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

[Taduz Illyannovich]

Bowing to the nobles "M'lord, M'lady, your pardon", he turns and follows the men in pursuit of Lothar, albeit at a leisurely pace unless he makes to escape the castle.

Run, run, run. You will be found, you will be caught.

"You cannot hide Lothar. You will be found."

Whistling a rather jaunty tune, he directs the men if they seem to lose track of Lothar, or he manages to hide from them.

I have such sights to show you

Taduz stops in his tracks for a moment, the whistling stops as a grin that actually radiates something close to glee forms on his face.

"Mother would have my hide and soul if she knew what I had planned."

You are above that now old man. Once we have him, remember that thing Mother said, to bring aid from the Others?

YES. YES. THAT ONE. SUCH PAIN IT WILL CAUSE.

He hums what sounds like a lullaby as he continues to track Lothar.

[Sabine]

Everybody is leaving? But I'm playing with Cvetka. I stay.

Stop that this instant! Proper ladies do not romp on the floor with children.

I'm sorry, Lady. I walk over to Lady Seska. I sit quietly by her feet.

But Cvetka still wants to play. She wobbles over to me. I put my hands on her shoulders. "Shhhhhh. Calm." [Dominate 1] Then I have her sit next to me on the floor. I pet her hair and hug her, while Lady Seska talks to Mister Lady Seska.

[Seska Karantanija]

Seska acknowledges Sabine with a stroke upon the head.

"Dearest, it has been far longer than expected. What did that... worm... tell you? My tale is long and difficult to believe and it would help to understand what you already know."

[Goatkiller666]

"Worm? You mean Lothar? He's only told me that he was released from Giovanni's service, once he served this last wish of Giovanni's daughter, the dead nun. And he brought her remains here for burial, because she felt some kind of kinship with you? He seemed lost now, without a master. I had considered offering to let the man stay on here, actually."

"Why, what's going on? Does this have something to do with your sickness? Did Giovanni's house catch the plague?"

[Seska Karantanija]

"Giovanni's House is accursed, not plagued. Nor do I believe for a minute that one is out of Giovanni's service. The nature of that one will become apparent as my story progresses."

"The three of us arrived at the inn as the rain was picking up." She motions to Vida and the hallway where Bojan exited. "In the inn was an assortment of people, from high to low. All either in the employ of Giovanni or accompanying those invited to the party. The thirteen invited, intended as escorts to those whom Giovanni was hosting."

"The worm appeared after the last arrived. Only the name of his lord stayed Bojan running the lecherous lout through."

[Sabine]

It's storytime!

"I was there, too! Marianne was nice to me, but the other nones were mean."

Hush. Proper ladies do not interrupt other people.

I'm sorry, again. I'm a proper lady puppy girl, now.

[Goatkiller666]

Inside

With a frown, Branimir glances at the door where Lothar so recently exited. But when Sabine speaks, he jumps backwards. "What magic is this? Dogs cannot speak our words."

He's honestly scared now, and reaches for Cvetka to get her away from... whatever that is.

[Seska Karantanija]

Seska looks a little annoyed at Sabine for exposing Branamir to the unusual before she has gotten far in her explaination. She says nothing about it though, being somewhat relieved Cvetka is being removed from her volatile presence.

"Sabine, heel," she chastises the lady puppy girl. "As I said, Giovanni is accursed. This is... mundane... in comparison to some of what we have... witnessed."

"The tale is long though, and has implications for our family, this region, and beyond. We can discuss it at length after the children are to bed and we are warm with drink. I could do with a generous portion of mead this evening..."

[I am not sure if we want to cover the entirety of the tale telling, or let us get on with the story. It could be a lot of fun what with the delicate situation of explaining to one's family you are now undead and want to make them your nigh-immortal blood-servants, but everyone else may want to get on with things.

That, or open a new thread a week after when Amisa and whomever shows up and we just RP this out here.]

[Goatkiller666]

Outside

Lothar continues down the hall, hurrying to round the first corner before he can be spotted. Before he can, Bojan sees him entering the stairwell and chuckles. He taps Pierre on the arm and whispers, "This way." Then he continues to the end of the hallway and takes the smaller servants stairway there. "This leads to the front of the hall. We'll cut him off."

Inside

[Since we are simultaneously dealing with Lothar's chase, which may loop back in to involve Seska before she can finish the story... and since Alina's thread might cycle back to you as well... I can see it going either way. That said, if you want to spend some time writing a really long post of your own, where it's just you and Branimir going over the whole tale, and throw in whatever pathos you want for Seska... that would work also.]

