(Skeleton Keys) Needful Action

Nov 12th, 2014 06:52 PM

David subdues a shudder in the face of the Inhumane. Still, the Witness sees... his eyes piercing through the veil that utterly wants to consume him. The nightly tug of war between asserting that he is here and tangible fights with the will of reality to the contrary. For now, David is here. One night, perhaps, he'll be a faded half-forgotten memory of the Praxis.

It's difficult to make existence meaningful when existence desires nothing else than to expunge that meaning.

It is a testament to the heightened sense of alert that David is on, a queer anticipation and dread, that his eyes search.

CoW 3 Successes

“Lord Whip,” David greets the Jogger formally, reaching forward and taking the knife from the Nosferatu's hands. “Thank you, I didn't want to go unarmed at the very least.” The very image of the Mortician with a knife is at odds with one another. The meek Shadow is not a fighter. Not like the Fearless Dog and Tracy are. Necessity is a strange bedfellow.

Passing a quick look to Tracy, David searches for the tell-tale signs of understanding after her briefing with Dog. David expects that everything has crystallized in her mind.

**Tracy Burns** · Nov 13th, 2014 08:29 AM

After getting briefed by Dog, Tracy rejoined the other Kindred, a pensive look in her eyes. She recalled that Max and Martha had mentioned something about a Kogaion in the past, but they had not gone into depth about the matter. Clearly, the matter at hand was way more important than she had originally expected. Why has this not been addressed yet? is all she could think at the moment, but at least it seemed that they would address the issue now. The fact that no one had bothered to pursue this before baffled her, considering the security risk it posed for the members of the Order.

When David glanced in her direction, the petite Gangrel nodded to the man. She understood what had to be done, and also the urgency of the matter at hand. Obviously they would have to be careful, especially with an outsider amongst them. While the help from a Knight of the Invictus was certainly welcome, they could not afford for Dragon secrets to spill out.

CoW, 1 suxx

**West** · Nov 13th, 2014 10:30 PM

Clash of Wills

**Dog** · Nov 14th, 2014 07:43 PM

The Dragon gives a Rampant nod to the Nosferatu.

Nov 14th, 2014 09:19 PM

Baldwin produced the knife as the terrifying Beast that was the Rampant Dragon gave him the nod.. It's a butcher knife from a kitchen, not designed for combat per se, but still plenty pointy. Plenty of wives had murdered plenty of husbands in plenty of kitchens on plenty of holidays after one too many annoying comments or requests for beer to be fetched. Perhaps David Regan, with enough rage or fear or power of the Blood, would add another dead to the list of butcher knife victims in America this night.

The Menace cringed. Dog was overwhelming, the monster running through his veins something terrifying to behold.

"You are very welcome," Lord Baldwin said, the speech a way to suppress the urge to run the fuck out of there. He smiled politely to the Ventrue, closing up his black winter jacket and seeing to it that his weapons were concealed. "Regularly, yes. I prefer to be... prepared." He looked to Regan, then Dog. Ultimately, it was the Gangrel he owed.

"So, what can I do for you tonight?"

The Hound of South Sacramento had exercised discretion and hadn't asked a ton of questions. Peter remembered. Lord Baldwin owed the same courtesy. What he needed to know, Dog would tell him.

Nov 15th, 2014 12:18 PM

Where Dog is overwhelming with fury, David is a void where a Beast should be. Overlooked and unremarkable, he is not the picture of a leader, especially when compared to others in the Domain. David is simply a man dutifully taking on that mantle of leadership because, that is the best way to fix the problems that led to Aïleen's death.

Not that Baldwin knows this and so it may be surprising, then, that it is the Witness who answers the rather well-armed Knight's question, “We are gathered to address an issue facing the Domain. An issue that has gone on for far too long.” One of the many, in fact.

The knife in the Scarecrow's hands glints in the light. Carefully, David inserts it into an interior jacket pocket.

Information is shifted and compartmentalized before the Shadow speaks again, “We will be going to Yolo and infiltrating a commune.” It seems infiltrating things is quickly becoming Lord Whip Knight Baldwin's specialty. David offers nothing else in the way of explanation, the Shadow expects that an issue for the Domain is enough for the dutiful Invictus, “If we are ready to go, then we should get going.”

