Session 19 - Playing With Fire

Session 19 - Playing With Fire Dec 22, 2023 12:16:34 GMT -6

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Post by Cassian on Dec 22, 2023 12:16:34 GMT -6

The night continues from previous session…

December 28, 2004
The Sovereign Plaza Building, Hoyt Cross District
12:12 a.m.

Cassian and Harri are standing over the dead guard in Duke Almengore’s sitting room as his walkie crackles, “Code 42. Code Four. Two. We’ve got a 10-53 in progress. Switch to secure channels.”
Harri and Cass use the guard’s key card to go back upstairs. Harri uses Cloak of Shadows.
The Sovereign appears normal. As Cassian scans the restaurant, however, he has a vision—a flash of men in suits moving quickly to an armory, loading shotguns with Dragon’s Breath rounds.
Cassian and Harri decide to leave via the elevator. As he makes his way to the reception area, Cassian sees a couple having an argument at one of the nearby tables.
He registers their names as “Frank” and “Emily”. Suddenly, Emily turns to Cassian, locks eyes with him and says, “Get out of my mind!” But none of this actually happens.
In the elevator, Cassian trips the fire alarm, stopping the elevator five floors above the building lobby level. He and and Harri climb out the ceiling access hatch and pry open the elevator door to the floor above.
The vampires exit the elevator bank into a modern-looking office hallway on the 6th floor. They make a concerted effort to move carefully, avoiding all cameras. Harri rolls 8 successes, and a Messy Crit!
As he makes his way down the hallway, Harri spots several cameras and manages to easily avoid all of them. But, suddenly, Harri spies a camera in a shadowy corner turning and focusing on them.
Harri looks down to conceal his face and runs at the camera! As he nears it, he feels a cold rush of fear.
The camera continues to zoom in on Harri—the lens telescopes and extends and extends until it reaches Harri’s forehead! It pierces his flesh and vitae explodes from his head!
“Mmmm…,” the camera says. “Those are GOOOOD memories!” [Harri’s Dexterity tests are -2, Mental -1 for the night.]
Cassian lifts Harri from the ground and tries to talk him down. With much effort, the vampires race down the emergency stairs to the parking garage.
The outer garage door is closed. They see emergency lights flashing and hear firetruck sirens approaching.
The vampires abandon Cassian’s stolen Suburban and duck out a maintenance exit leading to the alley behind the building.

The Sovereign, Hoyt Cross District
12:17 a.m.

In the private dining room, one of the bodyguards leans close to the Duke and whispers to him. The Duke turns to Jack. “There has been an incident in the building. Please, sit.”
The Duke motions for Masuko to bring Allison and Papagenno in from the balcony. He then excuses himself and leaves with his men.
Masuko returns to the dining room and sits across from Jack. Allison and Papagenno begin eating and enjoying each other’s company, oblivious to the vampires.
“I don’t like this,” says Jack to Masuko. “Should we help him?” No response from Masuko.
After more awkward moments of silence, Jack gets up and goes to the balcony. A minute later, Masuko comes out and stands beside Jack, gazing out at the city skyline.
Jack says, “I know you didn’t want to make me. You did as you were told. I’m trying to do the same.”
Masuko says, “Who is it that you really serve, Jack?”
“I serve Purpose. I serve Invictus. We’re in a cage with people fighting over scraps. What little is left is falling to ruin. Someone’s trying to take even that from us. Elysium’s gone. Order is gone. I’m no doormat to a billionaire fuck.”
“You sound just like the Duke,” says Masuko. She adds cooly, “Or someone who wants to become him.” Masuko goes back inside.
A few moments later, two guards arrive and offer to escort Jack to his vehicle. A guard produces a cell phone and hands it to Jack. “You are to check in. Dial it every hour tomorrow night.”
Papagenno and Allison are escorted by other guards into an adjoining room.
Jack leaves the building in his car and picks up Cassian and Harri several blocks away.
As they drive back to the haven, Cass and Harri tell Jack about the “message” they left in the Duke’s offices. They ask Jack why he chose to abort.
Jack explains that he realized the weapon they were planning to use was no longer in the Duke’s offices.
Cassian points out that Jack is one drink away from becoming the Duke’s thrall, so he’s running out of time. Jack pleads for more time to come up with another option.
Cassian’s phone rings. It’s Desirée. Cassian gets out of Jack’s car, hails a cab and heads directly to her apartment.

