Herald's Office Hours (4) Bianca meets the Herald and a Deputy

[Martha Villiers]

Adjusting her spectacles and leaning on her cane, Martha nodded. "Of course! Please do follow me, Miss!" Smiling gently at Bianca she began to quietly hobble heavily over towards the Meeting Chamber.

Martha hobbled along with care and gentility, but her false leg dragged a little all the same as she tried to walk with grace and elegance.

Smiling with sincere joy at her guest. Reaching into the pocket of her college blazer she pulls a set of keys. The keys are soon used to open the door to the meeting chamber before being returned to the pocket as she gently eases the door open. A graceful hand gesture invites Bianca to enter.

The meeting room itself is clean, smelling heavily of lavender and furniture polish. Wall lamps gently illuminate a room containing a polished mahogany meeting table with enough matching chairs for a dozen people and, at the long axis of the table there is a standard issue Flip-Chart is erected from the floor at the end of the table closest to the door. The front sheet is down, obscuring whatever is written within.

"Please, Miss, after you! Do find a seat and make yourself comfortable!"

Martha smiled and took position next to the Flip-Chart. Watching with wide eyes as they all settled and waited while Dillon entered and secured the door. She gently rests her cane on the table and takes up a felt marker pen from the pen tray attached to the Chart frame.

The front sheet is down, obscuring whatever is written within.

After a moment of quiet to let everyone settle, Martha carefully stood and hobbled over to take position next to the Flip-Chart.

She gently rests her cane on the table and takes up a felt marker pen from the pen tray attached to the Chart frame.

Another gentle smile is offered as she begins cheerfully' "Thank you for indulging my presentation!" she begins with positive good humor and bright eyed glee, "I usually begin with a formal introduction, so I shall not deviate from that!" she chuckles merrily, "To formally introduce myself...my name is Miss Martha Villiers." with a giggle, she adds, "As Herald, I speak with the Voice of the Alder Duke of Sacramento and Prince of this Metropolitan Domain. This may be contrary to some expectations of the office of Herald, but this is the direct Wish of His Grace, the Alder Prince. I am also Mistress Keeper of the Elysia. I have a deputy in that latter role: Bailiff Daniella Sage, she is often on patrol. I shall point her out to you if she arrives this evening..." another happy smile is offered, "Now...as you shall see, I have drawn this series of charts and notes as a presentation which is intended to make you aware of the key features of the Laws of the Domain...and also to set out a brief orientation of the hierarchy of the Domain! I am happy to take questions at the end. At the close, and after any questions. I usually end with an invitation to swear an Oath of Fealty, but we have already done so!" she smiles again. The wide blue eyes happily fall on Bianca...Martha smiles playfully to Dillon too before turning her attentions back to the Chart.

"You must understand, Miss, we aim to help secure a safe Domain. A Domain where we can all flourish and prosper! Now, I there is much to absorb, so I shall try to be concise..." and she launches into a friendly presentation, turning each charts with gentility. Lingering long enough on each chart before turning them over so each can be read without haste.

Martha doesn't repeat or read out all there is to see on each chart. Feeling that such activity would be superfluous and tedious.

Chart 1

The Traditions

Keep The Three Traditions in full.

Breaking the Masquerade shall incur the Prince's displeasure.
The Prince: has exclusive Right to Permit Embracing Childer
Regnants are responsible for their Thralls and Childer.
Those who have committed the Amaranth are NOT welcome

Chart 2

Presentation & Acknowledgement

Any Kindred entering the Domain have Two Weeks to present themselves to the Prince, His Seneschal or His Herald

Prisci may take full responsibility for one of their own. Presentation is then deferred until the next Court.

Only Acknowledged may Hunt in the Domain

Chart 3

The Blood Hunt

Only the Prince, or His Seneschal, shall call a Blood Hunt.

Treason - is thus: violation of allegiance toward His Grace, His Property or His Will. Acts of waging war actively or passively, or aiding His Enemies.

Chart 4

Etiquette

Kindred shall show their Respect by appearing at Court.

Failing to appear to two successive Courts invalidates Acknowledged status.

The Alder Duke places a properly high value on good manners at Court

Chart 5

None shall harass His Grace, the Duke

Should any find themselves in His Presence: keep a respectful distance, approach only when invited to do so by His Grace

The only exception shall be if His Grace finds himself under duress. Then all Kindred should render swift aid.

