It is Writhe who answers the question Dylan asks, "Vampirism has many health benefits- prevention of liver spots, greater but not total resistance to bullets, and numerous B budget superhero movie affects; do not mix Vampirism with Beheading, burning, sunlight. Use of sharp objects instead of blunt objects on Vampires may void the vampire's warranty."
Dylan nods in response, "Got it".
He turns to his Sire, "Do we have any swords laying around in your collection? Not that I'm skilled at wielding but that's got to be easier than ripping a head off no?"
"As a matter of fact, yes, mostly Khopesh blades but they're working models." The professor smiles, "Writhe's summary aside, eventually any form of damage can wear a vampire down to torpor, a state that's like a coma for us... during that, we're helpless."
"Wh-while the older s-scales f-fight each oth-er w-we should ens-ure the b-black out by dis-abling the n-neighborh-hood tran-nsform-ers."
"Hey, I didn't start this plan to tell you guys how to risk your new unlives, as long as you do SOMETHING" D-Man says "But there will be some fighting. If you don't hunt the Sabbat , they will hunt you."
"So they're dull then? Not too great, I guess it's bullets and neck twisting then.
The question is, how do we lure them in? Maybe some sort of signal that there are easy pickings for them to come after? Then, spring the trap?"
"You guys are new licks who they think are Camarilla, you're the bait,""Azerrad smirks, "But as for where, they'll hit what they see as Camarilla strong points eventually. This place might be a target but it's out of the way, the old Tremere Chantry is deserted, as far as we know, but there's no way they'll not want to check that out. The Elysiums, or that's... safe space, no violence, those would be likely IF they know..."
D-Man shakes his head "they'll think this is a cam city, they'll threaten the burbs, build up, threaten the masquerade and feed the troops. They have to feed the troops. Blood is key. You want to see what the bait is? First, it's people..."
Writhe starts to sing "People, people who drink people, are the most beautiful people in the..."
TC rolls her eyes, "Not now , Writhe."
"So is this Tremere place where they will send the newbies we are supposed to face or their more experienced soldiers?
If it's the burbs, how do we set anything up? That could be anywhere they will strike..."
"If th-they out-n-number us w-we should k-keep mob-bility. B-but d-decide on a f-fallback. T-turn a buil-ding into a k-killing floor. An Al-amo."
"We think the newbies will be in the burbs to answer your question but the truth is, we don't know for sure" D Man answers. Then he nods at Lawrence's suggestion and pulls out a map "Check this out..."
Michael is wordlessly pacing back and forth like a caged tiger.
Intelligence + Streetwise
Morgrym looks at Michael for a long moment and then says I know you are upset about your buddy but you aren't listening. I told you I would try to help you save him. If you aren't interested that's fine.
As you each sort out the layout provided, Lawrence immediately figures out a good location to fall back to. In that otherwise residential area, there is a small convenience store made of sterner stone work than many of the dryboard laden houses. They may want to shut off the gas pumps so they can't be used by the Sabbat, but then, they might want to keep it and take a risk with flame. It's a gamble. The good news is the roof is flat, and might also make a fine 'high ground' to fire from if it came to that.
Natalie Kim puts her hand on Bones, not knowing what he's thinking, but feeling his tension.
Mei looks at Lawrence, "I think I know the area, but I don't know tactics. I think I'll stick with you and maybe Morgrym."
Morgrym nods at that "That would be wise." his sister has put on her protective gear.
Speaking of sisters, Kelly Gantz looks at her brother, "How about you? Should I use you as a meat shield?" A weak smile. She's a bit scared.
Dylan grins at Kelly, "Yeah, I don't really know what you can do, I feel like I have a sense of what I'm capable of but not fully, not yet.
I mean don't we all have some kind of powers?
Can't we fly and turn into bats and what not?"
"...huh?" Bones finally looks over at Morgrym.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm interested. Sorry. Just... distracted."
"T-turn in-to bats?"
Lawrence takes an almost mocking tone as the new lizards seem to really buy into this fabricated idea that we're all now vampires and not genetically modified lizard-human hybrids.
Poor lizard, when the penny drops these people won't know what to do.
Kelly answers her brother, "I'm learning this ...trick of light thing, but it can be draining. Also, animals like me, which apparently for most of us is a superpower."
"You not teaching this kid anything, professor?" D Man asks the setite senior as Dylan inquires about abilities.
"I mentioned snake abilities, the lad's a natural, but he's on an.. atypical training program. I think in time he'll learn how to win friends and influence people as well."
