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Dank, Dark, Dire
Topic Started: Nov 14 2012, 04:16 PM (1,265 Views)
KosST
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The night of the journey underground arrives. Antoine had told the Kindred to meet him in the lobby of the Flamingo, a hotel that maintains as a regency.

The Flamingo is the oldest resort/casino still in operation on the strip. It has a colorful, sordid history rooted deep in the culture of the city itself. However, due to it's age and lack of recent development, it attracts less attention than it did in decades past. It isn't a high traffic tourist area, and the crowds it attracts go there for nostalgia rather than excitement. With the trademark pink color and neon lights ever present, it was modern some time ago.

The lobby is not nearly as busy as that of the Bellagio only two nights past. While Kine still mingle and check in, the numbers are certainly smaller. Antoine sits in a small chair in the lobby, awaiting the motley group. He is as out of place as the other Kindred in this environment, but nobody seems to notice or care.

Once it seems like everybody is present, Antoine stands and leads the group out of the front door. Out waiting is a limo. A driver opens the door for Antoine and the group to enter. Antoine looks at his guests, particularly the Brides. "Don't have to take it, but figured we might as well splurge just the once."

The limo then leaves the hotel, and begins driving towards a destitute part of the city. Those who join in the limo discuss on the way there. Those who choose to drive separately can meet at the next location.
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KosST
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A low moan emanates from behind the wall Ian went to previously. He heads around the corner once again. His voice is heard faintly. "Jesus baby, you're heating up. What... what's going on? You ok?" A faint voice responds to Ian. "Nuh-uh... no... not sure... not ok..."

Shortly afterwards, the sound of the woman retching begins to fill the tunnel, sound bouncing off the narrow corridors walls, and the vile smell quickly catching up to the assembled.

Roache for his part returns to the group. His tone is flat, either unconcerned about the situation with the Kine, or simply entering a fugue state of calm given his previous trauma. "We can go now. She'll distract him for a while, and the others will stay away while she is ill. It is our best chance of making it through the camps without drawing attention."
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Holy
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Killjoy strays towards Ariadne, touching her shoulder briefly to catch her attention. His eyes gaze flicks toward Roache as he whispers concernedly.
Spoiler: click to toggle


He shivers a bit in the dankness.
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Kara
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Ariadne shrinks back a bit further when Killjoy touches her, but as he speaks, her focus moves to Roache. Several seconds pass by before she murmurs something back to him.

Spoiler: click to toggle

Slowly, she starts to pull the orange jacket over her head.
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KosST
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A low whining murmuring seems to be coming from Natasha, who edges ever closer to Dana and Whiskey. For his part, Whiskey's scowl remains, rather than any sudden change in his demeanor.

Antoine looks to the whispering going on between Ariadne and Salvador. He offers an inquisitive look, and simply says "We ready to go?"
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Holy
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Salvador begins to utter a small prayer, "In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritūs Sancti..." One finger held up in response to Antoine to plead for a bit of time. His eyes stay on the Primogen's.

(Latin)
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He makes the sign of the cross, motioning toward Roache, then Ariadne.

(Latin)
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The last bit of the prayer is almost hissed.
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KosST
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Antoine nods intently at Salvador. He stares at Roache for a bit, assessing something. He remains calm. He also responds in kind.

Latin:
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Antoine then goes go Roache's side. "Well lead on then. Don't have all night..."
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Daniel
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Dana shivers despite herself. "Look, uh, Antoine, something ain't right with that guy. Talkin' in voices. And you mind telling the rest of the class what you and Killjoy are talking about in mumbo-jumbo?"

To Natasha, she offers an unconvincing "It'll be fine. You got us with you now..."
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Holy
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"Amen." He finishes the intonation with Antoine. At the Brides' words, he shifts in their direction. "Things will be alright. Pray with me?" He slips to a quiet chant.

