Benjamin Dullahan's Story

"Father. Please forgive me for what I do, my mother has forgotten me and the cursed are all that remember me. I lay you to rest in these crypts under the sight of your brothers and sisters in death." Benjamin's voice echoed though the empty crypt, his feet crunching on the bones littered on the marble floor.

There were numerous blue lamps and pillars depicting a series of riders on horseback, motorbike and chariot. A stained glass window lit in a sterile white light which depicted a gate to hell. The glass window was colored with green and white, the edges stained with black and two wolfish guardians encircling a steel grate built into the glass, the words 'Cwn Annwn' were written underneath it.

Benjamin and two other bikers were carrying a large dark purple coffin by its handles down the stairs, each man wore a pained look and the leader of the gang had a thin, almost mournful frown on his face. It was the first time they ever lost a member to something that wasn't murder or in the line of the sacred duty of protecting the weak from the supernaturally powerful.

Jack flanked the group, wearing a black hoodie underneath his leather jacket, his tattooed hands were by his sides as he kneeled infront a cross, whispering to himself and kissing a small cross made out of silver.

A sister had died, and it was time to bury them.

Perro never really LIKED Renny, but Perro didn't like anybody save for Benjamin because he was the leader, and Jack, because they were dogbros. So when the latter dropped to his knees to pray by the cross, the hellhound in his human form placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He kept his mask down to hide whatever emotion he might have been feeling, if he felt anything at all other than repose and responsibility for the shades of the departed (though he dare not tell anybody that Renny, being undead to begin with, had no such shade to guard over).

Perro never spoke much in the presence of the gang, and today's rites were no exception. With another squeeze of Jack's shoulder, Perro moved to the stone table they placed the coffin on and opened up. Naturally, whoever stitched Renny back together did a marvelous job and she looked as calm and peaceful as any of them had seen her. It was eerie.
Perro vaguely wondered if she'd screamed to foretell her own death.

He performed the usual rites involving the body, marking it with red earth and the placement of a gold coin in the corpse's mouth as payment to the ferryman. The customs that the Gae Ceann had adopted over the years were a mix of various pagan and classical traditions, and Perro took it on himself to learn all of it so he could tend to the dead in his home.
Meanwhile Benji spoke, given he was the only one qualified to as the leader.

Rayan Doyle stood off from the center of everything, watching the amethyst coffin come carried in. A shame, almost, the death. Renny had been good. Ish. Marvelous job on the taxidermy. Better here than there in any case, but there was nothing to be done. All honors in death.

Leathers subtly creaked as Rayan lifted a hand to shield squinting eyes from Renny's final inferno, head bowed in final respects. Jack asked for final words. Renny wasn't as silent as the room, crackling in the coffin as she was in her final moments in this realm. A single scuffle; Rayan stepped forth once to say something.

A moment of silence passed.

Thinking better of it, Rayan stood in place and adjusted. There was a wisecrack in there about nobody being able to speak for Scream, about nobody but Scream being able to speak for Scream, but it just couldn't be voiced. Instead, Rayan settled for, "All honors in death."

Perro rumbled out a 'hear hear' to Rayan's words. He didn't have anything to say about Scream, because he really didn't like her a whole lot, and they never spent time enough together for him to form any good memories about her. He just knew her high standing like his and that they were considered the 'hardasses' of the gang. He nodded and watched the flames consume their fallen, representational of the ascending soul he knew wasn't there, but he didn't say a word.

When the fires had eaten everything they could and left ash, Perro picked up the ceremonial urn and a brush and carefully filled the urn with the earthly remnants of Scream before sealing it with a spell and wax. He presented it to Benjamin and shifted into his normal form before nudging open the heavy iron door that lead down into the crypts of the hallowed dead.

This was the hound's realm and he led the procession down to Renny's final resting place, torch sconces along the way lighting up with blue, ethereal flame as he passed, silent as the grave, pale as a ghost. They passed rooms of riches and buried servants and Perro glanced behind him. The crypts were cursed so the dead would spring to life to defend their home if anybody touched the forbidden treasure. Not to mention Perro would maul and consume the thief without a second thought.

