notes ☩ map ☩ relationships ☩ haven
Kas and MG wake up. Ronin is in the living room. Stuying under Dr Ainsworth. Says he's "something like" a ghoul when MG asks.
Says the island has no reception. "Measures" against tech. Doesn't know the acreage. There are woods. Hills and mountains to the south -- more like large hills.
We have a meeting later this evening with "the Masters of the island." They can give us new clothes. "Masters" - 4 is "the whole group". Not always on the island all at once.
Others wake up. Ronin returns with a tailor and meals.
Theodora explores the outside of the chateau, checking out the plants. The overall vibe of the island is medieval but some things are anachronistic -- gas lamps, matches, etc.
Village - Kas speaks some Russian but no one responds. People seem like they're trying not to stare at us.There is a sign with some writing but no one recognizes it. It looks romantic; we recognize the word "taverna."
Kas, MP, and Theodora visit the tavern. Patrons seem nervous when they enter. They seem suspicious of us and uneasy with our presence. An older man at the bar knows Russian. Dima. Been in the village since he was a young man. Says they just call it "the village" or "the island". Says the mayor is the leader of the village but they rarely see the masters in the castle. Says he came here as a laborer and stayed because there is good work, no crime. Many people were born in the village. When Kas asks him if he misses tech, he doesn't seem to know what he means. Says the sheriff is hard to miss, rides an ox. Thinks the island is maybe half a day's walk from one end to the other.
Theodora makes a mental note of everywhere she sees mirrors. MG shows her hers.
Stone pillar at the beach. ~50 ft. At the top, MG sees some sort of crystal and tells Theo. Theo can see it glowing. It's not a standard Tremere-type ward; something is radiating from it. Theo suggests we go up -- MG hides and Obfuscates from everyone else. They go up with Essence of Air. A carved pyramid made out of a reddish stone. Some runes on it. MG studies them very hard, trying to remember. Theo knows that it's jasper. The wind starts to pick up, moving us away, and we go back down. Kas wants a ride so Theo flies him around a bit too.
MG sees a shore in the distance, same as last night. Far in the distance, she sees a white light blinking at a steady pace. Tells Theo who thinks it's east, maybe ENE.
We hear a voice -- Ainsworth on a pony. He seems to be able to see MG. Says the clothes are ready and the Masters will be ready soon after that.
MG asks him if the pillar is one of the anti-tech devices. He says it's related to that in a way. He seems to not want to talk about it but MG and Theo press him a bit. He says the questions are better suited for the Masters. Kas thinks he's probably Kindred.
Back at the chateau, our period-appropriate clothes are ready. MG puts together a mismatched lower class outfit from the closet. The castle bell rings in the distance. We take the cart there.
--- CASTLE ---
The ride is around 20 minutes. We round by the woods and then see it. Through the gates, a courtyard. Ainsworth leads us up a spiral staircase. A seating area outside large double wooden doors. A man leads us in. Atop the stairs, a door to a throne room with four seats.
Seat one: Theodoric (Dylan)
Two: Zamra
Three: a gothy lady?
Four: literally vlad the impaler. looks familiar to MG. MP knows who he is.
Theodoric welcomes us. They ask us for introductions. Theodora begins but gets a dominance compulsion. She uses Shape of the Sanguine Sacrament to spell her name in blood in the air. MP, Kas, and MG follow.
Theodoric, son of Charlemagne, of clan Brujah.
Zamra Matub, clan Lasombra, former Prince of Algiers.
Toad. "I keep over the dead and immobile." Intensely eyes us and doesn't blink.
Vlad Dracul, of clan Tzimisce. MG doesn't think he's lying.
Vlad and Kas talk a bit about the customs of Tzimisce. Vlad asks what gift Kas has brought and MG steps up to say that Bite Club offers a psychic reading. Kas tries to tell them that MG is renowned in the city but doesn't do a good job convincing them. Kas gets intimidated and offers a better gift in the future; Vlad says that would be appropriate.
