Liam slept late. It was at least ten before he roused, but admittedly he hadn't felt this good waking up in the better part of a century. He followed the melodious sound of Cypress Hill up the stairs, and found the two ladies duking it out in Mario Kart. Robyn was already in her disguise - which looked freshly laundered. Caleb was tearing into a piece of homemade yam jerky, and held it in his laws as he rose to greet his master.

"Hey dude," Pockets said over her shoulder as she spied him. "Somebody slept well."

WP 8/8
BP 8/15
6XP
Health: Injured -1


"You have no idea," he replied. The day's sleep had been transformative. Gone were the full thickness third degree burns with the weeping flesh beneath and ugly black eschar towards the margins. His skin was smooth and intact, if slightly pink, and even his hair had grown back. Though still admittedly more than a little stiff, he no longer felt pained with every movement. "I almost feel human again."

Casting his gaze downward towards Caleb he reached out to scratch behind the dog's ears.

"No funny business tonight, I promise," he said. "We're just going to get you your kibble. And maybe a fresh set of clothes for me. That's all."

"Yeah, no freakin' detours this time," Robyn said.

"And I'm coming along just in case the shit goes down," Pockets said. "Plus I know more about the vampy side of things than Hermione Granger here does."

"We don't invoke that terf's work in this house," Robyn quipped. She checked Pockets with her shoulder, sending her off the virtual road.

"I don't know any other girl wizards," Pockets replied. "High Fantasy is a sausage fest."

The game was over. Robyn has snagged first place. She tossed the controller in victory. "Finally!" she cried.

"Ah I was gettin' sick of beatin' ya," Pockets said. The pair stood.

"Ready when you are," Robyn said to Liam.

Liam nodded. He hadn’t understood most of what had just been said. Making his way out to the garage he reclaimed his uniform from the night before and put it on.

“Does this still pass muster?” He asked, turning back towards the two women with his arms spread wide.

Robyn paused a moment. "Well, it's less conspicuous than a burned up coat, but let's not put it to scrutiny. I think I'm going to fit you both with some spritzers."

She opened a kitchen drawer, and tossed Liam what appeared to be a blue plastic dollar store spray bottle full of clear brown liquid. Because that's exactly what it was. "Any thralls give you trouble, just spray them in the face with that. Might disorient a Tremere or Sabbat, too. It'll sever their bond to the collective."

“What, like a cat?” Liam asked, amused. He looked the bottle over and then tucked it into his coat. “What happens to them when the bond breaks? Do they remember everything at once?”

He headed for the car.

"They've always known," Robyn said. "They've just been prevented from processing or reacting to it. It can be a lot to handle at once. Some go quiet, some go berserk. But they're not actively ratting you out or trying to kill you, so it's an improvement."

Pockets grabbed a bottle herself, checked her battery, and grabbed a pair of exquisite twin katars and diametrically disgusting coach gun from the inside of her road case. Thinking better of it, she also grabbed a roll of duct tape, and applied another wrap around the barrels while she rode in the back seat.

For all her reckless speed, Robyn was an excellent driver. She was quiet as they rolled toward Riverhead.

"Pockets, you better go invisible," she said as she spied the situation in the road ahead. Without looking up, Pockets was gone.

"Fuck me," her disembodied voice said from the back of the car.

The police were out in force. Worse, Liam could see men with armbands prowling around the street corners. Fortunately for them, they blended in. Roadblocks were in place at the entrance of town, but they were able to drive on through. They appeared to be combing the town.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:05, Tue 16 June 2020.

“Seems we made quite the impression last night,” Liam remarked as they were waved through the first blockade. Gone were any considerations towards visiting other sites of personal importance tonight. There was simply too much risk. All they needed was a generic big box store with a pet care aisle and a men’s apparel section.

"There's a logging road that bypasses Riverhead," Robyn remarked. "We'll take it from now on, at least 'til things die down."

There was the telltale ping of a phone recording from the backseat. "Tonight's our lucky night, boyos," Pockets said. "If they're here, they're not in Verdant Falls. I better tell Cockknuckles and Dicklock."

"You make a good point," Liam concurred. "We should head into the city. It'll be quieter there, and who knows when we'll get another opportunity like this."

Robyn relaxed visibly as they moved through the next checkpoint and out of Riverhead. Liam had taken this stretch of road too many times to count. He was comforted to see that the Holloway Home for Wayward Children was still in operation. It appeared the mental hospital had been renamed yet again, and was now the Mountain Road Wellness Facility.

"I wonder how the fugue affects people with mental illnesses," Pockets wondered aloud. "Turns out my blood bond was all that was keeping Mike together for so many years. Maybe... maybe some people are getting some peace from all this."

“I doubt it. They’re just screaming on the inside where no one can hear them,” Liam observed.

“Just like everyone else.”

And when the fugue broke and those voices were heard for the first time in the better part of a decade, the shout was going to carry around the world.

"We better swing near the waterworks," Robyn remarked as they came close to the city proper. "It was a fortress back in your day and they've fortified it since. But if we get a jerrycan of my special sauce into the main reservoir... Well, adios muchachos."

"If we want to speed that up," Pockets said. "Whenever the Camarilla needs to push a critical instruction to the mooks in the city, they flush the pipes. Takes about an hour, but the whole process is automated. Then they send out a mass text with a single instruction: Drink. Otherwise, it's gonna take a good week for the city to wake up, and it won't happen all at once."

"Lets see who's watching it tonight then," Liam concurred. "But we are coming home with dog food. I can't let the poor boy down three nights in a row."

"Perish the thought," Robyn said. They were driving past the suburbs now. Very little had changed since Liam's day. Vampires didn't care much for suburbia, and it had always served as little but a hunting ground.

"Safest place to get a meal," Pockets commented. "Just watch out for bloodwagons. They're harvesting all they can right now. Covid has them scared. Though I can't say I blame them."

“If that’s the case, anyone you find is likely to be running on empty as it is. How closely guarded are these blood wagons? And where do they take their cargo?”

"They take everything back to the Alhambra," Pockets said. "Or what they're calling the eyesore they built in its place. The bloodwagons are pretty well-armed. Grenade launchers, mounted 50 cals, and battle rifles for the kiddies. But the people behind the equipment are mostly green as fuck. Mostly. They usually don't even send the Redwatch out on patrol anymore. They can't replace century-old killing machines, and we've been pretty consistently chipping away at their numbers."

“Do we have any idea how many Gangrel are left in the Old Guard?” Liam asked. Without them, the Camarilla would lose its capacity to produce new scouts and police the skies.

"At least one," Pockets said with a shrug. "You'd need to ask a Cam insider for that. Scouts have pretty high turnover. Now they just train 'em enough to change into a bat or a bird, give 'em a cell phone and a flare gun, and call it a day. They're practically shovelheads."

Outside, cheap mass-produced houses gave way to expensive mass-produced houses. Eventually, those gave way to estates. They were entering Rosewood, once playground of the city's wealthiest citizens. It was also home to the city's Tremre Chantry.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:39, Wed 17 June 2020.

"The ones we dealt with last night certainly were," Liam said, recalling the horror struck expression on the young scout he had quite literally ripped to pieces the night prior.

"Marty would know," Liam added after a moment. "This is probably as quiet a night as the Lantern ever sees, don't you think? Did Jack have a backdoor to Marty?"

11:56, Today: Liam O'Farrell rolled 4 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 7 ((10,6,7,10,9)).

"I mean, the shipping entrance, sure," Robyn replied.

"I wouldn't visit him empty-handed, though," Pockets replied. "He's susceptible to bribes, but he's nobody's friend."

Robyn was travelling in a northern arc around the downtown core. VFU would be her next stop.

"That's a good point, and I most certainly didn't expect to be going into Verdant Falls tonight. We'll see if they're still crawling all over Riverhead tomorrow."

As the campus drew into sight Liam frowned. "What does the Camarilla do about out of town students? Thousands of kids must have come and gone in the past decade. They must have seen something."

Pockets winced. "Sleepers, mostly. Programmed to forget what they saw, talk up how good the university is, and encourage others to go. And to wait for a project to start up in their respective hometowns. I've maintained a database of infected students past and present, but up until now there was nothing we could do about 'em. Besides killing 'em, that is."

VFU's campus was officially closed, but the facilities appeared to be open. Or at the very least, had lights on. There were cars parked everywhere.

"When the lockdown started, this is where they started taking the folks they rounded up," Pockets continued. "They're trying to improve the Fugue to the point it'll resist COVID. I don't think they'll outpace a vaccine, but they kinda let their asses show to the High Council and they're smarting for it. Buzz has it that the Cam is starting to look for alternative solutions to the information crisis.

"Then we'll have to beat them to it," Liam replied. "They don't get a mulligan on this one. After what they've done in Verdant Falls they're going to have to learn how to live in the real world again alongside everyone else."

"How long do the effects last once they've been off the ground water for a while? Is it enduring?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Wed 17 June 2020.

"Indefinite," Pockets said. "They can't receive new instructions, but they follow their old ones. For all I know, they're instructed to pop by on vacation, or buy water from the bottling plant. But all the information I have on their programming is through the messages they send out."

They passed a troop truck parked my the medical sciences building. They were unloading a shipment of citizens destined for some nefarious purpose. They were lined up and glassy-eyed, like cows at the slaughterhouse. Liam spied four uniformed mooks and two kindred, one of whom was wearing an armband.

"I wish we knew how many people they've stolen," Robyn muttered.

"Since the lockdown, we do," Pockets replied. "They're publishing them as covid losses. Gives you an impression of how good their survival chances are."

Liam stared in stony silence reminded of similar scenes across Europe some eighty odd years ago. Kindred weren't the only monsters to be sure. Vitae amplified the darkness that already lurked in men's hearts. And the worst among men were destined to become the worst among kindred.

"That armband - that's only Redwatch, right? The old company? None of the new blood gets promoted into the ranks?"

"Oh, they can," Pockets said. "You gotta pass a rigorous physical and mental test, and you need to be the best of the worst. You also gotta speak fluent German, but you'd be surprised how many redneck white boys picked it up long before they were recruiting. Or, maybe you're not surprised."

"Goddamn undead Proud Boy motherfuckers," Robyn exclaimed, and slapped the steering wheel.

"They also employ specialists, but they wear yellow armbands and don't get the nifty lapel pin. They get pull in this town, just not as much. Some are collaborators, others are slaves. And they get shit on by the OGs, either way."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Thu 18 June 2020.

Liam nodded, watching the glassy eyed kine file complacently into the science building. His stomach knotted and his fists clenched tight until his knuckles were white. "Who's in charge of the push here at the university?"

He could save them, of course. He could step out of the car and kill the two kindred supervisors. The kine would turn on him as their training dictated, and he would be forced to spray them. In an instant the spell would be broken. And then there would be bedlam. And the Camarilla would kill them anyway. Then they would round up another dozen specimens and ferry them into the laboratory under heavier guard.

"van Fokke," Pockets said. "The latest in a long line of increasingly important Tremere assholes to take over ownership of this project. Top tier of the pyramid. Older than Hasan's sire. Not by much. Keisinger administrates the city and infrastructure, but everything related to the Fugue is Tremere."

“Have they taken up residence in the Chantry? Or is that still Miss’s dominion?” Liam asked.

"Pff, they're too good for the chantry," Pockets said. "He's in the penthouse of the Alhambra Casino. Keisinger's on the next floor down. This gives you a bit of a picture of the kinda guy he is."

They were leaving the campus, and headed for the Iron Graveyard. There was a time when this was a guarded border. But they just drove on through in Camarilla disguise.

Liam raised a brow in surprise as they passed over the threshold that used to demarcate the boundaries of Verdant Fall's enduring cold war. "No Sabbat?" he asked.

Pockets shook her head. "No Sabbat," she echoed. "They got done dirty. They started liberating folk with the Vaulderie. Built up a pretty vibrant little resistance cell. But their ultimate weapon had a flaw. It's basically a giant ghoul. You've seen the folks they rig up as Fugue blood factories? They blew a hole in the roof and just... Dropped 'em into the pit. By the time they figured out what was going on, half of 'em were dead. Most didn't make it out. Those that did fell back to Montreal. Now the only one out there is Corr. And he's why we shouldn't linger here too long in this cop car, dig?"

Robyn nodded and stepped on the gas. Huh, apparently this car could go faster.

Liam's eyes went wider if such a thing were possible. All of the truths he thought he understood about Verdant Falls from the smallest secret to the largest accord were being upended one by one with each passing night. And now another chasm lay where there had once been life.

"Keep going," was all he said. He'd have to circle back here later. On his own.

They were nearly through the graveyard, and arriving at the Peninsula. Once upon a time, Tim had an apartment here. The place had been gentrified in Liam's absence.

"There's a nice little pet store here," Robyn said. "And a decent grocery store. Not to mention fashion. If you're in the market. And you should be. What's first?"

“Pet store,” Liam replied unhesitatingly. They were going to get dog food. The signs of life in the Peninsula cheered him somewhat and he tried to put thoughts of the Graveyard behind him.

"You know, if you'd picked anything else I'd be plotting how I was gonna steal him from you," Robyn quipped.

"And I'd help," Pockets chimed in.

Robyn parked the car in front, and killed the engine. She opened the door for their invisible companion, and reached into her pocket for a lockpick. She was halfway to the door when it swung open.

"Too slow, scrub," Pockets said.

Robyn gestured to the door, and looked at Liam. "After you."

Liam strode into the store and took in the displays towards the front. It looked surprisingly normal for being seated square in the midst of a living nightmare. People owned this space, and no matter what horrors they had been forced to endure at the end of the day they did so for themselves. Not for the Camarilla. Not for Keisinger. Certainly not for the Tremere.

Walking the aisles he had his choice of dog food. The brands meant very little to him, but Caleb wasn't fussy. He hauled out two twenty five pound bags, one under each arm. It would be enough to tide Caleb over for weeks. "I suppose I should leave some cash in the till?" he asked, making his way back towards the front. Passing a display he shifted both bags under one arm and grabbed a heavy cow bone.

And a stuffed dinosaur with a squeaker. He gave it a test and smiled. Caleb loved these things.

"I'll do it," Robyn said, tucking a ball chucker and a Frisbee under her arm. "You've got your hands full."

The till popped open. "And I'm, Uhh, just getting it open for you. Yeah." the disembodied Pockets said.

That was one thing off the list. They carried everything out to the car, and Robyn popped the trunk. The car had a rack of six break-barrel shotguns on the inside lid, and an ornate tommy gun secured to the trunk sidewall. Its barrel and drum were covered in strange filigreed runes. Good to know. There was plenty of room.

"The grocery store is across the street," Robyn said. "And there's a designer boutique just around the corner."

"Remember where the Cock and Plucker used to be? It's there now," Pockets said helpfully.

"God I miss the gay bars," Robyn muttered. "Seeing as I'm the one who has gotta eat, and you're the one who needs clothes, we should split up. Do you need a lockpick?"

"I have one," Liam replied. He'd learned to make use of it in Europe. Funny how it came in handy even when he could get inside any space without airtight windows. "Not sure that I'm as practised as either of the two of you but hopefully the lock on the menswear store is no sturdier than this one.