He was a guard dog, after all, and these tombs were his to protect.

The projectiles whistled though the air, chipping off flakes of concrete from the entrance and scorching windows. The people that weren't taken out by the shock grenades were shouting, a majority of them were bikers and they were hauling themselves into cover and dragging the stunned or shot into the cover, it was a frantic display.

Benjamin looked up from his desk. The President got to his feet, pulling a hatchet from the nearby rack and sliding it though his waistband, taking up a shotgun and racking the pump as a shell filled with bone fragments, human nails and teeth was shoved into the chamber with a loud click.

Hark wasn't stupid, he hit the floor and as soon as they drove off, he hit the entrance and slammed his back into the corner, taking a few deep breaths and peeking around the corner, that was a lot of damage these assholes were inflicting. Hark held a hand infront of his face and fired blindly at the chains supporting the large motorbike hanging from the roof, which promptly snapped and begun to fall, hopefully landing on David's face.

At the same time somebody dived off the balcony, tearing off his jacket and letting the wolf take over, hitting the concrete and scampering off after the car, following the noises and smells. The wolf quickly gained, leaping up onto a roof and aiming for a leap unto the black car's roof, six inch claws looking for a solid grip.

Benjamin begun to break into a run for the stairs down into the bar.

As the car continued down the road, one of the Mobsters caught sight of the werewolf chasing them. With a brief exchange in Tauron, the Car accelerated even harder, as the wolf descended with an audible clunk on the roof.

"What the frak?" One of the Mobsters said, growling as he looked back, a third Mobster holding up his Disruptor RCW And firing through the roof, sending searing bolts of green up through the roof at the Werewolf as the car jerked and swerved to shake the creature off.

Alongside the black car, a white pickup pulled up similar to Cally's. It was however unmarked. The white clad mercenary swiveling his rotary plasma cannon on the back, and holding down the trigger. The weapon barked it's report and sent a flurry of superheated plasma, with the intent on either killing, maiming or harming the wolf, or at the very least, force him off the car.

David heard the screech of car tires before he heard the opening gunfire and he knew well what it meant. He dropped to the floor, just as much in the line of fire as the other occupants of the building. With his back to the wall and the windows overhead, he was under the spray of plasma, but bits of broken glass, charred wood, and chips of concrete rained down around him until at last the vehicles drove off leaving a moment of silence in their wake.

The silence was short lived as both David and Hark went into motion.

David's eyes followed the line of trajectory from Hark's guns to the chains overhead. He dove forward from his position against the wall to take cover behind the length of the bar. He took only a moment to withdraw another grenade from his belt to toss over the length of the counter. As it detonated in a bright flash of light and sound, he rose back to his feet and turned to return fire on Hark in a spray of plasma bolts.

Benjamin's appearance in the stairway would be met with a wave of kinetic force from David's open palm that if it struck would lift him up and toss him back against the steps like a rag-doll. Within the narrow confines of the stairway the focused pulse of kinetic force from the device on David's hand would be difficult to physically evade as there was nowhere to take cover from it.

Akio was the first one to enter, for a very drastic change, but that was probably because he was the one who called the meeting in the first place. He plopped himself on his bean bag chair, and then had the floor it was sitting on elevate to give him a better position. He was not sure how many would show up to his invitation, given how although he was likely older then most of them, he was new to the group itself.

However, they had an incredibly important topic to discuss. The defense treaty for Terra. Although Akio himself was not really enthusiastic about it, and he was very distrustful of mortals and to be fair anyone, he recognized the...uses...this treaty could have. Mainly, about how they could be seen more as equals, and solidify their own indepedence more. If they allowed this organization to go on with out them, to protect all of Terra which included themselves without them, then Akio could see it being used to say that they were lesser then them, that they needed protection, that they had nothing to contribute.

That sort of thinking and plotting could undo a lot of the work they did, such as during the Chaos Ball, and that was something Akio did not plan to allow, at least not without a fight.

"We absolutely cannot let this go on without some input ourselves. Yes, the Detente either has to be a part of this treaty...or, we must destroy it from becoming a force that will be recognized..."

