Vampire: Dark Ages by chris

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rydi
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Post by rydi »

(how does animal husbandry go? is this the right thread for that?)
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Post by Guardiankrillin »

(I think you would post under training if I understand what chris was setting up.)
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Post by durden »

Cheyne:

:: Mario leaves to meet the Glazier after feeding. He is currently working on panes for the Herbalists office. You walk around the church building, taking in the sights. In the stalls nearby, the grooms are leading the animals to the manger. You follow the path along which, toward the wall, the various stalls are located; to the right, against the choir, are the dormitory of the monks and the latrines. Then, as the east wall turns northward, at the angle of the stone girdle, is the smithy. The smiths are drawing out their tools and lighting the fires, about to begin a night’s work. You move with curiosity toward one part of the smithy, almost separated from the rest of the workshop, where one monk is putting preparing his tools. On his table is a very beautiful collection of multicol¬ored pieces of glass, of tiny dimensions, but larger panes are set against the wall. In front of him there is a still-unfinished reliquary of which only the silver skeleton exists, but on it he had obviously been setting bits of glass and stones, which his instruments have reduced to the dimensions of gems.
Thus you met Michael of Morimondo, master glazier of the abbey. He explains to you that in the rear part of the forge they also blow glass, whereas in this front part, where the smiths work, the glass is fixed to the leads, to make windows. But, he adds, the great works of stained glass that adorned the church and the Aedificium have been completed at least two centuries before. Now he and the others confine themselves to minor tasks, and to repairing the damage of time. Michael, wearing the cropped hair of a monk but dressed in a heavy apron and plain work clothes, continues ::

"And with great difficulty, because it’s impossible now to find the colors of the old days, especially the remarkable blue you can still see in the choir, so limpid that, when the moon is high, it pours a light of paradise into the nave. The glass on the west side of the nave, restored not long ago, is not of the same quality, and you can tell, on summer nights. It’s hopeless. We no longer have the learning of the ancients, the age of giants is past!”
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Post by rydi »

''i don't know anything about the ancients, but it's all still so pretty. you are a great craftsman... thank you for explaining to me. if you don't mind i'll come back and watch you when I have time... I should be tending the animals. g-goodbye.

::mario runs off to hide with the animals, the combination of fire, art, and fear of rejection combining to overwhelm him.::
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Post by durden »

"Uhm, but...ok. See ya!

:: He looks disappointed, as though he expected you to be a prized student. He'll get over it, you imagine. All that fire makes you nervous. How can they stand it? You walk back to the stalls. You round the corner hearing an odd array of animal sounds. Grunting and whinnying welcome you. You witness an altercation between a monk and a rather spirited horse. The horse is as black as the night sky, save for the spot of snow white on its chest. The monk is not as inspiringly beautiful. He is a miserable looking creature, a hunched over, pig-faced little troll. This is Salvatore, you think to yourself. It seems he is attempting to force the unwilling steed into its stall. He looks to you, grimacing ::

“Don’t just stand there! Help!”

:: You consider going back to the fire as Salvatore receives a strong kick to the face, almost loosing the reins ::
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Post by rydi »

(the next day mario will return to the glass blower. i just didn't feel that it would be appropriate to dive into something that he would actually care about. his whole life has been about not getting what he wants, whether it is career, a new pair of shoes, the pretty village girls, or simple respect from anyone, including his parents. it will take some time to build the courage to go take a risk.)

::mario seems strangely at ease next to the ugly man, ankle deep in horse shit. He uses his strength to reign in the animal, and his dull wits to calm the beast.::
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Post by Guardiankrillin »

::Arriving back at the abbey Abellio places his items in a safe place to later finish his celebration. Hurridly Abellio descends on Malachi's location wishing not to anger his host, any further.::

(assuming he was escorted by Flevotomos)
::When he arrives he bows to Flevotomos::

" I thank you in assisting Malachi with returning me."

