Dark_RP

Under The Black Cross II
Shadows At Court II




And thus the displays of pomp and circumstance continued around them in the Jurgen The Sword-Bearer's undead Court at Magdeberg.
Lord jurgen accepted the Ravnos' shows of fealty from his throne as they basked in the polite applause of the assembled Cainites.
After a pause in the entertainments The evening's last act takes the stage, the Tremere magus' all resplendent in deep-purple sigil-sown robes.
A gasp went up from the onlookers, a mixture of polite awe and restrained disgust.
They performed feats of petty Thaumaturgy, acts if Alchemy, of Conjuration, and Divination. The disgust from some, especially old-guard Eastern Lords Ventrue became more open, but Lord Jurgen leaned forward, taking a keen and open interest in the workings.
For their final act the shaven-headed Magus Jervais asked for participants from the audience. Some volunteered, including Gregoire.
He stepped forward and Jervais asked him for a personal item of some kind, and promised to reveal all of its history from inception to present day, and all the secrets associated with it. Gregoire agreed and gave over his precious journal from the folds of his cloak. Jervais took it from him as the other two Tremere stood by his side, and laid it upon the ground. After looking over it the Magus knelt down and began to draw an intricate sigil around it in white chalk. He then produced a dagger from the folds of his robe and opened his fingertip, letting but a single drop fall down upon the tome. The vitae instantly burned away into a small dense cloud of smoke, which Jervais leaned forward and inhaled. He then closed his eyes as a smile formed upon his face, and upon standing revealed all of the chequered history of Gregoire's journal for the assembled elders, and all of Gregoire's own madness, so intricately bound up with the tome. After he was done polite applause once again filled the chamber, and thanking Gregoire, Jervais returned the book to him.
Much the same occurred when the others stepped forward, but after several divinations Lord Jurgen rose from his seat and presented the Toreador sword to the Magus, If Rosemund perceived this as a challenge then she gave no sign of it as Jervais set the sword down after respectfully taking it from Jurgen, and began to draw the complex patterns around it. He proceeded with his ritual as before, but after he inhaled the blood-smoke from the gilded sword no smile crossed his face, and indeed he began to appear agitated, as a slight blood sweat broke out upon his forehead.
The crowd grew restless before Jurgen demanded an answer from Jervais. The Magus nervously proclaimed that it was most peculiar, but, that the sword appeared to be of no more value than any other blade, perhaps no more even than a stage item...
A forgery of remarkable skill...
Jurgen strode forward and took the blade from the Tremere, and turning to the implacable Rosemund, raised it high above his head and brought it down hard upon the stone floor. The sharp metallic ringing echoed through the Grand Hall as Jurgen inspected the broken blade, then upon turning to Rosemund, says Weak forging and false stones...
Fangs flicker upon Rosemund's lips but she quickly reigns in her Beast, as cries of Usurper trickery also ring out through the hall.
After quick words with the Tremere Jurgen ordered the music to resume as the minstrels once again take up their instruments.
Lady Rosemund, Lord Jurgen and the Magus' Jervais and Alexia of Nicosia then step behind the heavy crimson curtain, as Kalvin, the Malkavian poet, stepped forward next to the Company and said A counterfeit sword for a counterfeit alliance?...
The coterie and all other look to each other and the discussions and accusations begin.
Some of the envoys claiming that all must be part of some masterplan of Rustovich's , and that the Gangrel disruption provided a useful distraction, however most chose to single out the Tremere, who after all, are known for their treachery.
One among the Tremere is left on his own in the Grand Hall, standing robed and shunned by the stage. As others talked Volund chose to approach him, and found that he was the youngest among them, and that this was in fact his first time out of the chantry. The Magus by the name of Thiery only hoped that his master had not made some mistake in his workings.
Some time later Lord Jurgen The Sword-Bearer reentered the Hall, ascended the stage and apologised for the disruptions. In booming tone he acknowledged that the sword is indeed not an item of genuine value, and promises to discover the truth behind the deception, asking that his guests demonstrate patience and remain within the city until gets to the bottom of the affair. He also pointedly thanks Jervais and the Tremere for their bravery in revealing the truth despite fear of reprisals.
Jurgen then leaves the chamber followed by his personal servants, and the assembled Cainites turn again to discussion, The French Toreador envoys, still in shock at the revelation, begin the accusations of thievery against the Ravnos travellers. As fingers are pointed oncemore Rosemund of Islington ascends the stage and captivates the attention of all. Speaking with perfect control she announces that it is believed her gift for Jurgen, and the symbol of the Toreador-Ventrue alliance was stollen, she conjectures that the thief must have done so to either profit from the item's value, or to undermine said alliance, and few listening have any doubts that she is telling the truth.
Accusations are once again flung at the Ravos party, now by the Eastern Lords Ventrue as well as the French Toreador, while yet others blame the marauding Gangrel, or other agents of Rustovich...
The assembled Cainites erupt into loud arguments and slowly divide into two factions. One led by Baron Von Achern, believes the Gangrel were responsible, likely in collusion with Rustovich, while another, led by the Toreador Ignatius opposed that opinion, yet in the end both agree that at the very least the Gangrel intrusion certainly provided a good opportunity for the thief. The Cainites of the Itinerant Company periodically took sides in these arguments and debates, some proffering genuine opinion, others simply stoking the fires of paranoia. During this Baradeus approached Vykos and spoke to him briefly, arranging an appointment to talk privately later in the evening, only to be sharply questioned by a suspicious Akuji, the black Nosferatu, Jurgens eyes and ears at Court.
Later, once they were safely in the locked interior of one of their chambers they began to talk of what had transpired, and of how if they could discern the thief of the sword they would surely earn the favour of Lord Jurgen, just as Rustovich desired. They looked back over the tumultuous evening in search of clues, and remembered several interesting things...:

