile as you feel weightless and unbound. Never have you felt this free in your entire life. Your view of the body you once inhabited and the creature transforming it becomes obscured by a bright light which shines upon you.
You turn and see Constancia, your beloved approach. You go to her and as you close n her you see her weeping, she whispers, "Lorenzo, what have you done".
Before you can answer you feel yourself dragged back into your body!
A warm thick coppery liquid fills your mouth preventing you from breathing, "Drink, my Childe drink."
You have little choice but to do so as the blood is forced down your throat. The serenity you felt moments ago seems far far away as the agony of death overtakes your body...
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
Alyssa nods to you, "Just so my love just so. Speak to no one, let me do all the talking".
You accompany Alyssa and her bodyguards through the dark streets of Venice. You come upon a set of Gondaleers who agree to bring your group through the city. The drivers warn that the city guard currently frown upon men arming themselves though the men and Alyssa ignore the warning of the driver who merely shrugs.
Alyssa directs the oarsmen to an island in the heart of the city you have seen before but never actually visited. The building from your vantage point always seemed run down and abandoned by day and by night its remote proximity did not seem suitable as a place to stalk the streets as IlCorvo.
Your group lands an Alyssa pays the fare. As you enter the building you see that it the entrance is a maze of sorts that wraps halfway around before you are even able to see a door. There is a small line ahead of you. A man and a woman who speak in hushed tones. In front of them is another man who appears to be muttering to himself.
Alyssa motions to her guards to stop and wait. The man stares at you in disdain. The woman stares at te muttering man in disdain.
The door opens and a handsome fellow addresses the muttering madman, "The Prince will receive you now, Antoine Le Fanu".
The man bows and proceeds through the door.
The handsome fellow frowns when he sees Alyssa, "You are late, by three days".
Alyssa shrugs, "I was not in the city proper, Brexiano"
"So your father explained. Perhaps the Prince will look upon that excuse kindly, soon you will know for yourself. Who is with you?"
Alyssa responds, "My intended".
Brexiano shakes his head, "You assume a great deal. Many amongst your Clan seek the position you seek".
Alyssa replies evenly, "Many do but they are not the agent of the Eldest".
The an standing before you in line turns and smiles, "Well met. Lady Alyssa is it? I am Lord Jurgen von Verden. This is my Seneschal Christol. Perhaps we can speak in Elysium once the formalities are complete?"
Alyssa responds, "That would be lovely Jurgen, thank you".
Brexiano shakes his head, "Come Lord Jergen, you ad your Seneschal are next". With that the three enter the building, leaving you and Alyssa alone.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
You hold yourself back with great will.
Brian shakes his head, "For now drink of me. Tonight we will take you out to hunt properly and satisfy your hunger. These early nights it is important that you remain as sated as possible so you do not lose control and slay indiscriminately".
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Xing Shi
As a mortal Xing Shi was a shadow, now she is a wisp of smoke moving through the city.
You reach your destination with ease. After a twenty minute period you determine that there is no one in the immediate vicinity but you. You glide to the front door and stand there.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Finn Garrety
You turn to run but it is too late, the beast is upon you!
Somehow you are able to slide through the creatures grasp! As you back away you slam into another figure heading down the alleyway. The figure hisses in Greek
The figure grabs you and stands you up but his hand is locked on the back of your tunic.
The voice sounds... familiar.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
Andrew tries very tentativly to figure out how this should work. He kneels and begins in prayer...
"I can endure all trials through Christ who strengthens me."
Perhaps it is the blood or Andrews faith, but a steely fortitude continues to build within him....
"If this cup and burden come to me through God's will, then let His will be done."
Softly, Eldest? Can I speak when we're alone, or shall we assume someone is always listening?
In present company, I feel so underdressed.
Pretending not to understand the words Finn feeling the tight grip on his back and hoping the stranger somehow controls the situation doesn't move to much. He just tries to avoid looking at the creature
Xing Shi will knock on the door keeping her hands on her blades hidden under the robe in case anything goes wrong.
For a brief moment all of the pain of the previous years leaves Lorenzo's mind and body, overjoyed at seeing his beloved Constancia again.
Seeing the sorrow his wife now experiences, the doctor's mind races. No...what have I done? Have I been deceived by this "gift" and my blind ambition to have her back?
Returning to his body wracked with pain, Lorenzo greedily drinks of his sire's blood, completing his deal with the devil.
