[London, January 29th 1262, 7:00 PM] [It has been about a week (or so) since you all met with your respective clans and Matriarch Salianna has sent a courier with a letter to wait until sundown at all of your havens (different couriers, obviously). The letter reads the following "Good evening, I would be pleased if you would grace me with your presence at The Jeweled Goblet. The tavern keeper will be expecting you and I have arranged to have the upstairs open for a private gathering. Fare thee well, MS"] [Begin] 06* Rolf isn't a very inconspicuous person for this clandestine meeting, but at least he knows how to not be noticed... all the time... when heading through streets in the dark. 06* Moriel 's brows draw together as he reads the note. He tucks it away, though, and a little time later shows up as requested/ordered, wearing a guarded expression. 06* Anstace arrives at the tavern precisely on time. she is wearing one of the dresses that Matriarch Salianna gave her, and squirming while she does so. her usual emotionless expression seems to be the only thing she finds comfortable, or not. its kind of hard to tell. 06* Eliana shows up, sure. She's even cross-dressed in better-than- average scholar's robes! You know, the ones she keeps for special occasions. She nods to Anstace as she arrives, only a minute or two later than her. "One of her dresses," she comments. 06* Eliana 's cloak, too, seems new. Still heavy, though. The gloves are the same. 06* Ysabeau arrives at the tavern early planning on waiting outside until she is fashionably late. She is dressed to the nines and looks nervous, but puts on a brave face when she sees everyone and tries to look casual, or bored. 06* Anstace turns to nod at Eliana and then turns back to watch where she is going. "it was not my first choice" 01 What convinced you? who would be more accurate 01 I try to be inclusive. i know 06* Ysabeau is maybe 18, blue eyes, golden blonde curls the are pulled away from her face but fall down her back. She is wearing a bright blue silk gown with gold embroidery. She has blue eyes, long lashes, perfect skin. at a five in appearance she stands out big time. 06* Anstace smiles slightly, if you can really tell. to most people, her expression remained unchanged. 06* Ysabeau Notices Eliana, and a VERY attractive woman, and quickly makes her way over, "Eliana! It has been too long!" She reaches to hug Eliana. 06* Moriel sees Ysabeau approach Eliana and just watches with a resigned expression. 06* Eliana turns to kill Ysabeau with her glare. When that (unfortunately) doesn't work, she bursts into fire. Seriously, her upper torso, including hair, shoulders, chest, and all. On fire. 06* Ysabeau stops short and smiles. "Oooh, what passion! I missed you too, dear. Who is your friend?" 06* Moriel twitches back in shock. He's never seen Eliana pull *that* trick before. And then...Yzzie is Yzzie, and he's back to being resigned. 01 You should know. She's in your court, and your practice is information gathering. True, but introductions are far more polite. One never reveals what she overhears from little birds. 06* Eliana snorts. "I already did." The fire disappears, and she turns to Anstace like nothing happened. "This is Ysabeau Bellamy," she says, gesturing to the wampyr in question. "An unfortunate acquaintance." 06* Anstace turns to look at Ysabeau, and blinks. You know you feel more for me than that, love. 06* Ysabeau smiles at Eliana. <@Dreol> [After a few minutes, the door to the tavern opens and an older gentleman, maybe in his early 40s, bows to you all, ignoring the chaos before him. "The mademoiselle is waiting for you upstairs. If you would please follow me." He turns and proceeds inside and up a set of stairs.] 06* Ian coughs 06* Moriel follows the older gentleman, ignoring Ysabeau and related byplay. 06* Ysabeau follows the gentleman. 06* Rolf doesn't decide to hug Eliana out of nowhere, instead saying, a bit gruffly, "Good to see she's, uh, back in her element." 06* Ian rushes in... Late again 06* Eliana looks to Ian and nods, then says lowly to Rolf, "Pity her element isn't fire." 06* Eliana heads on in, yup! 06* Ysabeau turns to smile at Rolf, "I missed you too!" She winks. 06* Anstace follows quietly. <@Dreol> [The inside of the Tavern is much nicer than most you have seen. The wooden tables are all nicely polished and there are finely made tapestries hanging on the walls. Some of the windows are even glass. Clearly this tavern caters to very upscale clientele, that said, it is completely empty tonight.] 