Episode 16 - Evidence

[00:00:01] Speaker A: You're listening to the all night society, an actual play podcast brought to you by Queens court games. Well, insofar as I know the coterie has a plan for the next few nights. We've left you outside of his office, but there is yet time to take care of anything before you move on. Is there anything that I missed or anything that needs to change before we continue on with your investigative adventures? [00:00:58] Speaker B: Taking a peek outside of one of the prince's probably imaginably unexpensive glass paned windows. The night is young, but it's not going to last forever, and I can't waste it just walking place to place. I'll give a look to Schmendrek. Hey, Schmendric, does Bob still have that truck with him or you got that little car yours? I need to get back home, but. [00:01:25] Speaker C: At this point I'm kind of scheming and thinking about where to go next and how to basically pursue any leads we may have missed. When Rebecca asked me this, and it takes me a moment to just sort of register it. Oh, you need a ride? Where to? [00:01:42] Speaker B: Home. The silo. [00:01:45] Speaker C: Okay, yeah, I can do that. I just need to see if I can contact Damien quick first, then I can give you a ride out there. [00:01:54] Speaker B: Right. Thank you. [00:01:56] Speaker C: Yeah, no problem. It's where I'm going as well, so. Makes sense. [00:02:02] Speaker B: What's the term? [00:02:03] Speaker D: Carpool. [00:02:04] Speaker B: Right, that's it. Carpooling. [00:02:07] Speaker C: Actually, Carpool is the correct term in that situation. [00:02:10] Speaker B: I'm just going to beam with pride. [00:02:13] Speaker A: No, they grow up so fast. This raises a question for me, though, because Schmendrick's going to be inside making this phone call, availing herself of the prince's phone. The prince's ghouls. Rebecca, what are you going to do in the meantime? Are you content to wait among these trappings of kindred power and take your chances on the sidewalk outside? [00:02:34] Speaker B: I don't feel well. I don't feel at home in Chicago at all. But this place is just unnatural. I don't like sitting among these perfectly clean floors and the reflections and the glass that have been shined to perfection. I'll take my chances with the sidewalk. If I can take down Malinkov, I can surely take down whatever comes across the Chicago street. [00:03:01] Speaker A: One would hope the prince keeps his residence in a safer part of town. In mortal terms, in kindred terms. I don't expect you to run into any homeless rabble rousers or patrolling werewolves here. [00:03:16] Speaker B: It'd be a big surprise, I'll tell you what, but nothing like getting some night air while I wait on a ride. [00:03:22] Speaker A: It's true. Moments like these are the closest you come to being able to see the open sky. From your youth, from the first centuries of your embrace. [00:03:32] Speaker B: Can't really see the stars in the city. Too many lights. But it's a comfort. Little as there is. [00:03:43] Speaker D: Before we all leave the princes, I'd like to actually catch ivy on the way. [00:03:48] Speaker A: Oh, yeah? [00:03:50] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:03:52] Speaker A: Something on your mind? [00:03:55] Speaker D: There's always something on my mind. This is just. [00:04:00] Speaker A: Ah, you know what? That's fair. Well, I would guess that you catch her. What? Waiting by the curbside? [00:04:07] Speaker E: Does that make sense? [00:04:07] Speaker A: How's Ivy getting home? [00:04:09] Speaker F: I still haven't bought a car yet. Working on that, but my usual uber, so. Yeah, checking my phone, waiting for it. The guy's about 6 minutes away. We'll see. [00:04:22] Speaker A: But there you go. Maya, you've got 6 minutes. [00:04:26] Speaker D: In that case, I'll wait 6 minutes and get in the car with her. [00:04:29] Speaker A: You mean just the uber pulls up, and Ivy gets into one side, and you just help yourself into the. Mm hmm. Ivy, will you do two things for me? First, describe for me the person who's come to pick you up. [00:04:43] Speaker F: The person who's come to pick me up is a middle aged man. He's driving a really, really nice black Escalade, because, of course, you gotta go with the black. So it's a very nice, roomy car. It gives me enough space so that I don't have to talk to him. But he's middle aged, looks like a soccer dad, isn't wearing anything especially nice, but he's also not in anything like a ratty t shirt and jeans. He's dressed like somebody who should be driving an uber black. [00:05:14] Speaker A: Okay, what was the first question? The second is, can you describe your reaction as Maya helps herself through the. What street? Passenger side of the. [00:05:25] Speaker F: Yeah, um, sorry. Didn't order an uber. [00:05:30] Speaker B: Pull. [00:05:31] Speaker F: Maya. Can I help you? [00:05:33] Speaker D: Thank you for the lift. We need to. [00:05:36] Speaker F: I'm pretty sure you're not going my way. [00:05:39] Speaker D: I can assure you I am. And I will lean forward towards the driver and just. Thank you. [00:05:47] Speaker B: Let's go. [00:05:49] Speaker A: So the uber driver, he looks back into the rearview mirror, starting with Ivy and his eyes crossed to the right. You see him making a small face. He takes his glasses off, wipes him down with his shirt, puts them back on. That's weird. It's probably just that it's dark. Looks back to Ivy. His voice is a little tenuous now. So were we good? [00:06:14] Speaker D: I lean forward to the driver. Drive. I apply a healthy use of compel. [00:06:21] Speaker A: I don't know that healthy is a word I would ever ascribe to erasing human willpower and supplanting it with your own. But he's not expecting it. You cannot resist in moments like that. So, Ivy, normally he would wait for your permission, but in this case, as Maya settles back into the leather. [00:06:40] Speaker E: Is it leather interior? [00:06:41] Speaker F: Of course it is. [00:06:43] Speaker A: Okay. [00:06:44] Speaker E: As she settles back into her side. [00:06:45] Speaker A: Of the leather interior, you hear that big Detroit engine roaring to life. You're on your way. [00:06:52] Speaker F: I lean back into the chair and cross my arms because I'm just so annoyed at the audacity, but I let out a little bit of a