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THE MONSTER OF EALING
Last night, several people reported the sighting of a "screaming red monster" in a quiet neighbourhood of Ealing. After a power shortage in the area, a building caught fire. It was then when, what was described as a "man shaped, footless creature" emerged from the flames, leaping, running, and screaming. One woman has told our reporters that the man had "teeth like a wolf, and the face of the devil". Police officers are still trying to get to the bottom of this; neither the power shortage nor the fire have still been explained. A spokesperson from Scotland Yard has stated that the "so called monster" might be a wounded person, escaping the fire.

TRAGEDY IN TOOLEY STREET
The police has found the bodies of three TFL workers in the construction site at Tooley Street. One of their colleagues raised the alarms last week, when the three workers didn't attend their shifts. The bodies of the men have been found in a deep hole, uncovered by the refurbishment works that are taking place in the area. According to the Police, the bodies were horribly mutilated, which has led to the wildest speculations. The names of the three workers are being kept anonymous, following the wishes of their families.

HOROSCOPE
MARCH 8 - PISCES
You are used to making sacrifices, to prioritising the happiness of others before yours. Even though that is a noble attitude, there are times in life where the only healthy alternative is to embrace your own selfishness and allow yourself some enjoyment. Reserve one hour per day to do something you really like. Treat yourself! Your colour for this month is blue.
Echoes from the past ring back into London. Their intensity increases until they are deafening. What once was a faded memory of a glorious time, now becomes a shocking reality. The consequences of actions taken decades ago ripple into the present, altering the lives of everybody in the City. Unguided and blind, Kindred wander around, trying to make profit out of the reigning chaos.


The appearance of four mysterious figures turned the city upside down. Mistrust and jealousy became the official currency of London. Serpents and fiends rise to power, misdirecting the blaming eyes of the Camarilla towards imaginary enemies. Only those with clear vision and the ability to trust each other strive, while the rest run towards a shallow grave.



Across The Board
Current Chronicle: Dragons and Lions; Pride and Fire
Current Season: Spring
Controlling Sect: Camarilla



Index
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Population: 31

Camarilla
Anarchs
Other
Ventrue: 1
Toreador: 5 (6)
Brujah: 2 (3)
Malkavian: 7
Tremere: 2
Nosferatu: 3
Gangrel: 1
Ventrue: 1
Toreador: 0
Brujah: 2 (3)
Malkavian: 0
Nosferatu: 1
Gangrel: 1
Setites: 5
Sabbat: ???


THE CAMARILLA

Prince

Nobody

Sheriff
Meredith Furlong
Hounds
Robyne Sheridan
Rosella Marie Allain


Keeper of Elysium
Davvad Bisset

Grand Harpy
Catherine Wilke

Primogen
Ventrue: Marcus Antonio Russo
Brujah: Thomas Krusen
Gangrel: Alexa Mallik
Malkavian: Ellora Reese
Tremere: Hannah Sundling
Toreador: Arsenio Pozzi
Nosferatu: Dogan Khojak



ANARCHS

Baron

Khoza

Baronets
Enfield: Leslie
Haringey & Barnet: Clarice Harris
Harrow: Jelena Korolenko

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5th M-Meeting: Jean Marthereau
Topic Started: Thursday, 27. March 2014, 19:37 (1,313 Views)
Jeremy Starling
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Seneschal of London
* * * * * *
"No, itīs not a good thing at all that the Sabbat has still a hold over some parts of the city. That problem should be solved...
Have you ever fought against the Sabbat?"

London was still a war zone really, so it was surprising enough that anybody still wanted to move here.

"Yes, I suppose itīs possible to learn a lot if the motivation is there. There isnīt really a lack of time, but in my case a lack of willingness to dedicate enough time and effort into improving my French, I have to admit."
He prefered to spend his time with other things. And John had been downright lazy with learning languages, it was a miracle he had managed to learn at least German.

"Oh, you lived near Cologne...how did you like it there?"

Agenda? It was more like: The last resort to avoid even more trouble.