Márohu looks over at Mei, "We gangrel can eventually take beast form, and yes, bat isn't uncommon."
Writhe looks at Lawrence, "Bats. What you believe in lizards but not bats?" She tuts.
Azerrad sighs, "Told Morgrym we are the Shadow clan and I confess, he's certainly got a head start there."
The older vampires give a run down, short and simple on the sort of ability associated with each of their clans. For some of you they did this before, but now you have the basics of what the others can do...
of course, it becomes obvious that some gifts are stranger than others.
Behemoth smirks "We of the Tzimisce can mold flesh, then later bone. First our own, then later others. YOu see why a doctor would be useful?"
"Thank you from the bottom of my no longer beating heart." Samantha says
"The g-ge-netic cock-tail you g-gave would account f-for most of w-what you've de-scribed. Re-gen-eration, c-camou-flage, ev-en p-prim-itive hyp-nosis and hal-lucin-ogens can be f-found among rep-tiles. My own D-DNA has m-mani-fest-ed c-camo, h-heigh-tend sen-ses and s-som-thing else I don't un-der-stand yet."
Lawrence stammers out his response while avoiding the topics of the abilities he can't quite "rationalize" yet.
...wait, mold flesh and bone?
Michael's eyes widen. "...what the f**!...?" He mumbles to himself.
"...uh, I can run fast, punch hard and charm people. But, to be fair, I could do that pretty well when I was, well..." He chuckles, a mix of worry and mirth.
Dylan turns to D Man, "I just wanted to make sure we all couldn't just do it and I was somehow lagging behind.
Weird, so much of what we know about our kind as Mortals just isn't true". Dylan shrugs.
"Anyway, I figure if we're a unit to be put together, we should know what each other can do. On my wrestling team, to the extent we can, we take advantage of match ups to overcome opponents. So maybe there's a guy I can beat but Bones here can't or vice versa. Well, better than we match up for easy victories where possible.
Now that we at least know who can do what, we can better utilize our skills against these f!&+ers. In theory anyway".
Dylan pauses for another moment, "Anything else or should we get moving? We'll need to be there first if we are going to set up any kind of ambushes right? I'm not a military tactics guy but I know you can't set up an ambush if you arrive after the fact..."
Morgrym smiles and says I am a military tactics guy and yes we need a spot we can hit them hard and fall back out if it goes bad. It's a flank and kill zone ambush, hit and run so their numbers don't overwhelm us.
"I think w-we sh-should get mov-ing. C-can't let the scales of th-the black h-and snu-ff out our bird." Lawrence looks to the elders, especially Writhe. "A v-van would be n-nice right now.
"Nothing to it but to do it," D-Man nods at the mention of getting moving, "Let's get to the location now." He motions you to head outside
Natalie takes Bones hand "Now that we're immortal let's go risk our existence, right?"
Beth follows her brother, glad for the gear she got.
Kelly looks to Dylan, "I'll drive."
Mei looks at Lawrence, "I don't suppose it helps, but you were right.. about so many things."
"Don't encourage him, please." Samantha winces
And unless anyone wants to ask more questions it looks like everyone is heading out, with you 'newbloods' heading towards the Suburbs
"...g@$&~!n right." Michael growls.
Hang in there, Kevin--we're coming for ya, man.
"I d-don't need you to t-tell me I was r-right. B-but I do like he-hearing it." Lawrence smiles inwardly and then frowns. "I'm s-sorry I in-volved you. I d-doubt there's a c-cure for us."
Dylan shrugs, "Since when do you get to drive? Since you're older, I'll allow it". He grins and turns to look back at his Sire giving a nod as he heads out to an uncertain fate.
Being dead is odd, and Dylan just noticed it, with no blood pumping and no hormones driving his biology, he feels nothing. Even his attempt at humor with his sister seems forced. A few nights ago, at the diner, his blood was pumping furiously during the encounter which may well have set those Sabbat off. All that blood. Well, now he doesn't feel s@*!, no nervous or anxious, not even really excited. The prospect of being able to perhaps slay Brandon after all the s@&~ he pulled is enticing, but that's probably more about self preservation than anything else.
He lets the thought drop as Kelly drives out for some suburban guerilla warfare.
"So, Kell, what can special things can you do again, exactly?"
"...g~$#~&n right." Michael growls.
Hang in there, Kevin--we're coming for ya, man.
