Kevin's Watch

Upstairs

Seska take the offered hand with both of hers to stand. She continues to grip it while leaning in close to Amisa and lightly flicking her tongue against her chin. "Though our initial meeting makes me wary, you at least intrigue me."

Her face hardens and grip upon Amisa's hand tightens. "I have no such curiosity about Hardestadt. He tortured us for days refusing to believe we knew nothing. He has threatened my family. There is no side of him which is not about imposing his will upon others." Her eyes briefly shift to golden and become slitted while nearly hissing out the words, "I shall do what I can to help see him and everything he cherishes destroyed."

She relaxes a little and motions towards the door demurely.

[If y'all bitches make me actually draw out a freakin' MAP to deal with this scene, so help me...]

Upstairs

Amisa and Seska hear all of the below, and come into view of the scene for the First Full Round.

Downstairs

Surprise Round

While Taduz bows to Gabrin in the dark corner, he calls the spirits to his command. They rush to Wenceslas and immolate him, burning him to a husk where he stands. [With charmed existence and a willpower spent, exactly 7 point of aggravated damage. No fort to soak with. That means he's incapacitated, not dead.]

Wenceslas screams as he falls smoldering to the ground. At the same time, chaos breaks out across the room.

Sabine is surprised that her hatred could cause such an effect. Nonetheless, she darts forward to attack Wenceslas. She's not entirely sure where his throat is, but she makes a good guess, and manages to do the final small amount of damage needed to kill him entirely. His previously smoldering corpse turns instantly to a small pile of ash upon the floor.

At the same time, Olaf spends his final two blood to activate celerity and "other". His skin takes on a bluish tinge, as if he were a corpse frozen overnight. Crystals of ice begin to form here and there. He launches himself at Marchettus, swinging fists faster than a human should be able to move; fists that are giving off steam as they move.

Marchettus manages to dodge Olaf's first swing. But since he's moving only at normal speeds, he cannot dodge the others.

• [1st Celerity Action: 2 agg
  2nd Celerity Action: 1 agg (he got a really good soak)
  3rd Celerity Action: 3 agg]

As each punch lands, patches of Marchettus' skin and armor seem to freeze, and after so many blows, he seems encrusted with flakes of ice. He screams as it happens, but seems unable to move. [He gets no action next round, while he recovers his senses.]

First Full Round

• 9 Lady Theophania
  8 Casmir
  8 Marchettus
  7 Gabrin
  7 Dimitra
  6 Leopold
  6 Mieczyslav
  6 Sabine
  5 Al-Nasir
  5 Jadviga
  5 Amisa
  5 Taduz
  4 Alina
  4 Olaf
  4 Seska
  3 Gedeminas
  3 Violetta

Theophania simply vanishes. Casmir backs away from the violence, urging Alina and Gedeminas back with him. "Oh dear, the excitable ones are at it again."

Marchettus seems unable to move more than at a snail's pace, and is muttering "The Cold!" to himself. Still his rage is strong, and soon the ice can be seen melting off him. His skin takes on a pinkish hue. [Still no action / celerity for him this round, but he did activate Burning Wrath.]

Gabrin stays where he is in his corner table, feeling that he is already sufficiently far from the fray.

Dimitra doesn't move away, and applauds Sabine's attack. "Excellent, childe. That man was a waste of the blood.[/i]

Leopold steps to his side, and vanishes.

Mieczyslav extends his hand, and a sword sprouts from it, seemingly made of bone. He does not attack, but takes a more defensible position.

[Allowing Sabine to go now, before I update on what the rest of the NPCs do.]

The lady who made me a puppy. I like her. I'm not mad at anybody else. Except that big friend is mad at that guy he's hitting.

Bark at him.

Al-Nasir also vanishes.

Lady Jadviga Almanov stands taller and looks haughty. [Majesty in effect.]

Upstairs, Amisa walks around towards the stairs and can now see down below to the commotion. Seska can almost see her drawing in her own power, and senses how she has become nearly like a Goddess herself. [Majesty in effect.]

[So, let's go with the idea that unless there's a tactical reason to attack someone with Majesty up (and thus spend the requisite Willpower), the normal response would be to choose another valid target. I'm certainly not dictating anyone's actions here, just suggesting a reasonable course of action.]

[I'm last of the 4s, but since my action won't have much effect, I'm placing it here so I don't hold us up waiting for everyone else.]

Being slightly behind Amisa, Seska realizes the commotion is happening at nearly the same time the feeling of awe washes over her from Amisa. She draws herself closer for comfort, aghast at what is unfolding below.

Goatkiller666 wrote:[If y'all bitches make me actually draw out a freakin' MAP to deal with this scene, so help me...]

