<@Dreol> [London June 14th 1230, 9:40 PM] <@Dreol> [The sun has set not too long ago and Eliana awakes in the Chantry. The night previous was spent following tracks that led to roughly between nowhere and fuck-all, but it is a new night with a new investigation plan.] <@Dreol> [Begin.] 06* Eliana's eyes open and she opens her coffin. She pushes herself into a sitting position, looking around and taking stock of her own room. It's a modest-sized room, stone, and is pretty much dominated by her coffin, a plain desk and chair, a shelf with half a dozen books, and a small wardrobe. 06* Eliana stands and stretches, satisfied that nothing was taken in her absence. She lights a candle and goes to the wardrobe to get dressed - similar clothing as usual, but a different set. At least Jill can dry these things out in the sun for her. She brushes her hair before pulling her cloak on (yes, even indoors) and her gloves, and moves to leave her cell, candle in hand. <@Dreol> [Outside Eliana's room is the larger area of the catacombs under the Tremere chantry which is located in an abandoned building on the east side of London. Several other havens are in various rooms in these catacombs, as is at least one of the ritual chambers, and a laboratory, but the library where much of the research is done is upstairs. That is where Gravina would most likely be located, as she is constantly buried in research.] 06* Eliana heads through the catacombs and up the stairs to see if Gravina is up and about yet. She's feeling a bit peckish, but she can get breakfast afterwards. <@Dreol> [Upstairs is a vast, hollowed out building. Eliana exits out to a large great room with tall vaulted ceilings. This is where meetings are often held. There is a door that leads into the rest of the above-ground chantry, including the library, and, of course, a door outside which has been enchanted from outside to appear to be just a stone wall.] 06* Eliana walks, in no particular hurry, to the door to the rest of the chantry. She uses her free hand (the one not holding a candle) to pull it open and head through. <@Dreol> [The door leads to an enormous library. The shelves are filled with tomes and scrolls in various languages covering an array of topics. Most of them are used for the research and practice of magic. In the center of the room is a large table with a bench on either side. Only one soul is in the room when Eliana enters and it is, indeed, Gravina. She is seated at the far bench pouring over scrolls. <@Dreol> She raises a hand and a tome floats off one of the shelves and opens itself in front of her. She does not even acknowledge Eliana's entrance, although, it is clear she is aware of Eliana's presence] 06* Eliana walks in, nodding to the elder. "Good evening, Lady Gravina," she greets in Latin. <@Dreol> [Gravina looks up for a moment, locks eyes with Eliana, and goes back to reading the tome she just retrieved. "Good evening, Eliana."] 01 Would you like assistance with any of that? <@Dreol> [Gravina shakes her head. "If you insist on speaking to me, then yes." She flips the page of her tome and then dips her quill in some ink and writes a note on the blank scroll in front of her. "Look through this tome. It is one of many accounts of our kind in ancient times. There is mention of a kindred who was able to permanently lend power to humans and other vampires without repeatedly transferring his blood. I am attempting to improve the process of making Gargoyles so that they can learn and develop their own disciplines without the constant need of a transference ritual." She continues to flip through her own book.] 01 I do, unfortunately. 06* Eliana walks over to the center table, setting her candle to one side. She takes the tome and starts flipping through it, eyes scanning the pages. 01 You've heard about what happened a few nights ago, at the manor, I assume. Concerning the Toreador, Renier. <@Dreol> [Eliana finds several mentions of what Gravina is looking for. The tome does not have convenient page numbers, instead, it seems that Gravina is just writing down brief notes about what she finds in the text and a note of what text she got the information from. What Eliana finds is mention that this particular kindred was spotted in France and he is said to have created an army of powerful humans and vampires without ever spilling a drop of his own blood for them. He transformed a village referred to as Passemonte into his personal army and marched across France, leaving chaos in his wake. None of the accounts are detailed or seem very solid factually. They could be elaborated or even fabricated. They read like legends.] <@Dreol> [Concerning Eliana's question, Gravina just nods.] 06* Eliana reaches for a blank scroll and quill of her own. She dips the quill in ink and carefully starts taking notes on the kindred. "Do you know anything about him? His allies and enemies, or what factions would gain from his death?" <@Dreol> [Gravina continues to write her notes. "Renier Chartier of the Court of Love in Paris