VtM Part Two - The Owl's Debt

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

'Wherever you wish, my dear. I do not know these lands.'

"Alright, well we'll have to get a tram to head to the Seat of Golden Tears..."

She looks around.

"Ah! There's the sign, alright come on follow me..."

She leads him out of the train station, up a flight of cobbled stairs that give off a strange smoke when stepped on and out into the city.

The amount of people is hard to take in. Certainly millions on this one large street alone.

She turns off to the right, they walk through a side street with a strange architecture. Wood houses and saunas in the open. Meaty meals with thick sauces being served in the street. One language adorns the shop windows.

"A cultured street, the place where one ethnic group gather, don't know who, but here is the tram..."

At the end of the street, next to a café serving a variety of coffees, the tram sits out on the street, no tracks.

Lysander's companion jumps on.

"Come on..." she shouts.

Necro

Lysander heads towards the tram and steps on board.

Fourier

The tram is quite empty, as Lysander steps on through the door facing him, he sees his companion step out the door opposite, at their destination.

They seem to be on an island, a few miles from Stygia itself.

The only thing here is a strange building with a transparent front, fatter at the top than the bottom. Inside people walk around on the walls and ceilings. In essence like watching a maze that was lifted and put on its side.

"Well, there is the Seat of Golden Tears, home of the Begger Lord"

OOC: Lysander knows the name from his training with Catalda. The Begger Lord is the ruler of all the dead who either don't know how they died or had a complex death that doesn't fit under other types

Necro

'Interesting place. I wonder does he take audiences. One way to find out I suppose.'

Lysander follows his companion off the tram and makes for the building.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

'Interesting place. I wonder does he take audiences. One way to find out I suppose.'

Lysander follows his companion off the tram and makes for the building.

As he approaches the door, Lysander senses many of the dead within the building had vampiric deaths.

He's not sure how he knows this, but his Vitae tells him it is so. This place has a large well of souls to draw on, he can feel his Vitae tugging on them, almost as if he could command them. The dead can walk the world of the living, anyone of this kind could be a silent observer, a unique spy. His beast whispers these possibilities to him.

Standing before the door, he feels a strong mental presence. It doesn't speak in words, but it is saying he doesn't belong.

Necro

Lysander pushes on through the door. The power within is too tempting to ignore.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander pushes on through the door. The power within is too tempting to ignore.

He pushes open the door and as he does all those in the corridor he enters turn to look at him.

The doors to other rooms lie up high on the walls. Strangely some open when Lysander steps in, eight in total. Each revealing a room with a single person with bite marks on their neck.

Eight vampiric victims.

Then he nearly faints as a voice thunders in his head.

"NO!"

He is pushed into the air, off the island, far into the sky. He flies miles above Stygia, hits the black sky and punctures through it into the Tempest.

Lethal to a ghost, the Tempest's 'lost memories' do no damage to Lysander as he flies up through them, eventually hitting a hard concrete barrier.

The force pushing him pushes even harder until he eventually smashes through and up through the floor of the LAX international airport. The hole seals back up with concrete and the force lets go, dropping him on the airport floor.

As he looks up, he sees that three of the souls have been sent with him. Not purposefully, they seem attached to him now by some sort of red ribbon.

Then colour pours back into the world, he shifts back to the land of the living. The hustle and bustle of the airport at night filling his ears.

He is left with the understanding, he doesn't know how, that he will not cross the Tempest again or be destroyed if he tries. However, he has his three new friends.

Necro

Lysander looks around him to see if anyone has noticed his sudden reappearance.

If not, he dusts himself down and reaches out to his three new companions.

'Who are you?'

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander looks around him to see if anyone has noticed his sudden reappearance.

If not, he dusts himself down and reaches out to his three new companions.

'Who are you?'

OOC: Rouse check

Fourier

Lysander reaches out into the Land of the Dead with his mind, carefully burning his Vitae to provide the magic necessary to break the veil.