Theodoric cuts in to tell us why we've been invited. Says Kas is doing well in his studies and we have a reputation for getting things done so he wanted to see if we might help in their "policing." They're talking about Hunters. Dangerous Hunters throughout the city, and more are coming, especially after everything that happened in the year we were gone. They asks what we can do. Theo says she's better at persuasion than fighting. MG says she can find people and stalk them. Theodoric says we killed the Prince and MG says she did it. They ask her how and she tells them she staked him and set him on fire but leaves out the Mage bit. They seem to buy it.
Theodoric says we can stay for 3 days and speak to them to get a better idea of what we're dealing with.
Theodora acts out her dominance compulsion and condescendingly says if they come to us begging for help then of course we'll do it. Zamra pauses and grips the arm of her chair, which starts to crumble. MG can tell that Zamra feels shown up. She says they'll have to see if we're up to the task.
Theodoric suggests we're each allowed to speak to someone. MP picks Zamra, MG picks Toad. Kas says he's got something else to offer -- his forgiveness for what Z and Theodoric did to him and his friends. Theodora recognizes that he's not being persuasive so she steps in and says she'd love to hear what wisdom Lord Tepes can offer her. He says he'll speak to Theodora but Kaspar needs some instruction. He tells Kas to kneel and he does. He makes Kas drink from him and he takes a small sip.
MP and Zamra
Z asks who Theodora is. MP says she's managed to work her way into our coterie quickly and Kas likes her. MP gets paranoid about the questioning. Asks why Z thinks the issue is so urgent. She says we need Kine. Young kindred must be kept in line and one particularly nasty mortal must be put in check: Sullivan Dane. MP has heard the name from Warren -- he's a red list candidate. Z says he's slippery and bait might be useful.
Kas and Theodoric
Th asks Kas how he's doing. Offers to play playstation to decompress. Leads him to a parapet on the castle wall; opens it with a key. Down the stairs, behind another locked door -- modern lighting, playstation, computer. They play Call of Duty. Internet works. Th asks Kas what he's thinking and they chat.
MG and Toad
We go to the dungeon. MG says things are weird and confusing and she says she likes things like that. Asks MG if she can see ghosts and if she's in a cult. MG tells her about her ghost friend and fake ghost mirror, and that she was in a group but they mostly all died. Toad says she has some friends that maybe MG can keep company. In the dungon: MG sees a symbol -- looks like female symbol but with a diamond instead of circle. Asks if it's a Lilith thing? "Some see it that way but it's more of an Athena thing." How is it different? "Might be less scary, might be more." The symbol reminds us to not let the men tell us what to do or something like that.
Asks if MG wants to meet Santiago. Deeper in the dungeon, people strapped to things. Body on the table, giant stake in it. "He's bad, one of Goratrix's kids." MG doesn't recognize the name. Eyes gouged out, hands missing.
Theodora and Vlad
He tells her he found her words to Zamra amusing. Th asks why he's here. Says he's been on the continent for a while but the young ones were getting nosy. Things were getting dangerous in the old country so they had to relocate the old country.
On Hunters -- says there was a time he'd tell her to eat them all but now he's not sure. Just knows they must not succeed. Says the time of simply slaughtering all one's enemies might be passed. Asks if she knows of the old Inquisition. She tells him she's also a witch. He says instead of using mortals to cannibalize our enemies we need to use mortals to cannibalize themselves. Tells her about Dane. Says there are various government agencies that need to be distracted. Might be great reward if we can earn it.
--- MG DOWNTIME WITH TOAD ---
* Who are you? You seem a more modern than the others
* Why are you called Toad?
"Well you're very inquisitive, aren't you? Some men from long ago said I looked like a toad, so why not tell the men today that's my name? I'm actually quite old, but I don't particularly care for the middle ages. I was asleep for quite a lot of them. I think the modern day is a bit more fun. Have you ever heard of Paramore? They didn't have Paramore in the middle ages.
* How do you watch over the dead/immobile?
"We have several prisoners down here. We feed off of them. My friends and I (motions to cult members) oversee them. I have a good command of ghosts as well, but that's kind of a separate thing.
* How do you know that Hunters are coming?
* How would this work? Do we get info from you or do we do the investigating ourselves? Do we get weapons? Why can't you do it yourselves?
