8.30 pm Thursday, 12 December 9 hours until sunrise, Succubus Club The Domain
Rain
A gentle piano sonata filled the air as Merritt and I slowly spun across the dance floor.
“You know, you’re the best thing I’ve seen at this event so far,” I said to her. It felt like together we prowled the floor more than danced, two predators encircled by little fish.
“Oh, I bet you say that to all dominators,” She laughed, and the sound of her laugh was like a balm against everything the night had been thus far.
“No, assuredly,” I confessed adamantly, “I have eyes only for you.” And it was true. I’’d tried to keep an eye out for Izac, Brendan or Eclipse as we moved around the room, but each time I tried the music changed as I was once more swung into the dance by Merritt.
In a smooth transition, the music changed from classical piano to rock as Don’t fear the Reaper came over the speakers.
All our times have come
Here, but now they’re gone
Seasons don’t fear the Reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun, or the rain
And once more we were off, and I was oblivious.
Izac
Izac was doing better, and though he found no one else from the old coterie, he did discover someone who seemed to have their finger on the pulse of Kindred Life. He was very well dressed, in a linen shirt, silk cravat and vest that looked like it had been high fashion a hundred and thirty years ago. He was constantly surveying the dance floor and returning to check a pocket watch in his hand, as if noting the movements of the dancers gave him insights into the movements of the universe.
“Hi, have you got the time?” Izac asked by way of making conversation.
“Yes, 8.55pm and 37, 38, 39…” the man replied, his voice ticking off the seconds as efficiently as the pocket watch.
“Ha, names Izac. How are you?”
“Pleasure. Izac? I was expecting you to be missing for a while. I am The Tic Tock Man.”
Izac blinked. As usual he underestimated how interesting a Man of Mystery was to a community of people who have lived so long, nothing was much of a mystery.
“How did you know I was missing?”
“You were not dead, in my circles I assure you, I would have known. There were whispers that you were being searched for. It was obvious that someone of power had you. It really wasn’t that hard.”
That was more interesting. Since being taken by Lady Stone, Izac had learnt to not to fear Vampire society as much as try to understand it. The idea of aligning himself with someone ‘in the know’ seemed like a very good idea.
“And what circles would that be? I’d be interested in knowing who they’d be.”
“That will depend on how much you’re willing to pay.”
“What would be an equivalent amount?”
“A certain time in indentured servitude. I, for one, would be very interested in your services.”
Izac could have laughed if he’d found the idea even remotely funny. Hadn’t had enough of being someone else’s catspaw? “I have fingers in enough pies right now.”
“You wouldn’t be a menial servant. I wouldn’t keep you like some trophy as many Kindred would. No, if I needed a blade in the back, that would be your role.
It was always good to know your worth, even if it didn’t bring Izac any particular joy. Was that all he was good for? A hired killer? Still, not an indentured servant, but if he could pick and choose his job, maybe it could work. He was definitely seeing a future for himself, and maybe that wasn’t a bad thing.
“Hmm, give me some time to think about it.”
“You have a few nights.”
“And I will try to find you an answer,” He said and meant it. This Tic Toc Man was one to keep an eye on, “So, what brings you to the club?”
“Hmm, resolving a few matters…there are too many things going on…sometimes events need…fine tuning. That’s why I need the right people, to help keep everything in tune.”
Fascinating.
Eclipse
Eclipse, her eyes only interested in Izac, wandered back to the foyer hoping to catch him as he arrived to the event. It was her bad luck to stumble across Chucko. She could still feel the razorblades from the cream pie he’d thrown at the bar and was not interested in a repeat performance. Unfortunately, he had spotted her before she could make a quick turn and get out of sight.
“Hey Eclipse! How ya doin’? I was waiting to see when you would turn up.”
Hoping to stop whatever Chucko had planned, Eclipse skipped the polite banter and just stared at him.
“What? I thought you liked a good joke. I always remember you telling great jokes. Do you remember the one about swimming in a pit of blood and drinking from a rancid heart.”
Her eyes narrowed. Malkavians, you never knew what they were going to dredge up.
“You sure do like your jokes,” She said.
“Its your joke, not mine.”
“And where were you when the prank happened? It seemed your kind of thing,” Eclipse asked. That moment was seared into her mind, she could have said where he was in the circle…if he’d been there.
“I was around, I didn’t need to be involved,” Chucko replied, nonchalantly, “There was enough of the main cast to get the job done.”
“How unfortunate, for you.”
“Well, you know me. I’m just Time’s fool,” He shrugged.
“Anyone else you’ve dropped out of time to prank?”
“Many, but right now I want to give you a hand,” He grinned and the red of his painted grin stretched from ear to ear. From somewhere, he withdrew a werewolf hand and offered it to her.
“I see you’ve been outside.” She stared at the hand, more claw in its current state.
“It was good eating, “ He confessed, “It’s very rare when dog steak is on the menu.”
“Then why don’t you eat this one?”
“I ate the other. I said give you a hand; not hands.” He chuckled, and gestured for her to take the severed limb, “You know it’s rude to refuse a meal.”
“I’m not hungry,” She was sure he’d filled it full of acid or poison or…something.
“I insist. I’ve not laced it with anything…hazardous to our condition.” He said, and though he was a prankster, Eclipse had not found Chucko to be a liar.
She took the hand. It was firm, but lighter than she expected. Cutting the skin with a fingernail, the whole hand popped like a balloon and Chucko roared with laughter.
“Oh! It would have been better if you had bitten it, but it was fun all the same, right?” He said after regaining his composure.”
“You always do have something up your sleeve.”
“Lets see what else is up there,” He grinned and stuck his whole head up the sleeve of his clown costume. Though voluminous, the sleeve and certainly the cuff were nowhere near big enough for a whole head, and yet, it disappeared into the material without seeming use of a power. “No, just bones and other things in there. Nothing special.”
“I didn’t know kindred could get migraines, but I think you’re inducing one.”
“Well, at least I did something for you, “ And the grin was back, “I’m surprised you didn’t enquire further about my sleeves.”
Eclipse shook her head, she wasn’t taking that bait.
“Augh! Oh well, you can be on someone else’s hook then.” He sighed and Eclipse was reminded why she was there at all. She still had to find Izac.
Dominic
An 80s electronic dance song pounded through the speakers and Dominic strutted to the beat through the rooms. With no particular location in mind, he wandered into the Gambling Hall and caught the eye of a friendly looking young man in generic shirt and slacks, a laptop bag hanging from his shoulder. He looked modern and out of place amongst the party-goers.
“Well, how are you? Giovanni said by way of introducing himself, “And who are you?”
“I’m doing well, thank you. I’m Amelio, good to meet you,” And the young man held out his hand for Dominic to shake, which Dominic did.
“Good to meet you.”
“Forgive me, before this conversation progresses, can I ask what century you were made?”
It was an odd way of saying it, and Dominic couldn’t help but smirk at the awkward statement. This was a fledgling at best; how cute.
“I was embraced in the back end of the 1800s.”
Amelio frowned, “Are you comfortable with modern technology?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. It’s often hard explaining this to older generations. I was only sired in ‘91. See, my interest lies in expanding the Chantry’s interest in technology. Making the mundane, fantastically.” He said, and Amelio started on his sales pitch. Dominic was intrigued. He, himself was dabbling in incorporating his Necromancy into technology and he found that the idea of magic and tech aligned with his own.