Branimir looks confused, but nods and takes Cvetka away with the other children. He is gone for several minutes, but eventually returns to the room with Seska and Sabine, eying the "puppy" suspiciously and carrying a jug of chilled mead and two tankards. He pours and hands one mug to his wife, while holding the other himself. He makes sure to keep plenty of open space between himself and Sabine, to give him time to react if the talking dog should do something unexpected.

"Then share your tale, beloved."

[Taduz Illyannovich]

He seeks to escape? We can't have that now can we...

Check my awareness, fastest route I can take. 2 blood to pump Dex and run.

The Lady is displeased with you. When she's done with her husband, you'll be thankful for what I am going to do for you as opposed to their ministrations.


A savage grin parts his face again For a time at least.

[Now let's all get to Lothar and play nicely!]

[Seska Karantanija]

She takes the offered mug with a smile. While biting her lip, she raises it to drink and lets the blood mix with the liquid so as to not disquiet her stomach.

"Where was I? Oh, yes. The worm showed up after all those to be in attendance were present. It was an unusual assembly. Nuns, crusaders, nobles, tradespeople, urchins, along with all our accompaniment. We were to set out for the castle the following day, where we arrived near nightfall."

"Only the guests were in attendance, and Pierre who was trying to get an audience with Giovanni and whom I agreed to put in a word for. A leg wound prevented him from doing much more than being a house guard, but getting an audience was proving difficult for the lad. He was escorted off when we arrived."

Seska drank quite a bit more before continuing.

"Soon after entering the great hall, we were each paired with another guest of Giovanni's of similar status. In my case, it was with an Egyptian woman. A merchant woman, but seemingly of refined taste. Each coupling went to a different part of the castle to talk."

"So we drank and... talked."

[to be continued when I have more time]

[Sabine]

"I didn't talk. I had to sing. The man made me sing. I sang really good, but he said I was bad singer. Then he hurted me on my neck for not singing gooder. He's all gone to dust, now."

[Goatkiller666]

Outside

Imagine, if you will, Lothar quickstepping down a narrow spiral staircase to the ground floor. He exits and quickly starts across the larger main room towards the exterior doors there. As he draws closer to the doors, and the sweet freedom they represent, Bojan and Pierre step out from behind the curtained alcove next to the door, where their own staircase let out.

Lothar stops, and quickly looks for other exits from the room, even considering going through the narrow windows. But, they're timbered shut against the night's chill. He continues his turn, hoping that his enemies' presence in front mean he can retreat to another path. Sadly for him, Taduz' burst of dexterity and speed allows him to catch up at this point.

[Going with the 'fade to black' movie scene change here. Taduz comes into view and his hands clamp down on Lothar's shoulders from the front just as Lothar sees him. An instant later, Bojan and Pierre step in from behind and each grip an elbow. And like that, Lothar is captured.]

Inside

Branimir is once again startled by Sabine's speech, but he tries to hide the small jolt. Otherwise, he just waits for Seska to continue the tale.

[Taduz Illyannovich]

Lothar is chained in a cell by Bojan and Pierre. It is not a nice cell, nor is it a warm cell. The two who brought him here are welcome to stay for this informative session if they wish.

Taduz mindful of the conversations upstairs speaks to the chained wretch.

"We are going to get very well acquainted. I have waited a long time for this."

What to do, what to do. On one hand I have some very interesting ideas to try on Lothar, but I don't know what the Lady and Lord have planned for him...

"Lothar, how the mighty have fallen. Once you were slave to the Cur. Now, you are mastered by a nun. A dead one at that." He laughs.

"Now, you are going to tell me exactly what you are doing here. Not the polite offal you spewed at the nobles. Just you, and me, and whatever I feel like removing."

"If you answer me well, I'll find use for you."

YES YES DO IT DO IT NOW

"You must be quite thirsty, who knows how long since you last had blood? I don't, and it would be a shame to see exactly what happens when one in bondage like you runs out. I don't know. But I'm perfectly willing to wait and see." Smirking he continues, "I have forever. You don't."

Now what is that recipe, how does it go? I lack the herbs to entice it, but...maybe my blood will be enough? It helped with.. and a smile spreads across his face

Taking some dirt from underneath the skin in his palm, he adds some saliva to it, rolls it into a ball, humming a tune.

"Anytime you're ready Lothar, don't let my preparations stop you."

[Depending on the nobles discussion upstairs, whether it includes plans for Lothar or not, he's going to become educational.]

[Sabine]

Sabine! Do not interrupt their conversation. Lady Seska and her husband are sharing a tale. Just sit quietly and listen.

