Nobody has anything they want to discuss regarding Thaumaturgy, but a pair of newly embraced Kindred say that they both suffered horrific nightmares filled with screaming and fire and awoke covered in blood sweat. Currently they are under the watchful eye of Tribulat, who has them in a separate room
As if I want to deal with some neonate's bad dreams. I need to find more capable Kindred for this Chantry Beschi thinks to himself.
He heads into the room where Tribulat has the seemingly more capable neonate cordoned off.
"Childe, Tribulat tells me that you have had a bad dream. You must come to accept that as we pass to the other side the horrors of what we have become will effect us in different ways. The sooner you come to grips with what you are the less likely it is that you will experience such phenomenon. These dreams are most likely a manifestation of your interpretation of damnation for the things you have had to do to survive. Fire, blood, death, these are metaphors for what you feel you deserve I assume. As a Childe I too had such reservations, if you can embrace what you have become, while balancing this with your human side, you will rest more easily. Now tell me more of this dream".
Beschi sits back pondering. A language he did not understand. Hmmm. "Childe I am going to attempt something. Remain calm and sit still. Once I am done I will make sure that you receive comfort once it is over"
Beschi is going to first use Mesmerize to compel the Childe to repeat word for word what he heard as Beschi may be able to recognize the language. Mesmerize
If that fails Beschi will use The Forgetful Mind to attempt to remove and ?view? the dream with his own eyes to see if he can hear the language used. Whether that fails or is successful he will modify the neonates? memory removing the chanting which seemed to disturb him (I am assuming he is male) so much. The Forgetful Mind
Re-roll 10 in Forgetful Mind
The young man sits still while Beschi gazes into his eyes, implanting a mental suggestion to spill forth the words heard in the vampire's nightmare.
<spoken in ancient latin> "The fires of Hell will consume all, none can withstand the Inferno. The dark flames will burn away those who oppose us" This is repeated a few times before Beschi finally makes the Tremere stop. The words are a bit unsettling, but you've worse in your long lifetime.
Beschi sits back. "There now all better, go to your direct superior and begin your studies for the evening".
Beschi heads to see the other neonate (he/she) to determine whether the "dream" is the same. If it appears similar Beschi will engage in the same process.
Mesmerize
The Forgetful Mind
If the exact same message is repeated, Beschi will head to his library to see if that particluar phrasing has any significant meaning and whether it can be traced to a particular cult or historical time period.
Occult Roll
Beschi is riled up by the fact that Sturbridge is in "his" library! After calming himself down he heads to Tribulat.
"My friend. As odd as it may seem, the neonates' dreams were identical. Perhaps this is a coincidence and perhaps not. I must contact Mistress Sturbridge to gain access to her library. Yes, yes I know I would almost rather sun bathe than attend to her but there can be no help for it. Can you retrieve her number and call to set up an appointment for us as soon as possible? It seems that the visit I was considering paying Catelyn this evening will have to wait".
Beschi then proceeds to find his direct subordinate in the Chantry to inform him/her that as visit must be paid to a colleague. "While I am gone you will be in charge. I trust that you can ensure that our Chantry mission proceeds smoothly?
In preperation to see Sturbridge, Beschi summons up his potency in case a situation arises.
Blood Of Potency - Spend 1 BP
Tribulat returns shortly after you finish talking to your second "My lord, your in luck. It would appear that Lady Sturbridge has the same problem in her Chantry, though on a bit of a larger scale than here. She will see you as soon as you can make it there".
With that, the two of you depart the chantry and head towards New York City, stopping briefly to feed from a member of your Herd on the way. As you ponder what these dreams could mean, and pass into state limits of New York, you suddenly remember that both those young Tremere are the only students of the Lure of Flames path in your chantry.
I check the surface of the inside of his insulated box to feel if there is any heat from some sort of fire perhaps on the box.
If none is found he will open the box a crack and check for flames.