[But I want to know who's standing....nevermind. j/k]

On the upswing of my bow, suprise on my face

Wenceslas screams as he falls smoldering to the ground.

...where in the...did I...they answered...

Realizing what raw power can do when left unchecked.

Next time old boy, be precise, don't let your anger go. No matter how effective it was.

His previously smoldering corpse turns instantly to a small pile of ash upon the floor.

Good, he will never hurt another again. Now at least I know what I can do to Antoninious...

(paraphrased) A whole bunch of hell broke loose

I draw my dagger, looking around, seeing if anyone is going to try attack Olaf or Sabine, and trying to see if anyone noticed who did that. Seeing Mieczyslav's bone sword appear, I look wide eyed at him for a second. Then begin willing a sword to bring itself forth from my body.

I had never thought of that.
[3 blood: 1 str, 1 dex, 1 sta]

Confusion reigns on Alína's countenance. I thought we were trying to gain their trust? she thinks to herself. Allowing Casmir to guide her back from the fray, she watches mutely, ready to aid any of the mortals who may unluckily be wounded in the fray.

Laughing maniacally, "Come, Valkyries, and choose!"

OOC--Continue to beat Marchettus down. Once he's out of the fight (dead or merely incapacitated).....

"I claim weregeld for my own death at his hands!"

If he's only incapacitated, he's on the menu. If he's brightening sunsets, stand proud

Taduz moves towards Sabine and Olaf, knife held out.

Alina and Gedeminas allow themselves to be lead away from the conflict. Alina notices that the old man pulls his granddaughter into the kitchen.

Olaf continues to strike at Marchettus, though his sire's skin is now a warm pink and steam is rising from all of him, not just where the viking's fists had hit.

• Regular action: Marchettus dodges
  First Celerity action: 4 simps, he is incapacitated and loses 3 blood
  Second Celerity action: 3 simps, losing 3 more blood
  Third Celerity action: 1 simp, losing 1 more blood

Seska moves close to Amisa.

Claudio steps away from the action, chatting amiably with Lady Almanov. "I wouldn't have thought Marchettus would go down so easily. The ice is a nice trick, though."

Lady Violetta also vanishes.

Second full round

Theophania, Al-Nasir, and Violetta appear on the balcony next to Amisa. Theophania has one arm over Seska's shoulders, in an overly friendly fashion.

Gabrin chuckles when he sees Marchettus fall to the ground. Dimitra laughs loudly, and barks at him along with Sabine.

Mieczyslav holds back, though he seems agitated by all the fighting. He moves over near Casmir, Alina, and Gedeminas. Casmir says, not terribly quietly, "Observe childer. For while the Brujah clan is obviously lesser than ours, they are still a danger to us. Remember to stay far enough away from them that they cannot overpower you before you can bring your Sorcery against them in defense."

Realizing I cannot make a sword of bone appear from my arm, I stop trying before I look stupid.

Seeing no one is menacing Olaf nor Sabine for now, I keep my dagger drawn, but pointed down, looking inquiringly at the sword Mieczyslav created.

While trying to keep an eye on everyone in case the puppygirl or dane are attack yet, "Sire, how did you do that?"

[Waiting in case someone goes for Sabine or Olaf, seemingly no one is at this moment, but still gonna be on guard for it]

Casmir wrote:Observe childer. For while the Brujah clan is obviously lesser than ours, they are still a danger to us. Remember to stay far enough away from them that they cannot overpower you before you can bring your Sorcery against them in defense.

The Jewess leans in and questions her sire. "The Norseman has only shown honor in his actions, as defined by his teachings. Even now he has given just reason for the beating he is giving his sire. Yes, he seems physically stronger than those of our clan I have met. Yet that alone should not cause constant vigilance in our interaction with one another, nu?"

Bowing her head at her audacity in questioning her Elder, the healer continues, "There is so little we do not know and have yet to learn. The ways the clans relate to one another among them. Must we do so on our own? So far, those of us who have now returned have found no reason to distrust one another based on our own interaction..."

Claiming what was taken, in kind...battening on to Marchettus, and as he sucked away my life, so I shall consume his.

"Oh, he's no fun. He just fell down."

I turn around. Who else was mean? I want to attack someone too.

I run towards Gabrin, and claw him over the tabletop. [I spend a willpower point to hit him]

[For my own laziness, I'm shifting Sabine's init to 5, so that all the PCs go contiguously. This will allow me to post all the NPCs at once, then the PCs can post their actions. Next time, she'd better learn not to roll so well.]

Upstairs

Amisa notices the others appearing near her, and notices Seska close behind her. She turns and lifts Theophania's arms from Seska's shoulders, saying "This one is mine, dear. And she's skittish." As Theophania's arms rise up from Seska's shoulders, Amisa's arms take their place, with Amisa's face now only a few inches away. She smiles at Seska, then says "Watch what happens, dear. Casmir may be an ass, but his lectures on the differences of the clans will likely be informative. Perhaps as much about himself as anything he teaches."

