Thread: Seal #3 - Epilogue

The quiet is broken by the squawking of a bird. The grass bends under the breeze that is again settling down chill with the encroaching winter it blows across your skin as you stand in the midst of carnage. All around you lie the bodies of friends, comrades, and strangers. Ash covers over the ground, being stirred by the easy breeze, as you look for who of your allies still stands. Your sight slowly returns to normal, the blinding white light, some unknown power fading away.

Inside you feel an empty hollowness. As the light engulfed everything, for a moment, you felt connected to something . . . something bigger then yourself, an all embracing feeling of love, perfect contentment, for a moment you almost were willing to let everything go. Then the light faded, leaving behind an empty ache to once more be connected, to once more feel such peace.

Looking around, you search for your closest friends, coterie mates, allies, trying to determine who still stands, who no longer walks with you. You see others doing the same, but still the silence persists, at least of humans, nature, resilient as ever, encroaches quickly. Crickets begin to chirp, katydid’s sing out connecting one with the other, as each piece of normality returns, there is an instant where you can feel the return of life to the barren area, then that too fades away.

Inside your empty shell, you realize you must begin the job of helping those too wounded to help themselves. Others seem to have the same idea, grabbing up the fallen, working in silent teams. No orders are given, none are needed. Everyone just falls in and begins doing what must be done.

+ + + + + + + +

Emma is at the lead of the first group to approach the Gangrel Cabin. Head Quarters for the battle. She walks along with Art Morgan, half carrying Xaviar between them. Xaviar mutters on about Antediluvians and creatures of legend.

The survivors straggle along behind them, some being carried and some walking of their own accord. A rag tag bunch to be sure. As the groups approach the cabin, a welcoming light streams out from the windows; warmth and comfort, promises sent out against the dark on beams of light.

There is no count of how many lost their lives that night; no one has wanted to speak of it, the 800 pound elephant in the room. Some miracle must be at work though, no one feels the twinge of their beast, no one must fight to resist frenzy, no matter how low on blood they all are, no matter how wounded. They march on in silent accord.

+ + + + + + + +

Entering the cabin it is obvious things have changed. The open floor plan lends itself well to large gatherings and before the battle it had been well utilized. Tables with plans, maps, and various tomes were strewn about. A ready supply of blood had been set up before leaving with a people left behind to attend to the wounded. All of that was gone.

A U-shaped arrangement of tables set squarely in the middle of the room, hanging from the fronts of the tables, banners with the symbols of each clan are in place. At the head table, furthest from those entering the room is an assembly of Kindred including the most recognizable Archon Theo Bell. The Archon stands with his arms crossed staring at those entering the room with unblinking eyes.

“Oh shit,” Emma mutters softly. “Carlak . . .”

The Brujah Justicar sits idly in an oversized chair, staring at his nails as if contemplating having them manicured. The nonchalant air about him is obviously a show. He glances over at the entering group, his eyes taking in the wounds, the damage done, assessing the abilities of each one with an ease of experience.

“So glad you could return Justicar Xaviar,” Carlak says. “Such a pleasure having you in my territory, so glad I could run around behind you cleaning up your shit storm you and your mongrels created.”

“Carlak,” Xaviar says, stepping forward. His right arm is still twisted backwards at the shoulder, the wounds he has sustained and kept moving a testament to his mastery of fortitude, horrifying in their resistance to the healing qualities of his blood. “We’ve bested the beast. We were wrong! It was an Antediluvian . . .”

Carlak slams his fist down into the table, all assembled give a slight start including his own Archons, the cracking sound causing the table to shudder and a fault line to form in its surface.

“There is no SUCH thing,” he says, his voice lowering, not rising. “You will not speak such blasphemy. You are a JUSTICAR!”

“The Council is wrong!” Xaviar exclaims. “That thing, it killed . . .” he looks around him, his eyes locking on Art.

“That thing was no threat to us until you and your brood mate provoked it. What harm had it done to this Camarilla stronghold? What threat had it caused to the Masquerade? NONE!”

“It would have! It had to be stopped, stopped now while there was time, before it gathered its strength! It was a founder!” Xaviar stood straighter, leaning in towards Carlak, his beast rising in him, anger filling his voice.

“You do not, nor can you know that,” Carlak said.

“I do! And where were you! Where was your assistance? I lost . . . I lost close to one hundred gangrel out there, the very earth opened up and swallowed them!” Xaviar said.

“Where was I? You mean besides covering the Masquerade that you so conveniently forgot about you mongrel? Where was I? I sent you Miss Fitzpatrick did I not? We even had her dress for the occasion,” Carlak said.

Xaviar looks over at Emma, who takes a step back under his cold gaze.

“You are a fool Xaviar. The orders of the Council were to investigate, to substantiate the claims, not to engage it, especially not in such a reckless endeavor when it posed no immediate threat to the City! You and your fool pack of dogs, had to rush in. You know the rulings! We are NOT to seek out other things in the night, for we shall surely find them and in doing so, endanger us all! I’m sure once the Council reads my report, your job will not be all they demand of you.”

