Session 24 - Kiss It | Newcastle Requiem

Session 24 - Kiss It Mar 6, 2024 23:53:54 GMT -6

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Post by Cassian on Mar 6, 2024 23:53:54 GMT -6

Continued from the early hours of January 3rd…

Jenner Lanius Haven, Butcher’s Row

3:00 a.m.

Vixaen’s scream rings out into the night. It lingers in the air unnaturally and “calls out” to the darkness. In moments, six “rubbies” armed with wooden planks, pipes and broken bottles emerge from shadowy alcoves and nearby stairwells. They slowly turn and shuffle toward the vampires.
A wolf’s howl is heard… and the rubbies charge!
Cassian tosses his Escalade keys to Jack as the vampires scramble to get back inside the SUV.
The keys fall short! Jack has to search the snow-packed road to find them.
The vampires barely make it safely into the car. Jack spins the tires as the rubbies snarl and press dirty palms and fingers against the tinted windows.

The Haven, Marshall Manor, Marshall Campus District
4:50 a.m.

The vampires feed in their hunting ground. (NOTE: Herd reset on January 1, 2005.)
Harri sends an email to Sheriff Fakkir informing him about their encounter with Vixaen.
The Sheriff responds immediately: We should meet in person. This is dire news. There has been another Masquerade breach. We will deal with it tomorrow.
The vampires sleep for the day.

Desires for the Night:

- Jack: To set the groundwork for the physical venue for Elysium
- Harri: To convince Alanna to vouch for the coterie and to speak to the Seneschal on their behalf
- Cassian: To convince Alanna to meet with the Bishop

January 3, 2005
The Haven, Marshall Manor, Marshall Campus District
6:00 p.m.

Harri wakes to an email from Fakkir: Meet me at 10 p.m. at St. Catherine’s graveyard in Ripley.
Harri tells Jack he needs to know if Alanna is involved with VII. He also says he needs to replace his car.
Jack takes Harri truck shopping. Wits + Finance roll results in 7 successes with a Messy Crit!
Instead of buying a pickup truck, Jack buys two Lamborghini Diablos (one black, one red) at $150K each and loses one dot in Finances.
Cassian tells Jack he has to get rid of the exotic cars because they just put a target right on their backs.
Jack says he’ll figure something out… maybe sell the red one, or use it as leverage on someone.
Cassian makes 5 more .308 Dragon’s Breath rounds for his sniper rifle and exhausts his supplies at the Haven.
Jack takes steps to secure and outfit a McVaigh Enterprises freighter for the not-Elysium.

St. Catherine’s Church, Ripley
10:00 p.m.

Harri arrives in his new red Lambo. He makes sure he isn’t followed (Wits + Drive: 2 successes) and parks a block from the church.
Harri finds the Sheriff in a central mausoleum. He is still wounded. Harri tells Fakkir about the previous night’s visit to Lanius’ haven.
The Sheriff says, “There’s been yet another breach of the Masquerade: A ghoul was made at Morgan County Medical. Do you know anything about this?”
The Blood Bond compels Harri to tell Fakkir that it was Jack. “He was acting to save his own life… and that of the kid. We brought in the Church to throw off suspicion.”
The Sheriff says, “You have never lied to me. You will tell Jack to never breach the Masquerade again or else he will be punished. The Prince may be absent, but I still uphold the Prince’s law. It is important to protect the Masquerade. You will tell him this.” Harri agrees.
Fakkir then asks Harri, “What is your theory about this… masked attack?”
Harri says, “Vixaen was truly afraid when she saw me. It may have been us.”
The Sheriff pulls from his coat a small red medallion with a rose on it. “Lanius will be at The Sovereign. Show him this. He will know it is from me and he will treat with you. And remember, Harri, if you and I are indeed VII, we will watch the sun rise together.”
Harri nods, accepts the medallion and then asks, “What kind of a gathering would be permitted in lieu of Elysium?”
The Sheriff responds, “If the Prince has forbidden Elysium, then Elysium cannot occur. But the Primogens can meet on their own accord. If they were to do this, there are those who would accuse them of circumventing the Prince’s power. But it is not against the law.”
Harri asks Fakkir if there are any new leads connecting Balthazar and The Herald. “None at this time,” says Fakkir.

January 4, 2005
The Haven, Marshall Manor, Marshall Campus District
12:00 a.m.

