<@Dreol> [Buda, Hungary, April 13th, 4:00 AM] <@Dreol> [Anstace, Eliana and Rolf have been allowed down into the dungeon to question the prisoner, who looks like he has been suffering from lack of sleep and food. The guard is outside the door waiting for the sign to open it.] <@Dreol> [You can begin questioning him now!] <@Dreol> [Begin!] 06* Eliana looks down at the man, letter rolled tightly in her hand. "What do you know about the Dragon in the East?" <@Dreol> [The prisoner shakes his head. "The time of the dragon is near. Lord Ruthven is the father of the dragon. He will sire the dragon, who will march west against all of you and conquer everything between Transylvania and the sea."] 06* Anstace leans over, her hands clasped behind her back. she peers closely at the man with an emotionless, unblinking gaze as he speaks. so Ruthven has not yet sired him? <@Dreol> [The prisoner shrugs. "I have not been home for several weeks."] 01 Is your lord working with any others, outside of the Tzimisce? <@Dreol> [He shakes his head and leans against a wall. "There are many who answered the call."] 01 And how long has this call been happening? <@Dreol> [He shakes his head and a grin climbs up his lips. "Why should I answer your questions?"] 06* Anstace steps closer to the prisoner, now well within striking distance. she looks up at him, but somehow also through him. her expression does not change (of course) as she slowly unclasps her hands from behind her back and lowers them to her sides as if she might just strike. 06* Anstace tilts her head to the side, staring at the man as if he just simply did not matter. or perhaps as if waiting for some trigger. clearly she's not feeling threatened by anything he has said so far. <@Dreol> [The prisoner seems shaken and backs up some. "Lord Ruthven has been gathering forces for years, but recently our numbers have increased tremendously."] 06* Anstace takes another step, to keep the distance as she wants it. 06* Eliana watches Anstace advance. She stays where she is and simply asks, "Why?" <@Dreol> [He shrugs. "The time of the dragon is coming. We can feel it."] 06* Eliana narrows her eyes. "How." <@Dreol> [He smiles. "I can't explain how. But being in Lord Ruthven's presence, you can feel it radiating from him. He will sire the dragon, and he will do it soon."] 06* Eliana nods, thoughtfully. She looks at Rolf. Any questions? 06* Anstace reduces the distance between herself and the prisoner by half. she does not, however, seem to be bothered by this. or if she is, nobody can tell. but possibly we can tell if he is 06* Eliana takes Rolf's continued growling as a 'not right now' and steps forward, unrolling the letter. She holds it so the Tzimisce can see its contents. "Identify this." <@Dreol> [He looks down at it and shakes his head. "No. I will not betray the trust of my lord and clan. Not for free, certainly..."] 06* Anstace peers up at the prisoner. "as long as you have been here, they will certainly not trust you. going back becomes much harder for you." <@Dreol> [He nods. "I have accepted that I will never see my homeland again and will, I'm sure, die. So, you see, you can threaten me if you wish, but I have nothing to lose."] 06* Eliana holds up her other hand and twists her wrist, a bright, hot flame filling her palm. She steps towards him and moves the fire even closer. "Try again." 06* Anstace shakes her head. "and yet you hang on to trust." she spins on her heel and retreats towards Eliana and Rolf. 01 (Swap those, I suppose.) (works for me) <@Dreol> [His eyes widen at the fire, and he hisses and backs away, glaring at Eliana. "It's just an invitation. 'Come, friends, and witness the fulfillment of a prophecy. The rise of the dragon. While our enemies fight each other in the west, we will fortify our strength in the east. All who join me in my domain will be counted amongst my allies when our march to glory begins. In the Cathedral of Flesh, I will sire the chosen one who will bring us to our rightful place of power. -Lord Prince Lambach Ruthven, Sire of the Dragon'] 06* Eliana smiles coldly. 01 Better. Where is the cathedral? <@Dreol> [He shrugs. "I am unsure. Lord Ruthven did not reveal its location."] 01 You must have *some* idea. 06* Eliana shoves the fire into his face without any further warning, close enough that he can almost feel his eyebrows scorching. <@Dreol> [He shakes visibly and stammers out. "I really don't know. I know that the Cathedral of Flesh is the domain of Yorak, a powerful Tzimisce, and it must be near Lord Ruthven's domain or else it would be difficult to move all those people there."] 01 That wasn't so difficult. 06* Eliana draws the fire back, but not out of sight. She looks back. "Rolf?" She tilts her head towards the Tzimisce. 06* Rolf grunts slightly, then says, "So here's my question. Your lord ain't an old one. He ain't even two old ones. What's this stupid dragon going to actually do against two Antidiluveans and a demon?" <@Dreol> [He shakes his head. "The dragon is part of the prophecy. It prophecizes our rise to power. It is not the dragons generation that is the source of his power, it is something else. Something he will do."] 06* Rolf snorts. "So it's all worthless words. Gotcha." <@Dreol> [He shakes his head. "Not believing in the prophecy will not stop it from coming true."] No, him being a goddamn idiot and getting himself killed will stop it from becomin' true. <@Dreol> [He backs up and leans against the wall. "You will see."] 06* Eliana glances at Rolf, trying to get an idea as to what he wants her to do, if anything. 06* Anstace turns to look at Rolf as well. Not really. So let's talk this out. Since you're already a big traitor, let's dispense with the bravado. I've got all summer, and so do you. <@Dreol> [He sighs. "As you say..."] 06* Rolf looks dead into his eyes. "Alright. Tell me about Ruthven's domain. And don't worry, I'm gonna ask you again tomorrow. So don't tell any lies you can't remember all summer, blood-starved and stuck in a dungeon. We got plenty of time to work 'em all out." <@Dreol> [He sighs. "What do you want to know? It's a castle in the mountains in Transylvania. It's currently housing hundreds, if not over a thousand kindred. His domain includes a small village where he hunts, although, he has had to bring in some new blood for his guests."] 06* Rolf growls lowly. "Everything. Rooms. People. Routines. His favorite ghoul." <@Dreol> [He stares at Rolf. "I think you have mistaken me for Lord Ruthven's personal aide. I do not know that much about him. I am a soldier."] You know plenty. Now let's get started. <@Dreol> [The prisoner sighs.] <@Dreol> [Session End]