Canterbury Apartments, Calexico District
2:00 a.m.

Desirée’s apartment is a disaster. She greets Cassian at the door with a hug. She has a black eye.
Desirée tells Cassian that Henry left her. They argued and Henry accidentally shoved her. She hit her head on a door and received a nasty cut.
She tells Cass that Henry didn’t mean it. Then, she tells Cass that she’s pregnant. [Cassian hears snakes hissing for a moment.]
Cassian offers to help Desirée by patching things up with Henry. He gets a successful Manipulation roll, but with a Messy Crit! [Cassian is at -2 to any Manipulation roll and -2 for all Social pools.]
Desirée looks at Cassian and says, “I trust you… Once. I trust you twice. I trust you thrice. I trust you four times. Five times. Six times. Seven.”
Then she says, “The intensity of the wish gives me power over another, said the First. Though the wish is unexpressed, said the Second.”
Desirée walks to a closet and opens the door revealing a chair and a rope hanging from inside. But none of this actually happens.
Cassian clears his head. He settles Desirée in her bed and carefully cleans her cut. When she falls asleep, he sweeps her apartment for drugs and returns to the haven.

The Haven, Marshall Manor, Marshall Campus District
5:01 a.m.

Jack returns to the haven and finds his father there. “I did it, son,” says Jack Sr. “I proved it! He called me. I went to him. He asked me where you slept… He wanted the address. I told him nothing!”
Jack says, “What do you remember about the meeting? Think carefully. Every detail matters.”
Jack Sr. says he took a cab to Hohenheim College and got out near a fountain. He saw a woman talking to Balthazar. She was wearing purple clothing and a 17th century bird mask. Jack realizes his father is describing The Herald.
Jack Sr. says, “I told him I couldn’t remember anything. I told him ‘Jack did something to my mind!’ Wasn’t that smart? Then he dropped me off downtown and I fed on a cabbie. See? We can be a team, son. I’m on your side. I’m free!”
Jack says, “Go to sleep. Fortify your room,” and retires for the day.
Cassian feeds on a museum security guard on the coterie hunting ground and slakes 2 Hunger before bedding down for the day.

Desires for the Night:

- Jack: To contact Rachel Rierson
- Harri: To check on Petey
- Cassian: To make Henry his ghoul

The Haven, Marshall Manor, Marshall Campus District
6:00 p.m.

Harri wakes to an email from Sheriff Fakkir instructing him to meet him alone at a new address.
Jack receives a voicemail from the blacksmith saying that the modifications to his custom sword order will take two weeks to finish.
At Jack’s behest, Harri calls Rachel Rierson to set up a call with Jack. She calls Jack right away and he updates her on the details of his meeting with White Frankie Ardelino.
Jack asks Rachel about her favorite flower. She seems amused. “No one has asked me that for a long time…” She says she recalls liking the oeil jaune (yellow eye).
Jack then receives a text from Alanna on his burner phone: We on, babe? Jack responds: Confirming. Hold on.
Shortly, thereafter, another text from Alanna: Waiting… 🔥🔥🔥
Jack dials the phone given to him by the Duke’s guard. The call connects and he says, “This is Jack Wallace.” A voice responds, “Roger.” [Click.] The call is disconnected.
Jack infiltrates a holiday party to feed and slakes 2 Hunger.
Upon waking, Cassian heals the last of his Aggravated Damage, uses Blush of Life and catches a cab to visit Henry.

Kellogg Slum
7:12 p.m.

