(Skeleton Keys) Extreme Prejudice

[Konrad Roth]

So, the matter of poaching was just a red herring, though that still aught to be a crime heaped up on top of the others these Kindred had committed against the Prince. The news about Baldwin is new to Konrad. He's seen the Haunt in action during his Monomacy. He had heard that he fell in battle against Cotouri but the woman must have used her mind-control abilities to enlist him, or Vinculum as Josephine tells it. She is turning out to be a dangerous Lady indeed.

Konrad speaks. "I'm aware of Brady's activities. Priscus Cordoba explained it somewhat and as most of you are aware we, him, Whip Ale, and me, did some scouting with Hildegarde Bingen to investigate the bunker where Cotouri is hiding out. Since then Whip Ale and I have organized a task force to put down Cotouri and these drones of hers."

"With the Seneschal's and Reeve's permission I'd like to storm the bunker with the aid of Whip Ale, Richard Black, and Gabrielle d'Orleans. Richard and Gabrielle are both willing and able. As I understand, Priscus Cordoba, you've issued a ban on your Clan from engaging Cotouri. Maybe you could make an exception for these two?" He looks to the Daeva Priscus as he asks this. There's a hint of mockery in his tone while revealing this, as if he thought the ban were some sort of joke.

[Ashley Cohen]

"I will go." Ashley said to Konrad, as her arms crossed her chest. While Ashley didn't have any drones of her own running around, she wasn't without her own tricks. She was highly resistant towards her family's ability and didn't require eye contact to force her will upon others.

"Hmm..." Ashley's eyes snapped over towards Josephine. "Would you find it more beneficial to draw out whatever information first?" She pursed her lips for a moment, as she let the potential dance around her cousin's head. She knew it could make it easier in finding out the others and almost any Carthian knows the fun in burning down anothers haven during broad daylight.

"Also, we are forbidden by our Law, when it comes to dealing with those Ghouled Law Enforcement officials, that you mentioned. Are we granted the authority?" Ashley figured she would ask.

Ashley tilted her head, as she knew a bit of the situation, as well as a few of the names mentioned. She had been involved in the past. The irony that Peter had killed, whatever that shadows name was, who was also investigating the poaching, was not lost on her. She couldn't help but try to remember if Peter had been Reeve at the time, and if maybe he used Monomancy as a way to keep something covered.

It almost made her wonder if Marco knew something...

[Alessandra]

Finally the meeting started, and it wasn't about poaching? As much as she doesn't like being told one thing only to learn it was another, she understood the reason.

As David spoke, it dawned on her how serious this problem was. Was she ready to put her Requim on the line for this Domain? Eyes wander the room as she thinks over the question. Seeing Katya, Konrad and Tomas, she realized she was.

Nodding to Konrad as he spoke, "We were extremely under prepared. Gabrielle had made an excellent point when we spoke, and that was seeing if we could get our hands on any plans of the bunker in the woods. Knowing the layout would help us better achieve our goal." she said.

[Josephine Sterling]

"The efforts of Clan Gangrel are most appreciated, but you misunderstand, Priscus Roth. I am not delegating," Josephine pronounced, her tongue committing violently precise enunciation upon that last word so that she would not be misunderstood again.

"We will all be attacking Cotouri, as one force. Together, our success will be assured. Whip Antinori brings up an excellent point in addition to that, though. Knowledge of the area will also go far to aiding us. Does anyone here believe they might be able to gain access to the bunker's blueprints?" A glance was spared around the room.

"I do not believe them to be necessary, but they would assuredly further our cause. The issue, however, is that we are operating upon a timeline which we do not understand. Brady might strike in any manner of ways at any time, thus it is vital that we act quickly to destroy her resources. Thus I will not wait long before going to slay Cotouri.

"And," she continued, "to clear up Miss Cohen's last question, if we are to encounter any ghouled Law Enforcement personnel, they would be walking breaches of the Prince's law. Thus, we would be correcting the crime which the secessionists are guilty of. So do not hesitate to do what is necessary if you see suspicious law enforcement officers deviate even the slightest from the procedure you would expect of such agents of the Kine's law, lest your inaction and fear cause the breach to not only remain, but to widen further."

