Dueling preparations

Brian nods and says out loud.
"Lord Valentine.

May I have a word in private with you?"

The Chess Master and the Gangrel stepped apart. They talked to each other for more than a minute and then Valentine called Victoria to the meeting, leaving the three young vampires away from the gathering. Lawless and Adam were both looking at Rebecca wondering what she told to Brian but dare not to ask her.

At far the only reaction they could caught from the three elders was a negation from Victoria as she was ask something but said no to the question. Then Valentine called Adam to the group and the two ventrues there decided to start asking question while Brian went away, back to his Childe and Lawless.

Brian said to both.
"You two were also in the thralls preparation for the interrogation. Am I correct?"

Lawless said.
"Sir Hell Song, Adam, Rebecca and I were together for a short time before she had to left to attend your summon. After that Adam and I waited Lady Victoria's ghouls to bring the prisoners down here. When they arrived I was left upstairs with two of our ghouls to set order to the warehouse where they were kept, while Mr. Brick went down with Lady von Baden's ghouls to prepare this setting.

Short after we all helped to move the thralls down, one by one. Leaving three ghouls upstairs and another three down here, while Mr. Brick and I swapt while one of us stayed down here to supervise the encaging of the thralls in their cells, the other was fetching and preparing the next one to be move."

Brian then asks right away.
"Did you debrief your superiors about the incidents last night?"

Lawless seemed confused yet he answered right away.
"No Sir, Mr. Brick reported to Lady Victoria's servants. As I explained I was left upstairs while this was happening."

Brian nods but replies sharp.
"Lady Victoria was not informed of any odd behavior from last night."

Lawless was totally baffed by the situation. Why would Adam lie to him? Brick told him that he would explain the situation to the Preator's ghoul. He was heavily confused also about the importance of this.
"Sir Hell Song, I don't know what's the meaning of this. May be the report was incomplete or may be the ghoul forgot to explain things properly to Lady von Baden. I don't know but why is it so important?"

Brian could relate to the open and honest behavior of the Ventrue, not common in his clan.
"Because Mr. Brick was alone with one of Lady Victoria's ghoul doing something else than briefing it."

Rebecca could recognize the look in her father's eyes. He was probing the Ventrue about this.

Lawless reaction was honest. He was indeed confused and even offended by the Gangrel's words. <What's he implying?> of course the Ventrue wasn't aware of that same servant also offending the Gangrels the very next night with a strong xenophobic compulsion implanted with Dominate, a discipline that Rebecca knew Adam was very understood about.

At the three ventrue conversation Rebecca could also noticed that Adam non verbal language seemed nervous and was rapidly trying to explain something to Lord Valentine.

Lawless inquire again.
"Sir Hell Song please, I just don't understand it."

Brian looks at him with disdain and shrugs. <Tough luck>

The conspiracy was in the air, a feeling to which Lawless wasn't comfortable. He trusted his Clan and of course its members as his most intimate friends. Certainly he was expecting to understand at least what was going on but no one, not even her clanmate Rebecca would. After all she still was under that Gangrel accounting shit.

Brian eye's were predatorial, he knew what was going on and he was ready to hunt. Then said in a whisper.
"I see fear. He is a prey now."

Lawless was looking at Brick listening to Rebecca but treating her coldly in return for her lack of delicacy about speaking secretely in front of him, excluding him from the conversation with her Sire and know trying to check her theories or per haps incriminating one of his clanmates, his friend. <Not even Dominate would make me answer>

The gathering ended with the three ventrue approaching the group. Valentine was the first to talk.
"My guests I'm sorry to have kept you waiting but this issue had to be resolved right away."

Brian asked sharply.
"Lord Valentine. Was him?"

Valentine hessitated for the Gangrel rude manners and said.
"I think we have enough elements to take Mr. Brick for a trail. He will get his chance to proof his inocence."

