Vampire: A City by the Sea

[LadyTevar]

"Thank you, Father..." Lydia said as she walked out with Florien and his ghouls, allowing the archer at the back to lead her horse. "May I offer the hospitality of my home, for you to clean up before court, Father?"

The irony was not lost on her, leaving with a Warrior, returning with a Priest. She was sure to be teased gently by her seneschal, yet she allowed Marcus that freedom to keep herself from getting too prideful. It would end once she told him of Konstantin's undeserved demise.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I would welcome your hospitality m'lady. i must confess I am hardly clean enough to attend court. It would not do to come in covered in sweat and dirt as I am. Thank you, it is an honor"

The irony was not lost on him either. Still, it was rather fitting. Florien only hoped that the torment awaiting Konstantin in hell was relatively lax.

[LadyTevar]

As she had lead Konstantin not so long before, she now lead the Father to her door, only a few streets removed from the Prince's abode. Lydia's villa was far smaller, but still a house of one with money, nobility, or both.

A young man met them just inside the gate, ringing a bell to inform the house of her return, before taking the horse from Thomas without a word. An older, well-dressed man emerged from the house, and blinked in surprise at his mistress' company. He spoke in rapid Greek, but the name Konstantin was clear.

Lydia's eyes flickered to Father Florien, answering in equally fluid Greek in a tone of casual command, which had the man bowing and stepping back into the house. "My seneschal, Marcus. He is concerned about the blood upon me," Lydia said. She did not have to mention to Florien that she and Konstantin had left together to go fight. He would have seen them together at the gate.

"I've had him go prepare a room for you and your men to clean up, Father. I shall retire to my own room to do the same. Do you or your men have need of refreshment?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I fed before battle, but I imagine my men could use some water, and I am fairly certain their evening meal was interrupted yes?"

"Yes master" replied Nils

"If that could be attended to I would appreciate it" Florien replied "And so would they"

He did of course file away greek as a language he needed to learn.

[LadyTevar]

Lydia nodded, turning to a female servant who had stood in the shadows and gave her orders in Greek. The young woman curtseyed and ran off. "If you will excuse me, Father, I will go change myself."

Lydia departed, but the young woman came back within a few moments bearing a tray with sliced meat, a hunk of good cheese, a loaf of brown bread, a bowl with olives and pickles, and another with fresh grapes and sliced oranges. A second young woman was with her, carrying a tray with wooden cups and a carafe of watered wine, which she poured for the Father's retainers.

Both young women were lovely, sharing their mistress' grecian features. Both wore the tunica and dalmatica common to the Byzantine lands, but with far simpler patterns than their mistress and without pearls or gemstones picking out the fanciful embroidered trim. Yet the trim was silk-thread on linen in brightly colored shades that no Italian would 'waste' upon a mere servant. It was another sign of how easy such things had been to find in Constantinople, that even a serving girl could be dressed in garments that would be expensive elsewhere.

A moment later, both girls returned with ewers and basins for the men to bathe. Again the ewers and basins were beaten copper, well polished.

The illusion of wealth was one Lydia cultivated carefully.

[The Silence and I]

His duties over with Ottar jogs to the docks, near his haven. Once there he removes his armor and clothing and sets to washing them and himself in the water there. Once this is done he sits at the edge, watching the blood mix with the current and diffuse away. He seems contemplative to any who may watch him. After a time he rises and dons his clothes, undead flesh caring little that they are still very damp, and gathers his armor and tools of war before returning to his haven to leave those items behind. When he emerges he wears a dagger at his belt as he always does but is otherwise dressed for peace. His long hair is swept back in a loose pony tail, temporarily tamed by the water and a bit of string, and his rough beard is clumped and matted with the damp. He has an eye patch but rarely wears it and tonight is no exception. So appearing, the afterganger makes his way towards the court.

[Charon]

Aziz was escorted this time by another of Maria's servants. He was well dressed and clean, but not extravagant. Maria had nothing to prove as to the state of her power. The walls leading to the room were poorly lit, so as to avoid any unfortunate accidents, and as Aziz was lead into the greeting chamber the room looked as though it had changed drastically. Better lit and with more tapestries on the walls. The biggest change however was that there were different vampires present than the last time he had attended the court.

