Seemingly distracted by the approaching man, the Prince dismisses you. "If there is nothing else, you are free to enjoy the remainder of the evening."
Edwin bows and moves out of the way pausing to allow his coterie and he to stay together.
Eager to escape the baleful eye of the prince, Jack follows Edwin very closely.
K follows Edwin, whispering to his coterie mates once they're "alone."
"Anybody recognize Freddy Krueger?" He looks back over his shoulder at the gruesome figure. "Do you think he was turned like that, or got caught sun bathing?"
Calliope shakes her head in response to K, frowning. "No idea who that is, unfortunately..." She resists the urge to glance back as well, but barely. "Might be Nosferatu. Either way, he's got the Prince's attention. Glad we got out of there without much of a fuss. A little anti-climactic, no? We were very worried about what to do with you." She nudges K with a grin, then grins at Edwin. "Although, that can be attributed to good planning, I'm betting. Anti-climactic is good."
"Good fortune for us that the Lasombra have been forced upon the Prince at this very moment but perhaps bad for the city..."
”He seemed surprised by K’s presence, but not immediately hostile.” A whisper’s whisper. ”No doubt he’s focused on the Lasombra matter, as you say. If we have the misfortune of the gaining his attention in the future, he may use his forbearance as leverage against us.”
”If we have the misfortune of the gaining his attention in the future, he may use his forbearance as leverage against us.”
K shrugs at Alex’s suggestion. ”I’m not as hip to the Camarilla as you all are, but isn’t that basically the standard elder M.O.?” Peering over his sunglasses, he scans the room again, nodding in appreciation at some of what he sees.
”Now that the scary part’s done, are we gonna schmooze?”
"Basically the standard Kindred M.O., honestly," Calliope replies to K, nodding in agreement with Alexander's assessment. "Might as well schmooze a little, unless you guys think we should leave?" Calliope straightens up a tad, scanning the room for Mateo. She wondered if he would be pissy that she approached the Prince before speaking to him.
"I say we leave. Immediately. This was a massive success already, no need to risk anything more than we already have."
Edwin nods to Jack, "I am inclined to agree, staying is inserting ourselves into Kindred politics whether we know it or like it".
”Yeah, okay.” K looks around one last time. ”We got anything else going on tonight? If not, I’ve got places I can be.” Like showing up Hastings, if I can get someone to loan me a decent car.
"Have you topped yourself off recently? I'm full up, you can have some off me. After tonight, it'll be best if you're always at peak capacity K. We have no idea who might be gunning for you."
"I need to check in with Mateo, but I am also into leaving ASAP. Meet at the Church or do our own thing?"
"I need to check in with Mateo, but I am also into leaving ASAP. Meet at the Church or do our own thing?"
Nod. ”I should greet my sire as well,” zephyr through grass. ”I’ve no further plans for the evening and shall return to the church.” Nod goodbye, shuffle to Grimm.
”Hello, sire.”
The coterie slips away from Prince Jackson and the approaching scarred man only to see the scarred man grin wickedly at Prince Jackson and say, "Ahhh you do recognize me, Kevin...enjoy your seat while it lasts." before turning around to leave the Elysium.
Jack, Edwin, and K standby while Calliope and Alexander go to speak with their respective Sires.
"There's my little Calliope..." Mateo purrs. "How did your meeting with Prince Jackson go?"
"Hi, how ya doin'?" Grimm asks - his typical greeting to almost anyone. "Everything goin' alright and more importantly, did you learn anything of note?"
That said Edwin turns to K and jack, "Wait here a moment, I shall be right back..."
The Tremere heads to find his Regent.
Edwin leaves Jack and K to their own devices, as he heads off to seek DuSable.
"Good evening, Edwin. I trust you ingratiated yourself to our new Prince...despite the arrivial of our new 'sect-mates'?" the Tremere Regent asks.
I believe that all is well, at least for my Coterie.
But, I wonder, do you know who that scarred Kindred on the stage was by chance?"
"Have you topped yourself off recently? I'm full up, you can have some off me. After tonight, it'll be best if you're always at peak capacity K. We have no idea who might be gunning for you."
”Hey, thanks for the offer - if I can get a drink once we’re outside that’d be great?”
"Wait here a moment, I shall be right back..."
”Yeah, no problem,” K smiles.
Once he and Jack are alone, he leans in. ”So… I guess we’re not gonna schmooze, huh?”
"Yeah, the new allies...I think that's why Jackson didn't give you more grief about the thin-blood." Mateo says. "I'm not sure what to think about the Lasombra joining the club...that being said, I'm more than a bit surprised that they are being allowed to join."
DuSable thinks a moment, "I believe he is called Sir Olaf, the One-Eyed King. A street level kingpin, a relatively recent arrival to Chicago."
"Interesting to see him push Prince Jackson's buttons like that and be able to walk away."
Notepad from pocket, flips open. ”I’m well,” a mosquito drone, ”and noticed Talley the Hound here, but that’s less notable after the Prince’s announcement.”
”Anything I should know?”
"Schmooze? You and I? I think not, unless someone approaches. In terms of feeding, outside will be fine. As I said, outsiders will expect you to be the weakest link. Let's make sure that you aren't, eh?" Jack gives a wry smile. "If you want, I could show you some basic self defense techniques. It's also probably for the best that you don't go out by yourself. Did you have evening plans? I can go with."
Jack inwardly sighs; he'd very much been enjoying spending more time with Calliope, but protecting K was top priority.
"Surprises me too, but I don't know enough about all of this to really grasp the implications."
Edwin nods to DuSable and makes his way back to K and Jack, "Let's slowly drift out.
The others will catch up".