Harri goes hunting and targets a heavyset librarian named Felicia Price. A Critical Success results in Harri tapping into a Dyscrasia: Upon ingesting her blood, he experiences extreme despair and sadness.
Harri tastes her mourning for her late husband. As he continues to feed on her, she begs for death and Harri feels a rush of Melancholic Resonance. He slakes 2 Hunger and doesn’t kill her. [Harri’s Fortitude and Obfuscate powers are +1 until his next feeding.]
Harri meets Sheriff Fakkir at an abandoned gas station in a slum east of the city. “Walk with me,” says Fakkir. “I have received word from the Duke that VII has struck again. But the pattern does not match. A ghoul was killed, but VII kills vampires. I suspect another player is using VII’s scare tactics to attack Invictus.”
The Sheriff says the Duke has reason to believe it was the Lancea Sanctum.
Harri tells the Sheriff it was Alanna and the Carthians. [3 successes]
The Sheriff is surprised by that and responds, “We must interrogate Alanna Belko and quickly. The Duke will most certainly deliver a retribution strike.”
Harri then says that The Mouth was seen talking to Balthazar prior to the attack, inferring that other players are likely involved.
Harri asks the Sheriff for more time to gather evidence. Fakkir responds, “I give you one night and then I will take action.”
Harri feeds on Fakkir and strengthens his Blood Bond to 2.

Villa Toscana Apartment Complex, Little Italy District
7:22 p.m.

Cassian arrives at Henry’s apartment and finds him in a sad, despondent state. In his hands are a bottle of whiskey and a 9mm pistol. He’s a wreck and looks strung out.
Cassian slips into his priest role and Henry comes clean. He’s remorseful about everything… his fight with Desirée, his drug problem, his erratic behavior.
Cassian uses Mesmerize on Henry to disarm him and to make him sit down.
When Henry is calm, Cassian walks behind him and feeds on him. [Cass gains +1 to one pool for High Functioning Addict.]
Then, Cassian opens his own wrist and allows Henry to drink his vitae, making Henry his ghoul!
Cassian orders Henry to clean himself up, be a man, and take responsibility for Desirée and their unborn child.
Again, Cass sweeps the apartment for drugs and leaves Henry to rest.

Virginia Marshall Park, Marshall Campus District
11:04 p.m.

The vampires arrive separately in a park in their domain.
Jack continues his hourly check-ins on the Invictus phone. Each time: no contact.
When Cassian sees Jack Sr. in Jack’s car, he tells Jack that they can’t keep meeting like this and discussing plans with Jack Sr. around because he’s more than likely an informant.
Jack asks his father to take a walk. “Sure thing, son. I understand.” And Sr. walks some distance away into the park shadows.
Jack says he wants to tell the Duke about The Mouth and Balthazar.
Jack also proposes a way to test his father’s loyalty: Plant false intel with Jack Sr.—a meeting at midnight at Jack’s old lair—and then see who shows up.
Rustling noises and the sounds of a cat shrieking are heard from the bushes. Suddenly, hordes of rats pulling bloody cat entrails emerge from the shadows. The rats arrange the entrails to spell “HER”.
Cassian explains to Jack and Harri the debt he inadvertently incurred with The Beast. When he says he has no way to pay The Beast, the rats break the entrails.
Cassian uses his Kindred Law and Politics skill [8 successes!] to deduce the meaning of the rat’s message: Should he fail to provide payment by tonight, he and his coterie will forever lose access to The Beast.
Cassian asks Harri to call in a boon from Angel Eyes. Jack and Harri reluctantly agree that keeping The Beast as a connection is in their best interest. Harri makes the call to Mama.
Harri asks Mama if she can provide a battered pregnant woman to The Beast. Mama is so proud of Harri for meeting with The Beast on his own. “Well, I need to check inventory,” she says. “I have a shipment coming in!” She says she’ll get D’Angelo to help.
Mama asks if Harri has learned anything new about Girl. She says that D’Angelo is still looking for her.

December 29, 2004
12:01 a.m.

Jack checks in again on the Invictus phone. No contact.
Jack texts Alanna: Proceed. Alanna responds immediately: About fucking time. Isn’t it funny that it’s called a burner phone? Hahaha. Love ya!
Jack smashes the burner phone.
Jack asks his father if Balthazar has contacted him. “Well, no…”, responds Jack Sr. “You smashed my phone, son.”
Jack tells his father to deliver to Balthazar the false address and meeting time, and that he’ll get him another phone. “You want me to deliver a false address? Uh, okay. I understand, son.”
Cassian and Harri look at each other and then at Jack a bit confused.
Jack and his father purchase a burner phone at the All Night Mobile store conveniently located on the corner, and Jack Sr. leaves to carry out his orders.

