Skeleton Keys

Location	Nox
Date Began	Spring 2011 - Presentwarning.pngThe date "Spring 2011 - Present" was not understood.
Storyteller(s)	West, Steven, Wolven Pryde
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Introduction

Skeleton Keys is a venue wide plot that has been going on for a long time, and a lot of Kindred have participated in it's many investigations, adventures and dangers. It has links to other plots as well, showing only how widespread the story is. 'The Prequel' on this page thus only shows us the last scenes of the Robbing a Bank plot. Because, as turns out later, it may have links to Skeleton Keys!

2011

The Low Places

Anastaz Veres stands at a silent, lonely corner of Freeport Boulevard. A scant few decades before, a plane crashed on the spot, killing entire families enjoying an ice-cream under the summer sun. Realizing what he is looking for is there, he calls Amelita Cardoso a Shadow Slave of the Ordo Dracul.

When she arrives, Veres stresses that assertive direction is paramount before explaining the significance of the place they stand on. The land remembers. Strong emotions leave psychic marks in the land that while they have many names, the Order of Dragons call them Wyrm's Nests.

As part of the lesson, Veres asks Cardoso to focus and expand her senses. Touching a piece of earth, Cardoso is treated to images of the fiery crash, which alarms her beast but she remains in control. Just after, out of the corner of his eye, Veres notices an engraving Cyphers. Suttle, & Sterling.

Not believing in chance Veres thinks the words hold significance and mistakes them for names of the monument's makers. Cardoso uses The Spirit's Touch upon the names directly, and sees an old man with the tip of his finger in an unfinished name. Intent on investigating further, the pair leave, missing the true meaning of a warning left many years ago.

2012

Meeting at University

This is a short scene where Regent Erika Brady meets with Max Heinz. She has an ancient text with her, written on human skin. It is what she retrieved from the Kindred that robbed a bank for her. She asks Max Heinz to study it. He is able to discern that the text is in fact written in an ancient Hungarian dialect. Then, to his surprise, she translates it before him.

Curiously enough, she gives him the text and a suitcase with a box in it. The box contains the old helmet. She trusts he'll take care of it.

Up In Flames

The same night that Max Heinz got the skin and the helmet from Erika Brady, he decides to destroy the text, and let the helmet sink to the bottom of a lake. The one who wrote the text was probably a Diablerist, and Max doesn't want anyone to become inspired by it. Or worse, he suspects that Erika Brady wants to say more by giving this to him. In any way, he prefers to hide the helmet and keep the text only safely in hidden in his memory.

Reeve Office Hours 12

Callum McCann stops by the Office of the Reeve hoping to make a good impression and to offer his services. After questioning the new, potential recruit, Reeve Conner Greyson shows McCann a picture of an ancient skeleton while inquiring if the Daeva knows anything about the “Vampire” skeletons of Bulgaria.

Normally, this would be of no consequence half a world away, but Greyson reveals that one of these Skeletons escaped examinations by kine and Kindred in Europe and has landed in Sacramento. The Reeve admits that this is curious and worth investigating and with this in mind, offers McCann two tickets to a social event at the museum currently housing the Skeleton.

Reeve Office Hours 13

Hoping that the Priscus of her clan would shed some light on her situation with her Dream Visions, Aïleen McFarlane visits Conner Greyson. He advises her to study her clan's faculty with Auspex and though she is inwardly frightful of the Sight she thanks him for his thoughts.

McFarlane then asks if there is something she might be able to do for the Reeve in return, which inspires Greyson to ask if the Mekhet knows anything about the “Vampire” skeletons of Bulgaria. She does, and Greyson asks her to assist Callum McCann with his assigned task in investigating the one “Vampire” skeleton that has made it to Sacramento.

Aileen McFarlane calls Callum McCann

Right after her discussion with Conner Greyson, Aïleen McFarlane calls Callum McCann. Though tentative and unsure of herself, McFarlane requests they meet up and compare notes. Suggesting they meet up at Temple Coffee, they agree to meet within the hour.

Putting the Team Together

At Temple Coffee and armed with a Sacramento Bee and a Travel Mug full of coffee, Callum McCann makes it first. Eventually, McFarlane arrives, unsure of herself but prepared to meet an unfamiliar beast.

Once settled, McCann explains that since the Reeve has given him tickets to a black-tie event at the museum currently housing the skeleton, they should become comfortable with one another. McCann then describes that the pair of Kindred will arrive together and that he will deal with the people, if she can investigate the area; impressing on her that this could be a Masquerade breach in progress.