06* Rolf manages a polite doofy smile at Ysabeau. Well, she is pretty. <@Dreol> [The upstairs is one large meeting room. There is a long table with about a dozen chairs around it. At one end of the table sits Matriarch Salianna. She is dressed in a shimmering, black silk dress. It is completely silk, which means it must have cost a fortune. She, as always, looks stunning. Standing next to her is Pierre. On the table in front of her is a pile of scrolls and letters and one larger tome. Salianna motions to the seats around the table. "Please, have a seat. We have some important things to discuss."] 06* Rolf doesn't buy such things. They cost loaf. Money. Money loaf. He takes a seat carefully. 06* Moriel pulls out a chair a couple down the table from the Matriarch and Pierre and seats himself. He turns to them with his usual quiet attention. 06* Ysabeau curtsies 06* Anstace glances quickly at Moriel and then back at Matriarch Salianna. she takes a seat without a curtsey, but then notices Ysabeau curtseying and then looks back to Moriel. 06* Ian pulls out a seat for Eliana 06* Ysabeau stands up and smiles brightly at her Matriarch before gracefully taking a seat. 06* Eliana bows to the matriarch. "By your permission," she says, "I brought a fellow Tremere with me: Ian Hargrave. My clan requested I mentor him. Should you wish only I attend this meeting, I can have him leave." <@Dreol> [Salianna shrugs "If you trust him, Mademoiselle Casale, then he is welcome to stay."] 06* Anstace squirms uncomfortably 06* Eliana nods once, then moves to sit next to Moriel. She gestures for Ian to take the empty chair next to her. 06* Eliana , for the record, totally sat in the chair Ian pulled for her. 06* Ian takes the designated seat 06* Anstace turns to look at Pierre and does not look away. <@Dreol> [Salianna nods to the group. "Pierre has been doing research into Khali's Fang. It intrigues me that this weapon was powerful enough to critically wound Moloch. I know that Mithras seems most interested in the Baali ritual and the war with Carthage, but I believe that more attention needs to be paid to this terribly powerful weapon. After much research, Pierre has discovered that the fang is a dagger that will severely damage a kindred, and if it pierces the heart, will cause instant death."] 06* Moriel 's eyebrows flick upward. "Damage how, precisely? We know Moloch was weakened, and for some time, but not how exactly." that sounds about right 06* Ysabeau puts on a serious face and pretends she knows what they are talking about, while focusing all of her attention on Salianna. 01 Pierre's findings corroborate with the information Ian and I had uncovered concerning the Fang. <@Dreol> [Pierre clears his throat. "Additionally, I have tracked down the current location of the Fang?"] 06* Ysabeau come hither eyes on Salianna. 06* Eliana raises an eyebrow at Pierre. Now that's interesting. 06* Moriel had glanced at Eliana, but Pierre recaptures his attention with that. 06* Anstace blinks, but remains emotionally neutral. you said that as if it was a question. have you or have you not? <@Dreol> [Salianna smiles to Ysabeau and then sighs to the others. "It is not good news. The Fang is in Transylvania."] 06* Eliana frowns. "Unfortunate." 06* Anstace turns to look at Eliana. 06* Ysabeau melts, blushes, and smiles. 01 Do you know if the Carthaginians are searching for it? <@Dreol> [Salianna shakes her head. "We do not know. Our sources suggest that it is in the possession of Lambach Ruthven, a very powerful Tzimisce, but it is unclear if he is directly aligned with the Carthaginians. At the moment, we have no reason to believe that the Carthaginians are actively seeking the Fang."] in which part of the Empire is this "Transylvania"? 06* Eliana looks to Ian, tilting her head towards Anstace. He can answer this one. well... it's to the East... but I'm unsure of exactly how we would get there from here 06* Rolf growls a little and says, "Either way, we need him to give it to us. And then give Moloch another taste of it." 06* Moriel 's lips curve up in a faint, grim smile. 06* Anstace tilts her head and looks at Ian. <@Dreol> [Pierre speaks up next. "Transylvania is in the east, it is part of the Kingdom of Hungary, but most importantly, it is a Tzimisce stronghold."] 06* Anstace turns back to Pierre. "and which part was Hungary?" 06* Moriel murmurs an explanation to Anstace. <@Dreol> [Pierre shakes his head. "My apologies. North of Greece."] 06* Anstace nods at Moriel's explanation and whispers softly to him, "why did they not just say that?" 06* Eliana just asks Salianna: "Have you brought this information to the Prince's attention?" 06* Moriel murmurs back to Anstace, "Because territories are arranged differently now, and the rest might not have understood had he referred to Roman territories." Then he turns to the Matriarch to hear her answer. 