Erik returns to Elysium, seeing juggler run out as he pulls up.
Erik enters Elysium.
"did I miss some excitement while I was making some calls?"
Keepin' it moving is good... Spent many a night hunting down pop-up raves and shuttin' them down. Keep it moving.
Erik, you didn't miss much. The usual, lotsa talk.
"How long until this zombie walk? I've got some calls to make. And i need to scout the warehouse we are gonna use. Anyone here knows how to build stuff or has some bodies to help clean? You don't want any boards with nails or sharp sheet metal all over the place, and you will want a good stage, maybe a good area in back for some folks who wanna pay to pretend to be high-rollers for a night. Or for our personal use. Nothing like a backstage party to help you fill up."
Crumpling into himself under the combined 'psychic' assault of the others ineptitude, 'Vince' clutches his arms about his torso as he backs away, shaking his head in denial...
...Until Maria & her flunky are well away from the building. At which point he straightens once more. "That one bears watching...
You all do truly, but unlike the rest of you she might actually know what she's doing..." He muses.
Snapping his head back to Thom. "I already told you you were going to disregard or misinterpret whatever I 'told' you & you succeeded in proving me true in less than a breath, congratulations!"
It's enough to convince me he really is nothing more than he claims...
"However! I will give you something...
You did not risk firing on Juggler in order to 'help' me, you fired on Juggler because you are the Sheriff of this city & your Prince called Lextalionis on his ass!" Vinccenso's features twist into a visceral snarl. "We are Vampires, not characters in some dysfunctional 'buddy show'. Your sire maintained the closest thing to peace this region has known for approximately a century by being the keystone of the most ruthless, pragmatic, capable, power-block in a thousand miles, not by being a 'good guy'. If you honestly believe he embraced you simply so he had someone to 'trust', do us all a favor & greet the sun come dawn."
As Thom answers Erik's question, Vinccenso adds. "And very little thought!" Turning once more to Ben & Rick. "The Rack is fickle. What you propose will serve as a stop-gap, for a time, but it will also make it far easier for individuals like last night's 'friends' to move & feed unobserved. A more stable revitalization effort will require something more reliable than 'Raves' & that will require influence & resources far beyond what any present have access to."
"You'll have to talk with la signora about the schedule. I'm not too handy, but I can help scout locations, clean up and bounce at the front. I may have an acquaintance still kicking around here, he might be able to contribute."
"I can agree with that," Rick says, looking at Vince. "But, it is something. It will bring in money and it will bring in blood. It'll bring in the sabbat, likely, but that's why we have lawman over here. Sniff em out, invite 'em out back and stab 'em. Or, if you like, tag 'em and follow 'em home. Whatever you like."
"If we get some decent cash flow, we can do more than just raves. Actual 'revitalization'. But that takes money, and it takes kindred that aren't too thirsty to work together. This social initiative will help solve that. I know a good bit about finances, I can stay on to help with the real work later."
Crumpling into himself under the combined 'psychic' assault of the others ineptitude, 'Vince' clutches his arms about his torso as he backs away, shaking his head in denial...
...Until Maria & her flunky are well away from the building. At which point he straightens once more. "That one bears watching...
You all do truly, but unlike the rest of you she might actually know what she's doing..." He muses.
Snapping his head back to Thom. "I already told you you were going to disregard or misinterpret whatever I 'told' you & you succeeded in proving me true in less than a breath, congratulations!"It's enough to convince me he really is nothing more than he claims...
"However! I will give you something...
You did not risk firing on Juggler in order to 'help' me, you fired on Juggler because you are the Sheriff of this city & your Prince called Lextalionis on his ass!" Vinccenso's features twist into a visceral snarl. "We are Vampires, not characters in some dysfunctional 'buddy show'. Your sire maintained the closest thing to peace this region has known for approximately a century by being the keystone of the most ruthless, pragmatic, capable, power-block in a thousand miles, not by being a 'good guy'. If you honestly believe he embraced you simply so he had someone to 'trust', do us all a favor & greet the sun come dawn."As Thom answers Erik's question, Vinccenso adds. "And very little thought!" Turning once more to Ben & Rick. "The Rack is fickle. What you propose will serve as a stop-gap, for a time, but it will also make it far easier for individuals like last night's 'friends' to move & feed unobserved. A more stable revitalization effort will require something more reliable than 'Raves' & that will require influence & resources far beyond what any present have access to."