sigh and look at Maya and say, you're here. I'm here. You forced your way into my ride. What can I help you with? [00:07:12] Speaker D: Who do you plan on bringing in to work on this group project of ours? [00:07:18] Speaker F: You probably wouldn't know her. How familiar are you with the premiere of Chicago? I'm not, but then does it matter? [00:07:28] Speaker D: Well, it does, because you're bringing in a tramier. [00:07:32] Speaker F: Yeah, but I could tell you I'm bringing in John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, and you wouldn't know them from anybody else. [00:07:40] Speaker D: Well, of course I do. His name is my name, too, and I laugh. [00:07:46] Speaker F: I actually chuckle at this. I get a little bit of a smile across my lips. It's probably the first time I've genuinely smiled in Maya's presence. [00:07:54] Speaker A: Are you sure you don't want to roll a composure check to fight it back or maybe use some willpower? [00:08:00] Speaker F: No, because that was actually witty, and I actually respect her for that response, so I will let her have this win. [00:08:09] Speaker A: High praise from Ivy Larue. How do you follow up that coup, Maya? [00:08:15] Speaker D: I'll treasure it always. My point is, in this particular project, I don't think we need to go running back to our mommies and daddies for. [00:08:26] Speaker F: Well, um, if it makes you feel any better, she's not my mommy or my daddy. [00:08:34] Speaker A: Driver looks back into the mirror is the music okay? If you want me to change it. [00:08:39] Speaker E: Just let me know. [00:08:41] Speaker F: It's fine. Thank you. [00:08:42] Speaker A: You sure? It's smooth jazz. [00:08:45] Speaker F: I'm not paying any attention to it. I could care less about the music choice. [00:08:51] Speaker D: You could turn it up if you'd like. [00:08:53] Speaker E: Sure thing, miss. [00:08:55] Speaker D: My point is, due to a potential conflict of interest, do you really want to bring more tramire into this? [00:09:03] Speaker F: I know that you don't trust any of us. Sometimes there has to be somebody in this world that you trust. [00:09:17] Speaker D: There was. And now they're fired. Ivy, you cannot bring someone else into this. You cannot bring anyone into this unless you know you can control their actions after. I don't trust you. I don't trust anyone. I can't. And that's what makes me good at my job right now. We don't know if anyone you want to bring in was involved in this particular issue, and I'd like to eliminate the risk that someone's going to go back to their superiors and warn them to cover up any evidence. [00:09:54] Speaker F: I mean, I agree with you to a point, but I don't think it's 100% true. I don't think it's as cut and dry as that, because there are people that trust you, and there are people that you trust. There have to be. That's why you're here. Your social club waits with bated breath every time we all go home at night for you to report on all of our comings and goings. And I know this because my club is the same way. And the person I would bring in to help with this problem is on my short list of people that I trust. [00:10:39] Speaker D: The trust my employers have in me is because they can ensure that if I fuck up, they can ruin my life. They've already done it once, and they can do it again. Do you have that kind of assurance in the people on your list? What's to keep them from taking credit or throwing you under the bus the first chance they get? [00:11:00] Speaker F: No. We aren't built on the bones of ruined lives. I don't need leverage against everybody. Certain people, sure, but my short list of trustworthy friends, it's a very short list. [00:11:21] Speaker D: And again, the people you trust, because good feelings and a unified sense of love. For what? Love of knowledge? Maybe consider, instead of hanging on to this little baby blanket, having some control over your life and doing things yourself, maybe consider. Stop being a puppet of your little Ponzi scheme and do it yourself. You don't need somebody to read the room, read your crystals or whatever. Just lick him. Or do you need to ask your daddy's permission? [00:11:53] Speaker F: There's a half second pause where I glance in the rear view mirror to see if our driver is looking at us as she tells me to lick somebody. [00:12:04] Speaker E: You know, two women your age, downtown Chicago, club night, coming out of a house like that. Not the first time he's heard this conversation. [00:12:17] Speaker F: Great. I return to Maya. I don't need anybody's permission. It's just easier for just. There's more steps I can't get the same information that she can in the same amount of time. [00:12:38] Speaker D: Oh, so you're afraid of a little hard work? [00:12:43] Speaker F: No. When have I ever been afraid of a little hard work? [00:12:49] Speaker D: Clearly right now. Clearly as you're fighting me in this car right now, you could be more aggressive. You could take your life into your own hands right now and establish yourself here in Chicago. Aren't you trying to become distinguished or something? Do you want this to end with you being the little girl who needed everyone else's help to get what she needed done? Or the witch who did everything herself because she knew she could? [00:13:19] Speaker F: There's a pause. [00:13:22] Speaker A: Ivy, it sounds like Maya has put. [00:13:25] Speaker E: You in a bit of an awkward position there by being right. [00:13:32] Speaker F: Yeah. [00:13:34] Speaker A: So walk me through that. What's going on in Ivy's head right now? [00:13:40] Speaker F: I don't even know where to begin with it. Obviously, she's right. I want to agree with her without having to say the words that she was right. [00:13:54] Speaker A: Oh, that'd be the worst. [00:13:56] Speaker F: Yeah, it really would. It really, really would. [00:14:00] Speaker A: Literal aggravated willpower damage right there. [00:14:03] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:14:08] Speaker F: You know what, Maya? Fine. If it would make you happy for me to do this by myself, I will do it by myself. [00:14:20] Speaker D: I need see it my way. So, what's the plan now? [00:14:26] Speaker F: I'm sorry, were you going to help me do this myself? [00:14:30] Speaker D: I'm here to facilitate your job. Once we find out what these