Darker Days Radio #44

http://darkerdays2.podbean.com/2013/...io-episode-44/

The Art of Death

Starring C. A. "Sleepless" Suleiman and Sam "Corpse-in-the-Fridge" Araya

Mike, Chris, and James sit down to chat about Mummy with developer CAS and artist Sam Araya. But before they get started there's plenty of Onyx Path discussion, shout outs to the listeners, and an update regarding Forgotten Lore #4. First the group tackles the storytelling elements and setting that Colin developed for Mummy the Curse, including a few player spoilers, so watch out! Next they discuss the hanging dolls of Isla de las Muñecas in the Secret Frequency. Finally, the hosts discuss Mummy's fine art with Sam, and learn a bit about gaming in Paraguay along the way.

[actual play] Vampire the Requiem - Manchester - The Two Thrones

Episode 3: The Fire Rises

Part 5

Galen waited in the car he had taken from the now dead Rachel Witten. There was a tap on the window, and the familiar, black robed figure of Constable Ihrem stood there. His eyes blazed a in human blue, and his beard was long and wiry. The Constable sat in the passenger seat and discussed the events of the night with Galen. He explained that he and his men were now severely overworked as they would be now fighting to keep the peace between the Lancea Sanctum and the Circle of the Crone. Galen was asked to hand over any evidence that might help in diffusing the situation, but considering the heresies that circle the Cult of Mithras it would be difficult for either side to back down. The Constable also warned that Galen was making a habit of Amaranth, and that he would now be watching him even closer. Especially given the taint that was in his aura.
The next day Galen arrived at the apartment block where Tristan had made his haven. Tristan had been busy. Using his ghouls he had staked out the location of the hunters, the same place the Ordo Dracul had given him. The ghouls had gone one better, and taken the opportunity to kidnap one of the hunters who was now in the basement of the apartment block.
In the dark and damp basement, on a wooden chair, bloody and beaten, was tied the hunter. The ghouls had already made a mess of him. But these were superficial injuries. The long night of pain was about to begin. Tristan took his time, pulling the man’s finger nails out, and after each kissed and licked the blood from the ragged stumps. Once those were gone, Tristan’s friend, the Gangrel, Chuck, took to punching the man, trying to get every bit of information from him. But he did not give in. Galen could hardly watch as the man was battered, and the chamber echoed with each wet slap of flesh on flesh.
Galen took charge of the questioning, seeking to try calm the man and act his confessor. As calm as possible he spoke to the man, offering a cigarette and water. But the questioning only got so far. The hunter looked on horrified. To his eyes Galen was a noseless, snarling, hellion. The man screamed as he looked on, crying for God’s forgiveness. Chuck, not wanting to take risks, knocked the man out.

Over the course of the questioning it became clear that the hunters had been sent by another vampire, and Tristan guessed it must be one of the Invictus. But things had already spiralled out of control. On the news the police had surrounded the house that the hunters were occupying. The news reported that it was a raid on terrorists, a paramilitary ultra-nationalist Irish group. It seemed to Tristan that someone was cleaning up the mess before anyone could get too close.

Galen was in Tristan’s apartment, shocked by the hunter’s reaction, and so he began to do some research. The strange events, visions, and things he had heard, all started in the Mithraeum. And so he began to research the demons and Jinn of Persia.

[actual play] Vampire the Requiem - The Two Thrones

Episode 3: The Fire Rises

 

 

Part 4

 
Galen and the Constable did not stay long, knowing the police and fire crews would arrive. They would have to wait and have the Chamberlain pull whatever strings were required for a cover up.