If none are found he will arise and proceed to the main room of the large cabin. Staring at the walls it occurs to him for the first time that perhaps he should have a second cabin made with synthetic fire proof logs. It wouldn't look as nice but hey, security over appearance.
Thinking on this I will exit the cabin and check the perimeter to make sure the traps haven't been tripped, a task he performs every night.
"I wonder if someone's f#&$ing with me," I say aloud.
Not good, because A.) That means soemone I don't want to know where I live knows where I live, B.) Can reach me no matter where and it is irrelevant where I am, or C.) One of my "firends" ahs turned on me.
On the other hand, this could be a legitimate warning, either from someone else or my own subconscious. In either case this is not a position I want to be in.
Of course it could just be some b$%##%!$ from my brain, but we're not taking any chances on that one being the correct answer.
I will return to my den and flip on the computer. I will also get out the appropirate information for an unused alias
(OOC: Let me know when I've exhausted my suply of complete aliases)
by the name of "Addison Hartnell." hartnell is a special ID, made whith someone else's face. I must use obfuscate to use it physically with other people.
Mr. Hartnell is going to begin the process of buying a 9 acres of land outside of New York, preferably in the middle of the woods. 1 acre at the center surrounded by 8 acres in a square. If I don't get the exact arrangement I want that's fine. Since this is a new alias it should only have $50,000 spread across several bank accounts, so I'm also going to have to move some money when I'm done finding the appropriate realtor or private owner.
(OOC: My Haven is currently in the woods to the south of town, in a cabin with a basement and a special sub-basement where I sleep that ahs a secret exit. It's a small place essentially consisting of a den, a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, a hall closet and a bedroom closet, and a kitchen. Also ar ethe basement, of equal size to the house, and the sub-basement which would fit inside one room and has a secret entrace from the basement. I have guns, hard cash, ID "sets" complete with checkbooks and passports and cell phones, and various other deadly eratta hidden throughout the home. My only concession to the modern other than the cell phones is a desktop computer (I do not leave information on it, choosing instead to write it down or memorize it). The computer connects to a cell phone modem via a buried ethernet cable that runs to a trapped and alarmed car near the highway. I periodically check the car to make sure the battery on the modem still works and none of the alarms or traps have been tripped, and check the line to make sure it ahsn't been uncovered. There are trip wires, sensors, and alarms at various points along the route of the cable to make sure no one clever follows it, connected to such things as flares and loud sound devices.
Taking up almost as much room as the cabin is a large overhang with my three trucks udner it, each one carefully tarped until needed. One is an F150 with a special topped back, a Chevy SUV, and a Dodge quad cab.
I can select a more specific location if you wish but I thought you might want to decide where I could set up)
I shift my face to the form on the card, expending a blood point.
Done with two successes.
I strap on my ankle holster with the snub nose .38 loaded with hollow points, put on my jacket covering the snub nose .44 magnum loaded with exploding rounds, and shove two wooden steaks down in a special lower back holster. I carry one spare quick load cyllindar for the magnum, a quick load cylinder for the revolver, and loose bullets for each.
I will load up a suitcase with the required cash in case he or she is willing to deal that way, and grab my checkbook for Allan in case not.
I check one more time to make sure I have all the proper goods and get into my truck, a late '90s Ford F150 extended bed with a top added onto the bed to cover it up, making it look somewhat like an SUV. The windows in the back are completely covered "just in case." Inside the truck are two cases with stakes, four large knives, two boxes with wooden stakes, a box with fragmentation grenades, a .22 semi-automatic rifle, a fully automatic AR16, an automatic shotgun, a pump action shotgun, a small flamethrower with a 1 minute fuel canister, a box of 8 bottles of vodka with rags next to them (encased in an insulated metal box)and boxes with various types of ammunition. The back only unlocks with a special key for a lock I had installed onto the truck tail gate after market. I make sure I have a lighter in my pocket.