people are made of, I have to ask them some questions, don't I? [00:14:39] Speaker F: I close my eyes and tilt my head to the side. There's a tiny, tiny little bit of a brow furrow, and if blood still pumped through my veins, you would see just a little one forming on my forehead. Fine. If you need to be there, then great. Can think of nothing that would make me happier. [00:15:04] Speaker D: Wonderful. So, should I change the direction of the app on the phone, then? And I start reaching for the phone. I assume that's in Ivy's hand. [00:15:14] Speaker F: I pull my arm back and shoot her a look. And it's only as she gets that grin across her face that I realize that this is exactly what she wanted. [00:15:25] Speaker E: You just got got. [00:15:27] Speaker F: I just got gotten. It's annoying. So I unlock my phone, open up the app, punch in the address just outside of town. I don't want him to go straight to the grain silos, but getting us in the vicinity will be good. [00:15:44] Speaker A: Sure. [00:15:46] Speaker E: Are you a pin number person, or are you a pattern unlock person? [00:15:51] Speaker F: Oh, pattern unlock. [00:15:54] Speaker E: Okay, just curious. [00:15:55] Speaker A: Will you hear his app go ping? New information comes up, he doesn't bother looking back, he just nods. You can see the gps on his screen drawing the new route. It'll cut south instead of north, taking you, as you said, near enough the grain silo without drawing the suspicion of dropping off two women dressed like yourselves in the middle of a very industrial district. [00:16:21] Speaker F: Honestly, though, he's an uber black driver. He's probably dropped off girls at parties like that before, too. [00:16:28] Speaker E: You know, I didn't get invited to those parties. Ever. [00:16:33] Speaker F: Oh, I'm sorry. [00:16:34] Speaker A: Yeah, well, outside my area of expertise right now. I will take your much cooler person word for it. [00:16:41] Speaker E: But on the topic of things that are cool, I'm guessing the mood in. [00:16:45] Speaker A: The car is going to be enough to preclude further conversation until you arrive. [00:16:50] Speaker D: Yes, unless we want to braid each other's hair and talk about our feelings. [00:16:55] Speaker A: Ivy, you down for that? [00:16:59] Speaker F: No. [00:17:01] Speaker A: I didn't think so. Well, in that case, I guess you can decide which window you want to look out of as you watch the city go by. Maya in her supervisory capacity, and Ivy with a new sense of agency growing inside. [00:17:19] Speaker E: Well, so that wraps up the meetings. [00:17:21] Speaker A: The first with the prince and the. [00:17:23] Speaker E: Second with the coterie. [00:17:25] Speaker A: Maya and Ivy are off to the silo, but before Schmedric and Rebecca can. [00:17:29] Speaker E: Meet up with them, there's a phone. [00:17:31] Speaker A: Call you wanted to make, right? [00:17:33] Speaker C: Yeah. We have five days for this, but I can't shake this feeling of, like time is of the essence. The more ducks I can get in a row now, the better. So, with that in mind, I would actually like to get a hold of Damien so that I can get back in touch with those arsonists from what felt like a lifetime ago at this point. [00:17:54] Speaker E: Oh, you know what they say. Time flies when you're having fun. You've been having fun, right? [00:17:58] Speaker C: Oh, so much fun. [00:18:00] Speaker E: And no, that is a good idea. God only knows the speed at which Bronwyn's operation moves. [00:18:08] Speaker A: The sooner you can get on that, the better, right? [00:18:10] Speaker C: Well, it depends on how good of a vintage they are. Let's hope for their sakes that they're rather tasty. And elongating their life is important to her. [00:18:23] Speaker A: I guess it could go either way, right? [00:18:25] Speaker E: Like, on the one hand, if they're. [00:18:28] Speaker A: Particularly valuable, she has an incentive to. [00:18:30] Speaker E: Keep them alive, but also, they're going to be drained pretty frequently. On the other hand, if they're more of a niche interest. Yeah, she might cycle them out of the inventory. But if she hasn't, they're more likely to be in a serviceable state when you find them. [00:18:48] Speaker C: Well, let's just hope they're in a good shape. That's really all I can hope for at this point. Assuming the prince has a ghoul stationed somewhere outside of his office. Is that correct? [00:19:04] Speaker A: Oh, there are dozens of them around the joint. [00:19:06] Speaker E: It's not clear which of them are. [00:19:08] Speaker A: Ghouls and which of them had just. [00:19:09] Speaker E: Been dominated into absolute submission, but his servants abound. [00:19:14] Speaker C: I look for one that seems to be in charge of things. [00:19:19] Speaker A: He's not a hard gentleman to spot. [00:19:22] Speaker E: That's how you measure seniority of butlers, right? The older and the balder, the higher they are up the totem pole. [00:19:30] Speaker C: Never in my life have I experienced a butler. But I will assume you are correct in this. [00:19:37] Speaker E: I will say that that's at least the case in this enterprise. You can spot that gentleman. [00:19:44] Speaker A: He knows who you are. [00:19:45] Speaker E: Everyone in this house knows who you are. [00:19:48] Speaker C: Well, without much hesitation, I am working on being more forthcoming with people. Edith told me to get rid of those new kid jitters. So this know the goal. I will walk up to this gentleman and say, I need to speak to Damien. [00:20:04] Speaker E: You've contacted the prince's household before, right? [00:20:08] Speaker C: Yes. [00:20:09] Speaker E: You always get that same answer. [00:20:11] Speaker A: The very first question they have every time you call is repeated. [00:20:15] Speaker E: Now, may I ask what this concerns? [00:20:19] Speaker C: This concerns some valuable packages I left with Damien a while ago and I need them back. [00:20:25] Speaker E: I see. Is the prince aware of the contents of these packages? That is, will he understand your euphemism? [00:20:33] Speaker C: Yes, unless he's forgotten about them, which. [00:20:37] Speaker E: Is possible, I expect we'll soon find out. Shall I tell him it's Miss Schmendrick who seeks his attention? [00:20:47] Speaker C: Yes, that'll do nicely. [00:20:49] Speaker A: Very