The next evening Tristan headed off to follow up a clue. It had come to his attention that one of the cleaners hired to work at the club had not been in, yet they had checked in via the swipe card back entrance. Tristan headed off into the suburbs to figure out what had happened.
Arriving at the council apartment block Tristan was not surprised to see how run down it was. Barely any of the street lights worked, there were the sounds of sirens from whatever gang related violence was taking place, and there was a gang of youths in the main plaza of the block. As Tristan approach the gang, kids no older than 15, dressed in sports gear, hoodies, knockoff trainers and obviously they had been smoking weed, got up off the benches and wall where they were gathered and as a group blocked Tristan.
‘’ere what we got ‘ere? We got some flash poofter, innit? What you want round here mister? You gotta answer to us? We rulez this place?’ The leader of the group got in Tristan’s face. People in the flats watched from above, wondering if they will have the call the police or an ambulance.
Tristan snarled, the Beast itching for a fight, channeling the Blood, his eyes dilating and wild, his vampiric aura igniting. ‘Why don’t you lot just get the fuck out of here!’
The group of kids looked at each other, laughter dying, and as a group backed away and walked quickly from Tristan, never once looking back.
Tristan made his way up the stairwell, choosing not to use the dilapidated lift. There was the stench of rotting food, crisp packets littering the stairs, and of course the sound of rats and the stink of piss. He made his way down the balcony to the apartment and knocked. There was no sound from within and no reply. His knocked again and then tried the bell. Concerned Tristan felt vitae course through his veins and he kicked at the door, and once again, causing it to break open. Once inside he found nothing special. A typical flat with no decoration, peeling wallpaper, and a tiny TV. The kitchen stank of days old food, and then in the bedroom he found the cleaner. They had been tied up like a pig for slaughter. Wary of some trap Tristan ungaged the man. The man pleaded to be let go, and as he was freed he quickly made his way to the bathroom, before returning to speak to Tristan. It turned out to be as they had all feared. Hunters.
 
Galen return that night to the scene of the fire, and headed into the basement. It was clear that any bodies that were there had been cleared away, and the news had just reported this as an instance of arson by youths. Galen searched around, and lifting up a sheet of metal, beneath he found a symbol written in blood. It was the the chi rho of the Lancea Sanctum. But as Galen went to take a picture he found that it was now the greek symbol to the star sign Taurus.

Galen returned to his haven and headed to his basement where he tried to make sense of it all and emailed his findings to the Chamberlain. It was while do some research on Mithras, and putting together his police scanner, that a gust of wind blew over somethings, causing a candle to land on a map of the city. It scorched a mark, a point on the map where Galen knew there was a church, and a Lancea Sanctum meeting place. As he held the map up the mark continued to burn, burning a Taurus symbol. But in the back of his mind he heard the words of his spirit guide, Kaiman, saying ‘Do not trust the shadows cast by false flames’.
Galen raced to the church. It was a Sunday, and he knew that the Sanctified would be holding mass. When he arrived things were already spiralling out of control. He got out of his car and approached. As he got to the wall of the churchyard he peered over and watched as Rachel Witten sealed the door with a plank of wood. At her feet were two decapitated figures. She then stepped back and lit a match. A circle of flames rose up around the church, and as she approach it, the flames turned green before grow higher, hotter, and more fierce. And as she stepped back the flames returned yellow. Galen tried to get closer, but made a noise. Witten turned, and scooped up a ball of flame and hurled it at Galen. He ran, leaping over the church wall and over the hood of his car. His jacked caught fire as the green flames licked around the vehicle. Galen ran for cover away from the car as another ball of balefire slammed into it, causing the car to ignite.
Rachel returned to the church, and the fire, and once more the flames turned green and grew in intensity. Inside there were screams, and the sounds of glass shattering. With the fire now high enough and strong enough Rachel stepped back and watched the fire return to a yellow orange as it began to consume the church.
Rachel however had not noticed that Galen was still alive. Galen had sneaked up, and taken a wooden cross from a new grave, and went to impale her. The stake pierced into her back, but did not go all the way through. Rachel, in pain, turned around and brandished her sword, a replica of a Roman short sword, and struck back, slicing into Galen’s side and leg. But Galen was now lost to t
he Beast, and his urge to feed and kill her was overwhelming. He lunged forward, knocking Rachel to the ground, and repeatedly stabbing her in the chest with the stake, before ramming it through her heart. With her now in torpor Galen drank in her blood and her soul. He looked up, his face red with blood, and he watched as the flames about the church flared and the building collapsed.
Hearing the police sirens Galen escaped, taking the sword and rooting through Rachel’s pockets to find her car keys.

[actual play] Vampire the Requiem - The Two Thrones

Episode 2: Bloody Mary

 

Part 4

 

The next day, and the ghost had not haunted them, so Tristan assumed the ghost was bound to the apartments and to the shard of the mirror he had taken to the club (and where he had left it). Tristan decided that the best place to get everything sorted out was Elysium, as there might be someone there who knew the best way to get rid of a ghost.

At Elysium Tristan and Galen met up and tried to ignore the politics and rumours of the gathering, and sat and chatted with Tristan’s sire, Spokesman Rain. Rain to them to a private booth and they discussed the issue of the killer and the ghost. Rain was not too knowledgable on the subject, but found the issue of the blood sorcerer important and would see what he could find out.

The two also got a chance to speak with Constable Ihram, who made use of his skills of Obfuscate to speak with the privately.

