[London, January 20th 1253, 8:00 PM] [You have all been invited to, and are attending, Mithras' winter court. There is an uneasy atmosphere about the room. It has been nearly a year and a half since Troile's awakening and there has been no word of her whereabouts, though Mithras has sent out scouts, none of them have returned with information. Some have not returned. Mithras sits on his throne, as usual, surveying the crowd. Suddenly, there is a commotion from outside the door. The servants are yelling at someone that they are not allowed within, but obviously those warnings go unheeded as the door is thrust open, and a man enters. He is dressed in mangled chainmail. His left arm is badly burned, and on his right side he sports a deep gash with the telltale signs of a fleshcrafted claw wound. He seems exhausted and drops to his knees immediately upon gaining entrance. Mithras rises from his throne and stares at the man. "What is the meaning of this interruption!?" The man raises left hand in response. Burned into his hand is a symbol which looks like a combination between the Brujah clan symbol and the Baali clan symbol (for those that know what that looks like). He speaks out in a low but clear voice. "Troile has followers. She has a stronghold called 'New Carthage.' I followed stories from villagers of kindred attacking in plain view, taking humans and declaring to those present that they are the unashamed children of Caine and have come to show humans the truth. Supposedly they wish to coexist with humans and feed openly. No doubt this movement emerged out of the philosophy of the group known as the Prometheans. I know that several of them have joined her. Tried as I might, however, I could not find this stronghold. I believe I got close before I was attacked by a group of Carthaginians who left me alive to deliver this message to you. She is ready to be public now. She is ready for you to be aware of what you are up against. She says that the revolution has begun." After a few minutes, during which there is much murmuring, Mithras simply sits back down. "So be it, then. If this is true, we will have to form our own clan alliance. Clearly she has taken several among us already, and the Tzimisce seem to have allied themselves with her." He motions to the man's side. "No loss there..." He stands once again. "Well, this makes for a more eventful court than I intended. Each clan should discuss amongst themselves what they wish to do. If you wish to join with these Carthaginians, I will allow you to leave, but know that you will always be our enemies as long as our alliance stands. If you wish to join with me, find me in my quarters. Remember, too, that you are all individuals, and no matter what direction your clan decides to place its loyalty, you will make your own decisions." With that, Mithras stands and leaves through the doorway behind him. And the room erupts with discussion.] [Oh and Begin.] [Interestingly, there appear to be no Tzimisce in attendance tonight. Not that there ever are many. They tend not to like Ventrue.] 06* Moriel frowns worriedly at the messenger. He murmurs to Eliana, "Well, that didn't take long." 06* Eliana eye-narrows at the brief flash of that symbol, and she keeps looking there until Mithras is finished with his speech. Once it's over, she looks to the other Tremere, already knowing how her clan will side if the Tzimisce has largely allied themselves with Troile. Individual decisions are a joke. Still... "No," she murmurs back. 06* Rolf growls lowly, from behind them, "Long 'nough. 2 years is a while when you think 'bout it." Not for our kind. 06* Rolf grins slightly. "Yeah, but our kind gets a bit lazy. 'specially when they got parties to attend." He waves a big arm at the gala about them. 01 It couldn't have been two years. 01 There was a plot to bring her out of torpor, and she may well have been conducting events even still. 06* Moriel frowns more. "...true." 06* Eliana nods, gaze sweeping the hall. "I must confirm with my clan," she says, and moves to speak with Gravina, Cyril, et al. It won't take long, as their decision is obvious. 06* Moriel doesn't move, as he doesn't care what his clan does. He just scans the room, watching the eddies of people shift. 06* Thalaba also remains where she is near the rest of the group. Her clan's choice seems to be made as well as hers. [Almost immediately, the Toreador and Tremere elders in attendance follow Mithras out of the room. After some discussion with some other Malkavs, Demetria heads towards Mithras' quarters. There is a much larger disagreement over with the Gangrel. Almost to a fight, but of the 6 Gangrels in attendance, two walk out, and one shakes his head and steps away from the group. Finally, after a long moment of thought, Caerel sighs and heads towards Mithras' quarters. The Assamite seem decided in their undecidedness and remain in the room, but do not move to either side.] 06* Rolf watches Caerel go and chuckles lowly to himself before shaking his head. "Wish I knew what it'd take to go claw-to-claw against her. That's speed like I ain't ever seen." 06* Moriel 's eyes flicker. "Yes. She ran across the ceiling." 