was here to offer an alliance between the Court of Love and Mithras' court. The various clans were split on support. An alliance between the two courts both serves to keep Mithras' power contained and also allows him to extend influence easily into Europe where he used to hold immense power before coming to Britain. I imagine that Mithras' would suspect us above most other clans, since a strong connection between the Toreador and the Ventrue would serve to make our rise to prominence even more difficult than it already is." Gravina says all of this very calmly, with hardly any emotion, as if she is reading it out of a book, and she continues to take notes as she does so. Then she finally looks up once she is finished. "Is there anything else you need to know, Eliana?"] 06* Eliana doesn't look up from the tome Gravina had pointed her to, flipping a page and starting to take more notes. "Where did the Tremere actually stand on the matter?" <@Dreol> [Gravina returns to her research. "It was a concern. Mithras already controls all of Britain, and the Toreador are quickly gaining control of all of France. Together there domain would be threateningly large. But as you know, even within our clan we are split on how to respond to events such as these. I do not expect that any of the Tremere at court that day killed Renier. It would have been a very risky decision, not just for the individual, but for the clan..." And here she looks up again. "And I would personally see to the execution of any Tremere who had a hand in it." Then she returns to her notes.] 06* Eliana nods. She flips another page, reading it quickly and taking a few more notes. "Which other clans - and individuals - would gain from his death, in your estimation?" <@Dreol> [Gravina floats her tome back onto the shelf and a scroll floats back and unrolls itself on the table. "Low clans have the most to gain by stopping the formation of a Ventrue and Toreador alliance, but certainly the Lasombra and Tzimisce would both liked to see it stopped, as well. Since they are both rising to great power within the high clans. I am not as well versed in the individuals of this city as some others. I would ask the Nosferatu. They tend to pay particular attention to individuals. Of course, it is always possible that he was killed by an assamite, but then the question becomes who hired the assassin."] 06* Eliana nods. "About that," she says as she reaches the end of her section and sets the quill aside, "I saw five sets of footprints leading to where we found Renier's corpse, but none leaving the scene. It was curious." She flips another page, then another, looking for any further references in the tome beyond the one she's already found. <@Dreol> [Gravina nods and continues to read the scroll. She hasn't been asked a question, and she does not appear to be keen on volunteering an opinion on Eliana's "curious" incident without one.] 01 Do you know of any disciplines or rituals that would explain this occurrence? <@Dreol> [Gravina looks up from her note taking, sighs and floats into the air. "Additionally, the gangrel have an ability that allows them to change form. They can turn into animals, mist, even the earth. If that was the case, the murderers would not have to leave on foot."] <@Dreol> [She floats back down to the bench. "Or possibly you did not manage to find the other footprints."] 06* Eliana looks up to watch Gravina, then nods, slowly. She recalls the claw marks - well, she knows at least *one* vampire who can make claws on command... 01 Where would one find the Nosferatu? <@Dreol> [Gravina shrugs and looks back to her scroll. "I believe there is a Nosferatu known as Thomas the Rat who frequents the alleys near the Tower" Which, Eliana may be aware, is only a few blocks from the Tremere chantry.] <@Dreol> [Though, cities are probably not really broken up into "blocks" now, so more like a short walk from the Tremere chantry.] 06* Eliana smiles slightly. "Do you suppose he is trustworthy?" <@Dreol> [Gravina looks over to Eliana and... she actually seems to smile... kind of... for a second. "No. I do not suppose he is. I do not suppose anybody is trustworthy. That is a very dangerous supposition, Eliana; however, I do suppose he knows this city very well and will be willing to offer the information... for a price."] 06* Eliana nods. She flips through the tome a bit more, then slides her notes over towards Gravina, the ink nearly dry. "I found the information you were looking for. Hopefully my notes are sufficient." <@Dreol> [Gravina nods. "I hope so as well... "] 06* Eliana curtseys to Gravina. "Thank you for your help and advice." She picks up her candle and turns, heading out of the library. <@Dreol> [Gravina looks up. "Oh... And Eliana, do try not to be found guilty of this murder. I do not wish to kill you... " She returns to her notes. "Not when I have work to do."] 06* Eliana stops and glances back at Gravina. "I'll do my best," she says dryly before opening the door and stepping through. <@Dreol> [Mini End]