Sal found himself experiencing a whole range of unusual non-candy flavors as the candy burst in his mouth. They were not things he had ever tasted before and there was no comparison to anything close.

 Talion stopped writing to study the effects of the candy on Sal. "Well, that seems about right. Looks like you're no longer fully dependent on blood. Ghosts, Spirits, and Mana are now fair game too. Let me finish writing all this down and I'll go over the basics of extraction with you."

"My 'icy armor' is not so easily discarded, I'm afraid.  You will have your work cut out for you.  As do I in trying to keep you sensible enough to so as not to break reality and society alike."  She smiled a little as she accepted the dragon-kiss, and nuzzled in closer against him, with an arm draped around his serpentine neck.


Mistral considered, then asked despondently, "Bring up what?  The deal is concluded.  The man has likely already been kidnapped and replaced by a fetch.  If you see him it will only be the imposter."


Mistral sighed and shook her head.  "Typique that you would vastly over-complicate such a thing.  You do not need every arcanum to accomplish this."  She glanced around and found a small cardboard tissue box on an amethyst-carved nightstand, which she snatched up and then whispered a few arcane syllables.  She then proceeded to reach into the tissue box until her entire arm disappeared inside with no outward effect on the much-too-small container.  Mistral then reached a little further, pushing her shoulder against the opening, until the bottom of the box began to bulge outward slightly, pushed from the other side.  Another push popped open the bottom of the box, breaking the spell and all at once her entire arm extended through the other side of the box and launched tissues fluttering across the chamber, as one might expect if shoving an arm through a tissue box.  She explained with a smile, "This working is stable in itself, but will break when the container does."

---

Mistral studied Talion's spidery script with intense interest, reading the lines and asking him occasional questions on some bit of esoterica that would be incomprehensible to most listeners.  As she read she performed some experiments that did strange things to the space around them.  She compressed the space of the vast courtyard such that it looked no different, but could be crossed in a single stride instead of fifty.  She folded a doorway in upon itself, rendering it invisible and inaccessible unless approached from a specific angle.  She moved one of Talion's chairs and a table into the same place, yet also not.  She could freely slide the chair in and out of the spot and also set things upon the table, though to watch these things happen was rather difficult for the eye to process.  "Brilliante." Mistral remarked, with much satisfaction.

Noah smiled, "Of the two of us I think you've got the harder task, Imma nut job." He snuggled in to enjoy the last bit of a lazy start to the day. "The main reason mages don't go hunting fetches and use their connection to the original is because only archmages can get there, and they cant come back. It is not a problem that may ever be solved. But you're no garden mage anymore. You can do things not even archmages can do even if there are a few steps involved."

"It may be invisible, but you do wear a crown. People may never see you but any archmage worth his salt will know you are not to be flippantly dismissed. Don't take my suggestion we may find him as gospel. But given our unique position and abilities... it's not entirely out of the realm of what we can deal with." He curled about her enough so they could stand to ready for the day. "After all. A contender for the Fea crown is in shambles. They won't know it was us as no one's true name was used. But that was no small deed my shiny knight."

He watched very closely as she worked her magic. More than once his eyes became unfocused as his vertigo kicked in but he was a hyper sharp study. "I have so much study to do..."

---

Noah looked at Sal, "The consumption of souls is a pathway to the dark side of the force."

Noah foiled the tuna steaks and the veg with enough butter to be sensable. He leaned down and ignited the coals with a quick puff and smiled. He did so with one eye keeping a watch on things as perfect memory failed if you didn't see it. In watching everyone he pulled out a small black block out of his pocket and set it in front of Sal. Then followed a silver block and a vial. "Siderite, Hermium, and Lunargent. Perfected metals have become extremely easy to access." He looked at Talion, "After a lot of processing, purification, and care."

He thought for a long moment. "Screw it, I will ruin the joke. Dragon bodies are effectively magical factories." He cleared the fact by his horns growing the dragon stones that he used to hold mana, the same stones peeking out from under his scales. Half of such stones offered to Grey as a tribute.

"Goes the same for just about anything. I don't even sweat normally. But on the upside, it means I can make perfected material for making things like swords, Oricalcum for portal anchors, on and on." He shook his head. "Sorry, the point is we have materials to start equipping the Cabal with more than just basic gear."

"Part of me wants to have everyone with Thaumium chain built into their clothing." He pointed at Talion as he flipped the foil packs without tongs. "And no poofing stuff in. You should be resting so we can take a nice calm drive to Japan for a forge and a warehouse or something."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

Random magics at play.

"Ghosts, spirits, and souls... you'll have to teach me the difference, and the moral implications of consuming each. I've heard, of course, the Lupines are very protective of spirits. And every Christian, not to mention most other religions, is taught the value of a soul. But then, not everything I learned in Catholic School is true... Perhaps I'd best stick to Mana. You seem to have plenty to go around..." He pauses, and a thought came to him suddenly, "Talion! If we were opposed by another mage, could I consume his Mana while he still lived? I mean, without accidentally killing him, or eating his soul instead."

