— in vein

a story of trying to be better against all odds

[carnage-vrp]

next session will be prepared:

>> June 2024

[carnage-vrp]

session eleven; powerplay

Genevieve and Edwina check in on Alistair, meeting Bruce and Kalypsia at the Nosferatu drop-off point. They speak with Caitiff Polly and her Thinblood companions, Finn & Sophia, who reveal Gabe has some personal connection to the Lazarus Box. They also teach Genevieve what it might be used for, but are unable to offer Bruce exact insight into what the prophecy on its plaque means. The coterie learn from 44 that Gabriel is still alive and kicking, Edwina taking a package from them to deliver on 44's behalf to the casino.

They run into Valeandre and Marcus whilst leaving the sewer, discovering the former has been attempting desperately to find Gabriel. Val is seen heading upstairs to Kalypsia's haven. The group drop off the package, where Edwina's over-enthusiasm causes some disgruntlement.

The coterie attend the Nox nightclub, where they witness Vanessa and Lachie dancing together. Genevieve clouds Lachie's memory of Bruce ever showing up, and Vanessa makes a swift exit to avoid them. The two disappear into Lucy Oreille's car. Realising red mist is being dispersed in the nightclub when fellow Kindred Kev says hello, Edwina goes to rescue him while Genevieve collects a sample. With Kev clearly unwell, they send him home in a cab to pursue the original meeting with Ivan.

Kalypsia discovers that Ivan is working with Marcus only to protect his younger brother, and attends the meeting with he and Edwina in tow. Marcus confirms Valeandre is with him, insulting Kalypsia's standing with the Camarilla. She successfully goads him, whereafter he exits, taking Ivan. Genevieve appears, causing Marcus to attempt shooting her, but hasty words from Valeandre diffuse the situation.

Bruce returns to check on his son, noting Joseph's duffle bag has been opened in his former room. He and Kal return to The Muse for the day, while Genevieve and Edwina bed down at Gabriel's hideout. Genevieve puts Finn's guidance to use setting up her new alchemical equipment and understanding what might be possible with the sarcophagus. Kalypsia realises Ash has a second Childe; Alistair.

[rosenkranz-does-things]

Midnight Mass studies

timelapse

[carnage-vrp]

session ten; the lazarus box

Edwina pries open the sarcophagus, which 44 later informs them is called a Lazarus Box by Gabe. The coterie are poorly affected by the presence inside, contracting a mysterious condition. 44 greets them as Gabriel's stand-in while the Malkavian remains under the radar to avoid Valeandre's ire. Genevieve sets up a meeting with the alchemist coterie. Edwina is given a promotion at the Big Splendour.

Bruce wakes to discover he has been pronounced dead due to Becca calling in medical help during his daysleep. He enters voluntary torpor and is taken away to the morgue, where Jonathan Kir reappears. The remaining coterie are able to recover Bruce extremely efficiently from the hospital, but Genevieve finally burns her bridge with Jacob to do so, who cuts off their communication entirely for this favour.

Everyone attends Ivan's announcement, where the coterie spread seeds of doubt among participants. Bruce and Edwina make a stand against him, earning the respect and trust of most Anarchs present. Kalypsia discovers Ivan is somehow in league with the Camarilla Ventrue, Marcus, who allegedly was going to aid Ivan in storming Elysium. She manages to get a foot in the door concerning their meeting tomorrow night.

The coterie return to The Muse to continue evading Valeandre, planning their approach to the week ahead. The date of Elysium looms ever closer, and someone familiar wakes up.

[fiercerthanyou]

Stacy Arezou Mehrfar “Memory 1,” 2015,

Courtesy Filter Space

[carnage-vrp]

The Veil of Sanctity, they name it in here. 'Sanctity' or maybe 'Holiness'? — it's difficult to know from a piece with as little context as this. Red mist traditionally refers to an episode of blinding rage; a lovely little idiom don't you think!

If you have any questions about the blog while I'm away from updating, please send them through to [email protected]. Stay learning. :) — RB.

[carnage-vrp]

session nine; roost for the wicked

Bruce tells Jacob that Alistair is unconscious in Gen's attic and makes a deal with Val. Genevieve crashes her car into Jacob's in an attempt to thwart him calling the cops, injuring him. She also learns Grace is his new partner. Edwina helps get Jacob to Annaliese's house and gains the coterie entry to Gabriel's hideout. Kalypsia breaks things off with Val and gets Lachie's scholarship back successfully. She also learns Ash previously mentored Adelaide to some degree. The group discover correspondence between Gabriel and a Caitiff-Thinblood coterie in the hideout, coupled with a sinister sarcophagus.

