Outside the Chapter House

[DaevaDude]

ST Note: The timeline between related events (the fight in the Chapter House, O-Yama's disappearance and the investigation of same, etc.) might be a tiny bit wonky here, but I'm pulling some things together for dramatic purposes and int he interest of moving plot forward.

Narration:

Wondering at Arnold and Ishani's failure to respond to calls for assistance, Asa arrives at the Ordo Dracul Chapter House. As he pulls up he hears a loud sound from within the House, which he recognizes as the sound of a shotgun blast.

[West]

"Keep the car running," Asa instructs Olivette, getting out of the car with single-minded purpose. With grim determination, he runs toward the Chapter House, pushing Blood into his body, strengthening and toughening it.

SPD: 14 | DEF: 2 | Armor 2/3 | Vitae: 9

[Jmiland1]

Gideon was in repose in the back seat, Adams driving the Audi back from the office, musing over the meal he'd just had. She had been a reluctant vessel, but the offer of free legal service for her husband was just too much of an incentive. She would be a good one to keep around--and perhaps he could find a use for her husband, once he was cleared.
And he would be cleared, oh yes. Gideon was quite sure of that.
But his reverie is interrupted as the car turns the corner and heads towards the Chapter House, revealing three things that were of great interest to Gideon: one, there were more vehicles than usual parked outside, indicating some meeting going on without his knowledge; two, Headstrong's motorcycle was among the motley, so clearly she was involved somehow; and three, the Prince--or a suitable doppelganger--was sprinting across their lawn. This is not something one sees every night, and it takes Gideon a moment to issue his commands.
"Pull in close and park," he says to Adams. "Keep watch in case we need to retreat." As the car comes to a stop he steps out, stands, and begins walking towards the House--feeling a curiosity about events inside, and a fear towards same.

[Twist]

Twist pulled her keys out of her car and stepped outside onto the parking lot of the grindhouse, a small frown on her face. She had seen Asa running toward the Chapter House but didn't follow suit.

Mostly because she wasn't sure why she was here. She was nearly positive that O-Yama wasn't here. And while the fact that Ishani and others had not answered their phones worried her, she had enough confidence in them to know they didn't need her running to their rescue.

But she didn't know where else to go. O-Yama had never replied to her text. A worrisome thing with multiple possible meanings. And while she had a number of skills under her belt- tracking missing kindred was not one of them.

Not bothering to erase her frown she headed after Asa, toward the doors of the Chapter House.

*Lately I've been here enough to think I should be Dracul.*

[Ishani]

Ishani bursts out the front door, prepared to run for her car, when she notices others standing outside. Screeching to a halt, she looks at them with near wild eyes for a moment before realizing who she is looking at.

"We have a bit of a situation inside and they might be coming out." She says in warning.

[West]

Asa didn't hear Ishani's words at first, and took a few moments to calm himself as he stopped running.

"What's happening?" Asa asked, seeing Culler and a stranger also. "Where's Rahyna?" He wasn't sure who the stranger was, or how he was involved, but Ishani and Arnold seemed to be fine with him.

He needed to hear what had happened here, so that he could prioritize and delegate between this and O-Yama. Whatever was going on here, unless it was connected with the LN, would probably have to wait. It had been months since the LN attack, and they had made no headway -- and O-Yama's disappearance might be their first real lead.

[Ishani]

Ishani begins to talk, her words coming fast. "Rahyna asked me to go into the lower levels to help her take a look at the libraries. Culler called and I invited him here to help as well. We went down and got attacked by these scaley armored creatures who can apparently hide themselves like we can. Rahyna went down. She's gone."

Her voice catches in her throat as she says this, but she pushes the emotion aside and moves on. "We found him," she points to Boris, "and Headstrong upstairs fighting the same creatures. We told them it was time to go since we were very out-numbered. Headstrong said she was right behind us, she was fending them off so we could get out. She may be in a lot of trouble right now. I need to go back in and get her."

Without a response, Ishani turns to head back into the building.

[Premsyl]

Arnold allows Ishani to explain, she was doing a good enough job of it, and he doesn't interject anything until she mentions going in after Headstrong - then he speaks up. "Please, Madame Naetesh, let me go in after her. I'll make sure that she makes it out."

He hopes that she will stop, that she'll allow him to take care of the dangerous work. He cannot presume to tell Ishani what to do, however. He turns and heads back for the building, himself.

[Ishani]

Ishani stops suddenly and looks at Arnold, opening her mouth to argue. Then she steps back and lets him move ahead or her.

He is the Reeve now, not you.

She looks at Asa, and waits for further instructions since she's told him and the others what is going on.