"What have I done? he says softly to himself before standing with all of the resolve he can muster. "I have done what must be done to once again be with my beloved in this world...not the next."
Looking around at his surroundings with his new eyes, he turns back to Dr. Benne. "What now, my Sire?"
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
You drink deeply of Brian,
Brian appears a bit pale but seems fully in control.
He reaches behind him grasping your sword from the shelf, "The Inquisitor's have bequeathed to you a powerful gift. The wretched of our kind will be harmed by this blade as if the fires of the Holy Angels burning blade had struck them! Ware that you retain your righteousness lest you fall victim to its powers. We discussed many topics last night my Childe. It falls to you tonight to first locate one of your Inquisition brethren and request a meeting between he and I. From that meeting we can begin to sow the seeds of misdirection. For now, we must keep them away from our kind at all cost. Failure to do so could have disastrous results in the near future. After this is accomplished, you and I will travel to the mainland to begin your proper training".
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji
"Speak freely my Love, Brexiano is busy with his work and we are all alone here".
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Finn Garrety
You drift for a moment remembering the voice...
As a young man the Obertus Monastery was a place of peace and tranquility. The Tzimisce of the Obertus family were very different from their Carpathian cousins. Calm where the Carpathians were emotional, introspective where the Carpathians were brash and boisterous. One Obertus brother did stand out though whenever he came to visit the Order, or what was left of the Order after the fall of Constantinople and the end of the War with the Tremere, Myca Vykos. He was perhaps a Monster of perfect balance - equal parts Obertus and Carpathian. Genuinely you wished to spend more time with him but alas he was ever traveling and you were...
That thought slams into your consciousness as a jolt wakes you from your reverie. The figure holding you in one hand has just grabbed the bloody Kindred in his other hand and slammed him into the brick wall!
"You slew my chosen representative!? I should skin your worthless hide Dragan!"
You stare at the man's face, it does not look the same at least not that you can remember but could it be Myca Vykos?
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Xing Shi
Not long after you knock an attractive half-dressed blonde female opens the door. She asks you a question in a language you do not understand.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
Lorenzo you feel ill, very ill.
"Once you feel better my Childe we shall travel to the Prince and your introductions will be made. It is time I attend Court at Elysium and receive my chastising from Narses"
Dominic looks sick with worry about what is going on but seems to calm down once you are standing on your own two feet again.
Moses chimes in, "What about me Lord Benne?"
Dr. Benne turns to him, "Worry not, you will come with us, no doubt you will wish to collect your reward on a job well done from Brexiano".
Try as he may, Lorenzo is unable to stave off the wretched feeling in his stomach.
"I'm looking for Michele Querini." I say softly and calmly in Italian.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
DM
Current blood pool. I thought newly embraced started at half their blood pool, minus 1 for the day and now plus 4 from Brian making my current blood pool 13/20. If that is correct I will note it.
"I can locate one of em, where and when should tha meetin happen?"
"What can I tell em to get tha meetin an start tha misdirection?"
Just checking...
Finn turn around and stares at the one who is still grappling him with so much strength Myca ? I am But who am I and who are you? the tough crossed his mind but no answer, no recollection, no memory but the great white wall he had grown accustomed to. But that was enough to just stop his train of thought as he stared in disbelief at the one who's name it might be
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Lorenzo Cappelli
"My Childe, strip your clothing and jump in the water. You will need to be clean for our next meeting this night".
Lorenzo strips as quickly as he can and jumps in. The sickening feeling is quickly revealed as your body purging itself of the waste it had created from the past few days. From your pores, your bottom, and your mouth spew fluids which will never again be produced by your body. You recognize what is taking place, it is what happens to all humans as they die, their muscles release and excrement flows. As a learned physician and student in the arts of death you rationally know what is taking place still experiencing it disgusts you.
Truly you have died and still your mind is intact. Your body functions but differently, in the pit of your stomach a strange tingling replaces all other feelings such as aches and pains your body accumulated over the years of living. The tingle is small so for now you ignore it.
Moses fishes you out of the water and Dr. Benne provides you with a towel to dry yourself off before you get re-dressed.
Dominic looks truly disturbed by what has taken place. Dr. Benne speaks to him softly maintaining eye contact with him, almost immediately, Dominic relaxes. Dr. Benne places a hand on each of his shoulders, "Go back to the Inn where you are staying Dominic, we will meet with you there later".
Dr. Benne takes you by the arm and leads you to a nearby Gondola. The oarsman is awoken by Dr. Benne, "About time, I must charge you for all that time you understand yes?"