"Hello? Lysander right?" a voice responds. American. African-American.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

Lysander reaches out into the Land of the Dead with his mind, carefully burning his Vitae to provide the magic necessary to break the veil.

"Hello? Lysander right?" a voice responds. American. African-American.

'Hello... friend I think? What is your name?'

Fourier

"Sarah...so you are related to my death some how. Here in LA. How did we get sent back here?"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"Sarah...so you are related to my death some how. Here in LA. How did we get sent back here?"

'Truthfully, I do not know. I entered the palace housing the Seat of Golden Tears, and was suddenly thrust back from the afterlife.

May I ask... how did you die... and do you know the identity of your killer?'

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

'Truthfully, I do not know. I entered the palace housing the Seat of Golden Tears, and was suddenly thrust back from the afterlife.

May I ask... how did you die... and do you know the identity of your killer?'

"Went to a party sixty years ago. When I woke up some massive guy in a reaper outfit was cutting me out of a cocoon on the other side. I just had bite marks on my neck"

OOC: The dead always arrive in a cocoon. Reapers are souls whose job it is to cut open the cocoon

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"Went to a party sixty years ago. When I woke up some massive guy in a reaper outfit was cutting me out of a cocoon on the other side. I just had bite marks on my neck"

OOC: The dead always arrive in a cocoon. Reapers are souls whose job it is to cut open the cocoon

'Interesting. We should explore this later. For now though...'

Lysander makes for his car and leaves the airport. He calls Cock Robin.

'Where is this meeting and has it started yet? I am back, and on my way.'

Fourier

"Starting in an hour kid, but...you've been gone for a day, I tried to ring, where were you?"

Necro

Fourier wrote:

"Starting in an hour kid, but...you've been gone for a day, I tried to ring, where were you?"

'Travelled as far as Stygia. Long story, will explain later. I'm on my way.'

Lysander pulls out from the airport and makes towards the meeting location.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

'Travelled as far as Stygia. Long story, will explain later. I'm on my way.'

Lysander pulls out from the airport and makes towards the meeting location.

Lysander heads to Santa Monica, driving past the pier and looking out toward the beach.



He then turns off onto a parking lot near the beach, just in front of the asylum club.



The place is famous. It and Chicago's Succubus club are the premier Kindred night clubs. The Succubus is still an exclusive single joint, but the Asylum has spread into a franchise across America and Europe. However this is the original.

The meeting is beginning as Lysander sees Louis Fortier pull up and give him a salute through his Limosine window.

Necro

Lysander steps out of his car and returns the salute from Louis with a wave. He makes for the door of the club and waits for Louis to catch up with him.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander steps out of his car and returns the salute from Louis with a wave. He makes for the door of the club and waits for Louis to catch up with him.

A gangrel, who has used his Vitae to pump up his muscles, mans the door. The thick red veins of the Potency discipline obvious, even from a distance.

"Who are you the bouncer asks"

Louis catches up.

"Want to use my clout or your own, don't want to step on your toes my friend...if I'm right about the meeting I need to start taking you more seriously"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

A gangrel, who has used his Vitae to pump up his muscles, mans the door. The thick red veins of the Potency discipline obvious, even from a distance.

"Who are you the bouncer asks"

Louis catches up.

"Want to use my clout or your own, don't want to step on your toes my friend...if I'm right about the meeting I need to start taking you more seriously"

Vrakrash smiles.

'Perhaps, but nothing is certain right now, aside from your own standing. Might be best for you to deal with this, the bouncer will learn his place in time.'

Fourier

"This is Lysander Karpov, a valued Ventrue vassal, let him in"

The bouncer looks embaraased.

"Of course, sorry Primogen Fortier"

"Quite alright my boy"

As they enter the music is pumping. Louis shouts.