As I pull out in the car, checking the paper map to make sure I'm headed to the right area, I call my ally David Kowloon using a special cell phone I only call him with.
(OOC: New Hampshire is fine, it's the surroundings that matter more than anything else.
As for David he knows my real name, he just has to answer the phone when Ron Warick calls.
And sorry, keep posting as my main name.)
"You know 'they' are listening so I'll make this short.
I got a na na na thing tonight. I don't know what it was but I get the feeling that where I'm at isn't as safe as it could be. So I've set up a meeting with a guy who's gonna help me out by the name of V, a private seller. I'm thinking V for you know, but I dunno. In any case I'm packed and headed to a meet with him tonight and I figured I could use some backup. You interested? You gotta be there in about an hour so if you're busy don't worry about it, though I'd like someone to know what happened if I dissapear."
I give him the address, "Thanks, see you there." I hang up and head for the meeting. I'd like to get there early to see who shows up.
"Hi there, you must be Addison. My name's V. Well, not really, but that's what I like to be called" She says with a disarming and very pleasant laugh. Her voice is smooth like silk and her eyes sparkle a gorgeous purple color.
I'm going to observe her for signs of breathing. I activate my Auspex "Heightened Senses" as I prefer to rely on my senses, and I'd like to keep it on for the remainder of the encounter.
Percpetion roll:
"Yes, I'm Addison. You can call me Addy. Well V, if we can get down to business I've brought personal checks or I have cash, if you prefer," I pat the briefcase next to me, "I hope you realize that I plan on doing this legally. I'll be very dissapointed if I have trouble with the county, so what you call yourself isn't my concern so long as there's an official record of transfer with whatever real name the owner uses. Do you have the deed of sale?"
(OOC: I would have had David sit a couple of booths away facing me so he can watch, preferably also with a view of the door and at least a good portion of the windows)
She reaches into her purse and pulls out the deed of sale. She hands it you, you slide the brief case across the table, and the deal is done. She stands up, shakes your hand, and goes to depart.
I wait for her to depart, pretending to take a sip from my coffee. I note her appearance, attempting to memorize it. I mustrust beautiful women in general, and a beutiful woman willing to deal for cash and with only a letter for a name makes me even more uneasy. I make a mental note to check with someone to see if I can find out who she is using an alias and appearance search.
When she's gone I will lay a $10 on the table and go to sit across from David. I will not drop my heightened senses or my obfuscation until I'm safe back in my truck and away from this place.
Finally, you decide it's safe to leave and get in your truck to drive off. About twenty minutes out, you hear a voice "The fires of hell are coming, beware!
|
Edgar Prelude
"Worry not my love we have had hard times before now and together we have always goten through them. I will go out tonight and find out if any stirrings or rumors are out there. Should I go to the Prince?"
[ooc]Edgar heads out to look for young vampires to see if any of them have violated the masquarade and endangered all kindred with their recklessness.........Edgars first thought...
She closes her eyes for a moment, as if hearing a voice of her own. "I think we need a specialist. Go to the Tremere Chantry in New York City, there is bound to be somebody there who can assist us."
Finally you cross into Manhattan, the domain of Moridin. While he is not a Camarilla Prince, you know it would be very unhealthy to not at least announce yourself.
It is now the night of March 15th. Beschi you have arrived at the Chantry of the Five Boroughs and are awaiting Aisling to meet with you, as she has to finish up some key research on a pet project of her's.
Thackery, the land you bought has a very small cabin already built on it, but it's kinda run down, and definitely not very secure.
Edgar has made his way to a luxurious hotel, where Moridin is often found early in the nights. one of his ghouls, Kyoko, meets you in the front lobby and offers to escort you to the penthouse suite where his master holds court.
I'm going to arrange for Addison Hartnell to "sell" his acres to a one Mr. Lowell Jacobson. I want a notary to be involved as well as a cashiers check.
