The Vanishing Chapter 1 Pursuit

[Seryna]

“There were two sweet muscle cars that pulled up. The biter hopped in one while it was peeling around! Like a movie. The guys in the car looked just like the guy that did this shit. The friend you asked about?” A look to Alessandra. “She followed the muscle cars down towards Folsom. I saw them get on the onramp." A jerk of the head indicated the path he was describing.

Alessandra and Helen move to Alessandra's car and drive to the onramp that leads to Folsom. Two muscle cars have been described, which suggest that there could be a group involved in this chaos tonight. And someone who looked like Twist was chasing them down. Within a few minutes, Alessandra guides the car off of the freeway and cuts through the night around Folsom. Now the two were searching for two muscle cars. Looking around, this area seems to have been affected by the earthquake. There are no ambulances in sight, yet a handful of police cars are in sight at various homes and businesses. Some places have been roped off as unsafe for habitation.

As they continue to drive, they note a tree has partially blocked access to a private road. Slowing down, a van's rearview mirror is visible laying beside the road. There is a spot beside the road for Alessandra to park the car. Or the tree would have to moved from the road to access the road. As they look at the area, a car drives past. This area still has light Kine traffic.
What do you do?

One can make an Investigation roll to gain more information.

[Alessandra]

As she drove, her mind wanders to how Jacque and Connor are handling their tasks. Delegating had never been her strong suit.

Seeing the police cars was…not comforting. For whatever the reason, she just never got along with those in law enforcement. Maybe it was time to change that?

The tree is noted as she pulls off to the side.

A van’s rear-view mirror? Was there another vehicle in play?

Stepping out of the car, the hood was pulled up as she looks at the tree.

Technically, it would be easy to move the tree, just a few seconds. But there was Kine and cops around, her moving the tree was going to get attention. And while a distraction could work, it was wasting time, valuable time they didn’t have.

‘But in all chaos there is calculation…’

A look to Helen, “Looks like we’re going on foot.” Or Ale could shift forms and rush ahead, but no. It could be a trap, and they might find what they were looking for on foot.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-09-01 12:42:22	Alessandra rolls 5 to Investigation(Wits+Invest) (10 Again)	5, 10, 10, 4, 5, 2, 7	2 successes

[Helen Kingsley]

Police cars, roped off property... Police presence doesn't look too heavy, but it sure makes things more complicated ! As does the traffic, thin as it is, but it's still there. The rear mirror doesn't really fit into the picture. That van from the phone perhaps ? Some other ? Or there's a bigger number of folks and the rank and file don't get to travel in the ritz-y sort of vehicle ? Could be all of it, could be nothing of it, really. They'll find out soon enough.

"Yah, sure does. Let's see what's waiting for us, eh ?"

She shoulders the bag and carefully tucks the knife back into the belt. Just in case... Another look around.
Anything out of the ordinary ?

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-09-02 15:38:02	Helen Kingsley rolls 6 to Investigation (Wits+Investigation) (10 Again)	3, 6, 1, 4, 2, 9	1 success

If the note meant one of us can make a roll, feel free to ignore this one !

[Seryna]

Alessandra notes that the fallen tree has signs of impact. Looking over the tree that blocks the road, her eyes were led to tire marks on the dirt beside the road. The marks show a path from the road into the tree.
Lifting her eyes to the road that was now blocked by the tree, Alessandra can see a muscle car idling several yards ahead.
Helen looks around the area. There was little cover on this road that is mostly bare, a few more trees scattered beside the road. This area was still in sight of the cars driving past on the main road. As Helen's eye is moving over one of these trees, her eye catches on something.
There is a local sign promoting a Osprey dinner show down the road. Spray paint is sprayed over the professional sign that reads

Burn fucker burn

I did not mean only one could make the role, I intended that one's character can make the roll. Apologies for the miscommunication

[Alessandra]

The tree was observed, details taken in, including the tire marks.


Spotting the car, “Wonder if that’s the car we’re looking for.” She says quietly to Helen, a nod in the direction of the car.


“Lets go.” But thinking of the car, “But lets be a bit cautious, if there’s someone in that car waiting, we don’t want them to have the upper hand.” Glancing to the Haunt to see if she agrees.

If it’s a couple Kine? No problem. But a couple Kindred? Could be a headache. If Helen is onboard, Ale begins to walk around the tree and in the direction of the car, but towards the edge of the road.

[Helen Kingsley]

Burn fucker burn... Very sophisticated shit they had rolling here, thats for sure. She nods over to the sign. "Spray painted sign ten o'clock. Think that means something ?"