Only His Grace shall decide whom is bound by Blood Vinculum

It is Forbidden to use Powers of the Blood in the Elysian Fields - excepting the Mask of Tranquillity and in the defense of the Elysia, Officers of Court or with prior permission

Chart 6

Feeding

None shall Feed upon, Ghoul, Kill, or otherwise harass, the following:-

* Law Enforcement
* Firefighters
* EMTs
* Hospital Employees

Chart 7 - is a flow chart and organ-a-gram

Alder Prince: His Grace, Alder Asa Clarke, Duke of Sacramento
Royal Archon: Alder Judex Twist
Seneschal: Regent Ariana Donovan
Harpy: Madam Alice Brown
Herald & Keeper: Miss Martha Villiers
Bailiff: Daniella Sage
Reeve: Regent Conner Greyson
Deputies: Sidor Grigoriev, Dillon Connery, Lance Rayner, Ricardo Rodriguez, Tracy Burns

Regent (F) Ariana Donovan and Conner Greyson
Regent (RM) vacant
Regent (CH) Dr Erika Brady
Regent (V): vacant
Regent (SS) Roxie Hart

(Martha has added here a Flip Sheet showing a fairly detailed sketch map of the Domain boundaries to this chart for clarity as per this: ( http://nwod.org/wiki/index.php/Vampire_Subinfeudation )

Here Martha speaks again, cheerfully adding; "To dwell in certain areas of the Domain, one must secure the right to do so from that zone's Regent. The Regent's hold the right of control of a municipal zone from the Alder Prince. They control the activity therein and award the right for Tenancy and Feeding as they see fit." pointing to each sketched zone on the map with her pen, "Here, you see the Regency of Roxy Hart..." the pen marks out the zone shown, "Here is the zone of Dr Erica Brady...she is most beautiful and most intelligent! This zone is under the joint control of the Regents Donovan and Greyson. The others zones..." she traces those too with the pen, "are vacant of Regents, but they now fall under the direct control of the Alder Prince." a happy, friendly, smile. "Each Regent is free to make their own compact with you, should you elect to approach one of them for Tenancy and Feeding rights. Some may require a service to be performed to win the Right of Tenancy. However, by having Acknowledgement, you are free to reside within the Communal Zone and Feed in these areas. Ah...but I am sensitive to the pressure our expanding population may eventually have upon the mortal population in the Communal Zone. So I encourage you to make a compact with either myself or the Seneschal. The Regents have had enough newly arrived Kindred directed their way for the moment and the Feeding pressure will need to be distributed somewhat evenly. While the Acknowledgement offered here tonight and the benefits of it will stand, the Feeding pressure may stimulate more questions than can be safely risked by the Masquerade. I do urge caution!" a cheery smile. "It is worth noting the limits and area of the Alder Prince's private Rack. Thus..." and here she identifies on the sketch the rough area of the Prince's Rack (the patch of area under the 'AME' of Sacramento on the map linked above), "Here the Alder Prince controls and exercises direct Feeding Rights in this area, which is within the Communal Feeding Zone." she adds...

"This personal Rack is an area encompassed roughly north of West Street and Capitol City Freeway; east of 5th Street; west from 29th Street and south from J Street...that is the Rack. The precise area is marked on a map I have here..." and she taps her blazer pocket briefly before carrying on, "This Rack is a Royal Domain and Feeding Rights within that are highly protected." a happy smile. "The rest of the Communal Zone is exactly that: open to all."

Chart 8

The Elysian Fields

NB: Unless with prior permission, it is Forbidden to use Powers of the Blood or carry weapons into each Elysium

The Elysian Fields in this Domain are:-

* The Avalon nightclub
* The Reverence nightclub
* The Ember nightclub
* The Ballo Della Notte Theater

Chart 9

Covenants

Carthian Movement: position vacant
Circle of the Crone: Hierophant David Silver
Invictus: Judex Twist
Lancea Sanctum: Bishop Sidor Grigoriev
Ordo Dracul: Grand Wyrm Max Heinz

Prisci

Daeva: Judex Twist
Gangrel: Dillon Connery
Mekhet: Conner Greyson
Nosferatu: Sidor Grigoriev
Ventrue: Ariana Donovan

As Martha gently turns the last chart over, she pauses and turns all the charts back to the start. Placing the pen back to its tray on the frame and nodding to Bianca as she smiles, her twin tails bob with her energy. Martha clasps her hands behind her back. "Well, I have spoken enough for the moment! Do not worry. I realize this is a lot of information to absorb in one sitting, so these charts will be here for your consultation should you wish to refresh your memory of their contents at a later date! I hope that was useful. Do you have any immediate questions, Miss?" she asked cheerfully.

