Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
"Perhaps it is best we go to Bion with Kestral as to not lose him. Especially if a few of us believe they saw us." I would rather hunt them on our terms."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
Geoffroi nods
“We have no idea of what strength they retreat towards. I say we head away. We can hopefully recover the Baali later unless we can grab him quickly now. Lord Kestral will need to be put in a safe place ere we are ready for combat.”
He looks at the place the retreating men went
Possibly useful rolls
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
Lorenzo nods in agreement with both. "A wise course of action."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
The group begins to withdraw the way they came, with Alessandro and Xing following from above.
The echoes of clinking armor confound Geoffroi a bit as it's not clear where exactly it is coming from or how many there are!
As the Coterie heads away from the docks, the last glimpse the elevated Alessandro sees are the Knights coming together in a three way pincer! Perhaps 20 all armed and armored...
It seems the strategic retreat was wise indeed.
The Coterie after that close call, return to an area that Onfroi identifies as leading to Bion's lair, but a separate entrance from the last, "I'd rather use multiple entrances than the same one each time". is the Nosferatu's only explanation. With powers of obfuscation and magic hiding the Coterie, the Mortals of Venice disturb them not on this long walk away from the warehouse.
The Nosferatu leads the group through several dry and damp tunnels until he arrives at a grate. He pulls the heavy grate down with ease. After all climb through, he lifts from the other side and pulls it back into place.
Only a few moments later you all realize you are in the lair of Bion as his Zombie sentry stares at you all, dead eyes vacant. Onfroi drops his cloak and the Zombie leads you all back to the damp soaked library of the Cappadocian Elder and Interim Prince of Venice.
Onfroi lays down Lord Kestral at Bion's feet. The elder Cappadocian's dead skin glistens as he shifts in his skull throne, "Is this the one that betrayed us to the Inquisition?!"
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
Int + Politics
The mood of the mortal population in regard to the church, specifically the people and physical structures in Venice
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
"No, Lord Bion. The betrayer is called Sir Dunstan and is of Clan Brujah, this is Lord Kestral, a Lasombra elder of Rome. We found his form staked as you see now and trapped within the tentacles of some unknown horror within the haven of the one calling itself Talisman." Lorenzo says. "As to the identity of the other staked Cainite, I leave that to one of the others."
Shadow
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
Ranerius mutters a thanks to their nosferatu ally.
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
"Interesting.
I have heard tales of this Elder. One of the few Lasombra still loyal to the remnants of the Eternal Senate, or perhaps he is a member by now. Most of our kind become rather cowardly, myself included, as we age. The longer one lingers, the less likely we are to act directly lest we fall to the Final Death as have so many of our peers over the ages.
Fascinating that he would have come here in the flesh and taken such a grave risk unless he believed there was little to risk in so doing.
Who is this other that is staked? I see him not?"
Andrew clears his throat and speaks, "It's ah.. a member o' tha' Baali clan. We tried ta' retrieve it's torso a'fore tha' Inquisition caught up ta' us on tha' street. Discretion, we retreated rather 'an risk trappin' errselves in a flamable buildin'.
T'was tha' right call o' Querini, they had tha' numbers on us.
This Baali was captured by these Hunters an used fer blood by a ghoul tha' has since been embraced an' departed tha' city. No sure if'n we shoulda already left him in tha' sun as ah heard tales o' their evils. But Geoffroi an' ah figured we should speak wit' it first, jus' we keep no gettin' tha' chance to!"
Bion's eyes go wide, "The Baali, the true Baali are dangerous. They trek with creatures that are beyond this world or the world of the dead. It is not entirely clear to me what such beings truly are but that they exist is clear, the powers of the Moon Beasts attest to that.
I agree that the Baali should be questioned before we destroy it. Whether it is worth fighting the Mortal forces arrayed before us to retrieve its staked form is another question.
But to the matter at hand, you have brought me this Lord Kestral staked, is this because you believe that he is not trustworthy or because one of you wishes to claim his blood?"
