Chapter Two: The Rot Beneath Triangulate

[Seryna]

Kindred who were in attendance at Court were privy to the following information.
A relatively unknown Kindred shared that he has been attacked in the Domain.

“The Kindred who attacked me was female, and beautiful. She was very strong. The attack was two blocks south west from here.”

Those who were interested and moved to the area two blocks southwest of Elysium would find an interesting tag of three circles within a triangle sprayed on the wall. Yet was alarming was the occult and Clan coveted knowledge of occult markings representing Clan Daeva and Clan Gangrel were scrawled on the brick alley wall in black Sharpie marker. Someone with knowledge of Kindred was making a sign here. A Kindred stands in the shadows. A glance reveals him to be Farnsworth.

[Otto Schneider]

As Reeve, Otto Schneider had a multitude of duties to attend to in the name of Domain security. Though he was loath to flex his authority unless he truly needed it, he had to admit that being able to invoke the Prince's name as part of an investigation was very useful. No Kindred that wanted to live long (or at least in polite society) was going to do anything to obstruct one of the Prince's agents.

And so the Ventrue Priscus found himself working to track down information on a supposed assault on a member of the Domain by some other Kindred. He wasn't sure whether it was more concerning that this might be related to an existing investigation, or that there was unrelated incidence of violence amongst the Damned. A few pointed conversations with local Kindred had pointed him to where he now found himself, a few blocks southwest of Elysium itself.

The markings nearly put him in a fury. One potential breach of the Masquerade thwarted, and now this? His temper wasn't helped by the flaring of his Beast urging him to strike out and attack the nearby figure. He settled for caustic language. "You." Otto jabbed a finger as he approached the other man. "I want an explanation for why I find you at a potential crime scene with this kind of imagery around. Explain yourself or Her Grace will hear of it immediately."

[Seryna]

"I am awaiting being questioned by you, Sir." The man doffs a respectful nod. As they were in public where a Kine may walk upon them or spy upon them, this may be the most respect that the relatively unknown Kindred feels is appropriate.

"I remain frightened of what I discover on the wall."

His eyes widen. His skin, already naturally pale, blanches at Otto's words. It was clear that the Ventrue had been wise enough to Blush for this excursion, for the stolen blood flushing his skin gives him the allusion of respiration and fear.

""I did not do that!!" The Kindred insists in a shocked gasp.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-06-01 06:43:04	Storyteller rolls 5 to Persuasion (10 Again)	5, 3, 1, 3, 5	failure

The Kindred attempts to make himself sound honest. However, his obvious fear foils his attempt. Otto can see that the Kindred appears honestly afraid. Otto naturally observes the area and sees that for now, no one appears to observe the two Kindred.

"I found that tonight."

[Otto Schneider]

The Reeve was starting to become perturbed by the frequency with which his own Clan was becoming involved with dangerous matters. First Mr. Jake and now this one. The other Kindred's apparent fear amused Otto at first though he maintained his impassive expression. "Get a grip on yourself and speak at a regular volume." His tone was barely above a stage whisper, but it was clearly a command rather than a request. Nothing good would come from shouting in public.

"Basic questions, to start." Information was vital but it would also help him gauge the truthfulness of the Lord in front of him. "When did you find it? Was anyone else with you?" The Reeve took a few steps closer to the relative stranger, not enough to be truly intimidating but it would at least make communicating easier. Otto turned his head to keep an eye out for anyone who might be lurking nearby. "If this," he jabbed a finger at the scrawlings of Clan symbols, "is a sign of a larger problem, I must know of it."

[Seryna]

"I do not want to be accused of breaking... the law." The Ventrue states quietly. "None of this is my doing. This is where I was when I was attacked. That was not here, then."

"Just about ten minutes ago. No, I do not have any ties here. I would think..." The Ventrue steps forward and looks over the occult symbols. He tries to use his body to block the symbols. "Yes, yes."
He nods slightly.
"This looks like a code that members of our Club use to communicate. Although these symbols are much too ... bold... for this locale. It suggests that the Rose and the Savages are here. I think this,"

He indicates the imagery that was not a part of the occult symbol that linked the circles within the triangle. "- this means something. It is a code that is not a part of any codified language for traveling club members. I would think that its a personal sign to a smaller group. A clique, one may say."
A look to Otto.

"It looks like a Clique is communicating here where I was attacked."

[Diana Warren]

The night air hung heavy in the alley, carrying the scents of wet concrete, old brick, and the countless secrets that the city buried after sundown. She moved with the effortless confidence of someone accustomed to prowling after dark—black cap pulled low over dark hair, the blue emblem catching the weak glow of a flickering streetlamp. Her cropped black athletic top bore the same mark across the chest, leaving her midriff exposed to the cool air. Gray-and-white tie-dye joggers and black sneakers completed the look: practical, unassuming, the clothing of someone who could blend into a crowd or vanish down a back street without a second glance.


Then she saw them.


Two Kindred stood in the center of the alley, locked in a conversation that had long since crossed into an argument. Their voices were quiet, but every word carried the weight of a threat. Neither raised their voice. They did not need to. The tension between them was the sort born from centuries of pride, old grudges, and the knowledge that violence was always only a heartbeat away.


But it was the wall behind them that made her stop.