Downstairs

Sabine manages to make it across the table to Gabrin, sinking her claws into his chest. [2 aggravated damage]

Jadviga and Claudio watch Sabine attack Gabrin, and applaud further. They're wagering on the outcome. Jadviga feels that Sabine will win.

Olaf kneels down by Marchettus' fallen form, and sinks his teeth in. He manages to suck three blood from his sire, but there's more blood left.

Third Full Round

Theophania kneels by the railings, and looks down at the continued fighting.

Casmir says back to Alina, never taking his eyes off of Olaf. "Oh, to be sure there are honorable Brujah, when their tempers are under control. I only wish to point out that, if one finds oneself at odds with one, or even simply suspects that the Brujah may choose to attack, one should keep well clear. Marchettus was quite rare among his kind, in that he could turn his heated temper into a weapon. Most of his clan would simply wail away at you, as the young one does. But such is not the way to kill a vampire; only to cause him pain. Watch closely, as Marchettus rises again, and burns his childe to a cinder."

Marchettus does, in fact rise. [He spends 1bp to heal his one simple damage.] He also frenzies from the pain, and the shame of being knocked to the ground by a neonate. Roaring his rage, and giving off yet still more steam, he punches Olaf repeatedly, almost too fast to see.

• [Olaf discussed this strategy with me earlier, though I don't think he expected me to apply it here. Let me know if I'm out of line.]
  
  First regular action - Olaf barely avoids the mighty blow. Olaf manages a punch of his own, but was too distracted by the speed of Marchettus' fury to real do it justice.
  
  First celerity action - Marchettus does manage to connect this time. [3 simple damage] Once again, Olaf throws a punch while mostly trying to avoid his sire's blows. This time, however, his blow lands. But, the Northman's strength is such that even a glancing blow is still mighty. [1 simple damage, plus 3 blood lost]
  
  Second celerity action - Olaf punches again. [2 blood lost]
  
  Third celerity action - Olaf bites and resumes sucking. [3 blood lost]

Gabrin draws a blade and cuts at Sabine, but does not connect.

Dimitra steps closer to Jadviga and Claudio, saying "500 gold that my childe survives."

Mieczyslav turns quickly to Taduz, almost surprised that he's being asked a question. He moves around to be behind him, so as not to be closer to the fight. "It is actually a variant on the girl's ability to make those claws. Our own clan decided to improve upon it. Instead of just fingertips which cut horribly, it's a great sword which cuts horribly. I shall show it to you, when we have a few moments to discuss the finer points, if you wish."

Upstairs

Leopold also rises from a shadow upon the balcony, standing whole again. He asks to all those there, "Should we perhaps stop this? We're none of us friends here, but we are allies."

Amisa replies, turning her head to face the Lasombra while leaving her arms around Seska's head, "Is this not exactly what we fight for? The right of the childer to rise up and cast down their elders, when the elders' rule proves to be too harsh?"

Leopold replies, "In theory, yes. And yet, without Marchettus and Gabrin, what will happen to our plan? Would we sacrifice our goals, just to stand on principal?"

Amisa says, "Gabrin was useless anyway. He had no real power or influence to bring, only those damnable Rom that he could threaten towns with. And Marchettus… well… his part is already done. So, while the principal remains, the plan is not in danger."

I claw at him again.

Watching Sabine tear into Gabran, and noticing Olaf seems to have things well in, fang.

Maybe there is justice, the...thing tortured Sabine, I took care of it, now she is dealing with the traitor.

Although it should be harder than mine was. I think.

To Mieczyslav: Showing I have no ill intent towards him "Is just a sword possible?" Realizing something is greatly amiss "One moment sire, insight just beckoned me about ourselves."

"It's made from your own bones, I've found I can...sculpt others and myself. To ensure someone's honesty, I removed a bone from their arm as an object lesson. While they were alive. T'was done with no pain, but they were screaming from the sensation of it. If that sword was made from your bone. How is it that you still have use of your body fully when such a large amount of bone has been removed?"

Realizing the place he's in right now

"My apologies, my inquisitive nature got the best of me, you are right, I would like to discuss this further, and more about our powers."

Staying ready in case someone joins the fights other than the attacked individuals.

[OOC: Only chatting and watching, as long as the fighting does not come upstairs.]

Upstairs

Looking somewhat apprehensive at Theophania draping an arm across her shoulders, Seska looks relieved when Amisa removes it and places her own there. She gives a thankful little smile then nods before stepping forward to watch over the railing.

