Triel of clan Brujah who does so very well I note that you left your lineage absent. Is it lack of manners, lack of knowledge, or embarrassment that catches your tongue when speaking to a primogen and elder in Elysium? McNeely says.
Right when the silence of the room seems to be stretching a barrel chested man with an eye patch, a kilt and a chest tabard made of some sort of mink fur walks in and says a bit loud:
Maaaybee it's because the lass nae likes her company or perrhaps ye have not considered the lass has been invited by a Duke to the happenings,and the last time I checked a Duke outranks a primogen so, come on over here and meet yet new sponsor and uncle ya wee bairn! He points a cane to Triel. McNeely frowns deeply but nods with respect.
"If you are saying that, then for sure you bloody well know..." - Triel's response to McNeely showed a clearly increasing momentum, even if her tone of voice was stable.
She was interrupted however, and perhaps for the best...
Maaaybee it's because the lass nae likes her company or perrhaps ye have not considered the lass has been invited by a Duke to the happenings,and the last time I checked a Duke outranks a primogen so, come on over here and meet yet new sponsor and uncle ya wee bairn! He points a cane to Triel. McNeely frowns deeply but nods with respect.
"Mr Mcgillivray?" - Triel approached and smiled as the Ventrue primogen was clearly put back in his place.
Kent is puzzled by, what he assumes to be a Brujah speaking, about the title of Duke. To mask his ignorance, he remains silent. After all, better to be assumed to know something than to come out and admit to ignorance, especially in open Court.
He nods to Triel, considering his own response to the rude Brujah Elder in Elysium, he has respect for her bravery though he could tell by her speech that where she was going to go could have led to trouble for her.
He watches and waits to see the rest arrive. Leaning into McNeely he speaks,
William lass, yes. I invited ya here cause I am paying off a small favor ta yer grandsire, so, now ya have a bit of a chance for a clean start but be sure that there still will be issues, keen? William says to Triel.
Kent nods in response but says nothing further as the hierarchy does not make sense to him, but that is to be debated later, not here and now.
"Will do, and thank you William" - Triel nodded - "The fire threw me a bit off when I arrived, and that one back there was trying to push my buttons for sure" - she added - "But all is good now"
While all of you talk, five kindred arrive at the door all wearing matching cloaks with circle centered by triangle clasps and are announced as the Tremere who all come in as one. It seems the time for mingling is drawing to a close for shortly after each clan arrives in groups until all but the Gangrel are here.
About fifteen minutes to midnight Etienne Brule arrives wearing his native American garb with long hair plaited down his left side in a pony tail.
Kent nods and smiles at the Toreador Elder. He does not approach, at least not yet. Personal interests must be tempered with his standing within Clan Ventrue, Kent knows the Ventrue are not well liked and certainly is beginning to understand why but that is his family now and standing outside of one's family just is not done. His rebellion led him here when he could have had a different path.
The Princess gives directions for Old Ben to walk out with Janice and stand on her side next to her on the throne.
A single gong is struck someplace within the ship and the thick velvet is pulled aside by two ghouls revealing a part of the deck of the ship previously hidden. There is a great throne sitting in the middle of the deck and all the clans separate into groups in a semi circle just beyond the velvet and the gong rings a second time and all kindred become silent until all you hear is the breathing of the ghouls and the sound of distant traffic, along with the low flicker of the candles as the Gangrel enter two by two going left then right in pairs until at last Princess Harriet walks in wearing a crown made of antler and she says to those in attendence:
As thine elder I bid you welcome to my domain where Elysium stands. Do you once more take upon you all the oath of one who stands within another's domain to respect the rules within and uphold my will within it?
The gathered kindred at once in one voice say We do
The nonconformist Brujah finds herself going along in that trance like tradition, the words coming out of her mouth almost of their own accord.
Triel does not fight it though, she finds it... Impressive. And even though her rebellious blood screams against it, she can recognize the strength in numbers and union. As opposed to the constant Camarilla bickering.
She smiles.
Ben stood where he was told and did as he was expected, seeing it all from on high after two lifetimes of being on the bottom. It was nice to be in the true winners section for once.
Albeit a step behind not having known what to expect, Kent also states "I do".
