@Chiharu. your discreet inquires among the Tremere around you initially yield a few shrugs and shakes of heads. Then one of the acolytes leans in and whispers ”He’s a thin blood. Barely Kindred at all. I’m surprised he would show himself here, but these are strange nights.”

---

@Seren. among what can only be the Brujah, there are a few angry looking neonates. They posture and scowl. It’s tiresome, but…

Option one. A detail beneficial to Seren: …one of the seems to have dropped something. Black and silver metal, you didn’t get a good look, but you think you can grab it without being noticed.

Option two. A detail beneficial to the Ventrue. …one of them seems to have dropped something. Gold and blue plastic, with what looked like wires attached. You didn’t get a good look but you think you can grab it without being noticed.

---

@David. the Tremere Regent leans over and says something to the Sheriff in a low tone. You catch a couple of words ‘bridge’ and ‘north’ and ‘packs’ but you can’t make out anything more.

---

@Eva. ”That is very concerning” Solomon says sympathetically. ”Perhaps the Conclave will decide to mount a rescue operation? Or arrange for an exchange or random. One has to wonder about their motivation in taking hostages.”

Seren's focus seemed to be on the brighter of the two objects, particularly due to the presence of wiring: a bug, a bomb or some other device? Whatever it was, Seren got the sense that she had to have it, so she scooted forwards just far enough that she could slide her delicate foot forward and pull the item back towards herself unobtrusively before picking it up and, if determining it did not pose an immediate danger, put it in the pocket of her suit jacket for later examination.

Her dark eyes were mostly focused on the Sherriff, so when the Tremere Regent leaned over, though she could hear nothing of the conversation, she observed The Bull's expression, trying to judge if the news was good or bad. She was not using her powers, merely the training that Cnaeus had put her through to constantly be looking for a weakness or angle one could use against anyone who posed a danger to her.

While she trusted that Louis meant her no harm - after all, he had set her up in one of the most plush hotels in the city and given her a cortege of his own men to escort her - that meant that if something threatened Louis or the missing Prince, it was in her best interest to be apprised of the matter.

Seren didn't want to be the first one to speak, she didn't want to draw any attention to herself. To see a Ventrue so withdrawn and cautious was a shocking sight - she looked almost broken, despite being as beautiful and powerful as any of the other proper Kindred bloodlines. It almost looked like she was hiding a secret, which she certainly was - anyone here could report back to Cnaeus and she would be trapped by the legionnaire once more, who refused to relinquish control of her even though he had little interest in her beyond what practical services she offered.

Replying back to the person who knew him somewhat I saw him a week or so ago, He threatened me and by his words i assume he had a couple friends with him.  I was able to bluff him.

At the time i thought he was sabbat by the way he acted and tried to threaten me even after he knew i was a kindred.  I'm not going to call him out in front of the conclave but if he is sabbat who would know more about the politics of the city who i could i tell my story to so they can help?

Concerning.  There was some sympathy in Solomon's tone, at least, but his calm made Eva want to scream.  Shouldn't everyone be as frightened as she was?  How could everyone in the room simply stand here calmly, as though the problem at hand was a minor one that would soon be solved?  Guillaume was alone out there, in need of help, and they all wanted only to talk.

But the next moment she realized how unfair that was, and managed a grateful nod to Solomon.  The problem was being taken very seriously indeed -- the mere fact that they were all gathered together in this way was proof of that.  What bothered her was the idea that Guillaume's safety was not the first and only priority for the others, but of course it could not be.  They had to think of the survival of the Kindred as a whole, not the life of one Toreador.

This stiffened her resolve to be of help, however limited her skills, and Solomon raised an interesting point in the larger meaning behind the taking of hostages.  From what she knew of the Sabbat, that was not their usual way, so there must be larger matters afoot.  She would have to trust that those larger matters would keep Guillaume alive and relatively unharmed, at least for a time.