"Sounds like Gramps needs some help with his blood pressure. Unless you've got a retirement fund that can get some mills and factories running again, I could do without any more of your lip. This is the only plan we have... unless there's an alternative forthcoming?"
"If this is the only plan we have then you are better off making your way now, or did you not bother contemplating a thing I said?" Vince rebuts wearily. "It is not sustainable for for than a quarter at best. I have survived as long as I have by existing on crumbs, trying to tempt finite prey from a much more enticing habitat."
Thom merely shrugs at Vinccenso's comments on Lodin's intentions. He smiles at the mention of "good guys".
How do we communicate? Keep in touch? He gives his number again.
"Forgive my being distracted, but what was your plan?"
"If this is the only plan we have then you are better off making your way now, or did you not bother contemplating a thing I said?" Vince rebuts wearily. "It is not sustainable for for than a quarter at best. I have survived as long as I have by existing on crumbs, trying to tempt finite prey from a much more enticing habitat."
Ben shrugs.
"Then I guess you aren't in. You're happy with crumbs, stick with crumbs. If we can prolong the feast for a little while, it's better than nothing."To Thom he says,
"I'm on a... pay as you go plan. As in pay phones. I'll check in once I've staked out some likely spots and spoken to someone I know."
"Good chance to find a better haven, besides...", he mutters.
Rick gives his phone number and punches in a contact in his phone for those who are giving their numbers.
Rick looks at his watch. "How much more time do we have tonight? I'd like to start on this as soon as possible, it'll take a bit to get my equipment brought down here and set up. I'll ask Maria what she has access to, she's some movie bigwig supposedly, maybe she can get us a crew or some lights."
Your all talking discussing this new plan when you hear the sound of music, it sounds like a violin. Thom suddenly feels a pinge of unease as he hears the music, music he heard once before on the night his sire and around twenty of his "brothers" were destroyed.
You all look up to see a man on the second floor balcony playing the violin. Sullivan Dane! (It is likely only Thom recognizes him but the rest of you can likely figure it out from secondhand stories you'e heard)
"Yes, you should all do yourselves a favor and meet the sun come dawn. However should you decide to continue your wretched existence a little longer then I have a proposal to make. Would you care to hear it? Or should we do battle here and now?" he says putting down his violin.
Ben sniffs the air and visually checks the exits, corners and shadows. Searching for the rest of a posse... Or the scent of gas.
Perception 3 + Alertness 3: = 3 successes, assuming difficulty 6.
Orphan doesn't even bat an eye when Vince yells at him. The bleeting of little lambs is not a thing that worries him. There is no way these gathered childer would listen to a kindred trapped forever in a body of a scrawny five year old. As he passes Maria he speaks so softly as to be barely heard. "And so it begins already, I suggest your move should be made soon before it all falls apart."
Orphan makes his way to a dark portion of the theater before fully fading from view completely, the darkness is his only weapon and ally. He listened closely to their plans, noting each major player in the discussion. He could never trust these others to be anything more than they are. His search for the light, a long hard journey as it was, would have to continue to be one of solitary observation. Mother had placed such high hopes for him, and this city was to be his first major lesson. How was he to learn anything about salvation from this lot though. Just then music cut through his musings, a new player stepped out on the stage
Seeing Ben, the only one of the group with whom he has experienced combat, get uneasy, Rick does the same... anticipating having to bust down some doors.
"You seem awfully sure of your hand in a room full of wild cards," Rick says, his voice delivering the veiled threat and dripping with confidence. "I'd kick myself later if i didn't call your bluff."
Thom is stark still as he considers the man and the Hell upon Hell he can unleash. But in some strange way, he is respecting Elysium.
Sullivan Dane... Your reputation precedes you. You don't talk to hear your own voice, most of the time. Speak or shoot, your call Hunter.
Ben: You see anyone else or smell anything unusual.
Rick: Sullivan looks at and simply says "By gods will, Amen" and your whole body trembles involuntary.
He looks to Thom "Ah the survivor, I followed you in hopes that you would lead me to the next nest but lucky for you god has given me another target."