"I'll catch up with you soon."

The store was easy enough to break into, and had far more variety than Liam was used to. It ranged from rustic and comfortable (Liam's favourite) to the fashionable and understated. He'd be able to blend more effectively than in his battered work grubs.

The streets were quiet, and Robyn was waiting by the car when he returned, gabbing with her invisible friend about the heyday of Verdant Falls' village.

Liam came out of the store wearing a light collared shirt over dark slacks and leather shoes. It was not his typical 'go to' attire, but after Robyn's comment about the sartorial habits of Red Watch he was determined to at least try to play the part. Under his arm he carried a small duffel bag laden with additional outfits and shoes (including the ones he'd walked in with). He'd left most of the contents of his wallet behind on the way out and honestly had no idea if it was enough.

"Success?" he asked the ladies as he tossed his bag into the trunk.

"I'll eat for another fortnight," Robyn said. "We'll take the long way home. Continue the tour."

"Lead on," Liam replied, climbing into the passenger side door.

As they drove back out of the Peninsula, Robyn banked southward. They were bound for old Verdant Falls.

"We'll be going near where Sunny's store," Robyn said. "Where it used to be, at least. Not to mention the ruins of the old settlement. Heard you had some fun times down there."

Liam nodded. "Seavers still there? Or has the Camarilla figured out a way around him as well?"

"Van Fokke and his retinue marched in and took Seavers out, the very night they took over the project," Pockets said. "The Tremere have been aware of the miasma since they arrived, but now they're busy discovering shit we knew years ago. I don't think they know what they're really sitting on because they aren't guarding it very well. A bunch of Tremere scholars without any backup. I'm guessing they don't trust the Redwatch entirely, either."

"Smythe is still around," she added. "Jacob and Hasan took him in. He's devastated, but who wouldn't be?"

They took Seavers out. Liam heard the words enter his ear but he could barely comprehend them. Seavers was the most powerful Kindred Liam had ever encountered, bar none. More dangerous than Jacob or Hasan. If he wasn’t a Methuselah then he had dined in their company. And this Van Fokke had taken him out. Like an animal. A pest.

It didn’t seem possible. It didn’t seem just. But then what was any longer?

“I hope he took some of the bastards with him,” Liam said quietly.

"Aye," Pockets said. "Hasan didn't arrive in time to help, but he took a couple out as they were leaving."

Robyn slowed to a stop outside the gates to the ruins. She look a long look at the old church, but said nothing.

Liam stared on in stony silence as well. After a few moments he solemnly remarked "lets keep going".

He could feel Vamanando's presence. Moreover, he felt his own presence felt by the creature. He was sure Robyn picked up on it too. And as he well knew, Pockets had been placed in danger by her unique ability to detect the creature's influence.

Robyn jumped a little when he spoke, and kept on driving. They were coming up on the Boroughs. Once upon a time, he'd gotten his start here with Jake Lincoln. Now, Liam wondered whether there were any Toreadors left.

Of all of Verdant Falls districts, Liam had spent perhaps the least amount of time here though he had no real aversion towards it, then or now. “There was a gallery here, wasn’t there? Nox. The Toreadors kept it as a front.” He’d seldom been on the list of invited guests to the sorts of soirées and fundraisers hosted there even before he was a notorious persona non grata, but he knew it by reputation.

“Is that still a thing?”

Pockets shook her head. "Susan and her brood got whacked in the early days of the occupation. They fought for Jacob, and they paid for it. They made an example of her. Tire the studio down right after the Alhambra blew up. I think it's a Spencer's or something like that now."

Robyn dipped further south towards the docks. Liam knew this area pretty well. Shady deals went down here, a few involving Augusto Deluca.

So many changes... Liam marvelled, shaking his head.

“Is there any part of the city they don’t control?” He asked. “By the sound of things they’ve muscled out all the competition apart from Jacob and Corr.”

"Funny you should mention that," Pockets said. "Almost everyone's been pushed out. Some people are hiding out, but we can't really keep an open foothold. Except for Augusto, that is. They say he's got a gun that'll kill anything. Took down a team of Tremere witchfinders that went into the docks. Four shots, four kills."

Robyn recognized the name. "Augusto... I think Book gave me a package for him, way back when this all started. Remind me when we get home."

"I've seen it in action," Liam remarked. Truth be told he wasn't sure it was the gun or the bullets but its efficacy was indisputable. Cross had been very surprised.

"Is anyone else camping out here under his graces, or is Augusto alone?"

Pockets shook her head. "He's on his own," she said. "A couple of his old crew died, but he drove most of them off on his own. We have a business relationship, but he's not really close with anyone anymore. He's a little... Uhh... Spacey."

For Pockets to say that, it was something.

Liam nodded. "We should follow through on Book's delivery," he said. Another thing to circle back to later. Liam added it to the list.

"Whatever kit you lost in the fire, I can pretty much guarantee he's got better," Pockets said. "He may be a twisted asshole, but without him I don't think the resistance woulda made it."

"Sounds like most of your allies," Robyn muttered. She turned away from the docks, and made her way north to the downtown core.

The Alhambra had always been a landmark in the city skyline. Even after all this time, it was strange seeing it missing. Especially now that it had been replaced by a gaudy monstrosity. The Alhambra Casino and Resort spanned a whole city block at its base, and boasted the largest underground parking complex in North America. Looking at it up close, Liam could see the brutal intentions behind the structure's tourist-beckoning facade. The outer perimeter was little more than a castle wall, two feet thick and five stories high. The luxurious wraparound balconies served as guard towers and parapets. The wedge-shaped skyscraper serving as the hotel cut into the skyline like a knife, its peak bristling with searchlights and weaponry.

The sentries that were visible had full body armour, emblazoned with the Redwatch emblem. Automatic shotguns on the ground, .50 calibre rifles up on the balconies. It would have made a less stubborn person rethink their revolution.

“Jesus Christ,” Liam said at last, staring up at the looming fortress with mixed horror and grudging respect. “They didn’t spare any expense.”

“You’d think with all that money they might have invested in the building’s aesthetic just a little though. The Tremere are all flash and no taste, but I expect more from the Ventrue.”

"That building is all Keisinger," Pockets said. "Motherfucker is medieval. Meh - dee - ee - vuh - hul. And bear in mind it's a literal middle finger to his brother."

The square complex and skyscraper did indeed look like a blocky bird being flipped. It was pointing out towards the iron graveyard.

"You think this is bad," Robyn chimed in. "Wait'll you see the waterworks." She was headed in that direction.

"You don't need to look hard to see how much the Cam are betting on this horse to save them from the end of the Masquerade," Pockets said. "But what do you expect from an organization that just so happens to keep a literal platoon of SS around just in case they need to have an occupation."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:29, Sun 21 June 2020.

“They’re betting the house. They’re scared now. Deservedly. Everything is going to come out into the light, and when they can no longer control the narrative they lose the upper hand.”

They were heading back towards the university, and to the waterworks that sat on the campus edge. Pockets fidgeted in the backseat enough that Liam could hear it. They pulled up on the old public Works building. Once a charming century-old red brick lumber mill, repurposed to the very useful purpose of supplying the city with clean drinking water. When Liam had last seen it, it had been hastily fortified. They had ten years to labour upon it. To be honest, Liam expected more. It looked as though they had removed physical fortifications altogether. It looked more like it had in the peaceful days before the occupation. More notably, the building stood alone for at least 5 kilometres in every direction. They had bulldozed the rest long ago.

"Jacob thinks the Camarilla inner circle is going to make a last stand here if shit hits the global fan," Pockets said.

Robyn looked at the curve ahead. "I'm just going to bring us up along the edge of it. I don't want to get too close." The edge of what?

Their disguise allowed them to swing to within a block of the building. He could hear Pockets diving into the footwell. As they grew as close as Robyn was willing to take them, the air crackled with Tremere warding, and the road glowed beneath their feet.

What Liam saw nearly sent him back to the war. Now within the perimeter of the warding, they could see what lay beneath the thaumaturgical blind. The Camarilla had erected a pentagonal outer wall around the building's perimeter, atop which they had placed a full geodesic dome. The zenith bristled with antennas and an anti-aircraft cannon. At the corners of the wall, they had mounted cannons and machine gun emplacements the likes of which Liam hadn't seen since the war. Liam could only make out the tops of the buildings within the dome, but it appeared the Tremere had expanded the facility considerably.

While they were now inside the range of the cannons, the machine guns tracked them ominously. The trio held their breath, and Robyn kept driving. As they passed and began to move away, the machine guns returned to a neutral bearing. Liam had only a moment longer to take in the building before they were outside the ward again.

"This is where the people end up, once they're done experimenting on 'em," Pockets said. "They all eventually go in. None of 'em ever come out."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:11, Mon 22 June 2020.

Liam watched the battlements wide eyed until they vanished behind the veil of the ward once more. There was no way they were going to sneak in a 'jerrycan' tonight as Robyn had glibly suggested. Even with the fracas in Riverhead, the fortress surroundings the waterworks was on maximal alert.

"How do they bring them in?" Liam asked quietly. Perhaps there was a weakness there that could be exploited, though it didn't seem likely. "Do they bus them from the campus?"

"Troop transports," Pockets said, emerging from the backseat footwell fully visible. The warding had apparently disrupted her powers. "Same type that cart them into the university, but rigged to  carry stretchers. Not sure what measures they're using to screen drivers at the gates, because I'm usually watching from outside the blind."

"Maybe we can put some sort of bug on one of the trucks?" Robyn suggested.

"Done that," Pockets said. "They're swept pretty regularly, so it'd have to be done when it's on its way there. I can tell you that by the looks of their antenna setup, that ward isn't blocking electronic signals."

"I can likely get one on mid-transport," Liam volunteered. He glanced back at Pockets, eyeing her up and down. "The wards screwed up your ability to hide? Is it like that with all disciplines? How long are they muted?"

"I know it affects Fort and Pot," Pockets said. "I'm guessing it handles everything but Thaumaturgy. I should be able to disappear again in a coupla minutes." She took off her helmet and tousled her hair. Sparks of static electricity shot off in every colour.

"It seems to disrupt a lot of Sphere and Hedge magic, too," Robyn added. "Jack and Maeve tried to crack it. Fortunately, enchantments seem to hold. I'm guessing the Tremere didn't want to fuck with their own relics. The techniques they use are lifted wholesale from people like me."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:14, Mon 22 June 2020.

“I assume that means there’s no scouts flying in,” Liam observed. “I didn’t think the Tremere could do hedge magic. How are they managing to duplicate what you do?”

"The Tremere were wizards before they were vampires," Robyn said.

"A wizardy cult, if you believe the stories," Pockets added.

"Thaumaturgy is basically the combination of linear magic and the supernatural quintessence of kindred blood," Robyn explained. "It's part of why I was able to develop a cure where two sphere mages could not. Though I should say the foundation of the Fugue is Tzimisce folk magic, and that was a bastard to learn lemme tell ya." She could see she was going off on a tangent. "Anyway, it's something they kept up into their unlives. I guarantee you that the chantry library has at least one copy of my book. That creepy little blood witch that runs it came to one of my book signings back in the good old days. I didn't know she was a vampire at the time, but she's a hard person to forget."

Liam nodded. "No. She's not easily forgotten," he said softly. He pitied Miss. To acknowledge as much in her presence was to invite a swift and painful demise, but truthfully there was a part of him that felt that way. Pitied and feared her. Something had been stolen from Miss in her youthful embrace and no amount of wealth or power would ever make up for what had been forcibly taken. The scars she bore were expertly hidden, but they would never heal.

He shook his head and turned his focus back towards the passing city lights.

"What's left tonight?" he asked.

"Well, is there anywhere you want to go?" Robyn said. "Any old buddies that might not be dead yet you wanna check up on?"

"Jacob and Fucknuts want to say hello," Pockets said. "Or we could run back to the hideout for beer, and you can go visit that asshole Marty. In which case I'll be sitting things out. I'm kind of a big deal, and I wouldn't be caught dead and/or taken alive at a place like that."

"Mmmyeah, count me outta that too," Robyn said. "Vampire nightclubs are hazardous to my health."

Tim, Liam thought. But Tim had moved around constantly even in the time Liam had spent within Verdant Falls. Where would he begin to look now?

"I wouldn't know where to find them," Liam replied. "Everything has changed so much. Nowhere is safe."

He peered out the windows in thought.

"Lets leave Marty for another night. I'm not even sure what I'm asking from him. If Jacob and Hasan are wanting to see me, lets start there."

Pockets was on her phone, typing away. "We can meet 'em on neutral ground. I know a place."

"Do you have anything that belonged to this person you're looking for?" Robyn asked, changing her course as Pockets relayed directions.

“What constitutes neutral ground in the city?” Liam wondered aloud. In response to Robyn’s query Liam pursed his lips. “I’m... not sure. I might have had in the warehouse but that’s all gone up in flames now. I’ll have to have a look at my kit.”

The apartment Tim has kept in the fisheries has probably changed hands half a dozen times by now. But....

“I think I could find the campsite they were using last time I came through town. Could be something was left behind.”

"Let's go for a hike with Caleb," Robyn said. "We'll make an evening of it. I need to unwind after a long afternoon of writing."

"Neutral anywhere that isn't either of our hideouts," Pockets said. "And there are plenty of dead zones in the city post-lockdown. I'm taking us to a church lot with plenty of tree cover."

"Uh, won't that fuck you guys up?" Robyn asked.

"Not unless the Presbyterians have their own inquisition, and have based it out of Verdant Falls," Pockets said.

"I like our chances," Liam said with a smile.

To Robyn he added: "I'd like that. I'd hate to think they disappeared without a trace."

"If they're out there, we can find 'em," Robyn said. "If we can't get something to track them by, there are... Other ways. But I'd prefer a hike through the trees."

"Speaking of trees," Pockets said. "We're here." She pointed towards a church

St. Jude First Presbyterian must have been a grand building when it was built in the 1980s, but it looked as though it hadn't received a renovation since. With the lockdown, the only people in and out of a normal church in a normal town would be the custodians. By the state of the lawn, Liam doubted this place even saw them. The parking lot and grounds were replete with large trees, and well protected from aerial surveillance. Robyn parked in the lot and killed the engine.

"Now what?" Robyn asked Pockets.

"Now we get out, and find a nice place to meet," Pockets said. "They'll find us."

Liam stepped out of the cruiser and made his way beneath the bole of one of the great trees covering the grounds of St. Jude. His fingers itched and reached for a pack of cigarettes that wasn't there. They were in the duffel bag in the boot of the car, he realized. Probably for the best.

"How are they managing to get around the city?" Liam asked. "Same as us?"

"On foot, mostly," Pockets replied. "They can move faster than us, and Hasan keeps them hidden."

"Only when we're not making a scene," a familiar voice chimed in. Hasan stepped out of the shadows. "Which is often." The Assamite looked largely unchanged. He was dressed all in black, with his usual style of light, unencumbering clothes that didn't restrict his movement. There was a massive rifle slung over his back; so large that its barrel was removed. Liam guessed it was over ten feet long fully assembled. The bore on it looked more like a cannon than a de facto rifle.

