Vampire: Dark Ages - Act II - Scene 1: The Crossroads

Post by **Taduz Illyannovich** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:43 pm

Seeing the healer's glowing, utterance, and fading...

Gathering his most profound thoughts, all the workings of his ways, and the experiences he's been through, he utters a very knowledgable

"uh, what?"

Post by **Seska Karantanija** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:11 pm

Seska does not know what to make of this occurrence.

She stammers, "Poetry does not interest me," then looks away.

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:16 pm

With everybody in the carriage, Bojan and Pierre start up on the trip back to Zomba, to pick up Alina's stuff.

After a short trip, maybe half an hour, the carriage arrives. By the inn is Gedeminas' wagon, surrounded by Sabine's hounds. A tall woman, looking more than slightly like Theophania, is there as well.

The village is otherwise quiet at this time of night. (Morning will be in 60-90min.)

[Assume that whatever conversation 'en route' you have will last until sunrise, when everyone will sleep. Wake the next evening in Tótkomlós, with everyone and everything there. Bojan, Vida, Pierre, Roderigo, Seska's carriage, Danukas & his wagon, sundry horses, sundry hounds, an ass with a cart, and an owl.]

[Beyond arriving in Tótkomlós, the next GM initiated event will be the arrival of the sires in several days. So, feel free to launch any longer-term things in this thread as well.]

Post by **Sabine** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 7:33 pm

I walk over to the carriage, and open the door.

"Um. I bid you welcome. Um. To. This village."

It's not a very good speach. I need to get better.

Post by **Taduz Illyannovich** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 8:06 pm

Stepping out of the carriage and bowing to the Lady who has greeted us

This one disappeared from our sires lodgings without a word or questions raised. Sabine has powers of to ease her travel times. I don't think this one beat our Puppygirl here.

She learns quickly. Good show Sabine. Just have to work on those rough edges and you'll shine.

"Many thanks, M'lady." Raising an eyebrow at the stuttered speech pattern "You are too kind to be outdoors on a night such as this. The chill wind and the late hour must have been a terror on one such as yourself."

I offer a hand to the Lady Seska, and to Alina to exit the carriage.

She's trying so hard.

"Praytell, I have a question before we partake of your hospitality. A close friend of ours was coming here ahead of us. She was seeking her companions, and we seem to have lost track of her."

Stroking the hair hanginv over my shoulder in a manner that our Puppygirl seemed to have taken a fondness to doing.

"Have you seen her? She has the most inquisitive soft eyes, a smile that shines like the heavens opened up with joy, and the makings of a truly fine Lady."

Wink at the "Lady" before me.

Post by **Alína Nyárí** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 2:52 am

[ooc]backtracking just a bit[/ooc]

Eyes opening and finding herself slumped and not in communication with Dara, the Jewess straightens herself up and resettles herself on the seat of the carriage. Looking towards the others for an explanation of how she got where she had found herself, she sees the tutor looking at her in puzzlement and her lady studiously avoiding her glance. Her pale skin turning even paler at the thought of having embarrassed herself, she stammers, "Your pardon," then casts her thoughts out the window towards her familiar.

Dara? Did something just happen? What was with all the other owls and where did they go? I saw them arriving, but not leaving...

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:30 pm

You do not know? The owl flies above the carriage, saying nothing until everybody arrives at the village. Then it lands on Alina's outstretched hand, as it hadn't done in several weeks. You were a made a vessel. I cannot name for whom, but clearly this could not be the result of one from below.

Danukas descends from his wagon, having heard the carriage's arrival. Several of the dogs below the wagon glance up, but otherwise don't bother moving much.

[Everyone, even the owned NPCs / retainers / familiars / herd / mounts / baggage, is now present. Enjoy.]

Post by **Sabine** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:01 pm

"You silly. It's me." I say, and giggle.

I climb up Taduz so I can sit on his shoulder and pet his hair. But I'm too big for that. I jump off and run back to my doggies. I can pet them.

Szolt thumps his tail on the ground. He rolls onto his back so I can give him tummy scritches. Szolt loves tummy scritches.

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:44 am

Olaf steps out of the carriage. "Come. Let us gather what is ours and depart this place. I am eager to see the Lady Seska's holdfast."

Post by **Seska Karantanija** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:31 am

Seska takes a moment to compose herself before stepping out of the carriage. Knowing they do not have much dark left, and some of their number are prone to sleep early, she starts with orders once outside.

"Bojan. Pierre. Help everyone here get ready to move. See if we cannot make use of Gabrin's wagon as well. Hire a driver to deliver it if you must. Alina will not be able to drive it herself during the day so we need to find a way to bring it."

"Vida, find out if there are any...," she lowers her voice with a hint of distaste, "Christians... staying here, and where."

