"I've been going in about once a week for the past ten years, give or take," Robyn said. She shuddered. "And here I thought with the cure finished I'd finally be free of all that."

"I don't think you get to put it away just yet," Liam said quietly. "In fact, I think you'll know exactly when you're done with it. Because Book will come for it. Its in your possession because he requires that to be so right now."

"Well, I can't say I got the short end of the stick in that bargain," Robyn said. "I was maybe a fraction of the wizard I am today without that book. Now, I'm not quite so unmatched against the monsters taking over the city."

"I imagine that's precisely what He hoped for," Liam said, continuing to pick his way up the escarpment. "And the fact that you still have it suggests He's hoping you'll glean more from it."

"Or maybe," Robyn said. "He's hoping I'll use it to crack the seal on that creature sleeping under the city."

"Its one and the same to Him right now, I expect. The Camarilla controls the site. Its inaccessible until the Tremere are laid low. You serve His purposes by lifting the fuge and fighting this war."

"I don't think He's ever cared much for motivations so long as your goals remain aligned."

"Well, I don't want to disagree with you, but the Tremere have just been laid pretty low," Robyn said. "They're crippled. Until they can counter the effects of COVID-19, they won't be able to completely infiltrate a city like they did with Verdant Falls. They won't let the Redwatch near the dig site, and the people they've got doing research are likely going to get thinned out. With the right team, we could storm in and end this whole nightmare once and for all." Clearly, she had given the matter some thought.

What a superb coincidence it was that Liam's arrival in the city and the mishap at his apartment had lined up so perfectly with an opportunity to strike the Tremere at their absolute weakest. What were the odds?

"We'd get one shot at it," Liam concurred. He'd been thinking along a similar vein, although he'd yet to give voice to it. "After that they'd let Redwatch lock it down. They'd be foolish not to."

"But," he acknowledged, "I think the risk is worth it. Its a question of how soon."

"Getting the right crew is important," Robyn said. "From what I recall, you've been involved in taking out people with the same goal in the past. I guess that inviting the wrong people could lead to trouble. And I don't know about you but I don't relish having to fight a friend."

Liam grinned. “Is that what Jack told you? Or Book?” He asked.

"Jack," Robyn replied. "Pockets, too. She talks a lot about you. Book never told me anything, really. He'd just give me some stupid riddle and make me find out my damn self." The treeline broke ahead, and they stepped out on to the cliff's edge. It was indeed a spectacular view of the city. It looked as though the vozhd had gone to rest, but helicopters still circled and the streets were full of headlight. They were still searching.

"Hell of a view," she said. Then after a pause. "My God that is one deliberately ugly building."

“You should see the whole thing from above,” he said quietly. “It’s breathtaking.”

Liam stood in silence for a time, watching the helicopters circle.

“I could have done it, you know. Ten years ago I could have walked right in there any time I liked. I almost did it by accident. Hasan stopped me at the last moment. Otherwise the view from here would have looked very different,” he said gesturing towards the city.

“I didn’t because I was afraid of what would happen. You have no idea how on the mark you are about needing the right crew.”
This message was last edited by the player at 12:10, Sun 19 July 2020.

"I'll admit that I was afraid of it, too, in the beginning," Robyn said. "But the prospect of it potentially destroying the planet when it's released becomes less of a risk with each passing year. And I've spent enough time in its presence that I really think it just wants out. And it's willing to do anything to make it happen. And you know what? If I was compressed into one-dimensional space where time itself changed the way it passed, I'd do anything to get out too."

"Its not ‘It’ I'm afraid of," Liam replied. "We mean nothing to It, one way or another; we're utterly inconsequential except in as far as we can further It's own bid towards freedom."

"Jacob and Hasan were concerned the Creature would destroy the world if it were ever released, and in a way they were right. Just not in the manner they feared."

Liam paused and chewed his lip for a moment, pondering his ensuing words with care.