[Twist]

Listening to the details, Twist issued a silent thanks that there were individuals who could lay out information without loosing her in translation. She never thought it would be that difficult a skill to master, but then again... she had been proven wrong about that time and time again.

At Konrad's last words though, her eyebrows shot up and she quickly looked to her Priscus. A ban? For the entire clan? And yet she HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED?!!!

Rage rose within her at his audacity to not inform her, the outright slight to her name and history in the city. Her hand clenched into a fist, and for a moment she indulged in the imagery that her Beast provided everytime she interacted with the man. But then the moment passed, and instead of acting, she let her fingers uncurl, the imagery fade away, and returned her gaze to the one now talking.

He would pay for the insult. But not now.


Now she had to give all her attention to Josephine's speech. Because unfortunately, she was one who lacked the skill she found so rare.

[Konrad Roth]

Konrad lets out a short breath in amusement, returning Juan's gaze. "I'm sorry, did I hurt your feelings? This isn't really the time to be whining about stepping on each other's toes. We don't have months to wait for you to make a decision on who you think is up for the challenge. And I don't see how coming to me for help is considered paying me a courtesy. As for my Ghoul's role in all this, why don't you fucking prove it. Oh wait, you can't, and you got in the way of my efforts to find out the truth."

Konrad shrugs, laying it out on the table before turning to Josephine. "If we're looking for bunker blueprints then maybe there's something in the city hall archives. I don't have any contacts in there, but maybe there's something on the web we can dig up. I think Fernandez has got some pull with them, that is if we can get his Priscus's permission to ask for help. In the meantime, I'm going to try and get my hands on some explosives to blow the front door."

Since that's an actual solution to an actual problem. Mutherfucker thinks he can embarrass me? Just see him try to sling that mud again.

[Ashley Cohen]

Ashley drew in a breath and let out a deep sigh. She was brought here under false pretenses to be nothing but cannon fodder in a plan that held about as much depth as saying, "charge the walls or monomancy!"

Ashley listened to the back and forth, which was typical in any social gathering, as well as some ideas that held potential.

Ashley's body was still, save for a finger tapping on her bicep with agitation. It became still to, as there was a lull in the conversation for her to interject some more. "To expand on my question..."

Ashley's attention fell back on Josephine. "Are we under the same protocol if Law Enforcement is under some other form of influence?" She knew what the answer was, so she continued on without a beat.

"Because they will be missed and there are other ways to deal without making them missed." Ashley shook her head softly.

"I know you would ideally like the plans for the Bunker unless it becomes to much trouble, but the issue is..." Ashley's arms unfolded.

"It is a fucking Bunker, built to withstand who-the-fuck-knows." Ashley shrugged, as there could have been multiple entry points to it or the bitch could have it rigged to explode. "Blast doors?"

"You also said something about," Ashley did the quotey-fingers, as she said "Drones." She glanced around the group. "Why not just make this Bunker inhospitable for life..."

"I don't know...take out the air? Flood it with water? Hell what is that stuff you aren't supposed to mix with bleach?"

Ashley's hand gestured around the room. "I am sure as long as it is something that doesn't flame or explode, you all would be perfectly fine there."

Ashley glanced up the ceiling of the quaint funeral home. "The drones, though..."

"Not so much."

Ashley bit her lip for a moment. "Hell maybe it is as simple as..." She glanced back down to the rest of them. "Making sure we know the access points, and that she goes inside, and then a couple of concrete trucks to do the trick..."

[Garrick Marlon]

What I wouldn't give to watch the sun set and a beer right now. White eyes wash over the arguing and insults. Garrick shifts his weight as he slowly starts to agree with the monster that running away and hiding may have been the right idea. At the very least then death may come by something other than politics.

"I ah, sorry." The first few words come out slowly. "Explosives make holes but also are incredibly loud. And if we're worried about ghouled LEOs that'd be a good reason for them to call in. Even if we do get the blueprints how sure are we that they haven't made new tunnels? If I was going to hide somewhere I'd want at least one fast way out that people don't know about."

"And ah." Garrick lifts his packback a few inches then lowers it again. "I don't know who else has guns but if we are going to shoot at LEOs we need to make sure those bullets can't get traced back to us."