Thread: [June 09 Story Post #1] June 1st @ 12:01am - "A Gamble"

Posted by DeAnna Ross

(Out of Character Storyteller Note: This scene is the first to occur, please note the date and time in the titles of the posts, out of all the others I'm posting tonight. Players should interact act with this scene before going to the others, after all, this one will let you know what is going to happen in the others and it will help you decide which of the other threads, if any, that you want your character to be a part of. Like a choose your own adventure book, not every thread in this plot is a place you want your character to go. While the general in character forums and private boards are "no challenge" areas of the website... the Online Subscribers get to enjoy the right to ask for a challenge to be performed by the storytelling staff. If, at any time, your character would use a power or initiate a challege you can put that request in (parenthsis) and a storyteller will run the challenge for you and reply with the results. Please try to keep the requests for challenges to one per post so the ST staff has time to reply. Typically I'm close to a computer all day, every day (even at work) so the reply time shouldn't be more than a few hours at a time... hey, I have to sleep. I strongly encourage players to NOT initiate challenges against other players in these posts if it can be avoided as it will slow down the flow of story a great deal. There will be pleanty of time to bash in your fellow kindred's skulls at our end of the month chatroom game or at our actual local larp events. With that said... welcome to our first scene of the first online story arc! THIS SCENE WILL BE CLOSED IN ONE WEEK'S TIME so conclude your rp by then.)


Bacchus, a high end cigar and brandy bar, appears dark from the outside parking lot and the door has a small sign that reads, "Closed for Private Party" as you pull up. It's crimson and gold interior looks much more regal with the minimal lighting that is turned on inside and as you enter you'll notice that the normal Host who takes your coat isn't on duty... in fact, it seems like no one is there at all, until you hear soft classical music playing from somewhere on the second floor.

As you climb the stairs you will begin to hear voices and you will see Seneschal Calhoun sitting at the front of the room... no surprise since your primogen (or, in the case of the Giovanni, your elder) told you it was he who was asking for assistance. You were, of course, informed that the meeting and the offer that was going to be made here was entirely optional to take part in... though that's always the case with the Giovanni, it's not always the case with the loyal clans of the Camarilla.

Seneshcal Calhoun's word could make or break any Camarilla member in the city of Lamar ... his good opinion could set you up with the best feeding grounds, titles, money, status and as an elder of the Nosferatu Clan with a reputation for even handed dealings; what he might be able to aquire for you in the way of rare and hard to get information or items presents limitless possibilites.

The room is not overly full and perhaps more importantly ... other than Seneschal Calhoun ... the room is full of neonates and people whose standing in the city isn't much better than your own. Dressed in a nicely pressed suit, clothed in the illusion of "just another guy" Calhoun appears perfectly calm and not distressed at all... despite the suddness of this call to gather and apparent urgency of this "offer" he wants to make you.

Once everyone is seated, Calhoun takes a moment to look across the room at each of you, taking in your dress and apparent attitude. He smiles but it only barely touches his eyes.

"Thank you all for coming." He says in a smooth, practiced voice that easily reaches all areas of the dinning area that you're sitting in. "I'm very sorry that we are not gathering under happier circumstances" with this statement he cuts off any attempts at ass-kissing that anyone might have been trying to make. "But, perhaps we will be able to indulge in social niceties another time soon... especially if you're willing to hear and accept my offer. I suspect it may open a great deal of doors for those of you who are bold enough to step forward."

Calhoun comes around the front of the table he was seated at and sits on the edge facing outward towards all of you at your various tables and booths around the room. "I'm afraid that one of our most respected city members has parished. Matron Milicent of Clan Ventrue, a minor harpy of our domain, has fallen." Calhoun waits for everyone to take in the news that this matriarch of the domain is gone... perhaps you mourn her or perhaps you are happy that now she is out of your way and a path to power is cleared... either way, Calhoun gives you the respect of a moment to contemplate what this means for your future.

"I know that many of you already have questions but please, if you'll let me continue with my story and offer there will be time for discussion after." Again he gives a reassuring look to the young of the room. "My contacts inform me that her murderer may still be in the domain, in fact, that he or she may actually be hiding among the Anarchs that sometimes gather in The Pitt. You might be wondering then why we haven't sent our Sheriff down there to nose out the guilty party and be done with the matter... I'm afraid that it's not so simple as all that. The anarchs who travel in that area, as you may or may not know, have made an art of hiding and their cells are open only to those who have proven themselves as members. Without causing a risk to the masquerade, getting into the locations where the criminal is hiding could prove difficult at best but more likely impossible. Brut force, I'm afraid, will not solve this problem."

"What I require, at this time, is a group of relatively unknowns in the city to inflitrate the Anarchs, gain their trust and thusly gain access to the criminal so that you can bring him to justice either by returning him to myself or by dispatching justice by your own hand and bringing me proof of the party's guilt and demise." Calhoun pauses and seems to, once again, try and read your reaction to this news.

"To successfully infiltrate the Anarchs will require a very convincing exit of our sect and so... as you can see by the lack of any one else in authority to the domain... you must do so without anyone in the sect knowing your true mission. Only I and the Prince will be aware of the parties who have gone into deep cover to root out and bring this murderer to justice. Those who take this offer, and accomplish your mission without breaking any laws of our sect will be greatly rewarded by Prince Cahill and myself. This opertunity does come with risk... however the rewards you could recieve may be great indeed."

"Now, that brings me to you Mr. Giovanni and to the members of Clan Tremere who are present tonight. Mr. Giovanni is in a very unique position of not being a part of the Ivory Tower but, currently, in the favor of Prince Cahill and my trust." He meets Constantino's eyes flatly for a moment before continuing. "So, while you will not be under the protection of, or in the good graces of the Camarilla... you may benefit from her allies within the domain. Any business that you may have with Mr. Giovanni, as always, is no affair of the Camarilla." He nods to Constantino.

"As for the Tremere who have been asked here tonight, I am aware of your position with regards to your Clan and that it is... by your clan's dealings with the sect, impossible that you would defect even if it were in the best interest of the sect. Thusly I have cleared it with your superiors that you will go into hiding for the duration of this effort. You will be given charge of a location which all of you can meet and help one another at. This base of operations, should your team succeed will be part of your reward, my young wizards." He smirks. "However, before you begin thinking this is a vaccation to sit around reading your dusty tomes during the course of... I expect that any investigation of Matron Milicent's haven will be made under your careful supervision."

He takes a deep and unnecessary breath and exhales slowly before saying, "Alright... let's hear your questions and ... hopefully a few voices to accept so that I can get you the necessary resources to begin."