Thorkell and Alfred stood on either side of the Prince who was in her seat. Thorkell looked to be talking extensively with the Prince at this time. The Prince's face was a mask for all the reaction she had to what he was saying. Demosthenes sat down one step, writing furiously on a piece of parchment. He was apparently lost in his own world. Virgil was discussing something with another man that was dressed in the manner of high ranking Christian clergy. Others that were familiar were having conversations in the hall, though several were still missing. Aziz found Karaja standing next to another Moorish looking man and having a conversation with a leper.

[rhoenix]

Not quite knowing proper procedure, Aziz placed his right hand on his chest and bowed to the Prince (though didn't break eye contact) as he entered, deciding that a foreign attempt was better than no attempt at all to be properly cordial to one of her station. "Good eve again, Prince Maria."

With that, he walked over toward Karaja, only nodding with a smile as he arrived, so as to not interrupt their conversation. A good conversation was something to be treasured, the Children of Haqim felt, and Aziz himself certainly agreed with the sentiment.

[The Silence and I]

Court... Yay...
That pretty much summed up Ottar's thoughts as he entered the place and took a station midway alongside a side wall in the room. Out of the way, but far from hidden. More so than usual he was lost in his own thoughts and cared little for the conversation taking place and the ones that undoubtedly would soon.

[LadyTevar]

A quick wash to cleanse the blood from her body and hair braids, then Lydia re-donned the gem-encrusted gowns from earlier in the evening. It barely took a half-hour before she politely knocked upon the door to the room she'd given over to Father Florien and his ghouls.

"Good Father, are you ready?"

[Charon]

"-not believe that will be necessary however. That is very interesting however, thank you for your time Mr. Shoer. I will see what I can do."

The leper bowed to Karaja and took a few steps back. Karaja glanced to Aziz. "Ah, the lot of you are back. How did it go?"

Ottar entered to discover he was the last of the Einherjar to arrive. Gudrun looked about as pleased to be here as he did. Wherever he went, he found vampires quickly moving to give him plenty of space.

[rhoenix]

"-not believe that will be necessary however. That is very interesting however, thank you for your time Mr. Shoer. I will see what I can do."

The leper bowed to Karaja and took a few steps back. Karaja glanced to Aziz. "Ah, the lot of you are back. How did it go?"

Nodding respectfully to the leper, Aziz turned to Karaja, giving the Vizier a weary smile. Aziz replied with a low cadence, speaking in Arabic. "It became clear my own skills need more honing. Overall though, the invasion was repulsed, and prisoners taken. The Tzimisce who arrived to this fair city shortly before I did fall, though he fell to the claws to Thorkell here shortly after the battle was over. Other than that, there are no other losses."



(EDIT: forgot to mention he was speaking in Arabic, not Italian.)

[Charon]

Karaja nodded slowly, but his eyes were not on Aziz, they were darting around the room, watching the others. If Karaja was simply paranoid or if others had heard, Aziz could not tell. He was facing away from most of the other vampires at the moment.

The other Moor looked at Aziz carefully before speaking in Arabic. "You are the other that has been sent to guard Karaja from danger, yes?"

[rhoenix]

Turning to the other moor, Aziz replied in Arabic in return. "I was sent to assist him and the cause of Haqim. If he has need of a protector, I can serve in that capacity as well."

[Comrade Tortoise]

A quick wash to cleanse the blood from her body and hair braids, then Lydia re-donned the gem-encrusted gowns from earlier in the evening. It barely took a half-hour before she politely knocked upon the door to the room she'd given over to Father Florien and his ghouls.

"Good Father, are you ready?"

Florien had managed to clean himself up rather well, and his Ghouls seemed well sated after their meal, as well as clean themselves

"Yes My Lady, Thank you for your hospitality. I must apologize for putting you in a somewhat awkward position earlier"

[LadyTevar]

"It is nothing, Father," Lydia assured him. "However, we must go now, or we shall be tardy to Court."