Of course, Akio had no intention of limiting himself to one solution either. He believed there were only two choices for the Detente. To support it and become equals, or to destroy it entirely and prevent the risk from ever forming in the first place. The question was, what would the other members believe?

Louis Ancroft Vernon, The Prince of Montague's Gambit, arrived within the room wearing a sleek black Brioni suit with a red tie and accents to match his apparel and shoes. The vampiric lawyer simply dressed as was appropriate for someone of his station whilst looking with mild irritation at his peers who would arrive whilst keeping the majority of his ire in check as a cool indifference towards Akio Revela. Had his intentions not have been clear the last time he spoke to the majority within this room or did they simply forget or ignored the statement of wishing for this foolishness to end. Instead Mr. Vernon simply found his old seat and produced a few files to go over the legality of the situation before attempting to speak his ideals once more.

"I say we disband and allow the Masquerade to begin anew."

Louis finally spoke up regardless of whoever decided to listen. The obvious answer was to allow the entropy to take hold of what was present and begin again regardless of distractions or fears that the others might produce. The blood sucking lawyer simply brought his gaze around to each and every member who would be present only to collect his thoughts before speaking again.

"We are vampires, an undeniable truth, a majority of Terra and her inhabitants know of our existence only through the actions that we commit to here presently. I say we allow ourselves to fade from the public light and move to subtly change the directions of the political world around us......"

Louis paused for a moment to consider his next words only to take a needless breath and rise from his seat whilst resting his hands upon the table and leaning forward to look at his fellow councilors.

"Allow the Masquerade to come to fruition once more. Let humanity remember us only as a bedtime story to frighten their children into submission whilst we move among the shadows unseen and unhindered by the constraints of legal binding and pointless debate. I suggest that if we are to truly thrive we must consider how open we are to this world and public now and see how foolish it is to not expect any rogue with deathly intent to walk in here and attempt to kill us all."

Mr. Vernon simply frowned as he looked around only to then bring his cold attention over to Akio.

"Mr. Revela, forgive me, I have no intention of inciting a riot or creating an argument that would belittle your concerns of the current situation. In fact I pity and feel that this situation could have been remedied much sooner if my words had been listened to from the previous meeting. This is why I feel as strongly as I do about disbanding this sham and allowing things like ourselves to broadcast our intentions to the known public."

"He has a point," Daemala had arrived. She sidled into her usual spot, snapping her fingers, a freshly corked bottle of Blud brought to her. It was, after all, her drink.

"The mortals could give a damn, and this planet is hell in a hand basket. I think it a grand idea to fade from the spotlight-"

"But what of Verinotte Hollow?" Interrupted Zosimos, his eyes glittering. Daemala shot him an incredulous look. She opened her mouth to rip him a new one when she remembered her tavern, and instead bit her lip. Her tavern was like a child to her, the patrons exhaustive and the business ho-hum. The money, though, and having the front which she did...

"Ah, yes. We've created a haven for those like us and now we seek to abandon it. How very..." He flopped out a hand, "Consistent to the nature of what we are. We create, we destroy. We are as walking gods except we can still ourselves be destroyed. Tell me," Zosimos turned to Luis, "How would you see this castle haunted? How would you propose going underground, when the very nature of everything we've done has been to raise our status to equality-though facing the facts we were never truly able to be equal, were we?" He hissed this last sentence in Daemala's direction. She herself was a vampyric supremacist, though she tried her hardest to deny it in certain company.

"If we're speaking politics," He continued, looking now to Akio, "Fading from the spotlight as being what we are may not be in our best interests. The discovery of subterfuge is all too common in the modern day. No, we must be clever. "

Zosimos grinned, and Daemala shifted in her seat. She took a long drink from her glass and considered the options. For her, fading back into the shadows might be as easy as a change of hair. Not many, other than her staff, knew what she was despite the looming implications. Her mind began to churn.

"Wha'bou' the Hollow? I reckon we can't just be comin' up as our own, yer sayin. Disband th'wholatha govrment n' just what?'" Ulrich didn't say much, but when he did, he had good questions.

"I do not claim to know the answers."