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Something inside Alessandro tingles, something he was not aware had existed, lurking ever so secretly.
What... what does... what would that mean to claim his blood? And, is he implicated in crimes against Prince Narses or our kind?
Apologies, Lord Bion. For my ignorance and impetuousness.
I am Alessandro Khadaji, Childe of Alyssa Fitz Gilbert. Childe of Vander Fitz Gilbert. Childe of Raoul Snake-Eyes. Childe of Medon. Childe of Ventru. Alessandro tries to straighten up and make a good showing of himself.
My interest is as representative of Mithras and Justicar in Venice.
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
"I wish no claim to this one's blood. I suspect it is tainted as well, given there was some sort of symbiotic feeding arrangement between Lord Kestral and the...thing that the he was trapped within." Lorenzo plainly states.
"We felt it best that we bring one as potentially powerful as Kestral before you, Lord Bion, as the domain of Venice is yours as long as you see fit and did not imagine that you would care for yet another of the Clan of Shadows loose in your domain without your say."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Bion nods at Lorenzo's explanation, "Yes, especially one as treacherous as this one can be. He is no ally of mine and was likely here as part of the fragile coalition that Narses was trying to formulate. I have great doubts he would stay present and aid us in our fight to preserve the city".
He shrugs at Alessandro's suggestion, "To claim his Blood is to commit Amaranth upon him young Alessandro. To consume the soul of another has... repercussions. If you were to do so, it would strengthen this coterie, which does have a vested interest in staying and fighting to preserve this city. But, his lack of desire to aid us is no rationale for him to be subject to the Final Death".
Onfroi speaks, "If I am not mistaken, he is guilty of a crime against the Dream of Constantinople. He was one of the architects of the destruction of that Court. Narses admitted to that in his own Court several days ago. I suspect that is why Talisman captured him and began experimenting with him, that and I suppose the fact that Talisman could do so was sufficient reason. The weak suffer the degradations foisted upon them by the strong".
Bion frowns, "The city of Constantinople once belonged to my own Sire before his disappearance many centuries ago. In fact, it was through my Sire's influence that I was able to claim this fiefdom as my own. And so Narses, with the aid of that Dream Court was sent here to usurp me. Instead of fighting the inevitable, I bargained, and so here we are.
No doubt the Eternal Senate sought the death of Beshter and his Lovers due to his abandonment of their own decadent and decaying power as that Empire waned a millennia ago, thus the role of Kestral in that drama.
That is certainly a serious crime indeed.
Still, it is not a crime against this city or my Court, temporary in nature as it may be.
I give you leave Alessandro Khadaji to either set this one free or to pass judgment upon him, so long as neither is done in front of my own eyes".
Bion looks around the room, "To other more urgent matters. If the Inquisition is out on the streets in great numbers hunting our kind, they are either reckless or have indeed found a way to make themselves more resistant to our powers.
I have yet to hear from the Triad of Lasombra who govern this city. Perhaps each is hoping the other will exhaust themselves against the Mortals and eliminate themselves. It is not clear to me whether they are gathering their forces or playing politics in the face of war".
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Alessandro leans into Xing, whispering. Please... share the tale of those who hunt you, even now. We may have no better allies than these before us.
I promised I would find a way to help you, this may be it.
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
"Lord Bion, based on my mortal life and living in the city for all of it I have been pondering the mood of the mortals and wanted to share my thoughts if I may. The Doge is certainly opposed to the Church at this time, the Church has called back any Priests or Bishops still loyal to the Holy See OUT of Venice. The populace is not thrilled with the Church either, but their level of vitriol is not as high as there are clearly many who blame the Doge based upon the attempted coup. However, most of those ardent dissenting voices have fled, been imprisoned, or killed.
We may be able to use this to our advantage to hinder these hunters if we turn the populace against them. Does anyone agree?"
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
At the talk of feasting upon the soul of Kestral he reveals his surprise. Inwardly he feels disgust, interest, and alarm. Then dry humor.
