<@Dreol> [London, January 6th 1261, 12:30 AM] <@Dreol> [You have been socializing at Elysium. It is by far the largest Elysium with elders coming from all over. Rolf has just returned from a campaign tracking down a Carthaginian. Eliana and Moriel just saw the most beautiful living thing they have ever seen, but Rolf refused to look, because he has the hots for a Gangrel chick with a mane named Victoria or perhaps some other reason. Soon Mithras <@Dreol> is expected to begin strategy discussions.] <@Dreol> [Begin] #06* Rolf doesn't seem concerned with Eliana's disapproval, and looks back over the crowd otherwise. "Good number'a new faces. It's gettin' serious." #06* Cosimo largely keeps to himself, making sure as to not get too close to the map over which most of the elders seem to be preoccupied with, and certainly not too far from any exit should a hasty retreat prove to be called for. Other than that, he just watches... and listens. #06* Moriel says softly, "It needs to." #06* Rolf snorts slightly and growls, "Yeah, but they move pretty slow even when people'r dyin'." #06* Moriel flicks a glance at Rolf. "Not people they care about." #06* Rolf squints a little, then shrugs and replies, "Who you sayin' they care about?" #06* Moriel shrugs. "Them and theirs, usually. That doesn't include most humans. I presumed that was who you were talking about." #06* Rolf chuckle-growls and replies, "I don't even know they care 'bout them and theirs." #06* Moriel raises an eyebrow. #01 Most are pawns. That includes us, presumably. #06* Rolf looks back to Eliana. "You sure I ain't at least one of the... uh, rooks?" <@Dreol> [Mithras stands and clears his throat. "I hope you have enjoyed the festivities, but it is time to get to business."] #06* Cosimo nods slightly and respectfully to Mithras, pushes himself off the wall and strolls out of the cave. #06* Eliana makes no overt notice of Cosimo leaving. "I'm fairly certain you'd be a knight if anything, Rolf," she says. <@Dreol> [After a few more moments Mithras looks down at the map that is laid out on the table and then back up at the gathering. "Members of the Grand Masquerade, it has come time for us to go on the offensive. As a result, I, along with my advisers, have devised a plan. I will require all of your cooperation. The Malkavian spy network in conjunction with Nosferatu informants have identified several key Carthaginian outposts. We will begin our plan with those areas. After much planning, we have decided to send in a spy. Someone pretending to want to join the Carthaginians in order to find out where New Carthage is located. Victoria has volunteered." At this Victoria nods and grins, baring her fanged teeth.] #06* Eliana raises an eyebrow at Victoria, but she doesn't say anything. If they trust her, well, then okay. <@Dreol> [Mithras continues... "Once Victoria is firmly inserted with the enemy and knows the location of New Carthage, she will escape and run to the agreed upon meeting place to meet with a team of Masques who will be following her movements. We have not decided who should lead this team, but it will be a particularly dangerous mission and will require a great deal of strength and stealth. Are there any volunteers?"] <@Dreol> [There is some shifting and murmuring in the crowd. Not many people seem to be willing to take the risk. There are also talk of whether or not Victoria is the optimal choice.] #06* Moriel stays quiet. That does not sound like his department. #06* Eliana glances at Rolf, trying to get a read on what he thinks (since he worked with Victoria). #06* Rolf seems like he's going to go in as he looks around at the cowardice and snorts. <@Dreol> [Caerel is in a heated conversation with a few other Gangrels, and then he sighs and speaks up. "We believe that a Gangrel should lead this team. Since our knowledge of the wilderness and ability to transform ourselves into animals would help secretly track the movements of the Carthaginians and we also have the strength and fortitude to hold our own in combat should it come to that." Mithras nods. "Did you have somebody in mind, Caerel son of Odin?"] <@Dreol> [Caerel shrugs and looks back at the other Gangrel and then looks at Rolf as if asking if Rolf would be willing to go.] #06* Rolf nods at Careel and growls out, loudly, "She knows what she's doing in a fight, and I, uh, can do what he said. I'll have her back." <@Dreol> [Mithras nods. "Very well, Rolf. Pick your team then."] <@Dreol> [Mithras continues. "You don't have to make your decision now. Arrange a team and meet me back here tomorrow night."] #06* Rolf scratches his head a moment and looks around to get a gauge, as well as the fact that Cosimo's not around. He snaps his focus back to Mithras and nods. "Right. right..." #06* Eliana looks at Rolf for a moment, then turns her attention back to the prince. <@Dreol> [Mithras nods. "This journey will be to the north of England. Right on the border to Scotland. That is where there is the strongest gathering of Carthaginian outposts, so we suspect that New Carthage is in that area. Those involved leave in two nights. You should prepare." And he sits back down.] #06* Eliana would sigh, but she hasn't taken in air in quite a bit. #06* Moriel tenses, but doesn't say anything. #06* Thalaba has been listening to everything that's been going on but keeping more to herself, but right about then she sinks down to the floor