"Still the most popular Kindred nightclub in LA, though the second Asylum in Hollywood is pretty well attended these days"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"This is Lysander Karpov, a valued Ventrue vassal, let him in"

The bouncer looks embaraased.

"Of course, sorry Primogen Fortier"

"Quite alright my boy"

As they enter the music is pumping. Louis shouts.

"Still the most popular Kindred nightclub in LA, though the second Asylum in Hollywood is pretty well attended these days"

'Of course, but I tend to find - original means best. I am of the belief that maintaining originality is always tantamount. Change can sometimes not be a good thing. That applies to all aspects of life.'

He nods knowingly at Louis.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

'Of course, but I tend to find - original means best. I am of the belief that maintaining originality is always tantamount. Change can sometimes not be a good thing. That applies to all aspects of life.'

He nods knowingly at Louis.

"Hmmm, a man of sensitive aesthetics, You're sure you're not a Toreador or Ventrue?" he says with a smile.

He motions toward the bar.

"What can I get you? Lawyer? Judge? I assume legal blood given your background"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"Hmmm, a man of sensitive aesthetics, You're sure you're not a Toreador or Ventrue?" he says with a smile.

He motions toward the bar.

"What can I get you? Lawyer? Judge? I assume legal blood given your background"

Lysander nods.

'Lawyer sounds just about right for me, nothing to high above my current station.'

He follows Louis to the bar.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander nods.

'Lawyer sounds just about right for me, nothing to high above my current station.'

He follows Louis to the bar.

"Modesty, not a Toreador then" he laughs.

He orders a Laywer and Tech CEO.

Handing Lysander his drink, he speaks more quietly.

"They say our clans are twins. We are concerned with power for its social standing and prestige. You however are concerned with power for its own sake.

Your thoughts on these stereotypes?"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"Modesty, not a Toreador then" he laughs.

He orders a Laywer and Tech CEO.

Handing Lysander his drink, he speaks more quietly.

"They say our clans are twins. We are concerned with power for its social standing and prestige. You however are concerned with power for its own sake.

Your thoughts on these stereotypes?"

Lysander sips at his drink.

'Power for it's own sake is pointless. Why rise higher than you have allies to assist you retain your position?

Even early generations would not retain their domains for long without support from those around them.

Exactly why I left my own kin, and joined the Camarilla. Most of my own kind do not see the flaws in rising the ranks without any allies.

As for your own clan.. I do feel our interests align much more solidly with my beliefs.

So... I suppose - the stereotypes would be true - but much more dependant on the character of the Kindred, rather than their actual clan.'

He sips again.

'If that makes sense. I can be long winded, some say over dramatic at times.'

Fourier

"Not at all" Louis says musing.

"I hope you see me as an ally in the nights to come Lysander. It will benefit us both"

A man dressed in bizarre polka dot clothing walks over, wearing a top hat and carrying a cane. Louis rolls his eyes. From the smell of his blood Lysander can tell he is a ghoul.

"Meeting soon, Kaloo Kalay! When you are ready simply follow this way!"

He gestures to the elevator next to the bar.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"Not at all" Louis says musing.

"I hope you see me as an ally in the nights to come Lysander. It will benefit us both"

A man dressed in bizarre polka dot clothing walks over, wearing a top hat and carrying a cane. Louis rolls his eyes. From the smell of his blood Lysander can tell he is a ghoul.

"Meeting soon, Kaloo Kalay! When you are ready simply follow this way!"

He gestures to the elevator next to the bar.

'And you, I - Louis. I feel it could be mutually beneficial.'

He drains his drink.

'Shall we?'

He rises and waits for Louis before following him towards the elevator.

Fourier

Louis stands with him and they head to the lift. Louis is about to press the button when the ghoul turns.

"Don't won't do, you can't press the button, the Mistress said it must be the glutton"

Louis looks sharply at Lysander.