"We have our sources on the hunters. They're already out there. Theodoric has found some. But more are coming. Oh more are coming. We've seen this before. We need someone who's good in modern society. Knows how to figure things out. Make the mortals confused. Make sure they get nowhere and move on. If you need swords and things I'm sure we could give you some. If you're looking for something a little more... special... we might need to build some more trust. If we did too much of it ourselves we might attract too much attention. Better to get some locals to be more subtle.
* Not a question but I want her response/reaction to this statement: I won't give up fighting the Camarilla. They're evil and have to be stopped. And I won't drink any blood or bring you any. But I want to kill Hunters.
"Oh the Camarilla.... we don't care about them. We can find our own vitae, but someone might make you drink theirs. I don't know. I won't make you drink mine.
* At the very end: That man. Kaspar called him Dracula, but... that's just a myth right???? That Vlad 'the Impaler' (I whisper that part) was Dracula?????
"You didn't hear... I suppose you are a little young.... You're only decades old? How is that possible? Anyway, yes. He is "Dracula" but not from the movies. He made some Irishman write a book about him. I don't know why. No one does as far as I know."
--- IN SESSION ---
The coterie sleeps in separate rooms. Kas and MG are being emo. Everyone awakens. Ronin is in the living room. Kas offers him a job with "less intimidating bosses," but then says he was joking. He brings us blood. MG doesn't come out of her room and almost kills her victim accidentally.
Theodora talks to Kas about his convo with Theodoric and tries to discern why he brought us here. Thinks that Theo thinks we could be useful and also that he's interested in Kas' spiritual development.
Ronin comes back and has some paper and quills and a jar. Says we have to have an exit interview with one of the Masters before we leave and that whoever picks them first gets their choice. Kas and Theodora both quickly try to choose Vlad but the jar spits out Theodora's. Theodora goes to MG's room to tell her and MG chooses Vlad but Th tells here that's not possible so she picks Theodoric.
Th tells MP that she'd like to talk to Vlad about the magic on the land because she suspects he's behind it. MP agrees to go and they invite MG; she agrees as well. Kas overhears and says he'll go as well. We tell Ronin.
Ainsworth returns and tells us to take the cart. We notice a man on a platform strapped to something. Th asks about it. Ainsworth says it's a punishment; he thinks he stole from someone. He takes us closer; he's on stakes and has been impaled.
--- CASTLE ---
Vlad is looking out over the balcony when we come in. Th says she's very interested in the magic that hides the island and asks him how it works. He asks why and she explains that she and MP both use blood magic and would like to learn to protect their own home. Th explains that her coven-sister was killed by Hunters and her sire was "summoned East," and that Bite Club has had issues with the Camarilla. VT says he is a "practiced Koldun," and then glances at Kas. Kas has heard of it and knows it's an Old Country thing but doesn't know what it is. VT says being in control of the domain helps but the crystals are also part of it. Says he knows little of tech and doesn't trust it. VT asks if we're in a new house; says he saw our old one, "the small one." He asks Kas about our security and Kas explains. VT says to study the magical arts and to deal with anyone that comes as an example. Th brings it back around to the hidden island and he says "sometimes you have to make them look elsewhere."
MG looks around - furnished in an old style. not reproductions. an orb, maybe for spying? some books in a corner. VT notices and says MG is being strange; MG says all the Masters are scary, in case he didn't know. He agrees but says she must learn resolve. Th asks if Kas could learn Koldunic sorcery. VT asks if that's what Kas wants; Kas says he thinks he might have already begun but doesn't quite understand.
MG stays behind and talks to VT. Asks if he's Dracula, asks about what Toad said about the book. He says she's too young to understand and MG says she's a psychic so maybe she will. He asks what her visions show her now. She waits for a while and feels like she's being blocked a bit from the Cobweb. Sees a scene of Bela-Drac wearing a corset, dancing in the rain, just for a second. Younger Bela, on a stage. Looks like Dracula but not as old. A shadowy man in the back of the audience. She tells him her connnection feels less strong here. He asks what she saw. MG says a man on stage, a friend. He looks like he's getting annoyed. He Dominates her and tells her to tell him. MG resists just enough to leave out the part about it being another Dracula. He thinks at the balcony for a moment and says, "Maybe that was the other Dracula." MG is excited and asks about it. Seems like he's known for a while and doesn't seem like he wants to do anything about it. MG asks if they're twins and he says, "some might say he is more dracula than I am," and MG says, "that makes sense." She asks if he's King of All Vampires and he says he is king of this Domain; MG says, "someone else must be KoAV then" and he doesn't seem annoyed. She tells him he has a nice orb and happily leaves. Asks Ainsworth for a snack and then goes to find the coterie.