well. [00:20:50] Speaker E: If you'll do me the favor of. [00:20:52] Speaker A: Waiting in the foyer. [00:20:54] Speaker C: I give him a bit of a nod on my head and I go to wait in the foyer. [00:21:00] Speaker A: It's a slightly offensive amount of opulence. [00:21:03] Speaker E: I know that. Spendrick feels quite at home in her shipping container. [00:21:08] Speaker A: You are not one for fancy things like this. [00:21:12] Speaker E: A fancy computer? Sure. [00:21:13] Speaker A: A fancy computer chair. Absolutely. [00:21:16] Speaker E: A fancy chandelier. [00:21:20] Speaker C: I imagine if we were to do, like, a house swap type scenario, it would be far more entertaining for me to watch the prince live in the sewers. Or the shipping container. [00:21:32] Speaker E: I would watch the hell out of that show. [00:21:35] Speaker C: I would too. Most of it's probably just going to be me riding down the banisters. [00:21:40] Speaker E: You don't do that now, right? [00:21:42] Speaker C: No, I'm going to behave right now. It's not my house yet. [00:21:47] Speaker E: That's a level of restraint that some nosferatu wouldn't show. [00:21:53] Speaker C: Some nosferatu living it up. [00:21:55] Speaker E: And I'm behaving the sacrifices that you make to maintain your humanity. And now we're adding on top of that, the sacrifices you make to maintain your dignity. [00:22:06] Speaker C: I don't really care about dignity. Just a little bit. [00:22:12] Speaker A: Well, for better or for worse, this conversation that we've had is about as. [00:22:15] Speaker E: Long as it takes for the oldest, baldest butler to return to. He's carrying on a silver tray, one of those old antique style ivory phones, the kind where the. Was it called the earpiece? The receiver. [00:22:31] Speaker C: The receiver, yes, it's a receiver. Being that I am actually 52 years old, I actually know what one of these are. [00:22:41] Speaker E: Ah, you're entirely familiar with them. [00:22:45] Speaker A: Well, the receiver, as I have learned. [00:22:47] Speaker E: It'S called, is sitting on the tray off the hook, and he merely presents the tray forward to you. [00:22:55] Speaker C: I'll pick up the receiver, hold it to my ear. [00:22:59] Speaker A: Hey, Damien Schmendric. [00:23:02] Speaker E: Long time no talk. What can I do for you? [00:23:05] Speaker C: Do you remember our two little firebugs that you took in a while ago and we were supposed to get answers from? [00:23:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:23:16] Speaker E: Yeah, that rings a bell. [00:23:18] Speaker C: It seems like I need answers from them right now. [00:23:21] Speaker F: It. [00:23:22] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:23:26] Speaker E: I'm going to be 100% honest with you. I don't exactly know where they are right now. It was definitely a priority to investigate what happened to you, but then the other thing happened, and our priorities kind of changed. I think I know where they are. [00:23:47] Speaker A: How much time do you have? [00:23:50] Speaker C: Five days, but I'd rather get this done sooner than later, especially if they don't have anything useful on them. It'd be good to look into other options. [00:24:01] Speaker E: No, yeah, I get that. I don't want this to come across the wrong way. Is this a you thing or is this a PKJ thing? [00:24:11] Speaker C: This is a PKJ thing, all right. [00:24:15] Speaker E: And you're fine with me name dropping him about this? If I need to, yeah. [00:24:20] Speaker A: Okay. [00:24:21] Speaker C: It's important to the overall investigation. [00:24:25] Speaker E: Hey, sure. I'll take your word for it. I mean, if you're lying, it's not like I'm not going to find it real quick. [00:24:30] Speaker F: Right. [00:24:31] Speaker C: Right. [00:24:33] Speaker E: Okay. Are you staying at our guy's house for long, or are you going somewhere else? [00:24:40] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm here right now, but I was going to head up to Rebecca's place to help with some things there. [00:24:49] Speaker E: And she doesn't have a landline, does she? [00:24:52] Speaker C: She does not, but I have a number. Let me give that to you, and I will prattle off the number of my ill gotten phone to him. [00:25:01] Speaker A: Okay? [00:25:03] Speaker E: Yeah, all right, I'll tell you what. I'll see what I can do on this. [00:25:07] Speaker A: No guarantees. [00:25:08] Speaker E: It's going to be as fast as you want. Person who has them right now, she can be a little hard to negotiate with, if you can even get a hold of her. [00:25:19] Speaker C: Yeah, that seems to be the play of the day for me. Is patience is a virtue, so. I understand. Don't take too long, though. [00:25:28] Speaker E: Hey, you know what? I'll make it as fast as possible, but even when you're working for the man, you're still pretty low on the totem pole. [00:25:36] Speaker C: I understand. [00:25:38] Speaker E: All right, well, I'll see what I can do. Anything else? [00:25:41] Speaker C: I was thinking about something. Shi. But I'm not going to say it. No, Damien, that's it for now. Thanks. [00:25:48] Speaker A: All right. [00:25:50] Speaker C: And I'll hang up the phone on the receiver. [00:25:54] Speaker A: Well, hey, that settles that, then. [00:25:57] Speaker C: Easy peasy. Hopefully, those fellows are still alive, because they may play a very critical role in all of this. [00:26:04] Speaker A: Indeed. [00:26:06] Speaker E: The prince was pretty critical of the. [00:26:09] Speaker A: Information that you'd brought to him. [00:26:11] Speaker E: Yeah, I wouldn't call it dismissive. More that he's worried about your ability. [00:26:18] Speaker A: To convince the primogen to go along with all of this. [00:26:22] Speaker C: I think it was mostly an issue with the credibility of our witnesses. If we have more witnesses from a different situation, perhaps it'll add more credibility to them overall. But I don't know. I can only speculate. If I could get hard evidence. Oh, that would be nice. [00:26:43] Speaker A: You should be so lucky. [00:26:45] Speaker E: But, hey, you corroborate this thing with that thing, you make the right inference. [00:26:51] Speaker A: Between a and b. Never know. [00:26:55] Speaker E: Maybe it'll all line up. [00:26:57] Speaker C: Here's hoping. [00:26:58] Speaker A: In the