Time to get this show on the road with our Gamefaces on?

Nov 15th, 2014 12:35 PM

Let it begin.

**West** · Nov 15th, 2014 01:41 PM

Yolo Bypass.

A wetlands conservation for bird watching. An innocent description, conjuring up thoughts of birds taking flight over still waters and into blue skies. During the day, that may be so. Right now? It's a swamp. At night.

It's a little fucking creepy.

Eventually, the motley fivesome arrive*, parking in one of the designated areas. Sometime during the drive, fog turned into a light mist, which became a drizzle. Forty degree wind-blown droplets sting and chill the skin as footwear sinks into wet, soggy marsh. Moonlight sparkles off of bodies of water, here and there, relieving the darkness of foliage.

There's a wet, rank smell in the air from rotting vegetation.

Or maybe it's just Dog.

Here's your opportunity to declare your prep, gear, and whatnot, before we continue...

Nov 15th, 2014 04:32 PM

David has a pattern for feeding. A pattern that he isn't even aware that he follows. The Sanctified might even respect the Shadow his pattern, until they realize how self-serving it actually is. Like Holden Caulfield, David hates 'phonies.' And in this case, phonies are just another word for 'jerk;' a person who's way of living the world knowingly tramples on others.

For a man who grew up and lived beneath the boot-heel of these 'jerks,' it allows the Libitinarius some measure of revenge tinged with his ever present guilt.

Tonight, there is no time to follow that pattern; much to David's dismay.

Public Bathrooms along the rote to Yolo County are somewhat more dangerous than they have been in sometime. David doesn't even catch the name of the guy in his fleece-jacket and beanie cap. The guy is too into his headphones to notice the man materializing behind him. Too into his own world to realize what is happening until it was too late. David leaves The Glitch Mob thumping into an unconscious man's ears.

Feeding 1 Success

The rest of the ride on the back of Tracy's motorcycle, is done in relative silence; only answering the Savage Dragon's questions he can broach. With no time to lose and no time to dwell, David's guilt will have to wait for later. A knife sits in an interior pocket, borrowed from a Black Knight. Sneakers sit on his feet, tied and tucked. False Identification rides along in his jacket while a scarf is wrapped around his neck.

A smart-phone, David's Cedar Field's work-phone, scans the airwaves for any messages he might need; a modern swiss army knife without the knife.

Unsurprisingly, David is not a stranger to the feeling of water falling on his head. His scrutiny pierces through the darkness, snapping everything into focus with an breath taken. It isn't about putting up for Dog, the Domain, or the Order. It's something much more personal.

Heightened Senses: Sight

EQ

**Hildegarde Bingen** · Nov 15th, 2014 11:14 PM

Hildegarde has changed for the hunt. A warm jacket, scarf, jumper, jeans and boots are what she wares now. Hair bound in an untidy bun, folded under her beret. For this hunt, she has left her faithful Iago behind and ridden with the others (press of Beasts gnaw at her concentration; the thing clutches her spine and grips tight in displeasure).

The Lord feels out of her depth. Uncertainty makes the thing grip ever more tightly, sensing weakness. As she alights from the car, she pauses, pose locking in place as she masters her Beast.

hunting for the night

Hildegarde carries her smart phone and false ID papers. She has never had need of a weapon before. If Iago has had the chance to pass her a knife, he would. Otherwise, this Lord goes weaponless. She really starts to put contingencies in place, yes :P

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-11-12 18:39:44		David Regan rolls 8 to Clash of Wills ( Wits + Inv + Aus ) (10 Again)		5, 8, 10, 5, 3, 4, 10, 4, 7, 2		3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-11-13 08:17:54		Tracy Burns rolls 6 to Wits+Investigation+Auspex for Clash of Wills (10 Again)		3, 5, 4, 6, 1, 8		1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-11-15 16:01:00		David Regan rolls 3 to Feeding Roll ( STR + SUB ) (10 Again)		6, 9, 3		1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-11-15 23:04:42		Hildegarde hunts for prep rolls 5 to Presence + Persuasion (10 Again)		5, 10, 7, 7, 8, 9		3 successes

(Skeleton Keys) Needful Action

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