A quick look on the internet reveals to Aïleen that the event is a supposedly mundane charity fundraiser for the arts. What is interesting is that there is nothing stated anywhere about the Skeleton the museum may have in its possession.

Tracking the Package

Quiet, anxious, and far from excited, Anthony Marroletti drives a group towards Rio Linda Airport. Catherine Keys is irritated but would rather not be at fault for a Masquerade breach. Daniella Sage attempts to bring the conversation towards overcoming Airport's security, while Zachary Griffiths wonders about kine security guards in particular. Finally, Deputy Reyes attempts to get a handle on the situation.

The group is on a mission to retrieve a briefcase, with suspicious contents.

Arriving at the airport, Sage takes the device that tracks Moroletti's package and the group heads in: two in the front door and two to the back door. With Zachary Griffiths, Daniella Sage is able to easily pick the lock to her door. Meanwhile at the other door, Catherine Keys's then as they move away, Daniella Sage's heightened senses catches a deal in progress.

As they enter the large room, Zachary Griffiths and Daniella Sage find the men behind the voices: Gabriel D'Angelo and the other, a coiled spring of lethality.

Stuck at another door, Deputy Reyes attempts to break down his door with one swift kick. He's successful but the door is booby-trapped, a fact both Kindred find out too late taking the full iron wrath of a shotgun to their bodies.

Angry Man warns Zachary Griffiths and, to some extent, Daniella Sage off one last time while drawing two short-swords. Under cloak, Daniella Sage frantically searches for the box and once Deputy Reyes appears issues three short words: 'Take him down.' However, Angry Man is far more attuned to the battlefield and far quicker, slashing Zachary Griffiths from shoulder to hip.

Finally, in the office, Daniella Sage finds her target.

At the same time, the Angry Man rips the light panel from the wall, killing the lights immediately and draws the Cloak of Night around himself. A ploy that both Catherine Keys and Daniella Sage see through. Annoyed his ambush on Zachary Griffiths has been foiled, the swordsman delivers viscous blows to both Daniella Sage and Catherine Keys.

Though, Deputy Reyes grapples at the swordsman electricity runs through the Mexican Lord's body, destroying his cellular phone. Sensing the strength of the Mexican Lord, the swordsman bites into Deputy Reyes attempting to remove the man's vitae.

Backtracking, Daniella Sage takes the package and uses her faculty with Obfuscate to hide it.

With the situation spiraling out of control, the Angry Man breaks his grapple, and blurs away into the darkness of the hangar.

But, the danger has not subsided. A droning sound gets louder and louder, until it resolves to be part of an airplane, driving down the tarmac, straight for the hangar and the group of Kindred. Only Ricardo manages to see who is at the plane's controls – Gabriel D'Angelo – while the group flees from the hangar, package in hand.

Skeleton in the Closet?

The upper-crust of Sacramento have gathered, hoping to outdo one another in their 'appreciation' of the arts. Among them is Callum McCann and Aïleen McFarlane who have a whole other motive in mind. Unfortunately, their target is not on open display.

Splitting up, Callum puts out his feelers and hobnobs easily through the small knots of conversations, eventually arriving at knot holding Mrs. Lewis, the museum's curator. Meanwhile, Aïleen searches for a place to simply disappear and eventually falls from sight.

Hoping to impress the Daeva with Movie Star good looks, Mrs. Lewis lets slip to Callum that they just got in a pristine – lovely if you are morbid – piece.

Beneath her cloak, Aïleen overhears staffers talking about the 'vampire skeleton' as well as a large sarcophagus that none dared to open. Curiosity piqued, the Mekhet moved with the staffers but stops as she hears Mrs. Lewis offer to show the rock-star the “Vampire Skeleton” – in private. Unknowingly, all three enter the large room, while Mrs. Lewis propositions the potential Deputy.

That, however, is about when things take a turn for the strange. Callum McCann, Mrs. Lewis, and the cloaked Aïleen McFarlane come upon an open sarcophagus being carried by a woman much too small to do so. The mysterious woman immediately puts Mrs. Lewis to sleep. In the tension that follows, Callum informs the woman that she is trespassing, to which the woman responds by attempting to dominate the hopeful deputy to sit down and be quiet.

This fails and the world explodes into furious strikes and hits.

In the stalemate that follows, the woman escapes in a bout of blinding speed and only after she leaves, does Aïleen drops her cloak. Knowing that they cannot leave the sarcophagus in the museum with a Kindred bent on taking it, Callum McCann calls Martha Villiers who sends Deputy Reyes with a hearse to pick them all up.