meantime, then. [00:27:01] Speaker E: Off to Rebecca's. [00:27:03] Speaker C: Yeah. I don't want to leave all those people to her care. Not that I doubt her maternal instincts. It's more that there's just so many of them, and it's a lot of work for one, two people. Even so, I know she has to. [00:27:23] Speaker E: Babysit Zion and all the humans. That's not good. [00:27:26] Speaker A: Yeah, well, Schmendrick's phone call takes a bit of time. And we've already established she's a very careful driver. It's not a good thing to be a nosferatu and getting pulled over by the police. Maya. Ivy. You left earlier. Your Uber driver is less beholden to the laws of traffic, which means when you arrive at the silo, there's no sign of Rebecca. There's no sign of Schmendrick. The victims you've rescued are where they've been left, lined around the edges of the silo. Zion paces between them, mind mostly empty, but following the instructions he was given. What happens next? [00:28:05] Speaker D: I mean, the door is open. We can just walk in? [00:28:08] Speaker B: Yes. [00:28:09] Speaker A: I don't think Rebecca locks anything. [00:28:11] Speaker D: Well, I don't see anything stopping us from walking on in and doing our business. As soon as the car stops and it's safe to exit, I'm just going to walk on out. I have things to do. Ivy will figure out and catch up, I'm sure. [00:28:25] Speaker F: Oh, yes. If there's one thing that I love, it's letting you go off by yourself. I definitely wouldn't let her get too far away, especially with all the people here and with Rebecca not here. I really want to respect her space, so I don't want Maya to get up to trouble. So I'm very, very close behind. [00:28:47] Speaker A: Just before you get to that next scene, I have a very important question for you. [00:28:50] Speaker E: Ivy. [00:28:51] Speaker F: Yes? [00:28:52] Speaker A: It's your Uber. How much do you tip? [00:28:55] Speaker F: I mean, 20% of the ride, and it was an expensive ride. [00:29:01] Speaker A: Okay. [00:29:04] Speaker F: I'm not going to give out a number, because the last time I gave out a number, it apparently wasn't correct. [00:29:10] Speaker A: No, we just established that it says something about Ivy's characters. All I'd tip, but, you know, we can leave that for the fans. [00:29:20] Speaker F: Luckily, tipping drivers doesn't have to be done in cash. It can be done on my phone, so I'll worry about it later when I'm feeling less judged. Does Zion say anything when he sees us? [00:29:32] Speaker A: Yes. The Victims and Zion are occupying the ground floor of Rebecca's. We'll call it her main home building, the one with the ladder leading up to the loft. Zion doesn't appear to be taking care of them in an active way. He's pacing. If one of them appears particularly agitated, he goes through the motions of trying to calm them down. But there are two very powerful influences squeezing in on Zion's mind right now. On the one hand, Jason Newberry has used his gifts, we'll call them, to reduce this man to a toddler's mind. Complex vocabulary, instructions that rely on contingencies or what ifs. Those aren't doing so well in his brain. And if that weren't bad enough, deep inside his kindred soul is a longing, a need. The painful lack of closeness to his regnant radiates out from the core of his chest into all of his thoughts and all of his actions. So understanding those two things, the Zion you find on the ground level of Rebecca's silo borders on manic. There's a terrible nervous energy, you see? Discomfort, anxious energy in the way that he moves, looking around, wondering when she'll be back. Where is she? She said she was going to be gone only a few hours. And it's been a few hours right now, hasn't it? So when he sees the two of you, a large percentage of the number of kindred he can remember, he lights up, not with enthusiasm over your presence, but because he thinks you might know where Rebecca is. So Maya or Ivy, whichever of you, appears first in the doorway, you see this 20 something gangrel charging across the silo, limbs flailing, uncoordinated, like a child, before he comes shuddering to a stop in front of you. Hi. Did you bring my friend back? She said she would be back. And you were with her the last time I saw her. So I think you know where she is. And you could tell me, right when. [00:31:55] Speaker D: I get to the door and see a charging gangrel. At first, it's a little disconcerting, but then I remember that he's bloodbound. I just give him a little caress on the cheek. Oh, hi, baby. Rebecca asked us to meet some of the friends that she left here. Can you point us to them? [00:32:13] Speaker A: Well, Rebecca has a lot of friends. I'm Zion, and I'm her best friend, but there are. And he holds his fingers up. He starts to count as 12345, and he gets to ten. [00:32:30] Speaker D: Calm down. You're scaring the kind. There are two very special friends we're looking for. [00:32:36] Speaker A: Oh, do you mean the one with the gold hair and then the one in the mask? Because I haven't seen them. [00:32:48] Speaker D: Other special friends. Do you remember the ones who look like police officers? [00:32:54] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Can I tell you. I don't want to sound mean, but they've been really not nice like the other ones. They're sad, but they're quiet. And those two, they've been really mean. [00:33:17] Speaker D: Well, don't you worry, Zion. We're going to make sure they're never mean to anyone again. [00:33:23] Speaker E: Okay. [00:33:23] Speaker F: I walk in just as I hear Maya talk about how we're going to make sure that they're not going to be mean to anybody ever again. And I'm very confused by this because it was not my intention to kill any humans today. [00:33:40] Speaker A: Oh, hi. It's the blonde one. And he looks to Maya. I found one of Rebecca's special friends. She's right here. And he points to Ivy. [00:33:51] Speaker F: I smile and wave. Hi, Zion. How are. [00:33:56] Speaker A: Okay. Do you know where my best friend is? [00:34:03] Speaker F: Yeah, she's actually coming. She just had to make a quick stop, but she'll be here really soon. [00:34:10] Speaker A: Okay. Do you want to know where the police are too? [00:34:15] Speaker F: Oh, yeah. That would actually be really helpful. [00:34:19] Speaker A: Okay. And then he just turns on