[IC]Princes of the City

[Ancient History]

Seth is probably still in Kel's manor and checking on Elysium happenings via the cameras there. He'll cross reference GPS coordinates with Elysium camera footage, and try to get a visual/past visuals.

Searching with the cameras, Seth finally hones in on the Erika's cellphone - it appears to be propped up in an empty corner, surrounded by a dark "circle" that covers all three walls.

He'll try to see if he can trace the current coordinates of the chip. If it's somewhere with cameras, he'll try to get a visual. If not/afterwards he'll try to find more about the nature and/or history of that particular chip and/or that kind of chip.

The chip is a standard RFID implant, the kind parents were all the rage to get kids tagged with in the 2000s - helicopter parenting at its finest. The GPS signal from the microchip comes through quickly, and crosschecking it with GoogleMaps spits out an address: the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Juneau.

"Albeit not strictly necessary, we thank you for serving as herald to the spirit's message. I will now take my leave to introduce Madame Hermes, in that your stated business here would appear to be at an end."

Nodding to Stan, Memphis tips his hat to Hermes and Suzanne, then takes his leave.

Verge approaches the spirit of Joe Juno.
"What the hell is going on?"

The ghost of Joe Juneau looks as gaunt and diseased as when he first exited life; the disease that killed him almost seems to hover around him like a thin miasma.

"Thar's wuss things than bein' a haint," the spirit wheezes, "an' one of 'em has blown intar mah town. A ghost-eater. Got the whole community riled." One bemittened hand rubs absently at his ectoplasmic beard. "We're all hole'd up naow in the Land of Black Ice - ol' Injun haint grounds, away from the Skinlands. The natives don't like it much, an wuss, somebody's messin' with they's fetters. Ain't nobody know who's gonna go next. All them computer boyz already gone missin'...seems she must-a had a taste for 'em." After this long speech, the wheezing ghost collapses once more into silence.

[hyzmarca]

Verge approaches the spirit of Joe Juno.
"What the hell is going on?"

The ghost of Joe Juneau looks as gaunt and diseased as when he first exited life; the disease that killed him almost seems to hover around him like a thin miasma.

"Thar's wuss things than bein' a haint," the spirit wheezes, "an' one of 'em has blown intar mah town. A ghost-eater. Got the whole community riled." One bemittened hand rubs absently at his ectoplasmic beard. "We're all hole'd up naow in the Land of Black Ice - ol' Injun haint grounds, away from the Skinlands. The natives don't like it much, an wuss, somebody's messin' with they's fetters. Ain't nobody know who's gonna go next. All them computer boyz already gone missin'...seems she must-a had a taste for 'em." After this long speech, the wheezing ghost collapses once more into silence.

"Joe, I promise you. I'm going to kill this ghost-eater. I'm going to rip out her heart. Blow her up. Scatter her ashes in the sun. Whatever it takes. But I need information."


Verge questions Joe in a friendly and reassuring way, seeking any information about the ghost eater, a description, her possible whereabouts, more information about her victims, anything. [Manipulation 2, Empathy 5]

[Koumei]

When Memphis leaves, Suzanne nods to Hermes. She'd rather get the newcomers out of the way (and out of earshot) before speaking with the team, anyway. Considering the sensitive matters at hand, there's no need to cause a fuss.

"You may approach and speak."

[Ancient History]

Hermes bows from the neck. "I speak for the Inner Council of the Camarilla. They have seen the reports of a 'vampire murder' on the news, and have become concerned at this breach of the Masquerade."

[radthemad4]

(Is the circle identical to the one we saw earlier? Also, where is Kel's mansion?)

He'll send everyone a message:

"The burglar's phone is currently in a dark circle in elysium. More specifically, it's in <location>"

Seth will go through the camera footage and try to find out when and how the circle was created.He'll set an event listener to notify him if the chip moves outside the Church.

He'll text Verge and Stan:

"Found the chip that's hopefully still on the girl. It's currently in St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church. I'll keep you posted if it moves."

[Ancient History]

(Is the circle identical to the one we saw earlier?)

The other circle was flat on the ground, the one in Elysium covers the entire corner, stretching up both walls and down again.

Seth will go through the camera footage and try to find out when and how the circle was created.

