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| Welcome To The Night You find yourself in London on a dreary, foggy night like any other. But what lurks in the shadows is the stuff of fantasies and nightmares, far from mortal reality. This game uses the cursed and immortal vampiric condition as a backdrop to explore themes of morality, depravity, the human condition, salvation, and personal horror. We are a writing and roleplaying community dedicated to telling complex and engaging stories. Your fate is your own. Mingle among the ivory-tower elite in the Camarilla, join the fight of the discontented and chaotic Anarch rabble, or set out independently and attempt to survive in London's nighttime underworld. Anything is possible in our World of Darkness. Create Your Account! If you're already a member, please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| [ARCHIVED] - Shifting Shadows [Enrolled Characters only] | |
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| Topic Started: Friday, 25. July 2014, 19:08 (4,119 Views) | |
| Obstacles | Friday, 25. July 2014, 19:08 Post #1 |
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Childe
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Strange things have been going on in the Hither Green Cemetery in the Garden of Remembrance. South East London has been growing unquiet of late. Pets have been disappearing, as have homeless people. Officials have no explanation as to why. No bodies have been found and there has been no upsurge of crime reported to the police. But there has been a surge in Urban Legends in the area. There are those who claim that the shadows of Hither Green Cemetery move at night. The Whovian slogan “count the shadows” has recently been spray painted across one of the external walls. Several old residents refer to a time during the Second World War; they claimed that those who hid within the cemetery during the blitz were never seen again. They called it “the bombing cloud” and said that when the city went dark for fear of the bombs, anyone in the park would never be seen again. Now those oldsters claim that the Bombing Cloud has returned, perhaps awoken by the recent terrorist activities in the city. But the old folks in the local neighborhood have begun to refuse to leave their homes at night. Claiming the bombing cloud occurs only on the darkest nights, and that during the blitz bodies were found drained of blood, their hearts, lungs and organs eaten away by some horrible thing. Police have so far refused to investigate because there have been no official missing persons reported. They consider it mere local superstition. |
| Your shit is going to break. Face it and move on. #778899 | |
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| Obstacles | Saturday, 26. July 2014, 15:29 Post #2 |
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Childe
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On the night of the new moon heavy clouds rolled over London and threatened rain. The park and Hither Green Cemetery are dark, lacking much in the way of streetlights and visibility. The abandoned chapel in the center of the cemetery seems to hunch under it's spire as though the old stone building is expecting a blow at any moment. The neighborhood is quiet, nearly everyone has taken to staying off the streets at night and only the passing cars show that life remains in the area. The houses have their curtains drawn and shuttered and the streets seem eerily empty of even stray dogs and cats. The stone wall outside the cemetery has been gratified repeatedly, slogans like "Count The Shadows" and "Don't Go Into the Dark" decorate the walls like warning signs, along with the more normal gang tags and vandalism. The air is heavy and silent but for the moving cars. No sounds of animals moving, no sounds of people walking down the street. Just the wet wind blowing softly through the tombstones and carrying a damp, muggy heat that lingers on this summer night. The whole area seems poised to wait the arrival of those brave enough to dare the mysteries of the Remembrance Garden. |
| Your shit is going to break. Face it and move on. #778899 | |
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| Margo Moreau | Saturday, 26. July 2014, 20:08 Post #3 |
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Rebel Toreador
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Margo parked her Subaru BRZ a few blocks from the cemetery on Hazelbank Road. When the little rose popped out of her car she was amused to see she had unintentionally parked next to the Every Success Driving School of Motoring. Convenient to have a driving school near a cemetery, you know in case things went horribly wrong. Margo was wearing all black, it was essentially the same outfit she wore into Germany. Combat boots, cargo pants and a turtleneck commando sweater. She was armed with her Glock-22 (belt), her Glock-17 (shoulder), 4 extra clips (2 on belt, 2 in pockets) and her artifact silver knife (belt). She also had an LED Maglite (in hand), a mini LED Maglite (pocket) and an almost entirely unused Leatherman multi-tool (pocket). She wore a black trench coat for now to hide all the weapons she was packing. Margo made her way to the terminus of Hazelbank where it met Verdant Lane. This seemed to be the main gate. If she remembered right this was where everyone was meeting. The little Rose was early so she decided to scout around a bit along the walls of the cemetery, without actually entering it. She was using [Heightened Senses] and keeping an eye out for any ghosts that might reveal themselves. |