Pockets moved towards Hasan, and the two hugged. Liam heard Hasan express his sympathies about her losing Mike.

Jacob emerged from the shadows. Unlike his companion, he had changed significantly. He was paler than Liam remembered, except for the deep reddish-black circles around his eyes. He was no longer painstakingly manicured and primped. His hair was messy, and he had grown a cropped beard. He was dressed head to toe in a modern-looking set of articulated body armour. The gleam coming off it was unmistakably Eversteel. Hasan must have figured out how to work with the metal. He had a full helmet under his arm, his famous Stygian steel rapier at his hip, and what could only be an M60 slung over his back. They were planning something tonight.

As Pockets and Jacob embraced and shared words, Hasan turned his attention to Liam.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in," he said, pulling Liam into a hug so tight it made Tim's bear hugs look restrained. "What brings you back to the city? And who's your friend?" Robyn shifted her weight awkwardly.

Liam winced as he was scooped up in Hasan's arms. He felt his ribs strain beneath the Assamite's arms despite his preternatural fortitude.

"I blew up everything there was left to blow up across the pond. Once I finished up in Bergen I figured it was time to make my way back home."

He glanced back at Robyn and offered a reassuring smile.

"Robyn is a friend of Jack's. She's helping me get reacquainted with the city. Been a long time since I was back and damn near everything's changed."

"Robyn, meet Jacob Holloway and Hasan Al-Rashid," he said with a gesture. "The two most wanted men in Verdant Falls."

"Used to be me of course, but I guess I've been gone long enough that's changed as well," he said with an impish grin.

14:44, Today: Liam O'Farrell failed (no successes) using 8d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed, Specialised system with a target of 9, rerolling 10s ((4,7,4,8,7,2,6,2)).
This message was last edited by the player at 18:45, Wed 24 June 2020.

"Ah, you just gotta remind 'em who you are," Hasan said, releasing Liam.

"Jacob Holloway," Robyn declared, striding up to the former Prince. She landed a fierce right hook square on Jacob's jaw. His head didn't even move. It was like connecting with a marble statue. Robyn did her best to mask the pain and embarrassment that was no doubt flushing over her body. She managed a menacing glare and a half-squeaky voice.

"That's for Sunshine Leibowicz," she croaked.

Pockets gaped. Hasan put a hand on Liam's shoulder, and whispered in his ear. "Oh, I like her."

Jacob pursed his lips. "You're Robyn Rowe." he said quietly.

"You're God damn right I am," she replied, flexing what was most assuredly a broken hand. She valiantly maintained her glare.

"Well then, I deserved that," Jacob replied. "And more. Ian Brumley was a mad dog who was given far too much of a leash. As the Prince of this city he was ultimately my responsibility. I deeply regret the pain I caused you, both in the evils he inflicted, and in my orders to conceal it after the fact."

Robyn considered hitting him again, but the pain in her hand talked her down. "You got a debt to pay," she said, and stomped off towards the car.

Hasan marvelled at her as she stalked away. "I have missed you, Liam. And the company you keep."

"Right?" Liam said in muted awe. He watched Robyn stalk off towards the cruiser with a look of concern. "She learned the truth about Sunshine and Ian two nights ago. I figured she had a right to know. The wound is still pretty raw."

"Jacob carries a lot of guilt from those days," Hasan said. "And a lot of loss. That punch may not have landed, but her words sure did. And just between you and me, he needed a reminder of... Well, a lot of things, really."

"I'm going to go make sure she doesn't decide to ditch us here," Pockets said, after picking her jaw up off the floor. "You three catch up." On her way to the car, she met Liam's gaze, and gestured to the spray bottle sticking out of her pocket.

Jacob stood alone for a moment, composed himself, and then joined the pair. "Well, that was humbling. Hello, Liam."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:01, Thu 25 June 2020.

"Jacob." Liam smiled. Inwardly he weighed Pockets advice to bring Jacob into the loop against Jack's reservation to fully trust him. "Its good to see you again. Both of you."

"I've been gone too long."

"And doing good work," Jacob replied. "Without you, they'd have expanded globally and we'd need to fight this battle on many fronts. Now those plans are dead in the water."

"We were planning on recalling you, actually," Hasan said. "And now, here you are, in the company of an infamous hedge witch."

"The mages have always been good allies against the occupation," Jacob said. "But they make their own plans and fight their own battles. I'm curious why they've tapped you."

“Because I’m not an asshole,” Liam said. “I mean, Jack was a little more discerning with his choice of words but that was the gist of it. It’s not a high bar to clear but you’d be surprised how few of us make it over the first hurdle.”

Liam glanced back over his shoulder.

“Jack asked me to keep an eye on her, but so far she’s mostly kept an eye on me. That was quite the treat they left for me in the warehouse. Robyn quite literally dragged my ass out of the fire.”

"Doesn't surprise an asshole like me at all," Hasan quipped at Liam's first statement.

"Is she under threat?" Jacob asked. He seemed genuinely concerned.

"We could see that present get unwrapped from here," Hasan said. "We owe you one for the diversion. We're hitting 'em hard tonight."

Liam glanced at Hasan but said nothing. He was exactly the sort of asshole Liam had in mind, and that was coming from a place of genuine affection.

“Not imminently,” Liam said, turning back to Jacob. “I’d prefer to keep it that way, although the fireworks certainly didn’t help. Jack’s just being cautious.”

With damned good reason, Liam considered.

“Do I want to know what you’re hitting? As much as I’d love to bloody their noses after last night, I’m going to have to enjoy this one from afar. Give them a proper kick when they’re down for me.”
This message was last edited by the player at 00:23, Fri 26 June 2020.

"Aw c'mon," Hasan said. "I'll let you borrow my twenty-mil. You'll be a klick away from anything and probably won't need to use it. That frees me up to help Pockets with the sneaky bits."

"Have you been to the university lately?" Jacob asked. The memory of the line of naked mooks shuffling to their doom washed over Liam. "The Tremere have moved their best and brightest from the waterworks to the medical sciences building, Teasdale Hall. They're ramping down production and focused on fixing the COVID-19 problem. They don't know we know, and they haven't had time to ward it to the extent of their other strongholds."

"We're going to make the present they left you look like a firecracker," Hasan said. "Take 'em all out."

Along with the mooks.

"Does Pockets know she's been tapped for tonight?" Liam asked, looking for the Malkavian.

"If you're sincere in your offer its not me that needs convincing," he said after a moment. "I go where Robyn goes. I gave Jack my word."

Still, if there was a chance of crippling the Tremere in Verdant Falls it would make his task of keeping them off of Robyn's scent substantially easier. Provided she escaped the present night unnoticed, of course.

Pockets was in the car, talking with Robyn. The wizard still seemed agitated.

"Pockets hasn't turned down a mission yet," Jacob replied. "Especially where hurting the Tremere is involved."

"It's fine if she goes with you," Hasan said. "Given what you'll be doing it's better to have a spotter anyway."

"Let me talk to her," Jacob said, looking over at the cop car. "I owe her a more thorough apology anyway."

Liam watched the two women converse behind the shelter of the glass windows.

"Give me a moment. I'll see if she wants to talk. I don't doubt your ability, Jacob, but she really doesn't trust any of us at the moment. I'm not sure she even fully trusts me yet."

He paused a moment to see if there were any objections before heading back towards the car. Knocking lightly on one of the windows he waited to be admitted back into the conversation.

"Are you okay?" he asked, Robyn, having learned from his rough open with Pockets two nights prior.

"Getting there," Robyn replied. "He's not even the biggest asshole I've found myself on the same side with."

"I've just been explaining all the ways that those two have made it easier for her lot," Pockets said. "And their plans for the future."

"Well the asshole would like to apologise to you," Liam replied. "And for what its worth, I think he's sincere."

"I haven't told them anything about your work," he continued, glancing briefly towards Pockets. "And I should tell you up front, Jack had some - concerns about Jacob's well being. I can see why."

Never once in their many year relationship had Liam ever seen Jacob quite like this before. For a vampire who did not age he looked older. Haggard.

"But the boys also have a proposal for us. They're planning something big tonight. They're going to hit the Tremere hard. I'll give you my opinion if you like but I'm not asking favours. I go where you go. Period."

"Liam, if you're not gonna tell them, I will," Pockets said firmly. "If anyone needs to know, it's them."

"I'll tell them," Robyn cut in. "And I'm in. Let's go hit those motherfuckers where it hurts. I could do with venting some rage at people who really deserve it."

The three of them rejoined Jacob and Hasan.

Liam nodded and held the door open for the women to exit the car.

"You're in luck," he said, making his way back to Jacob and Hasan. "We're in."

"Would you like a couple of minutes?" he asked, looking from Jacob to Robyn. The question was aimed at both of them.

"In a moment," Jacob said, looking at Robyn. "First, we should go over the plan."

Hasan laid out a map of the campus. "All right ladies, this is a standard rope-a-dope scenario. Jacob is going to attack the clinic. They've built up a large cache of harvested blood here, and it's going to take attention off of the real objective. Pockets and I are going to infiltrate the medical sciences building. She will be placing incendiary bombs around the perimeter of the building. I'll be placing a fuel-air bomb in the central ventilation shaft."

"Liam, you'll be in the clock tower on top of the administrative building. From there you'll be able to provide sniper support for us as well as Jacob. Your primary goal is to make sure any reinforcements that roll in don't roll out. You'll also be carrying the detonator. Blow it as soon as we're clear. But in the event that things go wrong and we're compromised, you need to be prepared to hit it with us still inside. Any questions?"

"So you're telling me we get to take a chunk out of the Tremere and I get to blow your ass up, Hasan? Hard to imagine how this plan could get any better," he said drily.

"You okay to spot with me?" he asked Robyn. If Robyn was joining him up in the tower they would have to break in from below. He couldn't just fly them up as he would have done alone. Possibly he could climb the pair of them up if the campus was deserted, but it seemed unlikely.

"Pockets, have you got a radio?" Robyn could do the work from the safety of the ground as long as he had an ear piece.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Fri 26 June 2020.

"Have I got a radio," Pockets scoffed. "Yo big man, where's the shit?" Jacob led her off into the shadows.

"Couple questions," Robyn said. "First off, how do I get into the clock tower?"

"There's a service ladder at the top of the stairwell to the right of the main entrance," Hasan said, pointing at the admin building on the map. "You should be able to avoid contact if you break through the fire door at the side. There's an alarm on the door, but it's not connected to the wall next to it. Liam, I think you can manage to make an entrance. Failing that, you could always fly up and haul her up with a rope. I don't have one handy, but there's a Home Hardware on the way."

"'kay," Robyn said. "Now what about the innocent bystanders inside the building. Are you suggesting we blow them all up? Because if so, I'm out."

Hasan ran a hand over his face, frustrated. "I don't think you understand just how that's going to shake down," Hasan said. "Pockets and I have kill orders out on us. The moment any mook that's still able to walk spots us, they're first going to grab any phone they can find and tell the whole city where we are. Then they're going to grab whatever's at hand and try to kill us with it. They won't stop 'til they're incapacitated. I'm good, but if you're suggesting I knock out and carry everyone who's not already dead, I'm afraid I'm not that good."

Pockets and Jacob returned with two hockey bags. They were chock full of explosives and gear, including a zip pouch containing several headsets.

"There's another way," Robyn said. She took a breath, and produced a squirt bottle from her pocket. "This compound will snap them out of the fugue almost instantly. They won't take much convincing to be evacuated. There's even a troop transport parked out front. At least there was when we drove by earlier this evening."

Jacob gaped. "My god, this... this changes everything." He looked at Liam. "Now I understand why they tapped you."

"I'll be damned," Hasan marveled. "Lady, you're full of surprises."

Liam nodded. “That’s not all it does,“ he said quietly. “Robyn says if you hit a Tremere with it, it’ll rip them out of the collective. Hit a ghoul and they lose all affinity for their master. If we get this into the waterworks, just a little of it....” Liam gestured with open arms.

“That’s the whole ballgame.”

“It’s why I’m here. Jack wants me to keep the Tremere off her tail. Killing them tonight would be a good start I suppose.”

"It dissolves all blood bonds," Jacob said. Robyn handed him her bottle, and he studied it. "This is how the Masquerade ends."

"The waterworks will take some time," Hasan said. "And more manpower than we currently have. I... I need to think about this, but for now let's focus on the task at hand. I can't guarantee that I can convince the mooks to follow us, but I can give those that aren't too far gone a fighting chance. Will that satisfy you?"

"It'll have to," Robyn muttered.

"Provided that troop transport is still there," Hasan said. "I'll direct them to get in the back, and that's how we'll exfil. Sound good?"

Pockets had distributed the earpieces. She performed a transmission check as the others spoke.

Liam watched Jacob’s eyes closely as the former prince contemplated the bottle and vicariously the end of an era. “Not a moment too soon,” he said quietly. “If there’s a future for any of us after this, it will be out in the open.”

And If there isn’t, it will be deserved.

If Liam had to guess at Jacob's emotions, it would be a mixture of shock and excitement. He could see the wheels in his head were spinning rapidly, trying to factor this new information into his grand designs.

"We have so much to discuss, Liam," he said. "But right now there is work to be done."

"First things first," Hasan said, unslinging the massive rifle and barrel. He passed them one at a time to Liam. Christ, the thing was heavy. "Her name is Esme and if you mistreat her, I'll know."

“I’ll take good care,” Liam assured, sparing Hasan a quip. He was still a little stiff in the shoulder after the previous night’s fireworks (and more than a few pints short) but Robyn had made that disappear with a touch the night before and Liam was hopeful she’d be able to do so again.

“You sure she’ll fit in the clock tower with the barrel mounted?” He asked sceptically.

"Just barely," Hasan said. He pulled a bandolier of 12 rounds from the hockey bag. They were the size of coke bottles. Four of them bore red bands, and were marked HE. "Suffice to say that this don't come with a suppressor, and eeeveryone is going to hear it go off, so once you fire consider your position compromised."

"You must have a really tiny dick," Pockets said. This earned her a laugh from the Assamite.

"Like you'll ever need to know," Hasan replied. "Like Esme, Liam's the only one besides Jacob I'd trust to be strong enough to handle it."

"Well are we about done jerking each other off here?" Pockets said. "I'd like to get to the explosions, please."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:03, Sat 27 June 2020.

Liam took the bandoleer.

"Strap in," he said. "Its going to be a wild night."

08:11, Today: Liam O'Farrell rolled 14 using 1d100.  Fate.

Robyn and Liam took the police car, while Pockets went with Jacob and Hasan. It would be a short trip to the university.

While they were driving, Robyn put a hand on Liam's shoulder. The pain of his burns melted away quickly.

"Figured you could use that," she said. "When we get there, I can help improve your luck with aiming, too."

Sure enough, they saw a familiar yellow hardware sign on the road to the university. "Are we stopping?" Robyn asked. "Or do you want to use the stairs?"

"Thank you," Liam said, glancing down at where Robyn's touch had landed upon him. "I needed that."

"I think the stairs are safest. If we have to leave in a hurry, I'd feel better knowing you can get out on your own two feet rather than have to rappel down a line."

"You're the boss," Robyn said, and she continued to the university uninterrupted.