Rolling through the camera footage, Seth notices that some time after the museum break-in, but before dawn, the masked figure dressed in black enters Elysium, and proceeds directly to the corner. With their back to the camera it is difficult to see exactly what they are doing, but you notice that they raise the bottom part of their mask for at least a few moments. When they turn to leave, the cellphone is in the circle in the corner.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Stan checks out both the AP feed and the Juneau Empire mobile site to see what retraction/clarification the group's ally has submitted. (Edit: I should have specified he would have done this upon awaking. Hopefully it doesn't come across as a faux pas by being done in front of a Cam. rep..)

[Ancient History]

Stan checks out both the AP feed and the Juneau Empire mobile site to see what retraction/clarification the group's ally has submitted. (Edit: I should have specified he would have done this upon awaking. Hopefully it doesn't come across as a faux pas by being done in front of a Cam. rep..)

BuzzFeed and Huffington Post have pulled or amended their original reports to "animal attack" instead of "vampire murder," but the original is floating around the blogosphere; certain specific details - including smartphone photos and videos - are up on YouTube and Twitter. Now that the story is out there, all the damage control in the world can't pull the signal back from the internet. Still, so far it's all anonymous sources and bloggers, not serious outlets. Hardly even clickbait, unless you're a hunter...

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Whispered, to Suzanne: "My Prince, briefly putting aside our lack of involvement in the murder, the situation has been addressed in legitimized sources, leaving but the New Media. At our disposal are local agents which may serve to discredit amateur journalists."

(Edit: also, Stan is freaked the heck out by the phone being found in what he considers the group's church. In that the building is a 1500' walk away he'd like to check that shit out with a quickness.)(Edit2: my grammar is, upon occasion, atrocious)

[Whipstitch]

If Stan leaves in a hurry Max will excuse himself and offer to go with Stan if it's about checking out the phone 'n' church.

[radthemad4]

(Edit: also, Stan is freaked the heck out by the phone being found in what he considers the group's church. In that the building is a 1500' walk away he'd like to check that shit out with a quickness.

(The museum burglar's phone is currently in another Dark Circle in JAHC (Elysium). Verge found out that one of the daughters of Lilith was tagged with a microchip. Seth traced that chip to the church)

Seth will try to reverse image search the bottom half of the burglar's face in social networks, police records, google and secret masquerade internet.

Intelligence 5
Perception 3

Intuition 3

Computer 5 (Data Retrieval)
Investigation 3
Occult 3
Enigmas 3

Higher Purpose (Finding out what's really going on)
Computer Aptitude

[Koumei]

Suzanne gives a small nod.

"To be frank, I am surprised such exaggerated news has already made its way out of here. Then again, I suppose you have planted spies amongst us, so you would get unfiltered information.

There is no breach of the masquerade: that has already been dealt with, an official story already put out. Furthermore, we exist in a time where fake vampire attacks are the norm, where people just accept that crazy people try these things thanks to certain films. While this is not a suggestion for people to show less caution, it does mean covering the events was a lot easier.

Now, as to your sending assassins to deal with the matter... did you not consider asking my permission first, before taking such an unwise course of action? I do not wish to have a bigger event that needs explaining away."

[Ancient History]

Hermes bows deeper. "The Inner Council has faith in your ability to contain and misdirect the press, Prince. You have shown resourcefulness in establishing and maintaining your domain. No, the issue is that the style of the attack was recognized. The perpetrator is on the Red List."

Holding their hands apart in front of them, light and shadow seems to shift, forming unnatural images - clever illusions, though the power of the blood is reduced to a form of Power Point. The images are all violent in the extreme; the central figure a blond woman with a tattoo'd face. Her raw strength and speed are terrifying blurs of motion as she tears through SWAT teams, vampires, even a great hoary werewolf with a massive crude blade in its paws...

"Eris, called the Gorgoneion." Hermes' voice is carefully neutral. "Brujah antitribu, of the 13th generation after Caine. In life, she was an archaeologist. During a dig in Greece ten years ago she ran afoul of a Sabbat pack. She survived six nights in their tender mercies, and given the embrace as a reward. Eris embraced her new existence, and was trained by the Sabbat as an assassin..."

The flickering images change to show a sequence of victims. Each of them has the exaggerated bite-marks you recall seeing on Rosa's corpse.

"...until late last year, when she was revealed to be a Bahari, a devotee of Lilith, and was declared a heretic. There were also charges of diabolism, though we have no evidence for that as yet."