(whispered to the Brides)
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KosST
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Whiskey nods to the new plan, and Natasha seems somewhat comforted by that plan, as well as the encouragement of Dana. Somehow the impending violence brings some semblance of calm to the Brides.

Roache simply starts walking through the kine encampment, past the sick woman and Ian. Roache seems correct for the time being, as the coterie shuffles through a series of corridors jam-packed with all manner of accumulated consumer stuff. It's as if a junkyard or garbage dump was displaced to under the city. After passing maybe four other makeshift homes, all with their "doors" closed, Roache starts talking again.

"About ten more yards. Then we'll see a maintenance tunnel. In that tunnel is a ladder down to the next level. Take that ladder, we should be in the old section. Once down there, we'll find the chamber itself."

Antoine offers a simple response. "Thanks Roache. Lead us down the stairs, and once we hit the chamber, head on back." Roache doesn't seem to respond, but when he starts walking and turns his back to Antoine, the Primogen offers a simple gesture, a solid fist.

Their guide is accurate in his description of the network of dank chambers. He does indeed lead them into a maintenance section, and then to a enclosed room with one notable feature - a small hole with ladder going further down. Antoine looks to Roache, who offers a disconcerting smile before going down the ladder. While Roache descends, Antoine offers a look towards Salvador, a grim nod, before heads down the ladder himself.

As Antoine begins descending the ladder, a grunt is suddenly heard, and Antoine is pulled off the ladder itself. His helmet goes flying, and with it, his source of light. Those watching see a single shaft of light that illuminates a violent struggle, as a snarling Roache begins savagely attacking Antoine with what looks like claws. Antoine is on his back, made vulnerable by the disorienting fall. He looks on the defensive for the time being. He yells.

"Help"
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KosST
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After Antoine falls, Salvador quickly moves to the hole. He peers down the ladder to see the altercation.

Roache rears back, preparing to pounce onto Antoine with his claws. Shortly before he does so, however, a deafening blast rips through the tunnel. Salvador is holding a shotgun, and Roache gets a full blast, his shirt torn apart. He's pushed out of the way by the impact, providing Antoine a brief respite.

But Roache renews his assault, tearing into Antoine's flesh. (Antoine is hit)

(those wishing to intercede may feel free to add actions for this round)

Edited by KosST, Nov 25 2012, 10:22 PM.
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Daniel
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"Shit, this motherfucker popped claws?" Dana looks around briefly before jumping into the fray. "Watch where you point that thing!" she yells at Salvador, trying to dodge his line of fire while also landing a blow on Roache. She might be trying to move too well, in fact, and her fists strike weakly if at all (OOC: 1 Success for punching).

(OOC: Spend 1 Vitae to activate Resilience 2).
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KosST
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Dana makes contact with Roache's back, as the dogpile on Roache continues.

Whiskey jumps down the hole, spry for a guy of his size, and takes a swing at Roache with the sledgehammer.

(Whiskey brings the sledge down against Roaches left wrist, shattering the bone.)

For his part, Roache has made no sound of pain or seemingly reacted to the number of assailants he is attacking.

(Keep your sheets up to date folks!)

Order thus far:

Salvador
Roache
Ariadne
Antoine
Dana
Whiskey

(TP - when you get a chance, feel free to take two actions in a row for Sebastian)
Edited by KosST, Nov 26 2012, 12:41 PM.
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Holy
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Killjoy pulls up the shotgun as Roach is swarmed, apparently not willing to fire into the melee. He seems to stare at the gun for a moment before letting it point to the floor. "Ariadne!" He calls out, then jerks his head toward Natasha.
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Kara
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For her own part, Ariadne is half-huddled on the ground, hands clasped around her ears and in obvious discomfort. She makes no notice of Killjoy's shout, instead continuing to stare down the whole at Antoine, eyes wide.
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KosST
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Roache speaks in a calm voice.
"You should have accepted me before, Antoine."