"I came alone and not to do battle, there is someone in this town so dangerous that I came here to seek your help in putting him down. He is neither vampire or human...I don't think there is a word for what he is other than abomination. He draws his power from the ashes of vampires and has already slain one of you. Go to the former tremere chantry and you will find proof. If you decide to accept my offer of an alliance meet me at the old railway saloon." he says and he turns and leaves grabbing his violin.
"Hmph." Rick says, forcing a smile. Rocking with the power a few words could have, Rick isn't exactly sure he wants to mess with whatever this guy needs help with.
Erik would have entered the new sheriff's number into his phone before Sullivan Dane showed up.
Now that he is here, Erik will let Thom do the talking, but he is ready to draw his pistol if needed.
So, the railway saloon?
"And go to a site that an experienced hunter has had who knows how much time to prepare for us? Granted it takes a big brass pair to walk into Elysium as a mortal, but I still don't trust him. His story sounds absurd, has anyone hear ever heard of a being that can draw power from our ashes? Vince?"
Sullivan Dane was here, Elysium. Whether we wish to admit it or not, we're on borrowed time.
I say we play along and buy some time.
"Or kill him when we meet. I have a shotgun that I doubt he would like to meet. I highly doubt he can defeat 6 vampires in combat, though i would be happier if someone toom him out with a high-powered rifle.
also as sheriff you should look into increased security at Elysium."
Too soon, we don't know what he already does... Timing is everything.
Besides, if this threat is as infinitely more evil as he claims, his holy power might be the best weapon against it.
"how do we know his claims are true? I mean strange things exist in this world, but beings that draw power from ashes? Why assume that he doesn't want to kill us all like he did in Chicago? Going to a site of his choosing just seems like a bad idea. And remember there is no better hunter than a dead one."
"I'm curious. We can hear him out and... don't Giovanni use death magic or something? Something to consider, eh? He'll want us dead eventually, but you know- I don't think he'd go this far when all he would have to do is bar us in here and torch the place, wait outside to pick off those of us that escape... let's look at the old Tremere building and decide from there."
Maybe some of your decades if not centuries of... existence has given you patience I don't have. I can respect that.
But, what do you expect to find at the old Tremere Chantry that would change your mind? Ashes? They will be there, waiting even after we meet with this Sullivan Dane. Proof... of what? Something to use against the Hunter... he wouldn't be sending us there.
Thom looks around.
If anything, let's surprise him and show up early. We can check out the Tremere Chantry after. I wouldn't want to encounter whatever it is, if it's lingering, before we know more.
"Patience and age aren't my two greatest qualities. I'm just sick of everyone with a week of seniority calling me ignorant. I want to see the proof he's talking about. I can check it out myself if any of you can give me directions."
With recent goings on, strength in numbers, Ben. You're probably used going it solo... Honestly, me too. But we got to take on a pack mentality, for now.
If you feel that strongly, let's go together... Vinccenso will be our guide.. Thom looks to Gramps.
"I'll go. But some good guns would be nice. Maybe some pipe bombs."
A quiet voice breaks the shrouding surrounding Orphan once again."Let's face it, you're going to need someone who can scout it out and not be seen. That would be me I guess. If we are working together I guess I should introduce myself. I know not what my name in life was, but in these dark nights you may all call me Orphan as my sire named me." All the playful madness seems to have left the tiny vampire with the new threats
"One of the shovel heads was kind enough to give me his shotgun last night and I already had a 9mm. Unfortunately, Juggler really isn't is a position to get us more weapons right now."
Ben chuckles.
"Pipe bombs have gotten me into enough trouble already, I think. I'm as armed as I care to be."
"How do we know his claims are true? I mean strange things exist in this world, but beings that draw power from ashes? Why assume that he doesn't want to kill us all like he did in Chicago? Going to a site of his choosing just seems like a bad idea. And remember there is no better hunter than a dead one."
, one success to know of anything that might match the description.
"On the contrary, an incompetent hunter is better than a dead one. If they are incompetent, they threaten only the stupid. If they are dead, their death draws more hunters who seek out the cause of it."
This is bad...
Not only does he know how to hunt us, he knows enough of our kind to name ...
