Edwin raises his eyebrows that the Brujah, as he is now getting the sense that is what Evelyn is, falls in line so easily.
"Could they have taken the City from Lodin? Is the ease with which you believe this due to the fracture of the city, akin to Alexander the Great's Generals dividing up his Empire when he was gone or is there another reason you believe this? Perhaps they simply wish to not bother with a fight, these Kindred became ancient by avoiding and not being involved in clashes, no.
I have never met Nicolai, as I understand it he is gone. This Juggler fellow is gone. You are unsure of the loyalty of Criatas and Khalid. Plus there are other Primogen who may oppose you.
This seems... risky. Intriguing, especially in light of Prince Jackson's declaration of fall in line or die the Final Death after all a city held by fear can be held only so long, but risky. I have not been here long, but he appears to have the numbers".
Edwin gauges Maldavis' reaction as well, he came here to see her. This fellow's presence is a complete surprise!
Calliope looks up from her doodling - it helps her focus on the conversation - and nods at Edwin's reply to Maldavis and Evelyn in quiet support. She shares his skepticism. "High risk, unclear plan, low reward..." She mumbles.
Maxwell calmly, at least by Brujah standards states, "I am certain Critias and Khalid. The only question is Nicolai, if I have Nicolai, I have your Regent." Turning toward Maldavis he adds, "Perhaps if I do not have the support of House and Clan Tremere, perhaps then I turn to House Carna."
House Tremere - Camarilla aligned, loyalists of the Pyramid, traditional Hermetics, led by Karl Schrekt
House Carna - Majority of them Camarilla aligned, with some in the Anarchs, pagan nonconformists, wiccans and other modern witches, led by Carna
House Goratrix - Unknown Allegiance, with little information known about them, presumably led by Goratrix
Maldavis chimes in. "Yeah, KJ seems to have the numbers, but only as long as there isn't a better option. The rest of Lodin's brood are a nest of vipers. If they think they can better their position by turning on their 'little brother', you know they will."
Maxwell allows himself a small smile, seemingly having heard Calliope's mumble.
"Low reward? Not at all, my dear. While the Anarchs may not hold all the Traditions close to their unbeating hearts, I do...and that includes the system of boons that our kind have followed for millennia. Would it not be a suitable reward to hold a significant boon from the Prince of Chicago? Think of what you might be able to accomplish with that." the Brujah elder says with all of the smoothness of a practiced Ventrue.
Jack practically salivates at the idea of exerting physical and political dominance over other Carmilla flunkies. High-risk, high-reward was more his style anyway. Perhaps it was why he liked K so much. A way to amass strength and experience quickly. He shoots a meaningful glance at Edwin. He wouldn't abandon the coterie to pursue this on his own, Jack's muscle provided a certain security to the others he wouldn't rob them of. Still, he wanted, no needed, this. "If things go too badly, we flee Chicago, and start somewhere new. But Maxwell here wouldn't let things get that bad, nor would he begrudge abandoning a truly doomed cause, right Mr. Maxwell?" Jack tries to set the rest of the coterie at ease, while giving Maxwell a way to assuage fears.
"Indeed, there are risks involved with this plan - as there are with any plan of note. I managed to survive being ousted from the Prince's seat before, so yes, Jack, I will not harbor any ill will should you flee for your own safety, in fact I will do what I can help you escape." Maxwell says reassuringly.
Calliope pauses her doodling again to look up at Maxwell, eyes locking with his a brief moment before allowing a small smile and a nod at his offer. Tempting. A way to break free of Mateo and the prison of his temper. To make a name for herself with her art. Go deeper into the occult.
Before she replies, Jack's response...she glances over at him, putting her pencil down onto the page of distressing doodles. He made a good point. She would, of course, rather not abandon Chicago and go on the run. Especially with her family still alive and usable as leverage. She cared about them from a distance, but never interacted with them.
"You make a good point, Maxwell," She concedes, sitting up straighter and paying more attention to the conversation. "A powerful boon indeed."
Edwin cocks his head at Maldavis, "So then you represent House Carna. Carna if I am not mistaken has a power center in Milwaukee. Would she take a direct interest in this conflict so close to her doorstep? That would be a powerful ally indeed.
I am familiar with the current Regent, but not nearly close enough to know what he would do if his Sire returned.
I do notice that you have expertly answered but one of my many questions with promises of greater reward for the risks ahead. I recognize such a strategy as I have employed it so many times myself.
It is intriguing".
He turns to his allies to gauge their interest, Jack and Calliope seem enamored, he focuses on Alexander.
”Can you prove Khalid’s support?” the rustle of dry leaves.
Notepad, pencil. Writing, handed to Edwin.
If yes, I vote to assist, as a coterie.
Maxwell smiles.
"Can anyone prove they have the support of another of our kind? Khalid abhors violence, and in my younger days, I was admittedly prone to outbursts and as such, Khalid backed Lodin for my ouster."
He pauses a moment before continuing, "Yes, I recognize that sounds very much like Khalid would not support my return, and that may be the case, but I am betting that Khalid is no fan of the bloodshed Kevin Jackson is about to unleash, and would welcome me back to the city, particularly if word of my plan reaches his ears."