As Mrs. Lewis begins to stir, Callum McCann works quickly to staunch any potential breaches with the cougar and the group hits the road; sarcophagus in tow.

A Skeleton and a Ford in the Key of E

In the Ford E-350, Callum McCann and Aïleen McFarlane look into the plain sarcophagus finding a desiccated corpse within. To Aïleen it is a well preserved male skeleton or rather, a torpid elder dressed in Spanish armor from the 17th Century. What's more, is that it bears a particular heraldic symbol with the Latin phrase 'plus ultra.'

The pair's initial examination is cut short by Deputy Reyes alerting them to a follower on a motorcycle.

The woman is persistent and intent on getting her prize.

With Deputy Reyes pulling into an unattended parking lot, the woman seems to reconsiders her options and after pulling along side the van and getting a good look, speeds away.

It gives the group some time to escape with the sarcophagus, pulling into Cedar Fields Funeral Home where Martha Villiers awaits.

2013

A gathering at Reverence

Nervous over who might be listening and having lost trust in Erika Brady, Martha Villiers sends a text message summoning a few trusted members of the Domain to her air. Under the guise of a research seminar, the group of Kindred investigate a mysterious torpid elder, dressed as a warlord, as well as an enigmatic metal puzzle box.

The group discover that both torpid elder and metal puzzle box carry with them the markings of an 11th century Spanish Kingdom of Castille. Further investigation of the coffin itself, proves potentially deadly. After Teodor Raluca notices that one side of the coffin is thicker than the others, Chris Wooding slides a knife into a thin opening... triggering a trap of razor sharp blades to remove the Hierophant's fingers.

Cowed by the apparent danger, the group turns to the metal lock puzzle. As this commences, Martha Villiers attempts to draw parallels to other happenings within the domain; bringing up Heathcliff Staley, and the slayings of Sarah LaFleur and Thomas O'Connor; and summarizing the events of Hotel Homicide. As she speaks, Martha, brings up former Princes Tobias Straiphen and Freddrick in tones of fear and awe and trying to wrest some common thread with all of these possibilities.

With this in mind, the Kindred agree to meet in two nights time, this time at Avalon.

A Plan of Action

Just after some of the Kindred depart Reverance leaving Chris Wooding, Callum McCann, and Daniella Sage remain to further mull over the mysteries in front of them. Callum and Chris agree that the best place to start, would be to track down the woman who attempted to steal the Torpid Elder from them. However, with most businesses close ideas to track her through her motorcycle fall apart.

Their second idea is to see the curator of the museum again. Using pull within the Academic community, the trio are able to secure a late-night meeting under the guise of philanthropy.

Grimm Tale

As agreed, two nights later at the Avalon Elysium, the investigative group comes back together. Dr.Swift came prepared with the book of Grimm Fairytales, found at the conclusion of Hotel Homicide. The good doctor explains that while the book is an English Translation, the message 'This to bares pain' was hidden in the text. While the book does not give up its secrets easily, Dr. Swift does notice that the book is bespoke and the suspicion that there is something else other than pages sneaks in. With this in mind, Dr. Swift convinces staff at a nearby University to allow him to use a laboratory.

Anthony's Package

Battered but alive, a group of kindred including Daniella Sage, Catherine Keys, Zachary Griffiths, and Ricardo Rodriguez Reyes, recover a briefcase before Gabriel D'Angelo rams a plane into a building.

Once in Anthony Marroletti's car however, the Daeva makes his own play for the briefcase. Turning the car towards the inferno of the building, he threatens Daniella Sage and Catherine Keys with fire. Both women decide to jump from the car with wildly different results: Keys is rendered torpid by the fall, while Sage lands without a scratch while still holding onto the briefcase.

It's all for nothing though, as Anthony Marroletti's force of personality causes love to blossom in Daniella's mind resulting in her willfully offering up the briefcase to the Daeva. With Catherine Keys torpid on the ground and sirens rapidly approaching, the Kindred allow their hard-won prize to slip off into the night.

Returning and Reporting

Driving Anthony Marroletti's car, Zachary Griffiths attempts some levity with Daniella Sage wondering what the punishment for failing the Domain is. They consider getting the torpid Catherine Keys a drink, but talk is interrupted by a text from Erich Passions as they reach Elysia. Eventually, after being intercepted by Erika Brady and Erich Passions on other matters, Griffiths and Sage are able to report to Martha Villiers.

Ciara Maskelyne covers the Masquerade by seeding the Media with the tragic story of Equipment failure and arson.