 Talion nodded as he finished writing and set down the rock he was using. "All a soul really is is mana woven through ribbons of Essence and imprinted upon Ectoplasm. It took a great deal of time to learn how to make one but, once you get the pattern down, it's not terribly difficult. Grey can make several per day if given the raw materials. The moral implications come from consuming such things after they have been imprinted with memories and a personality... because you can't get those back after they've been destroyed.

 Any Death Mage worth his salt can make ectoplasm for you to consume and a great many spirits are non-sentient. Grey eats them all the time... but yes, consuming mana will likely be far easier on your conscience.

 It will be difficult to extract the mana from a living mage without access to a way to disrupt it. Every soul has what Mages refer to as a "Pattern". They are ribbons of Essence encased in Ectoplasm. In the case of a mage, mana is stored in these 'ribbons' and it is the mechanism by which they pluck the threads of reality.

 If you want to consume the mana of a living mage, you'd need some way disrupting and extracting it... hmm, give me a week or so to think on it and I'll come up with something for you."

"That would be appreciated. Its always helpful to be able to take an enemies resources, and make them yours. And in this case, there's no antitrust laws to deal with." said Sal, smirking with the last bit.

Mistral caressed the scaly ridges along the back of dragon-Noah's neck as she considered the problem of the unknown man she'd doomed into service to the Fae.  She said, "Talion opens portals across boundaries between realms, even across the Abyss.  I have meant to discover how he does it, and at what cost.  That may simplify the problem of Arcadia, but not our ignorance of the one taken."  She sighed and kissed him on the chin, then said, "An invisible crown... absurdité poétique.  I would rather to be underestimated.  That is better than any magic for operating unnoticed."  Mistral had to fight to keep the smile off her face after those remarks.  Noah's way of lionizing her was quite annoying, but it also made her annoyed at herself for being flattered by it.  Mistral had a love/hate relationship with compliments.  She climbed off the bed and went straight to the impractically-large showers of Grey's design, and took her time in washing up and getting ready for the day.

---

Mistral enjoyed the seared tuna steaks and the veggies, which were a welcome bit of comfort food after their recent ordeals.  She offered a compliment to the chef, "C’est délicieux, mon dragon."  On the matter of perfected materials, she suggested, "We should bring these materials to Vulcan and see what he might make of them."

 With the majority of his lesson concluded, Talion retired back inside the mansion. "If you want to talk to Vulcan, please wait until after 5pm. With the changes to the timeline, I am no longer imprisoned and I have re-opened the Institute so there will be sleepers on campus. Be mindful of that.

 I contacted Alyssa this morning. I'll be mobilizing all of the blanks just as soon as I've recovered some mana. Much like Grey, I can transmute materials into other things... so I will begin the reconstruction of New York soon.

 Unlike Grey, I cannot gain energy by directly converting matter, so it may take me a month or two to recover sufficient strength to do so."

Noah inclined his head to Mistral at her comment on the food. "Fresh caught food is the gourmet in the age of American processed food." Noah started the process of cleanup. "You know your limits better than we Talion. But mind your pace. There is a change in crowns as of late and they are going to look to complicate things." He clapped his talons together. "Right, so a meeting with Vulcan is on the table. I need to stop and have a personal meeting with the Merlin. He is owed a personal explanation."

"You have anything on your to do list Sal? We have a bit of time to get stuff done."

"Well, legally speaking, I'm still dead, which has been pretty inconvenient. I need a new identity, but I'd be surprised if my usual guy hasn't left the city. Not enough Kindred left in New York to make a living selling us new identities," said Sal.

Noah nodded, "It won't be long until we can get around. However, if you need a fake idea I can cook one up for you if you like." Behold the golden age of computers. "It won't pass a database but it will be good enough for the local retailer."

"Its a start, but I will, at some point, need an ID that can stand up to scrutiny. After all, I strongly resemble a corporate power-player who died less than a year ago," Sal says, dryly. Then, "By the way, do any of you have any way of convincingly changing my face that would be more convenient than wearing makeup all the time? Permanent physical change is exceedingly difficult for my kind, or I'd consider surgery."

Noah shook his head. "Anything we do to you with Tech would be extremely painful and be ejected by the nature of vampirism in the morning. However, I am sure I have a few necromancers who could pull it off. I was a Moros before the scales, I can hit up the old classmates to see if someone can magic you up if you like."

"Let's hit the town and you can check with your contacts. But the option is there. If I had more control I could put you in a suit."

"If you want I can use a bit of mind magic and give you a few Dragon stones to keep it gassed up. People will see you as someone else unless you talk to them directly and bring attention to yourself and who you are. Easy simple mind magic."

