VAMPIRE: THE DARK AGES Recap

[es0terika.livejournal.com]

A recap of the last time various people played for the game on Monday.

VAMPIRE: THE DARK AGES - Parcel of Rogues, Session XV

Bitter Crusade V
Fiendish Winter II
Act Two: Storm Warning...
The Itinerant Company left the lair of Prince Gari, walking through thedark and frosty Zaryan streets 'till they reached their lodgings.
After returning home and retelling events it emerged that Dragovich had deep misgivings about the journey to Toth, not wanting to interfier in the affairs of the Clan to which he was born. Though he said that he wouldnot hesitate to fight on their side against the Tzimisce of Toth, headded that to fight with Cainites of other Clans against a Tzimisce Boyar would only serve to make him yet more of an outcast among his family, the Basarabs. If he survived the affair.
He told the other members of the Company that he would sleep on the matter and inform them the following night.
Thenext night arrived, and Volund found Dragovich nursing a tankard ofwarm ale in the tavern bellow. Upon being asked he told Volund that hehad decided to journey with them and aid in any way he could, addingthat he had not forgotten the drowned monastery, and that he owed thema debt of honour for rescuing him. He did however say that he had a bad feeling about this, and that he did not think that it would end wellfor them. Nevertheless, the jouney did apear nesassary if they were toprevent this brood of Tzmimisce from derailing the crusade, and takingZara down with it.
Later some of the Company went to investigate the ruins of the Obertus monastery, out on a wind-swept hillside beyond the walls. They found nothing but a hollow shell of a building, and pilesof burned timber and ash. The place and event that had started all thetroubles it seemed had no secrets to give up, though they knew who wasresponsible for the burning, a fanatical Crusader-Knight by the name ofGauthier de Dampiere.
The next night a messenger from Gari arrived,telling them to make ready for the journey, and then to meet around theback of the Prince's tavern for departure.
The Company, using someof the coin advanced by Narses, purchased three wagons to compliment the steeds given to them by the Zaryan Prince.
Outside the back of the tavern, Myca Vykos, Prince Gari, and Lady Erzebet Toth stood waiting with Vykos' own wagon.
PrinceGari bade them all farewell, and wished them the best of luck, before telling them to relay to this Lord Bodor Toth that the Prince of Zarawishes for there to be peace between them.
Vykos offered Erzabet aplace in his wagon for the jouney, it being more comfortable than therest, and she accepted, bearing no ill-will toward him.
As theyleaft the city of Zara a heavy snow began to fall, driven home bystrong winds, slowing their progress through the harsh winter at theclose of 1202 AD.
Once they left the surrounds of Zara villages andhamlets got thin on the ground as dense and dark forests enclosed theroad, and they began to climb, leaving Dalmatia and enteringTransylvania, the land beyond the forest .
Baradeus, tiring of theweather, rode for a time in the wagon of Myca Vykos. They talked of how things were in the mother of all cities, Constantinople. Vykos spoke ofthe dissaray among the Clans of the Triumvirate there, of the growingmadness of Prince Michael, and of the madness of Gesu, his owngrandsire, who was nominal head of the Obertus Tzimisce since theabsence of The Dracon. Things did not go well in Byzantium he said,Gesu has become increasingly obsessed by his own divinity within,neglecting matters of the city and it's people, and excerting an unhealthy pull over his childe and brother Symeon, Myca's sire.
He told Baradeus that change would be needed in order to preserve the city and the Dream,he was not talking about insurection against Michael, just some of those that served him, he went on to say that strong and loyal Cainiteswould be needed to acomplish this, before it was to late for Michael's Dream.
Vykos asked if Baradeus would be one of these loyal Cainites, if it came to that, and with some trepidation, Baradeus agreed.
They coninued to climb on frozen roads up through the forested Transylvanian Alps, at last coming to a high point where the road was just a ledge above the valley below.