The torpid Catherine Keys is delivered, finally, to Cedar Fields.

A Night at the Museum

Successful in setting up an appointment at the museum, Chris Wooding, Callum McCann, and Daniella Sage arrive hoping to uncover a clue or two at ground-zero. However, oddities happen immediately. Mrs. Lewis, who Callum McCann had bent to his whim, does not recognize him.

For the museum matron, Mrs. Lewis sees an opportunity to 'cultivate new donors,' especially with their request to see a private exhibition. After a bit of tit for tat, the group comes to an uneasy agreement and easily gives the group a tour of the museum including a collection of positively fascinating landscapes.

But, not the exhibition the group wanted to see.

After Daniella Sage excuses herself to the bathroom, Chris and Callum attempt once more to gain entry. Though Mrs. Lewis is able to get her pound of flesh from Callum, neither man is able to see the exhibit they come to see and all three leave the museum as uninformed as they came.

Academic Digging

With Dr. Swift having used his influence in the Academic Community to secure some laboratory time, the other half of the investigative team including Aïleen McFarlane, Teodor Raluca, and Martha Villiers congregate. Their mission is much the same as the group at the Museum, though they are unaware of the Museum Group's failure.

Dr. Swift is prepared with a battery of tests to perform on the Brother's Grimm manuscript, and the first tests conclude that the manuscript is a skilled forgery. It is then that Dr. Swift realize that the covers, themselves, may hold a clue. After painstakingly prying the covers apart the group find two things. The first, is a sheaf of papers – sealed with a wax seal of a stylized S. The second, is a desiccated hand – crushed as flat as it could be.

Using her gifts to see past the mundane Martha Villiers sees a jumble of strong emotions. From the supreme focus of Dr. Swift to the hatred of the woman who assembled it. As talk once again moves back to Tobias Straiphen, Martha fears inwardly that he is aiming to seize back his throne.

Turning her attentions to the desiccated hand, Martha bears witness. She is witness to it helping remove the Torpid Elder; witness to it supping from another; witness to the hand holding a sword against another; witness to the hand's severing and a woman watching coldly with out of sync reflections. The woman is Erika Brady while Wilhelm Von Schusten slides the hand into the cover.

Immediately distrustful of the group around her, or who could be listening, Martha only mentioned Wilhelm Von Schusten and resolved to speak with the Prince immediately. To the group, the Herald notes that they locate von Schusten and takes care to mention his combat prowess and stands to the side to draft a letter to Asa Clarke.

Meanwhile, as Dr. Swift attempts to pry secrets from the sheaf of letters he finds the wax trapped. It bursts into flames which cause the Mekhet in the room to stay away. Due to quick thinking, the sheaf is saved and what's left, is that the nine pages form a diagram – or map though without any appreciable markings, is hard to tell what it is a map to and only Martha feels the spark of recognition while studying the map.

Deciding to break to run computer searches with the intention of reconvening, the group disperse.

A letter to Asa.

In a lengthy letter to Asa Clarke, the Herald tries to appraise him of the investigation as well as how dire things are looking. Martha Villiers admits that they are uncertain as to who to trust and that the scale and depth of the treason is potentially unknowable.

She goes on to overview the last few years of investigation, name checking who she believes are part of the cabal – Erika Brady, Wilhelm Von Schusten – while also suggesting it is on the behest of Tobias Straiphen. Finally, the Herald theorizes as to the capabilities of the 'enemy.'

Martha Villiers closes the letter with a list of people she believes are still friendly to the domain.

More Pieces More Puzzles

The scene opens with a realization that the map rescued from both book and fire, are ley-lines and potentially from a memory that is much older than the tangible map in their possession. It is Aïleen McFarlane who's mind goes back to Kogaion Muir, wondering if there is a link and Dog's insinuation that he is still alive.

Martha Villiers thinking his knowledge and insights might be of some help, texts David Regan requesting that he go to the Chapter House. He arrives just as the scene fades.

2014

What's in the booooox

With the addition of David Regan in their investigation, the Kindred turn their attention to the metal puzzle box in their possession. After hours of mental effort the box unfolds into a strange three-dimensional snowflake, still concealing its core but revealing two holes between its components. Aileen and David come to the realization that they may be an insertion point for fangs though they are unable to reach them to test their theory while still attached to their jaws.

The Abandonned - Causality

Blocks away from Cedar Fields Funeral Home a man in affiliations with Rahyna approaches his destination. He is followed by several strangers and a confrontation ensues.

