(Watchstanders) Local Superstition

[Otto Schneider]

Though the planning session had ended on something of a sour note, Otto at least had a rough idea of what he should be doing. The first step would be establishing an adequate cover story to help them make contact with the mortals that might be unwittingly close to breaching the Masquerade. A shame our computer expert has refused to cooperate. He had been disappointed to learn that Benedikta had refused to assist the investigation, but he also respected her reasoning. The Priest was also quite conflicted about the matter, but ultimately judged that the threat of exposure to mortals was a more immediate concern.

Unfortunately, without easy access to a computer database or someone who could assist in remotely accessing one, the Ventrue had severely limited research options. His first thought was a library, but a quick search showed that all the major locations of the Sacramento Public Library closed at 6 P.M. He also lacked the skills or the desire to attempt to break and enter into a public library after-hours. The next best thing would be to try the Sacramento State university library. It didn't close until 11, but he'd probably have to research on his own. Staff would probably have left or be too busy with helping actual students to assist him with researching obscure folktales.

With a sigh, the Priest pulled out his phone and started comparing prices between ridesharing apps. Maybe if there's a sufficiently hirsute local legend I can just spin it into a story about Lycanthropes. Classic Universal Horror, kine eat that crap up all the time.

----

After a sufficiently dull car ride with a driver who simply wouldn't take a hint and shut up, Otto was eager to start his research. Absent-mindedly straightening his tie, he marched up to the front desk to see if there was a librarian to direct him towards to where he needed to go or at least a map pointing towards the Anthropology section. Doubtful that they have an 'occult pseudoscience' section.

Couldn't add expenditure reason as this was the opening post, but it was for Blush of Life

[Seryna]

The librarian was reshelving books out in the stacks of the library. She was pushing a cart neatly stacked with books to be returned to thier proper places. At Otto's approach, she inquired.
"How can I help you?"

When you open a thread, you do not add the expenditures to the first post. You make a second post with the expenditures. Here is an example.
This thread does not need to be marked Elysium as it is not located at Elysium

[Otto Schneider]

Otto wore a good-natured smile and spoke in a half-whisper. "Hi there. I was looking for the Anthropology section, specifically local folktales and mythology. Doing some independent research." To his relief, this didn't seem to be an interaction that required him to craft a cover identity on the spur of the moment. At least not yet. If he could keep the exchange to getting directions and finding books, that would be a blessing.

Understood, will keep in mind in the future. I honestly don't even know why I tagged it as Elysium, must have been a mistake.

[Seryna]

"I see. An excellent topic for research. Follow me." The Librarian was pleased to lead him over to the antropology section of the library. She took a moment to indicate one section had mythology, and they were indiced by the 571 codes on thier spines. She would be walking around if he needed any additional help.

Otto would be able to delve into research with these tools at his disposal.

[Otto Schneider]

Myths, folk tales, fables... So very similar yet distinct. The Lord's curiosity had been piqued, but there was little time to spare on looking through anything that was not directly relevant to his topic. While his subject was fairly broad, it wasn't necessarily well-documented. Cryptozoology was, in truth, pseudoscience. Otto wouldn't have been surprised if the only academic writings on the subject were from the perspective of an anthropologist jeering at the credulity of people obsessed with grainy photos. Still, he had to put the effort in.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-11-05 19:09:48	Otto Schneider rolls 6 to Research (Int + Academics +Access to Library, Librarian - Obscure Knowledge) (10 Again)	5, 3, 6, 3, 9, 1	1 success

[Seryna]

After some reading, Otto was able to find an older tome with red cover that was well worn from age. The tome shared that there were many people accused of lycanthropy in the late Middle Ages. There had been werewolf trials that coincided with the witch trials.

There were the famous Werewolf of Chalons in France, the family were accused of cannibalism.

The signs that were recorded from the time were being in league with witches and abnormal amounts of hair.

[Otto Schneider]

Otto frowned as he thumbed through the pages of the tome once more. Unless there was some local congregation of hairy pagan cannibals to point towards, it didn't necessarily give him a lot to work from. He turned to address the Librarian with a faint hope. "I'm also looking for materials relating to the beliefs and ceremonies of indigenous peoples in the area, do you know if there are any available books on the topic?" It was a bit of a stretch to try to link lycanthropy with a belief system predating European contact, but at the end of the night he was essentially crafting an intentionally false conspiracy theory. Tenuous links would be enough.

[Seryna]

"Are you talking about Niseanan, Maidu, Miwok and Me-Wuk peoples?" The Librarian looked up from her shelving. "There are some information about the settlements, and some about thier origin stories. You could follow me."
If Otto did follow her, he found that the Origins stories were two small books, each about thirty pages long. They discussed the beliefs of where the people came from, who should be worshipped and a few notes on the practices. The information was easy to digest, yet quick to read. This was easily something that a lay person could read within half an hour.
The other section that the librarian walked to addressed the historical towns and there were many books about Sacramento throughout the ages. Otto could take some time to look through to find a book from a specific time period.