Post by Cassian on Nov 12, 2022 15:09:03 GMT -6
October 28, 2004
The Obsidian Hotel, Butcher’s Row, Three Corners District
1:03 a.m.
- After the shootout on the bridge to Graves Island, Jack, Harri and Cassian are a few blocks from The Obsidian Hotel. They find Papagenno in the hotel bar, shaken, and pounding whiskey.
- Papagenno has a wound on his forehead. He explains that he and Allison Shaw were lured into a nearby alley where he was jumped and Allison was taken.
- In a daze, Papagenno says he saw Allison “lifted up the wall of the alley” by something unseen. He can’t explain it.
- The group walks to the alley to investigate. Cassian’s Auspex reveals latent residual fear on the wall of the alley.
- Harri is visibly irate. He inspects the wall and finds small, fresh chips in the brick leading straight up.
- Harri finds a homeless woman near the north end of the alley and brazenly feeds on her, trying to openly provoke whoever took Allison.
- Jack hurries to provide cover for Harri. He intercepts two young actors walking by and succeeds in distracting them from Harri’s antics in the alley.
- Cassian notices a water tower on the roof of an adjacent building that curiously has no ladder or access of any kind to the top of the tower.
- The group enters the apartment building next to the alley. Harri succeeds in compelling the building super, Bogdan, to let them in and climb to the roof.
- Harri begins having hallucinations and continues his erratic behavior.
- After inspecting the roof, Cassian decides to take Papagenno back to the hotel. Harri and Jack contemplate how to access the water tower.
- Back at The Obsidian, Papagenno is attacked the moment that Cassian leaves him alone in his hotel room.
- Cassian breaks the door down and finds the room trashed, the window smashed, and Papagenno being dangled outside by an invisible force.
- Cassian uses Auspex to see a hideous vampire holding Papagenno.
- Cassian fails to compel the vampire to release Papagenno in exchange for himself. The vampire calls Cassian a “Ventrue” and “Invictus” and slings insults. He is angry about the fledgling’s incursion into his territory.
- In exchange for Papagenno’s life, the vampire forces Cassian to meet with Bishop Antrobus the following night to “ask him for help”.
- Cassian gets Papagenno to the hospital, but is detained by hotel security. He compels the guards to leave the room and then makes his exit to the street.
- Harri and Jack leap across rooftops to try to reach the tower, but are confronted by the same vampire that assaulted Papagenno.
- In exchange for Allison’s release, Harri is forced to grant a boon to the vampire, who will ‘call it in’ sometime in the future.
- Jack and Harri find Allison, in shock, wandering outside the apartment building. She sees a bit of blood on Harri’s neck, tastes it and says absentmindedly, “Yes, that’s what it tasted like…”
- Jack takes Allison to the same hospital where Papagenno is taken.
- At the hospital, Jack convinces a nurse to allow him to enter Papagenno’s room. He exhorts the unconscious man to not trust Phillip Blakely and to keep his mouth shut if he wants to protect Allison. Papagenno’s pulse noticeably increases, but he doesn’t wake. Jack leaves.
- Harri, Jack and Cassian regroup and agree that they need to deal with this vampire who is targeting their loved ones. Time to ask for help.
October 29, 2004
Various Havens
7:14 p.m.
- Harri wakes to find The Girl in his haven. She dials Mama.
- Angel Eyes tells Harri that the vampire they encountered is Jenner Lanius, a Nosferatu sub-Regent and very dangerous. She suggests getting the sheriff involved at Elysium… or simply “staking” him themselves. She then tells Harri that she has another task for him.
- Jack wakes and feeds on a frat boy.
- Harri calls Paul Carson, the shower curtain ring salesman, sets up a meeting and feeds on him.
- Cassian wakes ravenous and feeds on a fat bastard in the Newcastle Gun Club, leaving him passed out in a bathroom stall.
- Jack calls his heart surgeon friend, Thomas, and arranges a meeting. He tries to warn Thomas that things are getting strange, but Thomas is confused by what Jack is not telling him.
- Jack visits his unconscious father in the hospital. He is interrupted by Balthazar who informs him that the Duke has given Jack until midnight the following night to deal with Papagenno, or else Balthazar will step in personally.
October 29, 2004
St. Jude’s Cathedral
10:47 p.m.
- Cassian and Harri arrive at the cathedral and find Bishop Antrobus. The Bishop invites them into his private chambers to talk.
- Cassian describes their encounter with the vampire the previous night and asks for the Bishop’s wisdom and help. The Bishop is pleased.
- The Bishop informs Cassian and Harri that they should challenge Jenner to a duel at the next Elysium in two night’s time.
- When Cassian inquires why Jenner would send him to the Bishop to ask for help in the first place, the Bishop bristles and a flash of rage is revealed.
- The Bishop offers the fledglings a special ‘draught’ that will infuse them with power and might — his blood.
- Cass and Harri sample the blood. They are granted temporary Potence in the form of preternatural strength.
- Jack arrives at the cathedral. The group discusses their options.
- They agree to attempt to resolve their Jenner problem using political channels, working within the boundaries of the Prince’s laws. They agree to set up the duel at Elysium. Failing that, though, they are prepared to defend themselves and their loved ones by any means necessary.