"It is strange," she agreed.  "We must hope that it means they are willing to negotiate, and will not do anything... anything rash."  It was all she could do to keep her voice steady, as was expected of a lady in public.  Giving in to her emotion would help no one.

@Seren. your little trick pays off and you are able to scoop up the device unnoticed. You barely have time to hide it away in your handbag, but immediately recognize the plastic body of a portable cassette player and headphones. Probably a Walkman, they are quite popular these nights.

Louis doesn’t seem particularly concerned as the Regent speaks with him. He seems attuned to the man’s words, giving a slight nod, then whispering something back.

---

@David. the Sheriff whispers something back to the Tremere Regent. You pick up the words ‘uncertainties’ and ‘premature’.

---

@Chiharu. ”A Sabbat coming here would be suicide.” the acolyte replies. ”Maybe they invited the thin bloods because things are so dire with the Prince missing. Perhaps we should ask the Regent after the Conclave?”

---

@Eva. ”That is an astute observation,” Solomon replied. ”If they weren’t interested in some type of negotiations, why take the hostages at all? Yes it seems to me that they must want to talk, otherwise what leverage would hostages possibly bring?”

Seren puts her handbag on her lap quietly, attempting to eject the tape from the Walkman to see whether it was simply someone's The Head on the Door album by The Cure or something. If the tape looked like a blank tape, she'd take it out of the Walkman just in case. She didn't want it overwriting or anything if one of the Walkman's buttons got pushed while in her bag. She'd show Louis later, if she saw him again that night.

Louis' calm face soothed her somewhat - if he wasn't worried, she wasn't worried yet. At least, not about whatever he'd been told. The thoughts of Cnaeus potentially marching through that door (yes, marching, the damned man still strode like a Roman soldier when he walked, though Seren had excellent posture because of it) absolutely terrified her. She knew she'd be in terrible trouble and he was the sort to hold a long grudge, as evidenced by his longstanding feud with Louis.

Seren remains quiet and serene otherwise, not wondering too much about the tape yet. She carried a Walkman quite often herself, it was such a novelty to be able to push a few buttons and hear music whenever she wanted without a live band or orchestra. Music helped drown out the memories.

Maybe he thought i was sabbat, but that is definitely not how he approached me.

As it does not seem that the meeting has been started yet, Chiharu heads over to the boy.

Giving him a big smile and reaching out to shake his hand.

Hello, I didnt catch your name last time we met.  I am Chiharu.  Is your friend here also?   Lots of kindred here, do be nice wont you?

Eva glanced over to Guarin, sitting stoically with the other Kindred of note.  In a strange way it was reassuring to see him there.  However fraught his relationship with his Childe -- and therefore with his Childe's Childe -- here was at least one other person who was genuinely attached to Guillaume, and that thought made her feel a little less alone.  It was small comfort, but for now it would have to do.

Recollecting the conversation she was engaged in, she turned back to Solomon.  "Yes, they -- they must have some agenda beyond merely killing any of us, or spreading chaos.  They do enjoy chaos, but whatever is happening here cannot be that simple," she said, with some bitterness at the thought of those beasts being pleased at all this worry and fear.  How could they exist as even a loose alliance when it seemed that all they had in common was liking this sort of anarchy?  It seemed impossible.

But if they had the Prince as well -- a thought nearly as dreadful as Guillaume being in their clutches -- then even those thoughtless animals must realize they could use this to their advantage in some way, even if they were not able to agree on what they might want.  "Will the Council be willing to give a ransom, do you think?" she asked, now with apprehension in her tone.  Perhaps negotiating would be considered a sign of weakness, but it seemed the only option from what little Eva knew so far.

@Seren. it’s a blank tape, the kind you record on. Maybe it’s got some Robert Smith or maybe it’s got something else recorded on it. You won’t know until you press play.

Louis seems weirdly calm. They all do, except the Malkavian who looks like a lunatic. The other elders are all sitting at the table as if the Prince hasn’t been kidnapped and an isn’t war looming with the Sabbat.