Th asks for a library. Ainsworth shows her one. Various magic books, some histories, and a room that she's not allowed to go into. She finds a greek book on Mediterranean Thaumaturgy and some notes in English on Golconda and basic survey info on the island. She thinks the Golconda notes are recent, maybe from Ronin -- info on Master Theodoric trying to find a more Human Golconda, others trying to master the Beast through science? Very basic.
Kas asks to talk to Zamra. Jarrett takes him to a sitting room and Kas says he's been told that they've met before. He gives a speech asking her to not hurt the coterie because we're just fledglings. He says he doesn't want us to be pawns, thrown away. She says he won't have to deal with her if he stays in line with what the "kinder, gentler" members of her coterie suggest. As Kas goes to leave, she asks who she should kill to hurt him the most if he misbehaves. He resists and says he cares the most about himself.
At the end of the night, MG recounts the convo with Toad and the torture basement to the group. Th tells the group about Dane.
--- NEXT NIGHT ---
MG tells anyone who will listen about the two Draculas. Says VT isn't even the King of All Vampires and that V is probably afraid of real Dracula (Bela). Ainsworth brings two victims for Theodora. They look annoyed; Ainsworth says they were about to have sex when he told them to come with him. Th takes them into her room.
Theodoric talks to MG. She tells him that she wants to kill Hunters because they're bad people but she wants him to stop beating up her friends. He agrees to leave the Southside Anarchs alone for a while; MG says she'll tell them to chill on the Masquerade breaches because she thinks he's being honest. She asks if anyone is going to wipe her memory and he says that he won't but someone else might depending on what her friends say. She asks him about Dane and he says he's in the city and probably knows other Hunters. Says he'll stay in the city in case we need help. MG tells him he looks better in his Theodoric clothes than Dylan's and says maybe he can come to one of her friend's fashion shows. He says maybe and takes her back to the chateau.
Kas goes to the castle to talk to Vlad. Kas asks if the island is truly off the coast of California and he says, "somewhere off the coast, yes." Kas expresses amazement. VT asks Kas what he wants. He talks about his coterie. VT asks him if he looks to become a Koldun. Kas rambles a bit and mentions NFTs but says he wants to know more. V asks if they can trust him to help with the Hunters and "be a true leader" to help encourage the other Cainites to behave. Kas says yes. V asks if Kas would like to study under him. Kas asks if it would require more bonding and V says, "yes, but with discipline comes power," and summons a storm and tornado. Kas says that servitude is a terrible price but that he does desire the power. The storm quickly subsides and V offers his wrist. Kas drinks. VT offers Kas an orb and says he can contact him through it; keep it safe. V asks if Kas requires anything for his task against the Hunter; K asks for information on his powers. VT says he has strong Faith. He offers Kas a sword. Long and broad with a few jewels in the hilt; old but well-cared for.