The parking lot in front of the administrative office only had one other vehicle, marked as university security. The foyer lights were on.

Robyn donned a face mask, more for disguise purposes than infection control. She moved to the trunk of the car, and retrieved the Tommy gun. She then paused, and removed the police-issued sidearm from her holster. She placed it in the trunk, and awkwardly stuffed one of the break-action shotguns in its place.

Robyn took a long look at the tower, and headed for the fire exit. Like Hasan said, the door was exit-only, and signage indicated that it was connected to an alarm. The floor-to-ceiling window next to it made a much more inviting, if conspicuous entrance.

Liam came to a stop with his hand upon the door. He was busy inspecting the lintel and posts. The firedoor was well made but it was never intended to be airtight.

"Right, give me a moment he said."

His physical form quickly melted away, sublimating into a grey mist before wafting through the gaps in the frame. He was several moments 'reassembling' himself on the other side. Disabling the alarm was a simple affair once he had access to it, and the door opened without resistance.

Spending 1 BP to activate Protean 5 for the evening. I'm guessing this will see some use.

Taking an auto on the disable (Dex 4 + Security 2)

"Neat trick," Robyn said, and followed him inside. It was a short five-storey climb to the ladder. She looked up at the trap door. "After you," she said.

As Liam swung open the trapdoor, he heard movement from the clock tower. He could barely make it halfway through the hatch before the Redwatch sniper positioned in the tower had spun around. He stuck a submachine gun in Liam's face and growled "Not another fucking move."

Liam stopped with his feet planted on the rungs and peered down the length of the barrel at the face above. <<Well done, you’ve caught me red handed,>> Liam said in a decidedly languid German. He raised his hands slowly, pausing to flick his collar up with one thin finger exposing the lapel pin beneath. <<Now put away the fucking gun before you hurt yourself.>>

<<Uh, forgive many,>> the Redwatch sniper said. He propped his sidearm on the outer wall of the clock tower, and stood back to let Liam up. His German was terrible. <<Informed... was not. Name, supervisor?>>

The clock tower was surprisingly roomy. The clocks were electric, which left a lot of free space. The room was approximately twelve feet square. Large ports in the clock faces in all four directions had been opened already, and the sniper had been good enough to install gun rests. He had a large .50 calibre rifle already installed facing the medical sciences building.

The man facing him was wearing a red armband. Behind him in a corner was a sleeping bag with a stirring occupant. He wore an armband as well, but his was blue. He had enough life in his eyes that he was no mook, so he was doubtlessly a ghoul. Next to the bag was a cooler, a small chemical potty, and a blackout blanket thick enough to keep out the sun shining through the clock tower windows. This was a two-man sniper team on a round-the-clock vigil. This did not bode well; likely there was more than one nest guarding the Tremere.

"Gary, wake the fuck up," the sniper said to his companion.

Robyn followed Liam up into the tower, her eyes glassy and vacant. She made a convincing mook. <<Where should I put your sidearm, obergruppenführer?>> she said monotonally, in perfect German. The sniper's eyes went wide at the mention of his rank.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:50, Sat 27 June 2020.

Liam hauled himself up through the trap door and made a show of smoothing down his shirt and collar as he peered about the interior of the clock tower with a look of weary disdain. "Schmidt. You sound like a Yankee tourist in Munich," he mused in lightly accented English.

<<Hold on to it,>> he said, addressing Robyn without bothering to look. <<I will tell you when I require it.>>

"And you may hold on to this," Liam said, unslinging the hefty rifle case from his back and pushing it into the arms of the Redwatch sniper. "Gently! It is worth more than you are."

His gaze drifted across 'Gary' and he wrinkled his nose. <<This place could do with a spritz,>> he said, hoping Robyn caught his emphasis.

Liam drifted over towards the .50 cal and peered through the scope.

"So, Yankee. What is your name?"

"Wilkins, sir - Uhh, Herr Schmidt," the sniper said, grunting to support the weight of the case. He shuffled to the south wall, turning his back to Liam. Then, in his feeble German he added <<I am marrying Duolingo.>>

<<Sanitizing,>> Robyn droned. He felt her hand at his back pocket as she brushed past him, as she helped herself to his bottle of mook-be-gone. She marched right up to Gary, who had now reached for a walkie-talkie, and in her best German accent said "Heff you been outside ze country in ze pest 14 days?"

When Gary opened his mouth to answer, she gave him two blasts from the bottle right in his face. The ghoul jerked his head back like a spurned cat. His face went blank.

The sniper stopped and stared, setting down his heavy load. "Bruh."

Liam stepped up soundlessly behind Wilkins and wrenched his neck to the side with a grip like a steel vice. The ensuing sound was one that would stay with him for nights to come. Wilkins collapsed in his arms, unable to move or resist.

"Sorry, my friend," he muttered, dropping the accent altogether. "Gary can't hear you right now. He's recalibrating."

"How long do we have until he snaps out?" he asked Robyn, already baring his fangs to feast. "Have you got him?"

Spending 1WP for 7 successes.

Wilkins crumpled to the floor like a sack of potatoes. His blood tasted like whey protein and alt-right entitlement.

Gary did not appear to be much of a threat. Robyn had relieved him of the radio and the weapons on his belt without a struggle. He was currently on his knees, his head buried in his hands. She took three steps back, and rested the Tommy gun on one of the gun rests, with the barrel trained at the ghoul.

"I got him," she said. "He'll come to when he comes to." Then to Gary. "Gary? Hey Gary, buddy. We're here to help you get free if you wanna get free. We're not going to hurt you."

Liam's hold did not ebb until every drop of blood had been drained from the sniper's broken body, and only then did he finish the work he had started destroying the now torpid Kindred in his arms far more humanely than the man had likely deserved. He paused and wiped the vitae from his lips.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen," he said, glancing out over the manicured campus beneath a bright moon. "Sorry for the delay. We had some company up in the clocktower."

"Good news is that we now have a Redwatch radio tuned to tonight's frequency. We also have a seriously discombobulated Gary."

Liam sniffed the air as he set about assembling Hasan's rifle.

"The campus stinks of Vampires. We're not alone tonight."

"We're almost in position," Hasan said. "Check the campus for more nests. I'm guessing three, maybe four more. Covering all sides of the building."

"I'm in position," Jacob said. "Liam, just tell me when to start the show."

"I better get busy too," Robyn said. "Just say something if Gary moves." The handcuff pouch on her belt had been converted into a field kit. There were a variety of indeterminate materials in sharpie-labelled dime baggies inside. She shuffled them and began preparing her charm.

Gary hadn't lifted his hands from his face. He sobbed into them.

"Just need a minute in here," Liam said. With the rifle assembled Liam took a moment to lock down the rest of the tower, gathering the sidearms well away from Gary while the ghoul tried to collect the remains of his fractured psyche. Liam checked the clip of the SMG before setting the weapon down in easy reach and doubled back for the cooler. He figured the odds were better than even that it contained bloodpacks instead of bulgogi.

What sort of rounds are the sidearms packing? Standard?

Finally he settled down behind the sights of his rifle.

"Alright, Esme's ready for the dance. Lets have a look."

Focused on Predator's Communion. Hunting down Kindred and other beasts.

08:14, Today: Liam O'Farrell rolled 8 successes using 9d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed, Specialised system with a target of 6, rerolling 10s.  Perception + Survival.

The cooler had a few days' worth of food and drinks, a large ice pack, and three big bags of fresh blood. It also contained a smuggled bottle of Jack's famous bourbon, but Wilkins had notably brought nothing for his ghoul.

The submachine gun was modern-looking and confusing, but he eventually managed to wrest loose its magazine. Judging from the size and heft, it held about 50 rounds and was full. The .50 calibre gun was much more familiar, and had a fully loaded 5-round magazine. There was an ammo can by the southern gunport, and the label indicated it held ammo for the rifle. If there were spare magazines for the sidearm, he couldn't locate them offhand.

The grounds were teeming with Kindred, and not just in the medical sciences building. The clinic had a significant presence, likely due to the amount of blood being stored there. He also detected a large contingent in the dorms to the west of the medical building, across the street from university avenue.

He also sensed a minor presence in the chemistry lab directly to the east of the medical sciences building, no more than one or two kindred. He caught nothing from the three buildings to the south of his target. As he was also unable to detect Jacob, it a good indicator that he needed to concentrate harder to get a read on more powerful kindred.

"I see an open window on the top floor of the clinic," Jacob said. "There's a nest up there."

"The res building looks busy," Pockets said. "Probably where they're keeping the Redwatch tasked with protecting the Tremere."

"I don't see any open windows," Hasan said. "Liam, can you spot anything on the roof?" The residence building had more than a few lights on, but the roof was dark. He could see irregular shapes in the shadows.

Robyn dropped a selection of the dime bags on the floor, and took her Tommy gun in both hands. She grunted, pulling back the charging handle with some difficulty. She ejected one bullet, and placed it with the herbs.

Gary peeked through his hands. First at the fallen sniper, then at his captors. He trembled, but said nothing.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:39, Mon 29 June 2020.

Liam took a moment to collect his focus, and soon he was able to feel Jacob's presence. He didn't hold much hope of sensing Hasan, who was likely obfuscated alongside Pockets. He also detected a very strong Beast to the South of the medical arts building. He couldn't place precisely where.

His visual sweep of the skyline yielded far more fruit. The dorm building was taller than the clock tower, so his eye was only marginally better than Hasan's. But he did manage to make out a small duck blind on the roof's edge facing the Tremere facility.

The three buildings to the south were, from east to west, a sprawling, suite-style residence complex, the life sciences building, and the large domed convocation hall. All three could serve as potential nests.

The residential complex was four stories, with the higher units each having their own balcony. Many of these had ideal cover. Flags and sunshades of many varieties hung from the balconies, any of which could serve as ideal cover. There appeared to be no open windows or lighted rooms.

The life sciences building had an impressive greenhouse on the roof. Many of its windows were open, and the inside was dark and thick with plant life that would make for perfect camouflage.

The convocation hall was a large circular indoor amphitheatre. Atop the dome sat a steepled watchtower. It was cramped, and largely ornamental. But years of neglected repairs under the Keisinger administration had left its painted shutters missing many slats, more than enough to accommodate a rifle barrel with room for the scope.

The football stadium sat between the convocation hall and the clinic. There appeared to be no Beasts dwelling there. However, there was a large object covered under camouflage netting taking up most of the field, and several uniformed mortal soldiers standing guard on the field.

Finally, Liam was able to confirm the open window in the clinic. There were also plenty of acvitity out front. A pair of Redwatch guards stationed at the entrance, one with a battle rifle and another with a grenade launcher. A large APC serving as a bloodmobile was out front, with a mook paramedic unloading a rack of blood bags. There was a blue-banded ghoul in the machine gun turret, and a third Redwatch member with an automatic shotgun was smoking a cigarette and shooting the shit with the guards at the door.

There being an opportunity to drink now, and uncertainty as to when he might have the chance to do so again Liam tore into the bloodpacks and pumped the vital fluids towards his muscles until they could take no more of the potent vitae and it began oozing out of his pores in a frightful black film that encrusted his torso and further bolstered his strength.

Spending the 4 BP immediately to buff strength to 6 and activate Devil Channel (loving me some abombwe tonight)

Settling down behind the scope he swept the grounds...

"I see it too, Jacob," he said, pausing on the open window on the top floor of the clinic. "Sniper's nest, top floor. Lots of kindred in that building too. Hard to know exactly how many but expect a show of force. We've got... an APC parked outside with a ghoul on the machine gun emplacement and three Redwatch out front. One of them is packing a grenade launcher."

"I also see a nest on the roof of the high rise. Lots of kindred inside there as well."

Liam sniffed the air. "Couple of kindred inside the medical sciences building, and..." he sniffed again, his nostrils flaring as he tried to scent out one beast amongst the many. "Something else. Someone old. Very strong. To the South of the building but I can't mark it. Be careful."

Liam shook his head and continued his sweep. "Lets see... there's a large object under camo netting in the stadium. Not sure what it is but it takes up most of the field. A few mortal soldiers are standing by."

"And that seems to be it," he said at last. "Might not be the Waterworks, but they didn't exactly let their guard down either."

Liam glanced back over his shoulder to make sure Robyn was ready.

"If we have any hope of getting those people out alive without letting them know that the jig is up, the nests will have to go," Robyn said. She had been busy while Liam was otherwise engaged. She was currently kneading a disgusting putty out of herbs, gunpowder and bottled water.

"I agree with Miss Bossypants," said Hasan. "I'd feel better if I knew who was lurking around, too. Not that I don't trust you to watch Jacob's back, but... A lot can happen, you know?"

"I'll take care of the one in the clinic the moment the fireworks start," Jacob said.

"Dibs on the high-rise," Pockets said. "Imma shimmy up the fire escape and shank a cunt." Then, off-radio and barely audible, she added _{"Hey horsefucker, can you buff my pigstickers?"}

"Well since you asked me so nicely. C'mere you little shit," Hasan said. Then, to Liam. "Don't suppose you want to fly your ass over here and help me search these buildings?"

"Let me finish first," Robyn said. She scooped the putty into one hand. "Then I can have my hands free with Gary, here." Then, to Liam. "Open your shirt."

"If you two are fuckin' up there, I swear to God," Pockets said.

"I'll be along in a minute," Liam assured. He unbuttoned his shirt altogether and slipped it off his shoulders, then followed by kicking off his leather heeled Italian shoes. The film of blood that had congealed on his torso covered his shoulders as well, concealing the tattoos he wore over each.

"Look the only clothes I own are in a bag in the trunk of your car," he said to Robyn's inquiring glance. "I'm not going back to the men's store tomorrow because Hasan had to have his firework show tonight."

"Relax, I'm a wizard with stains, too," Robyn said. "Now hush. If I fuck this up you'll fly into a jet engine or something." She slowly traced a series of sigils on Liam's chest. "And I'm not leaving without that dog Food, don't worry." It took her long enough to trace the pattern that it became awkward, then annoying. Finally, and without a word of warning, she took a lighter from her pocket and set the sigils ablaze. They burst in a flash and a puff of horrid-smelling smoke. Liam didn't feel any luckier. But he supposed he had a night of testing his luck ahead of him.

"I'm starting without you," Hasan said impatiently. "I'll sweep the complex, you take that bigass greenhouse. Whoever's done first gets the auditorium."

[Robyn rolled five successes, and minus the one success for the ritual, you're alloted 4 fortune points. You can spend these before or immediately after a roll to add a success, and lower the DC by 1. So be sure to have Record Each Die selected if you want to recalculate DC.]

Gary peered out from behind his hands. His eyes were red from crying. "Am I a Nazi?" He asked, his voice quavering. "Did they make me a Nazi?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Wed 01 July 2020.

"Gary?" Liam said, turning towards the ghoul. "There's always a way back."

He reached out and touched Robyn's shoulder, fixing her with a solemn gaze. "Be careful."

Liam stepped towards the window and began to shift. Moments later a black eagle took flight from the clocktower, one of many circling over Verdant Falls that night.

Heading to the greenhouse.

Robyn held up the spray bottle as Liam leaned in. "You too."

