On the estates of the Babenbergs, there is a chapel reserved only for the nobles. It is used for family weddings and funerals, as well as cristenings and other major events in the lives of the families of the ruling Margrave of Austria. There are no permanently assigned priests to the chapel, though a small group of brothers from the neighboring churches do turns visiting to make sure all is maintained. Though the alter is small, befitting a mere chapel, there is quite a lot of room for audience. This is supposedly so that the Babenbergs may invite their extended families, and the families of their allies, to participate in the events of their own noble children.
What isn't known is that at night, this chapel is used for the Prince's Court. Annually, all vampires of Vienna are required to attend the Grand Court, also known to be the Prince's Birthday celebration. Court is always held during the night of a full moon. It is said that the Prince was told of her birth only in that it was on the night of the full moon, early in the planting season. So, she continues to follow that, choosing the closest full moon to May 1st as her birthday, and all other courts happening on other full moons.
The chapel is arranged as many cathedrals and other churches, with the doors opening to the west, and the stained glass windows to the east, over the alter. What isn't known to the mortals of the city is that there is a secret embedded within the stained glass windows. On each full moon, at two hours after sundown, the moon will shine in a different one of a series of clear white circles in various places in the glass, and shine directly on a spot directly above the floor in front of the alter.
Nor do these mortals know that a certain ancient throne, thought long lost to history, when placed upon this section of floor directly before the alter, would seem to glow brightly when the light of the full moon shone in special windows onto it.
Most agreed that this was a mere artifact of gold and crystal, built into the throne centuries ago, and used in the design of the glass and the walls of the place. And yet, every full moon, none could deny the beauty and awe of seeing Her Highness (or to some, Grandmother) entering the chapel and sitting down just as the thrown begins to glow. It is as if the moon is announcing to all the Prince's divine right to rule the night.
The room itself is arranged like a normal chapel, with the alter and choir area to the east. There are the typical noble's stalls towards the front, with their high-backed chairs all in a row. But behind that, is only empty floor. For the mortals, this seems a very strange arrangement, as they must bring in chairs to seat any visiting nobles, and the floor is quite large.
During the Prince's Courts, the primogen are seated in the nobles stalls, according to their factions. All over vampires, local or visiting, are left to stand in the open area. But the Prince's Court is not a mass, and usually include music and dance (now the open space becomes more clear). The Prince will see to business at her throne, with all the primogen in attendance to her there. Others may mingle, celebrate the Prince's birth, scheme, plot, act as agents to the primogen, or further their own ends.
At first glance, it all seems very chaotic, and yet there is some kind of order to it all. At least, the Prince seems perfectly able to follow all the goings on, and to see to the efficient management of the duchy's affairs.
This coming May 4th is the Prince's birthday, and all the kindred of the city will attend. Proper attire is simply "the best that you own". Failure to be present when the Prince makes her entrance will be noticed. And while not strictly a crime, the few rare times when one has made the mistake of being late, one's fortunes in the city very quickly turned for the worse. Only one cainite has ever entirely missed the Prince's birthday. Hysterical rumors claim that the Prince had him killed the very next night. Calmer minds maintain that, in fact, the Prince had had him killed the previous night for other unrelated causes.
It is, of course, expected that all of the Ventrue, especially those of the Prince's mortal line, arrive early to show their support of their matriarch. Most of them go so far as to arrive the night before, and to all sleep in a single sepulcher with the Prince herself, as a show of solidarity. The primogen typically arrive with all their constituent vampires in tow, to demonstrate their control over their lessers.
This year was no exception, and all of the Ventrue of the city, except for Her Highness of course, were present in the chapel when anybody else arrived. None were seated yet, choosing to greet arrivals informally.
First to arrive were the Knights of St. Lazarus. As they were announced by the Prince's ghoul, they go directly to the alter, carefully moving past the Prince's throne, kneel and bless themselves. Then they all rise and return to greet the Ventrue present.
Next arrive the Brujah, with The Judge leading his four clanmates. They choose to stop before the Prince's throne and kneel as well. Mutterings amongst the Knights of Lazarus point out that their obeisance was apparently to the Prince's throne itself, instead of to the alter of Christ behind it.
The majordomo announces next "Luminita, childe of Fanchon, of the Clan Tremere, and her entourage. This seems to refer to a woman in rather arcane robes, with two older men behind her. Behind them, and dwarfing them at the same time, is what looks to be some kind of demon. The torso is much like that of a man, but it is grey like stone, with random crags all about the surface. Below the knees, the thing had an extra joint, almost like a goat's legs, and it drod upon cloven hooves. Great stone wings extended above it's head by a foot, though it kept them well furled for the moment. The only way it was not an exact image of a demon from Hell itself, aside from not bursting into flames at entering a holy chapel, was that it's tail ended in mere flaps of skin, instead of a barbed hook or a poisonous spine.
To everyone's surprise, when the three vampires gave cursory bows from over by the door, the demon approached directly to the alter, kneeled and then prostrated itself upon the floor. The motion had hints of a Saracen's prayers to Allah as much as a priest's prostrations upon taking holy oaths. Even it's Tremere masters were slightly agog by this behavior, but quickly concealed those expressions.