his heels, starts leading you through the center of the silo. These poor, deranged victims. On both sides, until you get to the far end near an emergency exit. That is where they have stowed the two security agents. Hello, police friends. These people, they know my best friends, and they want to talk to you. Can I go now? [00:34:49] Speaker D: Yes. You did a very good job. [00:34:53] Speaker E: Okay. Thank you. [00:34:54] Speaker A: And he wanders off. [00:34:57] Speaker F: I watch him leave, and I turn to look at Maya, and I just say, I know we had to. But I also feel bad for Rebecca. [00:35:07] Speaker D: Why? [00:35:09] Speaker F: I gesture in Zion's direction. Who would want that? [00:35:15] Speaker D: It's probably a lot of responsibility being a stepmom. [00:35:19] Speaker F: I can only imagine. I only have plants. [00:35:24] Speaker D: She'll be over it eventually. [00:35:25] Speaker F: Oh, I know. They both will. It's just. It can't be easy now is all. [00:35:32] Speaker A: Zion? Certainly. Rebecca. Will she be over it? She managed to go 200 years without indulging in these kind of kindred vices, using her powers according to her own mortal code, only for good. And now this. I'm not so sure, but those aren't concerns that Maya and Ivy have to worry about for the time being. You came here for the two security guards in front of you. An obviously terrified man, a silent, defiant looking woman. [00:36:03] Speaker F: Now, neither of these guards got what I would consider a good look at me, correct? [00:36:08] Speaker A: No. By the time that you entered Lefrey, they had a face full of gangrel and other things to worry about. [00:36:15] Speaker D: All right, Ivy. You're the witch or whatever. What are you waiting for? [00:36:21] Speaker F: I roll my eyes a little bit because Maya clearly does not understand the joy of rituals. But that's fine. They're not hers to enjoy. I walk to the two guards and take a look between the two of them. Is one of them reacting stronger than the other? [00:36:43] Speaker A: Well, they're both a bit battered and malnourished. That holds true for all the humans in Rebecca's grain silo right now. But remembering back to the encounter, the gentleman gave up very quickly. The woman was the one who had an up close and personal gangrel encounter. She's a bit worse for the weare. Both of them have fear in their eyes. Though Newberry's victims have been broken, their ability to engage consciously with the world around them leaves much to be desired. These two, although injured, are beginning to develop a keen sense of who you are. [00:37:27] Speaker F: Simple as tossing a coin. Then I'll go with the man first. [00:37:32] Speaker A: As you like. [00:37:34] Speaker F: I walk over to him. His arms are still bound. It's usually my go to spot for pulling blood out of a subject, but I don't want to deal with the hassle. I lean in very closely and take my claw and drag it across his cheekbone so a nice little spot of red appears and starts to drip down his cheek. And with that clawed finger, I wipe up that drop of Blood and pop it in my mouth. [00:38:10] Speaker A: Can I have resolve? [00:38:11] Speaker E: And thomaturgy, then that is four successes. [00:38:18] Speaker A: Well, on the surface, there's nothing entirely special about this man. His blood is possessed of all the right balance of vitamins and minerals. His pulse is a little freddy, but aside from that, the flavor is entirely mundane. Except, well, it depends. What does fear taste like? [00:38:42] Speaker F: I must admit, fear in mortals is not my preferred taste. It's acrid. It's one of the reasons that I'm happy that I only need a drop to make this ritual work. When you take more than a drop, you get those little glimpses of images, whispers, feelings, and all of those things tied into fear drenched blood. Along with that taste, it just. If my stomach could turn, it would turn. [00:39:27] Speaker A: Teach their own. Some people enjoy that flavor blood, acrid like smoke. But you've learned half of what you've come to learn. [00:39:37] Speaker F: Indeed. I'm not going to bother to close the wound, though. Hopefully it doesn't sting too bad. But I stand up, look at Maya and say, he's not our ghoul. Without waiting for her to respond, I turn and face the woman. If one of these two is a ghoul, it has to be her. I'm curious about what her blood is going to taste like. So I lean in again, same as I did to her partner, and drag my claw across her cheek before taking that single drop of blood onto my tongue. [00:40:15] Speaker A: Let us return to resolve and vomiturgy. [00:40:19] Speaker F: Ooh, that is two successes. So I'm actually going to use a willpower to reroll some of those dice. I don't know if it's because she's a ghoul or if it's because I'm still dealing with the flavor of the previous blood. But something is getting in the way of me figuring out what this is, and I need to focus in to figure it out. [00:40:48] Speaker A: This is why fancy restaurants have sorbet between courses. [00:40:52] Speaker F: Oh, I should have had a palate cleanser. [00:40:56] Speaker A: Well, let's see if willpower can get the job done. [00:41:00] Speaker F: That is two additional successes for a total of four. [00:41:05] Speaker A: Rolling this dab of blood around on your tongue allows you to separate it into a few different elements, turning over a little globule of life force on the tip. It's on that last part. That's when you taste it. The hint of something older, something sinister. You can feel the beast inside of you perking up as it notices this flavor, as it wonders to itself about the presence of a threat. This woman is a ghoul, and judging by the potency of that bouquet she's been fed recently. [00:41:46] Speaker F: I stare into her eyes, and a little bit of a wicked grin crosses my face. I stand up and turn and gesture over my shoulder. This is our girl. [00:42:01] Speaker D: Well, all right then. Who does she belong to? [00:42:05] Speaker F: So that I don't know yet. [00:42:09] Speaker D: Well, will more blood solve this problem? [00:42:13] Speaker F: Yes, but not here. I can figure it out, but I need some supplies in my lab, so we have to take her there. [00:42:25] Speaker D: Always one inspired to action. I'll use that as an excuse to grab our brand new volunteer by the hair and start hauling