Where does the blood in these drinks come from?!

[Smoothie]

Wic frowns. "If we need to have sorcerer bind our oath in blood, that constitute trust?

What if this pact is use against us?" His frown deepens. "Perhaps my objection raise your suspicion," he shrugs and continues, "I think trust should be earnt and given in old fashion way."

[Storyteller]

By the time you finish speaking, you realise the rest of the room is going pretty quiet, pretty quickly. All three of you direct your attention outwards from your conversation, and look at what's happening. Almost everyone is staring at the door, with the exception of a few. Wic: Notably, one group not looking is the table of haunts you were talking with earlier.

At the door stands a elderly-looking man dressed in red robes, right down to his feet, which are obscured by the rim. On his balding head is an upside down cross, and round his neck he wears an upside down crucifix. He is flanked by two others, more normally dressed. Trey: You don't recognise any of them specifically, but you're in little doubt they're with the Lance.

He looks old, but he looks mean. And actually, he looks pretty pissed too. He manages to hold the room in silence for about a minute, while he looks around. He starts, and points at a table, and the two men flanking him move out.

They grab a man who's face appears to have been partially burnt off, and begin to pull him, kicking and struggling, to the door.

Wic: You recognise the man as Victor, who you were talking to earlier.
Jessie: You can't place him, but you're pretty sure that you've seen him somewhere before.

Noone seems quite sure how to react. Some kindred in the room are shocked, others placid, and unphased, but the latter are fewer. The other occupants of Victor's table are on the feet, but seem unwilling to do anything. Most people seem resigned to stay at their tables.

[Smoothie]

You were right, I do remember you, Viktor. So much for no witch hunts...

After his initial eye-full of the inquisitors, as the burnt looking Nosferatu is being dragged away, Wic makes a point to scan the patron's reactions. Then he gets a look of concentration on his face, as if recalling something and finally gives Trey a meaningful look, but seems unwilling to speak.



[How is Sundown reacting?]

[Treyvon Johnson]

Upon seeing the men's actions, I inhake and sigh. It definately seemed appropriate for this situation.

"So the Inquisitions started? This'll be fun..."

I wish they wouldn't do things like this. It makes all us Sanctified look bad. I look to see Michael's reaction.

"Did that guy say anything incriminating to you?"

I look at Wic, wondering if it's time for him to disappear. And whether Jessica should do the same.

[Smoothie]

There are mixed emotions on Wic's face: relief, concern and curiosity. Then he frowns at Trey's distasteful attempt at levity, but lets it go. He steps close to him [Perhaps Jessie steps in too, she's not being excluded.] and speaks in a whisper, "He just said he was one of yours. He even tried recruit me. Maybe one of other faction in Lance? I know there is division within the Lance at moment. Which sides are they on? ...And which side are you on?"

[Treyvon Johnson]

"I'm on God's side," I say with all seriousness, not looking at the Haunt. I'm busy trying to guage the others in the bar's reactions.

"Though I empathize with Savoy's agenda more than I do Vidal's." Finally I look between Wic and Jess. "Still, I didn't think there was that big of a split between the factions. Last I checked we had more pressing matters than the Savoy/Vidal lovers tiff."

I think back to earlier today, unsure of what's happening. Is this a good or a bad thing?

"He could've been deemed a heretic. Wouldn't be the first one arrested tonight."

I can't help but look at Jessica when I say it, though I do my best to keep from seeming to happy about that fact; especially how it ended for me. If only she knew.

"Wic, did he sound legit when he invited you to join? Or did it seem more...contrived?"

[Lady Cin]

A true split in the LS? Wilhelm hadn't anticipated this. Damn, I'm in over my head now. No choice though, I have to know more. She moves in close to Trey and Wic.

"Trey, you are in the best position to know right now. What should we do? Would it be safe to follow them? Do you think that Haunt really knows something? You know as well as I do, that heresy isn't enforced by any of the other covenants."

Losing a possible source of information is not something that Jessie would give up willingly. She scans the crowd around the room. Is anyone acting abnormally? And why does that Haunt seem familiar? What other reactions are obvious?

[Smoothie]

Wic responds to Trey, "It did not seem right to me. Contrived."

They don't know all their own members. That is interesting, but what does it mean?

[Storyteller]

Sundown is just standing there, watching, seemingly attempting to hide a face showing disbelief. He seems on the edge of acting, or saying something.

Trey: You can't spot Michael in the crowd.

[Treyvon Johnson]

Just where could Michael have gone? I look at Jessica and smile.

"That's not true. Every covenant has their heresies. They're just called something else, and they're not publicly enforced. It just so happens that in Vidal's city, the Lance is a bit more prominant so we can afford to act overtly. Other covenants love painting us as fanatical villains."

I look at Wic. I wonder if Kendrick or his blood-bitch ratted on this guy.

"But in this case, your friend may suffer horribly. He probably won't receive Final Death, though. Believe it or not, the Lance doesn't like to kill other Kindred. I have a friend in here and I'm just waiting to see what he's doing. He's a bit higher up in status than I am."

I stand up and move a bit to try and get a better look. Where could he be?

[Lady Cin]

A friend, in here? He didn't say anything about there being someone else with him.

Jessie moves a little closer to Wic; Trey's omission has made her a bit wary of him. Wic at least seems a bit more trustworthy; for one of our kind.

She continues her survey of the bar. Is anyone acting out of place? Is anyone watching the three of us? Is anyone about to panic?

Why does the captive seem familiar? she asks herself.

[Smoothie]

[Are the fanatics staying or going? ...Not Trey, the other fanatics?]

Generalizations such as that are exactly that, generalizations.

Wic shrugs and speaks, hardly above a whisper to Trey"I met him only tonight. I shall lose no vitae weeping for him either way." He then turns and looks at/for Marla and Alex.

[Storyteller]

The two dragging Vic, still kicking and fighting, but to no success, are heading for the door, and have reached the bottom of the stairs. The guy in the red robes, however, is just standing there, watching everyone's reactions, as if trying to single people out.

[Smoothie]

Wic leans into Trey again and whispers, "Not very concerned about recruitment tonight..."

[Treyvon Johnson]

I smile at the Haunt.

"No, they're just making room for you."

Who are they looking for?

"I'm going to get a closer look."

I move further into the crowd, mostly looking for Mike, but listening to the chatter. I thrive on chaos and they're making it easy.