“ I don’t know about the fantastical, but what you are suggesting does interest me.”
“Well, if you have a problem that needs solving, I can demonstrate to you the usefulness of Technomancy.”
“A problem? Such as?”
“It can be very useful for getting around Government things. There’s regular encryption and then there’s my encryption. It’s all just a matter of making it worth something. I’ve not been around long enough to really make any footholds in Kindred society. It’s all a matter of time and getting around to it.”
“And what would you consider worth your skills?”
“A closed or redundant server with access to Shreknet would be good enough. A back door, if you will. It’s been very hard to work without being noticed.”
Cyberpunk music started, fitting for the subject at hand.
“Fascinating, “ And Dominic was intrigued, “You know, I’ve been exploring myself a little, in my own way. Incorporating spirits along the information lines. But like you…there never seems to be enough time.”
“Interesting problem. Would you like to form a partnership after the event? If you’d support me in my work, I could make that happen.”
“Do you know of my reputation?” Dominic asked. Amelio’s pitch was so like his own interest it seemed almost a little too coincidental.
“You’re Giovanni, aren’t you. I hope we can keep our business out of family affairs. We can keep the secret between us.”
“I was referring to my personal reputation.”
“Oh, I’m not local.”
Dominic pulled out a business card and handed it to Amelio, “I have several businesses just out of the City including residences and a congenial bar for you to visit. You can certainly stay with me.”
“Great, San Francisco all over again. Thanks, I’ll be in touch. Ah, would you like to run some games?” Amelio gestured to a spare table.
“Yes, please,” Dominic replied and while Amelio set up a table for a game of Omaha, Dominic quickly sent a text off to Bruce.
HOW ARE YOU DOING FINDING A SUBJECT FOR THE SIDE PROJECT?
The answer was not long in replying, NOT YET, BOSS, STILL LOOKING.
Stallion
Stallion was still in the garden of dead werewolves with the young man. At the moment they were just strolling, but Stallion had now resigned himself to the fact that he was about to be the plaything of a very powerful kindred.
“Come along, my nightmare. Where is my song?”
And so, a rap he hadn’t finished until that moment, began:
[verse]
Echoes in the streets, low murmurs in the heat,
Back alley chatter, bass hummin’ under cover on the beat.
Silence got a price, but the silver caught my ear,
If I knew the end was near, I still wouldn’t show no fear.
Got a partner on the line, we should need a little talk,
So I hit the midnight route and let my soles do the walk.
City lights blur fast, every shadow got a name,
Every promise in the dark got a little bit of flame.
Keep it hush, keep it tight, let the pressure build slow,
When the clock hands clap back, nobody but one gotta know.
[chorus]
May the building burn, baby, burn,
Let the whole block witness every lesson that I learn.
May the destiny rest with the date,
When the smoke rise high, tell me who can seal my fate? (Sarrasine)
[verse]
Door swing unlocked, had my focus on the track,
Skills on deck, yeah, I came in with the stack.
Swagger through the lobby, then I ran into the night,
Whole life on the line, every move was sharp and slight.
His blood lust the signal, but I’m colder than the steel,
Sound falling to the air while the moment turned real.
A bound must be upheld, let the heavy judgement drop,
A mound must be cleared away, make the whole thing stop.
Feet stay quick, no slip, no stumble in the grime,
One wrong breath, one wrong step, and it’s gone in a time.
I been schemin’ with the rhythm, let the cadence do the work,
Every word got weight when the underworld lurks.
[instrumental break]
[verse]
Scene so wild, Katherine of Montpellier that she would dismiss,
a scene so wild, Maxwell would admit that he would admis.
Do what must be done, no applause, no crown,
Just a bitter little victory when the building comes down.
Taste too sweet, but the ending always mean,
Wreckage in the rearview, smoke climbin’ like a dream.
Hear the sirens in the distance, feel the tension in my chest,
But the path I picked keeps pullin’ me through the mess.
I don’t dance with regret, I just let it fade to grey,
If the world want a villain, then I’m not built that way.
Hands stay clean? Nah, this game don’t play fair,
Every step in the dark got a ghost in the air.
[chorus]
May the building burn, baby, burn,
Let the whole block witness every lesson that I learn.
May the destiny rest with the date,
When the smoke rise high, tell me who can seal my fate? (Sarrasine)
[verse]
Would’ve been annihilated, but I stood up vindicated,
Every scar on my soul got me feeling de-evaluated.
I been haunted, I been hunted, still I’m here with the beat,
Heart cold, mind sharp, got the streets at my feet.
Say my name real low, let the echo do the rest, (Stallion)
If the fate tried to break me, I turned pressure into the best.
From the ashes to the dawn, yeah, I’m just trying to survive,
And the story keeps on spinning while the embers stay alive.
[verse]
To keep up the wants and I can’t tell you depth,
I shall keep my word even until the final death.
Sticking in noses where they shouldn’t belong,
You got to know that there was a plan all along.
Lips have slipped, mind getting sharper,
but here we are now no longer need to harper.
So you may come at me now with all your might,
but listen quick and listen now, it may be best if we both try to keep it all tight.
[verse]
Now most is said and done shall we have a little fun?
We’re inside Elysium, you may have to watch your bun.
You got those eyes that can see these streaks,
You got the discipline going inside a domain, now that really reaks.
If caught outside, do you think I would tarnish his reputation?
Nah, ’cause if I’m in the wrong there would be no continuation.
Now consider all these characters,
They would raise an eyebrow if the traditions do not matters.
Sarrasine knows what’s what because he’s so keen,
If I were just left alone for all to see what could that mean?
May the destiny rest with the date,
When the smoke rise high, tell me who will seal my fate?
“Stop, that’s quite all right. Good start there, poor execution, but thank you for indulging me. What do you want? Dangerous secrets?”
“No,” Stallion said adamantly. The rap had focused his thoughts on what he really wanted, and it wasn’t to be dangerous to a…person such as this one.
“No? That’s what you asked for. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
The young man considered, “As you wish. So, what else in lieu of equal value can I give you?”
“I want to be left alone,” Stallion said simply. Just to let be. Not to be the plaything of the powerful one way or the other. He’d had enough and he hadn’t even considered the final out, he just wanted to live the life he had in peace.
“Sure,” The young boy said with a shrug, “Are you sure you want that?”
“I mean, to a degree. I just want to live my unlife as is.”
“I can make that work. Done. You’ll notice it soon enough, don’t worry.” The young man said and the deal was complete.
“You should go back to the party, it’s not safe for a young one like you out here. And relax, I don’t want to ride you just yet.”
Stallion couldn’t quite believe it.
“But, what about the streaks you saw in my aura?”
The young man shrugged, “What about them? They’re evidence of what you’ve done. A badge…of sorts.”
“Wouldn’t it tarnish the Prince’s reputation if others saw what you saw? Couldn’t he consider me a loose end?”
The young man laughed a tinkling that sounded like a young girl’s, “No, not at all. You’re not the only one with those lines.”
“I’m alright?” Stallion asked, unsure if to believe the boy or not.
“You are quite all right and the boon will be honoured. No, go back inside, like a good boy.”