He then tries to slash again as the Primogen stands up. He rakes his claws against Antoine's back, digging in deep. Antoine howls in pain.

(Deep slash against Antoine)

Antoine still somehow stands to his feet.

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KosST
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Antoine has grown dark long fingernails as well, and with a howl of anger, he pounces on Roache himself. Antoine begins removing the flesh from Roache's face, removing a portion of skull and nose with a few quick, powerful swipes.

(Antoine gets some serious revenge.)





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KosST
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Dana and Whiskey seem poised to strike at Roache, taking advantage of the turn of the fight with Antoine's savage slashes.

Instead, they are momentarily distracted by the arrival of Natasha into the melee. She has run to the lip of the hole where Salvador and Ariadne still stand, and screams down to them.

"PLEASE! PLEASE HELP! I NEED YOU! OH GOD IT'S TOO MUCH! IT'S COMING"

She is clawing at her own head and moaning in some invisible suffering. The scream of their friend pulls the other Brides attention for a moment.

(Natasha's suffering is enough to put Dana and Whiskey off of their attack, causing negatives, or taking their full attention/turn to help tend to their friend)
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Daniel
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"Uh, shit, shit shit..." The Dread and Natasha's own screams combine to throw Dana completely off her game. "Fuck it, you two work out your shit," she manages to spit out to Antoine and Roache before heading back to Natasha. "It's coming. What's coming? What do we need to beat up?" she says with an entirely unconvincing grin.
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tpenrod
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At Natasha's outburst, Sebastian snaps to attention. Roache's attack took him off guard, but as his Primogen stands going toe to toe with Roache, Sebastian can't help but move in to assist him.

With a flash, a cleaver flies from Sebastian's hand, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, perhaps a trick of his sleeve. The weapon spins through the air, and while it isn't quite like the knives Sebastian is used to, he manages to sink the blade firmly in Roache's head.

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KosST
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Roache's body seizes up as the thunk of the cleaver sinks home. His arms, which had been desperately trying to harm Antoine while defending from the Primogen's blows fall. Antoine lets out a simple snarl as the body falls, and briefly prepares to push his talons into Roaches eyes. When it seems that Roache does nothing to defend himself from this assault, Antoine accepts that Roache has been stopped for the time being. He lifts himself from his foe and looks towards the group, a bit worn down, but already beginning to heal some of the wounds that aren't too grievous.

________________________
As the fog of battle lifts, it seems that the effects of Dread have been removed. Whether they came from Roache, or simply were supplanted with the instinct of a fight are unknown. Still, those who were scared before the fight are perhaps still scared, but without interference.
________________________

Natasha has curled herself up into a ball. When Dana runs to her, so does Whiskey, who drops his hammer to the ground with a dull thud. They rush to the aid of Natasha, and as Dana tries to calm her down with bluster, Whiskey does so with surprising affection and soft whispers of "we ain't gonna let nothing hurt you, it's gonna be all right."

Natasha seems to thrash a bit less with the presence of the Brides, but is still struggling with something. However, after a few moments, she stops thrashing. She looks to Dana and Whiskey, frowning a bit, but with red-stained lines dripping down her cheeks. This vulnerability is embarrassing for any Kindred but especially a Bride. But she seems cognizant again. "I'm fine... I'm good. I don't know what it was... but I'm... good now. Thanks. Let's just get this over with so we never have to come down here again."
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Kara
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Slowly, Ariadne's hands descend from her ears, though her eyes stay on Antoine and Roache. Slinking past Natasha and the other Brides, she starts to climb down into the hole, though shakily and almost losing her grip a number of times.

When she reaches the bottom, she inches her way toward the two of them, staring specifically at Roache's unmoving form with wide eyes.
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KosST
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Antoine picks up the helmet and light that he previously was wearing, placing it on his head. "That's better." He then places a foot on top of Roache's body, to make sure that he remains connected to it. He calls out to the Brides and other Kindred he cannot see.