"Okay, Gary," she said to the shell-shocked ghoul. Her voice trailed off as Liam soared away. "Just take it from the top. What's the last normal thing you remember?"

Gary must have been into his story when Liam arrived at the Greenhouse, because the radio was quiet.

The greenhouse seemed overgrown and neglected, which tracked with the university being abandoned. The automatic watering seemed to be working, but the lack of proper feeding had made the plants stringy and desperate. It was difficult to see down the aisles, as the plants had stretched out in search of more fertile soil. A sticky mess of spider webs tied them all together.

Liam had had the advantage of a bird's eye view as he closed upon the greenhouse and he'd used it to consider where he would have constructed a blind with a view of the facility had it been his intention. Now standing amidst the tiers of creeping plants he paused to listen. Unless he heard anything he carefully picked his way through the rows and around the thicket. On most nights Liam was quiet on his feet. Tonight he moved like a ghost.

The air was thicker with webs than Liam first thought. The sticky white mess trying the tangle of plants together was only half the issue. The air was thick with invisible gosaamer strands that tugged at him as he moved. They were already accumulating on his face and his clothes.

Unfortunately for Liam, silence and camouflage do nothing for an insect in a spider's den. He didn't hear or see his assailant coming until he was dropping from the ceiling. Liam attempted to dive out of the way, but only managed to barely wriggle from his assailants attempt to grapple him. As he pulled free, six sets of claws raked across his back.

[Soak 6 aggro]

Mik crouched low to the ground, and hissed loudly at Liam. His mandibles thrashed, dripping with ichorous poison. His eight eyes were clouded, and he wore a yellow armband around one of his limbs. Liam only had a moment to take it in before Mik charged forward to attack again.

Mik crashed into Liam like a ton of bricks, slashing and raking and tearing at his clothes but where he drew his claws across flesh he may as well have been sawing against granite.

"Mik!" Liam exclaimed, yanking himself free of the Akunanse's grasp and scrambling to his feet frantically. "Jesus Christ! Mik! Its me! Its Liam!"

It took a moment to register the vacant, hungry stare, the yellow band that marked his one time friend. It was a moment Liam could scarcely afford.

As Msizi moved to strike once more, Liam sprayed him full in the face with a blast of Robyn's concoction.

With 8 eyes to choose from, it was little wonder that the mist connected with the Akunanse. He charged right into the lingering cloud of spray, and kept going straight at Liam. It likely would have been a devastating hit, had he not curled his claws inward at the last second. Instead, he merely collided with Liam, sending them both to the floor in a sticky tangle of webbing. He groaned, and rolled off Liam. He lay flat on the floor, staring up at the glass ceiling for a moment.

Hasan had overheard Liam on the radio. In moments, he dropped through an open ceiling panel, katars in hand. Seeing the situation was under control, he put them away. He helped Liam to his feet.

"My head," Mik said weakly. "I... Liam, I nearly killed you."

"You ugly sonofabitch," Hasan said. "I thought you were dead."

"That would have been preferable," Mik replied. He didn't move off the floor.

"Mik," Liam said softly. "Msizi. I'm okay."

He reached down to help the Akunanse to his feet if he was willing, taking hold of one of his many arms. "It wasn't you. I know you would never hurt me."

"I take it you are aware the Tremere are down there," Mik said, accepting Liam's offer of help. "Why would you be here, otherwise?"

Liam nodded. He leaned in and embraced Mik, holding him tight, monstrous limbs and all. "We're aware."

"We're going to need another radio, Pockets."

Robyn must have taken out her earpiece. She could still be heard interviewing Gary, barely audible over the mic.

Pockets didn't respond, likely because she was attempting to take down her own target without raising an alarm.

Mik was taken aback by the gesture, and Liam got the impression that he hadn't been hugged very often. Nevertheless, he returned the embrace. He was quiet for a moment, then he looked from Liam to Hasan. "Just tell me how I can help."

"Positions and numbers would be a nice start," Hasan said.

"Thirty Redwatch quartered in the dorm apartments," Msizi replied. "Twenty Ghouls. Rotating shifts of five at the clinic and ten in the medical sciences building. That's not including the sniper teams at the clock tower and the clinic. There's a one-man nest on top of the high-rise as well." As he spoke, Hasan relayed the information over the radio.

"Make that a no-man nest," Pockets replied. "Never saw me comin'. Now what's this about a radio?"

“The clock tower and high rise have been dealt with. Jacob will handle the clinic. What’s that thing they’ve got under wraps in the stadium?” Liam asked.

As Pockets hailed them, Liam held his ear. “Hold on, I’ve got someone here who wants to say hello.”

Liam took out his earpiece and handed the device to Mik.

“If the auditorium is clear, I’ll pick up a spare from Pockets and get into position.”

"Artillery," Mik said to Liam's first question. "I'm not sure what they plan to use it for. As for the auditorium, I haven't seen anyone go in or out." He took the proffered radio, and fiddled for a moment with his earless head. He settled for holding it in place with one of his six hands. "Pockets, hey what's happening, kid? ...Ooh, the mouth on you!"

"Guess we should all get into position, huh?" Hasan said. He paused on his way out to put a hand on Liam's shoulder. He took his earpiece out for a moment. "I'm very glad you came tonight, Liam. I've lost... too many friends. I don't even want to think about what might have happened if you hadn't come along. I owe you one. Robyn, too." He slapped his back. "Now get the fuck on, we got work to do." He himself, however, stayed a moment with Mik.

Pockets was kneeling over the corpse of a recently beheaded sniper on the rooftop, safely concealed inside the camouflaged blind. Another fresh one. When Liam landed, he could see she was in fact booby-trapping his corpse. Effective, if not particularly classy. She didn't look up as he materialized.

"I wonder how many of our friends they did up like that," she muttered. "That I don't even know about."

“We’re going to release them,” Liam said firmly. “Them and everyone else. This is just the beginning.”

He looked down at the beheaded sniper. “Is it safe to pilfer from their kits?” He asked. “The one in the clocktower had some halfway decent firepower, but I don’t need anyone following us home tonight.”

'Anything they're carrying might be lojacked," Pockets said. She sniffled, and cleared her throat. Nothing like a technical question to help her dodge her feelings. "Including the boxes they come in. You make sure to run everything by me before you get even remotely close to home. Or our meeting spot. You'll be fine until they notice it's missing, but once the jig is up, assume you're being tracked."

She seemed satisfied with her work. She stood. "As much as I'd love to take this gear with me, I gotta travel light tonight. It's gonna be hard enough sneaking around with a sack fulla bombs. I'm sure you can sympathize." She took another radio out of the zip, and exchanged her own. She handed him the tested, working piece. "Whatever you don't take with you, consider destroying. They've got deep pockets, but they're not bottomless. Every way you can find to hurt them helps." To emphasize her point, she yanked the bolt on the sniper's rifle past the open position, bending the receiver.

Liam nodded and set the piece in his ear. Until he was certain, nothing was coming with him. "I'm heading back to the tower. You have everything you need?" he asked.

"Yeah, more or less," Pockets said, peering over the edge of the building. "Wish I could fly my ass down but beggars can't be choosy."

Back in the clock tower, Robyn and Gary were seated on the floor. She was in tears. Unlike Liam's erstwhile companion, she made no effort to conceal her tears. Gary looked ragged, but more present than he had before. He looked over to Liam. "Sorry I thought you were one of them," he said.

"Its okay," Liam said, taking a knee beside the pair. "Its not hard to see why you might think that."

He looked from Robyn to Gary and then held out his hand. "Liam," he said. "We'll have to do proper introductions later. Fireworks are about to start."

He glanced at Robyn next and smiled. "We found an old friend. He's himself again for the first time in a long time. I'll introduce you later, but if you should see someone out there with a few too many limbs hold your fire."

"Now I hate to wrap things up, but we should get into position."

"Well, he sounds interesting," Robyn said. "Can't be scarier than Nex. I've learned some things from Gary that we should discuss later. And something that I should discuss now." She wiped her eyes and put the radio back in her ear.

"The ghoul we liberated was a sniper with the 135th airborne out of Bishop AFB," Robyn said over the radio. Liam recognized the name as the air base about an hour's drive from Riverhead. "I'm not sure if you knew, but they've taken it over." This explained where the artillery came from.

"Better watch the skies, then," Jacob replied coolly. "Liam, if you see something that looks like an attack helicopter, be a lamb and shoot it out of the air. Is everyone in position?"

"I'm still humping my ass down the fire escape," Pockets said. "Hold your horses."

"We'll hold," Liam said, settling down behind Esme's sights. "Gary, I don't know if you're feeling up to it but the fifty cal is all yours if you feel like settling some grievances. We don't take any gear they can track when we leave though. Check your person."

"Gladly," Gary said. "I don't want none of this shit." He emptied his pockets of everything Robyn hadn't relieved him of. He ripped off the blue armband and tossed it to the ground. Robyn quietly pocketed it.

"Remember: don't give away your position unless Jacob needs help," Hasan said.

"All right, I'm here," Pockets said. "Let's do the thing."

"I'll be over here trying to meditate," Robyn said. "Try not to disturb me unless we're pulling out of here. Handing my radio to Mr. Cohen here." She tossed her earpiece to Gary, who quickly put it on and checked the mic.

"She's meditating now? Goddamn hippies," Hasan muttered.

"That's the wizard equivalent of reloading, I think," Pockets said helpfully.

"I'm ready," Jacob said. "Liam, on your mark."

"I'm ready," Liam said. He took a big breath, unnecessarily, and let it out slow. "Happy Canada Day."

"Lets start the show."

There was a silence that followed, hanging for a moment in the night air before it was broken by the heavy clank of metal greaves on pavement. Jacob tore out of the trees and raced across the road like a freight train, slamming into the APC with all his supernatural strength.

The ghoul in the turret nearly fell out as the massive vehicle skidded into the side of the building, taking two of the Redwatch with it. They smashed like bugs between the steel and glass. The third one, armed with a battle rifle, screamed and fumbled with his gun. Jacob ignored him for a moment, and kicked the fallen vampire's grenade launcher up into his hands. He fired two rounds into the sniper's nest as they were drawing a bead on him.

"Contact! Contact!" came a voice over the stolen Redwatch scanner. "They're hitting the clinic!"

The third man had managed to unsling his rifle, and emptied the magazine at Jacob. The bullets bounced harmlessly off his splendid Eversteel plates. The former prince merely waited patiently for him to finish. The panicked vampire ran out of bullets, and drew the flare gun from his belt. This had been what Jacob was waiting for.

The vampire levelled the flare gun at Jacob instead of up to the sky. The flare bounced off his armor before it had even begun to burn, clattering to the asphalt and sputtering weakly.

"Really?" Jacob said, and shot the vampire in the chest with a grenade. He then pried the APC off the building, and searched through the gore for another flare.

The ghoul in the turret had time to right himself, and pulled the charging handle on his mounted gun. By this time, Jacob had secured a flare gun. He hopped on the APC, and soccer kicked the ghoul's head clean off his shoulders. He then fired the flare into the night sky, and disappeared into the clinic.

The campus came alive with activity. A dozen Redwatch poured out of the high-rise. A few went to reinforce the medical sciences building, but most ran towards the clinic.

Inside Teasdale hall, it appeared as though patrols were moving to the northeast side of the building. Many windows opened on that side of the building, and Liam spied barrels resting on the windowsills. No fire from the building yet.

"Making our run now," Pockets said over the radio. A moment later, Liam could see her run out of the trees and across the open yard. "Uhh, fuck. They've got obfuscation warding up."

A black streak shot out of the trees behind her. Hasan didn't need obfuscation to move like smoke.

Gary cleared his throat, and glanced over to Liam. "Should we open fire?" he asked. They had a clear shot on at least nine Redwatch, who were out of cover and moving across the park near the fountain.

"They've breached our position," a frantic voice said on the scanner. Liam could hear automatic fire coming from the building, as well as over the radio. "Oh fuck! He's-"

Outside the clinic, the Redwatch were forming a firing line in the parking lot. Gangrel scouts had touched down as well. They assembled in the bushes by the wrecked entrance, preparing an ambush.

"Reinforcements are on their way," came a voice on the radio. "ETA 5 minutes."

There was a tense pause in the action as gunfire ceased inside the clinic. There was nothing but the crackling of fire from the burning sniper's nest.

"Charge set," Pockets said. "Three to go."

Then, a minute later. "Bunker buster is armed. I'm going for the mooks."

More silence.

"That's two," Pockets said.

Liam could see Jacob emerging on the rooftop long before the troops below had a chance. It was only when he got to the edge that they spied him. There was a shout, and a hail of automatic fire. A grenade whistled past Jacob's head. He fired four grenades of his own, taking out most of the Redwatch firing line. He unslung his m60, and mopped up the survivors.

"This is Gruber," an accented voice said over the scanner. "They're getting slaughtered out there. Permission to engage." The troops garrisoned in Teasdale Hall were itching to join the fight.

"Negative," came the reply. "Don't give away your position. Reinforcements are about to arrive."

The gun barrels in the windows retreated a little. They were forced to wait.

Liam heard the telltale roar of diesel engines coming down University Avenue from the north. A troop truck and another APC were barreling their way over to help. It looked like the APC had a large-bore cannon mounted to it. That might be trouble for Jacob.

“Not yet,” Liam informed Gary. Jacob was just getting warmed up.

“Redwatch inside Teasdale Hall being told to hold position. You’ve got a troop transport and an APC with a heavy cannon headed your way down University Avenue, Jacob. I’ll keep an eye.”

“Reinforcements expected in five minutes. I’m guessing it’s that chopper.”

Liam continued his sweep, holding back for the moment.

"More will come," Jacob said. "I'll try and encourage them to consider backup."

The APC rolled into the parking lot of the administration building - perilously close to Robyn's car - and the troop truck pulled in tight behind it. They used the tank's armoured body as a shield and both unloaded in its cover. These kindred were in full tactical gear, all emblazoned with the Redwatch's crest. The APC turret gunner meanwhile was levelling the cannon at the Clinic roof.

Jacob was crouched behind the large cooling unit, sending frequent vollies towards the APC. Most of the shots connected with the armour plating, which held up admirably. The Redwatch were good and interested in his diversion.

The troops assembled in a tight cluster for a moment, as they discussed tactics and loaded their weapons; what appeared to be up-barreled SCARs. Liam's sharp eyes were able to make out the telltale red banding of High Explosive .50 calibre ammunition in their magazines. Even Jacob's impressive armour - or Liam's own impressive defenses - would balk at a volley of that. They were close enough - and carrying enough explosives of their own - that one of Liam's HE rounds would take out the whole kit and kaboodle. If he didn't aim carefully, it would also take out the police cruiser, and poor Caleb would go hungry again. Also, they'd lose a valuable disguise.

"Sniper teams, load up APs and prepare to provide cover fire," came a squawk on the radio. "Time to light this fucker up. On my mark."

Meanwhile, Gary was watching the Medical Arts building. He was watching Pockets set a bomb in a glass-walled laboratory through the window. His rifle was propped up vertically on the gunrest, and he was busy affixing a large suppressor to its massive barrel.