Louis offered as he seemed to grow bored with this prattle. The vampiric lawyer simply stood his ground and crossed his arms only to look upon this foolish comity knowing that they had damned themselves the moment they all agreed to be public about their cursed lives.

"I just am simply pointing out that a Masquerade is in order. You allow our mortal kin to know about our locale and even weaknesses! You appoint yourselves as prideful gods who know little but claim so much. I simply believe we should step away from all of this. Return to our shadowy ways and step out from the spotlight before we risk our necks from the fanatical who have clearly been watching us prattle on like defenseless children."

He simply stood from his position and made his way out from this fop of a meeting. His words had been said and there was nothing else to add. He did however glance back to Daemala only to shake his head before taking his leave.

“I agree with establishing the Masquerade again,” Said Reisel Dracul, “Though we cant simply slip underground, and our influence is too strong to deny us our place in history. Let us remain as we are, but protect those of us who have need.” He settled back into his seat, having spoken his truth.

“But wha of them evil forces being sensed throughout Terra?” Piped up Ulrich Paternosta, “E’er since that damn super-volcano, thingsve been esclatin wildly beyond our dear wood. Ive heard news of a plague, damnit! The Monks in tha there Shrine of Shrines have been relentless in they attempts to contack em damn thins. Should we be in a worry, or we followin the guidance o them damn crazy Monks and seek the alliance o this shit?”

“The more the merrier,” quipped Zosimos, “Assemble arms and prepare for the worst, Paternosta, if you see the need. We might receive compensation for the big poisoning at the Ball of Chaos for reputation damages. I’m still undecided as to come forth as a witness or not,” He studied his nails and looked around the room.

“Speaking of company, I’m throwing a dinner party. Strictly business, my blood. I’ll have no fangs lowered at the smell of the guests! If we are to survive this rock, more than survive, thrive on this rock, we must consider all options. After all, what is one monster to another?” Zosimos grinned.

“Is anyone from Lutetia coming?” Terun piped up with a bit of joy, hoping an old friend from the upper classes of two lifetimes ago would surface into his life again.

"Castle Vankoryth, ah yes. I trust the Conclave is already assembled in the Room?" Prince Lacroix didn't look back at his companion, eager to take his seat and get this part of Aslund under control. Castle servants saw his approach, hastily opening the large double doors that led to the Room of Reason. "My apologies for our tardiness, we ran into some unruly Kindred that were practically asking to be put down." Lacroix re-adjusted his tie while taking his seat.

The Prince's companion, a Justicar sent to ensure negotiations went smoothly, didn't bother to sit. Instead he stood behind the Prince, gazing at the assembled Kindred. "May I have a refreshment? I'm as famished as a street urchin missing both hands." Swan tipped his hat to one of the servant girls, directing his question towards Daemala.

Lacroix leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and folding his hands together. "We're here because the laws that bind our society, the laws that are the fabric of our existence, are in disrepair. The Traditions are what separate us from savages. Lest we endanger all of our kind, the First Tradition of the Masquerade, needs to be enforced."

He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to be measured, then continued. "The Detente, are powerful indeed, and it is due to this power that they cannot simply be left unchecked. My companion and I came here to make no threats, or to demand anything." A brief look was given to Ulrich, "We came here to have a civilized discussion, about the Camarilla and the Detente coming to an agreement, for the good of our kind. When that's over, we'd be delighted to attend your party Zosimos."

"Let's open a channel of communication," Lacroix moved a hand, beginning to lightly drum his fingers against the table. "The humans have become able to destroy us. Should they unite to eradicate us, the war could very well lead to our extinction. Aslund is threatened by our overexposure. The Detente should remain, yes. However they need to tighten their control over their peers. When rules in your territory are broken, I expect a Blood Hunt to be called. Fugitives have began to hide in your lands, knowing they needn't follow the Traditions. The powers that be are beginning to worry the impact this will have on our society. The Detente are more than capable of executing these fugitives."

Swan nodded, and said with a growl, "Detente, Thoughts?"

"A Blood Hunt, for rule breakers," Ulrich smiled, always the lover of blood hunts.

"I will not be controlled. I am not a fugitive and I will not hide myself within my own territory!" Daemala scoffed, earning a sardonic look from Zosimos. She glared back and the two stared until Zosimos rolled his eyes towards Lacroix.