 

Later at Tristan’s club, Galen and Tristan met the Constable out in the back alleyway, where Ihram produced a iron box. He asked for them to put the mirror shard inside. Once done, he had them drive him to a old house in Rusholme, and there in the dingy, damp basement he had some sort of ritual space prepared. All around there were jars of various foul liquids and items. Galen was sure he saw one containing what looked like thumbs. The table at the centre of the room was prepared and had a circle of salt about it. Ihram took the box and from it took the mirror shard. He look at it, using his command of Auspex and noted the name Mary, and the hedge of thorns. He then used a prepared incense and holy water to cleanse the shard.

Ihram suggested that while the ghost was indeed angry, it was lashing out at random, and that they should find the reason for the man’s death in order to set his soul free. Tristan mentioned the mirror and the bloodline, and Ihram suggested that they find out who the next victims could be and put an end to this.

Tristan returned to the apartment and quickly looked around, hoping to not provoke the ghost. It was as he was looking through some family albums that he found a family tree and also a picture of the dead man with his two cousins. The photo was of their home, and on the back was the address. It was some sort of large family home outside of Manchester towards the north.

Tristan and Galen decided it would be best to go the next night, with more hours of darkness to use. They did not know if they were in fact too late. They drove as soon as they could to the manor house, going from the suburbs and the well lit streets to the dark of the woods and winding roads of gravel. They could see the house as they drove closer, and that there were lights on.

Parking outside they approached and knocked on the front door but got no reply. They knocked again, and then rang the bell. There was still no reply. They then  walked about the house and to the conservatory, which the door to was unlocked. They entered, and there in the doorway from the conservatory to the living room was a body. Again his eyes were gone and a pool of blood was about him. Tristan and Galen looked about but then heard a car approach. They went and hid in the amongst the plants in the conservatory and waited.

The door was opened and they saw a man in a long coat and with shoulder length hair come into the house. The beast stirred and Tristan and Galen struggled to stay came and ignore their Beast’s fear. The man saw the body and seemed upset to see the man dead. He then called out for the other brother and walked about the house and then upstairs.

From the direction of the kitchen another figure walked into the living room. They had a tattered coat on, and long claw like finger nails. They looked up, listening for the footsteps of the vampire. There then came another knock on the door. The strange being hid in the living room.

There was a crash of glass as the the front door was broken into and unlocked. Three men, wearing hats and all weather coats came in. One brandished a machete, another a shotgun, and the other a stake. They stalked about and found the body. They seemed confused and split up. As one headed upstairs and the other to the other side of the house, one was left in the living room. He stooped down to look at the body, only to have his neck broken by the hidden being. Galen and Tristan watched as the killer set off to the other side of the house.

There was a crash and bang from upstairs, and then some moments later the vampire returned. He was clearly shaken and had a gun shot injury to his arm. He came into the living room and could see the second body. He was confused and turned to see the last remaining hunter in the doorway. The man’s body fell and behind him the killer stood. Their long hair covering their features.

The vampire rushed at the long hair figure, and they crashed around, grappling, only for him to be pinned up against the wall. The stranger snarled and bit down into the neck of the vampire, blood jetting onto the clean walls, and in a short amount of time he too was dead.

The raggedy looking being came over to the two bodies and knelt down and put a palm to the sticky blood. Getting it up they then approached the mirror over the fireplace and smeared the blood upon it while saying ‘Blood Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloo...’

The mirror shattered. The ritual was cut short and Galen stood having thrown the rock at the mirror. The being screamed, scrambling at the mirror shards, and then, looked at Galen and growled.

Galen fled, as fast as his legs would take him, and as fast as his preternatural speed would allow. But Tristan looked on as the being moved like a black brush stroke of oil paint, and sped after Galen. Tristan got up, grabbed a nearby shovel, and gave chase.

Part 5

Galen stopped dead as the strange figure stood before him. It was so fast! It lashed out, and Galen stumbled back. A jagged stake of gnarled wood ripped through Galen's chest, tearing flesh apart. Whincing in pain Galen balled his fists and fought back. His punches did little to rattle the snarling monster, who replied with puncturing stabs, the feeling as if the weapon was literally rending his soul apart.

Tristan ran towards the fight, levelled the spade he had picked up, and like a spear, he rammed it into the shadowy attacker from the mirrors. There was a wet sucking sound as Tristan pulled the shovel from the guts of the creature, followed with what had to be some of its guts and entrails. In retaliation, the figure spun about with the bloody stake, looking to impale Tristan in the chest.