"Is this Marchettus as excitable as Olaf? We have already seen his temper on display once and it was not pretty. Now we are here, looking for guidance, and the first utterance out of his mouth is a battle cry. Why could fate, no... why could that despicable Lothar have not chosen someone more of Bojan's temperament to shackle me with?"

She takes notes of the exchange between Amisa and Leopold but says nothing.

Casmir wrote:Oh, to be sure there are honorable Brujah, when their tempers are under control. I only wish to point out that, if one finds oneself at odds with one, or even simply suspects that the Brujah may choose to attack, one should keep well clear. Marchettus was quite rare among his kind, in that he could turn his heated temper into a weapon. Most of his clan would simply wail away at you, as the young one does. But such is not the way to kill a vampire; only to cause him pain. Watch closely, as Marchettus rises again, and burns his childe to a cinder.

As Marchettus rises, only to be beaten down by Olaf yet again, the Jewess turns a quizzical look on to her sire. "Will he rise yet again?" she asks.

Continuing to feed from his wrist, grab hold of Marchettus head, and beat it against the floor.

[Okay, I've reviewed Seska's analysis of the previous combat rounds. As we might expect, she was correct. I goofed up in two ways.

1. I forgot to let Marchettus act a couple rounds ago. He should have put some extra hurtin' into Olaf. But, Oalf's action that turn was a non-celerity blood sucking, so it kind of balanced out. I will choose to leave the mistake there, since Marchettus attacking would certainly have prompted Olaf to spend blood, etc. Too much ret-conning is bad for my head.

2. Olaf's final post is actually superfluous. I'd already written out his actions (based on OOC conversations with him) before he'd actually posted. Which means his last post is technically out of order, though not by his own fault. I'm going to use his post for his next set of actions, below. But this means Olaf shouldn't post again this round, since I've technically already done him.]

Downstairs

Claudio holds out his hand for Dimitra to shake. "I have faith in our friend Gabrin. He will survive, and he will be wiping her dust from his shirt when he's done." She shakes his hand in return, and turns to bark at Gabrin, to inspire her childe. Jadviga merely watches.

Casmir watches the fights closely. "Oh, to be sure he will. Vampires may not be made unconscious, except through supernatural means. He is simply too injured to move now, but he should soon be healing and rising again." He turns to Sabine and Gabrin. "Now, watch this as well. The girl is Gangrel, a clan well suited to combat. Even though she is small, notice how her claws drank deep of his flesh. I have seen Gabrin catch a knife thrust against his belly; the blade broke instead of sinking into his skin. Not for the Gangrel to wail on you until your body is broken and vulnerable. They'l simply cut you to ribbons until you fall to ash."

Mieczyslav smiles to Taduz, and nods his head in respect. "No formal training at all, and already discovering our inner natures." Turning to Gabrin, he calls, "If you die now, you will never get to see how poorly you have chosen in your progeny. But perhaps such foolishness doesn't deserve another chance to learn from its mistakes."

Gabrin drops his knife, fury and pain rising in him. Sabine rushes forward again and slashes at him. [2 aggs] In turn, Gabrin rushes the girl and just picks her up in his arms, fangs extended. [no damage, but he's ready to latch on next round]

Marchettus once again rises [heal his one simple, spend blood on celerity] in a frenzy and attacks Olaf. His great speed, faster even than Olaf's tries to pull his wrist out from Olaf's teeth.

• First regular action: Marchettus breaking the grapple. Olaf manages to hold on to the wrist, and at the same time uses his immense strength to bounce Marchettus off the floor. [1 simple, he's back to incapacitated again, plus he loses 1 blood]
  
  First celerity action: Olaf pounds Marchettus' head against the floor again. [Amazingly bad roll for Olaf. No damage at all.]
  
  Second celerity action: Olaf pounds Marchettus' head against the floor yet again. [3 blood lost]
  
  Third celerity action: Olaf keeps sucking from Marchettus' wrist. [1 blood lost]

Marchettus' body crumples to dust there on the floor. All those watching (Claudio, Jadviga, Dimitra, Mieczyslav, and Casmir) simply stare at the sight, all cheering or conversation stopped.

Upstairs

Theophania begins to sing a nursery rhyme, loudly. None understand the words, but the tone is quite cheerful. Leopold, Al-Nasir, and Violetta simply watch.

Amisa turns back to her childe, arms still upon Seska's shoulders, leaning her forhead over to press against Seska's. Quietly, she says, "Does this viking heed your words, childe? You should make him your own. Better to have such violence and rage be under your direction than his own, don't you think? And with Marchettus' heartsblood in his veins, your warrior just became stronger." Her fingers gently stroke the Countess' hair as she speaks.

[Remember, Olaf: you don't get to post this turn, 'cause you're one ahead of everybody. Everybody else may post now.]