@Chiharu. ”I’m Clark,” the teen replied, ”Hey, listen, I’m sorry about the park we were just trying to stay safe. Sometimes we get hunted you know? By full bloods trying to prove themselves. We’ve heard that in other cities they declare a scourge in us, so it pays to be careful, you know?”

@Eva. A random? Perhaps,” Solomon replies unconvincingly. ”It would need to serve as a means to their ends. To end the Masquerade and rule over the Kine until Gehenna,” he added.  ”For the Sabbat, this is the only end game.”

---

The sound of a bell signals the preliminaries for the Conclave. Those assembled along the outside of the room fall quiet as the eldest and most powerful take their seats at the table.

At a signal from the Seneschal, two robed Kindred assemble behind the Prince’s throne. One holds a heavy tome, bound in ancient leather. While the other intoned ”Trust in the Conclave with all your blood and lean not upon your own understanding; in all your ways submit to judgement, and make your path straight.”

Well Clark, maybe you wish to re-think your tactics, or maybe go with the less threatening approach.  If you were worried about me, then just go the other way.

Chiharu goes back to her seat when the bell sounds.

Seren's judgment changed as she noticed that, considering the circumstances, all were slightly too calm - it wasn't just that Louis had the matters in hand, it was something more than that. Almost as though this was expected. Was she about to witness a coup?

At the words of the elders, Seren bowed her head and set both hands upon the table, palms-up. A way to show both that she was unarmed, but also a way to expose herself and access to her vitae obediently. A Ventrue through and through, she knew that the matters of Clan were more important than her individual life.

The tape made her wonder many things, but she knew she could not surreptitiously check the recording at the table so it would remain a mystery until she was dismissed. Though her head was bowed, she made good use of her peripheral vision to ensure no one was making moves against her while she sat in such a vulnerable position with so many less-than-friendly vampires about.

Solomon's comment made Eva shake her head, in disbelief rather than denial.  "I don't see how they can live like that," she said, unsure if she should pity them on that point or be even more angry with them.

The meeting is called to order then, and she looks out at the Council.  Even through her own unease, she can see that they look calm and collected, hardly a sign of concern on any face.  That should be reassuring, but instead suspicion was her first, instinctive response.  With as much chaos as there was in the city right now, even if they had more information and some sort of a plan in place, they should still be troubled.  However prepared they felt themselves, where was the turmoil that should result from a missing Prince?

There was none of that here, and none of the possible explanations for that were comforting.  Unknowingly echoing Seren's thoughts, Eva found herself seriously considering the possibility of some sort of takeover about to be finalized.

If so, there was very little to be done about it, but she stayed ready to move quickly if necessary.  That, at least, she could manage.

David kept his attention divided between the rest of the room and trying to listen in for what snippets he could catch from the Tremere regent and the Sheriff. He was picking up a few words here and there as they spoke, but he dare not get too close to listen in more fully. Overhearing a few words was better than risking being called out. And what little he heard was giving him a picture already. Incomplete, but a picture. As the Conclave was called and those present directed to their seats, he moved to take his own behind the Regent in his respective spot. Perhaps what came next would fill in a few of the holes.

A hush fell over the Assembly and the Council as a third hooded figure approached. Incredibly the figure didn’t merely stop behind the Prince’s throne, but instead took the place as head of the Council.

When the hood was removed, a hushed whisper carried through the Assembly.

‘Justicar’

Unhooded the figure looked corpselike, skin taunt across the bones of its face, skeletal and androgynous. Staring out from cloudy dead looking eyes, the grey-skinned elder surveyed the Council with an unwavering gaze that had seen empires rise and fall.  Despite the shock of the Assembly, the Council did not seem at all surprised with the arrival of the Justicar, a powerful representative of the Camarilla.

”The Council had reached a consensus?” it asked, voice like dead leaves on the dirty ground. ”There are no objections to the appointment of interim Prince.”