9.10 pm Thursday, 12 December 8 hours until sunrise, Succubus Club The Domain
Izac
I’ve lost all ambition
All worldly claim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission, that you’d feel the same
I’ll have reached the goal that I’m dreaming, oh, believe me
Izac left the Tic Toc Man to continue surveying his domain and moved to a room marked as the Changing Room. Here a young woman with chocolate brown skin and eyes so large he could almost feel her eyeballing him. Eventually, he finally gave in and walked over to talk to her.
“Good night so far?”
“ You could say that. Interesting at the very least. Did you see the Auto-Diablerie? That was a once in a century event.”
“No, that sounds terrible,” Izac winced. He was becoming better at dealing with the morbid fascinations of other kindred, but not storming off in disgust wasn’t the same and not being disgusted, “Yeah, as rare as it is, I prefer not to see that sort of thing. What was your name?”
“My name? Marie Adler. I think you may be a little older than me, is there anything you can tell me about things?”
“What exactly are you looking for?”
“Like minded individuals. Friend. You see my kind don’t always get the good end of the stick as it were.”
“Your kind?” He asked, confused. She was kindred, that much he was sure.
“Do you know what a Catif is? I’ve been trying to do my best to change things. Would you be willing to help out kindred down on their luck?”
Izac was sympathetic…to a point. He’d heard the clanless get a bad rap, but ‘nothing was for nothing’ and he said as much to her.
“How about winning the war?”
“War? There’s always war, “ he lamented
“With as powerful as some of us are, get twenty kindred together and there’s war.” Izac had to agree.
“Something…anything to help me and the thin bloods. Is that something you’d be able to help in?”
At this Izac sucked his teeth, “Potentially, but, I’m not really one to get mixed up in anything too explosive.”
“That would be up to you, but if you were interested in my credentials you could inquire around the event about Maldavis.”
“Okay, I’ll ask around. Maybe we can make a deal.”
“I’ll be around. It doesn’t seem like this event is going to end up like the Chicago incident at least.”
Putting together what Merritt had told him on their arrival with this comment, Izac was able to make an educated guess, “I’m taking that didn’t end very well.”
“ A lot of dead kindred. They took down the Prince though, and that was a good thing.”
“Nice to be able to see the silver lining.”
“Anyway, just think about what I said. You can do some real good. Good, not just those down trodden, but the whole of Kindred society.”
“I think you can do some good for yourself. I think you have the right idea, but maybe there’s a different way of going about it. But that’s a topic for another time. After I’ve done my homework.”
Rain
A soundtrack heavy and warlike pounded through the dance room as I was made aware that I should be looking for the others. Though dancing with Lady Merritt was hard to leave behind, I did, however, have an image to maintain.
“I am supposed to be keeping tabs on the others,” I confessed to Merritt. For her part, she was unphased by my departure.
“Well, you have fun. I last saw Izac going in that direction,” She pointed to one of the four passageways out of the room.
“Are you sticking around for the rest of the event?” I asked, hoping to retrieve my place by her side later.
“I’m sure I’ll find myself somewhere,” She said vaguely.
“I’ll keep an eye out. Save me a dance?”
“Okay,” She waved and danced away without a care in the world.
In a room cryptically called the ‘Changing Room’ I finally spotted Izac chatting with a young woman. If he’d been missing decades instead of little more than a week I would have recognised him. He hadn’t even changed from his usual uniform of black on black for the event. Not wanting to disturb his conversation, I walked around the two of them and placed myself in his eyeline and waited for him to notice me.
It didn’t take long.
The young woman’s attention seemed to drift to another individual, freeing Izac to lift his gaze and find mine. He gave his farewells to the woman and loped over, just like that first night on the docks.
“Not exactly the person I expected to find second,” He greeted me, and our little cloud of gloom was back, “It’s good to see you Rain. You look…”
“Hmm?” I turned so he got the full effect of my Roman attire.
“You look good.” Ah eloquent as usual.
“Thank you. It is very good to see you finally, “ And without any other preamble I embraced him and was reciprocated with a stiff by heart-felt hug in return.
“You don’t know how good it is to see you,” I confessed, and though all the planning and scheming in Dominic’s lounge was irrelevant now, I still meant it.
“Likewise, “ He said as if wanting to say more, but I didn’t give him much of a chance.
“And now we have to find Eclipse!”
“Yeah,” he agreed, “Have you seen her anywhere around?”
“I left her an hour or so ago, yelling at a Brujah in the theatre. We could start there,” I suggested and gestured back towards the entrance.
“Right. You stay here and I’ll go look for her in that direction.”
What?
“Ha, I’m not leaving your side, man,” I laughed. After all that Eclipse and I had been through, there wasn’t a chance in the Succubus Club that I wasn’t going to be there for the reunion.
He sighed, “You were always one to do things your way.” And he joined me.
“That’s not how I remember things,” I said, more bitterly than was probably warranted at such a moment. All I now remembered was compromise that led to bitter disappointment, loss and grief.
“What?”
“I mean, I’ve been looking for you since arriving. I’m not leaving now.”
“So, where to start looking. This place is pretty big. I haven’t searched the left wing yet. What about you?”
“I’ve been wandering around a few standing rooms, dance rooms and a private meeting space outside,” I waved vaguely to the top right of the building, “I’ve been a little systematic going through the rooms and haven’t hit anything further away as yet.”
“I’ll follow your lead, but before we go,” And here he pulled me aside, checking the space around us for eavesdroppers.
“I have a favour to ask you. A big one.”
“Ask it.”
“I have some things I need to do and I don’t know their outcome,” He murmured. I knew well what he’d been originally sent to do, he’d said as much out loud in Dominic’s office before disappearing.
Murder the Prince.
If that agenda had changed under Lady Merritt, I didn’t know or care overly much. It was just more of the same, Izac continuing the cycle of death that all life lived under.
Still, I said nothing and let him speak.
“I need you to protect her if things go wrong. And I’m willing to offer anything for it.”
The sentiment was…sweet, if misguided. For one thing, the woman we were referring to didn’t need protection. She was a force to herself that I didn’t understand. But, I guess, he hadn’t had a chance to see that side of her yet. Secondly, if he really cared, would it not have been better to leave off doing something that could put her at risk? Thirdly…well, that was my job.
“That’s not necessary,” I told him with total conviction, “I would do anything to keep her from suffering.” The voice laughed and I was pleased that only I could hear its bitter tone.
“You and me both,” He agreed, and so our pact was made.
Eclipse
Well and truly sick of Chucko’s shit even before spying him, Eclipse desperately looked around for something to save her. But either Chuko and his threats of humour were distracting her or she was very alone; nothing materialised.
“Give me a chance,” She muttered to herself and walked off back to the viewing room I’d last seen her in. It was as Izac had me pulled aside extracting my favour in the hallway that she turned and saw me with a tall scruffy man in black.
Her mind flashed to a house in Tempe and another man with a very similar face. The rush of his blood in her mouth, his struggles for life futile and waning under her supernatural strength.
“Rain!” I heard behind me and turned to see our Goth princess still a vision in black and red, walking towards us, “I was stuck with Chuck….”
“I’d say speak of the Devil, but it’s Eclipse; perfect timing,” I gestured with as much of a flourish that my toga would allow, “Look, see I told you he’d be here.”
Shot through the heart and your to blame
You give love a bad name.
Eclipse had paused in her tracks, Izac was frozen in place. They both stared at each other as if daring the universe to prove the other’s existence. I stepped back knowing that the first gestures, even their first words spoken between them would be profound and long lasting.