Unity among several Clans at once is something he has never experienced before. Indeed, the largest number of Cainites he has been before was his first introduction to Lodin and his Brood, this gathering dwarfs that.
as Princess of Minnesota it gives me great pleasure to announce another city has come to be above the population stipulated in the Ring of Gold treaty between the kindred and lupine and thus will require a Duke. For a fourth time in our prosperous time here we grow, and this time also Etienne Brule has negotiated with those of the lupine to allow more of each kind among our realm as it was also their wish to expand in the wilds beyond the Ring of Gold. In six months time I will hold another moot and at that meeting I will bestow four of our kind the right to have childer and to have to those childer serve in our new city of St. Cloud. The Duke of St. Cloud will be Douglas Dunbar, of clan Ventrue for his long service, elder status, and deeds done for our kind in the realm
Dunbar stands to at first what is a silent room and there is a moment where emotion almost finds a place on William McGillivray's face, and then the room starts as a hum which becomes applause at the fact that rite of creation will be granted to four kindred in attendance here and that there is a new Duke and a new city for the kindred!
'A new city for us to bicker about' - Triel thought, yet she was smiling at the prospect of something new, about to start fresh. Or as fresh as possible in Kindred society.
How would they select the four though...?
The Prince holds up her hand and the room becomes silent and she says I have come to understand that there are new kindred who have come to petition for the right to stay in my domain. I have accepted Old Ben of clan Gangrel who is spoken for by Janice and has been offered hospitality as such. Who else shall approach and who is sponsored?
"Me" - the woman stepped forward, her long leather jacket trailing behind her - "Triel Carter, of the Brujah"
McGillivray steps forward and says I shall sponsor her and there is a murmur among the crowd.
The Princess says Approach Triel Carter of Clan Brujah
Things were getting interesting, apparently he wasn't the only new blood in town.
Triel steps further - she is well built, but not massively muscular. Apparently she shows no fear when she moves closer to the princess.
Princess Harriet stands before Triel and moves forward and Triel looks down a moment and smells salt and sees that there is a semi circle around the throne where there is salt. She steps staying inside the salt and takes your hands and says I welcome you by tradition into my domain. I grant you sustenance that you may hunt as you see fit but break not the treaty of the Ring of Gold not the masquerade. I grant you shelter that you may find safe haven against the sun. In return do you promise to follow the Traditions and Elysium within my cities, to respect all domains earned through my hand, and to follow the treaty of the Ring of Gold?. Her hands squeeze yours a bit and she looks into your eyes as she speaks.
"I do not know what the Treaty of the Ring of Gold stands for" - Triel replies without hesitation.
There is a quick murmur that spreads through the room and then the Princess holds up her hand and says The Ring of Gold is the treaty between the lupine and kindred that we stay within the limits of the cities and do not pass into the country. Your Sponsor will direct you further, but it is what allows our kinds to flourish here in joined peace.
"I understand" - Triel nodded - "I am in agreement - will follow the Traditions and Elysium, respect all domains earned through your hand, and adhere to the treaty of the Ring of Gold" - she reiterates.
Princess Harriet nods and releases your hands and says you may step from the salt. Please bring the next petitioner
Kaydee bobs her head singing silently to herself as the Prince addresses the gathering. It's possible she joined in the chorus of 'we do's, but maybe she didn't. She was a bit distracted.
She keeps Moët et Chandon in her pretty cabinet.
'Let them eat cake,' she says just like Marie Antoinette...
A confident Brujah woman and her sponsor step forward for recognition.
... a built-in remedy for Khrushchev and Kennedy,
at any time an invitation you can't decli—
A sharp pain in her rib and a polite clearing of the throat brings Kaydee back to her senses. "Huh?" she says quickly looking around. "Oh! Sorry. Me!" She raises her hand a bit and steps forward.
The Princess motions you forward and takes your hands in hers and you see a semi circle of salt beneath your feet as you cross it and the Princess says I welcome you by tradition into my domain. I grant you sustenance that you may hunt as you see fit but break not the treaty of the Ring of Gold not the masquerade. I grant you shelter that you may find safe haven against the sun. In return do you promise to follow the Traditions and Elysium within my cities, to respect all domains earned through my hand, and to follow the treaty of the Ring of Gold? Give me your name and clan when you answer and do you also have a sponsor?
