Vampire: Dark Ages (Vienna) - Chapter 2: The Slums

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:49 pm

Brother Jurgen excuses himself from the Hungarian Lord and then hustles to catch up to Lament. He doesn't call out to her, but when he's closer he whispers to her. "Thank you for your help with that. But, we have another problem. I... didn't want to say anything out loud, to avoid alarm. But there have been, ahem, incidents amongst the guards. Do you have a moment to look?"

Post by **Corrozus** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:29 pm

Lament gazes up at Brother Jurgen, her eyes unfocused and hazy. "Time...yes, I have time. Incidents?"

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:36 pm

"Some of the city guard... they've... well, people come to me saying that they're possessed." Before she can ask, "They're notpossessed. Struck ill, certainly, raving and insensate. But not taken by demons. They have none of those signs. But to suddenly be struck by lunacy... and all in a similar manner. First it was a footman from the North Gate. Hours after, a sergeant from the East Gate. I think that was part of why those men were so on edge, and shot at the Hungarians. They saw their man fall down the steps to the wall, shouting about rats pouring from the muck, when there were no rats to be seen."

"There have been three others since. One wasn't even on duty. I think he was at a public house bolstering his spirits. And then he was slapping at his skin and yelling, just like the rest."

"They've all been taken to the city jails, just so they don't scare the peasants. Nobody notices screams coming from there, eh?"

Post by **Corrozus** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:45 pm

Lament frowns and looks around thoughtfully. "Are they held at the same place? Ability to get in seems possibly slim..."

Heads slowly in the direction of the nearest city jail, muttering softly under her breath about rats, glancing back to see if Jurgen is following.

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:42 am

[There is only one city jail. It's near the Pauper's Gate.]

Jurgen follows behind. "They're not prisoners of law. We just didn't know where else to put them. But they'll let me in, and you with me."

It takes only a few minutes to get to the jail, and as predicted, the City Guard let Jurgen and Lament into the cells. The guard escorting them says to Jurgen, "They seem to have quieted down now. They still don't know us, but at least they're not digging at their own skin now." The man looks shaken.

The men, now a total of seven, are in two cells in the jail, most just sitting on the floor muttering. One is standing and looking at his hands, moving them back and forth in front of him quickly.

Post by **Corrozus** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:43 pm

Lament places a hand on the bars and watches the men closely for a few moments. She looks over at Jurgen, "When did the first man become...agitated?"

use Dementation 3 to examine the men

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 12:17 am

Jurgen replies, "Perhaps an hour before sunrise, for the first."

[See PM for what you see.]

Post by **Corrozus** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 12:38 am

Lament chews on her lower lip and looks over at the guard. "I need to go inside." She steps back from the bars and waits expectantly while the guard unlocks the door. She murmurs her thanks and examines the men closer.

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 1:18 am

The guard leans over and opens the unlocked cell door. "They never even tried to open it. 'Tweren't even locked. Poor buggers."

[See other PM for further info.]

Post by **Corrozus** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 2:33 am

Lament narrows her eyes and exits the cage, closing the door behind her. She goes over to Jurgen and describes the cause of their hallucinations, indicating that the symptoms should have naturally worn off by now, especially for the first few who were affected.

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 2:46 am

"Poison? Who would poison the guard like that? And why weren't all of them effected? If the city is truly under attack, as the rumors say, this might be related. Can you discover how they were poisoned?"

Post by **Corrozus** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 9:09 pm

Lament nods thoughtfully and looks up at the guard. "Who would have been in charge of these men about one hour before their symptoms started? Were they in the same area at any point in time? Did they eat or drink anything before or during their shift prior to the symptoms?"

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:28 am

The guard is confused. "I'm... I don't know." He looks at the men in the cage, and thinks. "The Sergeant would have been in charge of his own men, so not answering to anybody on the day. The Lieutenant usually stays here in the Command while the Sergeants take the men out for duties."

He looks from face to face. "And... I know Darius there. He was brought in maybe right after his shift started, I think? Before his shift, he'd have been left to hisself. As long as the men show up on time and sober, none look to where they are before."

"You might want to ask the other men from their units if they know? I couldn't really say for sure, I'm sorry."

Post by **Corrozus** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:46 pm

Lament sighs softly and seems to lose interest in the guard, turning back to Jurgen. "Just...keep an eye on them..." She trails off and lightly touches the bars before leaving the Jail, her fingertips brushing against the walls as she departs. As she exits the building, she looks around and makes her way towards where she believes Wisdom will be.