The last sentence sounded more like a statement than a question. Clearly some machinations have occurred to find a possible solution. That begins to explain the calm among the Council. It seems like the presence of the Justicar and intervention of the Camarilla has calmed what would otherwise be frayed nerves.  Like it was a forgone conclusion and a verdict had already been reached.

But a dissenting voice breaks the silence  Someone speaks from among those seated at the Council table.

”I object…”

Each player PM me with a suggestion of who objects and why. I have an idea for the story already, but if I like your idea better, I’ll run with it and you get 1XP.

"I object," comes an ethereal voice, echoing from high above. A ghostly image, translucent phantasm, descends from the arched ceiling of the Musée des beaux-arts. A hush falls the Assembly as the face and voice of Prince Sonja are discerned in the darkness above the Conclave.

"There can be only one Prince par interim and it is my Seneschal, Guarin, comes the whisper through the night. "I haven't much time, they are coming, she says, her voice fading "It has taken all my strength to address you, know this, this is the doing of Alexander and his packs," she exclaims as her image begins to fade.

Guarin is to be appointed.

The Justicar looks at the newly appointed Prince par interim, seeming to expect something, though it is difficult to tell with the Nosferatu's dead eyes and skeletal grimace.

"This was not as we agreed upon, comes a slam of a fist on the hard wood and a dissenting voice from the end of the table. The elder of the Gangrel is on his feet..

Chiharu just sits back with her mouth open at the apparition which appeared in the room before being startled out of the fugue by the table being slammed.

With her complete lack of understanding how this was supposed to work she just sits and waits to see.


She has no idea who "alexander" is but i'm guessing that is the man who just slammed his fist?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Mon 18 Dec 2023.

As surprised as anyone by the apparition of their Prince -- or rather their former Prince -- Eva, too, stares unmoving for a long moment, even after the vision fades.  Odd, she thinks, that she can be so accustomed to the idea of vampires but not of ghosts.

Then one of the Gangrel objects, unsurprisingly.  It would naturally be either one of them of them, or the brutes of the Brujah clan.  But what agreement has been reached?  Surely there has been very little time for such planning?  These recent, terrible events have been happening all too quickly.

"The Seneschal is always looked to first in such situations," she ventures, though she lacks the courage to speak these words loudly enough to be generally heard, only those nearer to her likely to catch the words.  It's true that this is generally the custom, though perhaps things are different here.  She isn't yet used to Montreal and its ways.

Nor is she perhaps the best person to be speaking up, with the Seneschal being her Grandsire.  Still, this might not generally be known, given the state of Guarin's relationship with Guillaume, and she looks at those faces closest to her, wondering if others will agree with her hesitant statement.

Used to furious outbursts, Seren barely jumps when the fist is slammed against the table. Her eyes subtly move from Louis to the elder Gangrel, taking in the information she'd just been told. Who had agreed on what with the elder Gangrel and what idiot had made a pact with them, anyhow? Little use other than for sniffing their own rears and squabbling amongst themselves, in Seren's limited and rather judgmental opinion.

Who was Alexander? 'His packs' suggested that perhaps he and the Gangrel had bestial ties, though whether a Gangrel would truly side with a werewolf was anyone's guess. Tactical manoeuvres weren't their strong point. Seren had a rare pang of desire to speak with Cnaeus, who was a master tactician, to dissect the plot, but it was quickly erased by the fact he would mock her that after so many nights at his side, why could she not see the obvious truth of the matter.

But what WAS the obvious truth of the matter?

There was a plot, that much was certain. Vying for power that had gone awry by Gangrel estimates. Alexander, and his packs. Seren wasn't certain where to turn, but she also wasn't about to leave her newest home in the lurch. Whatever Louis asked would be done, without question. Seren had the personality of a Ventrue, after all, and order was to be respected.

David held his own tongue as the matter of the Prince's temporary successor was determined. The rather dramatic appearance of the Prince, specifying their own wishes, put a new spin on things and the outburst from one of the Elders proved that there was more going on prior to this assembly than known to the general assembly. What agreements? With who?

