<@Dreol> [London, January 15th 1262, 7:00 PM] <@Dreol> [You all have returned from Ireland and have arrived at London this evening. A couple days earlier, you sent a message to Mithras that you would be arriving tonight and as soon as you arrive in the city, one of Mithras' ghouls approaches you and bows. "Honored Kindred, Mithras has requested that I escort you to a new meeting place as this is a meeting of particularly high secrecy." He motions for you to follow him and begins to head northwest out of the city.] <@Dreol> [Begin.] 06* Moriel changes course without comment. If he's surprised, he doesn't show it. 06* Eliana eyebrow raises, which is normal, and then follows this guy, because well. Mithras. 06* Anstace looks at her attire. all other times, she was to attend a meeting, she had to dress up. she frowns, imperceiptively, and follows along. 06* Rolf growls at the plan change, but if Mithras is gonna do silly things, then fine, he tromps after. 06* Moriel 's perceptions being a lot better than most people’s, he catches the frown. He murmurs to Anstace in an undertone, "This is not a court. The prince knows you just came from a journey; your dress will be fine." 06* Anstace looks at Moriel flatly, though if you were reading her aura, it would not match her expression. "given my circumstances, i hope you are correct," she says softly. <@Dreol> [The ghoul leads you deep into the woods north west of the city and begins following a stream west before once again heading north into a particularly dense portion of forest. The ghoul motions for you to follow him and walks straight through one of the larger trees and as you follow him, the trees in front of you dissipate and you find yourselves in front of a large stone building, which appears to be a meeting hall of sorts. It is built like a keep, complete with battlements, but is not as tall as one would expect and is considerably wider to accommodate the large single room inside. Several kindred stand outside the hall, some of them seem to be checking on the integrity of the illusion. The ghoul simply motions for you to go inside.] 06* Anstace nods, hands her spear to the ghoul, and enters the hall. 06* Rolf doesn't have a real weapon to hand over. He is a weapon, etc, rolf, etc. 06* Eliana glances at the kindred, trying to note their clans as she heads in. 06* Moriel follows the others, looking around in careful curiosity as they enter. <@Dreol> [The ghoul takes the spear and shrugs moving in behind the group. Inside is a large marble hall there are three long dark-wooden tables. Seated at the tables are around thirty kindred. They are pretty clearly self-segregated into clans. Mithras and Matriarch Salianna are seated at the front of the room. Mithras motions for you all to approach him. "You seem to have had a very productive journey. Would you please inform us on what you have found."] 06* Eliana glances at Rolf, as he's the leader of the group (transformed from the norm by the nuclear goop). 06* Anstace looks around the room cautiously. 06* Moriel glances at Rolf, too, for much the same reasons as Eliana, and then stands there looking quietly attentive while Rolf reports. 06* Rolf draws himself up to his full height and then lays everything out. Matriarch -> Seeress -> Faerie -> Valley -> Demon -> Fire w/Coffin. 06* Eliana chimes in with additional details, particularly concerning the bit at the end, as she saw the priest in the coffin and translated the Aramaic. 06* Anstace whispers, "do not forget the message on the floor" 06* Eliana absolutely does not forget the message on the floor. Thanks, Anstace! <@Dreol> [After Rolf explains what has happened, Mithras nods and stands. "It seems that our war has become more complicated. The war to the north is becoming more tense. While the lupines are causing some damage, they are losing... While I don't mind the Carthaginians driving the wolves out of Britain, our chances of winning this war is higher with the lupines on our side. Clearly Moloch is still a <@Dreol> major concern, and the fact that he may be on the continent makes the concern even greater, as the farther east we travel, the denser our enemy's forces become. The ritual you speak of is also concerning. I wish to know more about it so we know what Moloch is planning." He turns to the table with the Tremere. "I leave this to the Tremere and Cappadocians to research... Additionally, I am concerned by the existence of Kali's Fang. I had heard rumors of its existence, but this confirmation is frightening for all of our kind. Tracking it down is also a priority... We must, as an alliance, decide where to send our forces. We will return to court one month from today to decide what to do, but, right now, if any of you have any thoughts you wish to share, I encourage you to speak <@Dreol> your mind." Mithras sits back down and waits.] 