The shadows and lights fade, and Hermes drops their hands. "While we have faith in your abilities, and Eris is relatively young for a Kindred, you must understand that she has been trained extensively in the combat Disciplines, and in skills and techniques designed to kill other Kindred. She is highly dangerous. Further," Hermes smiles, "the Council believes that with the right...incentive...she may even join the Camarilla. This is why the Inner Council wishes to take no chances. The agents of the Council should be here a little after midnight. The Council expects that they will receive your full cooperation."

Seth will try to reverse image search the bottom half of the burglar's face in social networks, police records, google and secret masquerade internet.

No luck; a bottom half of a face isn't much to go by.

Stan is freaked the heck out by the phone being found in what he considers the group's church. In that the building is a 1500' walk away he'd like to check that shit out with a quickness.

If Stan leaves in a hurry Max will excuse himself and offer to go with Stan if it's about checking out the phone 'n' church.

The St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is quiet by night; vespers was hours ago, the tourists all gone and the doors locked. Stan and Max circle the octagonal building, and double-check the signal: the chip is definitely inside.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

(We'll say Stan doesn't have a key as a ready excuse to use a proxy)
Stan calls up his ally Fr. Yazzie, whose residence is adjacent to the church, and asks him to unlock the building.

"A friend dropped an electronic doodad inside during a recent visit. Would you be so kind as to take a look inside for it?"

[hyzmarca]

Hermes bows deeper. "The Inner Council has faith in your ability to contain and misdirect the press, Prince. You have shown resourcefulness in establishing and maintaining your domain. No, the issue is that the style of the attack was recognized. The perpetrator is on the Red List."

Holding their hands apart in front of them, light and shadow seems to shift, forming unnatural images - clever illusions, though the power of the blood is reduced to a form of Power Point. The images are all violent in the extreme; the central figure a blond woman with a tattoo'd face. Her raw strength and speed are terrifying blurs of motion as she tears through SWAT teams, vampires, even a great hoary werewolf with a massive crude blade in its paws...

"Eris, called the Gorgoneion." Hermes' voice is carefully neutral. "Brujah antitribu, of the 13th generation after Caine. In life, she was an archaeologist. During a dig in Greece ten years ago she ran afoul of a Sabbat pack. She survived six nights in their tender mercies, and given the embrace as a reward. Eris embraced her new existence, and was trained by the Sabbat as an assassin..."

The flickering images change to show a sequence of victims. Each of them has the exaggerated bite-marks you recall seeing on Rosa's corpse.

"...until late last year, when she was revealed to be a Bahari, a devotee of Lilith, and was declared a heretic. There were also charges of diabolism, though we have no evidence for that as yet."

The shadows and lights fade, and Hermes drops their hands. "While we have faith in your abilities, and Eris is relatively young for a Kindred, you must understand that she has been trained extensively in the combat Disciplines, and in skills and techniques designed to kill other Kindred. She is highly dangerous. Further," Hermes smiles, "the Council believes that with the right...incentive...she may even join the Camarilla. This is why the Inner Council wishes to take no chances. The agents of the Council should be here a little after midnight. The Council expects that they will receive your full cooperation."

Upon hearing this, Verge speaks out of turn.

"The killer is a ghost eater. I have direct testimony to that. Eris has been collecting fetters. That's why she broke into the museum, and why she's been digging up graves. It has already taken number of young wraiths, computer specialists, but they obviously weren't the primary target. Those could be found anywhere. "

"Rosa, the murder victim, was spiritually empty, It's likely that she was consumed, as well. She was also exanguinated before the killing bite was delivered. Though it is possible that she's working with some other creature, given the sheer size of the wound. Unlikely, but possible. It's more likely that Erris has some very big teeth when she wants to."

"In either case, I have already promised my contacts in the spirit world that I would see this ghost-eater dead. By all evidence, she Sired a Childe, then murdered her and consumed her soul, just to make a point to us. No matter how useful she might be, I will not support any deal that does not end with her meeting the sun, unless that deal ends with her decapitation, dismemberment, and incineration. At that point, I'd leave it to the dead to administer their justice."

[Ancient History]

Hermes avoids the gaze of all, but speaks loudly enough that all can hear. "The Council has already decided. Their agents will soon be here - they will not require your cooperation, nor strain your resources. I would advise you not to interfere with their mission." So saying, Hermes bows once more to Suzanne. "Prince, I have been instructed to remain and make the introductions when they arrive."