Harri tells Jack and Cassian about his meeting with Fakkir. He conveys the Sheriff’s warning to Jack.
Then, Harri produces the rose medallion… and makes Jack kiss it! (5 successes and a Messy Crit!)
Jack rolls 4 successes… so he reluctantly kisses the medallion. As Harri watches Jack do it, the rose dissolves like blood and Jack says, “It’s okay. I know you’re going to greet the dawn soon.”
Harri begins to panic and suffers -1 to Social rolls for the night.
Cassian (with 7 successes) understands exactly what has happened and defuses the situation. “Jack… he’s having another of his Malkavian episodes. Let him be. I’ll calm him down.”
There’s a knock on the door. Harri opens it and sees Girl standing in the front portico, her arms outstretched and her hands bleeding from stigmata wounds. “Why did you abandon me?” she pleads to Harri.
Jack and Cass follow Harri outside and see him talking and gesturing to no one. Jack grabs the rose medallion from Harri’s hand… and he snaps out of his vision.

Blue Sequoia Marina, Waterbank District
1:00 a.m.

The vampires arrive at the marina in their Lambos and locate Alanna’s private boat, The Marie Celeste, anchored in open water some 100 feet from the pier. There are two motored dinghy’s tied off of it.
Harri searches the marina and finds a small 4-person motorboat. He successfully hot-wires it and the vampires climb aboard.
As they approach Alanna’s boat, the vampires see two men with AR-15s on The Marie Celeste’s main deck. They raise their rifles at the approaching boat.
Harri cuts the engine 20 feet from Alanna’s boat. Jack waves a white handkerchief and Alanna emerges from below deck.
Harri convinces Alanna to allow them to come on board. She calls off her guards and grants the vampires 10 minutes.
In turn, the vampires make their case to Alanna in an attempt to convince her to help them contact the Seneschal.
Cassian explains that the Carthians and the Lancea Sanctum now have a common enemy in the Invictus. Chaos is running rampant in the streets and the Primogens need to get a handle on it before clan warfare destroys Newcastle and the Invictus take over.
Jack explains that he will host the proposed meeting. It will be held on a freighter and every clan will be permitted to bring their own security.
Harri explains that Sheriff Fakkir is on board with the idea and he will provide security as well.
The vampires accumulate 10 successes.
Alanna says, “Well, well… Look at you! Coming up in the world, aren’t we? Fine… I’ll talk to Armand for you. If the Sheriff thinks it’s a good idea, well, I guess so do I. Now, get off my boat… and don’t bother coming back. I’ll be finding a new place to sleep, since fucking everyone apparently knows about this place anyway. Buh-bye!”

The Sovereign Plaza Building, Hoyt Cross District
1:32 a.m.

The vampires decide to try to find Jenner Lanius at The Sovereign. They arm themselves with Cassian’s Dragon’s Breath rounds.
Jack drives his black Lamborghini while Cass drives Harri’s red Lambo. As they near The Sovereign building, their cars go unnoticed by absolutely no one.
There is a commotion at The Sovereign. Black sedans are on patrol everywhere. Cass immediately picks up a tail as they cross in front of the building.
The activity seems to be centered on a large 6’ 2” man in a snazzy suit and wingtip shoes standing at the building entrance. His arms are outstretched and he appears to be talking through the intercom to armed guards behind the glass main doors.
Jack and Cassian slow the Lambos to take in the scene. There is no sign of Jenner Lanius anywhere.
Cassian focuses on the man and provokes a Premonition. He is assailed by the smell of garlic and basil mixed with shit. He senses extreme terror. And he also senses Papagenno somewhere far above — feelings of peace, familiarity, safety. Then, he sees a vision of a marionette on a stage being controlled by strings.
Cassian calls Jack’s cell phone and tells him of the premonition. “There’s no sign of Lanius. We can’t park these ridiculous cars anywhere. And this looks bad…”
Jack says, “Yeah. Maybe we come back later?”
Harri activates Heightened Senses (Messy Crit) and picks up bits of the conversation between the man and the guards. He hears the man saying, “He’s not fucking around, guys! You know me!”
Paranoia sets its hooks in Harri and he suddenly feels the need to get the fuck out of there. Immediately.
At that moment, the man’s hand pulls a thin string releasing a pin on a grenade in his other hand! His head explodes, spattering brains, bone and gore across the reinforced glass doors of The Sovereign. The guards inside instinctively drop to the ground.
Jenner’s voice suddenly roars from somewhere behind the exploded corpse. “I told you to give her back!”
The black sedans in the immediate area all converge on the circular driveway.
Cassian tells Jack, “Yeah, we’re outta here.” The Lambos do a u-turn and leave the district. Sirens are heard in the distance.

The Haven, Marshall Manor, Marshall Campus District
2:06 a.m.

The vampires return to the Haven. Jack Sr. is home and holds up his tape recorder. “I know where he sleeps! He told me. I told you, son… I’m one of you!”
“Well,” says Jack. “This calls for a celebration.”

The vampires earn +3 Experience.