Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

[BlueSlime]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Vezina notes the movement and zeroes in on the direction, holding up her hand in a motion to the others to stop.

"There's someone flagging us down." She said. "Possibly Jourdain. Warning us of a trap? Or perhaps this is a trap itself."

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Jocelyn winds up walking between Eliza and Anabelle, nervously watching the former almost the entire time, until she spots the figure trying to wave them down. She raises an arm a bit towards the alley the man was hailing from, so the others who hadn't spotted him at least knew which direction to look. "They're over there." She said quietly, looking around for any other sign of a trap the other had mentioned.

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Snapping her head up at the sound of a mimicked Goshawk, Anabelle frowned.

"Might as well see what's happening," Anabelle said, moving towards the man, keeping her hand on her sword.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Jourdain pops his head out of the darkness enough for the group to identify him and puts his finger to his lips indicating they should be quiet, before waving them over towards the alley he's hiding in. The rest of the street seems calm and quiet, with very little room for any ambush or trap, save the alleyway Jourdain is waving them towards.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Vezina spared a thought about the possibility of Jourdain setting them up for a trap. She didn't trust him, as he was a man for whom lying seemed to be second nature, yet she didn't think he had a reason to want her dead. Perhaps the reason that the coast looked so clear to the inns was that there was a trap waiting for them in that direction. Vezina was thankful that she had taken the pouches of earth with her before leaving the inn this evening.

Motioning to the others that she'd be heading towards Jourdain and the alleyway, Vezina moved in that direction.

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Seeing Jourdain, Anabelle felt more at ease, and let her hand stray away from her sword. Approaching the alley, she lifted a hand in greeting before ducking into the shadows, turning to ensure the rest of the group was following.

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

When Eliza saw Jourdain, her face brightened a little, and she ran past the others to get to his alley as fast as she could. Her relationship with her clan brother was... complicated. He had some explaining to do, but Eliza trusted him more than anyone except her sire. Having run ahead, she stood behind Jourdain's shoulder waiting for the others.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Once everyone makes it over to the alley, Jourdain indicates once more to be quiet and waves for them to follow. A dozen feet into the alley they all pass into a dark cloud, to all but Eliza and Anabelle it is a strange feeling. They can quite literally feel the cloying darkness touch them as it dulls the sounds of the area, after they all get through Jourdain whispers that he'll explain once they get to the stables. He leads the way through several more twisting back alleys for what seems like half an hour before they emerge near the city gate that Vezina first entered through. A stable sits across the street from them which Jourdain points towards before heading across himself.

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

The cloying darkness was unnerving as she first stepped through it, but Vezina did her best not to make her discomfort known. She would not say a word until Jourdain had led them to the stables, and once there she looked at him expectantly for an explanation.

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Eliza smiled within the cloud of darkness. It reminded her of home and her sire though also that her own powers with the darkness were still paltry by comparison.

The younger Lasombra also followed Jourdain in silence until they reached the stables where she stood next to him.

"No greeting for your sister Jourdain?" She whispered teasingly.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Jocelyn followed quietly, jumping at the shifting shadows and generally seeming very ill at ease with the situation. Once they reached the stables, she stayed in the back of the group, silently watching and trying not to look out of place.

that man is doing this, we shouldn't trust him!
He's using it to hide everyone from the hellhounds, he can't be all that bad.
Maybe this is what Rebekkah was talking to Aubrey about before, we need to be watchful. Maybe he's after the puzzle box!

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Anabelle could scarcely contain the shudder that ran up her spine, but she moved through the darkness following Jourdain to the stables. Once there she rolled her shoulders, as if trying to physically shake off old memories.

As Eliza spoke, Anabelle frowned slightly at Jourdain, his ruse from earlier destroyed. She should have said something to Eliza perhaps, but it had slipped her mind, and she had not had the opportunity to speak with her alone.

"What's the situation?"

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Jourdain does a quick look around the area before leading the others through a side door into the stables. He stops by a handful of saddled horses and his shoulders slump as though he's exhausted. "Oh just the usual, the phrase no rest for the wicked comes to mind. Not only has Valerius disappeared as I told you earlier but Aethulwulf happened to be in town and was poisoned earlier tonight."

He collects himself and turns around to face them, looking at each of them in turn. He pauses for a second on Jocelyn looking as though he wants to say something before turning to Eliza who he bows towards and smiles before saying. "I'm sorry sister, I almost didn't recognize you. You're the first clan mate to enter town who didn't try to immediately kill me. I am glad to see you made it and impeccable timing as well.