Galen now saw his chance. Tristan had ducked the attack, and now Galen grabbed the figure, pinning their arms to their sides. They struggled against Galens vitae enfused strength, but the hold would not break, and Galen let the Beast rid his senses, and his teeth extended. Tristan saw and opening, and flicking the shovel about, hacked down at the creature's leg, severing it just below the knee. Blood jetterd out in thickspurts and the night was filled with the roar of pain. For Galen, his Beast joined in, and he clamped his teeth down around it's neck, drinking in the vitae and chewing ragged chunks from the nape of the neck.

The hideously injured being from the mirrors broke free and stumbled, falling on the gravel of the drive of the house. Galen pounced on it's back, pinning the figure down, and Tristan stood back, watching, not wanting to get in Galen's way. Galen drank, and drank, the figure squirming as he wasted away to nothing. It was in those last moments that something caught Galen's attention.

Before Galen he could see the figure of an old friend from his mortal days. They had died due to cancer, and now, in this vision they stood before him, their skin covered in lesions and sores. And they spoke, but it was like they were talking in the wind. 'All die, and sinners must burn'. Galen grinned and drank dead. His Beast took into the victim's soul, his powers of Auspex blossoming. Tristan felt sick, as part of own wretched soul scratched at the cage of his body. He knew what he saw, no matter the reason, was wrong. He dry heaved.

Galen had used the spade and broken the body up into pieces and placed it in the kitchen furnace. Constable Ihram arrived with his Bailiffs, and together the house was cleaned up. Stories were fabricated and bodies moved. Ihram listened and questioned them, and accepted their version of the events, but warned Galen of repeating such a vile crime. But Galen kept one thing from the events - the gnarled thorn. And now with his new eyes he could see that some sort of mystical mask hid it's try form, that is was some dagger or silvery wood.

Episode 3: The Fire Rises

A month had passed. In that time Galen had taken it upon himself to take a ghoul. Tristan and Galen were also pondering how to gain the support of Judex Peter Hawkin's of the Invictus, seeing it as an opportunity to finally take down the Ventrue Priscus, Vicountess Natalia Kerkoft.

It was a full moon, and that Friday many of the Carthian's and the Ordo Dracul had been invited to a gathering in the UMIST main building. The old Victorian university building was to play host to a showcase of Kindred physiology.

The way into the univeristy and to the lecture hall was guarded by ghouls, and up in the high halls of the university they wore their official garb. The ghouls of the Dragons wore the dark blue robes of their order, while the ghouls of the Night Doctors wore full enclosing leather masks, with polished surgical steel eye pieces and mouth grills.

In the lecture hall were many of the high ranking and respected Carthians, along with some old and new faces from the Ordo Dracul. However it was still difficult to know if they were not just Carthians. Such was the secrecy they maintained.

One familiar face was Chuck Taylor. And American Gangrel who was once part of a coterie with Tristan. He was a figure head amongst the more violent Carthians, running a sort of dojo-come-fight club, under auspices of the Night Doctors.

The head of the Dragons,  Zahred Zilber, announced that tonight was a chance to learn what the Carthians and Ordo Dracul had in common, and t
o showcase some of their research.

The first display was by Doctor S. He wore a similar mask as his ghouls, and thick black gloves with his white lab coat. They wheeled in a stretcher with a body bag. On the lab bench they placed the bag, and unzipped it to reveal the emaciated figure of a naked vampire in a state of torpor. It was bound in chains. The doctor explain that the vampire was a mindless drauger, and that they would being showing the regenerative properties of Homonous Lupine blood - Werewolf blood. His work had shown, that if such blood was delivered to the required areas, by slow injection, that regeneration of the body parts was possible, without inducing a state of frenzy. Once the experiment was complete the drauger was beheaded and questions began.

The second display, similar in nature to the first. A dragon perform a form of organ replacement on a ghoul. The ghoul, strapped to a table, had their kidney removed, and replaced with one that was dessicated. It was then shown that the application of a vitae derived alchemical salve initiated the regenerative properties of the vitae within them, in such a way that made dessicated organs a viable method of replacement.

For all it was an enlightening and gruesome evening.

[actual play] Vampire the Requiem - The Two Thrones

Episode 2 - Bloody Mary

 

Part 3

 

Galen sat in the dark, trying to focus his own senses and mind on the Mithraeum, to tap into the voice that spoke to him. He sat there in the dark, his mind open to the shadows, and yet he heard nothing. But a part of him nagged at his mind. Jealousy and envy. He wanted things, and part of him whispered his desires.