06* Rolf looks over at Moriel and says, "I'd be more worried 'bout her killin' ten guys like they weren't nothin'." You and me ain't but two guys. 06* Eliana walks back. "So we must outsmart her." She eyes Moriel and Rolf critically. "You are joining the alliance, aren't you?" [The Lasombra in attendance, seeing the Tremere and Toreador join Mithras, have a brief discussion before nodding decidedly and walking out. The Brujah, the ones that are in attendance, actually DO get into a fight. There are three of them, and one tackles another into the wall and begins to punch him, before a third one actually lifts up one of the tables and hits the attacker across the back, knocking him down. The two that are still standing walk out, the third stands, brushes himself off, and remains in the room, grumbling.] 06* Moriel looks up at Rolf but doesn't have a chance to say anything before Eliana returns. After a moment he says quietly, "Yes." He doesn't seem very enthusiastic about it, however. 01 Good. 06* Eliana raises an eyebrow at the Brujah scuffle. Hm. 06* Rolf looks back to Eliana and shrugs. "I don't want to get yanked around just 'cause some high clan this-or-that wants somethin'. But I sure as hell ain't with her... I mean, feedin' openly?" Good folk got it hard 'nough as it is. 06* Moriel nods. "But joining is the only way to know what will be going on." 01 It's insanity, and not the kind the Malkavians approve of. 06* Moriel snorts and says dryly, "Some of them will." His eyes have a hard edge. 06* Rolf nods slightly at Eliana, sighs, then says, "Guess I gotta. I've been kinda gettin' the itch to leave anyway. Live around some... different kinda animals, you know?" 06* Rolf then looks between them and laughs, "'course you don't." 06* Eliana shakes her head at Rolf. 01 If you must leave, you could be independent. 01 It would certainly assist you in your travels. 06* Rolf frowns and looks after them. "Yeah, but when it comes down to fightin' what she's doin', they ain't gonna trust a guy like me unless I'm allied with 'em." He sighs. "High clan types never do." 06* Eliana shrugs with one shoulder, looking towards the stubbornly independent Assamites. "Distrust is in their nature," she comments, softly. 06* Moriel glances up at Rolf. "If Mistress Casale joins, however, she could call on you when she knows there will be a battle." 06* Eliana grins, suddenly. 01 It's true. I could research a method; there must be some way. [The Cappadocians, after a minor amount of discussion, go to meet with Mithras. There are only two Followers of Set in the room and they both remain there, stoically. The Nosferatu speak in low whispers, and finally they bow to each other and half of them walk out, the other half delegating one of their numbers to go and talk to Mithras. There are two Ravnos entertainers who just can't stop laughing. Once they have composed themselves, they sit down and enjoy the refreshments.] If you come to fight on their side they won't turn you away, even if they won't trust you outside of the fight. 06* Moriel 's eyes narrow in thought. "It is...tempting." 06* Rolf looks over at Eliana and says, "Guess that's true. 'long as you stay alive, that is." 01 There are no guarantees on that front. 06* Moriel gives Eliana a sharp look. "Call." 06* Eliana rolls her eyes. "Of course." [A few hours later, Mithras re-emerges, as do all the representatives who met with Mithras. Mithras steps up onto the stage and addresses the crowd. "I now know where we stand. So let me say this. Those of you who have pledged your loyalty to this alliance, you are all on the same side, and you are all important. This is the beginning of a new class-structure. No longer will I allow anyone in this city to look down upon a fellow alliance member or refer to them as a "low-clan." There are more important bonds to be made now, and all of you who have sworn your allegiance to this cause are part of those bonds. Those of you who have refused to take sides, that saddens me. I hope you will one day reconsider, but for now, know that we are watching you. You cannot remain unaligned forever. Court is now dismissed; however, every three months I will hold a meeting here in which members of this alliance will discuss our progress. This will be called Elysium, and it will be forbidden to commit an act of violence during this time. Additionally, in order to set ourselves clearly apart from the Carthaginians, we have decided to officially decree that it is against the law of this alliance to knowingly reveal yourself to one of the kine. Mistakes happen, but you must do what you can in order to maintain our secrecy. This shall be called 'The Masquerade,' as we are all playing the roles of the living and hiding our true identities and intentions. You are now all invited to enjoy your refreshments as long as you wish. Tomorrow, we begin our war."] 06* Moriel glances at Rolf. "Well. I wonder how well that 'no more clan hierarchies' business will be enforced." 06* Eliana listens, assimilating the information. Between when Mithras left and returned, she had removed herself from Moriel and Rolf to stand again with the rest of her clan. Her gaze again flicks to the Assamites, as she wasn't able to get a good read on where Cosimo, in specific, stands. 06* Rolf snorts and says, "Probably take a long time, even for vampires." Mm-hm. 06* Thalaba is still standing with Moriel and Rolf, noticing silently when Eliana returns to her clan. 06* Moriel continues watching the rest of the room, only half his attention on the conversation. [Session End]