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The Resurrectionists: Arkwright Cemetery

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  1. #1
    Seryna's Avatar

    Jennifer Hazelton

    Conner Wells had given the ghoul, Maxwell, a location at which to pick him up. As soon as the sun had sunk beneath the horizon, a brown van pulls up to the location. It has a few dents in the rear fender and appears to be settled in, with current license plates. Maxwell sits in the driver’s seat. The passenger seat is empty. There is a military backpack in the bench seat behind the two captain’s chairs. It looks broken in, yet in good repair. There is a hand - held radio in the side pocket. A second hand - held radio sits on the seat. There is a leather bandolier sling laid over the area directly behind Maxwell, attached to the 12 - gauge shotgun.

    Maxwell glances at is as you enter the van. Maxwell's eyes are scanning the rearview mirrors as he speaks.
    The ghoul is short and stocky. He wears a black knit beanie and grey wool sweater. The ghoul has been painted with Vitae along his collarbones, peeking through his shirt. You can smell it on him. This is Lancea Sanctum work. You note that something has changed from the first meeting - there is a large dagger the size of a spearhead in a sheathe on his right hip. The ghoul's demeanor is brisk and professional. He clearly wants to get on the road.

    "Put your stuff next to my bag, there. Mr. Vincenzo already is on site, so we need to be gone. You decide which entrance you want to enter at? The main gate and the south gate."

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  3. #2
    Conner Wells's Avatar
    Blood & Faith
    Presence
    (Earnest)
    Allies
    (Academia)
    Obfuscate
    (Mask of Tranquility)
    Eidectic Memory
    Conner Wells
    PRP Stats

    HP: 0/7 [7 Bash]
    WP: 0/2
    Vitae: 2/6

    Equipment: Reinforced Jacket, Broadsword, Messenger Bag (flashlight, pen, notepad, binoculars, duct tape), Phone, Wallet ($50 cash)
    Combat Stats

    Def: 3 (Dex; Tonfa +1)
    Armor: 1/0 (Reinforced Clothing)
    Initiative: 4
    Speed: 9

    2
    PRE

    Conner enters the van, depositing the messenger bag from Vincenzo next to it. He himself was lightly equipped with only his Barren essentials: his coat, weapon, and his phone now fully charged. Once this was over he wanted to make sure he only needed one trip back to his exile to avoid suspicion. Maxwell's armaments impress on him the severity of the situation, though now he was wondering just what kind of opposition Vincenzo was planning on. Blood armor is fairly rudimentary sorcery, but it's not something you throw on for light excursions.

    "South Gate."
    ​He keeps his answer for the ghoul short and sweet. Speed and stealth would be especially key for this mission. As Maxwell starts the car, Conner sends a silent prayer up as he hardens his resolve. Lord, so much can go wrong tonight. Help me see this through.

    Equipment: Tonfa (+1 Def), Reinforced Clothing (trench coat; 1/0), Smartphone w/ limited arcane library (-2 Comp Research rolls), pocket Bible, Messenger Bag (from Vincenzo; flashlight, notebooks, pens, 8"x5" drawstring bags x2, burner phone)

    PRP Stats: In Minisheet

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  5. #3
    Seryna's Avatar

    Jennifer Hazelton

    "Sounds good, sir." Maxwell makes a small nod, again checking the rearview mirror as he pulls away and drives through the city. Maxwell is professional, yet clearly was never trained on being unobtrusive. He is compact and muscular. His clothing looks chosen for a specific task.
    Maxwell guides the van out of the city limits. They are in for ride - would the hour rocket by or drag like nails on a chalk board?