"That's quite a strong accusation ghoul. I would kill you on the spot, but I defer to Mr Karpov"

OOC: Glutton is local slang for a Kindred who kills his victims in a Masquerade threatening way

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

Louis stands with him and they head to the lift. Louis is about to press the button when the ghoul turns.

"Don't won't do, you can't press the button, the Mistress said it must be the glutton"

Louis looks sharply at Lysander.

"That's quite a strong accusation ghoul. I would kill you on the spot, but I defer to Mr Karpov"

OOC: Glutton is local slang for a Kindred who kills his victims in a Masquerade threatening way

Lysander regards the ghoul with a cold stare.

'Accusations like that could start wars. I can only assume no offence was intended, ghoul. I will allow it to pass due to the circumstances surrounding tonight.'

He presses the button.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander regards the ghoul with a cold stare.

'Accusations like that could start wars. I can only assume no offence was intended, ghoul. I will allow it to pass due to the circumstances surrounding tonight.'

He presses the button.

"It was of the Necromancers' mansion I spake, word among the Kindred is there your thirst you most foully did slake"

Louis grabs him by the throat.

"I know you are Voerman's ghoul, but shut it with the rhymes or I will break your neck"

The ghoul goes silent, but with a smile.

The lift opens and they step in.

A short trip up on floor and the doors open. They walk out into a hall with poorly painted red walls and a single small desk.

Sitting on the only chair is Maximillian Strauss, the Tremére Primogen.

"Mr Karpov, I hope you know that Mr Carson was actually quite helpful to me. Saved me some embarrassment with a reporter. Hard to think he went so wrong"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

Sitting on the only chair is Maximillian Strauss, the Tremére Primogen.

"Mr Karpov, I hope you know that Mr Carson was actually quite helpful to me. Saved me some embarrassment with a reporter. Hard to think he went so wrong"

Lysander nods.

'Carson was useful, this is true. That whole business in the Sabbat palace was certainly beneficial. But the means by which he sought to do so...'

He shrugs.

'The rules are clearcut. We had no choice.'

Fourier

"Yes of course, I think..."

He is cut short as the owner of the night club and one of the city's two Malkavian Primogens opens the door. Therese Voerman.

"Well come on in Max, Louis and of course Lysander"

She holds the door open.

OOC:
Therese in the games:


Therese in the books:

Necro

Lysander gestures for the two Primogens to enter through the door before him.

He bows lightly to all 3.

'My manners desert me sometimes. It is an honour to join you at this meeting, to be alongside those who guide the Kindred of our city.'

Fourier

Therese smiles leading him in and sitting down.

The large room has the same shabby red walls as the corridor. At its front, a simple desk with a PC and phone at it and next to the desk, a mirror.

The rest of the room is taken up with the various Primogens and their right hands.

The Primogens are:
One Tremére (Maximillian)
One Ventrue (Louis)
One Gangrel (Adriano)
Two Toreador (Teresa and Deborah's replacement Melissa)
One Brujah (Lysander has never met her)
Two Malkavian (Therese and her sister Jeanette)
One Nosferatu (Gary)

The Sheriff, Damsel, is present. As is Cock Robin. They sit at the front of the room with Jacqueline seated on an expensive Ivory chair. Beside Cock Robin there is a seat, which he gestures for Lysander to take.

Necro

Lysander nods at Louis and makes his way to his seat beside Cock Robin.

He murmurs to Rob.

'All the royalty is here I see... hope it's not on my account.'

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander nods at Louis and makes his way to his seat beside Cock Robin.

He murmurs to Rob.

'All the royalty is here I see... hope it's not on my account.'

"Well..." he smiles "...only partially"

"Right..." Jacqueline shouts, then speaks more normally when she has everyone's attention.

"...three matters of business. First, the government is in the city looking for us. They're calling us 'BlankBodies' apparently. One word for some reason. Please read through the reports that Damsel will hand out. Ten minutes and I open the floor"

Lysander is handed a report. It is a collection of documents taken from government labs, experiments on Kindred.

