(Thorned Ten) Corpses - abundant. Need answers

[Matamune]

Forn Clakes , FrereSebastian , ErlangShen

The call

A note was posted in the private area of the Nox the night before:

Good evening, fellow Kindred

For those of you willing to take on an assignment on short notice, there is a chance to better the situation in Florin for our kind and gain privileges in the Regency.

If interested, please come to *address* at midnight.

Michael Redfill, Regent of Florin

The house

The neighbourhood Redfill has summoned everyone to isn't the best one. Then again, no Vampire-occupied neighbourhood is. This one isn't gang-crazy like South Sacramento. Neither it is the endless feast of drug-addled partying and sweaty sex that is Downtown. Instead, it is dark. As the arriving Kindred make their way through Florin they will notice street-lights flickering from disrepair, huddled shapes motionless in the alleys. The rich driving by quickly in their cars. The poor and disenfranchised sticking to the shadows.

It is a place of darkness and secrets, where the air seems to cling to your skin and mansions are like gnarled trees spurting through the ground between the more normal dwellings. It might look different during the day but it's not something any Kindred will ever see with their own eyes.

The house Ablution occupies is pretty much the personification of the neighbourhood. Months before it had been in a state of horrible disrepair but time, effort and money have done their job. It now looms over the street, its white walls stark against the darkness. There is a fence: a thing of black metal with pointed tops. The gate is open.

The paved road leading to the door has rose bushes on either side, the plants are in full bloom but they are more wild and untamed than one would normally expect. The wind flutters by, carrying on it the scent of flowers and dereliction and a tree creaks softly.

Tonight, you are welcome.

[Michael Redfill]

Michael waits, motionless, by the door. In his immaculate dark suit he looks more like a some sort of sentinel statue than a man. He doesn't look in front of him, instead he gazes upward, where the stars shine.

He doesn't need to look. He'll feel them coming.

[Michael Redfill]

Forn Clakes , get in on the action

OOC

Narration states that Mike is by the door, gazing upwards at the stars. He's outside.

Okay, maybe I've overdone this silent sentinel thing.

"Hello".

Even if they were completely oblivious to his presence before, now his Beast is felt: a powerful, angry wolf roars inside him at the challengers. For there's no Court crap to be had at Ablution's Haven and Protean protects him perfectly from the traitorous fear.

The Regent looks at the two Kindred before him, taking in their appearance. Mattimeo he had seen before - a man who arrived at Court at a very bad time. Still, he had the common sense to do as he was told... There are some bridges to be mended: the powerbase is important. The other one he doesn't know but it's something to be remedied:

"I am Michael Redfill. Is anyone you know of coming or should we go inside", - he gestures at the impresive-looking double wooden doors behind him, covered in shadow.

[Edwin Bridges]

Catching a cab also, Edwin exited outside the house with a wry smile. The breeze this evening brought fortuitous scents and Edwin wondered if luck would indeed be on his side. He really needed to gain Tenancy with one of the Regents, and getting on Redfill's good side would set the Lord up for some time.

Basically, he had a lot to prove.

Wearing the usual faded jeans, black boots, and a black Guns & Roses tee, covered by an open leather jacket. His sunglasses were hanging from his tee, knocking against his chest with each step as he approached the house and went up the stairs to the kindred, all of whom Edwin recognized from the latest Court, the one where the Prince had gone all Claws n' Carnage. Still, he didn't actually know them personally, and when his Beast started to emo-scream in his mind, Edwin faltered slightly but covered it by stopping and leaning on the stone handrails.

"Sorry I'm late, overslept," he joked, his husky voice floating to the trio waiting. "Edwin Bridges, ready to help any way I can."

[Matamune]

A note: Redfill's Aspect of the Predator is on, as stated in his signature and last post. It means that if your BP is higher you still get a challenge reaction, not the slaughter reaction. Moreover, Predator's Taint doesn't work in degrees. If you have two Kindred in front of you and both have lower BP, you can't accurately tell which one of the two is weaker/stronger. It's something to remember (we sometimes deviate from this a bit but it's mostly a matter of self-conviction - when your character knows that a Kindred is a powerful Elder they prortray them as more powerful in their head - than a mechanic).