The next night Tristan awoke, again his dreams disturbed. But later the dreams would seem even more real. Dressed and ready to go out to his club, Tristan, and his ghoul, Carl, heard the screams of a woman. The screams came from with in the building, from the floor below of the apartment block. Tristan, with some hesitation, went out to see what was wrong. The apartments all opened out onto the atrium, and from here all floors could be seen. Two floors down a woman was screaming. She was screaming for her dead husband, and for her daughter.

Others were out of their apartments and also listening, and so with them, Tristan headed down to the woman. Some tried to console her, and others tried to ask what had happened. All Tristan could see was the large amounts of blood - not her blood - on her hands and clothes.

Tristan went inside, looking to find the daughter who should have been inside. It seemed the mother had been working late at the theater and so her husband and daughter were at home. Tristan could see that there was blood, red stains across the plastered walls and the door handle. Hardly fresh though.

Tristan crept into the apartment, noting the expensive furniture, the type of thing his parents liked. There on the floor was the dead husband, and as Tristan stepped forward there was the unsettling squelch of blood as it seeped up from the carpet. Blood had pooled all about the man. But there was something strange. He was face down before a large mirror, and the blood - it had some how flowed up to the mirror. The mirror it self was old, and the frame was ornate with pealing gold leaf. And it was cracked.

Tristan went forward and crouched down, and found that the man had lost his eyes. They were torn from the sockets and he was left with a grimace of pain. Tristan could hear the police sirens getting close. Someone had called the police. It was then that he also heard a frightened panting. From the bedroom door he could see crouched in the wardrobe, peering through the crack of the door, was the daughter. Tristan beckoned her to him in his most sympathetic voice, and lifted her up, taking her quickly from the apartment and the body of her father.

At the club, Tristan and Galen met and spoke to each other about what had happened and what they had learnt. Tristan explained how he would later go back and into the apartment once the police were done with the crime scene. Galen of course obtained the written invitations from Tristan, and was planning on going back with the gift for Nails. But Galen was also planning on going down to the Mithraeum again to see if he could determine the source of that voice.

In the darkness of the canals and tunnels Galen walked, trying not to fall in the water, dodging rats and trying to ensure he did not get lost. As he shone the torch around, he saw in walking towards him a figure, walking tall in a long overcoat and top hat. As the figure got closer Galen stood still. The Beast in him did not stir, but he was scared of this strange being. Galen stood still, and simply said 'Good Evening'. The figure did not reply, except to tilt his hat in respect. As they walked past, Galen for a moment though he could see the true form of the being. That the hat was long ears, the face was fanged and with a bat like snout, and the the coat was in fact wings through which his torch shone.

Galen's first stop was with Nails, back in the Undercity gathering spot. The chamber was not empty, and again there were fires lit, laughter, whispers and the exchange of goods. Nails was unfortunately not present, but some of the others did say that he would be along in short time.

Galen was approached by a bald, gaunt looking vampire, who introduced himself as Ralf. Ralf listened to Galen and confirmed for him the rumours of the blood sorcerer employed by Natalia Kerkfot. Ralf then went on to offer his aid in future and that he would see Galen around.

Galen finally got to see Nails and  gave him the invitation to Elysium for which Nails was greatful. Galen then left the gathering in the sewers and headed back to the Mithraeum in the hopes of communing with the entity he thought lurked there.

The club was strange that night, and Tristan felt constantly on edge. Always as if he was being watched. In the crowded club no-one ever noticed his blurred reflection, but he began to get the feeling that something was off with the mirrors. He then spotted it, the dead husband, his eyes missing, and somehow reaching for him in the mirror.

Tristan made a quick exit from the club and head back to his apartment haven, only to be haunted by the apparition future. Both he and his ghoul, Carl, saw the eyeless man reaching out for them, blood pouring forth from his empty eye sockets and mouth.

Tristan and Carl left the apartment and decided that until the haunting ceased then
they would stay  in a hotel. It was while they were leaving the apartment that they realized they were being followed. Choosing to confront the person, they were met by a small, lanky man. There was something strange about him. He called himself Mikey, and said he knew that they were being haunted, and knew what was killing people. But he would only help if they would promise his own safety until the killer was stopped. Mikey then reached out with his hand to shake on it. Tristan was wary of this stranger and had learnt the simply touching other vampires could cause trouble. Who knew what he was dealing with here. He told the man to leave them and that there was no deal, but Mikey, as he left, suggested they look at the bloodline.

