The Chapter House + Revelation (ATTN: Lots)

O-Yama internally flinched at Shadow's sharp look, wondering why the idea of a warrior coterie would bother her so. He had already expressed his intention of creating the Coterie when she had been Prince, why would it bother her now? Oh well, as she said they would discuss it later...

"Yes milady." He said looking at her. Then looking to the Prince.

"We could try looking at local newspapers, or even that damnable television, to see if there have been any other attacks, murders, or even "suicides" in the city that match Mr. Bethem's profile."

Mrs. Scotts bows to those assembled, and sits in the parlor. Her face is calm, an emotionless.

Not quite as planned, but it will have to do.

On one level, Konstantin was glad that bringing this Ace in did not result in a fight, knowing from severald decades as a nomad that unnecessary fights were a pretty good path to a short Reqiuem. At the same time, though, he was strangely disappointed, since he figured his martial prowess was the thing most likely to bring him status in Kindred society. Disappointment of the moment aside, though, he figured eventually he'd get a chance to demonstrate that prowess. He knew violent incidents were inevitable when lots of Kindred clustered together, and given what the Hound had said about Kindred being killed by someone, he figured the odds of something happening before too long were pretty good.

Mrs. Scotts answers the door.

"I assume you are here for the meeting. It is this way." Mrs. Scotts leads them to the conference room, knocks, and deferentially pokes her head in. "Hound Morraine." She announces, before returning to the Parlor. She does take a moment to whisper to the hound.
"Everyone is angry, speak very carefully."

Arnold nods, leaning up against a wall and crossing his arms. Eyes on Ace.

"You got it."

Konstantin keeps a very close eye on Ace. If Ace moves, Konstantin also moves, so that Ace is always more or less between him and Arnold. Otherwise, he stands calmly, his hands in front of him, left hand on right wrist. He glances around the immediate surroundings just enough to have a sense of what is where, should anything happen, but whichever way his eyes move, he makes sure they spend more time on Ace than anywhere else.

The paper reads:


Some time ago (like a few centuries) a small band of travelers settled in the area for a while. They made a small village and stayed here for a few decades. They prospered quite well during that time and it looked as though the little village might grow and become something important. Then, a traveller came to the village claiming to be passing through and asked the local farmers for a night's room and board. The farmers, being nice polite God fairing people, agreed and gave the man what he needed for a comfortable evening.

Later that month, a merchant band came through the village and found every member of it dead and rotting. All of the blood from the bodies was missing. Most of them were simply punctured with two neat marks, but some of the bodies had throats torn out or were maimed in other ways.

Then, a few years later, another group came and settled here. They were prosperous for a time and the same traveller came through. This kind of wandering killer problem continued for a long time.

One night, after another group had made this area their home, the traveller returned again. This time though, the villagers were ready and waiting. They had planned to capture and kill the man. After a long night of fighting and a lot of men dying, they finally mamaged to get a steak through the killers heart.

They threw him down a very deep well and then filled it, hoping to never see the traveller again. And none of them did.

Marius had remained in the library for a bit longer, as he wasn't told who had been arriving and no one had insisted on his coming. He was surprised to see the other Primogen and the Prince gathered, when he headed back up to the main library.
He quickly read into the situation however, and decided to keep explanations to a minimum.
"My apologies for being late." He said, giving a short bow to the Prince and taking a seat.

He read over the paper that had been handed around and frowned. It seemed like whoever was tormenting these settlers was doing it quite selectively and consistently, but it definitively helped, and opened up other avenues of research.
He didn't know how much had been pitched in already, but still decided to share his thoughts.
"While researching in the library, I also gave some thought as to how we could contain and defeat such a powerful opponent. I believe the best way to be with technology. Whoever and whatever this person is, he has surely not seen a lot of this new century, and as many of us know, adapting to new technology takes a lot of time and effort, even when we aren't asleep in torpor." He folded his hands together, knowing that he didn't actually want to kill this person before at least having the chance to talk to him, but aware that he had to show he was helping to a certain extent.
"Chemical fire flare guns, long range sniper rifles, tracking chips to tag him once we get the chance; these are just a few examples of useful tools which he might not even know exist. It is also why I suggest we track and hunt this man as fast as we can, to not give him enough time to adapt. In the mean time we can look into the history of Sacramento, but these two endeavors need to run simultaneously. That is my suggestion to the Prince." He leaned back in his chair and waited to see what the others thought of this, or if it had already been mentioned.

Konstantin nods in reply. "But of course, Sheriff. I am Konstantin Vladamir Malevich. I served as soldier and scout in the army of Pietr, Emperor of Russia, known now as Peter the Great. I am good fighter with my hands and with weapons. Like many Russians, I am good wrestler. I am good with many weapons. In public I get by with knife." He slowly draws back his longcoat, showing the Bowie knife sheathed at his side. "But when big fight is expected, I prefer big weapons. I am very good with spear, also like to fight with axe. Like most Russians, it takes much for me to feel effects of pain."

He continues, "I have learned much of how to use the power of my blood. I can make my flesh very thick, and my muscles even stronger than most of time. I have learned much to change my flesh. I can make my nails become claws, like bear, and take the form of wolf and bat. This very useful in war, because war depends on speed and position and scouting. As wolf, I have good sense of smell and am fast. As bat, I can fly and watch opponents from above, find good position."

Konstantin rubs his bearded chin and looks to the side, as if deep in thought. He intentionally decides to not mention one trick he's learned in his travels. "It is good to keep some things secret, to surprise those who think they know what I can do", he thinks to himself.