[teddy-bear-naps-and-random-snaps]

[carnage-vrp]

session eight; roots

Following their last encounter with Freya, the group splinter off to tend to their own growing agendas for the time being. Bruce struggles to balance peace with his wife and son, slowly entrenching himself more deeply into understanding the Anarchs' movements. He discovers Becca has been looking into mental institutions on his behalf. Edwina begins working under Gabriel, dispatching the casino's less pleasant patrons. Genevieve delves into the meaning of the red mist described by the Malkavian Primogen, meeting with Annaliese and Jacob, discovering the latter's connection with another blood buyer.

As Kalyspia's companions, the coterie attend an off-the-books meeting between Camarilla figures, bold enough to call itself an "Elysium" beneath the Prince's nose. Bruce narrowly avoids causing an upset with Genevieve's help. Valeandre opens the floor to put Genevieve unexpectedly in the spotlight. Kalypsia defends Gen's privacy, but Gabriel's words cause a nasty mistunderstanding with both Ventrue and Thin-Blood. Multiple Kindred at the meeting express an interest in hearing more about Kalypsia's proposed 'solution'.

The coterie discover Gabriel did not in fact plan to sell Genevieve out, but assumed Kalypsia would play her Sire's rumoured relationship to the Prince as a trump card. Wary of Valeandre's growing madness, Gabriel cashes in on Kalypsia's boon, requesting that in the event his unlife comes into question at Elysium, she sway the vote in his favour.

Bruce requests Kalypsia reverse Lachie's transfer. Edwina and Genevieve return to their recently-acquired home. Departing, Edwina receives a message from Gabriel in regards to a location he claims has what they need.

[carnage-vrp]

session seven; the devil you know

Bruce alters Lachie's scholarship through Kal's original favour from Ash, accepting a less presitigious position in exchange for putting some distance between his son and Kindred dangers.

The coterie meet with Jacob, both he and Genevieve lamenting on what could have been and what may yet come to fruition. At a loss, Jacob insists Genevieve continue meeting with him if only to know she remains alive. Annaliese also asks to catch up, far more chipper and with renewed purpose.

Alistair is once again bundled into the trunk of the car. Valeandre talks shop with Kalypsia, clearly pleased by the news of Freya's staking. He emphasises how politically valuable it would be for them to hand her to Adelaide, but ends up agreeing to leave the choice to the coterie. The group interrogate Freya in her prison, where it is confirmed that the Anarch Baron is suffering from the burdens of her multiple diableries and revealed that Valeandre killed Martin. Edwina films Freya's confession and the coterie release the knowledge of her location to all Anarchs involved in the haven attack. Freya bids a regretful farewell to her Childer; she warns Bruce that his family are in grave danger whilst he remains entangled, and assures she bears no grudge for Edwina. Kalypsia's feathers are ruffled by Genevieve's abrasive behaviour towards Valeandre.

Bruce resolves to bring his family into the larger truth of things, at last considering his options with the Anarch sect. Edwina contemplates her debt to her mother, free of Sire and looking towards Valeandre as a means to an end. Genevieve stands her ground to remain independent of any faction, making plans around reclaiming her haven. Kalypsia laments over the naivety of her disparate coterie members, torn between friendships and fealties to a system she knows may well swallow lesser Kindred whole without her guidance.

[fiercerthanyou]

Photography By Niks Freimanis, Latvia. 

The second night of a volcanic eruption in the Meradalir valley, Iceland, which began in early August 2022. 

Courtesy: The World Photography Organization

[carnage-vrp]

RAGBABY/111;

"Tjh'w ylxm rxmkya rtc. Ynl uum apjd bxyv Sydqcv'h blpvc, T'y ehft bt wi. Lu qiw jg ueina, wii'p mxwoc odbk krr ld rnwo."

[carnage-vrp]

session six; into the fire

Delving further into the warehouse, the coterie discover multiple holding cells, including Alistair Fitzroy's prison. Bruce and Kalypsia encounter some supernatural pull from a sinister door. Resisting the urge to stay behind, they rescue an unconscious Alistair and leave the basement. At the stairs they contend with their earlier combatant and her reinforcements, Jonathan among them.

