2021.02.25:OC2L First Vaulderie

Disused Warehouse Block(#14991RM)

The salty smells of the sea combine with tarry scents in the little-used port nestled within this section of warehouses. This concrete wharf is composed of multiple weathered piers, and though it appears that it is not well-used, its steel piles and girders are solid and sturdy. A dirty and bent metal sign at the entrance to the wharf specifies that it can safely load ships ranging from small pleasure craft to large cargo ships (up to 500ft), and accommodate drafts of up to 35ft.

The partially sunken wreck of the ARM Palo Alto rests on the sea floor at the end of one of the shallow fishing piers; the tip of its bow kisses the pier, and its stern is mostly submerged. This concrete ship, once used faithfully by the Mexican Navy, has been stripped and abandoned, somehow ending up in its current state as a sad curiosity and playground for the local fish and sea mammals.

The warehouses lining the piers of the port are dark and quiet, except for the lapping of waves against the piles and the occasional piercing expression of a seabird.

Contents: Athena Asa

       *** Nightzone ***

Obvious Exits:

 Out <O>   Shady Warehouse <SW>  

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       The call to arms. The will to gather. Asa carefully lays out the sacred tools. The large goblet once fine but now blackened. A rescued relic of her past. A home that burned. A library fallen. Beside it the blade, once a sword now broken, the edges sharpened to a razor. Flashbacks to the high holy days of ancient grace and power where such as her would be but a servant to the ancient masters. But fate is both fickle. Asa Obertus did not get to serve long. The warfare of ancient beings is not kind to the servants.
       Asa was not given a grand embrace. Instead found by one very young who sought to save her. He knew no better. She could have shown him in the old library his lineage. His blood was already weak and distant to Caine. Another tome would have told him the chances of her surviving the embrace was miniscule. But he knew not books or odds. He just wanted to save a dying girl pulled out of the ruins of a fallen manse. Or rather save her knowledge. Buts fate decided Asa would survive that embrace. Weak of blood but powerful of knowledge. Which made her a target. Then came Baba Yaga. Things like Asa weren't allowed in Baba Yaga's world. Asa fled across the Black Sea heading west. Ship to ship. Guided by the spirits of water. Bound to be close to them for safety. Until she found herself here.
       Here being chosen as a pack priest to put her knowledge to use. To insure there will not be another Baba Yaga. To hunt the ancients that would prey on them. To cut them down. The Sword of Caine.
       Asa's while smol manages a strong voice as with reverence she intones as she holds up the blackened goblet "I consecrate this vessel to the blood of my sisters, purified by the mark of Caine." then turns offering the goblet to Sedna who is to be Ductus.

Sedna yet exists, the captain of a ship that was never hers. The survivor of a war party. The girl who lived, or perhaps did not. So be it. She is Lasombra, she is Corsair, and that is enough. A nod to Asa, and a rip of one of her nails along her palm, holding it out to drip her Vitae into the cup.

Sedna says, “I give this blood onto my sisters, that they might be freed by me.”

Out from the shadows, a figure appears. She moves forward, and lifts her hood back enough so the others can see her face. A scar on her right eye is noticable, the story behind still unknown to the others. Her dark hair peeking out. This is Athena, the mistress you generally wish /not/ to encounter, unless she is on your side of course.

Living in Eastern Europe did not afford her many opportunities in life, but her marksmenship skills drew the attention of a certain group. Circumstances led her to disappearing. Although not quite well enough as she was found in Kosovo during the war by the man she only knew as Zeus. Her name and reputation became Athena. Becoming more than she was before not by coming from his head, but by him taking her life and giving his blood. Her natual inclination to view the world as black and white, she quickly took to his training. Danger always in play, as they did what they did best.

Athena was found by Sedna, on one of her trips, getting her out from a prison she let herself get into for a time. Now for the first time since her Sire, she choses to join this group of women. As a pack. Putting her faith in them.

Stepping up she takes a knife and slices her palm and adds her blood into the cup. "I give this blood to you, my new sisters. That you may be freed by me."

       Narcisa had watched Asa prepare the tools, her eyes resting there, considering the stories the priest had shared as they prepared for this. Of course, she stands around like she's done this a fucking million times, though, but that's just what her body says. She has that supermodel slouch down, everything is boring, etc. It's become apparent that she normally has a sort of dead-eye stare, the ennui that arises when you have taken all the pleasures that life has to offer, repeatedly over and over, again and again, through a century of life as slave to the weaknesses in your earthy and hedonistic Zantosa blood. When you were raised in the strict parentage of an elder Tzimisce fundamentalist who never suffered a fool and always punished with a severity of the most dire scope.
       But it's a lie. Her pale yellow-green eyes are already igniting with that flare of excitement, anticipating the fever rush that is Vinculum. Yes, she is a Zantosa, after all. She crosses her arms over her chest, her partially-webbed hands gripping her arms, her eyes burning as her fangs slide into view --- she bites her palm and drips her blood into the cup. Her eyes go to each of the others present --- Athena, Asa, and Sedna. She offers, "I give my blood to you, my new sisters. That you may be freed by me."

       Taking the goblet back Asa adds her own blood to it "I give this blood onto my sisters, that they might be freed by me.". Then she presents it to the sky, to the earth, to the winds and towards the water. "Praise Caine!" before she now turns offering them each the blessed goblet of their mingled blood, starting with Sedna once more, and the admonition "Drink and be free."
       Sedna nods her head softly, taking the goblet once more to drink of it. Then passing it on to the next silently.