"I, Katrina David with clan Toreador, will respect your domain and follow the treaty," Kaydee says. She glances back toward Laurabee.
There is a long pause and then Laurabee says I shall sponsor her here in the cities with a dramatic flair wave of her scarf which floats about her hand.
The Princess holds Kaydee's hands for another long moment and then says thank you, you may depart the salt
The velvet to the outside door parts as Kaydee walks back and another vampire enters the room
The velvet to the outside door parts as Kaydee walks back and another vampire enters the room
A slender man with long sandy brown hair and a neatly trimmed matching goatee enters. He is dressed in a blood red button up shirt with a few buttons open, and dark black slacks. His eyes scan the room briefly, before he moves near, but not quite before the Prince. Clearly he is waiting to see if she will allow him to speak but will wait his 'turn' until then if need be.
Kent stands to head towards the Princess for his own introduction when the newcomer steps into the room. The Ventrue pauses to ascertain whether this one will move forward, when he does not, Kent nods to him and then approaches the Princess.
He pauses and then begins his introduction, "Princess, I am Kent Woolthorn Clan Ventrue,
Childe of Alan Sovereign,
Childe of Horatio Ballard,
Childe of Lodin,
Childe of Datura,
Childe of General Flavius Belisarius,
Childe of Antonius the Gaul,
Childe of Ventrue,
Childe of Caine".
Craig observes and listens very carefully at the recitation of lineage, certain he is not the only one counting generations.
Well He thinks to himself dryly, If the others are as close or closer to Caine, I maybe seen as quite the babe in the woods. Craig isn't really concerned by this. It has its pros and cons.
The Princess holds her hands up and you both note a circle of salt has been placed on the floor and she motions for Kent to take her hands.
Craig is intrigued by the salt ring.
And tries to gauge if anything occult related is at play.
Not sure if these rolls will help but he's curious if this is merely symbolic or if there's real power behind it
If there is magic here it is certain to be wrapped up in the circle of salt which the Princess is standing in
Kent steps forward to take the Princesses hands as he is bidden.
Craig ponders Above and Below the Salt. My we are old school. It may mean more , but he's learned all he can...for now.
McNeely speaks up saying The Ventrue of The cities sponsor Kent Woolthorn as she takes Kent's hands. She nods and says I welcome you by tradition into my domain. I grant you sustenance that you may hunt as you see fit but break not the treaty of the Ring of Gold not the masquerade. I grant you shelter that you may find safe haven against the sun. In return do you promise to follow the Traditions and Elysium within my cities, to respect all domains earned through my hand, and to follow the treaty of the Ring of Gold?
Kent looks the Princess in the eyes and declares, "I shall follow the Traditions of the Camarilla as well as the customs of your Domain Princess. I shall honor all declared Elysium and treat the Domains of my fellow Kindred with respect and dignity as if it were your own Haven. I have been told of the importance of the Treaty of the Ring of Gold and shall uphold it to ensure the peace that has been striven for by my Elders remains intact".
Kent you are welcome. For your oath, and through Mr. McNeely I grant you the domain of Woolworth's on University to care take and as yours to do as you see fit. You may step from the salt, and return below it.
The more Craig thinks about it, the more he rather admires the pageantry of the set up. Very old school, yes, but the Prince understands the power of symbols. Perhaps it's almost purely theatrical, but each kindred will remember this, and that in itself lends to the message and thus the power of it.
Kent bows and takes his place by Primogen McNeely's side once more.
LH Watson, the primogen of the Tremere moves forward and says The Tremere also wish to sponsor another member to the city. and Watson nods to Craig who is close to the salt already. The Princess says ah the late arrival. Come and pledge and tell us your name
Craig steps forward, wondering if he should bow, or kiss a hand, but instead he inclines his head respectfully "My name is Craig Lawrence, I am in service to the House and Clan of Tremere. My sire's name is Jacob Montrose, and I am a Clan member in honorable standing. Thank you for allowing me to present myself." He is ready to take the oath, but he's noticed a pattern to the ritual and doesn't wish to presume by rushing it.