"I woke up all the mooks I could," Hasan said over the radio. "Some of 'em won't budge, but those of us that can walk are carrying some of those that can't up to the truck. I did what I could, but there are a lot of people too cut up to move, and we're out of time. How are those incendiaries coming, Pockets?"

"Uhh, Pockets," Gary said. "You got a tango coming up on your three o'clock. Hallway, approximately twenty metr- You have another tango coming up behind you, west window bay. I need about twelve seconds to engage, and you got six."

Pockets moved underneath the lab cupboards, and out of view. The two Redwatch were indeed converging on that corner of the building. While she was hidden, the bomb was in plain view.

"I got the one to the East," she said.

Gary frantically worked faster on the suppressor.

“What I wouldn’t give for a grenade right now,” Liam grumbled.

“Alright, Gary, you’ve got Pockets. That tactical team is packing high explosive rounds. I’m going to light them up while they’re huddled together and give the rest of them something to look at,” Liam said, chambering one of the massive HE rounds.

Liam placed the shot exactly where it needed to go. The night sky lit up as the small explosion set off the group's explosive payloads in a quick staccato ripple of retorts. The ATV was flipped on to its back, and the troop truck - which had boxed in Robyn's car - was blown forward and clear.

"Good shot, man!" Jacob exclaimed.

"That came from the Clock tower! The Assamite must be there," said Gruber over the scanner.

"Not for long," came a reply.

The massive fireball even distracted the two sentries near Pockets. The explosion provided enough noise cover for her to messily dispatch the sentry by leaping through the glass and laying into him with both her katars. The western sentry turned, and only managed to catch a glimpse of his comrade's fate before Gary sent the first round through his head. The sentry was tougher than he looked, and it took a second shot to send him crumbling to ash.

She quickly finished and hid the third demolition charge, and made her way down the hall. "That's three," she said.

The freed civilians had managed to find the troop truck, and were beginning to pile inside. The sentries garrisoned inside the building were momentarily distracted, but they'd need to continue being so if the civilians were to remain undetected.

There was a distant sound of chopper blades, growing rapidly louder. Another convoy of reinforcements was speeding in from the North, on Tilton road.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:37, Fri 03 July 2020.

"Thanks," Liam replied, turning his attention towards the inbound convoy next. "We've got an gunship inbound," he said, though the roar of the chopper blades could presumably be heard by everyone now. "I'm going to see if I can pile up this convoy on Tilton," he said, chambering a heavy round and taking aim at the lead vehicle's engine block.

"Gary, keep an eye on those windows. If anyone looks itchy, give them a reason to think twice about opening fire."

Esme's rapport sounded like an artillery shell in Liam's ear. In truth they weren't ultimately that different. Unfortunately he misjudged the range and the asphalt exploded ahead of the lead vehicle sending a rain of shrapnel into the air that clattered harmlessly across the vehicle's armored chasis.

These are tricky shots! Missed. Not a botch.

11:11, Today: Liam O'Farrell failed (2 failures) using 12d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed, Specialised system with a target of 9, rerolling 10s.  Dex + Firearms.

"Shit!" came a voice on the scanner. The troop truck leading the convoy swerved to avoid the pothole in the road. The APC behind it narrowly missed collision, and fired a hasty retort from its cannon up at the clocktower.

Robyn and Gary dove to the ground as the shell exploded on the side of the brick tower. The structure was fairly modern, and thus not particularly resilient. There was now a large window in the northeast corner.

Unable to safely disembark in the administrative parking lot, the convoy split up. The troop transports circled around the north side of the clinic to unload to the east - well out of sight of the clock tower. The ATV meanwhile parked near the west side of the building. The troops inside shot at the clock tower through the vehicle's gunports, their explosive payload further destroying Liam's cover, and ensuring that it would be next to impossible to steady an accurate shot in that direction. The troops garrisoned in the Teasdale building soon followed suit.

Gary sprang to his feet, returning fire at the medical arts building. "We better think about bugging ou-" his words were cut off along with the upper half of his body as a streak of white hot depleted uranium tore through the side of the clock tower like tissue paper. What little structural integrity remained had been wiped out by the helicopter's heavy vulcan, and the whole structure began to groan.

Robyn crawled quickly to the ladder, already making her way down. The chopper was close enough to spot now, even against the black sky. It reared back suddenly, stopping its approach. It hovered, making itself as still as possible while it locked on a missile. Liam wouldn't get another shot like this.

Jacob leapt from the clinic roof, and charged towards the APC. He stumbled as several explosive shots pounded against his armor. The Gangrel waiting in the bushes charged after him, coming up on his rear. The Redwatch on the vehicle's turret attempted to fire, but fell limp in a cloud of red mist as a bullet struck him from the south.

"Northwest corner is too hot," Pockets said. "I'm arming the last bomb, and I'm gonna throw it. Liam, get ready with the detonator."

"I need two more minutes, Pockets," Hasan said. Liam could see him emerging from the building, carrying a limp naked form under each arm and a third across his shoulders.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Fri 03 July 2020.

"Fucking hell," Liam spat as Gary was literally torn apart beside him along with the roof of the clocktower. Falling prone amidst the wreckage he chambered a second HE round and took aim at the cockpit. "Hold still one more second you miserable bastard," he muttered.

12:20, Today: Liam O'Farrell rolled 2 successes using 12d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed, Specialised system with a target of 9, rerolling 10s with rolls of 9,9,8,2,1,4,4,1,9,8,9,7.  Dex + Firearms + WP.

The explosive round tore into the vehicle's tail. The chopper spun around, tracing circles of smoke and flame in the night sky. It careened into the side of the high-rise building. Its explosive payload caught in the impact, a second explosion rocked the earth, and sent a hail of shrapnel through the streets.

Jacob, meanwhile, had slammed into the second ATV, knocking it over on to its side. He leapt up, and brought his full weight down upon it, smashing the vehicle like a tin can, along with its occupants. He didn't have time to turn before seven Gangrel fell upon him, tearing at his armor with their claws. Mik fired two shots, and suddenly there were five.

"Need to change position," Mik said. "Hold on, Jacob."

"Bomb is hot," Pockets said. "Liam, get ready."

"Hasan?" Liam called into the radio. Two minutes was a long time. Liam knelt and stuffed his shirt into his ammo bag along with Wilkin's armband. His shoes were... well, they were nowhere to be found. As an after thought he clipped the scanner to his belt. "I'm arming the detonator and dropping down. Call it out when you're clear, Pockets."

With Esme slung across his shoulder he bolted for the gaping hole in the side of the clocktower and dropped down, crashing to the ground with only the slightest wince.

-2 BP for legs. Liam takes 1 bashing damage. I'll heal that immediately.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Fri 03 July 2020.

Hasan didn't respond, as he was currently behind the wheel of the troop truck and attempting to hotwire it.

Jacob was valiantly fighting the pack of Gangrel. He grabbed one by the throat, and slammed him into the ground, shattering the asphalt beneath him along with many of the Gangrel's bones. He kicked another in the chest, which sent the vampire flying into the side of the clinic. The poor fledgling was impaled on a twisted piece of girder. The remaining three Gangrel had managed to tear the back plate of Jacob's armor off, and they threw it to the ground.

The ruined clock tower was casting a shadow in the moonlight. As Liam landed, the shadow shifted position and grew significantly darker, until the approach from the fire door to the police cruiser was completely ensconced in darkness. "No witnesses," Robyn said over the radio. "Or our disguise is burned."

The twenty-strong contingent of reinforcements had assembled and loaded up. They were moving around the side of the clinic, advancing on Jacob's position. The Gangrel were effectively in their way, and they held their fire as they closed.

Liam could see Pockets run down the northern hallway through the glass. She charged into the Tremere's garrison. There was a flash of bright blue light, followed by a hail of gunfire. She tossed the bomb into the corner, and dove through a window in the northeast corner, landing in a heap quite near the troop truck.

"Oh god, it hurts," Pockets wheezed. "S-something's wrong."

The troop truck had a clear escape to the south. However, Hasan wasn't about to leave Pockets to die. He sped towards her, leaning out to scoop her into the cab as he drove northward. "Blow it!" he shouted over the radio.

"It's a bomb!" Gruber said over the radio. "Everyone, get out!" One of the vampires leapt from the north-side window. More were following.

"They aren't going to be watching me," Liam assured. He thumbed the detonator and the world turned upside down.

Under the cover of the chaos that followed, Liam disappeared from view.

Figure this is the appropriate moment for the description of the explosion but Liam will toss Esme into the back of the cruiser and grab one of Robyn's neato sidearms if available.

The first blast sent fuel through the building's ventilation system, which ignited mere seconds later in a massive concussion that shattered the windows of any adjacent buildings that had somehow miraculously survived the night. Everyone in the vicinity was thrown to their feet, Liam included. The blast cracked the entire structure open, and the shaped charges at the corner then sent a wave of burning napalm through the building's broken interior. The charge on the northeast corner, which Pockets had only had time to toss, also sent a generous portion of napalm our into the streets. There were no screams. There was only rubble, and a fire that burned higher than the apartments.

The explosion had given Hasan the distraction he needed to speed away. There were only a few pot-shots taken at the vehicle before his powers returned and he disappeared the truck from view. From what Liam saw, none of them had managed to land.

"They're escaping in one of our deuces," came a voice on the scanner.

"Find it. Track it. Do not let them escape," came a reply.

"Pockets?" Hasan said over Liam's earpiece. "Hey girl, wake up. Jesus, those are just plain ol' bullets. Quit screwing around. I need your help."

Pockets did not reply.

It was difficult to see inside the shadows, even with his night vision activated. It took him longer than expected to place the rifle in the trunk, and take one of Robyn's shotguns with him. He was just barely able to make out Robyn in the darkness. She had raised her Tommy gun and had fired a volley into the Gangrel piling on Jacob.

It sounded more like the buzzing of an angry bee than the Chicago Typewriter Liam was intimately acquainted with. In fact, the gun itself was making no sound at all save for the whizzing of the bullets, which were bathed in a sparkly green muzzle flare.

Her grouping was fairly impressive for an automatic weapon. She zeroed in on one of the Gangrel, who broke off from Jacob and charged towards his unseen assailant in the shadows. A couple bullets didn't seem to slow him down, but a couple dozen was enough to bring his short unlife to a messy end. Robyn didn't let up on the trigger, and merely swept the muzzle like a fire hose towards the two remaining targets.

The troops, meanwhile, had given up trying to save their Gangrel comrades. They opened fire on Jacob, though they mostly connected with their teammates. The assault from two fronts was enough for Jacob to break free, smash the two remaining Gangrel's heads together, and dive behind the flattened APC.

Mik charged from the far side of the stadium, flanking the southern detachment of troops. His six claws tore through five of them like a scythe through wheat.

The hair on Liam's neck stood up, and he turned to spy the Tremere who had escaped the building moments before the blast. He was preparing some sort of spell, and was training it squarely at Jacob.

"Oh no you don't..." Liam growled. Pivoting on his hind foot he launched himself out of the shadows and landed on the Tremere blood mage with the full fury of his claws.

-1 WP
Using last Luck Point
7 Aggro
This message was last edited by the player at 22:00, Fri 03 July 2020.

Liam's claws split the Tremere in two down the middle. There was only a moment for him to register surprise on his face before he crumbled into dust. The swirling magical energy building around him dissipated into a fizzle.

The southern line of troops was broken and routed. Mik carved down three more, and the surviving two opened fire on him. Jacob and Robyn, meanwhile, were laying down fire on the northern front. Seven opposing troops remained.

"What the fuck is happening over there?" said a voice on the scanner.

"Teasdale is gone," came a voice on the scanner. "They blew it up."

"My God," the first voice said. There was a pause. "Anyone left, hold them there. Don't let any more of them leave, no matter the cost. Payback's coming."

Liam heard the engines of a third convoy coming south on Tilton road. However, this convoy stopped well outside the action. They merely waited.

The troops to the north broke cover and charged. They were sitting ducks out in the open.

Liam took in the scene at a glance. Mik was moments away from moping up the dregs of the southern flank, which was a small mercy seeing as moments was likely all they had left.

"They're being ordered to pin us down at all costs," he barked into his ear piece. "We've got to get the fuck out of here. Jacob, throw me your backplate. I'll draw their fire. Do not fucking miss."

Jacob nodded, kicking the backplate towards Liam. Robyn fired one last volley, and ran toward the car. Jacob rested the barrel of the m60 on the side of his barricade, and shot until the gun ran dry. Three remained.

The shadows around Robyn's car darted suddenly, forming a dark wall to the north. Hidden from the convoy, she swung around, screeching to a halt by Liam. "Get in."

Meanwhile, Mik had slain the last of the southern contingent, and was training two of their own guns on the remaining Redwatch. He was in rough shape. There was a massive hole in the side of his abdomen, and one of his arms had been blown completely off.

"Jacob!" Liam lobbed the arcane shotgun over the roof of the car towards the one time prince as he piled inside. "Make it count!"

"Go, go, go!" he said to Robyn. The two of them had done all they could. Now he had to keep his promise to Jack.

"Uh uh, fuck that," Robyn said. She turned hard into the parking lot.

Jacob fired the shotgun, which blew a huge gout of flame towards the remaining Redwatch. It hit one square in the chest. The vampire screamed for an instant before he was reduced to ash. The other two didn't survive the volley of explosive ammo.

Robyn squealed to a stop by Jacob. "Get in the back, asshole. You too, creepy."

Jacob staggered into the back, and Mik crammed in beside him. Robyn didn't wait for the door to be closed before she gunned the engine, streaking away to the east. Another gesture, and the windows went black as shadows wrapped around the cruiser.

She didn't drive far, but judging from her steering she had no trouble seeing through her own spell. The roaring of the engine was drowned out by the shrieking of jet engines and the heavy drumming of cluster bombs going off entirely to close for comfort. The car lurched forward, and the tires squealed. Robyn cried out, righted the car, and made a quick turn.

She slowed to a stop, turned off the engine, and the shadows melted away. She was silent; her face blank and her eyes wide.

They were parked in an alleyway between the university gym and the pool. In the distance they could see the wreckage of their battleground. The administrative building and clinic were completely gone.

"Find them," the voice on the scanner said. "Wake everyone. And get that fire put out. Maybe there are survivors."

Jacob groaned, and righted himself in the backseat. Mik slipped out of the car. He threw the rifles to the ground. There was a moment of silence.

Jacob was the first to speak. "We did it."

Liam was rigid in his seat. He was still holding tight to Jacob's back plate in one hand, all but forgotten in his grasp. The Redwatch radio barked in his other. He turned to look at Robyn.

"Holy hell, you can drive," he said at last. "Are you okay?"

"Gimme a minute," Robyn said tersely. Her entire body was clenched.

Jacob looked at the shotgun still clenched in his hand. It was smouldering, and several holes had been eaten through the barrel. "I don't think this is any good anymore," he said, and threw it out the window.

"Anything that's theirs, we should leave," Mik suggested.

Jacob pulled a handful of armbands from his belt. Trophies. One by one, he pried tiny chips from underneath the rank patch with his fang. He spat them into the alley.