Ainsworth comes to MP. He tells her that he was told to tell her to go out past the fishing pond in the village. MP goes out to the pond and meets a man speaking Hindi. Says his name is Ankit. She asks him why he's in the village and he says the fishing is good. MP says she was supposed to meet someone and he asks if he thinks it was him. She sits and fishes with him, not very well. He says she has to be patient and asks why she came to the island. Says she and her friends were invited by those in the castle to stay in the chateau. He asks what she thinks of them and she says it's hard to tell but she thinks her friend insulted them. He says they usually want people to do things and asks what they want her to do. She says "chateau-types" often have secret motives but that she thinks they want her to help them with information gathering for their aims. Asks what he thinks of them -- "some are nice and some are less nice but I think you can find ways to work with all of them if you can hold their focus for long enough." Says he doesn't mean to be rude but when she sat down it smelled a bit -- maybe like brimstone. She sheepishly apologizes. He says he's smelled it before on troubled souls. She asks again why he came here -- he's a traveler although there aren't many here. Pops in to check on people every so often. MP says her friend Brent is the only one to ever make a comment like that and asks if he knows him. He says "some people use multiple names." MP describes him. He asks if he's a good friend. MP says that depends but their arrangement was mutally beneficial. He asks if it was worth it and she says yes. He asks what she received -- "the ability to protect my friends." Asks if she's afraid they'll come back to hurt her later. MP says maybe but in time all things would. He stares at the lake for a minute and asks what Rudra would think. She says she's not sure. Asks if she could take it back and try to be safe another way, if she would turn back from the demons. MP says yes but it's so hard to maintain safety. He says that if she wants his opinion, stick to her friends and maybe new friends that she's met here and she won't have to deal with things in other realms. He can help her. She says it'd be foolish not to take the advice of the wise fisherman. He says she should help her friend in their quest and offers his wrist -- "take this and your curse will be lifted." He doesn't have a Demon-y vibe and seems lifelike although she's not sure. Nothing especially Mage-y. She feels very calm. She drinks. She Frenzies but it feels like the Beast disappears; she feels connected to her friends in a way she never has before. MP cries. She feels a burning on her extra demon nipple and the man is gone. She waits for a bit and says "thank you," and heads back to the chateau. Notices her blade is different -- silvery white with three blue gems in the hilt instead of dark with a bull's head like before.
Theodora is taken to Toad in the castle dungeon. Cult members are around and Toad greets her. Asks if she plans on helping with the Hunters. Th says she's unsure of how we'll do it but we will. Asks advice. Toad suggests we kill him. Asks if we need help. Th says she's good with magic but not defensively. Asks if there's anything in the castle to teach her magic attacks. Toad begins to speak Greek and says maybe, as long as she's helpful. Pulls out a scroll and asks if she needs help with her blood or just study materials. Goes into a cell and offers Th to take a drink of Santiago and tells her to take a note to Ainsworth and he'll give her a book. Th drinks, leaves, and gets the book.
--- BACK AT THE HAVEN ---
MG has a vision: Katie, out on the street somewhere, scared. Shooting a gun. Running. Hiding under a table. No movie stuff. Night time and she hides until day. MG calls a house meeting and tells the coterie. Kas calls her. MG takes the phone and Katie says she's had an interesting few days. Says the vision was from a few days ago in SF. Says she might need help next Saturday. MG asks if it's for shooting and Katie says probably not. MG agrees.
ADDENDUM: MG asked Theodoric about Skelter and Sycorax. He said they're "open to trade." He means Kindred; they have a preference for Tremere. Will also take Ventrue.
VISION: MG remembers she saw a black bird flying around the island, like a raven. It seemed familiar. She also sees the flash of a pretty redheaded woman in the dungeon, as a prisoner.
--- HAVEN ---
Katie calls and says she's going to come over. She has a new look. Pleasantries are exchanged. Kaspar mentions that we're planning on killing Hunters. Katie talks about tabloid drama and tells us about a costume party, some mortal thing maybe by a radio station. Says that she's been hearing whispers among ghosts that something might happen; she's been working with witches in Santa Monica who think some kind of pure Oblivion is trying to push through to our world. She thinks the Cecil Hotel is the most likely location. MG asks what Oblivion is -- an all consuming nothing.
Kas plays with dirt and investigates the Warren ghost thing.
MG talks to the Anarch Council, tells them about the island. Leaves out that we're working for them and any details about where it is. Tells them that she got them to agree to stop attacking south side Anarchs but that they want a trade for Syc and Skelter. They're angry but MG manages to keep them from going to attack for the time. Nines walks MG out and tells her he's been feeling like he has somewhere to go. She tries to convince him to stay until he says that if she can help get Skelter back that he'll put in a word for her being in charge when he's gone. MG agrees. He drops her off a block from her bank and she writes in her journal.