Brian again.
"Lord Valentine with all due respect, as your guest I humblely request to rush such procedure. I will recommend Mr. Adam Brick's extraordinary combat profile to Lady Jezebelle to be our first line of defense against the werewolf to the west. I think this could be a lesson of life and death."

Adam was on the brink to interrupt the Elder's conversation very nervous as he was.

Valentine replied.
"We shall Sir Hell Song, also to consider such fair punishment as the trail result..."

Adam said.
"I beg your pardon Lord..."

"SILENCE!" Valentine yelled.
Valentine persona changed in the split of a second irradiating a Majesty never felt before by none except for Victoria. The sublime presence of the Ventrue Elder was unspeakable, his words terrible to hear, with a powerful radiance that flowed to the point of making the ghouls around to drop to their knees inmediately, a second later Rebecca, Lawless and Brick contemplated the terrible vissage of a God standing among them with the most cruel gaze that burned them inside just for the sin of daring to contradict him. Rebecca had to bow unconciously asking for forgiveness even if she wasn't the offender.

Still in her bow the weight of Valentine's Majesty was too heavy to wear. Brian had also his head down as for Victoria even if she wasn't forced to it she kneeled graciously in front of her Elder.

"Your insolence has brought you long enough, your despicable manners against our traditions have a reach a deadly limit. You're in my house and you oath respect.

For your insolence you'll be recluded in the Dungeon Jail until your trail. Where your fate shall be determined."

Adam was crushed down by Valentines wrath, unable to move, unable to speak. Begging to the earth to swallow him whole shivering for fear of his fate.

Valentine's presence returned to his normal supernatural allure and overwhelming mainly beauty. Then he said to the ghouls.
"Seize him and lead him to a cage. He will spend the night in it."

The ghouls jumped to comply the Elder's command.

As the ghouls were taking away an unresponsive Adam Brick back to the Dungeon Jail, Lady Victoria stood up as Mr. Lawless and then the rest of the ghouls. Valentine looked at Brian and Rebecca with his usual kind and understanding tone of voice to say.
"My dearest guests. I humblely apologize for such rude display. It wasn't my intention for this regreatful issue to blow out of proportion or to affect you but I can't let my house to be disrespected in such way.

Please accept my apologies and my promise that I'd make it up to compensate my lack of manners."

Brian was the first to answer.
"Lord Valentine we humblely accept your apology for affecting us but also we release you from any obligation to compensate us as you've proven to be a fantastic host and showed no intention to harm us.

Gangrel have our disciplinary traditions as well and from our perspective you were too kind. In our house you may also be stained with the splashing blood and then would be us apologizing to you." he smiled.

Valentine bowed for the Gangrel kindness and changing the subject he said.
"Mr. Adam Brick will be accused of attacking one of guest, betraying a fellow clanmate and damaging Lady Victoria's property, a higher ranking kindred and his superior. Also if he's found guilty he will be exiled from this premise forever."

Lawless was speachless to hear the accusations, specially the treason charge against him. The very word was an offense to his Ventrue ears and moved his now death guts, making him uneasy.

Lawless was overall offended by the whole situation even ashamed to display such pettiful behavior in front of foreings to the Ventrue Clan. He kept his head low, no daring to speak or apologize even if he wanted that badly.

Valentine continued his exposition.
"The evidence will be presented before the jury and the court in time. The ghoul that offended our guests, Sir Hell Song and Miss Garrison was compelled with Dominate to embrace a xenophobic emotion against the Gangrel Clan, hence he acted on its own to protect his mistress, Lady Victoria with false pretensions against our guests.

Only three kindred were in contact with that ghoul with enough power to manipulate his mind is such way, two of which had a proper alibi, capture by the Chess Club's security cameras and corroborated by other's testimonies. Mr. Brick pretended alibi was that he briefed the ghoul regarding this interrogation. He claimed to have reported what he obviously didn't and therefore his alibi is false.

When confronted with these questions he gave no reasonable explaination and now he has confirmed his lack of Dignitas to disrespect an Elder and therefore his house."