Natalie grabs a spare gun and moves with him, she seems to sense what Bones is thinking of, maybe she is too. They head outside. She was sexy before, the turning or change or.. embrace, yeah, that's what they call it , seems to have made her even more so.
"I d-don't need you to t-tell me I was r-right. B-but I do like he-hearing it." Lawrence smiles inwardly and then frowns. "I'm s-sorry I in-volved you. I d-doubt there's a c-cure for us."
Mei puts on a fake smile for Lawrence, not to decieve so much as comfort. It's a good fake. Others might fall for it, but Lawrence is ever on watch "Well you never know? My real regret is I can't tell the story of a life time."
At the rate of progression to not just physical but mental levels, Lawrence may wonder which of them is going to end up enjoying their condition fastest.Something to consider as he heads outside to the vehicle.
Dylan shrugs, "Since when do you get to drive? Since you're older, I'll allow it". He grins and turns to look back at his Sire giving a nod as he heads out to an uncertain fate.
"I've been driving longer than you have," She reminds with a scoff as you get into a car, "You're better at fixing them, but I got skills, bro."
Being dead is odd, and Dylan just noticed it, with no blood pumping and no hormones driving his biology, he feels nothing. Even his attempt at humor with his sister seems forced. A few nights ago, at the diner, his blood was pumping furiously during the encounter which may well have set those Sabbat off. All that blood. Well, now he doesn't feel s!*$, no nervous or anxious, not even really excited. The prospect of being able to perhaps slay Brandon after all the s&!# he pulled is enticing, but that's probably more about self preservation than anything else.He lets the thought drop as Kelly drives out for some suburban guerilla warfare.
"So, Kell, what can special things can you do again, exactly?"
"Well, I'm supposed to have a gift with animals, be tougher than I was, and there's this kind of trickery thing. It's all new to me as well. Like illusions? But it's draining."
"Animals? Can you summon up a big bear or something? That'd help.
Illusions could be good too just have to think how to use that best I guess.
Tougher? I'd prefer you not right up in some vicious vampires face if we can help it".
"Animals? Can you summon up a big bear or something? That'd help.
"No, I can't. But if we run into a bear it'll eat you first"
Illusions could be good too just have to think how to use that best I guess.
"Pretty weak now but maybe as a distraction"
Tougher? I'd prefer you not right up in some vicious vampires face if we can help it".
"That makes two of us"
The drive or ride to the neighborhood goes fairly quickly, not like most folks head to suburbia at night unless they live there so traffic isn't too bad.
Bones has been to Kevin's fam's place before, so he maybe pleased they're going there which he wanted to check on anyway, or he might be horrified as it further comfirms that that neighborhood is ground zero for a future blood letting.
All of you disembark, now at the scene so to speak... and you notice the power is out...all over.
Lawrence scans the suburban neighborhood for any signs of impending trouble.
Dylan looks around and keeps quiet. The lack of lights may mean they are the ones that arrived late.
One thing more than one of you notices is some of those positions for easy high ground, or narrowed spots you'd considered earlier. There's a water tower not so far away in a copse of trees, for example. While not all vampires can see in the dark (how weird IS that anyway?) your night vision is excellent compared to the living...
Lawrence's keen hearing picks up voices from one house, a grey ranch style, it's hard to take up the exact words but it sounds a bit like a sermon?
Michael looks around, uneasy.
"I h-hear s-someone i-in there." Lawrence points towards the grey ranch house.
"I'll be o-our e-yes on th-the to-wer." He begins to advance toward the water tower.
Bones can't make out what others seem to be... and he feels his impatience growing.
Lawrence gestures to the grey ranch House even as he makes his way towards the water tower. Slowly, he begins to ascend.
Lawrence's announcement means Bones really feels his natural impatience grow.. .and he's tempted to tear off to look for a friend who maybe dead!
Dylan turns to Kelly, "I'm not exactly light on my toes and I took a shotgun sis, you got a handgun right?
Take a high ground position and watch my back. Shoot some s$+$ that charges me I guess and if all else fails like Guns N Roses said, Use Your Illusion".
Dylan nods to Morgrym who seemed to be the only real military gun in the bunch, "I guess it makes sense to spread out and surround them if they're bunched up right? Soften 'em up with gunfire and then pick 'em off after?"
"I'll w-watch your backs f-from the t-tower, you c-can fall back to it, if they st-start to overrun." Lawrence directs his speech towards Mei and Sam, then looks at his new comrades. "That g-goes for you t-too."