“Fool? I’m a fool? My pack of dogs?” Xaviar growls deeply. “That is the respect we get from the Inner Council? That is what they say of those men and women I left in ashes on that field of battle, engaging the very thing they hide their heads in the sand and deny exists?”

Xaviar inhales deeply, obviously struggling to control his beast. He turns to Art Morgan, grasping him by his shoulders with his one good arm, he looks into his eyes. The few remaining Gangrel with him are all growling, their eyes gleaming red despite the brightly lit room.

“Arthur,” Xaviar says. “This is how they treat us. As always Gangrel are the first to fight, the last to leave, but more importantly the last to be given any respect. I’m done with this. Come, let us lead our brethren into the night and forge our own path, as it was in old!”

Arthur Morgan returns Xaviar’s clasp, looking into Xaviar’s eyes.

“Brother,” he says his voice cracking; he begins to shake his head. “I . . . I think Carlak may be right.”

“WHAT?” Xaviar roars, the beast rising up fast in him, his anger flooding out into the room. Art stands there, his head down, waiting for the blow that surely must come, wounds enough showing that it could well be the last blow he ever feels.

“They may be right. We lost . . . we lost so many and for what? It had never approached the city. Maybe . . . maybe if we had left it alone . . .”

“I’m leaving, the Gangrel clan are leaving with me!” Xaviar says.

“I cannot go,” Art says quietly. Xaviar raises his good arm back as if to hit Art, then he stops just as Emma moves between the two.

“He says he can’t go Xaviar,” she says standing there between them.

Xaviar stands a long moment then turns back to Carlak.

“Clan Gangrel withdraws from the Camarilla. Effective immediately. I will gather all those I can that remain, we will return to the old ways.”

“As you wish, Xaviar,” Carlak says with an easy smile on his face. “As you wish.”

Once Xavier has left the room Art Morgan steps forward. "He doesn't have the authority to speak for us all. Some may follow him but," Carlak holds up his hand demanding silence and no further explaination.

"The Council suggested that should Xavier not be capable of following orders that they'd like to see you Mr. Morgan. I do not suggest we keep them waiting. I have a plane at the airport ready to take off in one hour. I strongly urge you to be on that departure. Theo... " Carlak rises and Theo nods Emma in the direction of the banners. Without hesitation the young Brujah begins to collect them.

Art turns to the Colonel. "We have not met before brother... I hope that you will inform our clanmates what has happened locally and not let Xavier's rash decision rob us of what is ours here."

Once Fitzy's work is completed Carlak turns to Maddie. "Miss Fitzpatrick will be briefed on what has been done to preserve the masquerade. I expect, however, when the mortals arrive here in 24 hours to investigate this new faultline... that there is nothing to give them any sign of what really occured here."

With that, the Justicar and his people will depart.


ooc:

The following is a list of the living, dead, and the damage the living have. Remember 3 Blood + A Willpower + A nights rest per level of agg. Lethal can be healed with blood. Players who can come to the LARP will test for remaining blood and willpower at the next game. Exclusively online players can assume their willpower is at half following the event.

If anyone is missing from the list below, please PM us directly and we'll let you know your status.

Feel free to begin role play immediately.

XP: 10 (if your pc died this is applied to your new character) - YES this is overcap!
Those who died: 10 player points for good death!

Wraiths
Emelia: MIA
Patrizio: BOUND
Kirsi's Bodyguard: MIA
Nanny: MIA


Ghouls
Kirsi: Alive.


Alpha Team
JT Brown: DEAD (sacrificed self to kill the beast)
Simon: DEAD (killed by Cicero)
Cicero: DEAD (killed by Tamas)
Sal: DEAD


Communications
Maddie: Alive - 3 lethal damage from psychic
Gregory: DEAD (killed by minons of the 'thing' while saving mini)


Beta Team
Colonel: Alive 5 agg 1 lethal
Lydia: Alive 1 agg
JTM: Torpor 4 agg 4 lethal
James Downing: Torpor 5 agg 3 lethal


Delta Team
Janus: Alive (see email and private discussion by phone)
Mini Ogre: Alive 4 agg 1 letal
James McCagin: DEAD (killed in the ground)
Kalie: STAKED 5 lethal


Gamma
Lord Evan Storm: Alive
Izabella: Alive
Father Viktor: Alive 2 agg 4 lethal
Droz: Alive 5 lethal


Epsilon/Zeta/Etc Team
Pius: Alive 1 agg
Stan: Alive 2 agg
Sabboth: Alive 1 agg
Massimo: Alive 1 agg
Tamas: DEAD (killed by Pius)
Tsuritsa: DEAD (sacrificed self with JT Brown to save everyone)
Constantino: Alive


Others:
Safely in other locations off battle site OR safely helping the wounded