Crossing with the caridges would beprecarious but they pressed ahead, the snow-laden winds now howlingabout them. Vykos' caridge crossed first, slowly proceeding. The others following moved equally slowly, but to no avail, the side wheels of the first two sliped over the edge of the frozen ground, breaking theiraxels. Those abour and around them acted fast and what was importantwas removed before they were alowed to go over the edge. Maelduin andhis two faithfull servants in the third were not so lucky. The others watched with horror as the wagon sliped then fell, exploding into pieces on the rocks as it tumbled away.
Mortuis too had fallen out of his wagon, falling briefly before he managed to grab on to the rocky face.
Vykos'wagon continued to the end of the ledge as Bother Anthony was rescued,and Maelduin healed his broken form among the bodies and wreckage onthe valley floor.
Volund swooped down in the form of a raven and having spied out a way for Maelduin to ascend back to the road,directed him toward it. But Maelduin collected some of the wreckage andplaced the cold and dead bodies of his two followers on top of thepile, and set it ablaze as a funeral pire for their journey to Anwyn.
Aftermany harsh, bleak, and frozen nights on the trecherous roads, theyneared the Vale of Toth in southern Transylvania. A deep closed valley with only two entrances and surrounded on all sides by steep and jaggedwooded peaks. Down the trail they saw the town of Toth and beyong it upon a precipace above and beyond the town with it's back to themointains was the silhouete of Castle Toth.
Baradeus had been forcedinto torpor some weeks back by the lack of his chosen feeding preferance on the road and so the first priority was to wake him.
Mortiushad the requesite talent via the arts of Mortis, however they knewBaradeus would fly into a blood-frenzy upon waking, and so they needed suibtable foder upon which he may feast. Dragovich warned that takingone of the locals would be percieved as a grave breach of etiquette,and that Tzimisce Lords often have an uncany knowledge of what happed within their domains.
Having no choice they lured Baradeus' ghouldwhore into his torpid presence, telling her that he would need her totend to him when he awoke.
Mortius laid his hands upon Baradeus, and then sat back to intently watch as events unfolded.
Baradeus woke and predictably seized upon her throat, draining her dry. Thinking quickly, and not wishing his bonded ghoul to die in vain, he bit openhis own wrist and forced the vitae down her throat, graning a whore theembrace of the proud Antonian Ventrue.
As there was not enough vitae present to sate her she was staked into inactivity until a more suibtable time.
Thatmatter setled, much to the quiet amusment of the onlooking Myca Vykos,they made their way through the town and up to the castle.
Theycame to a stop before the heavy wooded gates and burning braziers, andinformed the guardsmen present that they were there to see the Lord,and that they had travelled far. Erzebet emerged from Vykos' wagon tothe guardsman's surprise, and ordered him to imediatly open the gates.
Theypassed inside the curtain wall and left the remaining wagon therebefore entering the Keep. They were led inside through stone corridor sadorned with old suits of armour and ancient heraldic shields.
When they entered the Hall they saw a huge hearth and dust faded baners and standards hanging from walls which were lined by guardsmen, andilluminated by shafts of light from the near full moon above. In the centre of the hall was a long table around which sat various persons dressed in antqueted yet fine clothing engaged in a feast. At the headof the table in a high-backed wooden chair sat a man with wide shoulders, a square set face, and dark hair, with an obvious familia lresemblance to Erzebet. He stood saying that he was Devald Toth, Boyarof these lands. Dragovich stepped forward introducing himself and hiscomrades. Devald complimented on his noble name and bade them allwelcome to Toth as his guests. To the Boyar's left sat his two brothers Pietre and Kilian, next to whom Erzabet took a seat, and to his rightsat a man of obvious moorish blood, adorned in turban and robes, andVolund upon asking, was told by Devald that his father, Bodor, had died some years back, and that he was Lord in Toth now.
Polite conversation continued around the table, with questions asked of the Company's travells and deeds.
Asthe hour grew late, and the other guests had left the table, Devald satforward and asked them what their buisness was in Toth that they hadtravelled so far.
They explained their purpose for being there, and of the disasters that may ocur if Toth did not cease it's activities in Zara.