"Look at this Lysander..." Cock Robin leans in pointing to one piece and reads "...'most likely the blankbodies form the basis for the vampire myth'...they never think that perhaps we are vampires"

The report is a detailed test of Kindred weaknesses and abilities.

The most obvious errors are:

1. They don't know Vitae differs from blood
2. They don't seem to understand Disciplines at all. Just noting weird effects and they were obviously dominated at points without their knowing. The Ventrue subjects were never tortured being a clear case.
3. They don't know of the non-Camarilla clans
4. They think staking kills, rather than just placing you in Torpor
5. They believe it is the UV in sunlight that harms Vampires, despite the Kindreds they experiment on literally telling them the truth
6. They seem to not have captured very old Elders or Thinbloods, the reports mention none of their unusual features

"Well, thoughts?" Jacqueline says.

The Primogens begin to talk. Laughing at the errors, the emerging consensus is that this is of no concern, given the poor knowledge displayed in the report. The Brujah Primogen cautions that this will change given time...

OOC: Lysander may speak if he wishes

Fourier

Maximillian Strauss yawns in an exaggerated manner.

"Really, I mean what can they do to us. Worst case scenario shall we say, a swat team descends into my penthouse suite..."

A few roll their eyes at the obvious boasting.

"...I have the place protected by a ritual that causes blood to become explosive. These reports indicate they have no idea about normal disciplines, let alone sorceries, so I have nothing to worry about"

Louis Fortier nods.

"Exactly, a simple sentence when they arrive and I could have them shoot each other. A mortal that can resist Ventrue domination is rare beyond words"

The Brujah Primogen, an old looking woman with red hair and dressed in a tracksuit sits forward with a focused look on her face.

"Then their superiors notice the entire team was killed and head in next time with incendiary rounds, flamethrowers or who knows what. Mortals outnumber and outgun us and they'll eventually learn what works and what doesn't. Don't be arrogant. Only clan I can see be reasonably safe is the Nosferatu. They can go invisible, no technology around that and you live underground" she says across to Gary Golden.

He smiles "Learning Obfuscate will come at a premium my fellow Kindred, you understand of course"

Necro

Lysander watches the Primogens debating back and forth, considering a response but sees Cock Robin also staying silent so leans back in his chair and takes it in.

Eventually he decides to speak.

'There is the Obfuscate method. However... there might be another. One that would not involve any types of fighting.'

He looks around.

'We could ghoul one of the leaders, have him provide us information on their movements, what they know, when they learn it...'

He shrugs.

'Dangerous, perhaps... but very beneficial - and less... confrontational.'

Fourier

Jacqueline smiles.

"You volunteering?"

She looks in Gary Golden's direction.

"Only joking Gary, I know this is a Noz job, send three of your boys to the bunker to the south, the one they think nobody knows about.

I largely agree with Lysander, easier to just manipulate them. They know so little about us, we could feed them fake vampire corpses"

Nobody objects to Lysander's plan, though it is obvious many of the Primogens consider themselves above it.

"Now, onto our second order of business, Mr. Karpov..."

She looks in his direction.

"...we have an unusual opportunity here. Something that could make us stick out from most Camarilla cities. A..."

Teresa, the Toreador Primogen, stands.

"Absolutely not"

Louis looks across at her irratated.

"Your clan has two, what are you complaining about, the territory will be minimal to start with"

"And was this your idea Fortier" she scowls as she asks.

"No. I simply assisted Jacueline with the details, it is a good opportunity for our city, it's not just the the Wan Kuei we have to be careful of. Eventually we'll rid ourselves of them and the straggling Anarchs in San Fran, the whole of California will be Camarilla. Then we'll need to stay competitive with other Camarilla cities"

"What is this idea?" Ardiano asks.

Jacqueline hands out another dossier.