06* Anstace ponders if 'one month from today' means 'one month from now' or 'one month from midnight when yesterday became today', but other than that, says nothing. 06* Rolf speaks up, slowly, "Uh... are the Lupines not able to, uh, bring the rest of their people into the fight? It ain't like they're not in more places than Britain." <@Dreol> [Mithras shakes his head. "They are asking for help, but Lupines are not always so willing to help each other, and even with all their forces, the Carthaginians are too powerful."] 06* Moriel thinks for a little while, then says quietly, "We can use all the allies we can get, lupine or no. But as far as we can ascertain, Moloch has been at large since approximately 500 AD. I think finding out what he has been doing in that time may be crucial." 06* Anstace looks at Moriel, the mention of approximate time drawing her out of her contemplations. she frowns, slightly, though imperceptivity. trivializing a constant. tisk tisk 06* Eliana glances around, somewhat surprised that 1. Mithras is even asking, and 2. people seem to expect her to give an opinion. She then says, "If I may: While Kali's Fang is concerning, it remains a shade stronger than a rumor with little evidence as to its location. Moloch may well be conscious and active in the east at this point, though if the Carthaginians' actions are any indication, not reunited with Troile." 01 I believe the best allocation of the majority of forces would be to follow up on the lupines' attack on New Carthage and take advantage of it while we still can, in addition to finding a way to cancel the domination on the ones inside. 06* Moriel is looking at the other wampyrs in the room, primarily the Prince, and not Anstace, so he doesn't see the frown. <@Dreol> [Mithras nods. Gravina stands and clears her throat. "I believe that we need to research this ritual and discover how pressing the need is. The Tremere will start working on that immediately."] 06* Eliana nods at her clan's elder. <@Dreol> [Salianna nods. "Prince, I think that we should look into this priest's history and discover where Kali's Fang is at present. It poses a significant risk to us if in the wrong hands. I encourage any of you who has access to historical documents to look into this."] 06* Rolf growls a little to himself. 06* Eliana refrains from rolling her eyes. *She'll* be busy researching the ritual, which is much more interesting and important. <@Dreol> [Demetria stares up at the ceiling in a kind of trance. "Prince, I shall retire to my tower and seek a vision of the future in the hopes that the information will be of use to us."] 06* Anstace does not have much access to documents relating to current events. <@Dreol> [Mithras nods and sighs at Demetria and then Salianna stands and turns her attention to the crowd at large. "Return to your clans, then, and discuss what you would like to accomplish in the coming year. Where should we be focusing our strength? Return here in one month. I will return to Paris and consult with my own historians in the hopes of acquiring more information to aide us in this effort."] <@Dreol> [Eliana’s farmhouse outside of London, January 16th 1262, 3:00 AM] <@Dreol> [When Eliana returns to her house, Jill hands her a letter that is folded and sealed with a wax Tremere seal. It reads "See me in the chantry library immediately. -G"] 06* Eliana reads the note, then mutters something about how Gravina could have just *told* her and saved her the trip. Nevertheless, she pulls her gloves back on. "I'm going to the chantry," she informs Jill, before flipping her hood back over her head and heading out - still in peasant clothes, but who cares anymore. <@Dreol> [Eliana arrives in the library and Gravina is seated at one of the large tables, several tomes lie open on the table as well as a few scrolls. She looks up as Eliana enters. "Eliana, we need to discuss a few things. Your findings, of course, but also, you are being given a new task by the clan..."] 