"If it had been totally up to me, then very likely I would have left Britain only for short visits.
It was my brother who didnīt want to live in Britain any more. John was my twin brother, embraced by the same Sire. John and I were a team, and we lived together.
He would have liked to move to New York, but I didnīt, so Germany was the compromise.
Because of him we moved every few years. Now I donīt have to do that any more. After he was killed by the Sabbat everything changed for me. John wouldndīt have moved back to England, but Iīm glad to be back."


And without John Jeremy lacked the courage for travelling somehow, but he didnīt say that.
Since his embrace Jeremy didnīt feel comfortable about travelling anymore, not at all. Then he was all the time afraid that something bad might happen. With John by his side that had been bearable, just about. But now John was gone.

"I must say I dislike travelling in itself, be it by car, train, plane or whatever.
But to see many interesting towns and cities, that was nice. And to be able to look at some antiques myself that I might acquire for my shop. But now I prefer not to travel any more."
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Marthereau
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"Not much more than others, really. If they were where I got and the situation allowed for it, I helped to kick them out. Have you ?"

He doubted that, Jeremy didn't strike him as the belligerent sort. More like the direct opposite.

"Its interesting the you don't seem to see the motivation as there... After all, anything that you can do that others cant makes you a more valuable asset, isn't that so ? But thats a very utilitarian approach, although its pretty wide-spread. It also depends on the sort of learning you do, learning by yourself needs a lot more effort and motivation than, say, employing a teacher or practice partner."

But that was the educational side of him getting out. Perhaps a bit too much.

"The place wasn't bad, it was just the people that spoiled it a bit for me. They didn't like us there that shortly after they had lost the war. I think you are familiar with the tensions beteen Germans and the French, so I don't need to elaborate too much."

The change of topic made him chuckle lightly. Oh yes, it left the impression that Jeremy had been, well, not a doormat, but it sure looked like he as very dependend on the whims of others. Submissive was the word that came to his mind a bit later.

"New York is overrated. I don't know what people see in that place to be honest. So you don't like to travel anymore... And yet you are here. But to say it seems to have been a very... fortunate coincidence that John was killed would be rather inappropriate, would it not be ?"
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Jeremy Starling
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Seneschal of London
* * * * * *
"No, I have never taken part in any such fights. I donīt think I would survive it if I tried...my combat skills are minimal. Iīm doing some self-defence training now, but that would be hardly enough for fights against Sabbatmembers."
He showed his umbrella.
"Such an umbrella like this can be very handy for self-defence."

To learn something unusual would be nice...and Lazaruss had given him the advice to do so. Unfortunately until now Jeremy didnīt have a bright idea for that.

"I agree, and maybe I will find the motivation for learning another language some time. Or something else. It doesnīt need to be a language. Are you still motivated to learn new things? This world keeps changing faster and faster, it becomes difficult to keep up with that for older kindred, I suppose? And thereīs more and more knowledge. Itīs impossible to be a universal genius these days.
What was your occupation when you were mortal? Is it still useful for you? Luckily I could continue with my occupation after the embrace. Not all kindred can do that."


So Mr. Marthereau must have been in Germany relatively shortly after the second world war.
"Yes, Iīm familiar with that topic. Nowadays itīs not much of a problem any more, luckily. The war is long ago by now."

Jeremy looked a bit shocked.
"Fortunate? I couldnīt think of the death of my brother like that. It hurt, and I still miss him.
But it wasnīt as if it was easy with him. And I felt too responsible for him. Suchg close family ties can be a burden. And I must admit, somehow Iīm glad that I got rid of that. But Iīm not glad that heīs dead and wouldnīt have wished that on him."

And Jeremy wouldnīt let himself be dominated any more, in the same way.
So if Max wanted to be close to him then Max had to come here. Jeremy didnīt stay in Dresden just because of Max.

"One more journey, to return to my homecountry, that was certainly worth it. I am glad to be back."
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Marthereau
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"I thought as much. No offense intended, of course."

He looked at the umbrella for a moment. It looked like a standard-issue model. Perhaps it was one of those fancy ones with a blade in it, but he allowed himself some doubts as to that.

