< [Buda, Hungary, April 10th 1262, 1:30 AM] [Varyn has recently stopped in Buda on his way along the eastern European trade routes. He arrived late, but is met with a welcome party, none-the-less. A young woman in a dark hood seems to step directly out of the shadows in front of him and approaches him and his caravan. "Excuse me traveler, could you spare a coin?"] 01 [Start!] 06* Varyn slowly pokes his ehad out and looks around slowly focusing on her. "Coin? Coin for what?" [The young woman tilts her head. "Why, for kindness, sir." The young woman, it should be noted, is speaking in Latin. 06* Varyn slowly gets out, one of his guard coming near by. "Usually I get a story for the kindness." <@Dreol> [She stares at Varyn and holds out her hand. "Why don't you tell me your story, first, sir. What brings you out here at this time of night."] 06* Varyn laughs gently and takes the hand kissing it delicately. "Just a merchant traveling and showing his wares. Nothing a young lady like yourself would be interested in." <@Dreol> [She smiles and looks at the carriage. "I see." She stares at Varyn a bit longer and nods. "I believe you will need to visit my lord then."] Oh, and why is that? 06* Varyn has his eyes fixed on her now. <@Dreol> [She smiles and motions into the town. "It's only common courtesy when you enter another's domain."] <@Dreol> [She grins, her fangs growing, and then she retracts them and heads back into town, motioning for Varyn to follow.] 06* Varyn gives another small laugh. "Ah I see. I'm sorry I can't give you the charity you wanted." He bows and follows her. <@Dreol> [She shakes her head. "It's fine. I was only testing you. Lord Jurgen can't be too careful these days. I can see that you clearly bear us no ill. But these are dangerous times."] They are. Dangerous times for all, and yet we must keep up appearances and courtesy. I apologize for not coming sooner. <@Dreol> [She shakes her head. "Do not fret. I always find the newcomers before they find us." She leads you through town. The town is eerily quiet. Even for this time of night. Once you reach a large manor she holds up a hand. "Stay here a moment, I will go and announce your presence to Lord Jurgen."] 06* Varyn bows his head. "Thank you, Madam. I will await your return." He was all smiles and pleasantries right now. <@Dreol> [She disappears inside the manor. A few minutes later she reappears. "It appears that Lord Jurgen is very busy this evening with his guests. We recently received some guests from London."] Ah, I wouldn't want to be a bother. I am just traveling through on a route. Not intending to stay long or do any real business. <@Dreol> [She motions into the town. "That said, he said you are welcome to take one of the abandoned houses near the outskirts of town for the duration of your stay. It is well protected from sunlight and has room enough on the grounds for your carriage."] Most generous. We are grateful. Will I expect a visit from the Lord or should I try again tomorrow night? <@Dreol> [She shakes her head. "He is likely to busy. Why not try again tomorrow. How long do you intend to be in town?"] A few days. Enough to rest up, do some simple trades and then move on. I will not intrude upon his hunting grounds at all. <@Dreol> [She shakes her head. "Please. Feel free to hunt. But do watch out for attacks from Tzimisce. They have been becoming more frequent as of late."] <@Dreol> (Actually, upon further consideration, keep the date for this session. Change Valerie's quote in the earlier session to "A Ravnos. He was just passing through town and staying in an abandoned house. He checked in with us last night" Rather than "last week") Ah, that is most gracious. I will be careful about attacks. As you see I do have some warnings in place. <@Dreol> [She nods. "My name is Valerie. I will be patrolling around the city, so if you see anything, let me know."] <@Dreol> [She gives you directions to a small abandoned house on the north end of town.] Varyn. So nice to meet you. <@Dreol> [She nods and disappears back into the shadows.] 06* Varyn would soon have his wagon to the abandoned house and be settling down. <@Dreol> [As he steps into the abandoned house he sees a young girl, probably around 7 years old. She is dressed in a nightgown and has a straw doll in her hand. Her dark hair is long and messy. She slowly raises her gaze to Varyn. "Please, sir, will you help me find my mommy?"] 06* Varyn blinks and looks down at the girl. "I...of course I will little one. They wouldn't be around here though." <@Dreol> [The girl is speaking German, by the way, not Hungarian.] <@Dreol> [She shakes her head. "My mommy and daddy are scared. They'll be missing me... Please come with me and help me find them, won't you?"] <@Dreol> [She walks over to the door and then walks outside. "Please... come..."] 06* Varyn nods a bit and starts following. "Of course." <@Dreol> [As soon as Varyn steps outside of the house, he finds himself in a tunnel. The sort of tunnel you would find in a catacombs. Smooth rock on all sides and it extends in a long straight line until it comes to a left turn at the end. There is a large hole in the bottom right corner of the tunnel through which Varyn can see a vast barren wasteland being ravaged by a terrible storm of glass, and magma and fire and creatures of nightmares forming and reforming from some sort of ethereal material. Through a small hole in the ceiling, Varyn can see the city he was just in, except it's a twisted reflection of the real thing. Buildings are warped and spectral versions of people float along lost among the city. The little girl is standing further down the hall, about twenty feet ahead of Varyn.] 06* Varyn frowns and stops, debating a bit. "Oh little girl, where did you last see your parents?" <@Dreol> [She looks up at Varyn. "They were screaming... there was so much fire... The bad men took me... But I came back... I came back to look for them. They're this way..." She stops for a moment and her eyes go wide. "AIIIEEEE!" She screams and falls to her knees, her hands raising up and grasping her head as if it were about to explode. She flickers in front of Varyn, in and out of view, and for a moment the whole scene is replaced with the little girl barely holding onto a ledge over a pitch black abyss. A deep evil laugh can be heard echoing from the abyss and then Varyn is back in the hallway, but the little girl is nowhere to be found.] 06* Varyn frowns and starts to make his way for the city he can see. <@Dreol> [Varyn can see no real good way up to the city, but he continues into the labyrinth in attempt to find one.] <@Dreol> [Session End!]