Devaldtold of his brother Farkas' death at the hands of the Crusaders, and ofhis families need for vengance, stoping was out of the questionregardless what was offered in return. He did however seem to considerwhat they were saying when Vykos interjected and they proposed thatthey hunt down those drectly responsible for the atrocity.
He offerd them the hospitality of his castle for the night while he considered matters, giving his word that they would be safe.
They accepted his offer and were given rooms of the second floor of thekeep, but there was a few hours left in the night and they gathered inone of the rooms for discussion. As the hour grew later faint screamswere heard on the winds outside, and upon flinging open the window tothe blizzard, those using the arts of Auspex saw two forms atop thetower roof, stugling figures.
Through the snow Mortius and Gregoire saw Devald Toth, in the grip of clawed and hairless fiend. Volund wasquick to act, leaping out through their window as a raven oncemore, but was unable to battle through the strong winds to the tower. Seeingguards below emerge from the keep and head into the tower Maelduinrushed to join them, as Geregoire and Mortius looked on.
Maelduinrushed into the tower, rapidly ascending the spiral staircase, to findthe armoured guards just having reached the top, they helped himthrough the narrow window from which he clambered on the roof above intime to be visciously clawed in the face by the fiend above, who thensmashed Devald in the face knocking him unconscious. Maelduin strugledto keep his grip on the edge from which he was dangling, but clamberedup in time to see the multifanged Cainite plunge a serated dagger intoDevalds chest and heart. Leaping up, and after trading blows with the unknown assailant, Maelduin dispatched him, and Volund arrived in timeto see the body turn to ash on the winds.
Devald's body was takeninside the tower and laid out with respect, as the Moor arived, andlooking down at the body, his flesh began to flow and change, shoulders growing broader, hair long and dark, and long black mustaschios sprouting from his lip. The face was square set and striking, much like that of his sons, for he was Bodor Toth, the true Boyar.
He looked down at his cruely slain son, a detached grief on his face.
He reached down taking the parchment that had been pinned to his sons chest with the dagger, his face set grim and hard.
He turned to the Company, saying that they had come here to persuade himto stop the attacks in Zara, he said that he would agree to the termthey offered his son, if they aided in the defense of his castle. He then handed Dragovich the parchment, a proclemation of a Trial by War,from one Voivode Koban, of clan Tzimisce.
The note also brazenly stated when he would arrive with his forces, and what thei rnumbers were, displaying his contempt for the defenders.
Bodor told them that other contingents of his were already on their way to Zara,but that he would call them back if the Company agreed to his proposal.
Realizing that they had little choice, and that Bodor was a man of honour, they reluctantly agreed.
The Boyarsaid that they would be sumoned to a council of war in the great hallin a short time, before leaving the tower with the guards and the bodyof Devald.
I knew this would not end well stated Dragovich once Bodor had left.
While awaiting to be called they encountered Kilian, son of Bodor and brotherto Erzabet and Devald, and upon enquiring as to why this Voivode Koban would wish war with Toth, were told a little of the familly history.
Itseemed that some time ago, in the eleventh century, the Obertus had sent ans emisery named Zubor, childe of Gesu, to these lands to establish a monastery. But that they had come into conflict with thelocal Tzimisce, namely Koban. He claimed that the lands they had chosen where part of his domain, and could not be swayed, eventually attackingZubor and the Obertus with Szlatcha war-ghouls. They retaliated by sending a pack of Byzantine Gangrel to slay him, led by Baron ThomasTheroux. They failed, though they inflicted great casualtys on hisservants. Koban's revenge was swift, coming out of the Transylvanian night and forcing Zubor to flee while his fellow monks were slain.
Atlength he came to the isolated Vale of Toth, and embraced the Lord,Bodor Toth, to aid in his protection. However shortly afterwards Koban caught up with him and he was forced to flee oncemore, Leaving Bodor behind him. It was not known by Kilian if Zubor reached Constantinople,or if he was slain by Koban.