MG Premonition: 1920s hotel lobby. Costumed people. Top of the stairs: figure in red, flowing robes, oversized hat, and skull mask. Looks like the Phantom of the Opera. Points out to another figure in all black with hooded face and a scythe. It begins to touch people with its scythe, and they drop dead one by one.
MG goes to run into the living room but finds herself in Dracula's (Bela) living room. Dracula has the opposite experience: he walks into MG's living room. He and MG talk and a third person comes in -- an older woman, looks like she was once beautiful. It's his childe, Erica. She's talking about sets and scripts. We go through a door and it's black with bonfires in the distance. The night shifts in and out like waves. A massive stone, looks like it's for worshipping. People in tattered robes, bowing and praying. A man(?) steps forth from the rock but his form seems to contantly morph. He looks at us and says 3-1-8. It all goes black. Film lights overhead but we seem to be on a river bank. MG sees 3 -- no 6 -- no 1 figure in the distance. Grey robes and white theater masks. Dracula calls to them and they seem confused. "How did you get here?" "Perhaps she invited them." "If you find her, let us know we're looking for her." Dracula tries to Intimidate them. They seem amused. "We are the ladies of Fate." "If she led you here, perhaps we should give you information." Reaches out to Drac -- he has a vision: tattered robed woman weeping for something that she's lost. Cuts out her heart to remove her grief and throws it into the nothingness. Touches Erica. Touches MG: it's like the Earth but it becomes a mouth. It opens and an abyss of nothingness is on the other side. Out of the mouth of the world, darkness escapes and overwhelms everything. MG tells them about the rumors of Oblivion from Katie. One of them takes out a tarot deck -- 5 of Cups for MG: a message of hope. The three of us are lost but there are two others who can help you. Dracula gets the Devil: it is not the devil himself who you must face but one who is in service of dark forces. Be prepared for him to try to pervert those whom you must protect. Erica: 10 of Wands: she has succeeded, but her burden is heavy. The people fade. We share our visions. Erica: knight in a crowded room. His forked tongue came out and started taking people's souls. MG invites them to the party. Erica says dream logic means we ought to jump into the river. We do and return to where we originally were.
--- FLASH FORWARD ---
Everybody making costumes. MP as Lakshmi, Fata Morgana'd to have four arms. Kaspar as an angel. He looks amazing but becomes Covetous of winning the costume contest. Dracula shows up, having Dominated a random stranger into driving him. He's dressed as an Englishman but just looks like fancier Dracula. Katie shows up dressed like Katie Page with a stiched on head and hand. Imalia is wearing a meat dress and brought MG's mushroom dress.
--- PARTY ---
Party is mostly mortals. A few Kindred but no one of note. Dracula feeds off of a lady in a Teppi Hedron costume but gets a Delusion that he's been attacked by birds. He asks Kaspar to speak to them but Kas can't convince him. He talks to Matt Berry dressed as Laszlo, who tries to get drugs from him. MG tries to Cloud Memory and Drac still sees the birds but doesn't think they're attacking him anymore. He and Berry go off and he embraces him.
MG looks for the figures from her vision but doesn't see them. There is a devil with a particularly realistic-looking pitchfork. MG takes MP to go talk to him, along with Katie. Says Rodrigo got it for him. MG asks him "why the devil?" and he talks about tempting us. Says he thinks MG might want some lemonade and MG thinks he's the real devil and freaks out and runs away. Katie thinks he's hiding something but doesn't know what. Sees that he's touched by Oblivion but can't control it himself. MG tries to convince them it's really him.
The costume contest starts. Kas is clearly winning but then the devil steps up. People are cheering but MG starts yelling about how it's the actual devil and we can't let him win. Dracula hear this and turns into a bat and attacks him. A few people think it's cool but Kas still wins.
