Night 5 stretches on...
The night stretches on, and the party strives to find it's footing in the midst of shifting priorities. After sucessfully 'recovering' Ash (the Blithering Idiot) Hale feels compelled to visit Michael. Making the trip to Limbo with Ash and Claudia, they proceed to feed downtown. Arriving at Limbo, Hale is ushered right in. The bouncer Jonathon, suitably deferential after hearing of Hale's easy victory over the Brujah sent to test him. Hale is ushered in to wait for Michael in the back room while the set finishes.
Michael appears suprised that Hale arrived as quickly as he did, but moves right on to business. The upcomming challenge between Michael and Claudia appears to be an expected responce. Michael is using the event to leverage some influence for himself with the local Kindred. Refering to Hale's quite frequent requests for information, Michael asks for information from the Assamite. Claudia will be composing new songs for this challenge, Michael knows. Since the Assamite will be spending quite a bit of his time with her, Michael figues that Hale can get the lyrics, possibly even the tunes, of her songs. Furthermore, Michael informs Hale that if Claudia comes to harm before the contest, it cannot happen, and that is an undesired event. Hale promises to make sure she comes to no harm.
Outside of Limbo, Ash is rolling on the ground towards the door. This takes quite a while, as he began this trek from the back parking lot, where Claudia waits. When he gets around the side of the building, he sees a newcomer, dressed in worn clothing and a brown trenchcoat (why do all Vampires wear trenchcoats?) entering the club.
Derrik the Gangrel has arrived in Chicago. He is an Elder Kindred, respected by most of his clan. A fierce fighter, skilled electrician, and a hacker all in one, his only link to the Kindred in the area is Michael. He quickly gets lost in the confusing pathways of Limbo's catwalks, he eventually comes across one of the bouncers, Jonathan. Jonathan takes Derrik up to Michael's 'office' and asks if he should be let in. Michael as Hale wait while Derrik introduces himself (having little love for Gangrel) and Hale is quickly unimpressed with Derrik's mouth. Michael tells Derrik how to get to the Prince's court, and Hale and Derrik leave Michael's office while he readies himself for his next set. Derrik falls a little behind the Assamite, letting him lead the way out. Hale retrieves Ash from the bottom of the stairs he had just fallen down, and they leave while Derrik catches a cab.
Back at Claudia's car, Ash climbs under the car, and Hale is forced to pull him out. Being deprived of his chainsaw is a bit much for this personality. Claudia is fed up with Ash, and wants to change the channel. She whacks the kook upside the head, and Hale AND the awakened Chakan both take a swing at her. The Artiste has quick reflexes, though, and manages to evade both strikes. Chakan is his usual foul-mouthed self, and the three head for Palos Hills, to finally recon the Giovanni estate.
The three bickering takes about half the time it takes Derrik to get to City Hall, and once there he Presents himself to the Prince. She warmly welcomes another Gangrel to the city and asks him if he's been told of her ritual "Demand of Service". He had been told a little of this, and the Prince has him get his assignment from Samantha Blair, a Gangrel working for her and he Primogen. Samaantha's office is what you'd expect from a Gangel, it looks as if she's either just moved in, or is just moving out, but she introduces herself and tells Derrik about the Tremere and the roumors sourrounding them. She proceeds to call Hale (who is en-route to Palos Hills) and inform him that lucinda Washington (reffered to as "that dumb bitch") is no longer their contact for the Service. She also tells Hale that another will be joining them, Derrik by name, and requests that the five of them meet at Limbo. She and Derrik while away the tme until the five are supposed to meet swapping stories.
Hale finally arrives at the Givanni estate in Palos Hills. While exiting the Mustang Cobra in front of their property, a Black SUV departs the property, carrying 3 well dressed "men". Hale has Claudia and Chakan drive around, and begins to case the property. He notes that the front fence, a wroght iron affair, is protected by motion sensors, the side and back fences (chain-link topped with razor-wire and electrified) are not. However, even Kindred have to respect high-voltage electricity and Hale begins to doubt his "kill them all at once" plan. He also spies the rear building, with no visible doors or windows. After returning to the main oad, Hale has Claudia pick him up, and the three plan to stop brefly at Hale's apartment. There they fnd Hale's friend, terrified and looking rather beat up. Hale spots the bite marks of Kindred teeth, and has Claudia and Chakan go to Limbo without him, saying he'll catch up.
The girl had been beaten up by one of the Giovanni, and she was terrified. It didn't take Hale long o get the story from her, but then there was a knock on his door. The speaker identified himself as "someone you want to talk to" and Hale decided to put a few rounds (eight to be precise) through the door. When the gunsmoke cleared, his door was deader than it's knob, and the men outside weren't mussed. They had been standing off to the side. Hale drew his Katanna, and opened the door. Three men dressd in Armani suits stood there, and asked to talk. They asked why Hale had the girl looking for information about them. Hale tells a small fib, but they don't belive him. They do, however, apologise for tearing up her place, and the leader apoligises for "Vinny's" unsubtle methods. They offer to replace Hale's door, and tell him the exact location of the Tremere chantry and the Sabbat's main haven in town in exchange for his business with the Giovanni to be "done". Hale also recieves a number to call should he wish to speak to Vinny personally. The three men leave, and Hale returns to comforting the girl. She is invited to stay at Hale's place, and is given Hale's number. Now rather late, the Assamite calls a cab and heads to Limbo, no too far away. In front of the club, the party's abuse of Cabbie's manifests itself once again as Hale robs the cabbie. Only $40 of the 85 he is carrying though.
Inside, Claudia listens to a rather poor performance of Michael's, standing prominently in front of the elevator while Chakan goes up and down. On one of his downward treks, Hale arrives, and the three proceed to the little grotto where they had first met each otehr, and Lucinda Washington, file on the Tremere in tow. Samantha recovers the file, and informs the four that instead of gathering information of the Tremere, she would rather they handle the Sabbat problem. Smantha informs them that she will take care of things with the Prince if they will do it. Jonathon comes over to the party and informs them that Michael would like to see them. Once in his office, Michael greets "Sam" warmly while the tension between him and Claudia could be cut with a knife. Michael has a habbit of finding out what the Prince's 'minions' are up to when they use his club as a meeting place.
Decided to fight the evil Sabbat now, this is where the latest game session has ended...still on night 5.
The time is 2AM Wednesday morning.
When will this night ever end? Find out thursday!