Liam nodded. In the end he'd taken only the scanner and the armband, and Robyn had taken the blue one off of Gary. He removed the battery from the former and then crushed the device in his grasp, sprinkling the fragments across the alley from the open window of the car. Seeing what Jacob had done with the armbands he'd taken, Liam did the same and stuffed the cloth into his bag. As he parted the flap he realised he'd pocketed something else. Handing the battered eversteel plate to Jacob he reached down and pulled up the bottle of Jack's famous bourbon.

"It'd be a shame to leave this," Liam said quietly. He pulled out the stopper and took a generous slug before offering the bottle backwards. "Drink?"

"Yes please," Jacob said, and took an eager swig from the bottle. He passed it through the open door to Mik.

"I think I got the lojack off," Hasan said. "That, or this thing isn't gonna start back up. The whole town is going apeshit, though. We'd better meet somewhere outside the city."

The town was indeed waking up. People were beginning to mill out of buildings, on the prowl for anything out of the ordinary.

"The pitstop on the logging road leading up to the bunker," Jacob replied. "Let's meet there."

"I want to feel the wind on my face again," Mik said. He tried his best to navigate the bottle without lips. He only spilled a little. "Plus, I can hide better out here than in your backseat." He passed the bottle to Liam.

"It'll be easier if I just keep my head down," Jacob said. "If they see me, they'll recognize me. They've all memorized my face."

Robyn said nothing. She merely put the car into drive, and started to move. Mik's door closed itself.

"Well, see you there, then," Mik said with a shrug.

Liam waved at Mik through the window and watched until he disappeared. "Robyn?" he said softly. "I need Gary's band. If there's a chip in it, it needs to come out."

Robyn said nothing for a moment. "Right cargo pocket," she managed after a moment. Liam wasn't sure if she could let go of the steering wheel. After a few moments, she added. "Um, what bunker?"

"Forgive me, of course," Jacob said. "I'll direct you down what should be the quietest route."

Quietest did not mean quiet. The streets were now full of mooks brandishing flashlights, and armed with cheap revolvers, camping knives and all manner of threatening lawn implements. They were staying well apart, but each one was engaged in a frantic search. They even shone their lights into the police car. As soon as they saw Liam's armband, however, their eyes glided right off.

Meanwhile, the streets were full of Redwatch in police cars, all of them moving slowly and searching. Fire trucks and reinforcements soed towards the college grounds. Another attack helicopter, the police choppers, and even the local traffic copter had all joined in the search.

Jacob chuckled. "Oh, they are *furious*."

"I'm... Gonna be a while," Hasan said. "Driving a completely invisible two-and-a-half tonner through slow moving traffic is exactly as fun as it sounds."

Tears streamed down Robyn's face as she witnessed her friends and neighbours shamble mindlessly in search of her blood. It was a tense and quiet drive to the rendezvous, although the mood eased somewhat as the crowds thinned out.

They were well out of the city proper, at a small paved shoulder off the side of the logging road. A lone streetlamp stood, and Mik had already snuffed out its light.

As they exited the car, Robyn lingered. "I'm gonna sit here for a bit," she said. "Maybe have a couple panic attacks. You go wait for Pockets."

Liam nodded. He stepped out of the car and rummaged in the trunk for his belongings. He felt just about as raw as Robyn looked and he was thankful to find his pack of cigarettes without too much hunting about. Everything went into two neat piles - one belonging to him, and the other to Hasan. Esme had come out of the night unscratched, which was more than could be said of Liam. Or Jacob. Or Mik. He looked up at the other two once he'd repacked and stowed his kit. Liam was wearing his old shoes again and a grubby t-shirt. They suited him much better than the fancy number he'd ruined in the clocktower.

"If we're going to be a bit, do either of you feel like helping me do some digging? I left something by the entrance to the bunker. Someone."

"Might need a hand carrying him out if I can't rouse him."

"If you're going all that way, it'd be me," Mik said. "No offense, Jacob, but I can move faster than you."

"It's fine," Jacob said. "Ms. Rowe and I need to have our talk, anyway."

The bunker had been filled in and buried. Very little remained to stir up bad memories. Or good ones, for that matter. Now where had he left him?

[Roll per+survival, DC 9]

Taking an auto on this one if allowed, die pool of 9

Liam glanced about beneath the shadows of the trees, the moonlight filtering in softly. "This way he said," finding his bearings after a moment.

There was little to suggest that anything might have been buried where he'd left Tyr. A decade of wind, rainfall and plant growth had turned the raw earth into just another patch of the quilt work of the forest floor. But Liam remembered.

Using his claws like spades he set to work excavating the stone goliath trapped in slumber below.

Tyr was exactly as Liam had left him, minus the severe wounds the Tremere had inflicted. He was stiff and motionless in the ground, but fortunately for Liam, Mik was an accomplished burrower. They had completely uncovered him in a matter of minutes.

"I... don't think we should wake him," Mik said after a moment. "I don't know about you, but I don't have enough blood on hand to sate this big guy's feeding frenzy. We can carry him back with us tonight if you like. We might be a little late for the rendezvous, though. Or we can cover him back up and come back here another night."

Liam shook his head. "He'd drain me dry on a good night," he replied. "The only people I trust to wake him are Hasan and Jacob. Lets carry him back. Hasan will still be a while."

It helped that with all the blood surging through his muscles Liam could actually get a pretty good hold on Tyr this evening, and with Mik to help him he had no concerns. If anyone could portage a ton of living granite out of the forest in double time, it was the two of them.

Liam's strength is 11 at the moment. He can lift 2000 lbs.

Even between the two of them, it was still a much longer walk back than it was a flight. By the time they had arrived, Hasan was already on the scene. The first thing Liam noticed was that everyone was in a state of undress. Robyn and Hasan were in their skivvies, and Jacob appeared to be completely stripped beneath his damaged armor. Some of the refugees still huddled in the truck, but many were taking the time to stretch their legs, wearing very little clothing, all donated from the others. Including Liam's new clothes from the trunk.

Pockets was laid out near the deuce, with Robyn knelt beside her. Hasan and Jacob were conversing, and were the first to notice Liam's return.

"There you are," Hasan said. He pulled them both,one by one, into an embrace. "I'm glad to see you both made it out alive." He looked upon the face of the sleeping giant. "Liam, you have a talent for digging up ghosts, my friend."

"Excuse me," Mik said. "I did most of the actual digging, thank you. But Liam knew where to look, so credit where credit is due."

Hasan sighed. "Maybe this'll be enough to bring Trent back home."

"It helps if you were the one who buried them," Liam said looking down at Tyr. Hasan had a point though. Old ghosts had a way of following Liam around.

"I got there as they were leaving the bunker. The Tremere dumped Tyr inside to burn. As soon as it was clear I climbed down inside to get him, and let me tell you getting him up that ladder was no treat."

"I couldn't get him out of the woods before dawn, so I did the next best thing and buried him. I figured they'd be watching to see if any of us came back so I let it lie. Ten years seems like long enough."

"I think we have just enough reserves from the last bloodmobile heist to get him on his feet," Jacob said.

"We'll take him with us after we drop off these guys," Hasan said, jabbing his thumb in the direction of the truck. He looked down at the city below, swarming with activity. "Might take us a couple of days to get back to the hideout though."

“I’ll trust he’ll be in good hands,” Liam said, turning to look as well. “What is the plan for them?” he asked, nodding towards the emancipated persons mulling around the transport. “It’s not safe for them to go back.”

"Uh, good question," Hasan said. "And the best of luck as you figure it out. It was Ms. Bossy Britches' idea to free them, so I fit that into the category of things that aren't my problem."

"I'll talk to Robyn," Liam said, glancing in her direction. After a moment he started that way and dropped to a knee close beside her, looking over Pockets with concern. Liam said nothing at all at first, simply watching Robyn work.

Robyn seemed uncomfortable working with an audience. She took a deep breath as Liam knelt near her.

"She's bad," Robyn said. "I've learned a lot about vampire physiology in my work, and none of what I'm seeing makes sense. These bulletholes should be closing right up. They're just... Not. I can't get much of a read on her, either. I think what we're looking at here is some kind of binding curse. Christ, what I wouldn't give to have Maeve around right now." She looked up at Liam. "I can't do much about stopping the blood flow besides keep pluggin' em with tampons. And I'm running out. What she really needs is a surgeon."

“Well,” Liam said after a few moments, his face lined with concern. “I only know one surgeon. Good news is he’s the best there is.”

Bad news was he liked his privacy and had a standing army at his beck and call to guarantee it.

“If he’s going to open his doors for anyone in the city it’s probably me.” This was a big IF, Liam realized. “Good thing he likes a challenge.”

“Feel like one last drive tonight?”

The Iron Graveyard was likely the only place in the city that was not crawling with mooks at the moment.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:49, Sat 04 July 2020.

"Looks like we are going home tonight," Hasan said. "We are far safer driving around the city and leaving the cop car up on the ridge. If you don't want to get shot on sight, that is. The Redwatch barely patrol there, between us and Corr. Not worth the resources. But it also means that disguise is a liability."

"I doubt I'm getting my uniform back tonight anyway," Robyn said.

"I'll stay here and protect these people 'til you get back," Mik said. "I don't know how happy they'll be to see me, but maybe I can knit a few ponchos as an icebreaker."

Robyn stood, and stretched her back. "All right, I think I figured out how to get us all to fit. You three, give me a hand with Magilla Gorilla here. Liam, please give Pockets a couple pints. We've all pitched in, and I don't want to know what happens if she goes torpid like this."

“I’d rather not find out,” Liam said, opening a vein on his wrist with his fang and holding it to Pockets’ lips. He was prepared to give two pints and more - whatever was necessary to get her to Corr’s ‘alive’, so long as he still had the strength to carry her there. As soon as this was done he offered whatever assistance Hasan needed in moving Tyr.

“Everyone ready?” He asked.

"As we'll ever be," Robyn said. They had tied Tyr to the roof of the cruiser. Hasan saw to it that nobody caught the spectacle, and they had very little in the way of traffic on the logging road that wound up Taben's Ridge. Then an alarmingly steep descent down the old access road for what had once been Verdant Falls' booming industrial sector. The Keisinger administration had not been kind to this part of town. Then again, this part of town had not been kind to him. It stood now as a monument to the resistance. The broken ribcage from which he had torn the beating heart of the First Rebellion.

As Liam's gaze inevitably fell upon the old mining facility, its silhouette shifted in the dark. Then swelled. Then sprouted ghastly, gigantic arms. They truly nb nnu were waking everyone.

"Huh," Robyn said as she drove. "How 'bout that?"

Liam left his bolt action pistol with Mik before leaving. He was not about to stroll into Valcius Corr's facility armed, and Mik might have need of it if he intended to stay behind and protect the people they had freed.

Its not much, but Liam had 6x 30.06 Winchester special rounds and 2 incendiaries. Mik could blow quite a hole into something with that.

The Iron Graveyard looked much the same as when they had toured it earlier that evening - that was until they reached the Peters-Marsden facility. Liam had seen the creature that dwelled in the deepest reaches of the mines before. He had reached out and touched its chitinous carapace replete with spines as Chianna had gazed on with what could only be viewed as love. But always before he had seen it slumbering. Its potential. To see it now walking upon the ground was to realise a nightmare made flesh.

He watched it in silence for a few moments before his mind wandered to frightful conclusions.

"You know..." he said slowly. "One squirt from this bottle and that thing doesn't belong to Keisinger anymore."

"It doesn't belong.... to anyone."

"Something that big, you'd need a bit more than a squirt," Robyn said. "Maybe a litre."

"I think our chances of getting preemptively shot by one of Corr's patrols has slimmed down to none," Hasan said. "Better just to drive on."

They parked the car under cover in a rusted out machine shop, and they prepared to part ways. One of Corr's old entrances was a short walk away. Jacob and Hasan were looking as ragged as Liam, but they were both smiling. The weight of what they'd accomplished was beginning to set in.

"Well, Liam, good first night back, if I don't say so myself," Hasan said. "Nice meeting you, Robyn."

"Yeah," Liam replied. "No kidding. I'll hold off celebrating until Pockets is patched up though. You two can manage Tyr from here?"

"We can," Jacob said. "Not sure how happy he'll be to see us, so we might sleep on it first."

"Let me know when you're home safe," Hasan said to Liam. "You know how to reach me."

"Goodnight you two," Robyn said. "I won't say it was nice meeting you, because it wasn't. Let's hope the next time's better."

With that, they disappeared into the night. The three of them were alone. They strode toward Corr's place under cover of the urban decay. The massive vozhd would be difficult to outrun, but it was exceptionally easy to avoid.

"So, uh, I'm guessing this doctor friend of yours isn't licensed." Robyn said as they walked.

"No," Liam replied with a shake of his head. Pockets felt like a doll draped across his arms, her weight almost negligible. The last time he had showed up at Corr's door in the dead of night with a patient in critical condition it had been Rick, and it was months before Rick left these walls again.

"We should probably go over the ground rules. Doctor Corr has sole dominion within his facility. There's a reason why Keisinger's reach ends at his doors."

"Be polite. I'd say that this goes without saying, but you'd be surprised how many people need to hear it said. You needn't be obsequious but remember we are in his house."

"Always assume you are being watched, because you are. We're probably being watched right now."

"Doctor Corr is not a philanthropist and believe me when I say that he does not need the money. He will not take just any patient. He likes interesting patients. He does not care for Vampires in particular, but he likes working on us," he said, thinking back to Sophie with no small amount of regret. "If I don't get turned back at the door I'm fairly certain he'll take Pockets, and if we're lucky he'll take her on for the intellectual pursuit alone. That's the best case."

"Sounds like a fun guy," Robyn said. "Now let me be clear. We're only going to this guy for a patch job. If anyone is tinkering with her metaphysics, it's gonna be me."

They stopped in front of a graffiti-tagged section of an incomplete overpass. One of Corr's many entrances. Some new ones doubtlessly existed, and some old ones may be closed off, but they were all of them watched.

There was no noise save for the stamping and groaning of the massive hulk as it stepped through the iron graveyard. Its underside was covered in scales and eyes. It was far enough away that it wasn't a threat, though Liam had no idea how quickly it could move.

"For fuck's sake, O'Farrell," a mechanically disguised voice said. A floating face appeared out of nowhere as the woman lifted her visor. Liam recognized her as Crowe, one of Corr's elite footsoldiers. She looked a little older and a great deal more grizzled. "What did you do?"

“Hey, how do you know it was us?” Liam asked in deadpan defensiveness. After a moment his facade broke and he lapsed into a grin. “Okay, obviously it was us. Somehow or other I always get talked into these things.”

“We blew up their main research facility at the university. Along with most of their top researchers. The blood stockpile. A hefty portion of their garrison. Oh, and a helicopter! That’s going to be hard to replace.”

“They’re going to be cleaning up for weeks, and the hit to their knowledge base will put them back months if not longer.”

"And here I am with my thumb up my ass half the time," Crowe said, shaking her head. "Remind me never to piss you off." She looked Robyn over, and smiled. "That doesn't explain why she's in her underwear."

"I gave my pants to a naked old man," Robyn said matter-of-factly.

