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

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Beyond The Pale I


The Itinerant Company now found itself in the Latin-occupied city of Thesalonika on the Greek coast.
As well as other payments from Hektor of New Lacadaemonia they had a modest but well-made Galley, yet unfortunately no crew to man it.
And so not having the funds on his own Baradeus both allowed and convinced the others of the Company to buy their way into the merchant company owned by him and Gregoire, including his ship as part of the deal. Using their collective funds they hired a crew and bought some spices to fill part of the hold. Dragovich announced that he would travel west in search of hires and opportunities for the Company, perhaps among courts that they had visited in the past, and so the others agreed to meet him in Venice when he had completed his search. Dragovich took to the roads on his trusty stallion while the others took to the waves in their newly acquired ship.
They sailed to Venice where they took their ease for a time in various ways, and awaited for the return of the roving Revenant. After three months he arrived, finding them in their usual comfortable inn. He informed them that he had travelled to the grand court of London and there met with their old patron Lord Nicholas. It seemed he knew of a private matter that the Company may be able to help the court of London with. An opportunity for another lucrative hire from Lord Nicholas was one the Company could not refuse, and so they made ready to depart and investigate the matter.
Leaving the ship with their merchants to make use of the set off on foot, heading north through Italy and crossing the Alps before entering France and crossing through both French Crown territory and that possessed by England. They sailed from Calais to Dover, and after resting proceeded from there to London, purchasing a wagon and taking the King's highway.
They entered London passing though the old city's high walls and with the royal Tower of London looming overhead. On Dragovich's instructions they proceeded to Richmond House, the walled city-manor of Lord Nicholas, and after gaining entry were ushered into a warm and well lit wooden-panelled room deep within the house. Lord Nicholas sat at the head of the table with old and complex coats of arms hanging from the walls around him, he greeted them and bade them sit down in the comfortable chairs.
He asked them of their travels and how they had fared since last they met, he went on to say that he had made some inquiries and heard good tales of their conduct from Denmark to Venice to Transylvania , but that he had also heard rumours of them forking for various Furore groups such as the Carnival Moriendi or the islanders of New Lacadaeomina. He asked them if they would ever take up arms against a lawful Prince at the behest of outlaws.
They prevaricated but in the end said that they would not, and so Lord Nicholas, at least partially satisfied with their answer, went on to tell them of the task that He would have them do.
He told them of the recent assassinations of the Duke of Kent, and of his Cainite Domitor Lord Hesckel. He went on to say that it is believed that a coterie of Promethians was responsable and are now on the run to Dublin. The Promethians Guild, he said, is like any other in that a Journeyman must complete a masterwork in order to become a master himself, and that in the Firebringers the masterwork must be an act of daring against whatever establishment is in control, it is believed that these unprovoked assassinations were such an act, committed in order that the groups leader, one Magnus the Fair, could ascent to said rank.
The payment for the hire would be in hard cash and the continued friendship of the court of Mithras. They agreed and so Nicholas went on to to tell them what details, mainly limited to names ad clans, were known of those that they were to hunt.
Magnus The Fair -Toreador
Fredegar - Nosferatu
Lothar - Ravnos
Alfred - Brjah
Cerdic Catiff
Their number of retainers or travelling companions was unknown.
Nucholas said he believed they had about a weeks lead on the Company, and also that he wished the staked form of Magnus The Fair brought to him, or if there was no way to accomplish that then at the very least his ashes for verification. As for his fellows, they are to be either destroyed or driven off. They were informed that the Cainite Prince of Dublin, one Eduard D'Warene, was loyal to Mithras and would aid them should they be in need. They were given a silver seal with the arms of Mithras upon it to prove their identities as his agents and after further discussion and questions the Company agreed to all his terms and took their leave. They stayed in London for the day and the next night left the city in search of their quarry.
They travelled westwards by road across England and the Principalities of Wales, until they made the treacherous crossing of the Irish Sea, landing not far from Dublin and quickly making their way to the city. Dublin was walled as many cities are, but was much smaller in size than London or Venice. They entered its earth-worn muddy streets with their wagon among other merchants arriving late from the coast.
After securing quarters for themselves in the busy merchant district the Company divided into two to begin their investigations.
Mortius Gregoire and Maelduin went out among the locals in the lower part of town, among the taverns and the brothels and the dark alleys of Dublin.
Baradeus and Volund went up to the keep in search of Prince Eduard. They were admitted to the keep and were shown to one of the seneschals who happened to be the Princes ghoul, and there upon producing the seal of Mithras were presently brought before the Eduard. Eduard received them in a large chamber in one of the keep's towers, dressed in the finery befitting his station yet with a sword by his side. They introduced themselves and told of why they were there, and of what their quarry was. The Prince was surprised but agree to aid them and see what his eyes and ears in the city might have seen or heard regards a party of newcomers. Giving the Norman Ventrue Prince their thanks and informing him of where they and the Company were staying they took their leave.
Maelduin, Mortius and Gregoire meanwhile continued their search, but found little of note on the first night and so continued on the second. Their investigations bore fruit when they heard of a few sightings in two of the taverns, it seemed that the Promethians had even talked to a few of the locals on rebellion against the local Lord, but it seemed that this group, if it was them, had left the city journeying inland a week past.
On the second day Volund and Baradeus were recalled by the Prince, and when they were before him he told them that his Sheriff had discovered the remains of a group-feeding behind one of the stables in the city, more than likely the work of five or six rogue Cainites. This group was tracked to the western city limits where their interest in them ended as they had clearly fled beyond the pale. This was one week ago, he told them. They thanked him and inquired as to where the bodies were dumped, with some distaste Eduard told them that they had been dumped in the city's cistern, and were more than likely still there.
Upon comparing notes they knew that that both sources must refer to the same group of vampires who were almost certainly their targets. And so Mortius decided to investigate the corpses so as to use his necromantic arts upon them and thus perhaps learn more of those who had fed upon them.
He found the bodies where the Prince had said they would be, six bloated whores floating in filth. He waded in and dragged them out, before looking into their liquefying eyes one by one. He felt the pain, ecstasy and fear that death by the fangs of a Cainite brings in each of them, but also other secrets that the dead may yet impart to those with arts to hear them.
On the first he saw the image of a large hulking grey shape, barely human in outline.
On the second he saw the image of a wide shouldered fair haired and skinned man with a trimmed beard and clear blue eyes.
On the third he saw the image of a well-built fighter in armour, long haired and wide-bearded.
In the eyes of the rest he could see nothing but the same murky images of death and life's final moments.
Now knowing at least the appearance of some of the Firebringers they sought, Mortius returned to the others. After discussion it was decided that they should leave the city in pursuit as soon as possible, taking the westward road that ended at Conaught as the most likely route.
And so the Itinerant Company packed their wagons once again and set off out of Dublin and beyond the Pale.
The westward road was rough, and traffic on it sparse. To either side was either baren heath of heavy damp woodland. Occasionally they would pass a small broch or farmstead but they passed no towns or villages on their three nights on the road. Three nights without any sign of their quarry, in the wilderness of Eire beyond the Pale. And on the fourth, the wolves began to howl. Distant calls from beyond the hills, and the spirit that Maelduin had summoned and sent to scout the road ahead did not return.
But they continued on, sleeping in their wagon by day with Dragovich and Brother Anthony's followers to guard them.
And so they progressed, further into the wilderness with the full monn beaming down upon them, for the gold and good graces of Mithras, and to bring his enemies to heel.