06* Eliana nods to Gravina. "Of course," she says, her face calm but her voice tight. "How may I assist?" <@Dreol> [Gravina closes one of the tomes she was reading. "As you may know, our clan has been acquiring a great deal of political strength in this alliance. It is an important time for us, and we want to make sure we retain that power. There is a young kindred... powerful and young, like you... We would like him to begin to gain Mithras' favor the way that you have, and his talents need to be honed. <@Dreol> He is a bit raw... As such, we are placing him under your tutelage. He will remain here at the chantry, of course, but we would like him to accompany you in an official capacity whenever possible."] 06* Eliana frowns. "An assistant?" She pauses, considering. "I will see what I can do." <@Dreol> [Gravina shakes her head. "More like... a student... I would like you to meet him." She peers through the door. "Ian, please come in and meet Eliana... she is to become your mentor."] *Ian steps into the room cautiously...* 06* Eliana turns to study this Ian, assessing him. She hadn't lowered her hood, as her conversation with Gravina was relatively sudden, so her expression is particularly guarded. 06* Ian bows to Gravina and then Eliana [Ian appears mid thirties... blond hair... blue eyes... typical Briton stock... wouldn't stand out in a crowd. 6' ~180 mid thirties] <@Dreol> [Gravina, who, for the record, is dressed in very elaborate blue scholars robes, stands up and walks over to one of the shelves, taking a scroll from it. "Eliana, this is Ian. He was left in our charge by his sire who has other business to attend to. I wanted him to be here while you talked to me about what you had found, since you will be working together in the near future."] [ his scholars robes appear well worn but clean and carefully maintained] 01 Reasonable. 06* Eliana offers Ian a bow of her own. Maybe she has something against the more standard curtsey? "I'm Eliana Casale. I understand you will be entrusted to my care, such as it is." Good evening Mistress Gravina.... Mistress Eliana.... 06* Eliana lowers her hood and shakes out her hair. "What, in particular, would you like more detail concerning, Lady Gravina?" <@Dreol> [Gravina sits back down at the table and unrolls the scroll. It is written in Aramaic and discusses some early reports of demon summoning. "Tell us what you found, Eliana. I know Rolf told Mithras, but I would like to hear your take on the discovery."] 06* Eliana snorts softly. "When?" She paces closer, glancing at the scroll. "It was quite the journey." 01 Would you like to know about our meeting with Belit-Sheri, Helen of Troy, and her lover Paris? Or Warren the Watcher? 01 Moloch's supposed tomb? <@Dreol> [Gravina smiles. "Focus on the tomb... I want to know what you know about this ritual and Kali's Fang, and the current whereabouts of Moloch."] 06* Eliana nods. "The tomb was underneath a religious building in Ireland. It was particularly strange because it wasn't Christian; rather, dedicated to pagan gods, likely from a religion native to that area." She glances at Ian, again noting his presence there, then starts pacing towards one of the shelves. "I found this somewhat suspect, as I did not believe that particular religion generally required stone, permanent places of worship." 01 Upon reaching the church, we were attacked by what I believe was a Baali who was... annoyingly resistant to fire. 06* Eliana pauses, thinking, "And his corpse did not burn even after he perished." She shakes her head. "In any event, there was a coffin in the cavern below that structure, surrounded by a field of flame." <@Dreol> [Gravina nods. "An odd place for a Baali, considering their weakness to objects of faith."] 01 Exactly. Unless the faith was false, perhaps? Built by the Baali specifically to mimic a religion of the area but not evoke it? <@Dreol> [Gravina shrugs. "Anyway... how is it that this Baali manage such a resistance to fire?"] 01 A deal with some demon or devil, no doubt. He had the markings of it. <@Dreol> [She nods. "Okay... And what did you find in the coffin?"] 06* Eliana skims the titles on the shelves in front of her. 01 The body of a priest with a golden cross hanging from a chain, jammed down his throat and his torso split. I had Victoria pry his chest farther open for me. His organs were removed, and Aramaic script was carved into his flesh. Much of it was illegible at the time, though I would be happy to sketch as best I could from memory so we could decipher it now that we have the luxury. 