::Abellio slowly walks to Malachi's Chamber or current location, and bows before taking a seat.::
Last edited by Guardiankrillin on Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by durden »

(oops, I addressed the beginning of this in another thread. But it's there. By all means, continue it here)
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Mario and Glaucus

Post by durden »

Mario
:: You grab a loose rein and pull hard toward you. You aren’t really sure how to calm a horse. You remember your father cursing and later slapping your mother at the dinner table, creating an awkward dining experience. So you follow suit. Shouting obscenities, you wrestle the great steed. The two of you seem evenly matched. Great, another thing as strong or stronger than you. Shouldn’t you be better than any man or beast? After several back and forth exchanges, you find your footing and rein the beast in. Actually, you pull rather hard and it stumbles and crashes hard into a nearby cart. That took the fight out of it and it seems none the worse for wear. Proud of your accomplishment, you lead the beast back into its stall, using kinder, more horse-friendly words. You are unsure if it is your whisperings or the heavily blow the horse received to the head that has subdued it. Still, it is a good start. The monks around you do not seem to approve of you language. Several make crusifxes across their bodies and pray for your soul.

Salvatore laughs at your antics. It actually sound more like a wounded animal’s cries of pain. What an odd little man. He shambles over and locks the stall behind the horse. ::

“Glaucus is his name. Malachi’s horse. You did good. *snort* Yes. Gave him a little what for, no? Heheh. [mutters something in Latin, or maybe French? To the horse]. Well now. Yes yes. Your training shall begin. We have pigs to drain. I will show you how we keep the blood. Keeps it fresh. Yes. Follow.”

:: The mangled monk limps over to the pig stalls, beckoning you to follow. Dozens of pigs occupy a series of five large pens. The nearest pen houses four fat pigs, busy greedily devouring slop provided to them by another hand. Salavtore shoes the other monk away and half-climbs, half-falls into the pen over the stockade. He proceeds to lift up the largest pig, which is squealing loudly, as though it is aware of its fate. Salvatore drops it in a small, adjoining enclosure, where he proceeds to slit its throat, draining the free-flowing vitae into a large trough. You nearly frenzy. Salvatore shares a wicked grin. Offering out the knife and pointing to another hog, seemingly oblivious as it consumes. Much like humanity, you think to yourself. ::
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Post by Guardiankrillin »

::Abellio knowing to choose his words lightly examines the situation and speaks::

"I know that I have caused some trouble here. I know that although what I did had its reasons, it was not the affect that occurred that I was looking for. I also know that I stressed a relation between yourself, this abbey's existence, Pollox, and the fair town bellow. None of these consequences were sought. In doing so I have stressed our relationship and I apologize for this."

(First roll Charisma or Manipulation + Empathy to convince Malachai of his sincerity)

"Although I did not know of your agreement with Pollox or his existence until this evening. I have apologized to Pollox for my reckless endangerment of the abbeys existence and your agreement with Pollox."

::Abellio knowing of the religion that is taught at this establishment uses this knowledge to his advantage.::

(Second roll Intelligence + Theology to glean ideas from his own knowledge on how to approach the situation further after his words are finished.)

"I have disgraced you and for this I repent. As you will be choosing my punishment for my actions I request that I make a suggestion, I wish to learn more about your hand in how the abbey is run so that I may later not run into the same predicaments. I have spoken to long please tell me if I am wrong on any of my interpretations and feel free to elaborate on any points that I have stated or explain anything unforseen that my actions may have caused."

(Third roll Charisma or Manipulation + Etiquette for my whole coversation to make sure it was recieved well.)

******Rolls*********
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Abbelio and Malachi

Post by durden »

Abbelio

:: Malachi remains still and quiet. As usual, his hood is pulled down, obscuring his face. His long, boney finger etches along the natural grains of the wood as he listens to your words. An uncomfortable silence passes. Malachi’s deep, cracked voice breaks the silence finally after several minutes. It sounds…tired? You are unsure, but there is a labored quality to it ::

“Child, there is no concern for honor or the disgrace of our noble order. When a sheep strays, we strive to retrieve it and return it to the flock, none the worse for wear. I am not seeking to apply penance. That should come from within. A natural submission to the Lord for our very being. An abomination we are. Do not forget this. No doubt, Pollox expressed his disdain for our kind. He is a true champion, though he has fallen far from his former approbation. His kin were killed while he was away, fulfilling a family obligation overseas, in on of the many crusades sponsored by the papacy. It is still unknown who the assailants were, but Pollox now simply wanders his territory, waiting out the years. A tenious peace has now become an inevitability for him. I allow him to save face, allowing him the opportunity to ‘tolerate’ us on his land. Of course, he could do very little to stop us. That is not the point. Our interests are mutual. He is a protector of us as much as we are of him. Make no mistake in underestimating him. He could have easily killed you this evening, should he have seen a need. Which brings us to the question.