[The Silence and I]

Ottar entered to discover he was the last of the Einherjar to arrive. Gudrun looked about as pleased to be here as he did. Wherever he went, he found vampires quickly moving to give him plenty of space.

If his spirits had been higher he would have flashed a smile at this, but as it he kept a mostly neutral expression.

[Charon]

Turning to the other moor, Aziz replied in Arabic in return. "I was sent to assist him and the cause of Haqim. If he has need of a protector, I can serve in that capacity as well."

The moor shook his head some, continuing in Arabic, "Then you'd probably want to be a bit more careful."

Karaja looked at the other man. "Orhan, that is enough." He turned to Aziz. "My apologies Aziz, Orhan has yet to learn when to be silent."

Orhan had the bearing of one of the warrior caste, and when Karaja spoke he bristled at the blow to his honor.

"I thank you for the information however. Was there anything else of interest?"

___________________________

Thorkell finished speaking with Maria and quickly walked away from her, towards some of the other Einherjar to say he did not looked pleased was to put it lightly. Maria meanwhile was looking contemplative as to what she had heard and Alfred looked rather pleased with himself and did not bother to even attempt to hide it.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"It is nothing, Father," Lydia assured him. "However, we must go now, or we shall be tardy to Court."

"Indeed it is, but thank you all the same." he turned to his Ghouls

"Actung!" he commanded, and they fell into position.

"Shall we?"

[LadyTevar]

Lydia, with Father Florien in tow, made her belated entrance to Prince Maria's court. Her hair was damp, but otherwise her braided hair, garments and jewelry seemed unchanged from her earlier visit to the court. It was as if she had merely walked out for a moment and returned, not that she had gone and slaughtered four thralls and wounded a vampire in a rush of battle. She gave Florien a quiet word of thanks for his escort, then added, "You may wish not to be near me, should trouble arise...."

Warning given, Lydia walked forward to a respectable distance from the Prince and curtsied low, rising before giving the smirking Sheriff a deferential nod and a small smile. She knew it would annoy him and make him wonder what she was up to. To the Warlord and his Einherjar she gave no glance or attention at all, instead walking off to the side, looking around the room to see whom was in attendence upon Maria this night.

The Assamites were gathered together, but for the Scourge. That was not surprising. Genevieve the Nosferatu, and Cainite Heretic, was also not in attendance. That was unusual. Her clan-mate Howard was here, clad in the wrappings and bell of a Leper. None truly wished to discover if he was truly leperous, or merely borrowing the infamy. The last one missing was the Ravnos, Pavel the Sly. Like all Ravnos, Lydia did not see his absence as a problem at all.

Lydia did not see Vannius among the crowd either, but that might be because he did not wish to be seen. As a LaSombra, he might be sitting amongst the very shadows cast by the candles, waiting for the right word or the right time to appear. She did not think he'd stay away ... but then his earlier words came back to her: I hope the Leper, the Charlatan, and the Sheriff know their parts.

Lydia did not stop in her tracks, although there was hesitation for a second in her stride. The Sheriff was visible as always by Maria's side. Howard the Leper was near the dias as well. Where was the Ravnos, who bragged of being the biggest Charlatan ever? Where was Vannius himself?

Virgil was with Bishop Paolo, a fellow LaSombra. Lydia would be rude to interrupt, as they may be talking Clan matters. As well, Virgil may not be the one to speak with at this time. Nicolo, her fellow Brujah, had been with them at the battle, but could she trust him here? They rarely spoke to each other -- Nicolo prefered the company of Father Florien and Warlord Thorkell.

Was there no one she could trust here, now, at this time?

Oddly, she felt she might have trusted Konstantin ... but that though only lasted a moment. No. Of the Cainites gathered here, ironically, the one she might trust most was the one she had just warned of trouble. Yet .. she had to tell someone, to see if she was merely reading far too much into passing comments.

Comments Vannius had made in her presence, knowing she'd hear, as well as encouraging her to speak out against the Warlord's actions.