Lawless expression went dark. He wanted to destroy Adam, turn him to ashes, ready to unleash violence and brutality for betraying him, a trustful clan member. He had abused his trust and he must now pay.

Victoria's face was impassive, empathetic and polite. She showed no emotion whatsoever even when the damage to her property was explained. Except for clearly pretended acknowledgement and understanding to her Lord.

Brian then asked.
"Lord Valentine, I wish to challenge Mr. Brick to a duel if you allow it. Being the ghoul just a tool in his scheme, the one that insulted us was indeed the accused. I can dismissed my recommendation to send Mr. Brick to the front against the lupines for a full confesion and he can be condem to duel me in a fair fight to simple death."

Brian took a step back apologizing to Lord Valentine with Rebecca's intromission and heard her. After all her last interruption was indeed very revealing.

Might I make a suggestion that The Master of Interrogation, Lady Victoria process him. She seems very capable of drawing out the truth in people, and this is a Ventrue affair.. I only suggest that we become president as to what is discovered. Then at such time our vengeance can be just. "

Brian whispered.
"That's why I'm interested in hearing his confession Becca. Just wait and see."

Brian came back to the Ventrue Elder and after apologizing again to leave him and Lady Victoria waiting he waited for Lord Valentine's answer. Lady Victoria asked permission to her Lord to speak up and then she said.
"My Lord, Sir Hell Song. Mr. Brick is William Randolph Childe, Seneschal of the City and one of the most prominent members of Clan Ventrue. Even if Mr. Brick confeses as guilty Lord Randolph will be notified and I'm certain under reasonable doubt that he'd demand a trial.

If Mr. Brick claims in such trial that he was threated to make a false confession you'd be risking Gangrel Clan Dignitas as well as our Lord is now risking his own in pursue of the truth.

Would you risk that much for our Clan Sir Hell Song?"

Valentine also wonder, specially about the Gangrel's motivation behind this plan.

Brian answered.
"Please correct me if I'm wrong but making a false confesion isn't a greater lost of dignity in front of everyone. Specially if you're in a Ventrue house being threaten by a Gangrel. Would he risk to be a coward that is ready to betray his honour just by a simple threat? I don't think so.

Mr. Brick might be guilty or a tool for someone else, I don't know but if he is punished it won't matter either way. This would make an example out of him.

Clan Gangrel is aware of city politics and is obedient to Prince Michael Bright, of course, but we care more to protect our territory. Your warriors are being held back by a political decision that its hurting our chances to defeat the Land's enemies.

Prince Bright's edict allowed us, The Gangrel, to be fully aware of your capabilities and right now having the Chess Club partaking in the territory defense is more important than any political consequence. Even if the edict is removed, would you hide again inside these walls if you're Called to Arms by one thee owns a debt? I don't think so."

Valentine was shocked by the Gangrel's pragmatic view of the situation, his disregard to politics and hierarchies was astonishing for all Ventrues present. It was clear that no Gangrel would ever give an order that could damage their chances of survival and he had no respect for any decision that would compromise such chances.

Valentine said.
"I, Lord Valentine Gioberti, Chess Master, Geronte of Federal and Lictor of Coins accept your proposal Sir Brian 'Hell Song' Garrison.

Praetor of Insurances, Harpy of the Ivory Tower, Lady of Clan Ventrue, Victoria von Baden. Please that Mr. Brick is properly informed of Sir Hell Song defyance and conditions to release him of the obligation to go to the front."

Victoria bowed and went to do Valentine's bidding. Then the Chess Master said to Lawless and his guests.
"We shall wait until Lady Victoria returns with Mr. Brick's answer."

Lawless was uneasy, worried and confused about the whole situation. Just as much as Rebecca, he was eager for an explaination but dared not to speak to the Elders and expouse his own ignorance about this. He felt he was in no position to demand a lecture about high politics to Valentine or Brian; and even if they did he wasn't sure he could understand what they could explain in that case.