St. Jude’s Cathedral, St. Jude’s Cathedral District
12:30 a.m.

Harri’s phone rings. Caller ID: Julio. The call is from D’Angelo and he’s at a club. Pulsing music can be heard in the background.
D’Angelo informs Harri that he’s on the hunt for what he asked for. “Actually, I see something tasty right here… gotta go, Harri!”
Jack hears a report about two priests attacked at St. Jude’s Cathedral. He informs Cassian.
The vampires get in Jack’s car and arrive at St. Jude’s. Police have cordoned off an area in front of the cathedral. There’s an ambulance, a stretcher and some cops interviewing a deacon on the front steps. Onlookers and some press have started to gather as well.
Jack uses Awe. Harri uses Obfuscate and slips past the police line undetected. Cassian talks his way in.
Jack looks inside the ambulance and sees EMTs working on a savagely beaten priest.
Cassian and Harri approach the deacon. He is visibly shaken. Cassian calmly asks him what he knows.
The deacon says two priests celebrating midnight mass suddenly stood up and walked out of the cathedral. Minutes later, they were found in the streets battered, one beaten and one dead. A black Escalade was seen driving away.
While he doesn’t recognize either victim, Cassian confirms that both are Lancea Sanctum ghouls. The vampires return to Jack’s car.
As they drive away, Cassian sees Bishop Antrobus standing framed in the cathedral doors, gazing into the street. For a split second, the bishop’s face contorts into that of a hideous beast and then returns to his normal face. He shuts the massive cathedral doors.
In the car, Harri receives a call from D’Angelo. “Hello, Harri. The package is being delivered.” Muffled screams and thudding can be heard in the background. [away from the phone] “Settle down! It’ll all be over soon.” [then back on the phone] “Oh, how quaint… struggling for two. Gotta go, Harri. Proud of you.” [The boon is paid. Harri and Cass receive 2 Stains!]

2:03 a.m.

Jack drops off Harri and Cassian at their haven and, once more, checks in on the Invictus phone.
This time, the operator says, “The Sovereign is on lockdown. The building is off limits. Check in at midnight once a night until further notice. The Duke is safe. His guests are quite comfortable. Be safe. Stick to your purpose.”
Jack receives a text from Alanna: Burn, baby, burn! It is done. Bring the old man.
Jack points his car toward The Purple Rose.

Graves Island Sewage Treatment Plant, Graves Island District
2:31 a.m.

Harri and Cassian decide to collect on their payment to The Beast. They arrive at the now familiar grate on Graves Island.
There are fresh tire tracks leading to the grate. Cassian uses Premonition to focus on the tracks and sees a vision of a struggle laced with fear, horror and pain.
The vampires approach the grate. Cassian turns to Harri and thanks him for his help. Then, Cass shouts into the darkness within, “The pact has been kept! The debt has been paid.”
Moments later, a sound like an exhalation emanates from the darkness accompanied by the clicking of wings. Thousands of wings.
Swarms of roaches burst forth from the grate, scrabbling over the vampires’ bodies and surrounding them.
The cacophony of clicking and hissing forms words: I HAVE FED. I KNOW WHERE THE TZIMISCE ARE.
Cassian says, “Tell me where to find them, Elder, so that I may reclaim the body of Cassius Vulpa and recover the Spear of Longinus.”
WHAT WOULD YOU DO, I WONDER, WITH THE SPEAR…?
“I would keep it safe,” responds Cassian.
IN YOUR HANDS, THE SPEAR COULD DESTROY ALL THE KINDRED OF NEWCASTLE. REMOVING THE SPEAR WOULD WAKE VULPA… THEN NO KINDRED WILL BE SAFE. BRING THE SPEAR TO ME.
“I understand… and I have no desire to wake the Ancient One.”
THE TZIMISCE ARE IN AN ABANDONED OPERA HOUSE… DOMUM CARNIS…
“You asked me to retrieve the Spear, and so I shall. As your servant and friend, Elder.”
ARE WE… FRIENDSSSS…?
The clicking and hissing intensifies and the roaches disperse into the shadows as quickly as they arrived.

The vampires earn +2 Experience.