“We should find someplace private,” Izac broke the silence.
“Not back that way,” Eclipse replied and I was left perplexed and more than a little disappointed.
“Ur…there’s a standing room this way,” I suggested and led the way. They didn’t hug, or even take each other’s hand. There were no effusive expressions of love or even banal gestures of greeting. There was a desperate fearfulness about the two of them that I found…gothic-romantically compelling?
I led them to the standing room ,which at that moment was thankfully empty.
“Now if you two want to be left alone…” I said, heading back to cover the door.
“No, you’re part of this too,” Izac said, gesturing for me to join their circle. I almost sighed. How I would have loved this acceptance only two nights before.
“He is?” Eclipse asked, showing she was just as much in the dark as I was. Still, I joined Eclipse to listen to whatever Izac had to say.
“I would both thank you and scream at the two of you for what you’ve done,” He started like an exasperated father, “But, right now, I don’t know which.”
“How about, thank you,” I said, “To which I reply, you are very welcome.”
“You guys put yourself in so much risk.” He sighed and his exasperation only showed how much he cared. It was nice. Like Eclipse’s words earlier in the evening, it wasn’t something I’d heard very often.
“Yes, Eclipse did, “ I answered, “She did marvelously, and she did it all for you.” I turned to Eclipse as she slipped her hand into a hidden pocket in her skirt, “In fact, I think she has something for you now.”
On cue, my puzzle box appeared in her hand and was passed to Izac, simply and without fanfare. Not even looking at the box, he slipped it into his rumpled jacket pocket.
“Thanks,” As if she’d bought him a pack of chewing gum or a packet of cigarettes and not his own beating heart.
“You couldn’t dress for the night?” I asked, trying to break the ridiculous amount of tension that had built up.
“It’s not like I had options. As you are well aware, I was tied to a chair.” He rolled his eyes, balefully at me which I thought was a mean shot. I’d been looking for him. How was I to know I’d be dropping in on a 3800 year old vampire who made a habit of doing the impossible before consorting with gods and goddesses. As I’d only just left that same woman dancing the night away, I really didn’t see what his problem was.
“And I also saw you were making friends with a cow,” I smiled. I can do a little slinging of my own.
“A cow?” Eclipse looked between us. Hadn’t I told her. It had all been such a blur.
“Long story,” Izac said, cutting off conversation about the cow, “Let’s just say, what I said the first night we met, I think I’m a step closer. It’s just a matter of time. I hope.
This was in relation to Golconda. It was one of the first things he’d mentioned besides his name when I first met him at the Docks. It had been his fascination now and still seemed to be. I said nothing and I noticed that Eclipse did too. For my part, I knew Golconda meant nothing to me, but Eclipse reticence spoke volumes. Had she too found a way out, under to through? Either way, it seemed he was preaching to the wrong crowd.
“Look, I don’t know if what’s going to happen is going to happen tonight or tomorrow or when, but it will happen at some point. You have to trust me in what I’m going to do.” He said, either not registering our silence or fixated on his mission.
Killing the Prince. Yes, the Prince was a sadistic fiend,but was he really better than the alternative, or worse, a power vacuum? I was thinking about the political implications as the conversation continued.
“I think you’re preaching to the wrong choir,” Eclipse said, showing her concern.
“Probably…” I added. Really, did it matter. One corrupt sadist in power or another. It wasn’t the individual, but the system…no, it was the whole damn civilization that needed ending.
“It never hurts to be sure,” Izac said and seemed to relax a little, “For now, let’s just enjoy what we can, while we can.”
“Exactly,” Now, there was something I could agree with, “You too! For goodness sake! Be happy! We thought we’d lost you, “ I said to Izac who could only nod.
“For a moment there you might have,” He acknowledged, and I saw a brief flash of something that showed the time away hadn’t been easy. We’d all had a rough time. Too rough.
“Well, regardless. You’re here now, and none of that matters anymore,” I said.
He had no reply to that, and instead changed the subject.
“Rain, could you give us a minute?”
“Of course, “ It was only to be expected. I stepped away and took my spot at the door. Now, I hadn’t intended to listen in, which was good, because with the sounds of the Succubus Club and the door between, I barely heard anything of their conversation.
“You’re not going to even let me open it?” Eclipse asked, referring to the puzzle box.
“Does it matter?”
“I thought it would to you.”
“It does. But it doesn’t require opening. It’s easier that way.” They stood in silence for a moment, words being meaningless between them.
“I’ve been wondering what I’d say to you when I saw you next,” He finally said, “Didn’t exactly know when that would be. But, truth be told, I can’t think of what to say.”
Dominic
Our adoptive sire, having made another business transaction, now headed to a dance floor to do a little partying of his own. Out in the centre a short young woman in a spidersilk dress was cutting up the floor and catching the eye of everyone present. Dominic joined in the crowd, and suddenly her dark eyes were catching him from across the room.
The rock music sent the young woman into a frenzy of moves, some that looked body-breaking in their difficulty. With the bravado of a young man in the body of a middle-aged vampire, Dominic attempted to follow. There are some moves that unless you’ve practised or been trained to move in, should not be attempted. Twisting his hip in one direction, suddenly locked his back. Numb legs slipped out from under him, and he fell to the floor in an embarrassing heap. Climbing to his feet, he tried to make it look smooth, but only succeeded at looking like an old man climbing back to his feet after tripping. There was nothing to be done about it. It was either walk away ashamed or stick it out and make the most of it. He chose the latter, brushed himself off and continued dancing.
“I believe you’re one of the Giovanni, aren’t you? There’s a few of you here tonight,” Said the young woman, her features plain by kindred standards, had an exuberance that gave her a…dangerous quality.
“Yes, I am.”
“Now, I don’t know if your current display was due to inbreeding, but are you from the main branch or are you of the wilted vine?” It was a condescending statement. Those families who had been ‘taken in’ under the Giovanni wing were hardly ‘of the family’ and that was if you ignored the ‘inbreeding’ quip.
Dominic didn’t, “My last name is the same as the Clan. I can trace my ancestry back to Giovanni himself.” He replied with as much grace as he could, under the circumstances.
“Fair enough. Well then, I’ve heard about you, that is, if you’re the right one. You were raised in America, right?”
That was more like it. He did have a reputation, “I am indeed.”
“Not one of the Afrikaan?” Referring to the family line with a Dutch background out of South Africa.
“I dip my toe in that line.”
“You are! Well, you have the particular pleasure of knowing an Izac and his…strong man, Rain, as it were!”
“Yes, I saw Izac walking around earlier. Good to see him looking so well.”
“He is such a treasure. I’m glad you have him.”
“I’m just glad to see he’s okay. I hope he finds our Luna.”
“I’m sure he will, ”She smiled and the predatory aura of this woman was accentuated. She was one to be careful of, “Speaking of the Giovanni. Are you all a unified front or are you looking to make the highest score?”
“If there was an unofficial score to the event, I am unaware of it. We are merely here to enjoy the evening.”
She frowned coyly, “That doesn’t sound like a Giovanni at all.”
“Oh well, if you come up with anything truly interesting, let me know,” And she went to dance away, but Dominic wasn’t about to let her go so quickly, “And where do you hale from?”