Perhaps the Charlatan, Leper, and Sheriff were not the only catspaws here. Yet, until Lydia herself had the power and status to do such, she was going to be used by the Elders as a playing piece. That knowledge did not make her feel any better than it had when her Sire had gave her that advice years ago. Here, it was worse, as she was still an 'outsider'.

Like Konstantin.

God damn the Gangrel, she could have USED the Tzimesce!

[Comrade Tortoise]

Florien hesitated. He did not particularly like the sort of subterfuge that was rampant in vampire society. He would just as soon relegate himself to mortal politics. Those were much more straightforward, for one there were not vampires who had centuries of boredom playing such games as experience.

Still, he was curious, and he felt as if he and Lydia could find use for eachother. So against his better judgment, he bowed to Maria, and then proceeded to catch up to Lydia

"You have misgivings?" he said to her, quietly. "I saw the hesitation in your step, there are several missing, their positions and dispositions concern you?"

[LadyTevar]

Lydia did not show the relief she felt that Florien had ignored her warning. "It was something overheard on the way back," Lydia replied, speaking low, and pleased he had also noted who was missing. " 'The Charlatan, the Leper, and the Sheriff know their parts'. Two are here.. where is the other?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"That is the question. Pavel is missing, as is Vannius for that matter. Though he could well be here unseen. The other question is who you overheard. My advice is to tread carefully. You, in fact both of us, could be walking into a situation most... uncomfortable"

[LadyTevar]

"Your advice is welcome," Lydia answered lightly, although her eyes shifted with sudden sharpness towards the Warlord. "However, the same one I overheard also challenged me to 'speak' to the Gangrel. I think you know already who it is, by his absence." Her voice was still soft, light, as if she was speaking of another matter entirely. Her eyes, when they looked at Florien, were steel-grey.

"We shall see how the Warlord reports our victory, Father. Then, we shall see who is walking." It was all the warning she would give him in this crowded hall. The taunt had been meant to set her on this path, Lydia knew, yet she also knew she had to speak should the Warlord try to gloss over his actions. "It must be your choice, Father."

[Charon]

There was a brief moment where everyone in the rooms sixth sense to check for their coin-purses kicked in almost simultaneously. Seconds later, and almost on cue to Lydia's question, the gaily dressed Pavel entered the room, resplendent in reds and greens and yellows he smiled and waved as he nearly danced around the room, much to the displeasure of all others in attendance.

Maria allowed herself a tiny smile and nodded to Pavel who took a seat at the base of the throne, still grinning like an idiot.

"Now that we are all here, I shall confirm for you what I am certain you already know." Maria smiled as she looked around the room. "Tonight, another plot of Milan was stopped thanks to the efforts of all of our brave citizens, and we have welcomed two new children of Caine to our ranks." She nodded to Aziz as she said this, then looked around the room again. "Thorkell, your report."

Thorkell glowered and muttered under his breath as he stepped forward. "Under the cover of fog, my warriors, and a select number of this city's fine warriors, including Father Florien, Nicolo Giustiniani, Gunther, Vannius Clausus Secundus, Aziz, Lady Lydia, and Konstantin Karpathy, ambushed the Milanese. The fighting was sweet, but over quickly. Your Cainites showed themselves to be mighty warriors. Nicolo brought down two of the Milanese horsemen himself. Lady Lydia took the battle directly to the infantry and held them off single-handedly. Aziz battled and delayed three of their horsemen, allowing us the time to encircle and destroy them. Konstantin fought with one of their leaders to a stand-still, that was only broken when the cowardly Milanese attempted to flee from the battle!" The Warlord was obviously enjoying his recounting of the tale of battle. The leaders of the foray were taken prisoner and have been returned to the city for questioning and eventual disposal." There was another pause and Maria looked as though she was about to speak in the pause before Thorkell quickly spoke up again.

"After the battle, there was a quarrel between Konstantin and me." The Einherjar seemed to be attempting to chose his words. "Following the laws of my people, the dispute was settled and Konstantin's remains were given a funeral befitting a warrior." Thorkell allowed a pause for the other vampires in attendance to soak in the information. "As he does not have kin present, and had given his loyalty to you before his death I am willing to pay the wergild to you."