"I had hoped he might be offered up for a boon, Lord Bion, as you made him bend the knee. His knowledge might be of use. His blood has been experimented upon. Retrieving him may have made an enemy of Talisman. I thank you for at least hearing us out regards to him."
He looks to Alessandro, "WHen you choose to decide, may I have your ear for a bit? It will wait."
"Lord Bion, based on my mortal life and living in the city for all of it I have been pondering the mood of the mortals and wanted to share my thoughts if I may. The Doge is certainly opposed to the Church at this time, the Church has called back any Priests or Bishops still loyal to the Holy See OUT of Venice. The populace is not thrilled with the Church either, but their level of vitriol is not as high as there are clearly many who blame the Doge based upon the attempted coup. However, most of those ardent dissenting voices have fled, been imprisoned, or killed.
We may be able to use this to our advantage to hinder these hunters if we turn the populace against them. Does anyone agree?"
Ranerius nods "Ultimately, the mob has great power, if we can redirect their passions, it could do much."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Alessandro considered Michele's words as he himself whispered to Xing. Then he turned to Ranerius. Yes, of course. We must work together.
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
"Thank you, Signore Alessandro."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Geoffroi stands back, letting the others speak. The temporary prince Bion's discussion of hiding and biding his time strikes a chord in him. It would be easy to pick a side and wade into battle, but to what end? He can barely comprehend the factions in this fight, more convoluted than the Byzantine court.
Bion looks around the room, "To other more urgent matters. If the Inquisition is out on the streets in great numbers hunting our kind, they are either reckless or have indeed found a way to make themselves more resistant to our powers.
I have yet to hear from the Triad of Lasombra who govern this city. Perhaps each is hoping the other will exhaust themselves against the Mortals and eliminate themselves. It is not clear to me whether they are gathering their forces or playing politics in the face of war".
Geoffroi seizes on this as a task he can do without complicating his allegiances
"My prince, no matter who guides the Inquisition, they are a formidable imminent threat. And they have knowledge that imperils us all. I am a newcomer to this world, but I was a warrior my entire mortal life. My counsel is to deal with the Inquisition first and foremost before they uncover more of our brethren. Once their threat is neutralized we can move on to other matters"
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Before anyone can move forward with a final decision on how to deal with the imminent threat of the Inquisition, Xing speaks. "Prince. Lord. I am not sure how to address you. Regardless, you appear to be a figure of authority that my peers defer to and so shall I place in your hands, the knowledge that I have which in my hands, feels like a plot too large for my own skills and knowledge to address.
If the ancient myths are to be believed, the first among us was Caine, thus why we are named Cainites. For an eon he wandered in isolation until he sought the company of Mortals once more. During the time of his return one Mortal begged to be made in Caine's image. His name was Enoch, the namesake of the first Vampiric "City".
After Enoch Caine begat two further Childer, Irad and Zillah. And as is the wont of humankind, they too sought to create their own Progeny. These thirteen are known to us now as the Antedeluvians, the namesake of the Clans who wander Earth to this day.
Caine forbade the creation of more of our kind and for a time so it was. Then came the flood the Deluge which wiped out Enoch and many Mortals with it. After the Deluge when the waters receded, the Thirteen sought out Caine for leave to begat their own Children for their own three refused to allow them to Sire as their Father Caine had forbade it.
Caine sent them away and in their rage and arrogance, they slew the three and raised their own city, the "Second City". In that metropolis the Thirteen ruled as Blood Gods and begat the first of the Methuselahs, the Fourth Generation of Cainites.
Unfortunately, for the Thirteen, Caine returned and cursed them with the weaknesses that plague the Clans to this day, passed on through blood. Whether this is the order of things or whether Caine cursed the Thirteen before the Embrace of their first Childer is debated among the few scholars who care.
This is what most of our kind believe. But like all things with our kind this is a lie or at least is not the entire truth.
The first of all of the Thirteen was the Cainite we now know as Ventrue or Ventru. The Ventrue are the Rulership or the Kingship Clan. The Eldest Brother among our kind.