her out of the silo. [00:42:37] Speaker A: I don't know that Maya could wrestle a human under normal circumstances, but there's something weirdly compliant about this one. It raises the question, though. If you're taking the whole meal to go, how are you getting to the manor? [00:42:55] Speaker C: Oop. [00:42:58] Speaker F: Hey, don't ask about the woman that we're dragging by her hair and also have tied up. It's fine. [00:43:04] Speaker D: It's a sex thing. Let's go. [00:43:06] Speaker A: We're larping. [00:43:10] Speaker B: Ah. [00:43:13] Speaker A: Well, you can simmer on that question for a moment, but you do have another problem to deal with. In the meantime, after the events at the refinery, I'm certain your thoughts on suddenly approaching car engines have changed, but that momentary spike of adrenaline and danger will fade as you recognize the familiar rumble of Schmendric's bug. [00:43:36] Speaker F: Is it a rumble or is it a sputter? [00:43:39] Speaker A: Schmendrick, does it rumble or sputter? [00:43:42] Speaker C: It's a rumble because I take very good care of this car. [00:43:47] Speaker A: From her mouth to God's ears. It rumbles. [00:43:50] Speaker F: It rumbles. I mean, this could be a good thing because we could maybe borrow the. I mean, is it a problem? I don't see it as a problem, except that Maya's currently dragging a ghoul behind her, and we haven't exactly informed Schmendric and Rebecca that we are going to be doing anything with the ghoul. Maybe this isn't great. [00:44:17] Speaker A: We have an opportunity to explore this. Rebecca Schmendric, you exit the bug. You're approaching the silo. You see the door shoved open by a body. I'm imagining Maya not setting this woman aside so she can politely and quietly open the door, right, so the light from inside spills out. You see the silhouettes. Doesn't take you long to figure out what's going on. [00:44:45] Speaker D: Shit. [00:44:47] Speaker B: I'm going to power walk up to the door, because if they're doing who knows what at this point, I need to make sure that it isn't going to affect the rest of the humans in there. [00:44:58] Speaker A: Well, I can't tell you what they just did, but I can tell you what they're doing now. Maya's taking one of the uniformed hostages. Ivy's right behind. [00:45:07] Speaker B: Hey, Maya. What are you. [00:45:10] Speaker D: Hmm? Oh, good of you to join us. We're gonna borrow this. [00:45:15] Speaker C: Her, you mean? [00:45:17] Speaker B: What are you. I kind of desperately look towards Ivy. [00:45:21] Speaker D: What are you two? [00:45:24] Speaker F: Uh, she's a ghoul. We figured this out, and we just have to figure out who's ghoul. Okay, but I can't do it here. You don't exactly have the silver chalices that I need. [00:45:42] Speaker B: What are you intending on doing, Larue? She gonna come out of this alive? [00:45:48] Speaker F: I don't need that much blood. [00:45:51] Speaker B: I narrow my eyes, look it, Rebecca. [00:45:56] Speaker F: I understand that you care very, very deeply about humans, and I get it. I do. You know what's worse than a human? Maybe potentially dying is son Newberry getting away with it. If I can figure out who she belongs to and it helps us implicate son, and I just kind of, like, hold up my hands, and I'm just like, isn't that better? [00:46:29] Speaker A: I believe that her concern is not that you're going to do magic, or at least not her entire concern. Rebecca's also wondering what you're doing when the magic is over. [00:46:39] Speaker F: That is a bridge that we will have to cross when we get to it. I can't possibly know how it's going to go over the next few hours. [00:46:49] Speaker B: I'll take your word for it. Ivy. Just don't do what the others would. You're not like your chantry, whatever the fuck they're called. Just be human, please. [00:47:01] Speaker F: I haven't been human in a very long time, but I get what you mean. You know that I don't want to kill people if I can avoid it. It's not a hobby of mine. And I quick side eye to Maya and hope that she doesn't notice. [00:47:17] Speaker B: Same go for you, Maya. [00:47:19] Speaker D: We're canines first, and I start moving her again. [00:47:24] Speaker B: Maybe you are just Ivy. Keep an eye on her. [00:47:29] Speaker F: Yeah. I will do my very best to assure that once I am done with her, she and her friend will be given to. And I look at Schmendrick and get a little quiet and say, bronwyn, probably. [00:47:48] Speaker C: Oh, how I would not like for them to go to Bronwyn. [00:47:51] Speaker F: Okay, tell me honestly, what would you have me do with these guards? One of whom is a ghoul, potentially for son Newberry, and the other one who's experienced some real, real vampire shit in the last few hours? [00:48:09] Speaker C: We'll figure that out. I'm waiting on some contacts. Hopefully they're not going to someone who is basically the kindred equivalent of a parasite. [00:48:18] Speaker A: It's also the case. None of you have addressed a particular point, which is? She's a witness. If she is one of son Newberry's ghouls, she can testify to that fact or be made to. But the dead can't speak. At least human dead. [00:48:35] Speaker F: Do we have any hakata in the city? [00:48:37] Speaker D: I look at Rebecca and Ivy and Schmendric. She's a witness. She'll need to testify regardless. She will be able to speak when this is done, right, Ivy? [00:48:51] Speaker F: Unless you do anything to her, yes. [00:48:55] Speaker D: I would never. And I emphasize that with a shake of her head. [00:49:00] Speaker F: Well, see, there you have it. We're all in agreement about what needs to happen or not happen to the school. [00:49:10] Speaker B: We just don't need to sink down to Newberry's levels. [00:49:12] Speaker C: All I'm saying, when we mention son's name, how does this ghoul react? [00:49:19] Speaker A: She's a bit busy getting her hair pulled. Maya's violence, a stubborn desire not to reveal secrets. Who knows? [00:49:29] Speaker C: Well, so long as she returns and is able to testify, I guess it's fine. [00:49:36] Speaker F: And I just look at Schmendrick like I ignore the comment completely and just move on to the next point. Can I borrow your. [00:49:44] Speaker A: Hmm? [00:49:45] Speaker C: Can I borrow your car? I love this car. [00:49:50] Speaker F: I understand, but it's either that