“Oh, around. I globetrotted for the last century…if you know what I mean.”
“I do indeed,” Staying ahead of the Princes that wanted her dead, he wondered.
“Now, I know you’re not up to it, but I’m going to continue dancing. You should go find the others.” She said smugly, and with that, Dominic found himself dismissed.
Stallion
Stallion stepped back out from the dangers of the garden and into the dangers of the Club. An idea so radical struck him that made him pause where he was and take stock.
Had that young man been the Prince? It would have explained a lot. How did he known Stallion? The tease, the attitude and the predatory glow-up. Why he didn’t mind the black lines of diablerie, and why he felt his command would be honoured as to Stallion’s boon.
But, he didn’t look like the Prince from the other times we’d met, Stallion thought, Like, he acts like the Prince, but is he really?
He wanted to verify that the Prince did indeed have two faces, not really a surprising idea when you think about it, and yet, instead of looking to his coterie for answers, Stallion took himself outside.
Across the venue, out the front doors, leaving the protection of Elysium, crossing the road to the Domain and entering part of the club labelled as The Fireworks Area. The empty field often used by the Kine for community events was filled with pyrotechnics pots, waiting for the big moment. A creepy looking kindred was directing ghouls as to how to set up the spectacle as Stallion strolled into the very dangerous situation.
What if there’s no more fun to have?
And all I’ve got is what I had
What if I have forgotten how?
Cut my losses and get out now
Get out right now
Faith No More screamed from the venue as the kindred caught sight of the yellow-clad Stallion strolling through his site.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I’m just going for a walk. See what might happen.”
“You’re not here to interfere with the display?”
“I didn’t even know there was a display until I walked over.”
“I take it you’re one of the locals.”
“Yeah, the name’s Stallion. I’d have done the Rite of Recitation, but I don’t have that information yet.”
“Hmm,” The kindred, who still hadn’t given his name, now looked at Stallion as something of a commodity, “How familiar are you with your city?”
“I get around. Anything you’re looking for in particular?”
“What do you know of special places? You know, places with a strong resonance? Importance?”
“I can think of a couple.” Stallion could smell a deal, “Why would you want that information?”
“I’m not into pyrotechnics by profession. I’m more what you call a scout.”
“Scout for what? Talent?”
The kindred nodded, “Sometimes a scout of talent amongst the kine, but usually I build safe havens.”
“And just to be sure, nothing nefarious? Nothing that’s going to upset anyone?” Stallion checked. It was too easy to get in trouble with people who ate and asked questions later.
“No, nothing like that. Making residences that are safe. Places where, if twenty people came against me, I could hold them off before they got a chance to get to me.”
Stallion was making better sense of what he wanted now and nodded along.
“Just a humble little dwelling where me and my friends can meet and stay safely and not be ambushed.”
“I can’t promise about not being ambushed, but I have a place that I stay at. Just a warehouse, nothing fancy.”
“Really? Is it for sale?”
That was a question Stallion had never bothered to ask about. “I think so. As long as you don’t mind me being there.”
A bright light of opportunity appeared in the kindred’s eyes, “Oh, I’m sure we could redevelop to suit your…status. As long as you stay out of the main building.”
“I just need a hole to sleep in, and a parking spot” Stallion shrugged, and the kindred smiled.
“Well then, I’m sure we can accommodate you.”
“Ah, you don’t seem Sabbat to me,” The kindred said, seemingly changing the subject, making Stallion blink. He’d never been interested in politics, but he remembered Dominic’s lectures on the subject.
“I’m not. Not necessarily Camerilla either.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Like, I follow the traditions, but I’ve never really made a decision either way.”
“Most parts of the world are either one of three sides. It’s a rare thing to see a kindred flaunt his independence knowing that no one has his back.”
That little comment sent a deep chill through Stallion. “Well, man, you can either come after me or you don’t. I’m just a Gangrel, you know.”
“Well said, “ Said the kindred, “Will you indulge me for a minute?”
“Go ahead,” Stallion said, curious what the kindred had to show him.
The kindred suddenly grappled Stallion and tried to flip him, but lost his footing, sending them both crashing onto the grass.
“Going limp like that is a strategy “ Said the Kindred, getting up and helping Stallion back to his feet, “ I can see that work on form is needed for both of us, but you put a little bit of work into it.”
Stallion shrugged, “Not really…”
“No, there’s talent in that. Now, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. It’s a bit dangerous around here; I’m sure you understand. Can you please return to the main performance.”
Confused by the attack and the sudden dismissal, Stallion wasn’t quite sure what to do, “Urgh…sure. I can see I might have upset you. I don’t want to cause any more tension.”
“Good, one that knows how to listen and follow orders. You’ll do well in this unlife.”
Izac
“Look, I know you don’t have any reason to believe in me. I made you a promise, and I failed it twice,” Izac, having waited until I closed the door to the room, decided what he really wanted to tell his love was, ‘trust me, though you have absolutely no reason to’. Inside the wooden box, the heart beat a slow and steady rhythm against his chest.
“We made a promise in that alley, and I failed you twice. At the apartment I left, and at the theatre I ran. So, if things have changed between us, I understand, but I still want to make good on that promise. Will you let me?”
Eclipse could have rolled her eyes, but couldn’t take them off him. “And where have I been every time you left, huh?”
“I know something changed that night I left you in the apartment. I should have stayed by your side during the theatre. I was a coward.”
Oh look at him, cap in hand, his heart, if not on his sleeve, at least within reach, and you just stand there, a cold stone, Said Luna in Eclipse’s mind, Is this how you’re going to treat him? Why are you doing this? YOU DON’T DESERVE HIM.
Eclipse’s face contorted as she tried to block out the of her own beast. Trying his best to interpret the expression Izac just assumed she was pitying him. Yeah, he’d really fucked up here.
“Neither of us could have expected what happened when you left the apartment, “ She said, and shrugged, “And I think we’re all very fortunate that I didn’t burn down the State Theatre that night.”
“Will you tell me what happened after I left the apartment?”
Some rainbow bright thing slithered deep within Eclipse, and she almost shuddered, “It would compromise your safety if I did. And I’ve done a lot to keep you safe. There are somethings…I can only talk about in half-truths, and that won’t satisfy you.”
“Even if, regardless of how dangerous the information is…I don’t care, I still want to know?”
“You’d risk the whole unlife, your aspirations….the heaven of Golconda…to hear about the hell that I’ve been through?”
“No one lives forever. And there’s no guarantee that I’m going…anywhere… ”
“But you can, “ She cut him off, “You still can do it. Hell, I think I believe that more than you do.”
“I’m coming around to it. Someone… enlightened me, and knowing what I know about them… maybe you can too.”
At this, Eclipse flinched. She almost stepped away, but couldn’t make herself leave the bubble that was theirs. No. There was no Golconda for her. There were slim hopes of futures, but not one of them led to redemption.
She shook her head, her loose curls cascading around her shoulders, but she couldn’t make herself say it.
“Nothing’s impossible,” he suggested, and she knew he would only continue to try converting her. This had to be nipped in the bud; here and now.
“Yes, they are.” He said, her voice strained against the despondency the thought generated in her.
“Give yourself a chance. And if you can’t, then….you know you can fall and stumble as many times as you need. As long as you keep getting back up and trying again…that’s something, right?”
Eclipse knew better. Sometimes you stumble and fall so far, there is no going back…no chance to try again.