    Forty minutes pass and the ghoul speaks. "We're twenty minutes out, sir." They drive for another fifteen minutes. The ghoul then pulls off of the road on a small turn off. There are mature trees laden with heavy branches that stretch overhead. The ghoul pulls underneath such a tree. Conner can see a second van parked ahead. As the cemetery was not in sight, Conner can make a guess as to what Maxwell has been directed to do. Maxwell shuts off the van pocketing the keys. He walks to the side of the van, sliding open the door and taking a moment to go over his pack. He touches things lightly as he moves briskly, verifying small objects in the outside pockets as he pulls open zippers.
    The time had arrived. What would Conner do tonight? Would he be confronted to do anything against his moral code? You have a few moments to prepare as the ghoul does so, then he seems prepared to resolutely march into the evening of being a resurectionist.

  6. #4
    Conner Wells's Avatar
    Blood & Faith
    Presence
    (Earnest)
    Allies
    (Academia)
    Obfuscate
    (Mask of Tranquility)
    Eidectic Memory
    Conner Wells
    PRP Stats

    HP: 0/7 [7 Bash]
    WP: 0/2
    Vitae: 2/6

    Equipment: Reinforced Jacket, Broadsword, Messenger Bag (flashlight, pen, notepad, binoculars, duct tape), Phone, Wallet ($50 cash)
    Combat Stats

    Def: 3 (Dex; Tonfa +1)
    Armor: 1/0 (Reinforced Clothing)
    Initiative: 4
    Speed: 9

    2
    PRE

    As Maxwell drives on, Conner goes over his notes. In a way, he was almost thankful for the ghoul's sheer focus; it meant the driver wouldn't interrupt his own thoughts. The task ahead was fairly simple with a few major caveats. Find Pope before the Coterie...and whoever they have working with them. Assuming that nobody from Vincenzo's group was compromised that meant this Coterie, if they openly approached the Domain for help, would be heavily relying on their own research, Auspex, or both. And Quinn and Maeve were the only two users he could think of. From there it would depend on how important the matter was to what people.

    Then there was what to do when Pope was found. If he was just in torpor then moving him would be fairly simple, provided the team worked quickly. But what then? Vincenzo already said he didn't want to cause trouble, so he wouldn't try ashing Pope before they were outside the city limits.
    Unless they were desperate. Best bet would be finding his coffin, which Conner could probably ID with his occult knowledge, and then removing it ASAP. Then Vincenzo could take the coffin out of Sacramento and do whatever the Lancea wanted with it. Though Conner had some possible alternate ideas if coffin transport was unviable and they just needed the body.

    The biggest hiccup in all of this was lacking the cypher: a curious device likely using flame and glass like a precursor projector. Without it, Vincenzo's team would be fighting blind to look for the gravesite unless they'd picked up some additional leads. Maybe that's why Maxwell is buffed up; they're intercepting the Coterie now. In which case, this could get very nasty very quickly.

    Conner shakes his head. He could almost hear Rowan's voice in there, chiding him as his physical and mental senses threatened to overload.
    Focus on what is in front of you. Tomorrow's fangs won't find your throat today. Maxwell gives the 20-minute warning, and Conner nods in response. They'd done all they could to prepare, and Vincenzo's ghouls gave them a sizeable lead. It was time to make good use of it.

    As Maxwell pulls to a stop under the tree, Conner gathers his own items.
    I guess we're going on foot from here. He makes sure his weapon is sheathed under his jacket, and that the messenger bag is tight around his shoulder. After pocketing his personal phone and small Bible, he looks to Maxwell. "Ready when you are."

    PRP Stats: In Minisheet

  7. #5
    Seryna's Avatar

    Jennifer Hazelton

    The ghoul slung the backpack on his back, one radio in the side pocket. The ghoul then picked up the shotgun in his left hand and turned to look to Conner. With the second radio in his right hand, the ghoul strode off into the darkness. The two walk alongside a dark road for a few moments. What might be startling was a residential neighborhood over Conner's shoulder. There were people who had a clear view of the road into the cemetery, warm in thier beds. A clear view of the path the ghouls and Conner would have to walk to come back to the van. People were complications. Someone to call the police if an altercation became loud.