"I drew the Creature's gaze just one time. It promised me anything I wanted if I could set It free. Anything at all. And for one incredible night it gave me just a taste of what It could offer..."

Liam drew a shuddering breath at the recollection; the night he glimpsed the face of God.

“It was .... beyond description. Gangrel are natural shapeshifters. All the stories of vampires turning into bats and wolves throughout history, that’s us. But that’s not all we’re capable of. Even the youngest of our bloodline can learn to meld into the earth. It can be a comforting haven during the day. But with Its power coursing through my blood I melded with everything. I was every rock, every tree, every animal from here to the horizon in every direction. I was the rush of the St. Lawrence as it makes its way out to the sea and the still of every pond beneath the starlight. And though I wasn’t the stars or sky I could see them both with more clarity than any telescope man has ever built, because I was a hundred thousand pairs of eyes gazing towards the heavens at the same time; I was all of creation.”

“And therein lay the problem. The Creature could grant me anything. Would grant me anything - me and everyone else that helped to free It. So I asked to see into their heart of hearts, to know what it was they were truly, deeply thirsting for. Some hoped for the innocuous and mundane. Others wished for a future that was deeply personal and sweet. But some held designs in their hearts that would spell the end of the world as we know it. Incompatible visions of the world. And the Creature would find a way to somehow grant them all, because to the Creature all of these requests were the same. Because we are of no consequence.”

“That’s why I did nothing. Not because I feared I might fail, but because I did not know whom I could trust when I succeeded. I didn’t even really know if I could trust myself. What did I really want? And how could I be certain that my heart wouldn't betray me in that one fateful moment when the universe was laid before me like a banquet?”

Robyn exhaled long and sharp as she took in what Liam was saying. "That's the real thing, ain't it? How many times has a similar alliance folded because they just couldn't trust one another? For that matter how many times has Book had his plans foiled because the people involved couldn't control their ambition?"

She sat on the rocky bluffs, almost recklessly close to the edge. The stars were out tonight. "It's made me a similar offer. It's literally the preface to the book. Every time I go in for something, there it is, promising me the ability to reshape reality. For a time, I lost myself in fantasy. I developed grand plans on how I was going to build a utopia. Right all the wrongs of society. But then I realized... That's just fascism. It's what every dictator who's ever been born has been given the power to do. And it never goes well. Now? I know what I want, and I'm keeping it simple. Or at least... I thought I knew. That was until you let something drop about Sunny. I didn't have the wherewithal at the time to ask. But now I need you to tell me exactly how she was involved with the Third Tribe."

"That's the trick," Liam said quietly. "You have to keep it simple. And you have to commit."

"I was like you, initially. I thought I could play gatekeeper. I had it in my head that I could use my wish or whatever you want to call it to be the arbiter of everyone else's. As stupid as it sounds now, I held onto that notion for a long time. But it would never have worked."

"You have to trust each other.”

Liam paused as he changed gears.

“The Third Tribe was comprised of a broad panoply of initiates presided over by an inner circle. You know Book. Book is like the Creature, trapped in space and time albeit in a much less lonesome prison. He sees the Creature as the key to his own freedom.”

“Sunshine was known within the Tribe as Ms Mandala. She was part of Book’s inner circle, and truthfully I don’t know what she wanted. I’m not even entirely sure she was the Sunshine you knew. From what little I gathered, it was as though Mandala was another personality altogether - something that lived inside of Sunshine without Sunshine’s awareness.”

“Mister Cross was the cultist who killed Ian and brought about the downfall of the Fomori in a single night. He was an evangelical preacher and the sort of crazy that makes your skin crawl.” Liam shuddered just thinking about him. “Cross had drank the koolaid and had walked as far down the path of corruption as any man alive or dead. He wanted nothing less than to bring about the ‘Rapture’ and the end of days. Deluca killed him with that fancy gun of his, and thank God he did.”

