Cemetery Gates

[Campanella]

It was raining again. A short, light, shower. Barely rain. A tease considering the rains that had just come, and a promise of more in the future. Campanella didn't mind; it certainly didn't stop him as he walked with calm efficiency toward the mausoleum. The building gleamed white after the rains, tucked away in the heart of the Masonic Lawn Cemetery and screened from view by the stand of trees that had grew up around the building on three sides. To complete his disguise he was carrying a wreath in one hand; he intended to use it as well, even though he had no idea who lay within.

Campanella, Moros Councillor, had felt it somehow fitting. Out in the middle of one of the city's largest mortuary complexes and hidden by the landscape. Would unwanted eyes see them, or unwanted ears hear? It was perfect.

He checked his smart phone one last time, reviewing the burst of recent communications. There was another Awakened in town. A Moros. Someone by the name of Chariot.

Why wait?

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-04-14 18:11:36		Campanella to cast Shielding rote rolls 10 to Intelligence + Occult + Order Rote spec + Matter - Spell Tolerance (10 Again)		7, 4, 10, 10, 5, 9, 10, 10, 1, 5, 7, 6, 2, 5		5 successes
2017-04-14 18:10:31		Campanella to cast Sight Rote rolls 7 to Wits + Occult + Order Rote Spec + Prime (10 Again)		6, 4, 6, 2, 5, 10, 7, 6		1 success

A thrill shivered through him as he reached the mausoleum, rainwater dripping lightly from its eaves.

Who would Chariot be?
Macavity

[Macavity]

Chariot had been drilled enough in his training to never show up on time if you can manage it. It's always better to show up early to a first time meeting where the location was chosen by the other party, so you could scope out the landscape and sight lines. Because of those lessons, Chariot had spent the last half-hour cooling his heels under an umbrella while he waited for Councilor Campanella to arrive. When he saw the man bearing the wreath he took the time to finish wiping down a waist-high marble skeleton holding a lamb (Olivia Parker Larose; "So Dearly Loved"; June 22, 1987 - May 23, 1989) before pocketing the towel and peeling off to follow him towards the mausoleum where they had arranged to meet.

"Sure is an impressive one," he starts, gesturing with one hand to indicate the landscape they were meeting in. "Obviously means a lot to a lot of people. Sorry if I'm intruding, but I'm looking for someone called Campanella. That wouldn't be you by chance, would it?" He extends a gloved hand towards to other gentleman in greeting.

[Campanella]

Campanella turned to the voice. His coat snagged, caught in a sudden gust that rattled the dripping trees.

"Yes. Must be a family plot. Plenty of money behind it and looks like its still in use. Which is good. Its such a shame when these places fall into neglect and disrepair."

He kept his answer open; he could be discussing either question, or both. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"You must be... Chariot?"

[Macavity]

"Yeah-yes." His extended hand clenches slightly at the empty air between them before Chariot brings a fist up and thumps it over his heart.

The man hasn't, strictly speaking, actually admitted to being the Campanella he had come to meet. The Mexican Standoff stuff wasn't his favorite thing about being one of the Wise.

[Campanella]

A knowing smile quirked at Campanella's lips.

"Campanella. Councillor." He inclined his head formally.

He paused for a beat - and a breath.

"Sorry if I appear brusque but our Consilium is at war. Can't be too careful." He didn't elaborate; not yet. Instead he made a play of setting down the wreath.

"Tell me about yourself, Chariot." The wording may have been direct but the intonation made it sound like an invitation. Their brief messages had not allowed for much explanation.

[Macavity]

"It's okay Councillor, I'm a Talon. I'm used to brusque." As Campanella sets down the wreath, he moves his umbrella over the older man to shield him from the rain.

"I'm pretty straightforward. No family to speak of. I enjoy working with my hands, I like cars..." He makes a gesture that is meant to convey that it is what it was. "You ever spent much time in rural Indiana?"

[Campanella]

"Rural Indiana? No. I am East Coast. From D.C." He did not elaborate if that was where he Awakened or where that is from where he hailed. In many ways, it was moot.

"Talon? An Arrow then."

He traced a line under his nose with a finger, thinking quickly.

"You will want to speak with Avis, when she is available. She is an Arrow as well; member of the Veiled Threats Cabal."

He gave the other man an appraising look.

"You like cars... I take it you have an interest in the workings of Matter?"

[Macavity]

"Yeah, well I don't know about D.C. but there's not a lot of future in the slice of Indiana I come from, unless you consider a meth addiction and loosing all your teeth a 'future'." Chariot doesn't, by his tone of voice. "Worked with what I had, kept my nose to the grindstone, minded my own business. The Arrow gave me some needed direction after my Awakening." He wouldn't call it an uncommon story, except for the parts with magic.

He gives Campanella a quick nod of understanding at his direction. "Yessir, I'll introduce myself to the First Talon when the First Talon has time for me."

Chariot looks at Campanella, trying to figure out where he was going with his last question. "Yeah? I mean, I'm a Moros," he finally answers curiously. "I'm interested in Death too. Did you know there was an estimated forty-thousand car related deaths in this country alone last year? Highest since oh-seven."

[Campanella]

The Moros Councillor blinks.

"No. No I did not know that. A car is just a car to me; a conveyance." He chuckled and shrugged. "That must be an interesting coincidence for you then, what with your interest in cars and walking the Path of Doom."

His eyes returned to the wreath.

"My interests lie with Matter, mostly. If you have an interest in pursuing the gross and the subtle I will not stand in your way. It lends balance to our Path. Given what we face you may find your talents in much demand. As both an Arrow and a Moros."

Campanella let a weight settle into his last remarks. He knew from reputation and lore that Death magics could be particularly devastating when used well.

"What do you see yourself doing here? Apart from the conflict with the enemies of the Pentacle? Do you see yourself as having a goal or a niche? Something I can assist you with, perhaps?" He faced Chariot, abruptly changing the tone of their conversation.

[Macavity]

Chariot lays a hand upon the mausoleum when Campanella comments on how interesting he finds the intersection of his Path and intrests. "I'd say it's sad more than anything." He doesn't elaborate.

"And that's very kind of you Sir," he adds, not exactly sure what to do with the Councillor's permission to walk his Path. "I see myself helping, if that's all right. Respectfully, I also see myself not telling people I just met about intimate personal information that can be used against me. It's one of those things they teach you before you can call yourself a Talon." He smiles, apologetically.