"The Masquerade serves it's purpose, as the Detente serves it's purpose. I see no reason why the two cannot exist with a symbiotic bond," Zosimos began, "Overexposure..."

Zosimos stood from his seat and began to slowly place.

"It's true The Detente, especially as of late, has been more a public figurehead for the Cursed Wood than anything else. Let that remain, but strengthen. We are no longer feared as we once were, and you are right: this is a problem. As for fugitives, if there are any you seek, name the names. The Detente does not harbor traitors of any kind."

Reisel cleared his throat.

"The Vankoryth Detente has done much good. It can continue to do so, so long as we keep ourselves first. Let the masquerade rekindle our senses of self. Let us attack from all sides, in gaining back control of the night. Let us do so publicly, with The Detente, and privately, with The Masquerade. I see no other option if we are to survive. We cannot fully hide, yet we shouldn't fully show."

Zosimos plopped back into his seat.

"We will protect The Masquerade. We will slip into every skin we have. We are the Vampire Lords of Vankoryth, we are the secret shadows which pull the strings of society. We are the night. Now, about those traitors. What have they done to threaten those who exist in The Masquerade? Have their actions threatened The Vankoryth Detente?"

Ulrich Paternosta snorted, "Dare they. We'll get 'em."

Terun frowned from his seat, still thinking about the dinner party.

Akio smiled, sitting in his bean bag chair that might seem out of place, but somehow the atmosphere around him indicated something else. From what he was hearing, it seemed that things would be going in a way desirable for him. Public acknowledgement gave him the ability to run large labs without having to move around a lot, and secrecy would let him get the harder to access items and ingredients he needed.

Indeed, if one wanted to be technical, they could say that Akio had always been operating in both the day and night, given his constant desire to get more test subjects and keep a supply of fresh blood.

"I for one, find this proposal to be quite agreeable. After all, we cannot just submit, go back to hiding and waste all this effort, but we also cannot forget our roots, our heritage".

Incidentally, Akio was actually one of the oldest vampires present, well over one thousand years old. Because of that, there were a number of younger vampires that looked older who, despite hte way he acted, treated him like a superior already due to being alive for so long.

And of course, he also had three servants that came with him, his most loyal retainers.

"As for the traitors, if you could so kindly bring them to me alive, I would be happy to make good use of them. After all, getting test subjects is something I always could use help in".

Showing his fangs in a smile, he looked around at the others and he raised a glass of blood.

"After all, we are the Detente, the Masquerade, and whatever we wish to be. Our public goal is equality and respect, but everyone here should not delude themselves. Our private goal is quite simple, we take what we want, and we keep it no matter who tries to get in our way. We are a greedy, gluttonous people who simply wish to fufill our desires".

Although some might feel chills go down their spines when they heard Akio speak like this, one couldn't really say he was wrong either. And yet, one might just get the feeling he had more desires then most.

A figure would step into the room escorted by two finely dressed armed knights bearing the Lessard Crest. Although dressed modern, she had what could almost be called ancient eyes. Each step was purposeful and direct before she came to the table and spoke in an English Accent, "You all of you lack decorum to not invite any of the Lessards to this shambles you call a meeting. Well, fortunately, my schedule is not full and also because this needs to be addressed." she indicates to her Knights to remove their helmets before turning her red eyes to Zosimos, "You really thought we would not find out? You really thought you could end one of the oldest Hunter Lines without consequences? I would ask if you are just dimwitted or just a fucking spastic, but I know why you did it and finally, you are reaping what you sow."

She would gesture for one of the knights to speak, "Sir Lauden, you tell these cretins please what you were told." the Knight nodded approaching the table, his very presence regal, "As I explained Dutchess Hazel, one of the Thralls informed us that the girlfriend of Maria Van-Helsing has been encouraged to take up arms by another. We do believe they intend to end this experiment."