“It’s not that I won’t try. I can’t do it. I can’t have Golconda. Not with what’s happened to me.”
Izac stood watching her a moment, trying to work out what she could have gone through to make her so…determined.
“You know, eventually you’ll tell me. But I won’t pry if you truly want to keep that information to yourself. I accept you as you are.”
Suddenly, Eclipse’s vision darkened as the centre of her sight became a jagged rainbow of light. Unable to see even Izac who stood right before her, she had roused the Serpent, and it was displeased with the turn in the conversation. Blinking, her vision began to clear, to see the worried expression of Izac.
“Maybe at another time, we do have a lot of it.”
“I can only hope. The night’s not over yet.” Izac said, trying to lighten the mood.
Changing the subject, Eclipse reached into her hidden pocket and pulled out Izac’s tiny notebook and handed it out to him, “Here, you can also have this back.”
“Maybe hold onto it until the night’s out.”
“I’ve held onto it for a long time and read it back to front. I don’t…”
“Get it?”
“No, I don’t need these memories. So, unless you’re leaving again, I don’t need it.”
What could he say to that? With a wry smile, he grabbed the book without a word and put it in his pocket.
Rain
I was leaning against the door, wanting to be part of things but knowing it wasn’t my place. The way they’d both acted on seeing each other had been so odd. I was a little worried for them. As I tried to hear the conversation inside, all I could perceive was different qualities of sadness. Guilt, recrimination, shock, reluctance. It was heartbreaking.
Well, you know what you have to do.
Yes, I’m committed. Don’t worry.
I could feel eyes on me, turned and saw a young man, his hair shaved down to his skull, dressed in a torn t-shirt, jeans and an oversized military jacket. The quintessential skinhead. Who thought they still existed.
“What are you blocking the door for?”
“Me?” I said, leaning my back against the door.
“Yeah, you,” He straightened up to his full height of 5’10”, well taller than me.
“Oh, you’re confused.”
“No, I don’t think I am, “ He said, surprisingly after having thought about it, “If my brothers were here, it would be a little bit different, but right now I’m as clear as Rain.”
“Clear as Rain, huh?” I smiled.
“Huh? Oh, Mark.”
“What?”
“My name is Mark.”
“Oh, pleased to meet you, Mark.”
“Why are you blocking the door?”
“You said you had brothers.”
“Yeah.I”m part of a special group. Do you know what a blood brother is? Blood sister?”
That was a new term for me. I wondered if it had anything to do with Vaulderie and asked him as much.
“Tell me about it?”
“Our coterie is a little closer together. We are one. A little more than a simple blood bond. Do you want an example?”
Oh, I heard of them. Another Tremerian experiment like gargoyles. Probably more a joint effort between the Tremere and Tzimisce. The group of men or women were bound together by blood so they’re actually one. The result was a hivemind of Kindred that each member could be interchangeable with another. Of course, as I wanted to delay them as long as possible, I said,“Yes, please continue.”
Grabbing his nose between thumb and pointer, he pulled it up over his brow as if he were a Mr Potatohead. He returned it just as effectively, showing that he could mould himself however he liked.
“Well, that is certainly a party trick.”
“It can be. I’m still waiting to get in that room. Are you going to let me in?”
“In that room? There’s something in that room for you?”
“Yes.”
“Like what?”
“I’m there to meet someone if it’s any of your business.”
“There’s no one in there.”
“When I’m in there, there will be.”
I had been pushing things, and I knew my time was running out, but that didn’t mean I had to let the skinhead in without letting the other two know.
“Of course, absolutely no problem, just let me get that door for you,” I said to the door louder than normally required and opened the door. Izac and Eclipse were exactly where I’d left them, standing with clear space between them.
“Thank you, “ he said and entered, spotting the lovers, “Hey, what is this a kissing session?” Hardly. They would have needed extensive equipment to kiss at their distance.
“Using the room, “ Eclipse retorted, her dark eyes flashing. It was a small miracle that Mark was still moving around.
“We’re a bit busy at the moment,” Izac added defensively.
“Well then you won’t mind me sitting in the corner then,” Said Mark and plonked himself down in the far corner, glaring.
I shrugged silently to Izac. At least for now, that was all private time they were going to get.
Dominic
Dominic stuck it out on the dance floor long enough to at least look like he wasn’t giving it up as a bad job. Wanting something more entertaining, he headed for the Activity Room. An individual instantly caught Dominic’s eye because of his dark Mediterranean skin and outstanding Mohawk hair that rose like a crest over his head and flowed effortlessly down his back. He was what could only be called beautiful. He would certainly be entertaining.
“And what’s happening in this quarter of the club?” Dominic asked, as it wasn’t clear that this was the place where kindred could sell their ideas to the community.
“I’ve created several survival techniques, be they knives or guns. Since Vlad wrote his book, everyone thinks they can climb walls. Ah, forgive me, you smell a little different…are you Giovanni?”
“Dominic Giovanni,” Dominic proudly said and held out a hand for the man to shake, which he did.
“Pleasure, I’m Basir.”
“Basir, I am a firearms aficionado myself.”
“Yes? What do you do with the cases?”
“It would depend on the situation. Collect them, if possible and reload them; why do you ask?”
“Good. Well, the particular bullets I’m demonstrating along with disciplines will leave virtually no trace. You can never be too careful. I can also demonstrate the proper…disposal of kindred remains.”
“I’ve never had too much trouble in removing remains myself,” Dominic said nonchalantly, “Did you know I once owned the factory where the 1903 Springfield Rifle was built?” Just saying, not a boast in any way.
“Impressive. You’re certainly the man I need to be talking to. Can I show you some of my more exotic munitions? They’re dissolving, so the slugs can’t be used against you.”
“Interesting and impressive,” Dominic said, and they were. Nothing as garish as phosphorus rounds. Subtle, safe and tailor-made to the Vampire physiology.
“I usually keep these for my very discerning customers,” He said, and Dominic accepted the compliment.
“Here in Sydney things are pretty quiet. We usually let bygones be bygones, but war has spilt over from time to time. Could you show me these rounds of yours?”
“Certainly. The question is, who to use them on?”
“I have no great hate for anyone here.”
“No? What if we look for a willing volunteer? How does that sound?”
That statement took Dominic as unusual, “A volunteer who wants to die?”
“No, non-lethal, of course. The slugs dissolve rather quickly.”
“How quickly?”
“Anyone escaping is not going to have enough time to take it out before it completely dissolves.”
As Dominic thought over the applications for such rounds, Basir went in search of a volunteer.
“My good lady. Can we have a moment of your time?” He called over a woman whose exposed skin was covered in lizard-like scales and tattoos that marked her from before the creation of Israel the first time around. Wearing biker leathers, she was a relic from an ancient time looking very comfortable in the modern world.
Instantly, Dominic felt a deep-seated, instinctual hatred for the woman. He’d never felt anything quite like it, though he knew exactly who she was. She was a Cappadocian, a true survivor from the purges. He found he needed to control himself as the revulsion not his, and built over generations, rose within him. Basir, the thirteenth-generation Assamite, had unwillingly found the one person that Dominic could gladly put a bullet into.
“Yes, young ones?” She asked, a thick eastern accent accidentally colouring her words, before her eyes locked on Dominic, and narrowed, “You. You smell of incest.”