However, I'm a little low on blood. So first I'm going to go to a health bar, if available, due to the fact that those there will likely be drinking bottled water, not tap.
If that is a not a choice I will select an appropriate high class club. Since I don't own a good car I will put on my only good suit and hire a limo service for the evening.
Beschi will wake as early as possible and cast his usual rituals. Deflection of Wooden Doom and Extinguish.
Extinguish - Intelligence + Occult
He will also once again increase the Potency of his Blood.
Blood of Potency - Expend 1 Blood - Willpower
I will explore the Chantry and chat with the Tremere there, getting names and if possible ages. Beschi is curious about the strength of the Chantry in relation to his smaller Hoboken abode. He will make idle chit chat never getting into his true purpose for being here but asking questions of his fellow Clan members to determine their general feeling about being in the Chantry.
He will use Auspex as subtly as possible to determine their actual feelings while speaking with him. Aura Perception Perception + Empathy
Every chance he gets he will turn on a TV and flip the channels. He will also check his email on every computer he can get his hands on. Locking in the memory of where they are and which way they face in relation to the rest of the layout of the Chantry.
"Tribulat, speak with Sturbridge's ghouls, get a sense of the mood of this place from your peers".
Re-roll Extinguish
Re-roll Blood of Potency
Thackery, the closest such spot is a good hour or two away from where your new property is. Regardless of if you decide to go, the transaction is no problem.
Lenore responds "You are always handsome my love, have no fear, I will be here to guide you". Kyoko however remains silent as you ride up to his master's abode.
The elevator door opens and before you is easily the most richly decorated place you have ever seen. The carpet is a lush, soft dark purple, the chairs look like they are as comfortable as a bed, there are several paints adoring the walls of Yankee Stadium throughout the years, and more to bedazzle and entrance the eye.
However, that eye is quickly drawn to the middle of the room, where a palpable darkness is present. Lounging on a dais is easily the sexist, most beautiful woman you have ever seen. Her purple hair cascades over her bare shoulder, the evening gown is a stunning dark red that leaves little to the imagination, and her eyes are pools of black, with no white at all.
"Ah, Edgar Collins, a pleasure to meet you. My love will be with you shortly. Please, sit" Her voice drips pure seduction and power.
Beschi, it is clear almost upon entering, that this Chantry is much more powerful than your own. While the three story building is itself quite large, you quickly realize as you explore that there are way more rooms than should be possible. Arcane symbols, diagrams in blood, circles of power and more decorate the walls, columns and floors as you walk around.
However, there are not many Tremere currently in the hallways, or common rooms. It's only around ten at night, so many are out in the city, within private chambers, or laboratories. The few you do meet are rather polite, and from what you can glean, none seem to know of the supposed shared problem you and Aisling have.
You manage to come across a couple of TVs, and as you flip channels, you see all the local stations are talking about a warehouse fire that broke out in lower Manhattan. While it doesn't appear to be unusual, it is slightly unsettling, considering the dreams that brought you here, but you quickly brush that feeling off.
Of course I am given an inferior space to this anacillae. What has she done to warrant this? I stood toe to toe with a methuselah with no aid for a century! Perhaps Tribulat is right I have been idle for too long. But if I place myself in the fire again can I withstand another failure.
Beschi ponders his past and his future while he waits for Sturbridge. While contemplating he begins to do something he has not done in some time, pray.
OOC: Yes, he's another unused alias.
Well first I'm going to get blood before I make the transaction so I have enough to obfuscate and do what I want.
This may take a couple of days therefore, but if I hurry it might be done in one night.
My plan, after feeding, is to contact the Nosferatu and ask if one of them wouldn't mind using high level obfuscate to look like Addison. Then Lowell (me) and Addison (the Nosferatu) will go to a late night bank and get a cashier's check. After that we will go to a notary (I'll pay for him/her to stay after hours if neccessary) and have the obfuscated Nosferatu sign the deed over to Lowell in front of the notary. This way there will be wintesses that an actual transfer of titleship took place and money exchanged hands.