The Legends surrounding him are shrouded in propaganda which has obfuscated what was his true intent, to be his Brothers, and Sisters, Keepers. Perhaps only Saulot among the Thirteen was more concerned about the welfare of his fellow Cainites.
Because of this, once the Thirteen began to create Progeny of their own, Ventrue knew that he could no longer care for the growing number of Cainites that would walk the earth. So he decided to create Progeny who be the Keepers of the Bloodlines of his Brethren.
Though the last to Embrace among the Thirteen his Brood grew to be the largest for Ventrue believed that it would require Thirteen of his own Progeny to look after the Thirteen lines of the Antediluvians. To be his Nephews and Nieces "Keepers".
The first Embraced according to the Ventrue was Orthia. Orthia was to be the "Keeper" of the Ventrue line. However, her appetite for war prevented her from fully taking this role as she simply did not have the temperament for it and she instead became the Keeper of Clan Brujah.
Thus, did Ventrue begin his search for the next in line and found him in Arakur of Ur. Arakur was now to become the Keeper of the Ventrue Clan. As the ruler of Ur, it seemed that he took to his role well enough and so Ventrue moved on to find other worthy candidates for the Embrace.
Arakur's power and prestige though, got the better of him. He openly declared himself a Blood God of old and ruled openly as Vampire. He took to Embracing his Mortal Brides and feeding only on their blood. The last Bride he took was a woman, Lantla, a Human Sorceress.
Arakur was enamored of such a powerful Mortal and so he told her the history of our kind, whereas those before her were pretty playthings, such that it was at that time. Of Caine and the Three, and the Thirteen and Enoch and the Deluge and the aftermath.
Arakur was an excellent Administrator and Negotiator. He was also a Coward, a rare trait among the Ventrue. His greatest rival, Urlon of Uruk, attacked the city with overwhelming forces, instead of defending his Empire, Arakur began a Blood Orgy destroying his Childer in one last debauch revel.
Lantla though refused to give up and used her powers to summon... something from another world. With the aid of the magic of He Who Shall Not Be Named Lantla forged a sword which would strike Mortal wounds to Immortal beings.
By the time Urlon arrived to slay Arakur he found his rival dead, already Diablerized by Lantla. Urlon was destroyed next. Thereafter, Lantla, possessed by He Who Shall Not Be Named, slaughtered all who remained in Ur. Even those she had sworn to save.
From the mind of this creature, Lantla learned things, ancient secrets, secrets that even her Sire had not known. The story that Ventrue told him, had been a lie..."
She pauses, "Do you still wish for me to continue?"
Bion appears intrigued, "Indeed. This is quite the tale and I wonder how it is relevant to us right now. However, I shall indeed let you continue.
Know this, only one member of my Clan is so old to know of such matters. His name, Japheth. My own Sire was born a generation after the fall of the so called, Second City of the Book of Nod".
Xing bows and continues, "The story skips from there by millennia.
My Grandsire and his coterie, Fahdi, Vander, Radek, and Uriel woke Lantla from her slumber accidentally. She was not pleased to find out that she had been asleep since the Fall of Rome when her Brethren within Clan Ventrue had her interred in the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire.
She forced the coterie to accompany her east. As they were headed in that direction, it appeared wise to simply go along with her. As the group arrived in time to campaign with the soldiers of the First Crusade, she parted from them under two conditions:
The first, that they create Childer that she may have a Herd to feed upon in her journey to the East and Second that they tell no one that she had been awoken.
Alejandro conjectured that in the earlier age she did not seek the truths whispered to her because someone or something more powerful convinced her to do otherwise. She did mention that she became the Keeper of the Ventrue in her Sire's place. Thus, Alejandro speculated that Ventru himself interceded.
Then, upon awakening, unfettered by Ventru, she decided to seek the truth of those ancient whispers.
Alejandro, and his coterie members, indeed remained silent as to the matter. However, as Constantinople fell to the bitter crusade, documents were rescued from the Library of the Forgotten by a Lasombra named Kratos. Those ancient scrolls hinted at some of these truths.