"Wish I knew more...Wauneka doesn't know much about it either. I'll be in touch if I find out anything. F~*@in' weird that those shadowy f$@!s are tryin' to join the club for sure." Grimm says with tinges of honest confusion in his coarse, grumbly voice. "You do the same, right?"
Mateo nods. "Very well could be a test for him...maybe an opportunity for the right folks too." the mercurial Toreador adds. "My advice...lay low and watch for which way the wind blows before doing anything good or bad concerning the Lasombra."
Edgar rejoins K and Jack as the trio slowly drift toward the exit, subtly getting the attention of their otherwise occupied coterie mates.
"Good advice..." Calliope replies, her eyes flicking toward her Coterie making its way slowly toward the doors. "We're slipping out. I'm feeling...inspired." The vampiric artist flexes her fingers for emphasis. Dramatic, yes--but no less true. She felt the itch to create after this historic event. Perhaps something representing the "crowning" of their new Prince would buy them some favor...
After any remaining discussion with Mateo, Calliope rejoins her coterie and their subtle exit back to their Haven.
”Wish I knew more...Wauneka doesn't know much about it either. I'll be in touch if I find out anything. F##!in' weird that those shadowy f@~~s are tryin' to join the club for sure." Grimm says with tinges of honest confusion in his coarse, grumbly voice. "You do the same, right?"
”Of course.”
Slow shuffle to exit. Rejoins coterie outside.
A faint sight. ”Grimm had nothing to add regarding the Lasombra news.”
The coterie remains outside of the Elysium, though still on Navy Pier, having formally introduced themselves to the Prince and seemingly gained Kevin Jackson's blessing to stay within the city of Chicago.
While standing and deciding what to do next, you do see a few other members of Kindred society wandering around the vicinity, including an outcast Childe of Abraham DuSable, the Caitiff Anarch known as Maldavis.
It would seem the Anarch "leader" has noticed your coterie as well and is paralleling your walking pace, staying out of direct line of view of the Camarilla ghouls that man the front doors.
Notepad from pocket. Golf pencil. Navy Pier, exterior, Maldavis.
”Maldavis seems interested in us.” A flea’s groan. ”Consorting with Anarchs in front of the Prince’s meet probably won’t earn us any favors. But if we want to set up a rendezvous, I can leave him a note.”
Edwin nods to Alexander, "Agreed".
Maldavis continues to watch you discuss things quietly between yourselves.
Calliope glances at the Anarch trailing them and then looks carefully at Edwin and Alexander, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why engage at all?" She asks sharply, mouth tightening with displeasure. "Consorting with Anarchs isn't going to do us any favors."
"Agreed, but this appears to be a brave new world considering what else we have learned tonight.
She is also the childe of the Regent of the Tremere Chantry in Chicago".
"Mmmm, fair enough..." Calliope replies, glancing at the Anarch before turning back to them. "We could meet at a bar of some kind, perhaps? Unless you had somewhere in mind, Alexander."
Edwin shakes his head, "I'd prefer somewhere much less public, Gary Indiana perhaps. Their downtown area, whatever is left of it. I have heard tell that that is the place where the Anarchs used to hide from Lodin's wrath".
"Not a bad idea. Short drive," She glances at K, "Works for me."
”Yeah, that sounds good,” K chirps. ”Maybe tomorrow night? She might need time to clear her schedule..”
"Suggest tomorrow night, in Gary. There is no shortage of abandoned buildings there. Perhaps the ruins of the Palace Theater? If that doesn't work, she can find a way to let us know. I'm sure she's innovative enough to do so."
Edwin nods to Calliope in agreement.
He pauses seeing to catch the attention of the Anarch down the block. He points at an area once he believes she can see him clearly, he turns to Alexander, "Write that down, I suppose 10 pm makes sense to give us tome to get there and scout around first, we will figure out how to get to Gary tomorrow evening. Dangerous as it may be, I think it more dangerous to show any sort of Anarch affiliation within Chicago proper".
Intelligence+Occult - what does Edwin know about Werewolves Hunger
You guess that it will likely be safe enough to travel the route you intend, assuming the panel van K steals doesn't break down on the way.
As far as werewolves go, you know enough to be dangerous. They are big, strong, and deadly. If in their hybrid form your only hopes to meaningfully damage them is fire or silver.
"I have the outline of a plan forming.
K, could you procure us a panel van, one preferably that completely blots out light or that we could blot the light out with easily?
Let's discuss my plan further in less open environs after we leave our missive... "
After the note is dropped off, Calliope nods decisively at Edwin, pleased that he had a handle on planning. She struggled to visualize the big picture.
"Back to the Haven, then," Calliope says, punching in an order for an Uber to take them all back.
Gary
10PM tomorrow
Palace Theater
Hard stare at Maldavis. Slow crumpling of note. Drops note at feet, slow shuffle away with coterie.
”It’s been fifty-odd years since I was in Gary.” Soft crunch of rust. ”I don’t imagine it’ll be nicer to visit now as a vampire.”
”Any preparations we should make beyond transport?”
"Violence." Jack says flatly. "Do what you have to to get ready for a fight. Don't just rely on your blood, or disciples. Get a good weapon or two."
"Fire and Silver.
One we have difficulty wielding, the other, while not rare, is not exactly common in weapon form.
I don't wish to disclose my thoughts on the matter further until we are back where we know we are alone..."
** spoiler omitted **
"I have the outline of a plan forming.
K, could you procure us a panel van, one preferably that completely blots out light or that we could blot the light out with easily?
Let's discuss my plan further in less open environs after we leave our missive... "
”Yeah, I think I’ve got just the wheels you’re looking for, Mr. Wagner.”
K stretches and lets out a long sigh as they wait for their Uber. Definitely not making it to the meet tonight. Still, driving down to secretly meet a leader of the rogue vampires in an industrial ghost town? He smiles.
My life is awesome.