"Initially, perhaps. Once the surprise has worn off, I give that thing a minute, two perhaps if all odds are in your favour. It obviously depends on the attackers skill and resolve.

I have never been a universal genius, Mr, Starling, and I can live with not being one in the future as well. I learn what I need to survive and pick some bits and pieces on the side I feel useful and interesting. They made an institutionalized fashion out of that, didn't they ? Life-long learning I think they call it."

Funy how they needed to explicitly spell these things out nowadays. Not a very good sign for society's development, was it ?

"I was a teacher. I think you could say the tools of the trade are very useful, if a bit dusty in the modern nights.

But I guess its still enough of a topic, depending where you go."
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Jeremy Starling
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* * * * * *
Jeremy wasn't aiming at looking like a fighter, so how could he be offended about such a remark.

"It's an antique umbrella, it looks very much like a modern one, but it's a lot heavier. Against combat experienced kindred such an umbrella wouldn't help much, I agree. But against a human mugger on the street. That's what it's meant for."

It might be a good thing to bring Ms. Harris into contact with Mr. Marthereau.
"How can you be contacted? By phone, or is there an address?
Would you be interested to get to know Ms. Harris, or bettr to say Clarice and Chris? They are interested in you and surely would like to get to know you closer."

And this park, it would be ideal for some fight training. There was enough space and no audience.

"What subjects were you teaching? To children? Did you enjoy that?
Nowadays at least teaching children is often not much fun, it seems. Children are stressing out their teachers a lot, being wild and undisciplined. If anything I could have imagined to be a tutor at university. I even pondered a while about becoming a professor...but in the end, becoming an antique dealer was more appealing, and I don't regret it."
And if he had become a professor he couldn't be active in that profession any more.
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Marthereau
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Jean slowly shook his head.

"No phone. But there is a loose brick on the backside of the Hammersmith Lyric behind a dumpster. If you want to contact me, put a note there and I'll find it. I guess an exchange wouldn't hurt."

Especially in the light of recent developments.

"Children need to be instilled with respect and provided with firm guidance. If that does not happen, it is no wonder they turn on teachers and each other and all goes down into a giant madhouse. Some people have it in them, some dont, but still are good disciplinarians. Its like in society or even kindred society. Guidance, discipline, respect and tutelage prevent chaos and confusion."

University tutor was an easy out in his opinion, but they had to exist as well.

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Jeremy Starling
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Seneschal of London
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A loose brick behind a dumpster? That sounded more like the method of a Nosferatu, but Jeremy better didn't say that, it might come over as an insult, but wouldn't be intended as such.
Somehow Jeremy couldn't imagine that Henderson used such methods of communication though, he seemed to be a lot more refined than a lot of Nosferatu were.
If one wanted to meet him it was possible to do that in a library instead of having to crawl down into the canalisation somewhere. Jeremy almost shuddered thinking back on it when he had to do that once, because it was the only place some Nosferatu had agreed to meet, and that guy had been very obviously enjoying every minute of it, watching how Jeremy had tried to keep a stiff upper lip in that disgusting place.

"O.K. That's in any case a lot safer than having letters delivered by post."

But it was slower as well, or might Mr. Marthereau look behind that brick every night?
In these days of fast communication by messages on mobile phones and by emails letters were called "snail mail". But it wasn't much of a surprise if older kindred didn't want to deal with such modern methods of fast communication. Max only did that grudgingly. But as a Sheriff it was better to be quickly "available", it could be even crucial sometimes, in cases of emergency.

"Would you mind if I tell about that special 'post box' to other Malkavians? If some more Malkavians settle down in London I'll surely meet them, and they might be interested to contact you and get to know you."

Jeremy could imagine Mr. Marthereau quite well as a teacher.
"Firm guidance is good for children, I agree to that. Children notice quite quickly towards whom they can easily behave as they please. So maybe it's not that children nowadays are getting wilder, but that there are less teachers of the right sort who are able to give firm guidance.
I don't think the anti-authoritarian approach is the ideal method, but beating pupils with a stick on the hands, I wouldn't call that a good method either. Also when parents turn to violence towards their children it's more a sign of weakness. For sure it must be an art in itself, to affect true respect in children without using methods to frighten them."

