Back to the Chapter House

[Premsyl]

Arnold prepares to venture back downstairs, as that seems to be their course. He would be happy for the chance to finish what was started. He would need to feed, and soon, but with all the other Kindred here he wouldn't need to go all out and feeding could wait. Anyway, he might still snag up one of the nasties. Ishani was right that it wasn't the most appetizing prospect, but times of conflict call for things that weren't always pleasent.

He looks to Headstrong, and then the Prince - waiting on the order to go.

[West]

"Let's do it, then," Asa said, following the Reeve and Headstrong, and ignoring Jackson. There was too much to do, and too little time for banter.

He glanced briefly at Twist -- had he not been so focused on the task at hand, he would have found her silence since arriving odd. He would later realize he had never seen her so... quiet.

Asa found Ishani's eyes and smiled slightly, keeping his eyes on hers, rather than looking at the scratches on her face. He touched her hand with his briefly, and headed in.

[Premsyl]

Arnold walks back downstairs and throws the lock on the door. "They're through here, everyone ready." he says over his shoulder quietly.

He waits a moment until he's satisfied that everyone is prepared and then he opens up the door, poised to catch anything suddenly coming through.

[Ishani]

Ishani nods to Asa, letting him go ahead of her down the stairs. She wants to tell him to get the hell out and let them deal with it, but she does not want him to know she doubts his fighting ability. Not that her's was the best, but she had not seen him fight since the nights in the pit of the Grindhouse.

Guess now is as good a time as any to see what he can do. She decides. Even if he goes down, we all will get him out of here intact.

This last thought is more refelex then belief and she wonders for a moment if that was really the case. Would they fight to get him out, or leave him there in the hope of taking the seat for themselves?

She decides now is not the time to consider it and nods at Arnold.

[Jayant Nagaraj]

As Jayant enters minus one Hierophant, he smiles to Jackson and then realizes he is in the company of the city's main players, as well as several he knew not as well.

Prince Clarke, Hound Twist, Reeve Culler and Priscus Naetesh. What have I walked in on?

He bows his head to them before speaking.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. May I assist in any way?"

[Ishani]

Ishani looks over at Jayant without waiting for the others to respond to his question first and nods. "Yeah. Get out your weapon and prepare to kick some scaley ass."

[Jayant Nagaraj]

Upon hearing his Priscus' words, Jayant had to fight back the biggest grin spreading across his face to maintain a demeanour of 'stoic bodyguard'. He was finding it quite difficult but, alas, he does uptight quite well.

Drawing his khukri, Jayant replies to Ishani quite simply.

"As you wish."

[DaevaDude]

ST Note: Pete enters from "Outside the Chapter House"

An unfamiliar individual enters the Chapter House through the front door, walking past Jackson. His fingers end in long, obviously unnatural claws.

"Pete Vedderman, I'm reporting in. Someone's expecting me. What the hell is going on? And for the record, this is really NOT the best welcoming I've ever had."

He does not see anyone in his immediate presence other than the human holding a shotgun, who stands out of his way. "They have gone elsewhere. The Prince is among them, so if I might be so bold, you might wish to show a somewhat more respectful attitude should you choose to join them."

[DaevaDude]

Narration:

When Arnold opens the door, nothing rushes out Some skittering noises can be heard from somewhere down below, echoing up the stairs.

As before, the stairs are dark, the lights not functioning down there. The light from the library dimly lights the stairway itself, but at the bottom it is all but completely dark, nothing visible but the damaged doorway to the previously-secret sanctum of the Chapter House.

Once again, Arnold, Headstrong and Ishani experience a sense of there being something wrong as they look down the stairs. Asa, Twist, Gideon, Boris and Jayant experience the same sensation as they approach or come near the doorway... an indefinable sense of something being uncomfortably out of kilter.