The leader of the three Ravnos entertainers, Silas, was missing during and immediately after the Gangrel intrusion.

The Draconian Tzimisce Myca Vykos seemed to witness the disappearance of the Ravnos, and during the later chaos Vykos seem calm and unsurprised, looking directly at Silas. Also, Vykos expressed no surprise at the Gangrel intrusion.

The third is that Albin, Jurgen's Catiff slave, seemed to disappear during the evening, after the stand-off with Lady Kara, yet before the Gangrel arrived.
Reappearing only when the ceremonies continued.

The Itinerant Company talked among themselves, then decided to begin their investigations. Volund went to the wilds outside Magdeberg in search of Morrow and her Gangrel pack, taking to the cold skies in the form of a raven.
Baradeus, Mortius, and Dragovich went to seek out Vykos.
Gregoire journeyed down to the Ravnos encampment to talk with Silas.
And Maelduin went to seek out Albin, hoping that his own cover as a Catiff would help him talk to the Cainite servant.
And so they split up to investigate their various avenues, but as Volund soared over the castle he spied a form clinging to the outside wall of one of the many towers, he flew closer to investigate, and upon doing so saw that it was in fact Silas of the Ravnos. Volund watched as he climbed down with a small sack over his shoulder and made through the neat stone city streets straight for his camp. Volund also saw Gregoire making for the Ravnos camp, and tried to alert him of what he had seen, yet in the form of the raven he was unrecognisable to the Malkavian, who tried to dismiss the bird before continuing on his way.
Volund, not wishing to expend precious vitae by transforming, merely resolved to inform Gregoire and the others later and continued to find Skoll so that the old wolf may pick up the trail of the Gangrel.
Gregoire reached the Ravnos encampment, and there introduced himself, saying that he had come to relax and spend time with Cainites more inclined toward his own way of thinking. In the hours he spent there he lamented with Silas and his fellows that fingers were so quickly pointed at them at the Court, despite a total lack of proof. There Gregoire perhaps gained some confidence, but also aroused some suspicion.
Bother Mortius and Baradeus entered Vykos' chambers while Dragovich and Maximillian awaited them outside, Vykos was sat by the light of a single candle, writing with a large quil at a desk. Upon seeing them he set the quill down and greeted his guests. He talked with therm for some time, alluding to much while revealing nothing, and of course learning all Baradeus and Mortius had to offer. If Vykos revealed anything to them it was that he was an observer in the drama that he saw unfolding around him, and that he favoured no one side in particular, though he suspected the Company of not being quite the loyal servants of Basilio The Elder that they claimed. Nevertheless he expressed friendship for the company, and a curiosity to see what role they may play in the nights to come.
Maelduin sought out the quarters of Albin the Catiff and found them beneath one of the castle's western towers, he knocked on the door and was greeted by the pale-faced diminutive Cainite. Maelduin talked with him for a time attempting to gain his confidence, and asked the Catiff where he was during his absence from the Grand Hall. Albin replied that he had gone to supervise the Gurds and Knights in seeing that the Tzimisce woman and her entourage where out of the building. He was guarded with his responses and would reveal nothing more to Maelduin.