Suddenly he had to think of his French teacher.
"My dislike of learning French that I had already at school had a lot to do with my French teacher I suppose. He was awful. So I hated the French lessons. Whereas my German teacher was magnificient, she wasn't too lax, friendly but strict enough...she was respected but not feared. The French teacher disliked his pupils, you could notice that, and he was feared and disliked."

To some extent this could be transferred to kindred society of course. But if he called his former French teacher a bad teacher, then wouldn't he have to call his Sire a bad teacher as well?
"And indeed, also in kindred Society it would lead to chaos if everybody was allowed to behave as they please. There must be some rules...and authority."

Was there anything else Jeremy could ask? He couldn't think of anything any more right now.
"By the way, I haven't got a pre-arranged questionnaire in my mind for my meetings with the Malkavians of London. That would be a bit tedious. I might ask some similar questions, but most of it is spontaneous."
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Marthereau
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Death of the party
* *
Safer ? It went around some dangers of snailmail and invited others. It was in any case different and required a bit more effort. And allowed for a bit more control of who touched or saw those messages with the right precautions.

"No. Do so at your own leisure. I would hate to find it used by too many people I don't know and who are not of my blood, but I think that will not be a problem. Certainly you will agree, Mr. Starling ?"

Surely it wasn't too much of a concession. And if he found his postbox abused, he could still change its location and be a bit more selective about who got to know of it. And perhaps pay a few visits on the side. Jeremy's response about the kids and teachers elicited a low chuckle, as the Malkavian scratched his chin.

"Nothing happens for a single reason, Mr. Starling. People change, society changes, as do mores and conventions. The same goes for different methods and approaches. A hammer is a great means to get a nail into a beam. It can also be used to get a screw into the same beam and will get that job done, but the result will be not as good as if I had used a screwdriver and also look rather crude. And if I try to use it to get a rivet into said beam, whyever I think there should be a rivet in there...

Authority needs to be had. But as I pointed out, it's not about authority. It's about how much you have and how you decide to use it. That is what it all boils down to. Descisions and their consequences."

He didn't see why Jeremy put that last one in, it was a rather large break from the topic after all. But why not ?

"I see. Are there any other questions you have, Mr. Starling ?"
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Jeremy Starling
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Seneschal of London
* * * * * *
"I agree...that's fully understandable. I will give that information only to your clanmates. And if anybody else very much would like to contact you for whatever reason, then I could write to you myself and inform you about it."
But somehow it was quite unlikely that someone who didn't know Mr. Marthereau would want to contact him.

Decisions and their consequences?

"Well, anybody who has got authority has to make decisions of course, and every decision has consequences...that can't be controlled or foreseen mostly. So it is not an easy task, to be in a position of authority."

But might that be what the Malkavian meant? Jeremy had the impression he could be easily outwitted by by this man, because he was so much older and had a lot more experience.

"No, at the moment I haven't got any further questions."
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Marthereau
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"I will make sure there is another dead drop for those as well."

He didn't want to enable Jeremy by too much trust in advance. If Jeremy was the gateway to the Malkavian, he could use tht to his advantage after all. If someone found out and Jeremy hadn't figured until then, Jean was sure that someone would suggest it sooner or later. He would leave Jeremy to ponder the meaning of what he had just said before. A little piece of homework, so to speak.

"If that is the case, I think we are about to tie this meeting up."

Jean got up and started to walk off. There was not very much left to say after all. But he would follow the situation with much interest to see what conclusions Jeremy had drawn from this and how he would choose to proceed.

"Have a good night, Mr. Starling !"
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Jeremy Starling
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Seneschal of London
* * * * * *
"Thank you...that you took the time for meeting me, Mr. Marthereau. Have a nice night, too."

Jeremy remained sitting on the bench for a few more minutes, then he walked back to the carpark, got into the car and let Mr. Finney drive him back.
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