Ooh. I'm being hidey, anyway. Doggies don't talk.

I sit down like a good doggy and be really hidey. [Obfuscate 4]

But everybody's just talking. This is so boring. I want to go play.

Be still, child. We fae are eternal. We can wait for the deep game. They're ever so much more interesting, trust me. Imagine in a century or two, Claudio has forgotten all about you. And then, you start to destroy everything he loves. He has no idea who is attacking him. He's afraid of everything. Everyone. Then, years after that, you finally destroy his last. You appear to him and smile. When you finish him then, there will be no more enjoyment left he can give you.

Oooooh. That does sound more funner. But what do I do right now?

Now, you plot. Plan your game. Savor the anticipation. And listen. Always listen to what's around you. You never know when it can help you. Chances are, Lady Seska's husband will notice something in the story you missed. Always listen. Always watch.

[Seska Karantanija]

Seska continues her story, but stops petting Sabine, as if she doesn't even realize the puppy-girl is any longer there.

"This is where the tale turns strange and horrific, my dear. For you see these guests, the ones who were Giovanni's real guests, not those of us gathered up at the inn, were monsters. Those only seen in shadowed glimpses, restless dreams, or heard in whispers."

"We were to be their entertainment, nor were we meant to return to tell the tales of that night."

"This one led me down to a cellar after much discussion and more to drink. It was a plain room, with a simple table, two simple chairs, and an open casket next to upturned earth."

"The discussion became more serious, and asked how far I would go to rid us of the Christens which have plagued our lives. She did not like my answer. Her eyes peered deep into my soul and I froze in terror. Truly paralyzed, you understand? My limbs were no longer under my control."

"With an inhuman strength she gingerly lifted me up, placed me in the coffin, then buried it! I could do nothing! I could hear every shovel full of dirt which landed on the lid, until there was nothing! I was panicked yet could barely breath. I stayed this way for what felt like an eternity."

"After ages, my limbs could finally move. I pounded on the lid to no effect, and by then the air was stale and difficult to breath even though my lungs were once again my own. Soon I could hear the shovel removing dirt. I pushed and pounded and finally the lid slid aside as I leapt up!"

"She was standing there, with a smug grin. With all the fury of my pent up anger I struck her! But there was a... presence... about her. I could not hate her... I... loved her. I felt I had let her down! All I could do then was cry in her arms. She guided me upstairs to a banquet table where the other pairs were assembling. Some seemingly bantering happily, others doing even worse than my sobbing self...."

"As the last gathered about, the Wild Woman of their group sang a song. One which captivated all of us invited 'guests'. Our wills were sapped. There was no fight left in us, no emotion, no desire."

"Then Lord Giovanni explained to us our predicament. We were carefully chosen, each and every one, to sate the tastes of his real guests. Our blood was selected for its flavor, and further cultivated by powerful feelings: fear, adrenaline, despair..."

"That dog Lothar was his scout. The one who picked each and every one of us for that night."

[Goatkiller666]

Inside

Branimir turns pale then red then pale again. Rage and fear battle for dominance of his emotions, and fear finally wins. He reaches for his wife's hand. "And yet you all survived. How did this happen?"

[Seska Karantanija]

"Yes. I... survived. It must have been divine fortune looking out for me, for there is little other explanation. Before I continue though, you should understand these creatures are organized. Old. Bored. They hold vendettas and play games to pass the time. We are nothing to them but pieces to amuse themselves with or use against their enemies."

Seska takes a long draw from her mug.

"In our unmoving state they attached contraptions to our necks. Much like a spigot tapped into a barrel. From these they sampled and chatted. They discussed the nuances of our lifeblood as if it was naught but a vintage wine. As the night progressed we became even weaker, drained of our essences much as they had sapped our wills..."

[Goatkiller666]

Inside

Branimir leans forward slightly, to see Seska's throat. He realizes that she's wearing a high-necked gown, and the implications speed through his mind. Rage begins to win over his fear, and he grips tighter on his sturdy mug of mead.

"If I didn't already know that Giovanni's estate had been ransacked, I would be calling upon all the Lords of the area, and riding with the sunrise to do just that."

[Goatkiller666]

The Cells

Bojan returns to Seska, while Pierre stays to watch. His suffering at Lothar's hand was much greater than Bojan's, and his grim expression fails to hide the satisfaction he gets from Lothar's useless struggles in the chains.

"Oh, Merciful Lord in Heaven, protect me!" the man prays. Other than his prayers, he speaks nothing useful.