[Martha Villiers]

Watching Bianca closely and with a friendly gaze, Martha smiles and nods. "Quite simply, Miss, anyone who opposes the Prince's rule in thought, word or deed, is likely to be judged to be an enemy. We spare little mercy for such opposition. Or rather, mercy is not a quality we recognize when faced with treason." she nods carefully. Clearly wishing to gently get across the idea that opposition has always failed in the past. "We have several matters of security that require attention. I would ask that you speak with the Reeve to address those. If, upon acknowledgement, you are eager to contribute to the security of the Domain...and such is often a path to recognition...then certainly speak with the Reeve. The Reeve and his cadre of Deputies...along with myself as Keeper and the Bailiff...all work closely to patrol the highways and byways of the Domain. We also look to the vigilance of those Acknowledged Kindred to help with patrols and remark upon things the see which seem unusual. No one is ever rebuked for passing on information. No matter how trivial it may seem. As the motto goes: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." a gentle smile again. Martha adjusts her spectacles once more.

"As to the matter of the Carthians: they are welcome...providing they come in peace and cause no trouble. Mostly they seem to be more trouble to each other, than provoke restlessness within this Domain. Many have travelled through the Domain. None have lingered for too long. Besides, those who lingered for any time appeared to shift their allegiance to another Covenant." she shrugs. Martha's shrug may convey that: if she gives the Carthians any thought at all, she seemed content with this pattern of behavior. Who was she to complain?

[Dillon Connery]

Dillon merely quirks an eyebrow at the grouping of the questions, from his post by the door. He wonders if that is just sheer irony, or it is actually Bianca's progression of thought. Other than the eyebrow, though, there is little else that moves his expression beyond his normal smile. A smile which is little more than a smirk, but lopsided and friendly. And maybe it gets a tad bigger when Martha adjusts her little glasses.

Perhaps he could have offered an encouraging word regarding the Carthians, in the form of Lance Rayner... He'd watched the man become a Deputy, and then Ariana's personal bodyguard, all while Prefect.

Then he dropped the Covenant like a bad habit, and disappeared.

Wherever you're at, be careful.

He had also earned the benefit of the doubt regarding his loyalty, as far as Dillon is concerned.

But instead of giving the name of one worthwile Carthian, the Gangrel remains politely silent. Until such time as a question is posed to him, or he sees where he may offer assistance.

[Martha Villiers]

A gentle smile. "Ah...I am certain you won't be a burden! But...His Eminence...that is a title usually reserved for a cardinal. The Duke, the Prince of this Domain, is usually referred to as His Grace or His Majesty." another happy smile to show this is information, not rebuke. "To obtain Tenancy you may negotiate with me. Those who have obtained the right to reside in the Regency have usually done so through earning it by providing some service to the Domain." Martha plays a moment with her spectacles. "It might be too soon to negotiate...you ought to settle into the Domain...meet your fellow Kindred! But, for the sake of discussion...what would your ideal project or service to the Domain be?" a happy smile. Martha, sharing a smile with Dillon and Bianca, seems very keen to help and talk.

[Martha Villiers]

Martha listened carefully and rubbed at her prosthetic knee as she did so, though taking care to ensure her long gymslip didn't expose the mechanical joints. Nodding in various agreements with Bianca's overall agenda, her twin tails bobbed along.

"That all sounds splendid, Miss! I would recommend that you speak with the Harpy and the Seneschal and also Deputy Tracy Burns, Miss Catherine Keys and Mr Chase Ankers too with these social schemes you have in mind. They may, in their own ways, help expand your insights into the local social scenes. A most interesting project! I will enjoy being kept up to date about how it advances for you!" a happy smile is offered and she claps her hands in a brief moment to express her delight at hearing Bianca aims to be active, not idle.