The brick had been marked with deliberate symbols, not the frantic scrawl of mortal graffiti. Three circles were painted in a precise arrangement, joined by a single triangle—an occult design that suggested purpose, a ritual, or a message left for those who knew how to read it.


Beside them were two marks no Kindred would mistake.


The sigil of the Gangrel.


The sigil of the Daeva.


Not merely a warning. Not random vandalism. A declaration.


Her fingers brushed the brim of her cap as her expression hardened. A feud between two Kindred was one thing. A confrontation taking place beneath the symbols of two Clans was another entirely. Whether the markings represented an accusation, a truce, a ritual, or the opening move in some ancient game of politics, she knew one thing immediately:


She had stumbled into something far older and more dangerous than a simple alleyway argument.

[Otto Schneider]

"Good." Otto replied tersely as he mulled over the information. "Prompt answers show you're at least paying some attention. Start considering how you can cover up this 'graffiti.'" The word seemed to carry a measure of venom in it. "Not right away, I need to inspect it. But be prepared to remove it." The Priscus approached the scrawls to inspect them more closely, only for a nauseating sense of hatred to wash over him as he took a quick glance at the other end of the alleyway.

The Reeve whipped around as his Beast directed his attention to a new presence he hadn't felt before. Kindred, obviously, but weaker and unknown. That at least meant that there wasn't a kine gawking at them, but he certainly didn't like being snuck up on. He glared at the other Ventrue with a look that seemed to say, 'I'll deal with you in a moment,' before turning on his heels and approaching the woman.

"Who in God's name are you?" Otto demanded. "Because I've never seen you before, much less met you. And as you might have guessed, we're having a very sensitive conversation right now." He eyes seemed to bore into her, as if he was trying with all his might to stare through her flesh and into the soul beneath.

Would Frenzy Rolls be appropriate, given the characters have never met before and we're outside of Elysium?

[Seryna]

No, a frenzy roll is not required, yet the reaction of the Beasts should be roleplayed

The Ventrue that had not risen above to any status unobtrusively moves away from Otto and the unknown Kindred to the corner of the alley. He has found some shadows to stand in. He opens his phone and begins looking up some paint solvent results.

[Diana Warren]

Diana held her ground as the other Kindred’s attention snapped toward her. The force of his glare was palpable, the weight of authority and suspicion pressing against her like a physical thing. For a brief moment she studied him, noting the rigid posture, the sharpness in his voice, and the unmistakable confidence of a Kindred accustomed to being obeyed. Immediately regretting her wardrobe choices this evening.


She was absolutely rigid for a moment. The coiling of the snake before the strike. The beast snapping, snarling, and raging inside to quell the threat now….


She dipped her head respectfully, though not submissively.


"My apologies," she said evenly. "That was not my intention." The words were stiff in her throat. The beast did not win but the effort was noted.


Her gaze flicked briefly toward the other Ventrue before returning to Otto.


"My name is Diana. I arrived in Sacramento recently and have already been acknowledged by the head of our social club." The statement was delivered calmly, as a simple fact rather than a challenge. "I was making my rounds and happened upon your conversation. When I realized who was present, I thought it best to announce myself rather than continue standing unnoticed."


The Gangrel folded her hands behind her back, maintaining a respectful distance. A safe distance from her claws ripping out his throat so she could watch his vocal cords vibrate in the sinew.


"I assure you, I have no interest in intruding upon sensitive matters. If this discussion is private, I can leave immediately." A faint smile touched her lips. "Though I suspect disappearing after startling you would make a worse impression than introducing myself."


She met Otto's stare without flinching, confidence tempered by courtesy.

[Otto Schneider]

Something was off. At first, Otto had thought that this strange Kindred was a thin-blooded lesser, but that seemed wrong. He had become accustomed to his Beast lashing out in anger at less potent Vampires or cowering before the Prince. He had almost forgotten the acute sensation of being confronted by someone whose Vitae had the same depth. Curious.

Strike.

He stared for a few moments, taking in the newcomer that he had nearly written off as one more face in the crowd. Clearly, he had misjudged her.

A threat. Kill it.

The snarling, blustering id that clawed at the rational part of his brain was an insistent annoyance, but one that the Reeve had grown accustomed to tamping down on. It wasn't enough to simply ignore it, a Kindred had to remind that darker impulse that it was subservient to the thinking part of the mind. Which, in this instance, meant specifically going against its 'advice.'

"A new arrival." He let the words stand on their own for a moment. And yet I didn't know of it. Perhaps a flicker of frustration crossed the man's features, but he didn't say anything more on the topic. "If you're already formally a part of the club, then there is no issue." He gave a shallow, but not overly brief nod; it was the kind of gesture extended to any Kindred who had been properly Acknowledged.

The Priest had a bemused look on his face as he gestured towards his lesser Cousin. "Actually, I'd be curious to hear your opinion. We were just discussing some rather distressing street art." Still keeping an eye out for any other potential newcomers, particularly kine, he cocked his head towards the Clan sigils. "Please, I'd welcome a fresh perspective on what you see. It's not as though this particular spot is a secret to the rest of the club." The Ventrue kept his arm outstretched a vaguely welcoming gesture, though his eyes remained locked on Diana at that point.

Show me you're worth more than this disappointing excuse for a Lord.

OOC: Some day I'll be consistent about remembering to include my Equipment...

Equipment

Smartphone, $200 in cash, antique rosary