Kent looks as one of the others goes after Juggler, and for a second he makes to follow him. However, he stays and listens to Modius speak. 'You came here to keep yourself out of debt to anyone... you take on this favor, they'll probably leave you alone for another decade.' Kent steps forward and raises a hand. "I'll go as well. It's close enough, shouldn't be a problem for me."
Shane watches those volunteering, listening to their reasons as they no doubt listened to his for declining, Chicago plays high stakes, in both senses of the word. I wonder which one of them is going to end up ashed first for making a political mistep? Shame. Some seemed alright.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
Modius smiles, "Wonderful. Wonderful. Give me a moment and I shall draft my response to Lodin for you all to hand deliver".
Modius heads back into his office. Lucian approaches Dalton and whispers, "My Childe, be careful in Chicago as the place is a den of vipers. I hereby officially release you, if it was not clear already, as your own Kindred. If you have no place left to turn, go to the Succubus Club, tell the owner you are my Childe and he shall aid you"
Before Modius steps out of his office, Lucian takes his leave.
Modius exits his office a few moments later with a letter sealed by wax he hands it to Morgrym who never even volunteered! "Go my friends and know that Gary's hopes and dreams go with you!"
That said he ushers you all out of his Manse. Michael, still holding onto Charlotte's hand, exits with you.
Dalton nods. "Thank you, Lucian. Duly noted...in dire circustance go to the Succubus Club."
Turning to the others tasked with delivering Modius's response to Lodin, Dalton asks, "Well, are we heading that direction yet tonight?"
"We can take the I-90 and get there in 45 minutes, but do you all have a ride? Mine's a 1-seater. I guess I could take Charlotte with me. And where are we staying, anyone got a spare flophouse over there?"
where is the club i work at located? I have:
Advantages______
Backgrounds:
Fame 1
Resources 2
Allies 2
According to some random website i saw, Resources 2 gives approx $1200/month which is a bit more than needed for an average studio in Chicago. But I figure to give myself some leeway i'd get a seedier place.
James looks around at the impromptu group gathered around him, "There are advantages in both going tonight and in waiting till tomorrow. Lodin may have had a big gala evening and tomorrow may find him in a more contemplative mood. On the other hand, if tonight was a night of celebration, he may find our message more favorable and appreciate our timeliness. There's no way to know. Although, it will likely be easier to find lodging for tomorrow night if we don't wish to journey back.
In any case, I have extra seat if anyone wishes a ride. And two associates to drive back should things become too... sunny."
John stretches a shoulder, still a bit overwhelmed after all of this evening's going's on. He turns to Modius.
"Now that THAT's accomplished, you spoke of another task. What can we do to help you out in this New Year?"
Morgrym says to the crowd I will be going to present myself tonight as the primogen of my clan came with the message directly, I will go directly. The rest of you may come or no with that he will depart for Chicago.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
"No time like the present, I suppose." Dalton says, heading out the door. "I can take someone else along if need be, otherwise I'll see you all in Chi-town."
Julian throws up his hands. "Well, we are off then! But to where? Chicago is a big place afterall."
"Good question. I guess we're heading for Lodin, then?" Kent has largely stayed silent, staring at the door Juggler left through. His mouth twitches again and you can see a hint of fangs, but soon after he regains his composure. "Politics aren't my forte, so I'm more than happy to let someone else do the talking, unless you need me for something."
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
[ooc]James, make an Intelligence+Politics roll DC 8.
"Get in pal", he holds the front seat up gesturing for you to get in the back.
Morgrym is going to drive alone unless someone asks going home and packing the A and B bag for nasty surprises in case he needs it and he will stop and get a locker at the amtrak station for the B bag and then store the A bag at a local hotel just on the outskirts of Chicago with a safe included in the room. He will take a few items in the vehicle and head to the Sears Tower.
As vampires are beginning to exit the manse, James considers his destination for a moment "Julian, I know where we need to go. You can ride with me or follow. I'm good either way. The rest, I assume know where we are going?" James looks the question to the remainder of gathered message bearers.
"Alrighty, then. I'll see the rest of you in Chicago to present the Prince's missive." James gives Julian a moment to follow if he wishes and exits into the night.
"We wanna meet up somewhere before going as a group, yea?
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
Rick's statements fall on deaf ears as his fellow Kindred pack into cars and begin to follow Morgrym who makes a few pit stops along the way to the city.
Charlotte and Kent hitch rides with Dalton. Michael gives a hug to Charlotte and waves goodbye to the car as he begins to walk off to wherever it is he has his Haven.
James and Julian ride together. Rick and Morgrym fly solo.
The Toreador begins to accelerate as he heads towards the city whether by skill or by luck, the police patrolling the I-90 have several cars pulled over already and the group cruises into "the Hive" by 2 am.
Although many of the revelers are indoors, the area down here is still cordoned off to cars and the Kindred must park at a garage a few blocks away. With the looming skyscraper in sight, lit up with the colors of Christmas the group finds itself just outside of Union Station on the corner of West Adams and South Canal Street. Despite the bitter cold of the night of course, no breath can be seen coming out of any of your mouths.
"Alright, let's get a move on it. As cold as it is out here, we're walking, talking masquerade breaches...not really a good thing since we're heading to see the Prince." Dalton grumbles, heading toward the skyscraper.
Rick nods, following the others.
James is glad he has a dark woolen overcoat cut to match his suit. Not because he's cold, but because it looks so damned good. It's also useful camouflage as he trudges through the streets with the group. Were he not heading directly into an Elysium, it might also conceal some useful weaponry, but with his two ghouls in the Mercedes subtly tailing him, hopefully there shouldn't be a need.