“Mister Clocktower was a vampire from what was thought to be a dead bloodline - the true Brujah. I met him exactly twice. The first time  was a little over ten years ago and Hasan killed him. The second time was moments later in the 1600s. Given that I was born in the late 1800s that should give you a sense of how time flowed for him. I’m not actually sure if he’s dead or if this is all just part of his plan. Either way he had a long time to see it coming.”

“Mister Roundtree was a fellow Gangrel. My own Sire, no less. He was the source of the contagion that the cult used to terrorize the city, and the individual I almost killed to break the seal. His Utopia was a world of primordial forests and untouched wilderness. Had Hasan not stopped me the view before us would be giant redwoods and roving mammoths.”

“Those were Books’s closest confederates.”

“There are others who survived, and a great many more who perished. You’ve met at least one, ‘that creepy little blood witch,’ as you called her.” Liam offered a sad smile. He had something of a soft spot for Miss despite her icy demeanour and burning distemper. “Miss is something of a tragic figure. She’d kill me for telling you this but I’m going to tell you anyway because there’s a good chance she ends up as our ally before this is through and the context is important.”

“She was embraced during the French Revolution, against her will. Children are seldom embraced and Miss feels cheated of a life - of a childhood. All she wants is to go back to being human. To forget everything and to be adopted. She wants to be a little girl again, or rather the one she never got to be. Of course she wants the memories back. When she turns ‘18’. So she can decide what to do with the rest of her life.”

“I’ve already told you about Mr Wolf and Ms Cat. You’re holding their hairbrush. There used to be third. Mr Rat tried to kill me the last and only other time I tried to have this very conversation - the idea that the Creature could not bring about a Utopia for one without causing misery for the rest. I learned to keep my mouth shut after that, though you’d never know it from the past half hour.”

Liam looked sideways at Robyn and smiled.

“I adore Pockets. I respect Jacob and Hasan. I really enjoy Jack’s company. I trust you. You have no idea how long it’s been since I’ve been able to say that about anyone. And I really needed to get some of this stuff off my chest.”

Robyn took all the information in, but it was clear what drew her focus. "I... Sunny would have these dark moods," she said. "Sometimes she'd get quiet. And when I looked in her eyes I swore she was a different person. More than that, she had a different aura. The room got colder. But... You're telling me that she was part of the Third Tribe's inner circle. I don't believe it. Bless her, but Sunny didn't have a glint of preternatural ability. Not until I taught her enchanting, that is. I just don't know how she was able to hide it from me. We shared everything."

Liam shook his head. “You may have shared everything with Sunny, but not with Mandala. I sincerely don’t believe Mandala shared her presence with Sunny and I’m not sure I know how that’s even possible.”

“Sunny didn’t know me from Adam the first time I walked into her store. Mandala would have known exactly who I was.”

"I'm grateful that you trust me, Liam," Robyn said flatly as she stood back up. "I wish I could say the same, but I need more time. And more answers." She looked down the cliff to the car parked below. It was still a ways away.

Liam stood up and dusted off his slacks. "Time is one thing I have in abundance. Answers, unfortunately, I'm short on at the moment. Book would know, if you could get Him to tell you. Ten years later I don't even know where else to look."

"I got one good place," Robyn said wearily. "And I'm going there as soon as I'm strong enough anyway."

"Let me know if you'd like me to tag along," Liam replied.

"For now, lets just go home."

It was an uneventful trip home, and a relaxing rest of the night. Liam spent the remainder of the evening recuperating from his wounds and relaxing.

[Roll fate for next night's activity]

The next night, Liam, Hasan and a few of the villagers - Brad included - aimed to liberate several prefab homes from his cousin's lot. Herb had been clear that Liam shouldn't bad about stealing the expensive pieces from Brad's cousin. Although the business was making money on paper, all the salaries, bonuses and corporate capital found their way to the Camarilla through taxes, fictitious expenses and casino losses. The citizens were basically slaves, and the missing houses simply created more work for the accounting mooks to cover up.