Brian was a brave man, he felt proud of his Clan, his Blood not being entertained in such frailties. The strict Ventrue heirarchy was plotting against them, undermining their Clan capability to secure their own place in the territory, even their survival. While clan Gangrel was thriving, growning in power each passing night. The Prince needed them to break the leash that his own family had used to restrain them and trusted them to dwell in his own clan weaknesses. If Brian had no sense of survavillity he would have used this knowledge to sink the Ventrue but not only he had that but in his own definition, the Gangrel definition he was loyal to the Prince.

Valentine was a far more complex puzzle to solve. He was binded by honour to obey his Primogen and his Prince. They have secret contradiction that had never been public, not until now that Gangrel found out this rivalty, an exposition that would certainly be reported to Astor and would eventually undermine the Primogen position. Also depending on the outcome of Victoria's interview to Adam the Seneschal would be also responsible of Brick's action in rupture of the Chess Club Hospitality hence Ventrue's Traditions a rotten apple in his harvest; certainly this would also bring down the Seneschal Dignitas inside the Clan and just as with Benjamin would undermine his position or even caused his demotion by the Primogen Council.

Nevertheless, all Kindreds knew they had a mission that would be delayed and broght to Primogen Astor as a contingency that surely would be interpreted as weakness or per haps an attempt of Clan Ventrue to undermine the Gangrel control over the Upstate Territory. Surely this contradiction would not be accepted kindly by the Gangrel Primogen who's only interested in preserving the Land and protecting the Princedom, something he'd find a hard task to accomplish if the Tremere and the Ventrue plot against them instead of collaborating but surely he's expecting some resistance from the warlocks and the kings to the point even of being prejudice towards them.


Victoria eventually got to the jail where Adam was now imprison. He was sitting in the naked stone floor, behind steel bars. The small cage had no windows or any other object except of humidity and dirty. The conciled flames from the corridor was the only light comming into the prison. The scene was depressing but Victoria came like floating over the floor almost untouched by it's filth.

Adam had his head down when Victoria spoke, he didn't catched her first phrase and when he looked up found a sinester smile looking at him. The shadows around her face did made her expression even more evil than it used to be and not less spooky her staring at him in silence. He said.
"Lady Victoria. To what do I own the honour"

The Harpy stood silently enough to make him uneasy and then answered.
"Oh my dear, just looking at you like that, knowing that you're a traitor against my Prince, Lord Bright really makes me believe in Justice. I left the Elders talking about your volunteering to the lupine front, they seem so proud of your courage, the Court bards will certainly signs songs about your regreatable fight with the lupine that ended your existance as one of the Clan."

Adam stood up and said.
"My Sire would never allow this. You're bluffing my Lady." in his heart he knew this might be false, he knew the kind of man his Sire was but his love was too great to accept it.

Victoria reached her chest with the tip of her gloved hand and said.
"Are you a fledgeling to be accounted for? I believe your Sire commitioned you under Lord Valentine's command, am I right? that means he has the upper hand to accept or not your desire to join the Gangrel in their crusade."

Adam thought deeply about this and fell to his knees under the witch's spell. He knew she was a devious woman, why would he accepted his Sire command. Why did he plotted and risked his existence as a vampire just to undermine their political power. He was in conflict with himself, still the blood bound to his Sire was stronger than his will to defy him, even if his existance was in danger.

Victoria continued to stare at him, her gaze was penetrating his psyque, grinding his resolve until he said.
"My Lady I'm sorry. I never wished to things to come out this way, I just want to serve my Clan the best I can and now the Gangrel are controlling us. Don't you see? It was the only way to harm those animals, they're unworthy of commanding us!"

The Harpy was falsely touched by Adam's lies and showed pretended empathy for his loyalty to the clan. Then she said using a very understanding tone in her voice.
"You speak of loyalty? Do you think I care about those animals? or that I like to be under those beasts' command? I do it for LOYALTY! To my Prince, to the Clan! I'm forced to guide that antitribu through her Agoge and you're complaining! Attacking me?! Do you think I deserve to be used by YOU as a weapon against the Gangrel?"