Crowe laughed, and pulled her visor back down. "Go on in," she said. The concrete wall parted, revealing a large elevator. A gurney was waiting for them when they arrived. As was the good Doctor.

"Good evening, Mr. O'Farrell," Dr. Corr said. "Keeping well?"

“Good evening to you as well, Dr. Corr. I’m as well as one can hope for after an eventful evening,” Liam answered truthfully If somewhat mildly. “Certainly nothing that a couple of nights sleep won’t cure me from.”

“My friend here was less fortunate. She took a burst from some unusual munitions. Since then she’s been bleeding freely, and we’ve had to top her off repeatedly.”

He glanced at Robyn briefly before turning back to Corr. “If we don’t stem the source, it will hardly matter what else is afflicting her and this is well beyond my limited field medic ability. Could you please help her, Doctor?”

"You want me to sow her bulletholes," Corr said, unimpressed. He typed on a tablet as he spoke. "You do realize this is like asking Da Vinci for help painting your deck. I trust these unusual munitions belong to the Tremere?" As they loaded Pockets on the gurney, he looked Robyn over.

"I don't know you," he said.

"Robyn Rowe," Robyn replied, offering her hand. They were covered in Pockets' blood. She put it down again.

"Well, Ms. Rowe," said Dr. Corr. "We have a strict dress code in this facility. You'll have to put on some clothes."

He held the tablet over Pockets, and the display showed various indecipherable readings and bits of information. "Now Mr. O'Farrell, tell me everything you know about what hit her."

"They are Tremere rounds," Liam confirmed. "I had a very limited view of the exchange. Pockets felt unwell at once and lost consciousness shortly afterwards. She was the only one of us to sustain such an injury."

"I'm afraid I don't know much else. Robyn has been labouring to keep her alive since we reconvened and realised that Pockets was seemingly unable to heal the wounds of her own accord."

"Mm," Corr said, not really listening. "There's nothing to suggest that there's anything out of the ordinary about these wounds. The problem is her. There is something preventing her innate deviant abilities from manifesting. If you leave her with me, I can do my best to determine the cause."

"We're really just looking for help with closing the physical wounds," Robyn said. Corr gave her a withering stare.

"Well, I suppose I should be flattered you chose me over a red hot poker," Corr said dryly. "So you've come to me asking for help that is beneath my ability, meanwhile presenting me with a medical mystery you do not wish me to solve. The question I would pose to you is: if you're going to insult me, then why should I help?"

Liam took a deep breath. In theory he'd found himself in tighter spots this night already, but at the moment the room seemed very narrow and the air seemed awfully thin, even for someone who did not have need of it.

He thought about asking Robyn for a moment alone, but it hardly mattered. There was no such thing as alone in Corr's facility. Even if he thought he was playing his cards close to his breast he may as well have been playing them with an open hand on the table.

As he spoke he looked from Valcius to Robyn and back again.

"I did not come here to insult you, Doctor Corr, and I apologise if I have. I came to save Pockets and that remains my primary, vested interest. I came because you are the best and only hope she has to survive the night," he continued, looking at Robyn though he was ostensibly addressing the good Doctor.

"Ms. Rowe is protective of Pockets," he said, now looking back at Valcius and feeling the need to come to Robyn's defence. "She is a gifted healer in her own right, though perhaps not with a scalpel or cautery. I walked out of a fire yesterday that ought to have killed me and she put me back together. She knows Vampire physiology and she also can't make sense of what's happened here." Liam waved at Pockets as she lay ashen and still.

"Robyn is equally keen to solve the mystery. Truly you would do better to ask her about the injuries Pockets sustained than me."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:11, Sun 05 July 2020.

Corr looked at Liam in the same way a parent might address a stubborn child. "I am well aware of Ms. Rowe's 'gifts'," he said. "But I do not collaborate with dabblers. The patient stays with me. I will cure her, and release her when I have completed my analyses. Those are my terms."

That was enough for Robyn. She'd taken plenty of what the night threw at her in stride, but she was past her limit and not in the mood to be condescended to. "Listen, you puffed-up, pompous, pontificating prick," Robyn said, stepping toe to toe with the doctor. She jabbed a finger on his chest. "That girl just did more to end the Tremere Fugue in one night than you've managed to do in ten years. So when the shit goes down; when all the secrets and lies are brought kicking and screaming into the light, how do you want to be remembered?"

"Really now, with whom do you think you're dealing?" Corr replied. "Do I look like someone who's concerned with public opinion? My time is valuable. So unless you have something valuable to offer in exchange, I suggest that you walk right back into that elevator."

Liam winced and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Oh, Christ,” he said. “Robyn.” He held his spray bottle up by the base. “This. This is how you get what you want.”

He looked at her questioningly, praying she would bite.

"Fine," Robyn said sharply. She snatched the bottle, and pulled an exam glove from a box on the wall. She spritzed a little into the glove, and handed it to Corr. "Go plug that into your fancy machines and see what that does against the Fugue. Then come back and tell me who's the fucking dabbler."

Corr's lip curled, and he took the glove gingerly with two fingers. "Mr. Dietrich," he said as he walked away. "Make sure she's decent by the time I get back."

An invisible voice sighed behind them. "All right," Dietrich said. "We've got scrubs and fatigues. They fatigues will be a bit big on you so I-"

*Fatigues," Robyn said. She took a deep breath, and stroked Pockets' forehead.

The clothes arrived before the doctor did. Robyn was indeed too small for them, but they afforded her more dignity than a tank top and boyshorts.

Corr finally returned. "I must know how you synthesized this compound," he said.

"Now that's hardly a fair exchange," Robyn said. "I'm sure a big genius like you can figure that out. I'll even give you my e-mail, and I promise to tell you if you guess correctly. But you're just sewing up some bulletholes, here. That will get you a millilitre."

Corr frowned, barely containing his rage. "I'll do it for that whole bottle."

"Five holes," Robyn said. "Five millilitres. Or we can go free a trauma doctor and you can make do with a couple drops in an old glove."

"Ten holes," he countered. "Entry and exit. Ten millilitres."

"Done," Robyn said. "Payment to be delivered following services rendered. I trust you have accurate graduated cylinders?"

The doctor merely growled, and wheeled Pockets away. Dietrich faded into view beside them. "You can observe the operation from here," he said, and led them down the maze of corridors.

Liam heaved a sigh of relief.  “Be honest,” he said in quiet aside to Dietrich as he turned to follow. “You were betting you were going to have  to toss us out on our asses, right?”

Dietrich chuckled despite himself, and replied with his best military deadpan. "I knew you'd leave without a fuss," he said. "I was too busy calculating the best method by which to deadlift Ms. Rowe."

It took Robyn about as long to measure the formula as it did for Corr to patch Pockets up from the inside out. She was pointedly measuring it correct to the drop,and wasn't quite satisfied with her accuracy. When she was done, Dietrich quickly took it before she could change her mind.

Kindred blood used to be a precious resource for Corr, but he seemed generous enough with it in the operating theatre. He may be a sadistic monster, but he was also a damn fine surgeon whose pride had been wounded. He made a point of doing the best job he could. No doubt he was also taking the opportunity to run every test and scan he could muster.

When he was finished, he came to the gallery. He left Pockets to recuperate.

"She'll live," he said. "And by that I mean she doesn't breathe and she has no pulse, but her wounds won't bleed out. Provided she rests. I don't even like the idea of moving her. I can't guarantee my work if she goes galavanting about. As far as I can tell, she's been the target of a deviant energy emission designed to isolate her higher-order Kindred functions."

"In other words, a binding curse," Robyn said. "Like I said."

"Yyyyes," he said. "At any rate, if you require my assistance bringing her around, my door remains open. Please do me the courtesy of choosing better company."

"And when I succeed, I'll be sure to send you a report," Robyn replied. "I'll be sure to use as many unnecessarily large words as possible so it sounds more sciencey for ya."

"That would be most appreciated, Ms. Rowe," Corr purred in reply. "Just in case I encounter any poor similarly affected souls who don't have access to such a talented- I'm sorry, what's the correct word for you people nowadays? I can't keep track."

"Call me whatever you like," Robyn said. "Just remember that one of us people solved a riddle that stumped you for a decade."

No snappy comeback there. He took the barb, and turned his attention back to Liam. "I'll loan you a spinal board for the walk back to your car. Be careful loading her in."

"Thank you, Doctor Corr," Liam said, bowing his head in gratitude. "I am grateful, as ever."

Before either of them could think of another witty rejoinder, Liam readied his end of the board and directed a pointed look at Robyn. It was time to go.

Robyn smiled like the cat that ate the canary the whole way back to the car. When they loaded Pockets in the back and went on their way, As she drove back, she snickered. "D'you know I have an actual barrel of that stuff at home?"

Fortunately for them, the vozhd seemed to gloss over police cars the same way the other mooks did. With any luck, it'd be a quiet drive back.

“In twenty years I’ve never seen anyone get under Valcius’s skin like that and come out on top,” he said with open admiration. “Now lets go home and feed the dog. Tomorrow we’re having a quiet night. Deal?”

"I don't think tomorrow is gonna be all that quiet," Robyn said. "Don't forget what's waiting for us on the way home."

When she pulled in behind the deuce, she could see a few people gathered around Mik, wearing some fine-looking knitted silk ponchos. Most, however, were doing their best to avoid him. There were fifteen of them, ranging in age from late thirties to late fifties. There were more in the back, some of whom were catatonic, and others who seemed to be in some sort of coma. All those whoccould do so eyed the pair apprehensively as they approached.

"All right, everyone," Robyn said. "We're going to take you someplace where it's safe to hide. After you've all had a chance to rest and recover, we'll get you wherever you need to go."

As she rounded up the survivours, Mik handed Liam back his pistol. "All safe and accounted for," he said. "But they've been through a lot."

Liam nodded and fastened the holster over his shoulder. "I guess this means I'm driving," he said, looking back towards the troop transport. "Mik, are you coming too?"

Mik shook his head. "I need some time alone," he replied. "And the forest is calling my name. It's been too long since I slept in the earth." He looked over at the truck full of people. "Something tells me you'll be too busy to reminisce anyway."

"I think you're right," Liam replied, looking over the survivors. "Take care of yourself out there," he said after a moment. "I expect we'll all be hearing from Jacob again before too long."

He patted his pocket where he'd stashed the radio. "You know where to reach me," he said. "Take care."

The drive back to Robyn's was a quiet one. She went with Pockets in the police car, with Liam following close behind. The birds were already beginning to sing when he pulled into her driveway.

Liam helped Robyn carry Pockets to her room. When the Malkavian was safely tucked in, Robyn closed her door.

"I'll probably have to consult the book for this one," she remarked. "I suppose with all the extra people around I should start locking it in my study, too. Not that I think anyone will know what it is, let alone how to read it."

She took a long look up the stairs. "So much for peace and quiet," she said. "I guess I gotta go put up the yurt before I get to sleep."

As Liam lay Pockets down to rest he looked at her for the first time that night. Truly looked at her, examining the subtleties of her aura. Sense the Other

Though nowhere near as gifted as Robyn or Corr, he thought perhaps there might be something there to learn...

As the two of them departed he looked at Robyn and then followed her gaze up the stairs. "That's probably a good idea," he concurred. "Best to be safe."

"I'm afraid I can't be of much more help tonight. Sun's coming up. I can feel it."

There was time enough to feed Caleb, certainly. And he'd promised to send word to Hasan once they were home safe. Beyond that, well, whatever it was would have to wait for tomorrow.

Pockets' aura had grown a little more marked by Vamanado's presence over the years, though that may have been due more to proximity than involvement. To Liam's knowledge she had made no deals with the creature, nor had she spent an excessive amount of time in its direct presence. Certainly, the curse upon her had no discernible corrupt trace to it.

Vampires could generally be easily recognized by their pale auras. Pockets', however, was more than pale. It was faded. Muted. Like light shone through translucent cloth.

Of course, the intensity of the corruption may have been exaggerated by the metaphysical air-raid horn blaring from the tome upstairs. Its presence was so strong he could hear it whispering to him again, beckoning with its poisonous lure of forbidden knowledge and mind-shattering dimensional revelations.

After dining on meat, rice and potato chips for three solid days, Caleb was unable to mask his disappointment at the kibble Liam set down before him. He took a careful sniff, gingerly picked up a tiny mouthful, and chewed it thoughtfully. Then he looked balefully up at his master and snorted.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Mon 06 July 2020.

"Look, I got you a squeaky dinosaur too," Liam said. "And a bone."

"You don't get hamburgers every night. I don't get hamburgers every night. Good news is you'll have plenty of company over the next few days. Be kind to them. They've had a hard time."

After giving Caleb a farewell scratch behind the ear, Liam headed back downstairs and fished out the messenger stone. He looked at the tiny pebble nestled in the palm of his hand for a moment and then tucked it under his tongue.

"Still awake, Old Man?" he asked. Liam lay back in his bed with his hands cradled under his neck and stared up at the ceiling.

"We made it home safe. Corr stitched up Pockets. It was... something to watch Robyn and Valcius hash it out."

"As long as her mouth didn't land you on a dissecting table, I'd call that a win," Hasan said. "We're all tucked in over here. That big creep wasn't really built for searching down sneaky fuckers like me. Did he let you take Pockets home?"

“Robyn wouldn’t have it any other way. We also took home all the survivors. It’s going to be mayham here for a few days, I’m sure.”

“But we did it. Almost makes me wish I didn’t smash their radio. I’d love to be listening to their encrypted band tonight.”

"I'd like to be a fly on van Fokke's wall, that's for damn sure," Hasan said. "I'm genuinely surprised you were able to pry a mystery like that away from him. But I'm glad you managed. Pockets is better off with friends."

"Don't forget to rest in between wrangling those ex-mooks. You've earned it, and we all need to wait for the heat to die down. The tide is finally turning. I can feel it."

“I’m staying well away from the city tomorrow if I can help it. I still have a few more old ghosts to dig up, if I can find them.”

“Can I ask you something? Is Seavers really gone? It doesn’t feel like a thing like that should be possible. He was prepared for everything.”

"I mean, his ghoul lives with us now," Hasan said. "They starved him out for months, and then sent in an army. Most of 'em didn't come back out. And now, they're researching the dig site with impunity. You can go look for yourself if you want, but do the math."

“No, I get that. I just... I figured he would have had a back door.” It might not take Seavers ashes to convince Liam he was gone for good, but it would probably take something close. And Liam knew for a fact that the dig site did indeed have a back door. Liam had swam its length to the St Lawrence. He just didn’t know if Seavers had known that.

“I’m sure security will be tightened there after tonight. They’ll be locking down whatever Tremere are left tight.”

"I dunno," Hasan said. "They're choosy about who they let in there. Signage out front even says no Redwatch. I don't know how much they've figured out, but I guess that depends on how much of Fuchs' work made it into their hands. They may not know what they're dealing with, but they know it's important. And dangerous. I bet they're booby trapping it all to hell, though. Ran into a few of those tonight."

“That’s a problem for another night, I suppose,” Liam conceded. “I think it’s time I turned in. Take care, Old Man. And take care of Jacob.”

"Always do, kiddo," he replied. "Stay outta trouble."

[8 EXP for the scene.]