in a dead faint. #06* Eliana blinks at Thalaba falling over, but... um, she's over there and Eliana wasn't inclined to catch her anyway. <@Dreol> [Thalaba hits the floor and several guests clear out of the way. No one really moves to help her, though Demetria nods. "Yes... I thought that would happen."] #06* Eliana rolls her eyes. Assuming nobody else moves, though, she actually does break ranks and goes to drag Thalaba out of the MIDDLE OF THE CROWD, geez. #06* Moriel blinks at Thalaba and steps forward automatically. He hesitates in the middle of the second step, but then he continues on to help Eliana at least lay her out in a comfortable position. <@Dreol> [About ten minutes later, Thalaba's eyes snap open.] #06* Thalaba groans as her eyes flutter open. She looks up at Eliana and Moriel and offers both a quiet "thank you.." as she gets to her feet. She brushes off her skirts as she speaks again softly "I will be accompanying Rolf." #06* Eliana stands as well, frowning at Thalaba. "You might want to let him know that." #06* Thalaba nods "Again.. thank you " and with that leaves them to make her way to wherever Rolf happens to be at the moment. #06* Moriel murmurs, "You're welcome." #06* Rolf happens to be over talking to Victoria, since team Gangrel is winning. High five! #06* Eliana watches Thalaba go and shakes her head, then turns her attention to Moriel. "I'll probably end up going," she comments. #06* Thalaba doesn't interrupt Rolf and Victoria but remains nearby for her chance to speak to him when he's got a free moment. #06* Moriel 's expression flickers, and he looks over to Rolf. "...I suppose so." #06* Eliana shrugs with one shoulder, glancing over her clansmen. "Thaumaturgy is useful. What other Tremere would he trust?" #06* Moriel still isn't looking at her. "I know. I've seen it." <@Dreol> [Rolf is approached by one of Mithras' aides. A young Toreador woman who does interrupt, whispering in his ear. "Lord Mithras has decided that your team will consist of you and seven others. Choose people you can trust as much as possible. If you do not, you might get stabbed in the back." She smiles, hands him a red rose and walks off. The rose, Rolf knows, though no one else probably does, is given to leaders on these operations as a symbolic gesture. It represents beauty, fragility and danger, though he may not realize that. He is Rolf, but he's gotten a few roses from pretty young Toreadors in the last 6 years.] #06* Rolf gets a rose, looks at it, then pauses a moment as Victoria does something to turn to other people. Then he looks over and down at Thalaba. "Yeah, little lady? You wantin' to talk to me?" #06* Thalaba nods as she steps forward. "Yes.. I would like to accompany you" #06* Rolf looks a little surprised, then asks, "You know what the Malkavians have been doin' with their spyin'? That'd be pretty helpful..." <@Dreol> [Incidentally, the beautiful woman that Moriel and Eliana saw earlier is now talking to Mithras, who, for the record, seems to be constantly shaking off some sort of spell as he talks to her. Eventually he nods and she walks away, but as a result several other kindred look up and notice her, their eyes glazing over in a trance before finally snapping out of it.] #06* Eliana mentally times how long the trances last. <@Dreol> [About five minutes.] #06* Thalaba smiles "Thank you.." She looks as if she wanted to say more but with a quick shake of her head she bows. "We will have more time to talk in private." #06* Eliana watches the woman move, and calculates trance after trance. "Five minutes," she says to Moriel after she gathers data from a dozen or so wampyrs. #06* Rolf nods a little and looks confused, but, well, one less decision to make. #06* Moriel glances up at Eliana. "At least it only happens once," he offers, but his mind seems to be elsewhere. #01 One would think. #06* Eliana looks at Moriel, tilting her head. "What's wrong?" #06* Moriel 's eyes flick up to Eliana, then away again. "Near Scotland." #06* Eliana blinks, then says, "Ah." #01 You're not required to go. Rolf hasn't even asked you yet. It's not...just that. #06* Moriel shakes his head. "I'd rather not talk about it here." #06* Eliana frowns briefly. #01 Very well. #01 Give me a moment to speak with Rolf, then come with me. #06* Moriel nods. #06* Eliana moves, striding clear across the cave to the big, hairy gangrel in question. "Rolf," she says, probably interrupting something. #06* Rolf looks over at Eliana too! Interruptions happen, it's Elysium. Or somethin'. "Yeah, Eliana?" #01 Do you intend to ask me to join this team of yours? #06* Rolf scratches his head. "Well... uh... I was gonna check with you, sure..." he gestures with his rose, adding lower, "Already getting warnins about 'people I can trust'..." #06* Eliana rolls her eyes. #01 As if *that's* necessary. #01 I'll accompany you if you like - and I can enlist Sabri's help, additionally. #06* Rolf nods slightly and says, slowly, "Uh... yeah. Yeah, that'd be the best... I mean, having a magician along that I know." #06* Eliana bows as a man would. "Then I am at your service." She straightens and turns, probably to get said Sabri, as Rolf agreed even if he didn't realize he's doing so. She doesn't look at Moriel as she leaves. #06* Moriel watches Eliana go. A few minutes later, he pushes himself off the wall he was leaning on and slips out, too. <@Dreol> [Session End over here]