"Is everyone alright? That didn't go as planned. Want to check before we go deeper. We're still going through with this." He spits onto Roache's face in anger, then looks to the others. "Natasha ok?"
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KosST
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After a few more minutes of the group recollecting itself, they begin to discuss their next move.

Antoine looks to Natasha and Ariadne. "Natasha, you've been down here. You recognize anything yet? Anything that can help lead us to where we're going?"

Natasha nods, crouching to the ground to touch the floor. "Yes, I think I remember this. I... can vaguely remember following the lights, and a few turns.... YES! I remember this ladder now. I think we just need to go... that way." She points towards a small barred door which seems very slightly opened, with a faint glow coming from under the door.

"Ariadne, can you help Natasha find her way with Sight or something? Or at least try and find some clues on where we need to go?"

With a sickening crunching noise, Antoine's foot collapses into the ribcage of Roache. Roaches' body has begun a very slow decay. Antoine lifts his foot out of the chest cavity, stepping back from the body. "Well, shit. I guess that answers that. Didn't deserve that, but, well..."

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Kara
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Ariadne is slow to respond to Antoine's request, her gaze remaining on Roache's decaying body, though she does flinch back when it is trod upon. At length, she tears her gaze away and begins squinting intently toward the door, creeping a few steps closer to it.

The moment drags on.

And on.

Finally, a soft growl of frustration.

"I... I can't see anything, really. Not a good...angle..."
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Holy
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Salvador scrambles down the ladder to join the others, staying close to the Primogen. As Ariadne peers into the darkness, he says a few quiet words to Antoine. "You wouldn't let Roache claim himself a Gangrel after the Winnowing?"
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KosST
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Antoine shakes his head, staring at the body of Roache, now folding further in on itself.

"He never told me. Never showed me. Just learned about his gifts when he used them on me. He was young, fresh, but damaged. Didn't want it to come to this."

He maintains his lock on the body. "Somebody has got to pay for this."
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tpenrod
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Sebastian seems at an unease when faced with Roache's decaying body. At first, it seems he is content to leave the blade in the man's head. With a deep, forced breathe, Sebastian kneels down to collect it. As he does so, he extracts a singular, long rose from the inside of his coat, and lays it down upon the man.

Before returning up, he whispers something quietly to himself.

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Sebastian remains silent, cleaver now in hand, as his attention is drawn to Salvador and Antoine's conversation

E: Quotes
Edited by tpenrod, Nov 29 2012, 12:16 PM.
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Holy
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"You should have accepted me before, Antoine." Killjoy quotes the last words that Roache uttered. His eyes linger on the now-ashy rose. "Someone has a history with you, and if it wasn't him..." he motions the gun toward what's left of the remains, "It sure is someone who's good at setting a trap."
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tpenrod
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Sebastian looks like he is about to intercept Salvador's accusations. Thinking to himself as the exchange takes place, he remains silent, wishing to hear a response from Antoine in hopes of gaining some answers.
Edited by tpenrod, Nov 29 2012, 02:43 PM.
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KosST
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Antoine looks at Salvador, trying to puzzle through something in his mind. He doesn't seem perturbed or frustrated, merely confused.

"Maybe he meant the presence of his coterie down in the tunnels. That could be the only thing I can think of. But I hadn't met Roache in person until he came to me begging for help, and told me his story. I had sent some warning shots down into the tunnels to get them to vacate. But I guess it's possible he meant accepting their intrusion?"

He runs a hand through his mussed up hair and begins pacing back and forth in close proximity to Salvador and Sebastian.

"More worried about that second idea. Someone using Roache to get to me. Got enemies, sure. But none of them had access to Roache once he came to me. Had him either by my side or under lock and key until we solved this issue in the tunnels. Meaning he either got acquired down here, or that it's been a long game."

He looks towards the Brides. "I didn't piss them off, far as I know. So this Trina lady, if she's got it out for me, it's news to me."
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