The red-haired girl with such fiery barbs laughed darkly, "I do believe a human expression comes to mind here. The chickens have come to roost. Zosimos as representative of the Lessard Family it is deemed your offence is so great and endangers us all that you should be made to answer for this slight. Thus I call for Noctem Judicii where you will be able to answer for this insanity and prove whether you should be spared. If you refuse..." she paused turned to the Knight said something in French before seemingly agreeing and remarking, "Then by Decree of the Lessard Family you are exiled for your crimes against our kind and the utter reckless endangerment. To think Casren put you in charge, and now you bring a war to our kind." scowling she draws out a handkerchief and blow her nose before continuing, "Daemala Tauvyr as the actual leader of Detente you must understand what he did endangers our kind?" she asked her voice suddenly gentle even adorable, "Who will second me so we confirm this and move on to more important affairs?"

Zosimos began to laugh, but a swift motion from Daemala's gloved hand had his building roar silenced in an instant. Her gaze flit around the room, resting on the Ulrich. Terun, however, sensed something very familiar about the Lessard newcomers. He stuck to his spot and silence, wondering why he was awash with such an uncomfortable feeling.

"Ridiculo-" Hissed Zosimos, cut off in an instant and frozen on the spot. The only part of the old vampire which remained mobile were his eyes, locked in an instant with Ulrich. The two were engaged in an internal power struggle. Ulrich could keep Zosimos still, but not for long. Several members of the Forces Vankoryth entered the Room of Reason, positioning themselves around Zosimos, ready to engage. They nodded at the Knights of the Lessards, granting them permission to intervene if necessary.

"A trial," Daemala was doing her best to hide a smile. Just minutes ago Zosimos held the floor. She would have to play her cards carefully so as not to lose what favor he gained.

"A trial. for indeed the reason for our return to the Masquerade and the reason for all of this toe-tipping, the very actions of you. Zosimos," She turned to face the room, no longer hiding her grin. She first addressed Akio.

"First, we, of course, must present a trial. After which, I trust, you have a system ready for what to do with those found....guilty, yes?" Daemala next looked to Lacroix, "As soon as you have a list of these fugitives, the damage doers who hide in our dark asylum, we will begin taking action. Ulrich and Reisel, you will assist Prince Lacroix in whatever he needs so that damage must be undone."

Ulrich had turned a new shade of pale, both him and Zosimos quivering. Daemala took her seat, having said her bit and wishing to get on with it all already. There was a quick scuffle as Ulrich released Zosimos, and he was apprehended. It would take a close observer to see the syringe as it released into Zosimos, doing nothing aside nullifying his shapeshifting and shadow-blending powers. It would last long enough to get him to containment.

Obscenities were spat, a chair was sadly broken, three tapestries hit the ground ripped, and Terun didn't come out from under the table until the door had shut on Ulrich, Zosimos, and his escorts.

"What about the dinner party?" Terun asked quietly. Daemala ignored him and took her leave, curtsying the royalty and giving respectful nods to the rest. Everyone could sort out whatever from here, she assumed. All she cared was that she was recognized as the leader of the Vankoryth Detente, pesky Zosimos was out of her way, and there was dinner party that needed a change in arrangements. On her way out she nearly toppled over a courier, who had a note regarding a new energy disturbance somewhere in the Cursed Wood. Daemala could scream.

Manik Chakor set a large golden envelope down on the table. Inside were a selection of smaller golden envelopes. He withdrew about a third of these and whisked away

Daemala Tauvyr arrived and had a seat before the golden envelope. It was a delight they had arrived on time! She didn't trust her messenger, despite being a fellow member of the Detente. He was a slimeball. Smaller than she had expected. When she picked it up it was the right weight. Pretty heavy- but lighter than the full order. Manik had followed his instructions, for once, all except one detail.

The envelopes were supposed to be silver.

She took in a deep breath and leaned back, one hand slowly migrating to the other. She absentmindedly twist the ring. Zosimos was in custody, and she was the Queen of the Vampires. A laugh escaped her lips. Casren was gone. She didn't get sad.
The castle was hers to rule!
...duh.

Daemala sliced open one of the envelopes with a stiletto nail colored blood and let it fall to the table. Out she fished a gold piece of starched fabric, which served as the invitation. It was impeccably embroidered with flowery lettering. She held it delicately aloft and grinned. Oh, this was going to be lovely.