Looking back at the Sheriff, he shrugs. "I have been nomad for long time and been many places, seen many things. I know desert, mountain, forest, jungle, deep snow, and I know some about many places and peoples and about many strange things in the world. Sometimes this does not help in fight, but sometimes knowing something gives advantage over opponent. Knowing how they fight, knowing their language if they think you do not know it, you can surprise them." He grins just slightly. "And if you surprise opponent, fight sometimes is over, how they say... before it starts."

Konstantin nods in response to the Sheriff's words. He does not interrupt to comment or reply, as he also is interested in what Arnold can do since it appears they may be working together, but he doesn't try to hide his pleasure in the idea of so lofty a position as the Sheriff suggests, and he can't help but think about that. "This is much more than I hoped for, coming here. This was a good idea, and the right time. Guarding the Prince would give me ready access to blood and to equipment."

For most, Konstantin's idea of wealth - some new clothes, an array of basic weapons for different occasions, perhaps some sort of modern light armor and a small workshop for him to maintain his weapons - but those simple things would amount practically to a gold mine for a vampire that had spent most of his existence as a nomad.

"I must be patient, though. Before being trusted with the Prince's life, I will have to do everything I can to prove myself, to earn this." He resolves to do just that.

Arnold finds he is humbled by the Sheriff's praise of him, though he thinks it rather undeserved. He smiles, wishing in his mind it were something nicer to behold. And inclines his head respectively to the Sheriff before answering.

"I appreciate the compliment, Sheriff, though I've never considered myself to be especially wise. I've just been around the block a few times, seen the best and the worst this world has to offer. I won't regale you with my personal history, but I'll say that I held the position of Hound, for over half a century, in a turbulent southern city. That position taught me a lot about using my good looks to intimidate someone when I needed to. I'd still be there, if I'd not failed in my duty, but I learned much that day. That position defined me as a Kindred. Best days of my requiem."

"My power lies in my strength and size. I've never cared much for guns, so much more fun to be able to be there to see them writhe. I'm skilled with a knife, and I'm just as deadly without one. I'm good in a stand up fight, but if I get my arms around my enemy then they're finished."

"My curse affords me some advantage in battle, many people find themselves frightened of me even before I begin using the powers of my clan to turn that fear into a weapon. I can use my disciplines to increase my strength, or to disappear from view."

"I'd also like to say that I know the meaning of loyalty. I will go, grinning, to my final death to complete my task and defend this city."

Because I'll never accept the dishonor of failure again.

O-Yama falls in step with Shadow, still wondering why she had looked at him so sharply at the mention of a warrior Coterie. He decided that when she felt like discussing it she would. He hoped the idea of bringing together such a like-minded group would not drive a wedge between them, he very much liked the position as hr bodyguard... and though he tried to deny it, he could not deny that he was beginning to have feelings for her other than in a business sense. He only hoped that she could one day return the feeling, until such a day, if it ever came, he would serve her faithfully.

Marius stood after the Prince had dismissed them, not showing his slight disappointment. Every kindred who had ever gone to the cinema or rented a few DvD's knew what kind of nifty weapons there were to fight against Vampires. If the Prince had outfitted a small group to protect himself and the city, then they would at least stand a chance when it came down to it.
Then again, he didn't really care. At least this way he could conduct some more of his own research into the matter.

Konstantin nods in response to Arnold's account of his abilities. "He sounds like a worthy warrior... the sort it would be good to fight alongside."

"Sheriff," Konstantin says. "I would be honored by the position you mentioned, guard to the Prince, and would do what I can to demonstrate my fitness for the job. I was told by the Hound there has been much bad happening in this city, and since the Prince has generously allowed me to be in his city, and I would repay this by serving however I am ordered to help bring end to these killings of Kindred."

Konstantin nods and says "And either way, I will serve, Sheriff."

Konstantin thinks to himself, "These killings, the fear they engender, it creates a desperation, and opportunity. This was a good time to come here." Based on his previous experience with Kindred society - the same experience that convinced him he was better off being a nomad for the past 50+ years - Konstantin did not think this openness and easy acceptance would be a lasting thing, but he hoped that by the time things changed, he would have established a place for himself within the city.

Of course, that all assumed that whoever or whatever was causing all these killings would be dealt with by that time, and that he would survive that process.

Arnold shrugs, heaving his huge shoulders. The muscles in his neck tighten audibly, followed by a loud pop from his spine.

"Sounds good. I'm no stranger to a city's sewers. It isn't fun but it won't be a problem. When should we expect to be going?"

"Yes, when do we leave?" Konstantin asks. He's not thrilled about fighting in the close quarters of a sewer - definitely not the sort of environment that favors the sort of large weapons he prefers - but he's been in places far worse than any sewer, and his knife and his claws were readily available.

"Sheriff, this... call. I do not have phone."

Konstantin does not add that not only does he not have a phone, but he hasn't the slightest idea how to work a cel phone. Years ago, when spending a bit of time near El Paso, he'd had to figure out how to use a payphone to get hold of someone to whom he'd promised to pass along a message from another nomad. It had taken him several tries to get that right, and that only after he'd smashed one payphone in frustration.

He looks at Arnold. "Perhaps I can stay near you to get call? If we may be fighting together, would be good to share warrior stories, get to know each other."

Arnold stifles a smirk at the old timer's newness to the technology of the day.

"You can come with me, Konstantin. I'll try to explain to you a bit about cell phones, maybe get you one."

He claps Konstantin on the shoulder. Nods respectively to Ishani. Until next time, Madame Sheriff.

He leads Konstantin out of the chapter house, beginning to try to explain about phone technology in the last ten years.