01 What I *could* easily understand at time as the following: 01 And: 06* Eliana said both of those in Aramaic. After a pause, she translates out loud into Latin for Ian's benefit. <@Dreol> [Gravina nods. "I see... And what do you believe this ritual is designed to do?"] 01 Subjugate the kine? It's difficult to ascertain, exactly, beyond what those words specifically *do* say. Upon removing the corpse from its resting place, it crumbled to dust and the fire dispersed, leaving behind another message in blood on the floor: 06* Eliana , again, repeats in Latin. <@Dreol> [Gravina sighs and begins to pour over the tomes some more. "I am inclined to think that whatever this ritual is, it is very powerful. There are rumors of a ritual that the eldest of the Baali have been seeking. Yes, it is here in this tome... " She begins to read aloud. "The great beast will be called, and the gate to hell will be opened, and Lucifer himself shall return to realm of the living <@Dreol> and bend all those who walk the earth to his will."] 01 Hm. That couldn't possibly end poorly. 01 I wonder, however: how close is he to completing the ritual, assuming it can be completed? He may well have been attempting it for hundreds of years, and I doubt he's succeeded thus far. <@Dreol> [Gravina nods. "It must be a very elaborate ritual. No Baali has ever been successful, if it even exists. Regardless, this is concerning and I should discuss this with the Inner Council..." She stands and puts on a traveling cloak. "I will return in two weeks... You and your new student should continue to discuss this, perhaps work out where the two of you should focus your research on the matter."] 06* Eliana nods. "Certainly. Who shall we report to in your absence?" <@Dreol> [She rolls up a scroll and places it in a scroll case, which she slings over her shoulder. "Ovidio. He spends most of his time down in the alchemy labs, but you can trust him, and he knows how to report to me, if needs be."] <@Dreol> [Gravina heads out of the library. "Make sure you have some solid information by the time I return. We need to know all we can about the threat of this ritual... and while you are at it, see if you can track down this dagger, Kali's Fang. I would rather get the information ourselves than have it filtered through the Toreador."] 06* Eliana frowns a touch, but she nods. "We'll see what can be done." <@Dreol> [She nods and leaves the Chantry.] Well.. that could have gone worse 06* Eliana watches Gravina leave, then turns to the only other wampyr in the room. "Ian," she says. "How familiar are you with this library, what languages do you know, and where do you feel you are strong concerning research?" 06* Eliana watches Gravina leave, then turns to the only other wampyr in the room. "Yes." 01 Lady Gravina is a cold individual. I'm a touch surprised she's left this research in our hands. Perhaps it is a test of sorts ? 06* Eliana shakes her head. "Perhaps so, but she wouldn't entrust it to us if she did not feel we could get results. How familiar are you with this library, what languages do you know, and where do you feel you are strong concerning research?" 06* Ian answers questions: I'm as familiar with this library as I have had the chance in the last couple of years.... Libraries and I are no great friends. I speak English, French, Greek and Latin...and my command of thaumaturgy is on pair with many of our clan... my research into rituals is mainly of protective wards and circles with a few helpful ones.... 06* Eliana hms, looking through the shelves and pulling scrolls and tomes, separating some of them according to language. Is there a language you would like me to turn my attention to? 01 Nothing of immediate import, though... I may teach you a cant if there is time and we need to travel. An Assamite acquaintance of mine and I invented it, and it has been extremely useful when vocal communication is a hindrance. as you wish milady... 06* Eliana gestures to one of the piles. "We'd may as well get started." which are mine? 01 This one: Latin and Greek. 06* Ian picks up a stack of tomes, blowing off the dust accumulated through the ages... 06* Eliana moves to another pile and brushes dust off her own, then opens the tome from right to left. <@Dreol> [Session End.]