    It's 11 o'clock. You're miles outside the city in a hundred year-old cemetery you'd never heard of a week ago. The sun will be up in seven hours. Between now and then you've got to find a hidden grave, dig up the sleeping corpse of a fugitive vampire, drive him into to the city and get back to your haven with blood in your gut.
    This place is called Arkwright Cemetery. The place is huge, made up of a dozen different lots and old graveyards all closed in with a tall, snaking wall of smooth stones. You're standing on the edge of it, in the old Jewish section.

    Behind you is the narrow-rusted gate you snuck through. Sticky burrs still cling to your socks and pants from the overgrown mess outside. To your left, the cemetery stretches into a misty haze turned orange by landscape lighting. Down there it's all low-cut grass and bland slab headstones. To your right, the cemetery sprawls up a hill and disappears into the dark. Jagged headstones, leaning obelisks and moss-spotted tombs stand out against the dark ground, some of them the bright gray of dead flesh. It's still out here. Calm. It smells like wet, cut grass. Somewhere you can hear a car's distant tires glide through puddles.
    If you'd had the time you could've planned this out for real. Instead, you had one night to get ready. Had it been enough? Did Conner know where to go?

    Somewhere, Vincenzo and his ghouls were already at work in the cemetery.

    "Lead the way."
    Maxwell reminded. He was the ghoul here, after all. He took orders. Conner was going to have to make the decisions.

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  9. #6
    Conner Wells's Avatar
    Blood & Faith
    Presence
    (Earnest)
    Allies
    (Academia)
    Obfuscate
    (Mask of Tranquility)
    Eidectic Memory
    Conner Wells
    PRP Stats

    HP: 0/7 [7 Bash]
    WP: 0/2
    Vitae: 2/6

    Equipment: Reinforced Jacket, Broadsword, Messenger Bag (flashlight, pen, notepad, binoculars, duct tape), Phone, Wallet ($50 cash)
    Combat Stats

    Def: 3 (Dex; Tonfa +1)
    Armor: 1/0 (Reinforced Clothing)
    Initiative: 4
    Speed: 9

    2
    PRE

    Conner walked with Maxwell through the gate and into Arkwright Cemetery proper. He wasn't too fond of the residential neighborhood being so close, especially since Maxwell had brought one of the loudest firearms on the market. God willing, we won't need it. Thankfully though, the night was young and they were actually closer to where he wanted to go anyway.

    "Head right, up the hill." He gestures to the right pathway. If I'm right, then we'll either see where Pope is buried, or find it ourselves. "And radio Vincenzo to let him know we've arrived." He'd prefer to coordinate their efforts somehow, since they were so split up. And, depending on how big Pope was, they might need help with transport.

    As he goes up the hill, Conner is alert for any signs of danger. He's also on the lookout for any of the tells related to Ramon Lull, Freemason symbology, or the names of God that had been referenced in his research.
    1 success

    PRP Stats: In Minisheet

  10. #7
    Seryna's Avatar

    Jennifer Hazelton

    The ghoul passes Conner the radio, respectfully making an 'by all means' gesture. What could Vincenzo be up to right now? He had been moved here in the afternoon, so he had an entire hour before your arrival. Conner decides to head to Hillside Mausoleums, an area by the wall of the cemetery. This means he must walk through Sherah Israel, Waterlow Hill and Laurel Hill to reach this location. Does he pause to look over the other areas en route, or walk briskly to his destination?

    Conner walks away from the South entrance and into Sherah Israel. This is an old stretch of the cemetery without a doubt. Lots of stones here have been half-swallowed by grassy ground. Others stick out of the earth at odd angles or lay face-down in soft black soil. Plots are crammed in next to each other, huddling into the small space available in this section. A few monuments poke up above the waist-high headstones.
    What do you do?