Aethulwulf's allies are watching the inn and though we didn't have anything to do with the problems. I highly doubt they would worry about collateral damage to other Cainites, especially unacknowledged Cainites. So the first order of business is to get you all acknowledgement from Rodger De Camden, Mithras chamberlain. Any questions so far?"

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

"Gu sealladh saelbh oirnn," Anabelle said softly with a shake of her head as she looked towards the horses.

"There are also Lupines within the city, they were hunting us for a bit, but your clan sister there managed to scare them away. So, where is this Rodger de Camden?"

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Jocelyn raised a hand at the mention of questions. "I probably already have that waiting for me, I think." She said quietly. Aubrey had been there for a few nights already, he'd probably take her with to meet the other petitioners soon, she thought...

 

[BlueSlime]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

"Who is this Aethulwulf?" Vezina asked as she petted a beast that she was to ride. "And why are your own clanmates trying to kill you? Do they suspect you of poisoning him? Did you poison him?"

Looking the horse in the eye, she telepathically assured her chosen steed that she will treat him with every respect, so long as he carried her to her destination safely. She then mounted him with ease and waited for the others.

"Lead on to this De Camden. I assume speed is of the essence. You can answer these questions along the way."

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Eliza gave Vezina a crooked smirk from under her hood.

"Why that would be our traditional way of saying hello. If he did poison the man, I'm sure there was a good reason. But that's not Jourdain's style."

She said gesturing to the imposing hammer on his back and turned to face her clan brother.

"First, I need to speak with you privately Jourdain."

Eliza declared before lowering her voice and leaning her lips close to his ear.

"Word from a certain treasured person."

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Jourdain listens to their questions while he checks the straps on his own horse, before responding in order. "There are lupines in the city though they typically stay towards the southwest, at least you managed to avoid them. Rodger is at his manor in the moor fields outside the northern wall.

Whoever is arranging your acknowledgement is most likely at the manor, so it might be worth your while to go. Whoever you are?

We have time enough for questions. Aethulwulf is Mithras' Dux Bellorum or war master if you prefer. As my sister pointed out it's sort of a customary clan greeting, at least for differing genealogies. I have no reason to poison him I assure you though Valerius and every single prince in England would love to see him gone."

He finishes with his own horse and then nods in agreement to Eliza, whom he follows over to a spot away from the others. He speaks much lower as he says. "I was hoping she might send word with you, I haven't heard from her since I left for England. I also assume you were delayed by more than just the weather."

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

After leading Jourdain to the more private spot, Eliza turned to face him. She reached into her cloak and pulled out the sealed envelope, miraculously untouched during Eliza's journey. Smiling, she handed it to him and equaled his hushed tone with her softer but somewhat colder voice.

"She has her sources as per usual. Other than the ...mysterious... contents of that letter, all I know is I am to assist you in strengthening our clan in London. And by that, I assume she means Lasombra loyal to her preferably."

Moving on to answer Jourdain's question, Eliza seemed to get more uncomfortable, fidgeting and shifting her eyes before continuing.

"Yes, you assumed correctly. Last night I was attacked by two kine carrying stakes, and today those Lupine seemed to be laying in wait for my arrival... luckily my cunning was far superior to it. I fear the two acts are related and that someone is far too interested in me for my tastes."

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 1: The Road Not Taken

Jourdain takes the letter and looks over the seal closely before carefully opening it and reading it while he responds.

"That is her main reason for sending you this far north, I'm sure she has others which neither of us are privy to. We have only one other clan mate in the city, if you want to refer to him as such, she's relatively useless. Genevieve is her name, one of Gratiano's childer and barely 6 years as a...vampire. Feel free to ignore her if you wish, I know I would if I wasn't the primogen. Not much in the letter, other than to reiterate what we already knew."

He tucks the letter away in his own cloak before looking up a slight smile tugging at his lips.

"There is another of our kind in Gravesend where you were attacked. A pirate and slave trader I believe, he's older and dangerous to mess with, they call him D'Ombro. He might have sent the assassins or they might simply be hunters, though I'm more inclined to believe he might have done it. Lupines would just as soon kill one of us as talk to us, so I don't know how connected the two might be. I'm hardly an expert on werewolves though. Anything else before we head out? I'm sure we'll get a chance later to catch up better."