Kratos began to attempt to warn some western Princes of these tales. Though as they refute or are at least not mentioned by the Book of Nod, he was seen as a fool or touched like a Malkavian. However, these whispered tales moved east and Lantla, known by the Romans as Tiamat, sent an agent back to silence Kratos.
That agent, was my Sire, the Man with No Name. Accompanying him was an ancient Childe of Lantla, a Masquerader, Gottsdam.
Before Kratos could be silenced, his scrolls fell into possession of a Ghoul coveted by Prince Narses himself, a Bagrat. I believe that Alejandro acquired the scrolls from Bagrat, who has since vanished from the city.
The Man with No Name was, I believe, recalled by Lantla. Gottsdam remained behind in the form of his Masquerader. But the ancient lost control of the Masquerader and I was forced to slay the human as his mind was unhinged. I was instructed to ensure that Alejandro indeed destroyed the scrolls. As of yet... I have not.
I fear that once I tie up these loose ends, my own existence is forfeit as I too have learned the terrible secret that Lantla sought in the east. The 13 were not the only Cainites begat by Caine's childer. There are others, perhaps as many as 13 other beings we know as Antediluvians".
Onfroi coughs and speaks, "A strange coincidence then that three of the members of your Sires brood were here at the time of this Conclave. Fahdi who brought a blood hunt upon his head from Prince Narses, Radek the Tremere who was voted in as the Inner Circle of Clan Tremere, and Alejandro a childe to Prince Narses and now one of the three Lasombra who control the city. I am not familiar with a Uriel or a Vander though".
Andrew's eyes go wide, "Ah jus' realized wherein ah' heard o' tha' name o' Uriel! Accordin' ta' mah Sire, Uriel was tha' Sire of Saint Sebastian. Tha' Cainite who commited amaranth upon Michael 'n Gesu. The ancient we know o' as Talisman..."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
"Thirteen additional Antediluvians?" Lorenzo asks almost incredulously. "One would assume that these thirteen begat clans of their own?"
Turning to Lord Bion, Lorenzo offers, "Though I hold my Sire, Lord Benne in less than high esteem at the moment, I do know that he is indeed in contact with his Sire, Japheth Cappadocius. To substantiate any of this it may well be worthwhile to contact Benne so that we may have a chance to hear from Japheth on this matter."
Upon Andrew's revelation, Lorenzo lets out an exasperated groan. "Why must it all come back to this damne Talisman!"
Geoffroi minds whirls with the information. Millennia of intrigue, blood, and power.
“These scrolls that this ghoul brought to the former prince. Can they be recovered?”
Ranerius is still processing all of this, "This is a .. lot to savor and mull over."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Xing shrugs at Geoffroi's question, "That is a question for Alejandro to answer".
Lord Bion's eyebrows raise at Lorenzo's statement, "Do you blame your Sire young Doctor Cappelli for the problems of this city?" He pauses, "If there are thirteen more Antediluvians I have not met any of their ilk. Unless bloodlines descend from them and we have only ever encountered weakened versions of their kind in the west".
Onfroi speaks, "In the Outremer, there was talk among the Toreador of powerful Assamites and Ravnos from farther east. Also talk of a bloodline known to me as the Laibon, I believe they were called. Perhaps one of these new thirteen".
Andrew lets out a sigh, "Ah know, tha' Talisman is ah bit o' eh enigma wrapped inna mystery".
Lydia groans, "There's not much to be done about boogeyman ancient bloodsuckers, we need to do something about and there's already enough to worry about flesh and blood men seeking to put us to fire and sword I say".
Geoffroi looks pensive
“These scrolls you speak of Xing. The ones brought from the Library of the Forgotten in Constantinople by this Kratos, and then passed to a ghoul Bagrat and then this Alejandro. Could you expound upon them? And who these players are and how they are connected?”
Geoffroi casts through his memory palace for any reference to the Library of the Forgotten
Maybe relevant rolls
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
"Well I can not ask my sire also but there is one from my clan who may still be in the city that may know of some of this as he is old from my understanding. I just do not know how to contact him. I speak of K'haytall."
