Sal stayed where he was, and kept watching the camera feed.

Michael made sure he wasn’t in immediate striking distance of the now armed man. “There is still evil in the world. I will clarify that not all that is supernatural is evil. Would you kill an Angel if it landed in front of you? As I stated back before Dracula came, there is a cult of demons working to corrupt this world. We just recently had to annihilate an infestation of demonic beings that had infested the sewers under the city. The Hunters are a force for good if properly guided and led. While your physical bodies may have been maimed, I believe your spirits are still strong. I have learned most of our order’s Benedictions and use them against the demonic forces. I can teach you if you let me and listen to my council. We can work together to purge corruption from the city. If nothing else, my group and I can funnel information to you to be given to the other Hunters as to the locations of groups and individuals actively terrorizing humans. I can help give you new purpose instead of you killing yourself or being killed by the other members of our order for failing your mission. What say you?”

 Voscal fumbled with the knife, his wounds preventing him from actively holding it. It was as though his hands would not obey him no matter how hard he tried. He took a deep breath, bowing his head and on his knees (which was about all any of the others could manage too). "It doesn't seem that we have a choice in the matter."

 He tried once again (and failed) to pick up the knife. Even now it seemed that they would prefer death to submission (especially now that one of them had been dominated)... but their wounds had robbed them of that option.

Michael sighed as he saw him attempt to take his life and failed. He knelt before the man and lifted his chin to be face to face. Michael spoke a prayer to St. Abel as he traced a cross on his forehead. The power of the Saint gave a supernatural sight to the eyeless Hunter. The man could now see Michael and Sal’s aura and in part them. “I don’t keep slaves. It’s clear that if you could have taken your own life you could. I’ll only ask you one…more…time. Do you want to live? Do you want to see again? Do you want this curse lifted? As Lazarus rose from the grave, so can you. If you and your men swear absolute loyalty to me, I can lift the curse on you. You just have to die first.”He takes a tiny roll of duct tape from his belt pouch and tapes the knife to the eyeless hunter’s arm and takes a step back.

OOC: Cast True sight of St. Abel on the lead Hunter.

 Voscal looked down at the knife strapped to his hand with newfound sight. Then he looked back up. "We have been changed by Dracula's curse. I do not wish to live in a form that is an affront to that which is holy... and I cannot swear absolute loyalty to you. My first allegiance will always be to the Holy Trinity... but if you can lift this curse from me beyond the pale of death, then I will follow you."

 He then looked down and cut his wrist with the blade... but the blood did not flow.

Michael furrowed his brow at the lack of blood flow. Curious he placed the cross at the end of the consecrated Angelic rosary to Voscal’s forehead. He wondered if the curse was that he would never die. If this was the case, he may need a more powerful artifact to end his life if that is the case. His eyebrow raised as he remembered something that happened before. He looked back at Voscal. “That spike was what you used to pierce the dimensional portal before wasn’t it?”The priest removed the knife from Voscal and searched his pockets for the spike he suspected was on the Hunter’s person. Michael remembered that he had it on him last time.

 As Michael pressed the rosary to Voscal's head, it started to sizzle. He clenched shut his eye holes and grit his teeth, pressing his head further into it, causing flame to burst forth. Voscal's teeth sharpened as the flame licked at his face, melting off chunks.

 It was one of the others that spoke in his stead. "No, that was a different item. They all vanished before the attack."

Sal sent Michael a text: Strange. Its almost like they are vampires. Michael, if you have the power to restore a vampire to mortal life, be careful who discovers it!

Michael pulled back the rosary. “Just as I thought. He made you vampires. Unfortunately, this means I can’t lift this curse. Tell me where the spike of the true cross was kept during the attack, and I will end your suffering.”

 When Michael pulled the rosary back, Voscal reached out with his wrists, trying to hug the flame to himself... but, as he no longer had the use of his hands, Michael could easily push him away if he wished.

 The other Hunter continued to speak as Michael wrestled with Voscal, who sought his destruction by celestial fire.

 "The Dragon took it."

Michael gave a sigh of relief and looked to Sal. “If you don’t want to see this, I suggest you turn away. It might hit a little too close to home.”He looked to all the Hunters. “Lie down and I will put you to rest. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you.”The priest waited for all of them to lie down and one by one pressed the cross of the rosary into their foreheads until their undeath was extinguished. Tears flowed down his cheeks that he could not save them like he wanted. Damn Dracula didn’t have to curse them so. It was not their choice to receive the Kiss. If not for their vampirism, they might have become great followers.

Sal put his slate away and explored the haven, in a different part of the building than where Michael was doing the grisly work. However, in order to present a record if needed, he left the cane to record. He absentmindedly chatted with Trinity as he looked around-- not talking about what was happening, but more about the things he likes in the world, like art, fashion, dogs and  kids (in a perfectly benign way-- harming an innocent in any way is a surefire way to make an enemy of Sal!) and if Trinity has discovered anything that interests or pleases him.

