<@Dreol> [Buda, Hungary, April 11th 1262, 2:00 AM] <@Dreol> [After returning from the underworld with a mysterious young girl named Aliz, you are called to speak with Prince Jurgen about the events that have just unfolded and what to do. You all enter and join Varyn and Valerie, who are already talking with Jurgen. Jurgen waves for you to come in. "So, this girl, Aliz... what is she?"] <@Dreol> [Begin.] 06* Moriel shrugs. "Perfectly ordinary, so far as I can see. Now." <@Dreol> [Jurgen nods. "And where did she come from?"] 01 The farmhouse that was set ablaze a while back. 06* Moriel frowns, thinking. "She seems to have been abducted by the demons that attacked, and perhaps they tried to sacrifice her...but somehow it didn't quite work." She was wandering around in the Underworld, split in two. Part of her was wandering about trying to find her family, and in trying to get help she seems to have somehow dragged people into the Underworld after her. Including us, briefly. <@Dreol> [Jurgen nods and looks at Valerie. "If she was abducted in the attack on the house a few weeks ago then perhaps she knows Moloch's location."] 06* Varyn is letting other talk for now. He seems content to let them explain their own methods. Or...something, at any rate. <@Dreol> [Jurgen nods. "We need to get as much information as we can from her. Did you discover anything else?"] 06* Rolf growls out, "She weren't really talkin' much. Dead and out of sorts most of the time we were followin' her around." 06* Moriel looks back in the direction of Aliz's room and frowns. "She started crying when questioned. I can *try* to simply pull what she knows from her mind, but...if she's buried it deeply, it may be difficult." 06* Eliana folds her hands and looks at Moriel, then Jurgen. "She trusts Moriel. It may be best if he questions her and can coax those feelings to the forefront." <@Dreol> [Jurgen looks at Moriel. "Do what you can, then. We need to know his location, and it will save many kindred lives if we have to spend less time searching in enemy territory."] Searching? 06* Moriel nods, considering. He murmurs half to himself, "She's sleeping now. If she has nightmares?" 06* Rolf looks over at the security risk and frowns deeply. It's not sturgeon-esque, but we're getting there. 06* Varyn doesn't look like a security risk! <@Dreol> [Jurgen turns to Varyn. "Searching for Moloch. And where do you fit into the story, Varyn? How is it you have returned from wherever the girl sent you?"] Your associates here rescued me. <@Dreol> [Jurgen nods. "I see... Perhaps you could help them, then... Do you know anything of Kali's Fang?"] 06* Moriel abruptly starts paying attention again, glancing between Jurgen and Varyn. I've seen it, yes. 06* Anstace turns to look at Varyn with emotionless eyes. You - when and where? <@Dreol> [Jurgen motions for Varyn to continue. "That is fortunate. How did you come to see the fang?"] Before the war started. I am an expert in blades. Lord Ruthven showed it to me. 06* Eliana looks at Varyn, something turning behind her eyes. But she doesn't say anything. 06* Moriel sits back, eyeing Varyn. 06* Varyn looks back at them. "Yes?" Seems like an odd thing to just see. He just braggin'? 06* Anstace clicks her tongue softly as she thinks. "how long before the war?" she asks after a few moments. I AM an expert on blades and I am an Artist with metal and weapons. I'm one of the most experienced craftsman in the lands and I make the most beautiful weapons. It is what I do and what I am known for and I have knowledge of such things you, brute, wouldn't. Don't you dare challenge my knowledge. 06* Moriel 's eyebrows rise. He says mildly, "I don't think he intended to. And I don't think insults are necessary." 06* Anstace peers at Varyn closely. "your skills and artistry are not on trial," she says, a little more forcefully. "the question remains. how long before the war?" 06* Rolf growls lowly and draws himself up to his full height, looking down at Varyn. "So why'd he show it to ya? Didn't he know what it was?" 06* Eliana just keeps watching Varyn. Nobody's on fire - yet. 06* Varyn turns to look at Anstace now, looking much more calm. "I traveled there to show of my work, he was interested in some of my pieces and we were talking about him being a patron for a few projects. He appreciated what I had to show him, but insisted he didn't need a blade and showed me the fang. It was about ten years before I heard about the war." about ten years? <@Dreol> [Jurgen, who has been quiet for some time, stands up from his chair and moves over to the side of the room, lifting a rolled piece of parchment off the shelf and looks at Varyn. "I see... Could you accompany our friends on their quest to recover it, then? You will have to stay here through summer, of course. No one wants to lead an expedition into Tzimisce territory in mid-summer. We will make <@Dreol> it worth it for you, of course, and I am certain that Prince Mithras will reward you handsomely as well."] 06* Anstace turns her head to regard Jurgen as he speaks, effectively cutting off her lecture on the measured passage of time and the dangers of approximation. Mmm yes. about ten years. I...stay here? I suppose we could talk about about it. I...do owe them for rescuing me. 06* Anstace turns back to Varyn. "ten years and a month? ten years and two days? ten years and seven hours? time is precise. always." 