![]() English French Theme Songs: New Rose by The Damned, Mommy's Little Monster by Social Distortion | |
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| Obstacles | Saturday, 26. July 2014, 20:58 Post #4 |
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Childe
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Few people know it, but the fences around Cemeteries are believed to serve a purpose. It is said that by creating a boundary around places where one buries the dead, the spirits of the disturbed and damned cannot wander among the living. That may well be true, for when Margo looks into the Cemetery she sees a horde of the dead. Many of them appeared to simply linger over their graves, doing nothing, static memories. But dozens of ghosts wandered the graveyard, silent screams echoing from their mouths. All show signs of horrible mauling before death, their stomachs and chest cavities ripped and torn open. The near translucent spirits have ragged scraps of ectoplasmic flesh hanging from empty organ cavities. Exposed ribs shows show signs of gnawing teeth. Necks are torn open and split wide with clear signs of having been chewed. Even the thicker areas of the biceps and thighs seem to have been ravaged by hungry teeth. Those dead seemed to be screaming, an eerie wailing sound for those who could hear it. A mindless keening scream that just seems to go on and on and on. They show no real sign of sentience anymore, just haunted agonized things that died so brutally that their minds shattered before they finally passed away. The closer one's eyes go towards the abandoned chapel, the thicker the eaten screaming dead grow. |
| Your shit is going to break. Face it and move on. #778899 | |
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| Margo Moreau | Saturday, 26. July 2014, 21:19 Post #5 |
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Rebel Toreador
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Margo yelped, squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hands over her ears. She crumpled down until she was sitting on her ankles and turned away from the screaming choir of eaten spirits. Her beast wanted to punch right out of the little Rose's skin and bolt out into the night. She had to do everything she could to keep it together... hearing that wailing was driving her mad. She desperately tried to pull her senses back onto this side of the veil. Margo had no idea how long it took her to do that. But eventually there was just the sights and sounds of the dark London street. She was quietly whimpering to herself. "That... was a really fucking bad idea." Margo muttered to herself through quivering lips. She managed to get up to her feet and made her way back to the gate. When she got there she sat down again with her back to the stone wall, burying her head into her knees. She was terrified. Margo tried to stop shaking and pull herself together before the rest of the team arrived. |
![]() English French Theme Songs: New Rose by The Damned, Mommy's Little Monster by Social Distortion | |
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| Max Keller | Saturday, 26. July 2014, 22:52 Post #6 |
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Ancilla
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Max had volunteered for a special task, he was glad that he could do something useful for the domain. He arrived punctually at the main gate of the cemetary. There was already somebody there, close to the gate. Might that be someone who was part of the team? It was a person who seemed to feel quite miserable. The face wasn´t visible, so it wasn´t certain yet if it was somebody Max knew. He was wearing a black trenchcoat, too. Under it a short dagger and a long dagger (in special holsters) were hidden, his favourite weapons. He didn´t have any guns with him, he disliked modern guns. Awful plastic things they were. In a pocket of his coat he had a pocket lamp. Max thought it might be best not to address the still unknown person. Soon he would surely know if it was one of them. So he just stood in front of the gate and waited. |
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| Margo Moreau | Saturday, 26. July 2014, 23:03 Post #7 |
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Rebel Toreador
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Margo looked up when she sensed that another person was about. Seeing the ancilla she went to her feet and gave a deferential nod of her head... it didn't seem wise to go bowing in public, even to an elder. She put on a brave smile that didn't quite make it to her big brown eyes. "Mr. Keller" Margo said. Again, keeping deference to a minimum. She had not seen the man since the little Malkavian-led debacle at Muse the other night. "Margo" she said, just in case. The little Rose then shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, looking around her in every direction EXCEPT towards the graveyard. |
![]() English French Theme Songs: New Rose by The Damned, Mommy's Little Monster by Social Distortion | |
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| Clarice Harris | Saturday, 26. July 2014, 23:26 Post #8 |
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Sexually abused by a Jew