Realising they are outnumbered and against dangerous weaponry, they flee the warehouse aided by Edwina's show of force and Kalypsia's manipulations. They are followed by Jonathan's ranks, but Bruce is able to damage the trailing vehicle.

Injured and hungry, the crew feed and accompany Bruce to collect a new bagged blood supply from Jacob. Sympathising with Bruce, he waives their usual transaction and gives him back the Kelly family's car. He recognises Genevieve as his ex-wife and assumes the worst. After a painful and wary discussion with Alistair still in the boot of Vanessa's car, they are able to part ways with Jacob on the condition he keeps Genevieve's phone and meets with them tomorrow evening.

Bruce announces to Gabriel that there is far more to the task originally assigned as a boon, citing the dangers of tonight's discovery. He inquires about the premonition drawing involving Kalypsia and Lachie, which Gabriel seems hesitant to answer properly. Gabe tells Genevieve that he believes his vision of the red mist spells doom for both the Anarchs and the Camarilla. He also admits to witnessing that they staked Freya recently.

Everyone returns to the theatre, where they discreetly tie Alistair up in Bruce's room. Joseph's radio broadcasts a final message which no one is awake to hear.

[fiercerthanyou]

‘Funny Guy’ by Patrick Nash and Cluster London,

Borough Yards, Bankside Design District, London

[ex0skeletal-undead]

Mouth by Alin Dobos

[carnage-vrp]

session five; out of the frying pan

The coterie spends the day together in The Muse theatre, secure in Ash's domain. He notes that Freya is being held in Torpor currently, but that they should decide what to do with her soon, as there will start to be questions and the Camarilla would look eagerly on taking an Anarch leader out of the equation. With Genevieve's car in the process of repair, they aid Freya's ghoul Vane, to whom Edwina gifts her vitae. Genevieve intimidates her a little too effectively, but they are able to use her vehicle.

Bruce calls the radio left at his house after the altercation, and set up a meeting time with someone on the other end - "Joseph's" colleague. The coterie discovers that Helping Hands is a front for something else, and that they pose as many businesses around the city. The call clarifies that Joseph was previously at Annaliese's house. Annaliese tells Genevieve she has found another investigator for Rebecca's case.

The coterie investigate a local Helping Hands office near Peter's Milkbar, knocking out young employee Zac, gaining his access card and a long list of other company figures. They enter into the warehouse with his card, but are spotted by a woman who attempts to shoot at Bruce.

Genevieve unlocks a door, Edwina and Bruce silence the woman, while Kalypsia keeps watch. Having set off alarms, they face a choice; journey deeper into the den, or flee to fight another night.

[carnage-vrp]

session four; scrutiny

Bruce wakes unusually early, alerted to the presence of a pretender in his home. Following the confrontation, he is injured but claims the man's belongings, including a radio. Edwina struggles alone with her Beast, finally succumbing to hunger and murdering a mortal. Genevieve discovers the ominous nature of documents found in the burned Camarilla haven; Alistair is mentioned. Kalypsia falls into Torpor due to being wounded previously, finding herself in Reggie's taxi when Gabriel gifts his vitae to wake her. The Primogen's conversation confirms Valeandre survived last night's attack.

Lachie tells Bruce about his new scholarship opportunity at a private performing arts program during their trip to the hospital. Bruce acquires blood from his contact Jacob, and lets the doctor borrow his car in exchange for treating him discreetly. The coterie disposes of Edwina's feeding accident outside the city and discuss their next moves. Kalypsia gains some insight into Martin's circumstances.

Genevieve discovers her house has been looked through by police, but manages to bring some personal effects and equipment. She develops a heavily edited version of the documentation, planning to have Edwina give this to Freya. Kalypsia reveals she is aware of Lachie's offer, having "contacts in the industry."

Bruce and Edwina rendezvous with Freya, only to be met by her Ghoul, Vane. They discover Freya is heavily injured and unstable, acting strangely. She frenzies violently when Edwina refuses to give her the safe's contents. The coterie flee in Minnie, barely managing to subdue Freya with their newly-acquired stake.

Rapidly running out of safe options, the coterie turn to Kalypsia's Sire Ash for assistance. He offers shelter in The Muse Theatre and reassures the group that he will take care of their staked Anarch problem in the interim. Bruce and Kalypsia clash after the former finds out his son may be involved with yet more vampiric influences. Genevieve apologises to Edwina. With much to think about and many eyes to avoid, the coterie retire for the time being.