Dr. Benne readily agrees and directs the driver to a space in the city with which you are familiar, the spot where the Prince holds Court.
You arrive rather quickly despite the silence on the trip.
Stepping off you find the small island in the middle of the city more deserted than last time.
As you round the corner to where the entrance is, there are two figures standing in front of you, one is a beautiful woman, the other is Alessandro Khadaji...
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji & Lorenzo Cappelli
As Alyssa turns to you to say something you hear footsteps approach from behind.
One figure is cloaked and unrecognizable. The second figure is Dr. Lorenzo Cappelli! The third is the strange man who was in your home earlier today. Perhaps the cloaked man is Dominic, Lorenzo's brother but his movement and body type are not similar...
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Xing Shi
You see no one behind her and hear no noises from within the home. The woman again speaks in the language you do not understand.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Andrew the Hardy
"If you can, later this evening. We must direct them to the mainland to search for possible leads amongst our kind. A chase for red herrings if you will. It is critical to identify those you believe you can directly influence. We will have use for them when we locate the lairs of our foes. By day they can strike at them when we cannot. That time is not now but soon".
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Finn Garrety
The Kindred you identified as Myca drops Dragan and grasps you with both hands pressing you against the wall of the alleyway not in a violent manner but in a threatening one certainly, "Who are you that you know me?"
"I do not understand you lady. Do you not speak Italian? Where is Michele Querini?" Xing replies back looking a little bit impatient now.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Xing Shi
The woman continues to speak in a foreign language that you do not understand.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji & Lorenzo Cappelli
Certainly surprised to Alessandro again so soon, and even more surprised to see him in their current environment but not wanting to break any protocols that he is not currently aware of, Lorenzo nods a silent greeting to his business partner.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji & Lorenzo Cappelli
Maintaining decorum, and remembering Alyssa's advice... Alessandro too, nods a silent getting.
Michael Santos
I will get up and "offer" his chair to him.
"I have more work for you.
I will reach into my jacket for a bag of coins and hold it out for him
"in the next day or so I will come back with instructions for you to move some of the same cargo as you had before. I will have the port to pickup and the destinations. This coin is half and the other half when the job is done. We will not have the benefit of the weather like last time I suppose.
Xing Shi eyes the woman and then splits her lips with a wicked grin.
"I don't have time for this."
She lifts her arm and pushes past the annoying lady making her way into the house.
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Alessandro Khadaji & Lorenzo Cappelli
Lorenzo
As you stand there waiting Lorenzo your body begin to adjust to your new circumstances. At first you felt cold now that feeling has passed. The sensation is odd perhaps because of the complete lack of sensation you have at all. You are acutely aware of the presence of both Moses and Alessandro, some intoxicating smell drifts off from them both. It makes the feeling in the pit of your stomach churn a bit.
You stay calm and begin to explore your senses, touch, sight, hearing and smell all seem sharper than before.
Dr. Benne smiles at you watching you from the corner of his eyes.
Alessandro
Alyssa glances back at the group behind you though her gaze does not linger for long. She stays silent and is as still as a statue. That very fact makes her that much more unnerving. There is no movement at all living beings shift and mover, their chests rise and fall. Your proximity to her true form is somewhat bewildering.
Lorenzo & Alessandro
The doors open and Brexiano steps out.
He smiles and passes by Alyssa and Alessandro to shake hands with Dr. Benne. "You have returned my friend. I see that you have brought with you Dr. Cappelli again".
He pauses for a moment as he looks over the good Dr. His eyes go wide, "So you are one of us now". He turns to Dr. Benne, "I take it your Sire has pronounced you as his chosen Representative?"
"You are correct". Dr. Benne replies.
Brexiano bows, "Then welcome Lord Benne, Inner Counselor of the Cappadocian Clan. Your Childe then will be your Representative stationed here in the City?"
"Quite the skillful detective you have become Brexiano", jests Lord Benne.
Brexiano pauses and turns around, "He will see you now Alyssa, you and your charge. He will also see you Lord Benne and yours. Moses, you will stay with me that we may discuss payment. He is less than thrilled with both of you based upon your lack of respect this past week. The good news is that he is in a less foul mood this night and his ire should be short lived. Enter".
Venice by Night – Tuesday March 11, 1309
Finn Garrety
Vykos' rage dissipates, "You are an Obertus Revenant then?"