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:38 am

[Oh, happy day. I get to fail to live up to DPJ's standard of verse. Remember, Orden is an homage to the man's grace and skill, even if I myself lack the talent to properly portray that grace and skill.]

Jurgen watches Lament walk away. He is, by now, used to her sudden lack of interest. Which is to say, he understands that when others would continue to feign interest well after there was none, he understood that she would never lie to him. He reminded himself of this, to salve the sting of what might otherwise be an insult.

The guard watched her leave, then said to Jurgen, "Will she..." before the priest cut him off with a subtle gesture. Lament can hear nothing more behind her, and eventually she must be out of hearing of the two men.

[queue slow walking music here] Imagine a gentle montage of scenes of Lament walking across the city of Vienna in the night. Always, she seems to be standing apart for others, even when she walks just near them. Her steps are slow, as if she weren't aware of where they took her. She hardly seems to look around her, even at intersections or when noises suddenly sound nearby, a door closing here, an argument down that side street. [music fades]

To the west of town there is a small manor, belonging to a Baronet. His name is enscribed over the gates to his courtyard, if one cared to look. But stangely, few ever did. His estates within the city are actually quite large, and very comfortable. And yet most would be hard pressed to remember they were there, even were they standing in front of them. It was rumored, among those few who even thought of the Baronet, that he spent all of his time in his estates in the countryside. He certainly had not been seen in Vienna in many years.

But, in the estate stayed his aging aunt. She was quite mad, they said. The Baronet provided her with the manor, big enough so that she would be free to wander at her leisure, but always safely within the confines of the place. There were servants who kept the place clean and free of dangers for her. It was easy work, but they were all very devoted to their aging mistress.

The Baronet had put in charge of it all, his most trusted seneschal, Jethro. He was a man of calm, when he can be. And great devotion to his charge.

She was a very sad creature, really. She'd wander the halls and the garden, seemingly not aware of her surroundings, until some inconsequential thing would catch her attention. Then she would mutter, none ever heard clearly what she said. Sometimes she'd stay focused on that one thing for hours, maybe even days at a time. And other times, once her words were said, she would continue her sad meanderings around her gilded cage.

But then, on some days, her mutterings would grow more insistent, and she would call for Jethro. Only, she named him Orden, in spite of his protests. He hadn't protested in some time, however. And poor Jethro would come to her call, and bend an ear to her quiet murmers, before accepting her charge and rushing off on some errand.

Few understood these errands, least of all poor Orden. But the Baronet had charged him with keeping the old woman safe and content, and her whims must be met or she would work herself into a right fit.

Lament came to the gate of the Baronet, where one of the liveried guards allowed her into the manor. Jethro was usually to be found in his study, though when she went there and knocked at the door, he was not inside.

A voice from behind her, so close as to almost be touching her, says "What do your eyes see, cousin? That these blind orbs of mine do not?" She smells at Lament's hair, "Or is it that you wish revelations, where your vision shows you nothing?"

[This is actually surprisingly coherent for Wisdom.]

Post by **Corrozus** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:22 pm

Lament purses her lips thoughtfully and takes a moment to mull it over. "I see the guards being poisoned with no connection beyond their profession. I seek guidance or assistance...no more then you are willing to provide."

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:01 am

Wisdom tsks. "Only a German would confuse a gift for poison. Pretend you are English, instead."

She taps herself on the temple, and smiles knowingly.

Post by **Corrozus** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:31 am

"A gift...what are they supposed to see with this gift I wonder...one of them mentioned...rats?" Lament turns around and looks at Wisdom.

Post by **Goatkiller666** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:37 pm

"They see what's in front of them. See it for what it is."

She pauses, almost startled. She cocks her head, as if listening to a quiet noise. She rushes out of the hallway to the garden, and heads for a large bush near the front gate.

"Look!" She points to a spider, spinning a web between the bush and the wall. As the web grows, she starts to cackle, and clap her hands.

"The daughter or son of the serpant, child of the devil, is running from the servant of the Lord."

Then she frowns, "Athena is killing her hounds? The Abyss takes them!"

Suddenly calm, she turns to Lament again, and whispers "Someone else is pretending to be English, child. But perhaps she doesn't realize that the gift of seeing everything will poison a man faster than watching everything vanish."

"Or perhaps she does."

Post by **Corrozus** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 5:32 pm

Lament nods slowly and turns to leave. "Thank you Wisdom, it's always a pleasure speaking with you."

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Vampire: Dark Ages (Vienna) - Chapter 2: The Slums