Sal winces and says, hesitantly, "We'll see if Milo is in town, first. He can change my appearance, but it will be costly and unpleasant. Though considering I have gone this long without ever letting him so much as touch my face, it might only be extremely unpleasant. The Prince will, of course, certainly still know who I am, but that doesn't bother me." He pulls out his slate and starts with the Tzcimitze's last known contact information.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:34, Tue 08 Sept 2020.

 There were three rings and the audible pop of the phone making connection. "Hello?"

 Sal could hear loud music in the background. Unsurprising. As the only Kindred in the entire city who could permanently change a vampire's appearance, his skills were always in high demand so he was never without a party invite. This seemed to hold true even in the midst of disaster.

Since Milo had created each of Sal's new identities over the years, he knew Sal's real name, so Sal used it, "Hello, Milo, its Sal. Raymond Fujita's childe. When you have time, I'd like to make an appointment to see you."

 Milo's voice picked up with his usual enthusiasm. "Sal! It's been a while! Long time no see! I thought you'd still be in topor after the whole incident with Raymond. Sad state of affairs, that. Guess that means you're... what was it your clan called it again? Ronin, that's it! Anyway, I'll be back at my flat around three. Come meet me then. Chao!"

 Milo had taken to the city life like a fish to water... but Sal had been around him when he wasn't at a party. He was an Elder, in many ways far more dangerous than most. Every thing he did cost a favor and he almost never cashed them in... so, when he did, the entire city moved as a result. There were rumors at one time that Milo had influence in New York than even the Prince. They were never substantiated though and were quickly silenced.

"See you then," Sal said, his tone friendly, though not as enthusiastic as Milo's.

 It was going to take some time to get from Grey's Island to the city and perhaps another few hours to get to Milo's flat... so he needed to get started if he was heading there by conventional methods. mistral's magic worked wonders but could not take him to places she'd never seen.

 So 2 hours by boat and 2 hours by foot later and Sal found himself at Milo's flat. This part of town had been relatively untouched by the storm... relatively.

 Milo's flat even had power, it seemed, though Sal could hear the running of a gas generator as he took the stairs to the flat. Three knocks and Milo was at his door.

 The Tzimisce Elder seemed more akin to the Daeva in appearance, sporting a host of tattoos that he'd done himself and short hair. However, in private, he was far less foppish, though not an ounce less pleasant and polite.

 His flat was clean, neat, and organized, without a single trace of the horrible flesh furniture that are told in horror stories about the others in his clan. It took considerable effort not to forget what he was.

 "Good morning, Sal. I'm glad to see you again, truly I am. You said you wanted an appointment with me. So, will it be your usual or do you want to try something a little bolder this time?"

As had become his habit when meeting other Kindred, Sal left the ring Talion had given him in a safe place (Mistral's stash, most likely, along with his katana and rifle. He gave each of his companions a password to recognize him by, though he somehow doubted they'd need it. He knew he would likely have to sleep at or near Milo's today.

He greeted Milo with a smile, "Good to see you, too, Milo. I'm glad you're doing well. I've worn this face for over two-hundred years. I'm not the man I was when Raymond Embraced me. I think its time for a whole new look. Besides, I've been a bit busy to be spending so much time on makeup every night. I'm sure you've heard the rumors: I've been working with mages. Considering my ronin status, a new last name, as well, though I would like to remain Sal, if you don't mind, so as not to confuse the mages."

 Milo quirked an eyebrow. "Mages... take care around those, Sal. They get into some crazy shit. You don't want to be standing near them when it hits the fan."

 The prospect of a whole new look was something he had offered Sal multiple times but one that he'd never taken up. "I actually have just the thing." The Kindred grabbed a touchpad and began furiously tapping and swiping. After about 5 minutes of working, he showed Sal the result.

 It was a blonde man with shoulder length hair and a neatly trimmed beard, seemingly of Nordic descent with a sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes. "So, how about this? Your last name would be Heilyn. See, we had a bit of a breach of the Masquerade involving one of the Ventrue a few nights ago and people are starting to ask questions. This face in particular will solve most of them with just a little file editing. It may just ingratiate you with the venture as well."

Sal raises an eyebrow, "Sal Heilyn? Well, its no stranger than Sal Fujita. Anything I need to know? Should I expect nosy mortals to come around asking questions? I'm willing to deal with that kind of trouble, of course, in return for consideration regarding your price. I'd just prefer to be prepared."

 Milo nodded and took back the pad. "My price is the same it's always been: One Favor. This just nets us both a bit more status and gets you a favor from the Prince in the process. You may get a bit of attention from investigators but all you really need to tell them is that you 'had a rough patch' after losing your job but you're okay now.

 Repeat it enough times and the heat should go away after a week or two."

"A rough patch after losing my job, huh? That's not even a lie..." Sal says, clearly amused at the thought. "I suppose if they want more details than that, it wouldn't be hard to convince them that, said 'rough patch' involved copious alcohol. Okay, we have ourselves a deal. Your work speaks for itself, and can't pass up having Victor owe me, after all."