Worse still, at least that he knows is
"Hopefully it goes without saying that no one should go to their havens in the morning..." Vinccenso leaves on these words.
A) Sullivan Dane knows enough about the Tremere Clan to know their name at the very least.
B) He is also aware of the location used for the abandoned Chantry in Gary.
C) There is an unknown/unconfirmed threat located at the same site.
He will use code phrases & euphemism to further reduce the possibility of interception.
Once He has done all of that he will make his way to the neighborhood of the Chantry & begin a very careful observation of the area, starting with possible observational cover locations, then moving on to lines of evacuation, then actual observation of the Chantry site itself...
"Nice to see the new elder in town leaving just after the other elders, providing no useful information to the rest of us and unwilling to get their own hands dirty solving the problem. Typical."
Seriously? F$~~er's been here long enough he I'm an Elder. I'm barely an Ancilla!
Rounding back in, 'Vince' rebuts. "One, not an Elder, never claimed to be an Elder. I've provided a of useful information! If you are too , lazy, or greedy to understand or make use of it, my problem & you are well on your way to making yourself as much of a concern as the others we are faced with. I pull my weight. That nifty shotgun you have is thanks to that in case you have conveniently forgotten, you're welcome by the way. Finally, you have no idea what I'm doing & I don't recall 'telling' you to do anything besides recommending that it's a good idea to not go back to anywhere you don't want a known Hunter finding out about, so اللعنة you, احد المصابين!"
"Ok so you don't consider yourself and elder, still probably leaves you older than the rest of us and just as willing to use us a fodder. So fine, go, us unimportant new bloods will do all the dirty work as usual. And please watch you language, this is Elysium after all."
Sooo, gonna tell us the location of this chantry of... yours, Vinccenso? Or are we supposed to tail you?
I know trust is a difficult thing, maybe impossible. But way I see it, each of our clans... coming to our or Gary's rescue? Not so much. So whether we like it or not... BFF, Vinccenso. We're eachother's new best friends. At least the best we got.
"No." Vinccenso replies flatly.
"Just knowing where it is potentially puts all of you on a very short & very...
fluid list." Turning back to Erik. "As it happens, I was going to inform my 'Elders' of the present...
excitement,
regarding the Chantry in question."
"If I receive explicit permission to allow outsiders to assist me in addressing this...
concern, then I will...
ask for 'local talent'" As the others stare at him uncomprehendingly. "Meaning you guys."
Thom shakes his head, sadly. There you have it... Ben, you ready to go to the saloon, now? Or are we tailing him?
"Regular vampire love in, now can we please make our way to this chantry and see this "proof" with our own eyes? I don't know about you all but I don't like the idea of getting caught out close to daybreak."
Ben crosses his arms.
"I know the Warlocks are tight-lipped at the best of times, Vince. But according to the most badass Hunter on the block, there's a dead Lick in there. You think the Tremere are going to divert attention from Chicago to deal with something in Gary? Tell them after you've had a look- with the locally appointed Sherif in tow."
"And think of it like this- you handle this situation yourself, your cache with your clan may well be on the rise, eh? We have to know what this guy is talking about before we meet him. Hell, if you want to look on your own while we wait within shouting distance- fine. But it's important we have all the information we can get."
You want to rebuild the Chantry somewhere? You want to run the place... Fine by me. Let's clear the threat and I'll help you.
Thom smiles genuinely.
Vinccenso stares intently at the child-Vampire for several seconds.
'Purple Baby Monkey Butt. '
Huh, nothing. Guess he either read my mind, or simply isn't interested at the moment...
Shrugging, Vinccenso turns back to the others. "No offense Ben, but I don't tell you what will & won't raise your standing with your 'peeps', don't tell me what is going to raise my standing with mine."
"Not that much could..."
"Fine, what I haven't said, is that there is a very real probability that some, if not all, of the wards are still active & you do not want to get caught in those, so let me do my job!"
A vamp was in there, and a killer... and a hunter. I think we might be clear. And, it's the abandoned one, no?
"How typical, the Tremere want to be involved in proper society, but others cannot be involved in anything that happens with the Tremere. The street runs both ways Vince. And please, don't bring my blood relations into this, they don't pretend to be part of the Camilla."