Athena takes the goblet next and takes a sip, savoring it. A lick of her lips and she says, "Paris Caine!" then passes it on to the next.

       Narcisa takes the goblet from Athena and tips back for a sip of the vitae. She looks to Asa and hands back the goblet.

       Asa accepts the goblet and drinks the dregs within savoring the blood of her sisters as she finishes it with all reverence. Then she smiles widely and begins packing up the implements. Ritae finished. "Nothing better than a Vaulderie in a new port, da iubitoarele mele?" Romanian for 'Yes my lovelies?'

       Sedna snorts a little, soleminity fading away with the last of the rite, her hand raising, waving through the air in front of her. "There are always new ports, it is why I never understood the previous ones obsession with Prospect."

Athena smiles, "Never stay in one place for too long, I say. Only so many people to kill." That smile turns wicked.

       Narcisa is quiet. She has been remarkably private since joining the group, not a surprise, perhaps. Still, the experience moves her to speak, with just a hint of a Romanian accent. "A new port is okay. When you are with family."

       "The sea calls." Sedna nods her head softly. "I blame the failure on to many of the lesser clans." A hand wave to forstall Athena, clearing her from being a lesser before the argument comes up. "Why attack the heavily defended?"

       Narcisa is confused. Her eyes narrow as she considers the question. "What are we attacking?"

Athena asks, "What is our target? Do we need to do some recon first? I have no problem with taking to the sea. It will be refreshing from the mountains."

       "For now, nothing, we need more information on our situation." Sedna shrugs softly. "See what the others are up to."

       "I haven't seen much for 'others'." Narcissa offers, with a bit of disgust.

Athena shakes her head, "Do we care about these 'others'? Are they a threat to us?"

       "Perhaps, perhaps not." Sedna raises up a finger. "But they should still be watched lest they doom us all."

A woman of average height, dressed in a long full length black hooded coat. Black boots are seen under the hem of the coat, and when she walks, all you see is black covering her. Beneath the hood, just her mouth and chin can be seen - a starkly pale white, like she has not seen the sun in a long time.

       A hair shorter than average, and skinny without being overly so, is the woman. Brown hair frames her face, and indeed most of her body as when it is unbound it easily drifts down to her waist, in long, straight tresses. Her face is heart shaped, her brown eyes just a little to large, her nose just a little to big, complexion smooth, with just the hint of darkness common to those of latina heritage, but it seems to be almost fading out on her to a paler tone.

       Her clothing is dependant on the time, but she seems to prefer dresses, stockings, and heels, all of them the finest fashions that one can find, for those that pay attention to such things.

       Narcisa shrugs. "Ok, so." She smiles to Athena and Sedna. "We make 'friends', then." She considers, and then says something almost smart. "There is safety in numbers."

Athena grins, "Yes, 'friends'. Recon. I get it. I'll watch. You guys flash your wears."

       "Oh, I see no reason to go out and hunt them down." Sedna waves her hands in front of her. "Just that we should keep an eye on what they are doing. Without the Archbishop..." A whistful sigh. "Well cream of the crap and what not."

Asa having finished the cleanup and locking up the precious vaulderie materials Asa returns to the group. "As a side note.. Since we're going to be exploring some to scout. I can make us all talisman which make us blend into crowds. As long as there is a crowd about people will forget our presence."

       Narcisa nods in understanding. "Do you know what happened here?"

Athena nods to Asa, "Good, always wanted that sort of thing." She looks to Narcisa and then to Sedna. "This is supposed to be the land of plenty for Caine, is it not?"

       "Don't know, I was out at the time, ship not in port." Sedna shakes her head to Narc. "All I know is I came back and my Selena was gone." Another sigh then a grunt. "Bigger issue is that her Paladin and the others are also missing. I would not call it a land of plenty at the moment Athena, but it is one of opportunity. We just have to make sure that it is our opportunity, and that no one else fucks it up for us."

       Narcisa nods slowly. She looks around the pack. She offers a goofy grin, the first sign of humanity from her so far. "Sedna for Archbishop?"

Athena wonders, "If they are gone, then who is tending the fields? Or did some other enemy tear apart the Sword in this area?" Asa laughs and shakes her head "We need to make sure the other packs in the area aren't trash first. What's the point of a fleet if almost all your ships are sinking?" she looks around at the others. "We gain knowledge first. Then we plan."

       "Precisely." Sedna nods her head, then shrugs her shoulders outwards. "We need to get our bearings. Luckily we should be safe here, it was pretty much just me and an Assamite here before. The place is likely very forgotten."

       Narcisa nods, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully, though it will soon become apparent that knowledge is not one of her strengths. If it is not already. "We gain knowledge about the others, this I can do. Planning, I leave to the rest of you."

       "While you're out hunting and doing your things. Bring back three rings. They must be from three different people. This I will make your talisman from." Asa nods as if this makes perfect sense to the creepy little librarian.
       "That can be done." Sedna curls her lips up into a smirk, then she nods. "We will also have to be ready to judge others if they are acceptable to us."

       Narcisa half-grins to Asa, and nods. She looks to Sedna. "I have not seen much to excite me, but I will venture out further, now that we are established." She looks around at their surroundings. "This brings me much comfort."