Grabbing the servant of the Tremere lightly by the sleeve, she leads him a few steps away from the bustle. "Danukas, your master is not with us. During the fighting he used some strange magicks. When one of our Sires sought to scold him for a perceived slight, he vanished in a cloud of bats, and we have not seen him since."

She gives him a moment to weigh her words before continuing. "The remainder of us are returning to Tótkomlós. You may join us, if you wish, while you decide your course. The accommodations and company will be preferable to those of a small inn. We leave in short order. Ready yourself should you choose to come."

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 4:58 pm

Bojan and Vida can ride on Seska's carriage, with Seska and Alina in the back.

Roderigo can ride on Hardestadt's carriage, with Taduz and Olaf in the back.

Pierre can ride on Alina's cart. He'll stop to pick up Gabrin's wagon, and hire someone to drive it back to Tótkomlós.

Sabine can go wherever she wants to. Her dogs can follow her. Puppies and Earthmeld need no roads.

Danukas can ride on Gedeminas' wagon. He chooses to stay in the area for a few more days, but then to return to Lithuania, to await Gedeminas' return from whatever happened to him. He's not sure where else to go, to chase a swarm of bats. When his Lord chooses to come back, he will be there waiting.

Vida mentions that the entire village is Christian.

Post by **Sabine** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:31 pm

I remember how to be polite. "Um. If it please you, m'lady. Um. I can ride the wagon for you. Um. Gabrin's wagon, I mean."

"I remember how to ride. Um. Drive a wagon, I mean. And I can sleep in the ground. And the doggies can guard the wagon while I'm sleeping."

"Oh. There's a horsey with the wagon, right? I get to drive the horsey!" I realize I'm bouncing. But Sidhe ladies aren't all bouncy like puppy girls, so I stop. "Um. I can take good care of the horsey. I promise."

Post by **Taduz Illyannovich** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 10:21 pm

Gasp in shock "Sabine! That was you!"

<Insert rakish grin>

"You show promise my puppygirl, but with a little polish, we can make you a fine lady. Which befits you."

Find Roderigo.

"Your master is no more. The Fop Hardestadt perished."

Open a spot on my wrist [Viss 2], force his mouth to the cut.

"Drink."

[Give 2 blood.]

Seal the opening [Viss 2]

"We are heading towards the demesne of Lady Seska. Follow her carriage."

Approaching the noblewoman "We can raze the village to remove the infestation, actually I'd prefer that we raze the village."

Post by **Seska Karantanija** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 4:20 am

Seska dismisses Taduz' suggestion. "No. They have a place."

[While people are getting organized, hunt. I'm in dire need of sustenance. If I can find one or two people in isolation, sate my hunger. Fully.]

Post by **Alína Nyárí** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 6:02 pm

Dara wrote:You do not know? The owl flies above the carriage, saying nothing until everybody arrives at the village. Then it lands on Alina's outstretched hand, as it hadn't done in several weeks. You were a made a vessel. I cannot name for whom, but clearly this could not be the result of one from below.

The Jewess shakes her head. I do not recall any of it. Perhaps later you will relate what it was I conveyed.

As she looks towards the stable where Zoja is quartered, she asks her familiar, You know what I was turned in to, although I will do my best to not harm others to sate my need. Do you have a suggestion for sustenance for me prior to the sun rising? I should greet Zoja before retiring, so she welcomes others guiding her home. Do you believe she can provide sustenance for me until we return home and our familiar hunting grounds?

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:48 am

Roderigo, bows to Taduz. "It shall be done, Lord."

Zara says I was not there to hear his words, I arrived only after. But I could sense his purity.

As to what you are, and how to be that without breaking faith... you were instructed not to drink the blood of any being. And now, you live only on such blood. Perhaps those rules were meant for your benefit? The tribe would prepare their meat and leave the blood behind. Those of the tribe who were of your persuasion... they would claim the blood.

Zoja is no meat cow, but you could take some small amount from her without risk. And the ride home would be slow and without great burden. In the long term, you should consider having a collection of living beings around you, who can donate their blood to you willingly. Enough even that even if you were using your blood to power puissant magics, they could keep you far from the mindless hunger you knew.

Lady Seska does manage to find a small household to the side of the small village, with only two people in it. As soon as she sinks teeth into the first of the two, the other tries to pry her off, but to little avail. Soon the first falls to the ground, and Seska turns on the second to repeat the experience. His struggles stop as soon as her teeth pierce his flesh, and he is left to only vague flailing, more seeming to be lost in bliss than slowly dying.

Olaf has chosen to sit in Taduz' carriage, where he mostly just stays out of people's ways, as they get everything ready for departure.

And finally... the departure.