Kas hears his mom calling and sees the devil shift into heron the stage. He tells Kas to give "mom" the trophy. MP starts trying to get the crowd to boo. MG uses Heightened Senses to hear what they're saying. Dracula tries to Mesmerize a security guard to get them to kick out the devil. The devil stabs Kas with his pitchfork. Drac Mesmerizes another guard. MG runs toward the stage and yells to Kas that it's not his mom, it's the actual devil. Kas believes her and is terrified but tries to put the crowd at ease and uphold the Masquerade by overacting a dramatic death. The devil evades the first guard and looks out over the crowd. Everyone at the party becomes angry, including us. Dracula resists and runs to the stage and uses his Feral Weapons to attack the devil. Kaspar Fleshcrafts himself to a beam in the stage to stop himself from attacking mortals. MG restrains MP but MP cuts her in the process. Katie falls to the ground but uses a Wraith power to make the devil break his concentration. Everyone calms down. The devil attempts to run but Drac tries to hold him and fails. MP Blinks to him and tries to cut him but he stabs her. He Daunts everyone and runs away. MG uses Share the Senses to track where he goes. MG sees him leave the building and spectral figures not unlike the ones she saw before attack him, dragging him down into maybe the Underworld. They seem upset with him. MG feels intense psychological pain and collapses and screams. Katie gets Kas and Drac to help Cloud Memories of people who saw too much. Dracula tries to feed but it gets Messy. MP grabs MG and lets her feed. Katie sits and talks with MG and uses Obeah to heal some Willpower. Dracula finds someone dressed as a cop and Intimidates him into telling us what happened. He doesn't know, but MG hears and uses Everything is Connected to figure out it was the Baali. MP sees her fisherman friend in the corner of her eye; he says "It's time to redeem yourself my child," and disappears.
Kas says that Adrian has written to say that he's coming to visit. MG demands he ask about Demetri.
Kas asks MP to set up a meeting with Faust. Kas says it's private but agrees to let MP sit in.
Theodora tells us about an interesting park northwest of here with large rock -- Point Mugu. There's a beach. There were demonic, ghostly things coming out of the ground and spirits. She's investigating a bit but she's not very into ghosts. We tell her about the Cecil Hotel party. She asks to meet Jasper and MP agrees.
Kas shows us that he's gotten the furniture to talk somehow?? There is also a ghostly Russian woman called "HoST" (Hospitality and Security Template).
MG asks Theodora about the Calling. Tells the group that X thinks Therese and Jeanette are leaving.
Adrian, Anastasia, two distant relatives Georgy and Boris (not Kindred, probably ghouls), and Demetri. Adrian says he wasn't planning on bringing him and tells Kas to put him in the closet. Adrian offers a cat tree as a hospitality gift for Kas. Adrian seems somewhat impressed with Host.
--- NEXT NIGHT ---
MG shows Demetri around the real house. D thinks Adrian can maybe still hear them but MG says they can talk at the party. She shows him the secret tunnel between the two houses.
At the door - Mohammed Shields. Manager at Pacific Coast Bank. Knows MP's name. Gives her an envelope for the "charitable event" we're going to. Mr. Warren wants "to get more involved in the local community." It's a check for $100,000.
Max shows up with 15 in the van. 15 is in costume as Count von Count. Max is dressed as Bella Swan.
Kas tells Adrian about the event but he says he has plans. Kas has the silverware watch him and Pam watch the house in general.
We all go in the stealth van except Theodora, who is leaving from her own house.
--- MAHARANI ---
A large line in front of the club. MP asks the bouncer if we're on the list and he lets us in, asking if we have a donation. She shows him the Warren check.
Ib asks if we want an escort to deliver the check. MG advises Demetri to not look underage. Fisher is doing security so he takes us up to Temple's office. MG introduces Demetri to him excitedly.
MP gives Temple the donation. Katie and Theodora are introduced. Katie tells MG that they're naming a new Baron of Santa Monica tonight.
Faust shows up and talks to MP a bit. Donates gold straw to Temple.
Adrian shows up. MG grabs Demetri and runs away. Adrian says he wants Kas' support for Baron. Bullies him a bit. MP and Katie come out to help him. Adrian leaves and MP and Katie insinuate that they'll kill him if he wants, then MP introduces Faust. Kas tries to bury the hatchet and tells Faust he's more open to the occult now. Kas asks him to not do anything magical at the Haven without telling him first. Kas warns him about the methuselahs that are aware of his existence.