Helen ponders the question posed for a little before she answers in a hushed voice.

"One of the cars." Small stuff, but in their position, she deems it important enough to mention, just in case the fuckers try to bushwhack them. "There were two."

Another nod. "Okay." She also points at herself and indicates the other end of the tree. Who knows who's listening and if they're watching, they're walking right into it anyway. As Alessandra starts to move, Helen follows suit, just in the other direction.

[Seryna]

The car remains where it is, unmoving. The liscense plate sticker is valid, suggesting it is legal and on the up and up. It is a vibrant blue color, very eye catching. There are no interior lights on in the car, which means you cannot see who is within the car. The car engine is on, yet the headlights are off. Glancing around, you do not see anyone in the immediate vicinity.

Describe how you approach the car. Are you walking head on towards the car?
If you are moving off of the road through the trees and trying to avoid notice, give me a Wits + Stealth roll.
You may both make a perception roll.

[Alessandra]

Looking to where Helen nodded, there was a frown, then a shrug, “No clue. It could,” because Kindred and fire don’t mix. “or it could be some kids being stupid.” Hard to tell. But she didn’t have the time nor the patience to investigate it.

She was right. There were two.

Was this a lookout and the other was further up the road?

Another nod to the Haunt, she saw her point and what she was doing.

But the car was there, and it didn’t look right to her. Who leaves a car idling with the lights off? It was either a trap…or they left in a hurry. A few ideas quickly ran through her head, one being shifting forms. She didn’t do it often, but it was an option. But not currently a smart one, not with the road being within eye-shot. Dealing with more fucking breaches was not something she wanted to do.

So she tries to move off toward the trees to avoid notice.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-09-10 16:00:45	Alessandra rolls 3 to Sneaky Savage? (Wits+Stealth)-1 Unskilled (10 Again)	2, 2, 6	failure

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-09-10 16:01:14	Alessandra rolls 8 to Perception? (Wits+Comp) (10 Again)	1, 9, 2, 5, 9, 1, 7, 2	2 successes

[Helen Kingsley]

Helen concentrates a little more on the car as she looks over it once again, maybe she can see something inside the car if she heigtens her sight a little ? She draws the knife as slowly and silently as she can and takes another good look over the trees scattered beside the road... She tries to estimate if she can get through those in prone. Bad posture to get caught in, but at least might offer some cover, if she doesn't have to get up to get over some trunks there.

As is, she decided to go as low and slow as she thinks she can pull off withoput having to get back up to crooss obstacles. Damn it, she's out of practice, she needs to retrain some of this shit... Sometimes she has the feeling she's too quick or doesn't get her ass down eough, but so far, she feels sorta sneaky.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-09-10 18:56:26	Helen Kingsley rolls 5 to How sneaky can you get ? (Wits+Stealth-1+WP) (10 Again, WillPower)	1, 1, 9, 5, 9	2 successes

That also means she's a little preoccupied with her movement and not paying as much attention to her surroundings as she thinks she should. Well, always a tradeoff.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-09-10 18:57:24	Helen Kingsley rolls 6 to Perception (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	6, 1, 8, 7, 4, 1	1 success

Selected the normal WP+Vita marker because the WP one and the red with black centre don't combine.

[Seryna]

As Alessandra and Helen approach the vehicle from two different angles, the passenger door opens. Someone steps outside the car and glances about the car suspiciously. The person is about 6'2" and wearing a black leather jacket. Alessandra notes an unusual patch sewn onto the front right section of the jacket that looks like something occult - like. Alessandra and Helen note another person sitting in the drivers side of the car. The driver appears to be quite large and wearing black leather.

The person who has exited the car looks over at you and triggers something from your Beast. He is clearly Kindred. He has BP 2.
The person within the car looks out the window, apparently hearing something. He seems to be tracking your movements pretty well and looks right at you. As he does so, you note that this is another Kindred. BP 5
The kindred standing beside the car takes a moment, perhaps stealing himself against new Beasts.

The person outside of the car states, speaking to the driver. "What lovely ladies to come call on us tonight. You hearin' all this?" He gestures with an open hand towards the road. Perhaps meaning the car traffic or the sirens?
"I'm Rorke and that there in the car is Jav."

His gaze rests on Alessandra.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-09-12 15:15:10	Storyteller rolls 8 to Brood Elder #1 Notice anything? (10 Again)	2, 10, 2, 1, 10, 2, 2, 8, 8, 6	4 successes

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-09-12 15:15:39	Storyteller rolls 6 to Brood #4 Notice anything? (10 Again)	5, 8, 5, 6, 3, 10, 10, 7	3 successes