 Sal chatted with Trinity, who had apparently taken the opportunity to explore the city a bit while the group had been occupied. He told Sal of the chrome spires in the reconstructed parts of the city, where the whole thing shined in the sun, how people were returning that that it was not so bleak as it was around here. People were starting to smile again and he could see hope.

 It almost reminded him of something, a forgotten ghost of a memory that itched at his mind but he could not recall.

 The conversation was pleasant enough that he could almost forget about the screams.



 Several minutes later, Michael had finished the grisly deed and the Hunters' suffering had ended. In the end, they had all chosen death over damnation.

Michael wiped his eyes as he left the room to meet back up with Sal. “It is done. Let’s get back to the prisoners. I’m sure they’re all very scared and want to go home. Trying to see some sort of bright side to all this.”The priest traveled to where the prisoners were to offer whatever help and consolation he could.

 (Assuming Sal comes with and has nothing further to do here) The two return to Sal's mansion where triage had been set up. Dried food and water had been provided and Meep was solemnly trudging around the room, tending to the wounded while still loog as though he himself might fall over from grief at any moment.

 The mood in the room was grim, the only bright spot being Noah, keeping a positive attitude while taking down the information of those present.

Michael stood up on a table to be able to see everyone. “Everyone if I may have your attention. My name is Michael, and I am truly sorry for everything you have all gone through. I have finished up with dealing with the last of the Hunters that imprisoned you all. Those individuals will not be coming after you ever again. Some of you are aware of what you are. Some of you have just begun your journey to a new life. Some of you have family you wish to return to. Some of you do not. Know that this is the safest place you can be right now. We will do our best to try and help you towards the next step after stability has been established. If you have any questions, feel free to ask and I will do my best to help you.” The priest then proceeds to go throughout the room getting to know each of the people in the room.

Sal sent his Cabal a memo to please stop calling his guests prisoners, he did not condone keeping any against their will unless they proved an immediate danger to themselves or others.
He will then see to doing whatever he can for the security and comfort of his guests, like making sure kindred were kept in windowless rooms with no mirrors, and lupines were kept away from the silver. He didn't have any cold iron for the fae-touched to worry about, but he did his best to impress on them, even more than the others, that as long as they weren't a threat, they were free to go whenever they wanted. Once all the kindred were identified and gathered together, he would take them aside to talk to.

Noah was indeed a bright spot, like a candle walking around the room. "Alright everyone. I've got the twins contacting anyone who has contacts. As well we are mobilizing the academy for anyone who needs a place for a bit. For the wolves we have a few of your packs we can get ahold of, Mages it won't be long for us to get you home."

"For anyone else, I've got a job for you if you want it and a place to rest your head. We may need to branch out a bit as there is a lot happening at once but we have your back fully."

"I suspect that his worldly forms may be dormant, considering the tremendous resonance focusing now in Stygia."  Mistral's gaunt figure remained still with eyes closed, and she added, "There is not much to be done in the fallen world, as best I can tell.  In the Land of the Dead I am observing a gathering of forces not witnessed in an age...  I could bring you there to bear witness if you wish it, but I can make no guarantee of what is to come..."

OOC: btw, Mist would tell Fate about all this too if she happens to be around, and would make the same offer to go see!

Fate had finished helping some of the prisoners for the time that Noah and Mistral were talking and had been listening, but also trying not to intrude. "I would definitely want to come along, but do you think the doctor will be alright on his own?"

Sal spoke up when he heard Mist and Fate talking about a trip to Stygia, "I am trained in first aid, perhaps I can assist the doctor? I need to talk to the Kindred here, and connect them with Victor if possible, anyway. But really, I'd much prefer we all stay in the land of the living."

Noah sat for a second weighing the various pros and cons. "A little part of me says don't go, but then the other part of me tells me seeing such is far better an option."

"A great ward grows to envelop Stygia and cut it off from the rest of réalité, although that process had already begun with the destruction of its Tower.  It will take several days yet, so there is no rush.  Perhaps nothing is to be done about it, either..."  Mistral remained distracted, and added several moments later, "Sal has the right of it.  I will investigate further, and keep you all apprised."

OOC: Sorry, probably jumped the gun a bit inviting y'all to Stygia before I have any notion of what's even happening ;P

Noah pulled out his slate and started sending a message to Frank and Poe. "Better give a heads up to the Moros then. They are going to need to button up before things get a bit too wild. The whole order will be out in the wind if they are not ready for it."

"Thank you Mist, you are the active ingredient in awesome sauce."

 A quick look around reveals to Sal that there are no Kindred among the survivors. It seems that any Kindred either escaped (unlikely) or did not survive.

 However, Sal's assistance was welcome as Meep set about his work. Many among the survivors gave him strange looks, but most were too weary to process that they were being tended to by a giant plushy sunflower.


OOC: Unless someone has anything else to add, I'm ready to give the group a break, hand out some XP, and get everyone caught up time-wise.