“And you have the smell of one whose progenitor wanted you dead.” Dominic quipped back, referring to a time when Cappadocius sent his followers into a cave and sealed them in to starve, eat each other and finally fall into torpor.
The woman laughed, “Cappadocius was always soft-hearted.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“No, you wouldn’t, “ She smiled knowingly, recognising just how young Dominic was in comparison to her, “Still, I am surprised to see one of you here.”
“We have presence all over the world.”
“Yes, you do, “ She said as if they explained a lot of the world’s ills, “ And what do you want with me?”
“Basir here has a new item he’d like to demonstrate, and he needs a volunteer,” Dominic gestured to the very quiet, very scared-looking Basir who was getting an idea of what he’d just stepped into, “A new type of bullet. Fascinating, yes?”
“Hmmm, and you want me to shoot you with a new bullet?” She asked, a grin growing across her face.
“That would be too easy.”
“I can assure you, you are not shooting me with a bullet.”
“I would never suggest such a thing,” Dominic said, though the thought was appealing.
“So, unless you are wasting my time, what do you want, little Giovanni?”
“I believe Basir was just about to ask you to be the volunteer.”
“I will not be volunteering to be shot. But if you wish to alleviate some…hostilities, I will shoot you, yes?”
It was Dominic’s turn to laugh, and then quietly began considering the idea. Non-lethally, of course. It would be a wonderful demonstration and might make it very unusual… acquaintance at the same time. But there was no way she could be trusted to not put a bullet through his brain while she was on the other end of a pistol, “I believe we do not have a volunteer for this. Though I would suggest, as I wasn’t around during the purges, I would not be very satisfying to shoot.”
“You are Giovanni; that would be satisfying enough.”
“How did you survive the two purges? The first by your Cappadocious himself, the second by the older form of my own clan.”
“I travelled the way my people always have. I have spent many centuries in dusty tombs talking to the dead.”
Dominic smirked, “That kind of sounds like fun.”
Stallion
Stallion made a second entrance into the Succubus Club and looked around the foyer for the Usher I had been talking to. Instead, he saw Chucko readying a cream pie.
“Last one in’s a rotten egg!” He cried, pulling back his arm.
“Ah, but are you sure that I’m the last one? There are ghouls outside, they may come in at any moment.”
“You know, that is a good question,” Chucko lowered the pie and a quizzical expression on his face, “Do you think I should hit them instead?”
“It’s an option. Of course, that’s your decision.”
Chucko gave the idea serious thought, “But you are right here.”
“Ah, but surely the prank is better when you take them by surprise. I know it’s coming, see.”
“Yes, but there’s also skill to take into consideration. My throw against your dodge?”
“Give me a second?”
“Sure,” And he threw the pie.
Stallion jumped sideways as the bulk of the pie sailed past, splashing across the road outside. A little cream and filling dripped out of the shell, and stained Stallion’s jacket. The filling reminded Stallion of the old homeless guy he’d been supping on for days and turned out to be congealed gastric juices and clotted old blood. It smelt sulphurous and rotten.
“That was your trick; do I get to do one now?” Stallion asked with a grin.
“Sure, take your best shot!” Chucko said, moving onto the balls of his feet in expectation.
From his ever-present bum-bag, Stallion pulled out what appeared to be a flick knife.
“Oh, go on then. Pin the tail on the donkey you fucking ass!”
With an action, Stallion opened his hair comb and flung it at the clown. It hit Chucko in the chest, bounced off and landed on the ground in front of him.
“Ha! Good trick. Do you want it back?”
“Nah, you keep it, “ Stallion said, pleased with himself he’d survived yet another kindred trap.
“Hey, thanks! I’ll be sure to try it out on someone else.”
9.30 pm Thursday, 12 December 9 hours until sunrise, Succubus Club The Domain
Notable NPCs
Abram: Ventrue, and one of the six founders of Sydney Masquerade
Agaricus: Children of the Moon, and one of six founders of Sydney Masquerade
Alex Holmstead: Husband of Mads. Location and status unknown.
Alicia: Toreador Vampire met at the Crow Bar
Ambrogino: 5th Generation Vampire, Cappadocian and Elder of the Giovanni Clan.
Avel: Rain’s mother, a wraith.
Basir: SC Met by Dominic. Creator of a dissolving bullet.
Thomas Becket: Wearer of the Skull mask. A.K.A. Lord Campden a 5th generation Capadocian and former Seneschal of London under Mithras. Talented necromancer. Knew Sarrasine and Lady Stone in London. Distaste for Tremere and Giovanni.
Beelzebub: Fallen angel, demon entity in Rain’s pocket watch.
Blanco Falzo: A man who had made into the likeness of Stallion’s dog for a time. Now deceased.
Bobby Lisner: Malkavian seer who lives in an old Sewer pipe in The Rocks.
Brendan Virgil: A.K.A. Miss Divine Intervention. Rain’s close friend.
Bruce: Ghoul of Mr Giovanni
Cabolut Hazzim: the name given by a vampire who cleared out the homeless at Rain’s old squat. Prince’s Assassin.
Chucko: Malkavian clown from 2023 Earth. Part of a gang called the Bozos.
Critias: Old gentleman kindred Rain has made a deal with to be a ‘playing piece’ in a game at the Succubus Club.
Days of the Week: Pseudonyms for members of the Baali group Eclipse (Luna) is now part of. She is Sunday, and they are missing Wednesday. Tuesday seems to be their nominal spokesperson, though they seem to have no leader.
Delith: Ambitious Ventrue bar staff at the Crowbar.
Detective Woodman: NSW Police ‘premiere’ detective and a sufferer of schizophrenia. He currently has an assistant named Notetaker.
The Devil Brahmin: SC Follower of Set. Teacher of Magic. Met by Dominic.
Doctor Willis Hodge: A ghost acquaintance of Dominic Giovanni’s from the Coroner’s Court.
Doctor Vermundo De Sancha: El Torcedor “The Twister” or more accurately, “The Fleshcrafter” A Tzimisce from South America
Ezequiel Coyotl: SC. Long dark haired kindred met by Mads who wished to kill those who would end the world.
Founders of Sydney Masquerade: Those still alive: Abram, the Ventrue, in Canberra, Wid, the Nosferatu in Wollongong, Agaricus, Child of the Moon, Tasmania, Montague Layton, Toreador, current whereabouts unknown.
Francesco: a werewolf, part of the Spiral Dancers who investigated the Pyrmont basement.
Francis Tuttle: Name given in charge of the investigation into the deaths of the homeless in Surry Hills.
Garcia: Sire. Unknown location.
Genghis: SC. Brujah argued with Eclipse.
Giuseppe Giovanni: Ghoul of Mr Giovanni and nephew.
Harold Zettler: Chairman of the board of Pentax multinational. Standing member of the Sabbat.
Hēi Lóng Gōngzhǔ : SC Chinese Malkavian met by Eclipse and Rain. A.K.A Black Dragon Princess
Inconnu: A secretive group that is thought to be working behind the scenes against both the Camarilla and Sabat and towards Golconda.
Jack Dawson: SC met by Rain. Gunfighter.
Joel Mitchell: Mads’ friend. Deceased.
Jules Talbot: Seneschal to Prince Sarrasine of Sydney
Katherine of Montpellier: SC Torreador Artist met by Stallion.