Edwin nods, "So that is the game then?
We are the birds who flitter into Chicago and get the pulse of Critias and Khalid?
As Nicloai is nowhere to be seen, I would not recommend seeking the assistance of DuSable, the Camarilla has every confidence in Prince Jackson and DuSable's Regency is supported by the Camarilla, insofar as I can tell anyway.
I have another question for you Elder, suppose we do take this risk, if we were to flee Chicago in failure, where can we flee to with your assistance?
I acknowledge that one of my station should not be so bold as to speak with an Elder of your stature this way, forgive my boldness, but, Prince Jackson has made in quite clear that disloyalty to he and his reign means death. The chance to leave the city if you are not in his camp was last night and I get the sense that invitation will not be extended again. To support you, we win or die so this is a matter we cannot consider lightly."
K peers over Edwin’s shoulder to read the note. Wild! He knew he was supposed to keep quiet and hide behind Mr. Wagner at the new Prince’s shindig, but this old Prince seemed to him much more hip.
”Also, like, what’s your view on Thin-Bloods? I’m asking for a friend.”
Calliope shifts in her seat, eyes darting to Edwin and nodding along with his assessment of the situation. She, too, worried about this. "It's a big risk. We need guarantees for our own safety should things go south." She says quietly, more to her coterie than to the rest of the assembled. However, she made no effort to hide it--it's not like she was saying anything controversial.
"A fair question." Maxwell says to Edwin's question of flight options, should things go poorly.
"When I left Chicago before, I traveled many places, but the most time was spent in New Orleans. Prince Marcel Guilbeau still owes me a favor or two, finding you refuge for you in New Orleans will not be a problem, should it become necessary."
Regarding K, the Elder thinks for a moment. "If I seek peace between the Anarch factions and the Camarilla, I see no reason to not extend that peace to those of thin blood."
Edwin turns to his Coterie, then back to the Prince, "I believe we would like to discuss this amongst ourselves before we can give an answer".
He pauses, "Though I am curious to hear from Evelyn herself, we have heard from Maldavis, but she does not represent those Gary contingent correct?"
Evenlyn takes a deep, but wholly unnecessary breath before saying, "We are in, provided of course you hold up your end of the bargain as it pertains to Modius."
"Of course." Maxwell says in a voice that practically sounds like the purr of a very large cat.
Wits + Insight Hunger
Once they get a small distance away, far enough that the coterie could reasonably assume that no one was listening in, Jack begins to speak. "We're obviously cannon fodder for them. Nobodies that are useful because they have much to gain and little to lose, as well as a healthy dose of ambition that can be used to blind them. I don't think that they will risk their own necks to bail us out." Jack takes an unnecessary breath of his own before he continues. "All of that being said, if we do happen to come out on top with this, and they don't decide to dispose of us as loose ends afterwards, we stand to gain quite a great deal. We'd finally have security. Something that we will always lack under our current Prince, between my heritage and K's... condition, we would constantly be asked to prove ourselves, while under extra scrutiny. I say we take this opportunity to be pawns. We just might have what it takes to get across the chessboard."
[dice=Wits 2 + Insight 3 (including specialty)]4d10
[dice=Hunger]1d10
Calliope studies Evelyn a moment before moving away from the crowd with her coterie. She listens carefully to what Jack has to say, humming in agreement with his words. "I haven't quite decided yet, but I'm inclined to agree. I'd like to hear what the rest of you think...but I noticed that when Evelyn said she's in, it seemed a bit like..." The Toreador pauses, her face screwed up in thought while she tries to find the right words. "It seems kinda like she doesn't have a choice but to agree." She shrugs a bit. "That's just the vibe I was getting from her."
"Perhaps she is a member of his lineage and is compelled by blood?
I believe this endeavor is incredibly dangerous. At the moment, we are no one and no threat to the current Prince. Most of us seek enlightenment or to be left alone or both.
Doing this could enmesh us in a war between Elders in which we are fodder. However, New Orleans as a fall back city is quite intriguing so if the offer is valid, that is certainly an plus.
I vote nay.
That being said, there are five of us, and the sense I have is that three of us are already inclined if not enthusiastic to say Yay. If that is the will of our coterie, so be it. I have more affinity towards you all than I do to the Regent of Chicago. While I bear him no ill will I bear him no good will either".
"I think the consequences of saying no are something to consider as well. If we don't want to do this, are they going to need to silence us?" Calliope sighs heavily. "That being said, while I'm interested in the idea of being united, I'm very skeptical about all of this and whether or not it's worth the risk. We just met these people...and they come with pretty speeches and a lofty goal. I like the sound of it, but I don't know..." She looks uneasy, even frustrated, by being forced into this position of having to make such a major decision on such short notice.
”Oh, I’m totally a ‘yay!’ Like, no offense, Mr. Wagner, but we gotta be in on this one way or another, right? Maxwell seems cool; he’s smooth, his whole once and future Prince thing is pretty rad, and obviously I like his take on Thin-Bloods. We join his team, take out Prince Jackson, and move in as power players of the new retro Camarilla!”
K leans in, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial but no less excited tone.