Next, Orden and Kaos carry in the litter bearing Wisdom upon it. As normal, she is sitting still, with her eyes closed, head lolling to the side. As they carry her further into the room, she suddenly sits up to stare at Luminita. She says only "Eleven!" and sits back down. Luminita flinches at this, then smiles as if it were just a joke at her expense. Both Orden and Kaos continue to watch Wisdom for several minutes more, sometimes glancing back at Luminita.
Heinrich is next, he and his childer approach the alter, kneel and kiss the stones at the base, Traugott and Gertrude move behind the alter to act as priests, while Heinrich moves to mingle with the other primogen.
The Doktor and Rashida enter now, with most of the younger vampires looking all over the for Lucretia. "There she is!" Gertrude points to a statue against the far wall, one that none had noticed before, though none now believe it had been there prior. The light of the moon through the stained glass, not yet ready to strike the Prince's throne, but moving closer, passed across the statue, almost making the white marble stone glow. And then, the stone was glowing, casting shadows from the statues near it, giving quite an unnatural feel to the area. Then the statue opened its eyes, which were pure black all the way through, and smiles. "Well spotted, Gertrude!" said Lucretia, as she stepped down and joined The Doktor.
Finally, Isabelle von Tuscany and her group enter. On her arm is Ulricht, both in matching burgundy outfits, offset with small hints of white lace here and there. Behind them is Luigi de Tuscany, with the same color burgundy, accented with black lace instead of white. Luigi cuts a very sinister figure, indeed. Behind him walks a man in a black cloak, the hood pulled up to hide his face. He walked with his hands clasped in front of him like a penitent, and his hooded head bowed.
Suddenly, both Lucretia and Luigi turn their heads towards the door and stare intently. After a minute or two, steps can be heard coming down the hallway outside. The majordomo announces, "Andrius the White, childe of Boukephos, of Clan Lasombra. And, Charles, childe of Shar, Clan Cappadocian." Two men enter the room, one looking similar in coloration to Lucretia, though of normal height. His hair is white, instead of black, but his skin is equally alabaster. He is wearing a plain white monk's robe, in the style of the Franciscans, but with the outer black layer also white. His companion is dressed as a knight, though without a coat of arms being shown, instead just a simple white cloth. He is smiling cheerfully, though on close inspection, his skin is the deep grey of a long-dead corpse. The two scan the room, bow to the throne, and then make their way to join The Doktor and Lucretia. Luigi and Isabelle begin a furious whispering at the other side of the room, until Ulricht silences them with a furious gesture.
Shortly after this, the Majordomo declares that all must rise and pay homage to Her Highness, the Prince of Vienna and the Eastern Marches, also known as the Duchy of Austria. The primogen each moves to his assigned section. Wisdom and the Doktor both sitting in front of and slightly to each side of the Prince, while the four Ventrue primogen sit in a row to her right side, and the four other primogen sit in a row to her left.
As the Prince approaches her throne, the glow barely begins to shine, and it bursts to its greatest shine just as she descends to be seated. All in the room are suitably in awe of the moment, an once again, the Prince's divine right to rule is affirmed.
"My Lords and Ladies, I bid you welcome to this, the three hundredth anniversary of my birth. The court of Vienna is now in session." She pauses now for applause from those assembled, and then continues. "Let us first begin with additions to our court." She pauses to inhale, and says in a more ominous voice, "Let it be known that Luminita, child of Fanchon, of the clan Tremere has petitioned this court for permission to reside within our city. She brings with her several vampires, all beholden to her word and the word of her sires. Both she and her sire have made certain... consessions to this court. Concessions for which we feel satisfied in extending to her the position of primogen within this court."
A quiet murmer rises from those present, though the 10 original primogen are all silent. The Prince looks at the lower vampires once, and all are silent again. "As you know, my illustrious sire Hardestadt, and his general Jurgen, sire to our own Otto von Hapsberg, are mounting an ongoing campaign against the heathen to the east. They are meeting the most resistance from the monstrous fleshcrafters in Hungary and Romania. To this end, they have formed an alliance with the Clan Tremere, who have lived within that same area for centuries. They know much of the Tzimisce, and their arcane powers will be of great use during the conflicts to come. Luminita and her brothers are here to help coordinate that effort, as well as to continue their researches free from the immediate fears of war."
She waves her hand, "A place will be made for her at the lower table." A servant takes an ornate chair and brings it forward to the table where The Doktor and Wisdom are sitting. As Luminita sits, Wisdom mutters "Eleven." again.
Katarina turns to Isabelle, who continues to keep an eye on Andrius as she listened to this news. "Now, it is my pleasure that there will be another joining our ranks tonight. Isabelle, would you do the honors?"
Isabelle stands, gathers her breath, and speaks loudly, projecting clearly to all in the room. "My Prince, Lords and Ladies. Some forty-five years ago, I first laid eyes on this beautiful young man. I courted him, woo'd him, and eventually won the right to make him mine forever. In that time, he has shown me all the promise I saw in him then, so that I may now, without hesitation, present to you one who will bring great pride to my name and the line of my sire. Casper von Hausberg, come forward and take your place among the society of your peers. No more are you a mere fledgling, but a full creature of the night, free to rise and fall based on your own merits, and on your own beauty."
As Casper comes forward, he is reminded of his sire's directions earlier. Praise the Prince and the Court. Promise to obey the laws of the city and the commands of your betters. And by all that is beautiful in the world, keep it short.