Michael finds himself pacing like a caged tiger.
Dammit, this is taking too damn long... but... but no. No, this is too important--we've only got one shot at this, and tearing off like an idiot isn't going to help anyone...
An almost animalistic growl escapes his lips.
Kelly nods to Dylan, "I got one. Feeling kind of gangsta, to be honest. Course, not sure it will really do much to us dead folk but we gotta start somewhere. I'll slow em down for you."
Morgrym nods at the whisper from Dylan and advises that blasting at legs should hinder movement even on a corpse and make them easier to pick off but he also admits that's untested.
Lawrence assures Mei and Sam. Mei looks nervous, but readies her weapon. Sam? Sam's been in warzones, and says "Don't worry, Lawrence. I'll look after Mei and guide her back if need be."
Lawrence gets up on the tower. From here, he notices that there are graves in the back yard of the grey house. Well, not graves so much as holes. They look open now, and there's blood stains on the grass.
Michael is right, this is taking too long. He holds on anyway. Then he realizes who owns the grey house. The Mailbox says WEATHERS.
Michael's eyes lock on the mailbox.
"...oh, f!$% this." He growls. "I'm not waiting any longer."
Tiffany--oh g*@*$~mit, she's in deep s+~# too...
He starts stalking up towards the house.
Dylan concentrates for a moment hardening his skin [activating Serpentis 3] for what he anticipates to be a fight shortly and moves with Michael but not too close to Michael.
Dexterity+Stealth
Sabbat Head Buttkisser Dif 7
Sabbat Draftee #1 Dif 7
Sabbat Draftee #2 Dif 7
Sabbat Draftee #3 Dif 6
Sabbat Over Seer Dif 7
NPC ally #1
NPC Ally #2
Michael moves closer first, Natalie looks tempted to pull him back, but mutters [Smaller]"Hell with it."[/B] And moves up as well.
He can hear Norman Weathers talking, "Glorious, glorious, we can cull the undesirables...we've the power to do that now"
Dylan spaces his own distance with them out just enough to be in a different line of sight even as he draws on his blood.
This proves to be wise, as the sounds they are making out quiet down. Someone has spotted them... a figure looks out the window briefly...
a voice calls out an order of some sort..
Initiative -
- Scumwad
Scumwad's daughter
Alas, his heart
Twisted Matron
Ugly relation
Last Match
Going Places
Graveyard shift
Happy Couple
Our heroes of the noble Anarch cause get the initial rush on the house, closing the distance somewhat.
"They're onto us." Morgrym fires through the window on the ground floor. Perhaps, unlike Lawrence, he didn't see the rifle at the top. His weapon finds a target as the glass shatters from a diagonal angle.
His shot clips a truly ugly woman, whose asymmetrical face resembles a shaved orangutan's visage. As the glass goes down on the ground floor, it's not just this creature that has come into view!
Covered in blood and filth, Kevin Burns , who was delirious, and confused, looks on Morgrym, "Sister? Hurt?" The scar on his forehead seems to be shifting.
Next to Kevin is a woman as lovely as the first one is ugly, but alien, as if her complexion was wiped almost too smooth, like a wax statue, her ears slightly pointed, and.. holy #$#, does she have three breasts under that outfit that does not fit her well? "The enemy, we were warned they'd come."
Dylan gets a look at none other than a bloody mouthed Brandon, the punk who was making moves on his sister! Pale, and yet somehow more swole than before, Brandon has a shotgun in his hand and looks at Dylan, "You? Why is it always you? You won't stop me from taking what's mine this time."
"Come, children, they are weak, we are strong! Let us remove the FILTH of this 'camarilla'" Norman Weathers doesn't know that they face anarchs intead of Cam, he only knows that as one of the Sabbat, he can act on every petty hatred he ever wanted to. His eyes have shifted akin to a weasal's and his nails look gross, large, and yellow.
Tiffany Weathers looks confused as if she's not sure how she's alive but her father's words turn her gaze on the rockstars
And still there are more... Two employees of the Dip Ship they may recognize. A native american woman and senior waitress writhes with shadows and draws a gun of her own. The younger Waitress has grabbed a poker from a fireplace.
The last two must be former customers at the Dip Ship at the wrong time. Their matching rings indicate they were married together and the dirt on them hints they were buried together before they got up. The young bride has a gun too, though she wields it unprofesionally, the groom has grown claws.
Lawrence can't see just WHO is in that upper floor beyond the rifle and a vague shape. SO many Lizard People!