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Clarice arrived with whole new equipment, hoping this time it will serve for a bit longer. Black cargo shorts with fairly large pockets, empty for now. Yellow tank top, it seemed almost luminescent around flood lighting. Soft-padded black and green sneakers, probably the only piece of clothing that lived through her previous tasks. Hell, she got used to them. On top of it all she worn a cheap, transparent raincoat that would be later disposed. As for accessories... A solid leather bag filled with various tools such as set of lockpicks, self-charging flashlight, claw hammer, flat chisel, all-purpose duct tape, pliers, her old SS dagger and a few pocket knives of some cheaper brand There was no gate in close proximity, only fence that looked quite climbable. Without wasting much time, she hopped over it, landing on unkempt grass, having a few old graves in her sight. The only sound she could catch was caused by drops of rain bouncing off the gravestones and waggling the grass stalks. She would move much deeper before taking out her flashlight, it was an old good habit that kept the law enforcement unaware of her presence. For now, hearing was her main navigation method [Auspex: Heightened Senses - hearing] It was quite possible other participants would catch up with her after a while |
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| Obstacles | Saturday, 26. July 2014, 23:47 Post #9 |
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Childe
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There were a number of sounds to be heard in the graveyard. The creak of branches as the steadily increasing wind caused the trees to shift and rub against each other. The hiss of grass, overdue for a mow as it shifted and slithered off itself. The faint patter as small drops of rain came in irregular waves from the thickening storm clouds. Promising a heavy storm, but so far holding back. The faint voice of a woman coming from near one of the gates. Then the explosion of sound that comes from a black cab slamming on it's horn with a blaring AAAAAAAAHH as the cab cuts off a double decker bus and the bus lays on it's OWN horn like a man possessed. The graveyard is pitch black once the road is left behind and it's hard to make out where the paths are in the darkness. It would be very easy to trip or stumble over the low lying gravestones hidden among the near knee high blades of grass. For a brief moment another sound echoed, a sniffling, snuffling panting sound, but then it was gone, covered up by another brief wave of rain and a thunderous rumble that echoed from the sky. A flash of light splitting the night sky as a bolt of lightning traveled SOMEWHERE and lit up the sky for a moment in harsh white brilliance. |
| Your shit is going to break. Face it and move on. #778899 | |
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| Franca | Sunday, 27. July 2014, 03:12 Post #10 |
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A person
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Franca arrived at the cemetery at the agreed time. She parked around the corner and walked straight to the main gate; that was the meeting place, so Henderson had said. She was dressed in black as well - best thing not to stand out in the dark. Combat boots, cargo pants, a long-sleeved sweater, a raincoat on the top. She had a dagger, provision of the Seneschal, and a hammer, provision of herself. She also had a stake disguised under her sleeve, in case their opponent was kindred and opportune to be taken as a prisoner. She had a flashlight in her hand and a second one in a pocket. As she walked to the gate she saw two people, apparently talking to each other. Other members of the expedition, most likely. Still, she couldn't see their faces, so she went closer, to recognize them or to be recognized. |
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| Max Keller | Sunday, 27. July 2014, 10:32 Post #11 |
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Ancilla
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Max suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to take a few stakes with him. He cursed himself for that lapse. How could this happen to him? In Dresden he always had stakes with him. But not here, normally. But this wasn´t a normal night. The crouched figure rose. It was indeed a member of the team...the petite Toreador. "Good evening, Margo." Maybe she prefered to be addressed with her first name? He didn´t mind doing that. Then he saw somebody approaching. Max finally recognized who it was when she came closer. "Good evening, Franca." So where was the fourth one? "So now is only Ms. Harris missing. I don´t know her yet, does any of you know her?" Franca was an even more recent newcomer to London than he was, so it was relatively unlikely that Franca knew her, but Margo hopefully knew her. |
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| Obstacles | Sunday, 27. July 2014, 13:20 Post #12 |
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Childe