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  12. #8
    Conner Wells's Avatar
    Blood & Faith
    Presence
    (Earnest)
    Allies
    (Academia)
    Obfuscate
    (Mask of Tranquility)
    Eidectic Memory
    Conner Wells
    PRP Stats

    HP: 0/7 [7 Bash]
    WP: 0/2
    Vitae: 2/6

    Equipment: Reinforced Jacket, Broadsword, Messenger Bag (flashlight, pen, notepad, binoculars, duct tape), Phone, Wallet ($50 cash)
    Combat Stats

    Def: 3 (Dex; Tonfa +1)
    Armor: 1/0 (Reinforced Clothing)
    Initiative: 4
    Speed: 9

    2
    PRE

    Conner takes the radio from Maxwell, hitting the button to speak into it quickly and quietly. "Vincenzo, we're here. What's your progress?" It sounded like his team had been trying to intercept the device from the Invictus Coterie. And even if they hadn't they'd likely have eliminated other potential hiding spots for Pope.

    1 success

    Conner continues heading up the hill, more focused on his path than the other gravestones. He was more interested in the Mausoleums ahead. And if he turned out to be wrong, it was faster downhill than up.

    PRP Stats: In Minisheet

  13. #9
    Seryna's Avatar

    Jennifer Hazelton

    "Progress? We're looking for the others who know where to go. I am in the Glass cemetery." Vincenzo's voice comes over the radio. "The others have moved out to try and spy the others when they enter. Where are you heading? Do you have an idea where to go from your research?"


    Conner departs from the Serah Israel area. He strides into the Waterlow Hill area. Dead brown grass crunches under your feet. A gradual sloping hill here leads down to the cemetery wall, swallowed in stark vines and weeds that practically blend with the rusting razor-wire coiled at the top. This place has seen better nights. By the looks of it this was a handsome well-tended stretch of ground once. The tombs and stones here imply
    money and bundles of rotting flower stems lay forgotten at the feet of several communal, family markers.
    A cursory look shows stones here going back at least as far as 1920. Movement attracted Conner's eye. A lone figure moved from behind one of the tombs a mere twenty feet ahead of Conner and Maxwell. The figure continues to move into the blackness, and Conner loses sight of the figure.

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  15. #10
    Conner Wells's Avatar
    Blood & Faith
    Presence
    (Earnest)
    Allies
    (Academia)
    Obfuscate
    (Mask of Tranquility)
    Eidectic Memory
    Conner Wells
    PRP Stats

    HP: 0/7 [7 Bash]
    WP: 0/2
    Vitae: 2/6

    Equipment: Reinforced Jacket, Broadsword, Messenger Bag (flashlight, pen, notepad, binoculars, duct tape), Phone, Wallet ($50 cash)
    Combat Stats

    Def: 3 (Dex; Tonfa +1)
    Armor: 1/0 (Reinforced Clothing)
    Initiative: 4
    Speed: 9

    2
    PRE

    Conner takes in Vincenzo's update: it sounded like they were having to work reactively without the cypher. Which means we'll have to play it carefully if/when the Coterie shows up. "Yes, Mausoleum Row at the peak of the hill. Pope's cypher would've worked as a crude light projector, meaning it would need some kind of glass surface for the light to react..."

    The figure just out of Conner's vision causes him to stop and cut his words short, motioning for Maxwell to follow suit. Options whirl around in Conner's mind.
    One of Vincenzo's crew? Then why didn't he make himself known? And if the Coterie isn't here yet then... That left the option of some random human in a graveyard late at night, or perhaps a long-lost Acolyte of Pope's looking to sabotage the mission. He looks to Maxwell. "Stay sharp. There's someone up here. Look for a quick, silent takedown if hostile." The Shadow wasn't looking for a fight here, but he would choose the battleground if he could help it. As they advance, Conner speaks back into the radio. "Are any of your crew on the hillside?"

    2 successes

    Conner's a touch more alert, now that he knows they aren't alone on the climb up to Mausoleum Row.

    PRP Stats: In Minisheet

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