Darker Days Radio Episode #40

Dave "Death and Arcana" Brookshaw

Mike and Chris are joined again by Dave Brookshaw, a writer for Mage's recent Left-Hand Path sourcebook. In the Secret Frequency, the hosts explore Fengdu, the Chinese City of the Dead, and also discuss the legend of a slumbering dragon beneath Beijing. Following that is a lengthy Q&A with Dave Brookshaw, looking at Requiem's Blood Sorcery, the God Machine Chronicles, and the upcoming NWoD game, Mummy: the Curse.

Don't worry, we have some CWoD discussion in this episode too! And get pumped for our upcoming NWO Conventionbook review.

Darker Days Contest Information:

Send us some feedback, questions, or Forgotten Lore material and you'll have a chance to win a White Wolf novel or anthology.

Be sure to check us out at http://www.facebook.com/DarkerDaysRadio or our Posterous forum at http://darkerdaysradio.posterous.com/#!/. Be sure to subscribe through iTunes!

Featured Books:

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Dave Brookshaw on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveBrookshaw

Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff: http://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/

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[actual play] Vampire the Requiem - The Two Thrones

 

Episode 2: Bloody Mary

 

Part 1

 

Tristan dreamt. He was in Manchester, and in the cold alleyway blood dripped, a pitter patter of claret, onto the cobbled street. His mouth was slick with blood and there on the ground was his latest kill. The body was like a broken doll in the street lights. It was then it heard it. A disembodied voice from in the gloom of the alley way, calling for him, needing him.

Tristan followed the voice, down the twisting, Escher like street, and barely noticed how the street gave way to thick vines of tearing thorns. The whisper beckoned to him, wanted him, and led him to a graveyard. The moon was high in the sky, and from a mausoleum. Tristan walked up to the gate of the tomb, and went into the darkness.

Tristan awoke in his bed in a sweat, the sheen of blood staining the bed sheets. He needed to feed and have a walk.

Galen was awake and preparing for the meeting at Elysium. Once more it was held at the Circle Club, and it was a chance for Galen to find out more about the blood sorcerer that Constable Ihram was looking for. It was in Galen's bathroom, of his grotty haven, that his mentor (if you can call an aspiration that), had left him a message. The mirror was steamed up and written in the condensation was 'The Thorns, they Tear'.

Galen and Tristan were at the Circle Club. There was still much talk about the death of Fiona, and that Galen was something of a hero amongst the younger Carthians. There was also talk of renewed fights and postering between the Invictus and the Carthians, and that the Constable, and certain elder Carthians and Invictus had been working to prevent these fights.

The entire Elysium was abruptly interrupted as a man burst down the stairway from the entrance. He immediately made his way to Bishop Michael Kenner. The bearded, stern looking priest, and leader of the Lancea Sanctum in the city, looked down on the cowering man. The younger vampire begged for forgiveness, crying that all his friends were dead, that they had been punished by the mother of Longinus.

The young vampire was taken aside by the Bishop and the Elysium was rife with gossip. Ihram took Tristan and Galen to the store room and, following his earlier deal with Galen, but now also offering Tristan an incentive, asked for them to go and take their Ruth along with them and investigate the haven of the dead vampires. Ihram knew where they made their haven as he had been watching them like many of the coteries of young Kindred and Anarchs.

The coterie took Ruth's van and made their way to haven, which was an abandoned apartment block in Longsight. They made their way in through the damaged fence and into the dank and filth ridden building. There were signs of fire damage and the place was littered with all manner of foul things. Needles from addicts and discarded condoms and spray paint cans were scattered around, and the coterie that Tristan and Galen were looking for were in a pair of apartments. There were bodies all around in the apartments. There were mortals and there were decapitated vampires. There were even bodies of Kindred who had had their hearts removed.

Tristan picked about and found a pile of notes that look like some sort of instructions for a ritual, while Galen took photos. In the bathroom Galen found a grotty and foul room, and in the basin was sticky blood. On the cracked mirror was a bloody hand smear, and weirdly there was a foot print. The bloody print was on the basin, and somehow was halfway in the mirror, or would be if the mirror was not there.

Ruth looked at the notes and explained to the others that this was some sort of initiation ritual, but with no special meaning. It was some sort of petty mimicry of a Lancea Sanctum ritual, but with the added nonsense of calling upon the Bloody Mary myth, and of course this has perhaps some relation to the tales of Longinus’ mother, the ‘Bloody Mary’.