"This should be fun. I've always wanted to meet my grandsire. Coming in with this missive, there's at least a 50% chance I'll even survive the experience."
James grins like he owns the night, carefully keeping his fangs hidden, and keeps walking.
"Yeah, really brimming with confidence here." Kent just shrugs and follows the others, putting his hands in his pockets. He thought silently to himself that the heavy flannel shirt at least helped to disguise how little he cared about the cold, but he had a feeling Lodin wouldn't be quite so happy about his less than formal attire compared to some of the others. He'd never taken much to the 'night life', so to speak. He played the game enough to fly under the radar, and that certainly wasn't where he was now. 'You let the blood get to your head again,' he thought to himself. He'd been riding high on the rush from confronting Juggler, he hadn't paused to think. He just hoped he'd come out of this with enough credit that he wouldn't have to worry about Kindred politics for another long while afterward.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
If any of the others object, they do not do so verbally, Morgrym has been practically glaring at everyone for not speed walking over to the Tower so you all know he's been ready to go.
You pass by some drunken Mortals their life and laughter arouses hunger in many of you, especially such easy prey but you all have a job to do and full bellies so let the easy meals pass you by as you approach the front of the Sears Tower which is absolutely crawling with the police.
One stops you at a barrier about 30' from the entrance of the building. He seems too damn cold or have enough of his own breath going to notice the lack of breath fro the rest of you, "Sorry folks, building is closed for the night. Pretty much everywhere else is open and'll stay open till the morning light. Happy New Year! But uh, please move along".
"So tell me Tyrell, you heading my way or should I drop you off at some lawyers convention or something?"
Evelyn giggles harder at the question and turns around to look at you in the back seat, "So why'd you follow us anyhow, you seemed in your element back there..."
The car continues to speed through the suburban streets at a phenomenal rate of speed. The faster you go the farther behind you leave the nice part of Gary for the rest of the dying city.
James looks over to Dalton, the subject matter expert for dealing with the police. His raised eyebrow seems to say, "Any thoughts?"
Morgrym will hold up the missive to the fellow and say we are expected inside, move out of the way, please. There is nothing to suggest Morgrym is dangerous... nothing coming from him at all... he is blank, bland. This more then anything to a true professional would set off the bells of hell telling you 'oh f*ck' time to haul ass.
Dalton waits to see if Morgrym's move works before dropping an names of his police contacts.
Hearing Morgryms tone with the boys in blue, Julian steps off to the side closer to the group of mortals and slips into their conversation. While talking to them, he will keep an eye on the rest of the groups situation, but if things went badly, he was happier off to the side.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
The Officer frowns at Morgrym, "Expected by who pal? There ain't no one in the damn building and it's locked up anyway far as I know!"
Trust me pal, Modius ain't gonna touch me. Those Licks were trying to toady up to the Prince but I wasn't gonna waste my time beating them in Elysium. Now if I see a few of 'em again, we'll have more than words, that's for sure. Now Annabelle, that was a different story.
What did I accomplish? I'll tell ya', I know I can't trust any of them, not a one is a candidate to join the cause. Camarilla butt boys and girls through and through.
Alright then Tyrell. Talk, you got a missive from the Free States or something you want to run by me?"
Evelyn shrugs and sits back, she's too new to truly follow the thread of the conversation.
"That's not necessarily true..." Dalton starts. "Look, we were told to keep it quiet but Detective Watkins from Central 1 on Wentworth gave us...well me a call asking us to meet him here. He's in there now."
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
"Watkins huh? Look pal, I know Watkins and I'm pretty sure I didn't see him go in. If you want to go on to the door and check it out be my guest".
The cop shakes his head as he lets you all pass by, or at least those of you who choose to cross the police line can go.
Morgrym nods at his useful associate a bit surprised at the lack of at least ghouls but will cross the line and head to the door none the less now more alert and prepared then before.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
As Morgrym walks to the door the original Officer turns to watch him do so. The doors are firmly closed and locked. Another Officer steps from the line and approaches Morgrym, "Friend, perhaps I can assist you. The hour is quite late and any business you would have here likely should have been taken care of before 11 PM. The Holidays can be a time for celebration for even the most eccentric members of our fair city, if you take my meaning?"
"So you'd be an advisor to me eh? Mac finally wants to take some initiative in the mid-west. Wish he would'a done it when Maldavis made her move twenty years ago or so but I suppose later is better than never.
Alright, it's clear that Annabelle was not just comin' to attend the party. Your thoughts?"
After following Morgrym's lead and crossing to doors, he brings forth his most charming smile and steps up next to him and addresses the new officer.
"Sir, we are here for exactly such an eccentric celebration and at the behest of its host."
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
James' sees two such Officers who are likely "in the know".
The one speaking to Morgrym turns to James and replies lowering his voice despite the noise of the crowd, "Sorry sir but as far as I know you will want to head to the Succubus Club or the Cave if you wish to enjoy any such celebrations. I have no further information for you but the Tower is closed for the night".
we have a particular sort of entertainment to attend, an announcement of sorts that just absolutely must be made. Normally that would happen here. If they are not open for the announcement where might we go for that particular entertainment?
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Friday - January 1, 1993 –
The man shrugs at Morgrym's follow up question, "I'm afraid you'll have to travel to one of the two places that I mentioned to find that answer. I can provide you with directions".
alright, lets take a cab to the Succubus club and see what we might find out there. Thank you for the information, officer.
Morgrym will flag down a cab for the group to take.