“Or, right? Or…
‘We join Max’s team, okay, to take out Jackson - but we tell Jackson. We Crockett and Tubbs this thing for him, undercover - show him we’ve got his back and got what it takes! He may be an a-hole, but I don’t think anybody’s ever held the streets by bein’ nice, y’know?
“But either way, we can’t just walk away from this thing, can we? This is our shot!”
”I agree we can’t simply walk away.” Pinprick hiss of punctured tire. ”If Maxwell succeeds without us, he will likely punish us. If Maxwell fails, Jackson will likely learn we knew of his intentions and punish us. The truth will out.’
”Awesome, Mr. Armarius!” K nods and bobs his head as if in time to some unheard beat. ”Everybody’s been telling me you’re a Nosferatu, but you seem more like a Yes-feratu to me.” He looks to the others. ”I mean, he’s got a point, right?” And then, non-rhetorically: ”Right?”
"As I said, I could predict that this would be the preferred approach, and so shall it be.
Let's return and give the once and future Prince our response".
As you return to the theater proper, you see Maldavis having a conversation with Evelyn and her gang while Maxwell stands, arms crossed, awaiting your return.
"That was a quick conversation. I trust it was an easy one?"
"We are a shining example of Democracy and Efficiency Prince Maxwell.
We believe based upon your presentation versus the presentation of the current Prince, that the City of Chicago will be better for all under your vision of leadership than the Jackboots of Jackson".
Edwin pauses, wanting to say more but deciding to wait and see how Maxwell responds.
In agreement with the others, Calliope follows along back inside whilst a new wave of anxiety settled over her at their declaration of such a large decision.
The City of Chicago, but more importantly us. More chances for upward mobility with this lot. Jack thinks to himself. And there'd be chances to flex his muscles, oh yes indeed. Both metaphorically and quite literally. He grins grimly. Perhaps he'd get a chance to make Bret Stryker eat his words.
Maxwell's eyebrows raise, seemingly in surprise before settling into a satisfied smile.
"Good. Glad to have you on board. Your first 'mission' for the cause is to reach out to a few of the power players in Chicago I had previously mentioned...Critias, Khalid, etc. Edwin, if you wish to approach DuSable, feel free. I can and will reach out to Nicolai."
"To show you that I trust your collective judgement, if there are others you feel would be valuable to bring into the fold, please let me know."
"Are there any you believe would not have any interest in assisting in this endeavor?
What of the Lasombra? They are an unknown entity and i should think have no loyalty one way or another to any Prince".
"Beyond Kevin Jackson himself and those loyal to him, and the so called One Eyed King, no." Maxwell replies.
"I do not know what to think of this latest play by the Magisters, although long held biases are hard to break. I would avoid them for now if at all possible."
K stands with crossed arms and serious expression, nodding at the names Edwin and Maxwell discuss while looking back and forth between the two, his excitement betrayed by his jaw’s rapid gum-chewing.
”So, we work inside angles with the big C back in Chi-Town. Do we do any Anarch outreach as well, or is that Maldavis’s department?”
Calliope stands near Jack, sketchbook out again. A square, then a triangle, then another triangle, and another...all begin to appear rapidly on the page, the tips of the triangles never intersecting to create a swirling, infinite corridor on the page. Calliope taps her pencil sharply on the page a few times, baring her teeth at the center before snapping the book shut and stowing it away along with the pencil. She huffs quietly, shifting her weight from one foot to another. "Camarilla seems like plenty," She says, speaking up. "How do we discreetly make contact with you?"
"Burner phones, no?" Jack offers up. "Or are we going to be more traditional and use ghouls and hidden messages sent through animals?"
"In the short term, contact me through Maldavis. Once we have confirmed the allies I expect us to have, Critias will likely have a..." he says, glancing at the anarch Tremere, "...more established route of communication."
"Through ghouls would be acceptable as well."
Calliope turns her gaze to Maldavis, raising an eyebrow in inquiry. "And the best way to contact you would be?"
"I move around a lot." Maldavis admits. "Anita Wainright always knows where to find me though. You can find her at the Altgeld Gardens in Riverdale."
"So to contact Maxwell, we should talk to Maldavis, who can be found through Anita Wainright, who lives in Riverdale? Is that right? Very 1960's cold war cloak and dagger."
Edwin nods, his eyes a bit glassy as hunger, and a bit of fear, nips at the edge.
"Shall we be in touch whenever we have new information, or do we need to set up a schedule?"
"A bit cloak and dagger is warranted here, Jack." Maxwell says.
Turning his attention to Calliope's question, the elder Brujah responds, "Let's say weekly, unless there is something of particular note or requiring more immediate attention. I leave it to you to set that with Anita."
"Well, unless there's anything else..." Calliope trails off, eyebrows raised, and glances at her coterie. Time to go.
”I love this plan. I’m excited to be a part of it!” K gives a loud, decisive clap of his hands. ”Let’s do it!” With a wave to Maxwell and his entourage K turns and begins to usher his mates towards the exit.
Edwin nods and says nothing further.
Maxwell nods, effectively dismissing you from the meeting and the coterie exits the theater and heads back towards the van.