Danukas, riding Gedeminas' wagon, lead by 6 Clydesdale horses and his own destrier leaves first. He shakes the hands of Bojan and Pierre, Danukas and Vida.

Bojan and Vida ride atop Seska's carriage, carrying Seska (and her stuff) and Alina.

Roderigo rides atop Taduz' carriage, carrying Taduz and Olaf.

Pierre rides Alina's cart, led by Zoja, with Alina's things all present.

Sabine has turned into a hound, and has already lead the dogs on a run to where she thinks Gabrin's wagon is being hidden.

{Time Passes}

After two days of travel, and some delays while they integrate Sabine's pack of hunting dogs into the caravan, the mortals bring the vehicles into Tótkomlós castle. They keep the rest of the staff from opening the windows, until sundown.

Bojan then takes Alina's cart and supplies back to her cottage. He tells her father and ward that she is fine, but that her Lady wished to continue their conversation in the castle. Alina had requested that the donkey and cart might be of use at the farm, so Bojan had brought them down.

After sundown, the vampires wake up in their normal order. Sabine, her dogs, and Gabrin's wagon do arrive perhaps an hour or two after sundown.

The servants are, of course, overjoyed to see their Lady, and very sorry that she was feeling sickly from the trip back. Some speculate that Lord Claudio's Christian meals probably didn't agree with her constitution.

Pierre, thanks to Bojan and Vida's glowing recommendations, gets along quite well with the rest of the castle.

One who is surprisingly absent from all of the hoopla... is Seska's husband. Nor are her children present this evening, when Seska rises.

Post by **Alína Nyárí** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:56 pm

Dara wrote:I was not there to hear his words, I arrived only after. But I could sense his purity.

The Jewess looks towards the others in her party, wondering if anyone could inform her of what she said.

Dara wrote:As to what you are, and how to be that without breaking faith... you were instructed not to drink the blood of any being. And now, you live only on such blood. Perhaps those rules were meant for your benefit? The tribe would prepare their meat and leave the blood behind. Those of the tribe who were of your persuasion... they would claim the blood.

Nodding slowly at this advice, Alína muses to her familiar, As unofficial shochet for my family, I can probably do the same now with the drained blood. But while I can cure and smoke much of what I hunt and slaughter for the family, I know of no way to preserve blood to carry me over from hunt to hunt, as the meat will generally last a full season. Do you know of any way to keep blood fresh?

Dara wrote:Zoja is no meat cow, but you could take some small amount from her without risk. And the ride home would be slow and without great burden. In the long term, you should consider having a collection of living beings around you, who can donate their blood to you willingly. Enough even that even if you were using your blood to power puissant magics, they could keep you far from the mindless hunger you knew.

The healer considers this suggestion. How would one of my humble means convince others to offer such a service, without raising suspicions of what I have become?

Going to the stable, Alína greets Zoja and strokes her tenderly, before gently feeding from her stout mare. Returning to her Lady's carriage, she settles herself for her daily rest, and their return home. Upon awakening, she asks if there is any concern regarding the whereabouts of the L-rd of Tótkomlós and the children, as well as any known needs in the village for her services, before venturing to ask if she had her Lady's leave to return to her own home.

Post by **Seska Karantanija** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:47 am

Alína Nyárí wrote:The Jewess looks towards the others in her party, wondering if anyone could inform her of what she said.

[You'll have to directly ask for Seska to reply. She assumes you were in control and reciting some holy verse. Even then she probably wouldn't be able to recite it as she didn't know it was significant.]

Upon awakening, she asks if there is any concern regarding the whereabouts of the L-rd of Tótkomlós and the children, as well as any known needs in the village for her services, before venturing to ask if she had her Lady's leave to return to her own home.

"Go to your family. They will be glad to see your return after so long an absence."

After finding her own family is not present, she inquires of Vida with a worried tone, "Where are the girls? Where is Damijan and Lord Karantanija? Why are my children not home at this hour?"

Post by **Taduz Illyannovich** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 3:14 am

To the Noblewoman

"Is something amiss?"

Realizing that someone not something is missing...

Spirits of the keep and lands, give me your senses.

Close my eyes and concentrate.

[Way of Spirit 3, 1 Willpower to activate]

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:05 pm

The Path To The Village

Alina takes her leave, Dora flying overhead on her way back to her hovel on the edge of the village.

Blood is fresh in living bodies. Leave it there until you need it. If you are trying to convince others to let you feed from them, they would feel better about it knowing that they'd survive, yes? But I do not think you can do this without sharing your secret. It's only fair, since they're sharing their very essence with you.

The Courtyard

Vida replies "My Lord is in the parlor, with his guest. The children are with them."

[Taduz, see PM.]

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Vampire: Dark Ages - Act II - Scene 1: The Crossroads