"Inside is a couple of ideas for territories and primary siring candidates. It's time to become the first Camarilla city in the United States with a Lasombra clan. Lysander will be its Primogen"

Necro

Lysander looks around the room, in a little bit of shock, but careful not to show it.

'Teresa, fear not. As I have... hopefully proven thus far, the Lasombra under my control will avoid their savage, primal urges. This is a good thing for all of us... and of course, the Camarilla.'

He flicks through the dossier once he gets his hands on one.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander looks around the room, in a little bit of shock, but careful not to show it.

'Teresa, fear not. As I have... hopefully proven thus far, the Lasombra under my control will avoid their savage, primal urges. This is a good thing for all of us... and of course, the Camarilla.'

He flicks through the dossier once he gets his hands on one.

The dossier suggests two possible locations for the new Lasombra territory. Either Longbeach or Pasadena.

Also inside the dossier are the profiles of eight individuals Louis has selected as having Lasombra aligned personalities.

Most work in tech or financial services companies, though one is a local politician.

OOC: Siring will tend to fail on individuals who are too far from the clan "personality". Even people close enough to it to be sired but still a bit off will have a hard time improving their disciplines. Hence clans look for mortals with the typical traits.

Necro

Lysander reads the dossier of the politician in particular.

He makes a note beside the Pasadena location to see if it aligns.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander reads the dossier of the politician in particular.

He makes a note beside the Pasadena location to see if it aligns.

The area to be given in Pasadena is filled with the rich and powerful. It was primarily Louis's idea that Lysander be given here according to the dossier. It centers around Old Pasadena and the Caltech Insititute. A gateway to the tech elite and old money.

The politician has been tailed by Louis. His name is Bruce Garron, the son of wealthy Mexican immigrants and is currently a member of the city council.

Louis's informants describe a man who in private sessions with his inner circle shows a shark like obsession with improving his standing and position, targeting events to attend, minor positions to hold, so as to raise his influence. However he takes no joy in the lifestyle benefits that go with this, nor does he socialise outside these 'targets'. For this reason Louis had long eliminated him as a possible Ventrue. As a Lasombra though, there is potential.

Necro

Lysander nods to himself. He checks over Longbeach as well just to be certain.

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Lysander nods to himself. He checks over Longbeach as well just to be certain.

Longbeach is growing in wealth and a younger area than Pasadena. It seems Jacqueline selected it as she can grant a much larger territory there, it has no wolves unlike Pasadena (who Louis doesn't mention in his report on Pasadena) and can be developed as Lysander wants, manipulation of the mortals and local businesses being less obvious.

The wealth and power of the mortals present is lower however, by a good margin.

Necro

Lysander closes the dossier.

'The Pasadena option... whilst holding slight risks - would be my preference. It is more... in line... with how the Lasombra under my guidance would be able to operate and be of aid to the Camarilla cause.'

He looks around the room.

'Of course, major objections to the plan I am happy to discuss.'

Fourier

Maximillian Strauss gives a slight chuckle.

"I approve, if only to make things a bit exciting"

A lengthy debate then breaks out. Most are favour, but Teresa and Adriano cite Lysander's status as an unknown.

Cock Robin argues that Lysander is trusted by high ups in the Camarilla, but doesn't go quite as far as revealing himself as a Justicar.

Therese Voerman is the only one silent.

Necro

Lysander looks to Teresa and Adriano.

'I understand the trepidation amongst you. The Lasombra are primarily rivals and key members of the Sabbat...

However, consider this - a Lasombra clan amongst the Camarilla may drag some of my kin... those who may have even slight doubts - out of the cruelty and horror the Sabbat offer.

Approval... could be a new dawn for the entire Lasombra clan - and a death knell for the Sabbat worldwide.

And.. of course... your concerns of my own.. standing.

Well, I will be a prime target for elimination by other members of my kind... so one way or another, I may end up self-resolving.'

He sits back into his chair and allows the debate to continue.