Alessandro turns to Xing, as if all the others' talk was background noise. What do you mean your... existence is forfeit?
To the others, Vander is Ventrue, sired by Raoul Snake-Eyes. Whom he betrayed if I recall... to stand with Mithras.
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
"No, Lord Bion, I do not blame Lord Benne for all of the problems of this city, although I suspect he has been the cause of at least some of them...none of our kind are innocent of that. My issues with Lord Benne are of a more personal nature."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Try as he may, Geoffroi cannot think of any reference to any such Library.
Xing shakes her head, "The languages in which they are written I could not read so even though they were briefly in my possession, I could discern nothing from them. Some appeared to be names. Odd names, ones I had never heard before.
The ones that stood out to me were, Meneleus, Petaniqua, Thraldus, Boukephos, Beshter, and Saulot".
Xing nods to Alessandro, "I believe I was chosen for this task as I was expendable so I see no reason why my Sire should wish for me t continue to exist. It is somewhat common practice to slay the slayer".
Lord Bion's eyes go wide, "Thraldus? He was one of my brood, Sired by my own Sire. I believe that he met the Final Death after the march of Alexander but before the rise of the Roman Republic. These scrolls indeed reference events prior to the rise of the Romans".
Lydia sighs, "Again, we speak of events that took place more than 1,000 years ago. What has this to do with us now?"
Xing retorts, "You all now know what I know, something that these Cainites wanted to be kept secret and killed Kratos right under Narses nose to keep secret. If any of their agents are here, they may now want you all to suffer the Final Death as well".
Lydia shots back, "How do you know this Kratos is dead? Lord Kestral went missing and he has turned up..."
Andrew coughs, "We all know who Saulot is". Andrew chuckles, "You said it ta' tha' right Lorenzo, Talisman is everywhere all at once. If'n this is tha' same Beshter".
Onfroi speaks, "We know that K'haytall is allied with Valdemar the Seneschal, it should not be too hard to find them. Assuming they want to be found.
So then this Vander is still in the west in London?"
"Personal in what way young Lorenzo?" asks Lord Bion.
[dice=Intelligence + Occult, Mithras]3d10+1d10
[dice=Intelligence + Occult, Hardestadt]3d10+1d10
[dice=Intelligence + Occult, Vander]3d10+1d10
[dice=Intelligence + Occult, Alexander]3d10+1d10
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
Ranerius wonders what personal matter exists between Doctor Lorenzo and Lord Benne as well. Both gentlemen have his respect, though he is unsure if that respect is returned. Still, by definition, a personal matter is just that. Personal.
"So we form the Camarilla and learn that there are far more bloodlines and even clans that we expected. Maybe were not as universal as we hoped to be." A sigh and chuckle "When this began I was so eager to find a roof for all Cainites to share, metaphorically speaking. Now it seems some of us would rather burn the house down than have others live in it."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
Michele looks to Onfroi, “Maybe we should try him then. I am sure he will have some knowledge that may add to this but I am not certain what the price will be for him to share it. We should consider it though. .
Looking towards the group at large, “ None of those names are familiar to me and my sire has never mentioned them. Do we have a way to bind Talisman and wake him to ask him questions? Not knowing if he will share or how we can force him to. “
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
Bion's Lair –
Addressing Lord Bion's question, Lorenzo replies, "The matter in which I have been brought into this existence, only for Lydia and I to be discarded so easily when the hunters arrived at the mausoleum. Even as young as I am in this existence, Lydia and I were able to put up a decent fight against their numbers, surely had one as powerful as Benne not been a coward and stayed we very well could have fought them off."
Lorenzo nods in agreement with Lydia's assessment. "Indeed the hunters are certainly a more immediate and pressing matter, but these ancients, as you call them, should not be ignored - particularly if there is a relation to Venice's current situation."