06* Anstace seems to weigh Moriel's explanation for a few seconds, and then satisfied, turns back to the conversation. <@Dreol> [Salianna sighs. "I have not as of yet. I wanted to bring it to your attention first. I know that you have all worked together in the past in a way that few of our kind do, and I know that all of our clans have their own priorities. I was hoping that by providing you this information, you can come to the best decision as to what we should do."] 06* Moriel raises his eyebrows. "It doesn't seem likely that its current owner will simply give it up on request. Is there any likelihood it can be negotiated for?" 06* Eliana frowns and leans back, folding her arms, considering Salianna's words. If not, then our choices are rather limited. <@Dreol> [Salianna nods. "I agree? It may be that we need to mobilize forces to Transylvania if we wish to recover the Fang. I am trusting you with this information. Do what you feel is best. I will leave the research here with you and take my leave. I hope you will be able to come to some agreement." She nods and stands. Pierre, who was already standing, bows to you all.] 06* Ysabeau looks concerned that she is leaving so soon, but dutifully stands and curtises 06* Anstace squirms uncomfortably and straightens her back in an effort to be slightly less constricted by her attire 06* Eliana stands and bows her head to the matriarch. "Thank you for your trust," she says, showing that she can be kind of polite. Then she begins to gather the research, glancing at Ian. Maybe he'll help! <@Dreol> [Salianna nods to Ysabeau and then to the rest of the table generally. "Good evening." And she descends the stairs, followed by Pierre.] 06* Rolf stands slowly and growls, "We can't just go throwin' forces 'round." Why's are they even sure he's got it? 06* Moriel nods at Salianna as she leaves, then turns back to the others. "No...perhaps the answer is somewhere here." He starts sifting through the papers. She still loves me! My Salianna didn't trade me because she was tired of me! 06* Ysabeau hugs herself before getting serious again. 06* Eliana rolls her eyes at Yzzie's giddiness. Honestly. 06* Ysabeau mimics Eliana's serious face, then smiles. 06* Rolf looks particularly confused at Ysabeau's chain of logic and celebration, but he did ask a question, so he tromps over to the research to do his best 'reading' impression. 06* Anstace turns her attention to the papers left behind as well, "i would tend to agree. perhaps there is something in here that could prove useful" 06* Moriel gives Ysabeau a brief incredulous look, then returns to the scrolls and such with a shake of his head. 01 I suggest we collect this research, and then we reconvene at the farmhouse to discuss and go over Pierre's notes. The night is far from over, and I'd rather we continue in a more secure location. 06* Moriel looks up. "A good point." 06* Anstace does not look up from the pages she is leafing through. "at what time would you like to convene?" 06* Moriel starts to gather up what he can neatly. 06* Ysabeau helps to gather papers. 06* Rolf nods slowly and says, "Alright... guess it's better than here." 01 As soon as reasonable. 06* Moriel shrugs, still gathering papers. "We may as well go directly there, if it's no trouble." 06* Eliana nods in agreement. It has been ages since I've been there. 06* Moriel doesn't look up at Yzzie. "Then you can follow the rest of us." 06* Anstace looks at Eliana, and then at Ysabeau. her emotionless expression hiding the disdain for trivializing time in such a careless fashion your classification of ages would be based on what, exactly? <@Dreol> [Within the research materials is a tome detailing the abilities of the Fang, a scroll that speaks of an odd looking dagger of supernatural power wielded in a battle in Transylvania 200 years ago, before its wielder is killed, and a drawing that appears to be about 100 years old and very faded, but it bears the image of a creature, clearly a Tzimisce by the way his bones have been restructured, carrying a dagger that matches the description of the fang, and finally a letter bearing a drawing that is titled Lambach Ruthven and is very similar (although with some clear structural differences in his face) to the man holding the fang in the other picture.] <@Dreol> [Farmhouse, January 30th 1262, 3:00 AM] 06* Moriel sets aside the drawings and bends over the tome to read more about the effects of the Fang. 01 [The previously abandoned farmhouse has, over the past few decades, become a thoroughly lived in house. When the group arrives, Jill (servant's garb, about 5'5", looks about nineteen, silky hazelnut hair cut about shoulder length, white skin, and incredibly green eyes) answers the door and immediately busies herself with everyone's winter wear and shoes while Eliana starts laying out the research she found on the dining table.] <@Dreol> [Ehhhhh? End. We will pick up here next time.]