06* Varyn looks back up at Anstace and thinks very carefully. "Ten years and 83 days." <@Dreol> [Jurgen raises his hand to silence Anstace. "About ten years is sufficient for my purposes. Thank you, Lady Winter Rose." He turns back to Varyn. "You are welcome to stay here, if you wish. We will set up a room for you. You would, of course, have access to our armory and forge as well as our own gallery. I have heard you have a fascination for works of art."] 06* Varyn seems to brighten up with that. "Thank you kindly. I don't often find the hospitality of a forge." 06* Anstace turns to face Jurgen and nods her head in acknowledgement. "as you say." she then walks back to where she was standing previously. 06* Rolf :remains growling: as options are restricted, but he nods slightly to Jurgen and asks, "Is that all, Lord Jurgen?" <@Dreol> [Jurgen nods and rolls out the parchment. It is a map of the Kingdom of Hungary, including Transylvania. "I expect you will be leaving in mid August when the nights return to a reasonable length. Ruthven's castle is here... in the mountains of Transylvania." Jurgen points to a place on the map. "It is about a two week journey from here with decent horses. Since our Ravnos friend knows where <@Dreol> the Fang is, this should be an easier task to carry out."] 06* Moriel tilts his head, considering Varyn. "Yes." 06* Anstace 's head snaps to look at Jurgen as he says "about a two week journey" but says nothing, just clenches her fist tighter, digging her nails into her palm. 06* Varyn sighs and looks at Jurgen and then at the rest. "Either way..." he takes a deep breath. "The time I saw it, it was in the east tower." 06* Moriel glances at Anstace, but after a moment he looks back at the map without saying anything. 06* Eliana surveys the map. "I'll require some assistance so I may learn the regional languages." <@Dreol> [Jurgen nods. "I am sure that can be arranged. For now, you are all dismissed. I am sure you are tired. Please feel free to help yourself to any of the kine that I have employed throughout the manor, except my ghouls, of course. Court will resume tomorrow night." He looks to Varyn. "Valerie will be happy to show to a room where you can stay for the summer."] And my...guards? 06* Moriel nods shortly. "I'll go see what I can learn from Aliz." <@Dreol> [Jurgen shrugs at Varyn. "We will be happy to offer them lodgings in town. You are welcome to store your goods here in the manor. We will ensure they are guarded."] Thank you. I do want to make sure my stuff is taken care of. 06* Eliana bows to Jurgen. "By your leave, then." She turns and walks out, back to her room. <@Dreol> [The next evening, after you have fed, you arrive in the great hall, which seems even more filled with kindred than the last time. They do not seem to be sectioned off into clans, but rather are much more intermingled.] 06* Varyn looks a little impressed with that. 06* Eliana walks in, cross dressing handily in scholar's robes. Unlike the last time Varyn saw her, she's wearing a heavy cloak with a hood along with a pair of gloves. A black rose pin is used to clasp the cloak around her neck. 06* Eliana surveys the area from one side. 06* Anstace seems to have decided against trying to squeeze herself into more formal attire and has selected something more along the lines of traditional spartan garb (current modesty standards can suck it!). when she enters the room, she makes her way to the relatively safety of a friendly face or at least somewhere less noticeable. <@Dreol> [A tall, gangley male kindred in some elegant robes approaches Rolf, accompanied by a beautiful female kindred in a long, flowing blood red dress. The male Kindred's eyes widen. "Ah! Well if it isn't Lord Hector Vaelenof. I knew your sire, Paetrus, years back. He was a good kindred. Reliable. How is he holding up against the Tzimisce advancement in the east? That must be cutting into his <@Dreol> territory."] 06* Moriel is hanging around being a wallflower, like he usually does. A black wallflower. 06* Varyn is dressed in slightly outdated lower wealth finery, like you had seen him in previously. It was good enough for court, and that was about all you could really say. 06* Rolf gets a look of confusion on his face a moment as he nods slowly and says, "I, uh, haven't heard." A small pause, as Rolf scratches the back of his head, and then he asks, "I... what is your name?" <@Dreol> [The man bows. "My apologies. I am Francis Abbiati, and this is Viola. We are of the Cappadocian clan."] 06* Rolf nods slightly and says, "Well, uh, now we are not unequal in what we know." Small pause, then, "Are you both, uh, local?" <@Dreol> [Francis shakes his head. "No, no. We are visiting from Milan... Jurgen invited us to give some insight into the disappearances around Rome."] 06* Rolf brightens a bit and nods. "Ah, yes... good." He pauses, then ventures, "You know of them, then?" <@Dreol> [Francis nods. "Yes. Well it is difficult not to notice disappearances on that scale. What of you? Are you bringing information from the eastern border?"] 06* Rolf scratches his head. Awkward. "Um. I was already here for the summer, actually. To see a larger court." A small pause, then, "I must be continuing, but it was, uh, good to meet you, Lord Abbiati." <@Dreol> [Francis and Viola both bow. "You as well."] <@Dreol> [Session End... FOR NOW] <@Dreol> [DUN DUN DUN]