"As to the names you mention, Xing, I have heard of many of them, particularly as it pertains to that part of world. There are certainly connections to recent nights there. Meneleus is the Sire of Lord Critias, Boukephos is the Sire of the late Prince Narses, and of course Beshter is one of the aliases of the Talisman - the one it gave Katrina Volkov at that. I am not sure how the mother of Alexander the Great, Petaniqua, figures into any of this."
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Alessandro seems uncomfortable with a thought tugging at his periphery.
Could Ma-Ri and this Lantla be one in the same, in a manner of speaking? Perhaps that is how Talisman is involved. A dark eternal love story. Quite romantic, actually.
Was Ma-Ri's tale inclusive of Vander and his contemporaries?
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Alessandro seems uncomfortable with a thought tugging at his periphery.
Could Ma-Ri and this Lantla be one in the same, in a manner of speaking? Perhaps that is how Talisman is involved. A dark eternal love story. Quite romantic, actually.
Was Ma-Ri's tale inclusive of Vander and his contemporaries?
Xing responds, "This is a thing that Alejandro may know, Alejandro may still also have those scrolls. If he is also a Cainite who is sworn to defend this city, we should seek him out this night".
Lydia sighs, "I know of the one named Petaniqua. Whoever drafted these scrolls must have done so in a more recent time period as her name was Olympias in her Mortal life.
She has had some interactions with the progenitor of my own Bloodline. Her Embrace took place right around the moment her son began his rise to infamy. If the name of Beshter was used on purpose instead of by accident, that would place the events of this document sometime between the rise of Alexander and the Fall of the Roman western empire as I believe it was discussed at Conclave that Beshter assumed the name Michael when he and his lovers assumed leadership of the Eastern Roman empire known as Byzantium".
Onfroi snorts, "We are distracted by ancient scrolls taking our eye off of the matter at hand. We have gathered our forces. Khay'tall is aligned with Valdemar, Alejandro perhaps has some answers we need, I know little of Magdalena, regardless, let us discover what these Lasombra intend to do to save this city and at that same time, we can discover if these scrolls and stories in them are real or just more tall tales that the Methuselahs used to scare the Elders. If they are not interested in fighting this Mortal threat, we shall do so ourselves".
Geoffroi nods. Although he is intensely interested in the scrolls, he is a practical man
“I agree with Brother Onfroi. These scrolls and whatever information they carry are no use to us if we are …. Erm …. Truly dead.”
He subconsciously lays a hand on his sword’s hilt
“Let us rally our allies and deal with this threat. For I am certain our enemies do the same at this moment “
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Lord Bion nods, "Very well then.
I believe that the best course of action is for you all to head to the Haven of the Toreador who refers to herself as the Artiste. From there, Signore' Querini can summon the Lasombra and ascertain their plans to deal with the Mortal Hunters.
Leave the Elder Kestral here, as we know not of his loyalties it is far too dangerous to allow him free reign. That is unless you wish to take him with you Signore' Khadaji?
If their plans are not forthcoming, then we have our answer. Regardless of their answers, return to me tomorrow with a battle plan. I am no war strategist, but I can aid from the shadows by raising their dead against them! A trick that the Mortals almost always find disconcerting if not panic inducing".
Andrew shakes his head, "Ah'm afraid tha' Giovanni already used this trick against tha' Knights so it ain'tta' phase them, but exra bodies against them could make tha' difference o tha' field o' battle".
Xing shrugs.
Lydia remains silent.
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair -
Alessandro is honored his opinion is taken into consideration, It's not something I would consider lightly and Ranerius wishes a word.
But, it is a sacrifice I am willing to make for Venice. And, unless we put a stop to current machinations more than the mortal city of Venice is in jeopardy.
Allow me to talk with Ranerius and we can decide. He turns to the Toreador.
Venice by Night - Friday - April 4, 1309
The Streets of Venice to Bion's Lair - (NPCs) Lydia, Onfroi, Xing Shi & Andrew the Hardy
Ranerius inclines his head towards Alessandro, "Of course, if you would follow me for a moment? so we might converse?" It's clear he did not intend for this to be a public discussion in the open