Adam replied.
"My Lady Victoria von Baden, I know I've wrong you but please! Don't let the Beast take me to the border! The lupines will slash me and throw my pieces away. That's not a place for a King! Please I beg you, I'd do anything for you, for Lord Valentine, for my Prince to reddress this mistake but please don't let him take me!"

Victoria seemed to meditate about it and then said.
"What do you mean by anything? Would you accept full responsability for your actions against the Gangrel in front of the Clan? The animals are uneasy their mission has been compromised and they feel greatly offended by the actions you have caused."

Adam was scared, confused and desperate. He said.
"Yes my Lady, I swear it, solemly. I'll confess everything but please help me!"

Victoria got really close to the Ventrue and said with a powerful demanding voice.
"This words you won't remember but still their command you shall obey. When the kindred that order you to attack me and I are in the same room with you, you will refer to me as Lady Victoria Baden until you're corrected."



Victoria said.
"Very well. I'll see if the Beasts come to their senses and spare you from going to fight the lupines. Prepare yourself to give me my Boon to the Gangrel."


Victoria came back after a while and bowed before her Elder and said to Lord Valentine.
"It is done my Lord. Mr. Adam Brick has accepted the conditions."

Brian smiled greatly.

" I'm sorry, I had no idea any of this was going on. I apologize for speaking so deceptively towards you earlier, and not including you in my speculation. It was wrong of me, I mant no offence, nor was I attempting to cast blame. Please do not think too ill of me, Mr Lawless. You deserve more respect than what I showed. I am sorry. "

Lawless understood perfectly the situation Rebecca had to endure. Being between two alliances the Gangrel and the Ventrue, each with it's own interests and agenda. In response he just smiled and nodded.

After Lady Victoria's return Brian awesome by her efficiency nods to her in acknowledgement of the success.

Valentine says.
"Very well then I shall summon the Club's Round Table to oficially take record of Mr. Brick's confession right away. Dearest guests, Mr. Lawless. I invite you upstairs again until the Circle is complete."

Victoria says.
My Lord Valentine I have to return to complete the request. If you forgive me..."

Valentine agrees and she comes back to the jail while the rest of the crew goes upstairs. Valentine asks Lawless to come with him, leaving Brian and Rebecca to the Chess Club's hospitality while the Ventrue gather to conform a circle around the round table.

"so... How Fu*ked do you think we are 'cuz this mission was basically a flop? Do you think The Gangrel will think that We allowed ourselves to became distracted by this Ventrue drama or even worse see us as being "papered pooches" due to the Ventrue's hospitality?
Ya' think we will be punished?"

Brian smiled to Rebecca and said amused.
"You're the most Gangrel blue blood I've seen.

"I mean that as a compliment by the way." he smirks.

Then Brian assumed a more serious tone and said.
"You're right that sharing openly our experience here with other Gangrel will not be taken gently. However, our mission has not yet failed. No interrogatory, not even on ghouls is conducted on one night. We have two interrogations completed and some information to share with Astor tomorrow night. So don't worry Gangrels know patience as well..."

" I mean ... Yeah OK, so we might of uncovered a few things going on.... But our "core" mission was a failure regardless.. And we lost one of the PoWs on top of that! This kinda looks bad all around... For us and the Chess Club Vents.... kind of makes us look a little incompetent...."

He shrugs.
"Appearances are not that important. We want the information for practical reasons, among them to start a collaboration with the Ventrue and Tremere. If Astor wanted an efficient interrogation this prisoners would be in the Zoo or in the Queens compound, not here. He's looking to measure how much we want these clans as our collaborators. As you have seen our interrogation methods are quite efficient without Dominate or anything that fancy."

Brian lays back in a comfortable chair near by and says.
"These are complicated business Becca. We're in several missions at once. What we need to do goes far beyond getting information from the POW and helping the Ventrue to solve their own problems is also a part of our mission, don't forget that."