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BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM The sudden explosion of thunder seemed to shake the air and a brilliant flash of lightning seemed to explode across the sky in a white streak that left burning trails on the eyes of anyone unfortunate enough to have been looking upward when the air shattered. Rain began to fall in fat fast drops. Still sparse at the moment but enough to rattle the ground as they splashed down one drop after another. For those looking into the Graveyard the lightning lit up a tall shape for a moment, though in the crazed light of the lightning bolt it was hard to tell what exactly it was. The next flash of light revealed nothing, the shape had moved, or never been there to begin with. If one were lucky enough to hear anything after the explosion of thunder, one might have heard a momentary snuffling, like a wet drain choking or an aggressive cough being snorted out. Though the low level rumbling of thunder made it hard to tell where the sounds were coming from. |
| Your shit is going to break. Face it and move on. #778899 | |
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| Clarice Harris | Sunday, 27. July 2014, 13:22 Post #13 |
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Sexually abused by a Jew
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It quickly turned out there must be some supernatural factor to this place, merely three to four steps away from the fence darkness was intensifying. It wasn't yet as heavy and crippling as the leaks from the Abyss, but it became clear it's not going to be an easy task. Clarice stepped back to the fence and moved all the way along it, almost stumbling on some pieces of rubble or maybe generic rocks. Her eyes were wandering back and forth between the wild grass and the rough path she had to work through the greens and rubble. It was a nice change from plain sidewalks and perfect lawns. Until the colossal lightning struck somewhere near, briefly blinding her unprotected eyes. Maybe it was a mirage caused the shock, but she would have sworn there was something weird in the depths of cemetery The gate should be fairly close, her new co-workers would probably hear her forthcoming struggle in the little wilderness and the sound of crumpled foil Edited by Clarice Harris, Sunday, 27. July 2014, 13:27.
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| Franca | Sunday, 27. July 2014, 23:07 Post #14 |
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A person
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Franca recognized Max and Margo; they were among the first kindred she had the chance to meet in London - although not under the most fortunate circumstances, but that was another story. "Good evening", she said to both. She restrained herself from confronting Max about... a few things. They had work to do so it was better to leave personal feelings aside. "I don't know Ms. Harris" she said, "I guess she'll be here soon". If she hadn't appeared they could've contacted by phone. Anyway, it wasn't actually late yet and she might've been right around the corner.. Then the thunderstorm started. Franca put on the hood of her raincoat before she was soaked. She was looking at the graveyard when the lightning made for an instant the night brighter. Thus, she saw the mysterious figure inside there. "Have you seen it, too? Is there someone inside?" she whispered to her mates. Another look - no sign of that individual, nor it was easy to look for him in the dark and rainy night. She didn't move from the entrance, but was ready to react if that was the case. Edited by Franca, Thursday, 16. October 2014, 14:19.
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| Margo Moreau | Monday, 28. July 2014, 04:11 Post #15 |
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Rebel Toreador
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Margo's back was to the graveyard. So... she didn't see anything... she might have heard something... nah. The little Rose was still a bit skittish over the spooking she just had and she jumped at the thunderclaps. Margo seemed relieved to see Franca. "Oh, I am so glad to see you, Franca." It was not the time but Margo really wanted to say how sorry she was about the debacle with Aaron the last time they were together. "I am sure tonight will go smoother then the night we first met, how could it not?" Margo smirked into a dimple. There. She glanced at Max as well and shrugged. He had been there too after all. Then he asked over Ms. Harris. "I... I've heard of Ms. Harris. She works for the prince. I've never met her. Would you like to send her a text or something and see if she is on her way?" It was a rhetorical question really. Margo pulled out the burner-phone Henderson provided and sent out a text to Ms. Harris... @punkrockrose ---> @teamharris: Three of us at the gate. ETA? |
![]() English French Theme Songs: New Rose by The Damned, Mommy's Little Monster by Social Distortion | |
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| Clarice Harris | Monday, 28. July 2014, 13:29 Post #16 |
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Sexually abused by a Jew
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There was something buzzing near her groin, but she was quite certain she left her phone home. Then she realized everyone, including her, received a special tactical phone. Clumsily unveiling her raincoat she pulled the still flashing phone out of her pocket. Apparently it was a text from her team... Typing in the rain was not very easy for her, it sure slowed her down