But within the vale, as in time imemorial, the Toth familly continued to rule, uncaring of the world outside, untill Farkas the second son, ventured to the Obertus monastery to study with his father's sire's people, and was burned alive with them by by the newmly arived Crusaders.
After a time they were called into the Great Hall, as the wind continued to howl through the night outside.

VAMPIRE: THE DARK AGES - Parcel of Rogues, Session XVI

Bitter Crusade VI
Fiendish Winter III

But before the council was to be held Bodor ,Boyar of Toth, sumoned the Company to his study, where he seemed to be engaged in private conversation Myca Vykos.
It was said that much could be done to try and tip the odds in their favour by harrying the aproach of Viovode Koban's forces, and so such matters were discussed, with Bodor even offering the Company one last chance to back out of the arangement,which was refused, for the Company knew that any further interferencefrom the Boyar in vengance from the death of his son could well derail the Crusade entirely, and it was said that Archbishop Narses did not react well to failure.
Differentmeasures were proposed by Gergoire and Maelduin, who voluntiered forthe task. Measures such as traping the road down from the north-easternpass with hidden pits and trenches that could criple wagons or injuremen. Assassinating important figures such as ghouled unit commanders,or infiltrating themselves into the force some how. If possibleintrducing poison into their food or water supply, or destroying someof their supplies altogether [five barels of highly famable pitch wereprovided for this purpose], either when they made camp or during anambush of the wagon train, circumstances providing. Bodor put theresources of Toth at their disposal, assigning a group of able-bodiedman from the town to assist them
Leaving the others to continue theplaning, Maelduin and Gregoire rode down to the village to collecttheir workers, before riding down the winding road toward thenorth-eastern pass.
The blizzard-winds had abated but smow stillfell gently from the sky covering the vale in a white blanket, but theworkers Bodor had suplied were hardy folk and under the Company'sdirection the first group set diging the first trench across a narrowstrech of road while yet more set about crafting sharpened staves toplace within the pits.
The second group followed them yet furtherdown the vale to another such place and set to work in a similarfashion, both groups having orders to cover the trenches with canvasand leaves upon which the snow may fall disguising their work.
Atlength, and having left all workers behind, Gregoire and Maelduinreached the pass, a rocky winding road leading up to a wide woodedexpanse through which the road continued.
They ascended, andresred momenteraly rested, taking the time to smoke a pair of Puerilo22's, long and finely crafted 22 inch cigars given to them by Narses sopotent that they required mains power to function [interfacing through22 inch long Puerilo-ports], luckily Maelduin had a huge wooded batterywith them that seved the purpose since they were far from sockets.
Afterthis Maelduin ventured of the road into the darkness to attempt tosummon a local spirit, leaving Dragovich, Gregiore, and Jean Sebastianto wait on the track.
Using the power of his Vitae and the arts ofRego Mentem he summond a forest spirit to him, a tall and darkprescence with glistening wooden skin and long limbs.
The spirit stooped over Maelduin, who welcomed it and asked it's name. BARZADAKAI! it replied, the branches of all the nearby trees shaking at his words.
Maelduinbartered with the forest lord for a time, giving over to him more ofhis prescious vitae than he had planned, even Gregoire, dimly aware ofthe spirit's presence via his arts of Auspex, had to give some of hisown to the hungry spirit, who drank in the power deeply and with greatpleasure.
They asked him to find how far ahead of them on the roadKoban's force was, and then return to them for further payment,Barzadaki agreed, his glowing green eyes shining with balefull glee.
Theycontinued on for the next few nights, Maelduin and Gregoire buryingthemselves in the earth during the short days, watched over byDragovich and Jean Sebastian.
They awoke one night, bursting throughthe frozen earth, to the calls of owls, and as they were helped out ofthe ground the sinister form of Barzadakai apeared in the darkness,visible only to Maelduin, though sensed by all.
I have found them, he said, they are close...
And as if on Q they heard the distant rythmic thuding of drums...
Theydecided to wait where they were, in the shadows of a high wooded slopenext to the road, and observe the aproach of the Voivodes army to seeif the troupe numbers he gave in his boastfull declaration of trial bywar were correct.