After that I will have Addison make the appropriate tax payments to the government/county, and Lowell will as well.
That way I have a buffer if anyone comes around trying to figure out who actually ownes the place. They might have difficulty because Addison, after having sold the land for a hefty profit, is going to leave for Tahiti, and Lowell is going to a decent apartment in LA while the cabin he wants is constructed on his Summer property. Of course this will only be implied via records for plane tickets and so forth. I may have to use an ally or contact to help me with those parts. Obviously the key here is to make sure that, as far as anyone is concerned, I have nothing to do with this property at all. I'm going to have a cabin built of fire proof synthetics built on the new acerage and the old one torn down.
Catherine chuckles "Lenore, your wife who passed, yes? What must she forgive you for?"
As you ponder you life and unlife, the mistakes made and the possible fortunes to come, you are reminded of something: It has been said that God does not place any obstacles in one's life that he or she cannot overcome. And while perhaps He would be displeased with some of the actions you have taken, He also knows that you have overcome all which He has placed before you.
Your able to pull it off all in one night, due to some solid connections and a favor or two called in. The transaction goes through nice and easy, the local Nos having owed you one of the aforementioned favors. A few phone calls, a couple of emails sent off to the right people, and the flights, apartment, etc are all taken care of.
By 1 am, everything is fully settled and all legal.
OOC: Because I flubbed my other Obfuscate rolls so bad I marked myself down for the points as I kept retrying to get it right. I had myself marked down for 4 less than maximum and I didn't want to risk another set of bad rolls with that much blood loss.
Okay, since I'm done I don't feel safe at home, and I need to find out who the person was who sold me the property initially. I'm going to need help moving my stuff too.
So first I'm going to collect supplies from my place, specifically stuff to make a room light proof. If I don't have the supplies I'll make a stop at a 24 hour Wal-Mart. I'm also going to pick up a cheap laptop, cheap as I can get.
Then I'm going to find a small hotel where I can pay by the week (if you've never been to one of those places they usually charge somewhere between a $100 to $200 dollars). No sense in spending money I don't have to for a place that charges daily.
The only neccessity is that it (the hotel) has to have wi-fi or LAN line or some form of internet hookup. I'll pay in cash and use one of my older aliases, like Christopher Underwood, to give any ID if neccessary. Once I'm in my room and it's set up for daytime (I will make sure that there is no give in the door so a maid who ignores the "Do Not Disturb" sign can't open it by accident) I'm going to call Albert Nash, my ally, on a VOIP program on the cheap laptop. If he's available I'm going to have him meet me at a common place where we hang out that I don't have to mention by name or location. I'll specifically indicate to him that I don't want to discuss things on the phone.
OOC: Just saw your post, if you want me to lay it all out I will.
I'm going to have Nash help me store my stuff from the old cabin. Then I'm going to have him write up a couple of new aliases to replace the ones I've used. After that I was going to ask if he could somehow set up a semiautomatic shotgun to use wooden slugs.
After that I'm going to contact Paul Dawson and ask for a referance to what construction company I should use (not his). I'll make a point that he shouldn't let anyone know I asked about that. After that I'll have construciton begun on my property.
In the meantime I will have Lars Denethor, the alias that owns my current property, "loose" it to Arturo Franks the gambling hall owner, thus earning some points with Franks for a future favor.
Finally, I'm going to use Nash first but then anyone else I have to figure out who "V" is.
Otherwise I'm going to live in hotel rooms that I change week to week until the new cabin is done, wait to find out who "V" is, and prepare to get the gun and special bullets I ordered.
Once settled in to your hotel that first night, you have the TV on. Its around 11pm and the late news is on, reporting about a warehouse fire in lower Manhattan. To your mind, this is rather suspicious considering the the potential warnings you've had lately.