Dracula (Bela) comes in with his coterie -- all tv/movie vampires: Jasper Cullen, Lestat, Laszlo, and the Queen of the Damned. Kaspar asks Jasper if he's the guy from Twilight but he says surely he's mistaken -- he's a soldier. Katie checks in on Aaliyah. She says it's nice to talk to someone sane. Introduces Lestat as her advisor. Implies he's a thin blood, but not a day walker. MG returns and introduces Demetri to Dracula.
Yung Sixxy is DJing. Kas socializes and MP dances with Dean.
MG steals a pen and pad from behind the bar and takes Demetri upstairs. She writes him a note: "Do you want to stay in California?" He writes "Yes". She writes "Adrian =" and then draws a simple dead vampire face followed by a question mark. He nods vigorously. MG eats the paper and gives him a thumbs up.
Jasper Cullen comes to Kas and asks if they can talk. He takes Kas to a bathroom. He tells Kas that Dracula thinks he's embraced JC but he's actually Vlad Tepes. Asks if Kas will be supporting his uncle. Kas says he owes him but he doesn't want to. Vlad says he came to support Dracula for the position. Kas tells him MG is in the running too. Vlad asks Kas what he thinks of Adrian and Kas nervously looks around then tells him he's a megalomaniac psychopath. Vlad asks if "we" should "destroy him." Kas rambles and Vlad interrupts to tell him to meet him on the roof in 10 minutes.
Katie tells Dracula that she's surprised he wants to be Baron because he's already King and it's such a lower title. He agrees and Katie suggests that one of his subjects, like MG, should be Baron. He agrees and asks Katie to summon MG, which she does. Drac asks MG if she'd like to be his Baron, and MG says it's the first step towards restarting the Council and returning him his throne, and that she's already friends with Jeanette. He agrees that it might work.
Kas finds the way to the roof and sees Ib coming down from the roof. He sees Vlad as Jasper whisper something to Adrian and Adrian heads to the roof. Ana tries to follow but Vlasper tells her something and she leaves. Vlasper heads to the roof as well. Kas goes up and sees them talking. Adrian tries to Command Vlasper to jump off the roof but Vlasper shakes his head and Commands him to not move until he snaps his fingers, then calls Kas over and asks him what to do. Kas tells Adrian who it is and Adrian gets pissy denying it, until Vlasper Commands him to stop talking. Kas says he's afraid to speak his mind in front of Adrian and Vlasper says he can make him forget. Kas rambles and Vlasper asks again if they should destroy him. Kas says there aren't "many of us left" but that it wouldn't be a great loss to the world. Vlasper suggests Kas could consume him. Kas waivers and V says Theodoric would disapprove but it might make him "more useful." V says he'd have to be sure Kas could be contained -- he would have to drink again. Kas rambles a bit again, then uses Vicissitude and says he'll do it. He drinks from V a third time, who then tells him to do it. Kaspar asks V if they're outside the bounds of Hospitality since they're not in Kas' domain. V says it's okay. Kaspar says "fuck you Adrian," and Diablerizes him. He cries and laughs as Adrian's body decays and V goes downstairs.
Holden, who has been in the line outside the entire time, finally gets in the club. MP meets with him and Faust. They're researching "abnormal behavior."
Temple introduces the band Coven and they play. As they introduce a new song, there is an explosion from the guitar stack amp -- a flash of daylight. Many of the Kindred in the club Frenzy and run for the exit, including Dracula, 15, and Max. MG Frenzies but remembers the secret exit routes that Temple gave them access to and tries to make it there.
Theodora goes to investigate the amp. Kas come down into the club to see what happened and sees MG running downstairs. Theo thinks it's a custom explosive, not a standard bomb. She collects whatever pieces of it that she can. MG makes it down to the safe rooms and tries to calm down. Kas finds Theo and thinks it's a professionally-made flash-bang grenade of some kind.
MP finds Holden and Faust, who are okay. She asks if they can help get people out via portal and they agree. MP goes to find the coterie. Vlasper finds Kas and tells him it must have been the Hunters and tells Kas to be careful, then leaves from the roof. Katie stays behind to help Temple while the coterie plus Demetri leave through the portal and into MP's room.