Having sent the message, she threw the phone inside her bag and reached for the flashlight, so that the rest of her team would see her coming a lot more easily. Cold LED was illuminating her way and the fence. Deep inside she was still a bit anxious about the police, or any kind of guards for that matter. But if three suspicious individuals were gathered at the very gate, sure her light couldn't be worse than that |
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| Max Keller | Monday, 28. July 2014, 14:08 Post #17 |
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Ancilla
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"Yes, there´s someone in the graveyard." Max had seen that figure, too, but wouldn´t be able to tell if it was a man or woman. Might it be Ms. Harris? Possibly. He was not too pleased about that thunderstorm. His Trenchcoat was waterproof, but it didn´t have a hood, so his head got wet. Margo refered to their first encounter in the Muse. All three of them were here now, but Mr. Raugrafen wasn´t, luckily. Within the team it was likely to go smoother than during that encounter, but there might be some enemies lurking in the shadows? Max would certainly not write a message. He would call Ms. Harris, if anything. But indeed there was no reason to get worried yet, she wasn´t late yet. That text message writing these days was a real menace. To get used to making phonecalls had been difficult enough for Max, and he tried to avoid text messages. |
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| Obstacles | Monday, 28. July 2014, 14:22 Post #18 |
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Childe
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The thunder was a continual dull rumble at this point. The rain had slowed until it was a mere wash of heavy drops falling in fat slow smacks into the ground. It was steady but not particularly dense. The wind tapered off somewhat now that the gust front had passed. Lightning still crackled across the sky at irregular intervals but it seemed like the storm might have spent most of it's energy in it's explosive arrival. It seemed to be settling in for a long slow rainfall that would leech the heat from the summer air and leave everything smelling crisp and clean once more when it passed. A light flicked on among the paths leading towards the gate, illuminating the Malkavian Harris as she approached the other waiting members of the Seneschal's little group. Though little of the back scatter reached the Malkavian so unless she intentionally aimed the light up at herself she was merely a silhouette approaching with a lit torch. A sound seemed to drift on the wind from within the graveyard, a faint rasping sound, like stone sliding on stone and a thump, but it was hard to pinpoint over the thunder and the steady whisking sound of the rain falling. Close examination of the park and the graveyard would reveal why the area was so dark. Each and every streetlight within the park had been broken. The tops smashed by something to prevent the light from illuminating the area. Between that, the new moon and the storm it would explain why the night was so abysmally dark. |
| Your shit is going to break. Face it and move on. #778899 | |
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| Franca | Monday, 28. July 2014, 15:27 Post #19 |
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A person
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Sure, chasing a mysterious Masquerade-breaking something in a pitch black graveyard will certainly go smoother than a night of fashionable small talk... It must mean something. She smirked back, Margo seemed nice for what she had seen. Then the Rose texted Ms. Harris without a second thought. Franca would have waited some other minute but would have sent a message as well: she had made a committment to keep up with modern times and messages were quite practical once you got used. Before they could wait for an answer, anyway, a light appeared in the graveyard, showing a yet unknown figure that was coming closer. "Look, someone's coming from inside the graveyard" she whispered to her mates. Could that be Ms. Harris? But why had she already gone inside? She wasn't sure the figure was the same she had seen before, either. She wouldn't have sweared it but the size didn't seem the same. |
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| Margo Moreau | Tuesday, 29. July 2014, 04:24 Post #20 |
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Rebel Toreador
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"So..." Margo said. "Fun fact: I can see ghosts. And, surprise! This graveyard is full of them. But... there are some strange ghosts. They still show the signs of the horrid deaths they had; and there are lots of them. They are... wailing in pain and were killed well, by being eaten. Like... huge bites taken out of them. These ghosts in particular... well, there are more of them the closer you get to that chapel over there." Margo still looked a bit unsettled about it. Then she got the return text from Ms. Harris and started to read it... "Harris says that..." then it was mentioned that someone was in the cemetery. Margo turned around and brought up her [Auspex: Heightened Senses] and should she see a target then [Aura Perception] Margo was hoping it was Ms. Harris. Edited by Margo Moreau, Tuesday, 29. July 2014, 04:32.
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![]() English French Theme Songs: New Rose by The Damned, Mommy's Little Monster by Social Distortion | |
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2:01 AM Jul 11