Kenneth Stahl: South African Giovanni (exiled)
Laibon: Vampire Clan out of Africa
Lady Merritt Stone: A very old and powerful vampire who has taken an interest in Izac. Rain spoke to her about the Coterie and Izac’s mission. Also known as: Lady Jennifer Stone and Lady Ophelia Meritt. Consort to Mithras. Exiled from London and wanted by the Ventrue. See also: The Red List or Kemintiri. Fourth Generation, Followers of Set. Suspected embrace, 1300BCE. Sire: Set. Childer: numerous. Evidence points to her being the creator of the Children of Osiris.Known to be a master of disguise to rival even the best, to the point that even Nosferatu have a difficult time discerning her. Known associates: Mithras, Set, Horus. Kemintiri is First on The Red List. She is immune to blood blonds and Dominate. There is no known exception. She is the only being known to have returned from Wassail.
Lambach Ruthven: Kin met at the theatre. Sire of Dracula. Drug addict.
Lenny: Rain’s Ghoul and artist friend, now with mages. Location unknown.
Little Black Rose: Le petite rose noir or mala crna ruža. Name give to Rain by Dominic that he now prefers.
Lucretia: Childe of Ambrogino, now caretaker of the Pyrmont House and teacher to Dominic
Madeline Blackwell: Ghoul of Mr Giovanni, working at the State Coroners Court.
Maldavis: Catif working on the rights of Catifs and Thin Bloods
Maxwell: SC met by Stallion.
Montague Layton: Toreador, and one of six founders of Sydney Masquerade
Night Rider: Red-haired vampire? Works for the Prince.
Pangea: a Nosferatu (tunnel builder)
Padre Craneo: Nagaraja vampire met at the Crow Bar
Paul: a Nosferatu of the sewer rats
Paul Derrogard: Name given by Monday of the Days of the Week. Claimed to be Ventrue.
Pentax: a multinational group that is involved in a secret project called Omega.
Persephone: Sixth gen Malkavian who works security for Pentax an multinational company. Her sire is Harold Zettler. Something to do with the Spiral Dancer.
Pierre Bellamare: SC Gambler. Met by Mads. A.K.A Symeon.
Prince Lodin: Prince of Chicago (until his final death in the 90s) and sire of Al Capone.
Prince Sarrasine (Sar-ras-seen): Toreador Ruler of Sydney*
Rumplestiltskin: A Kiasyn mixologist who uses fairies in his drinks.
Salubri: An almost lost clan of vampires whose founder is said to have discovered Golconda.
Sebastian Melmoth: Kin met at the theatre. Powerful Toreador. Oscar Wilde.
Shara-had: Banu Haqim (Assamite).
Sparrow: a Nosferatu of the warren in Pyrmont, closest to home
Sydney Sewage Pumping Station number one: Known access to Nosferatu waiting room.
Tailor: Dominic’s Tailor who has a shop in Leichhardt
Tatiana Steponova: Met at SC by Stallion.
Teeth of Titanium: Werewolf dingo met in Leichhardt.
Tar- Anis: see Persephone.
The Prestiege: The speak for the four Tremere met at the Blavatsky Lodge.
The Twins: A pair of Tzimisce of Dominic’s acquaintance. The creators of Blanco Falzo the Dog??
The Woman: A powerful being of unknown name who kidnapped Izac and enchanted Rain. Lady Merritt
Tom: A sleeping head awakened by Dominic in the Dreamtime.
Victor: SC Kindred working on the fireworks in the Domain that Stallion met
Vida Goldstein: an Australian suffragette, originally interested in women and children welfare. Malkavian. Diablerised by Dominic.
Wid: Nosferatu, and one of six founders of Sydney Masquerade
Glossary of terms:
Anarchists: a faction of Vampires. Caused issues in Los Angeles recently, killed the Prince.
Antediluvian: from before the time of the biblical flood. The third generation was the progenitors of the thirteen clans of vampires.
Baali: A bloodline bent on keeping beings old before time from waking up and destroying everything. Eclipse and the Days of the Week are Baali.
Banu Haqim: Also know as Assamites, Assassins though sometimes just mercenaries for hire.
Bone Gnawers: A pack of werewolves
Blood hunt: A process to destroy a vampire who has broken a tradition. Specifically mentioned in the sixth.
Blood worm: What a possessed vampire can turn into.
Black Spiral Dancers: A pack of werewolves that worship a being of entropy.
Brujah: One of the twelve clans of Cain.
Canaanites: Those descended from Cain, the first murderer and vampire.
Camarilla: a faction of Vampires closest to the Princes. Believe in hierarchy and order.
Children of Osirus: Bloodline outside the Caine family tradition who practise Bardo, a discipline to control the beast. Izac’s current Bloodline.
Children of Seth: Bloodline the Prince is rumoured to be (originally?)
Clan or Bloodline: From one of the children of Caine or subsequent established lines of vampires.
Christopher Charlton: Rain’s pseudonym.
Marauder: A mage gone mad. Living in his own pocket dimension that answers to the whim of his broken mind.
Diablerie : the drinking another vampire blood and soul
Favour: How Vampires pay for things they want or need doing.
Fetter: A place, person or thing that binds a wraith to the Shadowlands.
Gangrel: A bloodline of vampire. Stallion’s Bloodline.
Ghouls: Servants of a vampire who have been fed vitae. They are loyal, stronger, and more resilient, and sometimes, they show other powers gained from the blood. They must receive the blood at least once a month or they return to being human. Can be addictive.
Giovanni: A vampire bloodline that keeps within genetic family ties. Dominic is a Giovanni.
Glasswalkers: A pack of werewolves
Hunter: Members of the Society of Leopold, a branch of the Catholic Church. Fanatical vampire hunters and killers.
Kiasyd: Part of the La Sombre Clan.
Kin: Short for Kindred. Vampires, a name among themselves
Kine: Humans
Marauder: a rouge mage, often mad. They are likely to act in a way that exposes the Otherworld of the Masquerade to exposure.
Masquerade : The rule that keeps vampire society safe. Hiding ones nature from the world.
Nagaraja: A bloodline that are obligated to eat the flesh as well as the blood of their victims.
Malkavian Time: a connections all Malkavian share to a greater network of knowledge and shared visions called the Madness Network
Men in Black: An international unit dedicated to controlling supernatural and alien entities.
The Red List: a universal kill list of vampires. Maintained by the Camarilla, anyone on the list can be mudered without question.
Sabbat: a faction of Vampires that believe that the progenitors of the clans will one day awake and eat all their young.
Sadhana: a magic tradition out of India based on Hindu teachings.
SchrekNet: A vampire only Internet.
The Theosophical Society: A private society of learning and tolerance based out of the Blavatsky Lodge, St. Leonards (https://sydney.theosophicalsociety.org.au)
Tremere Pyramid: A strict hierarchical structure that all Tremere are part of. Every member knows their place within the Pyramid. The antidiluvian, Tremere, sits at the top of this pyramid.Below him, the number seven is repeated through the clan’s structure.
Toreador: Bloodline of Vampire. Rain’s Bloodline.
Traditions: Six laws that vampires live by.
Tzimisce: Bloodline of Vampire. Body sculptures.
Vaulderie: A ritual where Kindred swear loyalty to each other.
Writ of Retication: Lineage of a Vampire.
A Strange Life 