Such an outburst would likely not be ignored by any, least of all those involved and more pertinently those who were not part of such discussions now had a bit of flesh to latch on to for digging at the truth. To his mind, in simple terms, the Elder of the Gangrel had screwed himself with that outburst.

But regardless of his own conclusions, he kept his mouth shut and let things play out for the moment.

It is only a split second before a second elder of the Council roses to his feet, two men facing off against each other across a distance far more vast than the table. Tanner Michelson, Gangrel and Alcott Covington, Ventrue, both men the Primogen of his clan.

”I am reminded of a time not long ago when you vehemently disagreed with our Prince about our approach to our unruly neighbours.” Covington says angrily. ”You aren’t one to forget. Now the Prince shows herself, undoubtedly using the last of her power to send us a message and you stand against her wishes? Do you hold that much of a grudge?”

”That’s rich coming from you,” Michelson snarls. ”Your risk aversion and concern with mortal and material playthings has put us all in danger. Everyone knows I disagree with letting the packs stay on our doorstep unchallenged. That is the full extent of my disagreement with our Prince, Alcott, don’t make it out to be more than it is.”

Covington replies heatedly, ”And just which packs would you be most concerned about? The Sabbat or the wolves?”

”I thought you better than that, Ventrue,” the Gangrel shoots back. ”The wolves have their own affairs to deal with and would leave us to ours if we dealt with Alexander and his ilk. If the Prince had remembered that, perhaps she would have made it to her party.”

”There is more than one way to read that last statement,” the Ventrue replies, ”Perhaps the Council should be seeking answers from you.”

”Read it how you like,” thunders Michelson baring his fangs.

As things heat up between two Primogen, the tension is felt in the Assembly.  It may boil over at a moment’s notice…

Seren had had enough, this was unbecoming of everyone involved, and finally, she spoke with the clarity and diction that would have been home in an ancient Roman oratory, should she have been a man. Cnaeus had enough sense to train her in everything he knew, after all, having an embarrassing Get would be the height of gauche to a Ventrue, potentially even leading to their destruction.

"I'm going to interrupt here, with my sincerest apologies for doing so," Seren paused, allowing the others to absorb what she had said and to mount the tension for her next words.

"Regardless of what was agreed upon, we have heard the wishes of the Prince from the Prince's own apparition. You may bicker amongst yourselves at a less critical time; unity is strength and anyone who seeks to disobey what is potentially the final orders of the Prince is an enemy to that unity and therefore a danger to us all," Seren snarled softly, baring her long, elegant fangs in distaste.

"I will not stand by and watch those of my clan debase themselves by in-fighting with those whom we remain allies, however uneasy, with. Ventrue are trusted with authority and we must wield it responsibly and answer offences like this one as a unified force, not whining over unmet expectations and casting aspersions. Really, now!" Seren chided the pair, knowing that her own behaviour was arrogant, almost suicidally so, but she could not help herself. She had to interrupt before things reached the stage of open violence.

Chiharu tries to make herself small in the corner as the mens voices start increasing in volume.   Scanning the room like a trapped animal, and not seeing any way out, just ends up pulling her legs up and holding her hands around them.

Maybe the men will just ignore the small girl in the corner.

In her mortal life, long ago, it was not uncommon for Eva's father and brother to argue.  Both had tended towards hot tempers, and they had at times sounded much like squabbling children -- as, indeed, the two elders did now.  Following her mother's example, Eva had learned something of the art of gently distracting them from their shouting, subtly turning their minds towards something more immediate and practical.

She had been about to attempt that art again, the habit never quite having left her.  Guillaume and Guarin had on occasion given her an opportunity to practice.  But before she could muster any words now, a woman she did not know spoke up.  Her language was formal, that and her manner marking her out as a Ventrue even before her words confirmed the guess, but even so her disdain was dangerous, shockingly so.