The drums grew louder and they heard a great blaring of horns with the rumble of marching feet.
Atthe fore, and illuminated by torchlight, came Koban's main unit of men,240 lightly armoured trained fighting men, bearing pikes and swordswho's tips shone in the torchlight. Next came the detachment ofarchers, around 40, wearing no visible armour and with their bows slungover their backs. After them came the terrifying forms of Voivode Koban's Szlatcha warriors, perhaps 20 of them, uniformly naked and witha white skin tinged with green, all bearing savage looking weaponscrafted from their own flesh and bones, bone-like sword arms, strangeapendages, chitinous armour, and rows of spines. All clawed and with mouths of multitudenous sharp fangs.
Behind them came the mounted figures of Koban's elite, 10 revenant knights of the Vlaszyfamilly, imaculate in fine mail armour and black tabards, proud men andfiercly loyal. But more terrifying still was what came next, the formsof two monstrous Vozhd , huge war-ghouls who's every step senttremors through the ground while strange moaning growls emerged from their slavering multiple maws.
Behind them came the surreal sight ofa pananquin of flesh, gliding along on multiple horses legs workingbeneath it, and with heavy drapes drawn across the windows.
Next came two more figures, pale of skin and finely dressed in the robes of nobles, a casual arogance in ther demeanors.
Afterthem came Koban's levys, tired looking and with an array of differing weaponry, and trundling along among them came the bagage wagons, ten inall.
The strange and war-like prosession passed along bellow them,and once it had passed they began to disscuss how it might be possibleto get at the bagage wagons with their pitch, as Bodor planed to bringall suplies into the castle the less that Koban had with him the weakerhis men would become.
As they talked among themselves in the cold ofthe trees Barzadakai reapeared, causing a stirr among the trees, hetold them that he could take the barrels down their to the wagons forthem, taking them down there on his side . Realizing that they could then simply fire flaming arrows down there to ignite the pitch before fleeing, they agreed.
JeanSebastian, a skilled archer, praperad his arrows, dipping them in alittle of the pitch, and Dragovich prapared to light them for him atthe right time. At Maelduins word Barzadakai disapeared along with thebarrels, and Jean nocked the first arrow. A tense minuete later thefirst barrel apeared out of thin air above the first waggon, anddroped, smashing, and spilling it's black contents over the wagon. Thenthe second, and the third, fourth, and fith. The levys around thewagons had only moments to react before Jean Sebastian fired, missingthe first waggon, but striking true with the rest, and transforming them into great whooshing fireballs, befor they turned and fled fortheir lives through the trees.
At first Koban's men were disorientated but before long some of the Revenant Knights marshalledthe levys into order and began salvaging what they could from the fourburning waggons, and still others firing arrows into the woods that impacted around the characters as they fled into the darkness.
fromtheir hiding place they heard the sound of one of the great hornsblowing and a harsh commander's voice berating his men. This gaveGregoire an idea and he set of alone back to the trees not far from theforce, Maelduin and the others covering their ears and stuffing themwith mud.
Once he had reached a suibtable position he took ou thegreat old war-horn given to him by Bodor earlier, and using one of hisrarer arts of Dementation, blew it, hoping to instill fear and madnessin the men below. But his arts betrayed him and inficted the madnessupon only him instead, while his piercing note gave waway his positionto the fiends below.
Wildly he ran through the wooded night,possesed of a fear he had not felt since Jerusalem, and seeing creatures of the night all around him in the shadows.
Thanks to his preturnatural speed and a little luck he eveded capture and reached therocky overhang where the others crouched awating his return.
Madened but momenteraly safe he returned and they recognized the wild look in his eyes, for they had seen it one to many times already on theirtravels.
They had met with partial sucsess, near on half of Koban'ssuplies had been destroyed, potentially cutting the time he could spendaway from home during a harsh a winter as this, but now they had todecide whether not to push their luck and return to Toth and aid in theplanning, or continue and see what havok they may yet raise...