They were met with very little resistance. There was a sole security guard at the depot, and it was a simple matter enough to de-mook him. However, he did not take well to the process, and became hostile. Liam walked away with sore, bleary eyes and a bruised ego. The rest of the night was dedicated to ferrying the depot's two massive flatbeds back and forth from the construction site to Robyn's home.

In the end, they were left with adequate housing for the villagers willing to stay, two flatbeds with hoisting cranes, as well as a massive septic tank suitable for a medium-sized trailer park (which Robyn's place had essentially become), and a small backhoe which Brad was licensed to operate.

They were also left with a reluctant security guard who had to be kept handcuffed and on watch. He was apparently convinced that there was no massive vampire conspiracy. Likely he had been left to his own business for the bulk of the occupation.

The third night was much more of a rousing success. Although the city was crawling with Redwatch and de-isolated mooks, there was little in the way of trouble or undue attention.

His first foray into the city was to rescue the families of their erstwhile wards. Brad accompanied him. But first, they attended the home of Dr. Cohen, who apparently had done rather well for herself. It was a fully-detached stone century home in the heart of Rosewood. Her security code was still good. It took Liam little time to find her glasses and a few hastily gathered articles of clothing. Brad, meanwhile, took everything perishable from the fridge and packed a cooler.

Next, it was off to rescue Kyra's family. Her husband Mark was a contractor, and thus one of the city's essential workers and was not likely to have been rounded up himself. He had likely been conscripted many times to work on the city's defenses and infrastructure, and unlike the security guard the night before, he didn't need much convincing. Of course, he wasn't going anywhere without his children - 11 year old Bryce and 7 year old Sierra - and a gray-faced old Boxer named Daisy. He helped them pack and get their gear into the cruiser's ample trunk. Suffice to say, it was a tight ride to pick up Brad's wife.

The woman seemed entirely pleasant, which left Liam wondering just what had attracted her to Brad. He left Brad to take his family car in the morning. Robyn had had the good sense to give him the recovered blue armband before they had left. After wishing them a safe journey, he ferried the carload of survivours back to Robyn's sanctuary.

The second trip was a short one. The peninsula the furthest point in the city from Robyn's place, but it afforded Liam access both to a wide variety of designer clothing stores, as well as a specialty shop (some sort of LGBT bookstore, sex toy shop, and transgender-related garment boutique) where he was to pick up binders for Alex. Robyn took the time to explain the basics to him.

Liam had flown in, and was able to load the goods into a stolen car without arousing suspicion. When he arrived back at the village, his selections were well-received. Liam had never considered himself a particularly stylish guy, but he thought he knew how to look good. He was glad to hear that he'd made good selections for all the villagers who needed clothes. Alex seemed especially pleased.

Liam's third trip to the city took him to Grace's apartment near VFU. This was by far the riskiest trip due to his proximity to ground zero, but he was able to make it without arousing suspicion.

Many of the villagers had seen their loved ones loaded on to trucks long before their turns had come. Others had seen them drained dry by thirsty Redwatch, or even killed for sport. A few hadn't seen their family since they themselves had been taken into service when the horrors began. And it was Liam's sad duty to tell Joyce the fate of her son Gary when his name appeared on the list. But Grace's description of her husband's disappearance was different.

Grace's young husband was a pilot, and found himself conscripted by the Redwatch for helicopter flights whenever the police or news chopper needed a replacement. But 6 months ago, a man in a red armband had come into their apartment, had questioned him briefly, and then led him away. It was Liam's suspicion that he had been ghouled.

The apartment still had his scent all over it, and soon Liam was able to track him down. This led him to the 3rd division precinct - formerly the SIU head office. It would not be possible to infiltrate the building that night, and it seemed like somewhat of a fruitless endeavour, seeing how the helipad was empty and he was most likely flying over the city.

Having done all he could, and with sunset rapidly approaching, he returned to the Shannon family home and took their vehicle back to the compound. All in all, a productive night, and by far the least violent trip to the city since his return.

[5 XP for the scene. Plus you now have 1 dot in the Herd background.]