Stifling a gasp, Eva quickly gathered her wits, hastily returning to her own plan.  "Sirs, madams, we must have a leader, and soon," she said, her polished English accent as strong now as though she'd crossed the ocean only a week ago.  "If we are seen to be without, then surely all our enemies will seek to take advantage.  Can we not settle that question first, before we are overwhelmed?"

"With the Prince's state of being at least suggestively confirmed, it seems the matter of leadership has been dictated by them for the moment; at least until such time as the Prince's fate is discovered. At least that's admittedly an observation from one far beneath such dictates," David remarks from his spot, interjecting a little into the conversation to hopefully calm things as well and return the attention of the gathering to something a little less volatile.


"Beyond choosing her pro tem, the ultimate party behind last night's... unpleasant events.. was revealed it seemed. Alexander and his packs. It was a well coordinated and planned attack, at least temporarily sending the Prince into hiding or capture, the destruction and injury of many, not to mention the risk to the Masquerade such chaos presented. I'd further hazard a guess that while the matter of current leadership appears, at least on the surface, decided.. there is the greater issue at hand. What to do about the unprovoked declaration of war that was issued in blood last night?" he quips.


Indeed, turning the focus of the Primogens' rage from each other and their internal politics to the external threat posed by Alexander and his packs would - hopefully - not only quell the discontent currently building in the Conclave, but refocus it at the primary threat. And his own words would give the Seneschal a perfect opportunity to interject and move things in the chosen direction - if they wished. Even in giving a little aid to the discussion, David played a little politics at the same time. Though young, he was seemingly quick.. or perhaps just lucky.

While the two Primogen have been very publicly airing their grievances, all but accusing each other of deposing the Prince, a handful of Neonates begin to raise their voices. It seems your temerity and defiance are catching. You aren’t alone calling upon your betters to settle their differences. Others call out their frustration. But opinions are dissenting, divided. Some Neonates favouring Covington and others Michelson.

Meanwhile many have been positioning themselves behind the two arguing elders. Hopefully the posturing is merely symbolic. Some have gathered on the Ventrue Primogen’s side of the room while others seem to gravitate toward the Gangrel’s side.

---

Option one.
Unsurprisingly the Seneschal, the Regent and the Primogen of Ventrue stand together. The authority of the allied patrician clans.

”The quickest way to maintain stability is to re-establish order and find our Prince.” the Ventrue Primogen shouts. A number of Kindred nod their agreeement.

”I have suffered your clans’ effete rule long enough,” spits Michelson. ”I will not abide by this travesty.”

Will you join Covington? What will Michelson do if the majority of the Assembly is arrayed against him? Is the All Saint’s Day war to be a civil war between Montreal’s Clans?

---

Option two.
The Gangrel, Brujah and Malkavian Primogen stand as one. Two clans spoiling for the fight and a third crazy enough to follow them.

”The Sabbat will grind your Prince par interim to dust. There is no time to wait, we must take the fight to Alexander now.” the Gangrel Primogen retorts emphatically. The Kindred who have joined him clearly agree.

”Don’t be a fool,” Covington retorts, ”This Council cannot risk the Masquerade with an endorsement of open warfare with the Sabbat!”

Will you join Michelson? What power will the Prince par interim really hold with the majority of the Assembly arrayed against him? Is the All Saint’s Day War to be an unauthorized counter-strike against the Sabbat.

---

Option three.
The Nosferatu Justicar and that clan’s Montreal Primogen huddle together, whispering secrets. They stand apart from the others clans, perhaps offering a third option.

Or will you do something else?

---

Please feel free to discuss your options in OOC. Whatever you choose, I’d like the PCs to make the same choice so they play together as a coterie.

You may of course choose one path but surreptitiously work toward a different goal - choosing to align with the upstarts and declare war on the Sabbat while investigating the Prince’s disappearance for example.

You may propose a third option. If you agree on another way forward, the considerable influence of the Justicar can be brought to bear to sway the Council. Perhaps only temporarily, but you may stave off the war long enough to accomplish your aims, whatever those may be.

See you in OOC…