[Shady314]

Since Hermes seems finished it shouldn't be rude now to check the message Ia received. Seeing this news about a circle Ia shuffles off immediately to check it out. Int 4 [Analyzing] + Occult 5 [Rituals]
Assuming this seems to be the same as the circle at the murder scene Ia would recommend leaving the building.

Text:
"It appears Elysium has had an unwelcome visitor. We should move to another location. From a thaumaturgical perspective this site is wildly exposed. We could be scryed on at this very moment.
We can spin this as a reaction to the news that Eris is on the red List. A simple precaution to move from a known and expected location to an unexpected one.
Furthermore I can confirm the woman Hermes has shown us is definitely the one that left the circle of blood."

[Ancient History]

Since Hermes seems finished it shouldn't be rude now to check the message Ia received. Seeing this news about a circle Ia shuffles off immediately to check it out. Int 4 [Analyzing] + Occult 5 [Rituals]
Assuming this seems to be the same as the circle at the murder scene Ia would recommend leaving the building.

The circle is a simple trail of a dried black substance - possibly vitae, though normally that would turn to ash by now - and does very much resemble the circle from the murder scene. There are no sigils or other symbols, which is odd for most occult circles; either this is something different, or possible something very primitive.

[Prak]

((Sorry for checking out for a bit. It's been... a somewhat stressful two weeks, and I wasn't in the headspace to keep up with the game))

Kel slips into Elysium and keeps to the background, simply listening. He's the Sheriff, he doesn't need to know much, just where force needs to be applied. At the mention of Eris embracing her nature much as he did, an eyebrow lifts. If it were possible, it'd lift further at the mention of Bahari. "Well, this should be interesting indeed," he finally says. "Glad I'm not obligated to the spirits..."

[hyzmarca]

Verge removes the pendant from his neck and gives it to Kell.

"You'll probably get more use out of this than I will. It's not really my thing. Just be careful with what's inside. It's a bit dangerous."

If Kell opens the locket he'll find the tattoo that was excised from Rosa.

He then follows Ia to the circle, and examines it with his own psychic senses [Medium Merit, Aura Reading, Perception 4, Empathy 5]

[Prak]

"I'll see what I can do. My magic is a bit more specialized, but I think I can work something." He considers the locket, "I can use some magic, but what do we specifically need to know? When I'm poking around, I don't want to come up with things we already know or don't need."

[Ancient History]

He then follows Ia to the circle, and examines it with his own psychic senses [Medium Merit, Aura Reading, Perception 4, Empathy 5]

Verge focuses his psychic senses on the circle and its contents, but whatever entity may once have inhabited it seems to have departed.

[radthemad4]

(Sorry, got caught up with moving)

Seth watches and listens to the elysium proceedings via camera. He gulps, seeing the illusions of Eris in action.

"Okay, yesterday night could have gone a lot worse."

However he now had a name.

"The killer is a ghost eater. I have direct testimony to that. Eris has been collecting fetters. That's why she broke into the museum, and why she's been digging up graves. It has already taken number of young wraiths, computer specialists, but they obviously weren't the primary target. Those could be found anywhere. "

Seth will look up Eris, current and past, including more info on her archaeologist days. He'll also look up info on the victims Verge mentioned.

Intelligence 5
Perception 3

Intuition 3

Computer 5 (Data Retrieval)
Investigation 3
Occult 3
Enigmas 3

Higher Purpose (Finding out what's really going on)
Computer Aptitude

[hyzmarca]

He then follows Ia to the circle, and examines it with his own psychic senses [Medium Merit, Aura Reading, Perception 4, Empathy 5]

Verge focuses his psychic senses on the circle and its contents, but whatever entity may once have inhabited it seems to have departed.

Verge speaks to Ia "This isn't good. If there was something here, it isn't here anymore. If Eris put it here for a reason, then it's already done its job, or already doing it.

Eris was going after hacker spirits. She has their fetters. She can probably bind them and command them. I don't think electronic communications are secure. "

[Ancient History]

Seth will look up Eris, current and past, including more info on her archaeologist days. He'll also look up info on the victims Verge mentioned.

"Eris" must be her Vampire moniker; it's not uncommon for vampires to take on new identities as they transition to unlife. Still, with her basic physical description and facts, you should be able to dig up something...you set some bots to the task of sorting out facts. It may take a few hours before you have anything.