Volund and Skoll found the trail of the Gangrel pack, but the hour grew to late for their pursuit and so they returned to the Magdeberg castle, where they all met an hour before dawn. All shared the information they had gathered, and greater suspicion fell upon Silas and his Ravnos. To ascertain the truth of the matter Maelduin summoned a local spirit and sent it to inspect Silas' wagon for any sign of the stolen sword. After a short time it returned, and described the jewelled and precious sword to Maelduin, stating that it lar near various other jewelled items and baubles.
As far as they knew, the Company had found the thief, yet it was to late to move on the matter that night and so they resolved to go upon waking in the next.
Once the balefull sun passed below the horizon the vampires of the Itinerant Company made ready and then left Jurgen's castle and made for the encampment of the Ravnos. Skoll was sent ahead by Volund to cause a stir among them and frighten the horses, causing enough of a distraction for them to investigate Silas' wagon.
As they approached the fire-lit site they saw and heard through the trees the horses rearing and snorting as men stove to calm and restrain them while Skoll continued to move among the shadows. They made for the wagon in stealth, however Baradeus marched out among them and openly accused Silas of stealing the sword, saying that he was to be taken to Lord Jurgen. Silas vigorously protested his innocence, resisting Baradeus until the Antonian Ventrue fixed him with his terrible gaze, employing the arts of Presance to transform him into a cowering wreck.
The others, seeing that all pretence of stealth was gone, openly searched Silas' wagon as the Gypsys scornfully yet helplessly looked on. Inside the cluttered interior they soon found a cloth sack of precious items stolen from the castle, some of which were even from among the gifts Jurgen had been given by the envoys, Basilio's goblet included.
After a more exoustive search they found an oblong box in a hidden compartment, and within it was the gilded sword, symbol of the alliance between the Eastern Lord Ventrue and the Toreador of the Courts of Love.
They brought it out and Silas still claimed that he had not stolen it, though he made no such pretence regarding the other items they had found.
Silas was roughly seized by the Company and taken, with the Sword, back to Magdeberg Castle, though some in the Company, namely Mortius and Gregoire, favoured simply seizing them all and dragging them away.
Unsure as to whom they could or should present their findings to, Lady Lucretia or Von Achern, they eventually decided upon Von Achern, and dragged Silas to the small hall within the castle where the Baron was holding court.
It was lit only by the flickering light of bracketed torches in the walls, and within it sat Von Achern, the Arpad Ventrue delegation, and several of Von Achern's unreleased childer. The Baron was wearing a cloak, tunic, and breeches of a deep red colour, the others of the hall were similarly attired in clothing of the nobility, though the Arpad delegation wose clothing of a distinctly more eastern cut.
Von Achern stood when he saw them dragging in the now quiet Ravnos entertainer, and demanded and explanation. Volunnd gave it to him, at the end giving him the jewel-encrusted sword. The Baron nodded to them in congratulation, and taking the sword went to inform Lord Jurgen.
Ten minutes later Jurgen the Sword-Bearer swept into the hall with Von Achern and Lucretia by his side. He was in a flowing blue cloak and red brocaded tunic bearing a lion-rampant upon its chest. He held the sword in his hand and personally thanked them, saying that Basilio the Elder is indeed blessed to have such resourceful servants, and even going as far as to say he was in their debt. He went on to say that the Ravnos would of course be interrogated in order to learn for whom he stole the sword or why, and that, they, the servants of Basilio, would perform the interrogation. And with that he left, while in the other direction the defeated yet protesting Silas was dragged away...







The Arms of the wandering Clan of Ravnos