What on earth were you doing up there?”
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Post by Guardiankrillin »

::Abellio clears his throat before speaking.::

"As you know I came from a culture far from here and from a distant past. My culture viewed this time of year as a time of celebration. We viewed it as a time to stand back and celebrate the harvest of that year. This celebration was what I was undertaking. My intentions were of celebration nothing more. During this celebration it was customary to create a pyre and to bring the light from the pyre to re-light and rejuvenate the lights of the area. I do not expect you to accept or understand this practice. I wish to finish the process since it has caused so much trouble, if you will allow. I appologize for the commotion this has caused. please allow me to assist with your daily buisness and learn from your actions. I understand if you decline."

::Abellio silences his lips and sits back waiting for Malachai's response. Eager to see something that indicates his mood.::

(First Roll Charisma or Manipulation + Empathy to discern his reaction to my comments.)

******Rolls**********
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Post by durden »

Abbelio:

:: With his face ever-shrouded, it is impossible to discern his mood until he speaks. Giving away little in his tone, Malachi speaks slowly and assertively ::
“Your pagan rituals will be tolerated as long as they do not compromise what we have established here. Our kind…our kind our far enough removed from Heaven that I am not concerned for the impact and undue influence your beliefs may have upon my monks. We all come from different backgrounds and have some different beliefs. Not all of my monks are as...committed as I would prefer. This haven keeps vampires off the streets. The monks here are no longer predators. That is the first step. Some of them were not wicked. Some were cold-blooded killers. Salvatore himself has made the greatest transformation, both literal and physical. I rescued him from that life some years ago. A former Minorite, under the misguided Dolcino, he committed some terrible atrocities. His penitent nature is evident in his form. Perhaps he will tell you the tales himself. It is not for me to say. Once a leader in his clan, he now rests satisfied in his lowly lot. He is an inspiration. The true intent of this abbey. He can teach you much.

Proceed with whatever ritual you deem necessary. For now, I rest content knowing that you have temporarily, at least, forgone the hunt. We feed from those without sole. Or in some cases, as our resident Ventrue has different tastes, from those willing to give freely. I have always wandered that, if given time, those tastes may change. Perhaps he will illuminate. But I digress…

Pollox may offer a great deal. His tragedy may have iced his heart to a degree that no one may grow close. Perhaps a friend is what he needs. It will take some true work, and commitment on your part, but I suspect a kindred is exactly what his poor soul yearns for. I have another student that may also share a good deal of likeness to yourself, though he is simply not ready. It will take much work to calm his spirit. Perhaps in time… Always time. At least that is something we have in abundance, yes?
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Post by Guardiankrillin »

::Abellio's mood lightens::

"I do appreciate your understanding of myself and the others here. In due time I may ask Salvatore of his story. I will use discretion from here on out or will travel far outside the reaches of influence for the town and abbey to conduct my celebrations.

I would very much like to befriend Pollox he seems rough around the edges but I saw something in him that I highly regard. He appreciates nature and her beauty. His heart may be iced but I saw a small spark of warmth when I spoke with him earlier. As you said it will take time but it is a trait we are not lacking in.

I thank you for your words. If I may continue my celebration by re-lighting the lights here and I then will assist any of the monks that need my assistance. Soon it will be time for us to dine for the night as well."
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Post by durden »

Abbelio:

"Very well, my child."

:: Malachi again refers you to Marco for any duties around the abbey and bids you a good evening. As you leave, an old monk, a man well into his seventies, hastily enters the room, brushing past you. As the door closes, you glimpse the man rush to Malachi's side, dropping to one knee and taking the abbot's hand. Before the door shuts, you hear a cryptic remark from the old monk you have heard referenced as Berro ::

"Ill tidings master. Ill tidings!"

:: The door shuts loudly, leaving you to ponder what on earth the monk could be referring to ::
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