Keyhole

Persuing the suggestion of acquiring a laser scanner to analyze the keyholes on the puzzle, Aileen meets with Michael Redfill. Michael looks over the puzzle and offers his scientific suggestions, listing methods of xray and key molding to open the puzzle box.

Nursing Time

Infiltrating UC Davis's Medical Center, Aileen locates the radiology ward to locate a CT scanner. She convinces a janitor there that she is there to relieve him. Using the excuse she makes her way past the nurse's station to one of the machines. Unfamiliar with the machine she is only able to discern spare few details about the internal mechanisms and the cylindrical shape of the object housed within the puzzle. Her time is cut short by a mysterious force that compels her to leave.

Skeleton Keys - The Summons

Aileen notifies the others of the compelling force, though unable to stop herself. David and Emma can only try to intercept her location and find themselves in The Barrens. They track her to an abandoned warehouse, its entrances barred. Nonetheless, Aileen is able to find a crawlspace to gain entry while the others search for a way in.

Aileen finds homeless squatters, one of which leads her deeper into the structure. In an empty space ahead she finds the source of her compulsion, the Succubus, Rhayna. She requests the puzzle box which Aileen refuses to give up. Weilding a curved blade and stiletto dagger Rhayna begins to attack the unarmed Shadow.

David discovers the means of Aileen's entry and they proceed quickly in pursuit. The maze of beams, makeshift barriers and debris slow their search. A loud crash calls their attention and they find a fleeing Kine and a doorway blocked by steel pipes and detritus beyond which are the sounds of Aileen's struggle. David and Emma work together, tearing away at the blockage just as the killing blow is dealt.

Once inside they see the lifeless body and decapitated head of Aileen. The shock of grief sends David into a rage as he rides the wave of his Beast. The one responsible mounts her motorcycle and drives off into the night while David and Emma give chase futilely. They return to find the warehouse set aflame by the squatters and their vehicle's wheels removed.

• The Enemy

Back at Cedar Fields Funeral Home, David and Emma meet with Martha and Dillon accompanied by the Neonate, Kacey. While Emma showers off, David recounts the events to Martha. But seeing as they were unable to identify the motorcyclist due to her helmet and the effort of the Thralls to cover her tracks, they are left with little answers.

• Skeleton Keys - Reopening the Case

Having been appointed Hound of Citrus Heights, Chris Wooding is tasked by Erika Brady to resolve the issues surrounding a certain skeleton that was recovered from a museum. Using the Cruac and the Goddess to guide him he divines detail of the plot that unfolds. He inteprets the answer to be a map of the river and begins researching the sewer system online, deciding that a call to Arnold Culler and Dirge is in order.

• Skeleton Keys - Needful Action

David Regan calls a meeting between the remaining Dragons to which Dog and Hildegard Bingen come to answer. He requests the magic iron key that Dog used to track Muir only to find that Dog doesn't have it, but that it led him to the Yolo where he discovered a cult of thirty to fourty people. They decide to investigate, bringing Peter Baldwin and Tracy Burns as backup.

The winter weather has turned the Yolo into a marsh. Through the fog, rain and darkness they discover the commune tents and twenty Kine constructing a wall of brambles. Creeping closer they find an entrance into a bunker leading underground. After some deliberation they head inside, leaving Hildegarde behind.

• Skeleton Keys - Quest for the Kogaion

Following the sound of a distant voice, David, Peter, Dog, and Tracy come to an ajar door. Behind which they find an angry cursing Roxie Hart highlighted in glow sticks. She's affixed in cement to the wall save for her head and two arms. She tells them of her captors, Muir's death by Diablerie, and Brady's involvement in her and Muir's kidnapping.

The Hive begins to stir as they hear movement within the bunker. Dog begins to claw at Roxie's restraints as the others retreat back to the open air. The smell of flammables meet their senses and a barrier of branches that fill the exit. Peter attempts to force his way through while Tracy searches for another exit.

• Skeleton Keys - Few Return

2015

• Drones and Dragons
• Ill Tidings
• EC 1502 Reeve's Office
• EC 1502 Brady and Wooding
• Confluence
• The Brady Bunch
• Tangled Webs
• Lyke Wake Dirge
• Dark Water
• Cutting Gordian Knots
• As Above So Below
• Hunting Coturi
• Princes and Rabbit Holes
• Skeletons in the Closet
• A Secret Meeting
• Bone & Resin
• From the Depths
• Touching Base
• Police Interrogation
• In Furias Ignem Que
• Rendezvous with a Ghoul