or I call an Uber and we have to explain what we're doing with a woman who's bound and why we're dragging her by her hair. [00:49:59] Speaker D: I mean, weirder things have happened in Chicago. [00:50:02] Speaker F: I understand. [00:50:04] Speaker C: Hey, this is just a one stipulation. Take good care of the car, and I will cautiously hand my keys over to Ivy. [00:50:13] Speaker F: I smile and nod. Don't worry, I will drive exactly as you do. [00:50:19] Speaker C: Thank you. [00:50:20] Speaker A: I'm desperate to know, what is Schmendrick's keychain? [00:50:24] Speaker C: Oh, it's probably got, like, very few keys on it, but it does have one extremely large stress ball face thing. It's cute, but it's definitely there to get squeezed a lot. And it shows. There's some little bits of tearing. Probably need a new one at some point. [00:50:42] Speaker A: Well, is that the end of that then? Schmendrick hands over the keys and everyone takes each other at their word. [00:50:49] Speaker F: I mean, that's all we've got. We've worked together. There's a certain level of trust between the four of us. So Schmendric doesn't really have a choice. She has to. She has to trust me. Rebecca has to trust that I'm not going to kill this ghoul. We all have to trust each other. [00:51:07] Speaker C: Honestly, if we don't get the information we need from this or any of the other sources we're pursuing, we're probably dead. So gotta let, like Ivy says, I have to trust her to some, um, not probably dead. [00:51:22] Speaker F: Definitely dead. [00:51:24] Speaker C: Just trying to be a little bit optimistic. [00:51:26] Speaker F: I know. I like that about you. [00:51:29] Speaker A: Well, that settles it then. Ivy has to drive, Maya has to control the prisoner, and the little volkswagen beetle will go humming off into the night, heading north for the Ducheski manor, returning to Schmendric and Rebecca for a moment. [00:51:48] Speaker E: This is what I believe the young. [00:51:50] Speaker A: Kids call a big oof. [00:51:53] Speaker E: Right? Maya and Ivy, two kindred, not especially well known for their regard for human beings, have taken the two security guards off to a different part of the grain silo complex for God only knows what. Leaving behind Schmendrick and Rebecca together, the two of you possessed of more humanity than. [00:52:16] Speaker A: I don't know, any twelve random kindred. [00:52:18] Speaker E: In the city left to attend to Zion, and a few dozen not especially, well, humans. What does that feel like? [00:52:31] Speaker B: As diligent as Zion is in watching over our. I don't want to use the word flock, but really, in the adult states, they are. They're comparable to sheep. There's a twinge of guilt. I really don't want those guards that Maya and Ivy have taken to come back like the rest of them. Sure, I trust them more than Newberry by any means, but I'm not sure about their methods. [00:52:57] Speaker E: What about you, Schmendrick? [00:53:00] Speaker C: I've already been a part of an interrogation in the last few nights with our second inquisition buddy, and I'm really not looking forward to another one. It's not that we were especially rough to him or anything like that. It's just I don't like thinking about where he's gone after they're done dealing with him. It clings at me a little bit, and this situation just feels far too similar. So I'm just going to zero in on helping the people I can help. [00:53:32] Speaker E: While materials are sparse, Rebecca doesn't exactly have a spare linen closet somewhere in the silo. And these people, after what Newberry has done to them, are. It's rough. It's real rough. It's painful to look at, painful to watch, painful to hear. Whatever amount of you remains human cannot help but empathize with these people and the parts of you that are kindred cannot tolerate the abuse of vampiric power in that way. [00:54:09] Speaker C: Yeah, it's not ideal in the least, and I'm clearly frustrated, but I'm also trying to not let that interfere with helping as much as I am able to, given the supplies we have. I just hope that Khaled and those contacts come through soon because we are not equipped to deal with this. [00:54:31] Speaker B: Definitely not. I wouldn't want to subject these people to open elements and hold grain bags for blankets for too long. It's just frustrating. This is what the camarilla upholds. This is the person in power here who did this to everyone. I give Schmendrick a look as I'm trying to sort out what grain bags haven't totally been moth eaten or covered in mold and just let out a heavy sigh. I can only hope those two are going to come out better. They don't need to be like the rest of these folks, and I don't think screams from the tortured are going to be any comfort to them. [00:55:12] Speaker C: I pause for a minute what I'm doing, give Rebecca a look and say I hope they're a lot gentler than Newberry was. Can never tell, though. [00:55:26] Speaker E: I mean, say what you will about Ivy and Maya, but that is Newberry. That is a stretch. [00:55:33] Speaker C: Yeah, I can agree with that. They've never done anything that I've seen to even reach this level of suffering, so maybe that's a small comfort. [00:55:45] Speaker B: That's true. Although, gotta keep saying Malunkov. That's true. Although if Newberry is what the Camarilla upholds as one of its leaders, it makes me concerned what the rest of them have in mind. And if there's anything that's going to come of this, we're already hurting so many people that's exposing them to things that they do not need to see. I just hope that something good is going to come of it all. It has to be worth it. [00:56:13] Speaker E: Shmendrick, I have a question for you. [00:56:16] Speaker C: Yes? [00:56:17] Speaker E: Have you ever met someone so committed to human dignity as Rebecca? [00:56:24] Speaker C: I can't say that I really have. Granted, I've existed most of my time as a kindred in a bubble with Nosferatu. So human dignity. We have our own type of dignity. Just know what Rebecca might express. [00:56:47] Speaker E: I mean, I only ask because you've built your feeding habits entirely around a generalized principle of do no harm. And so far as I know, the kindred you've associated with both in New York and here, save for this one, have viewed that as a weakness, as a character. [00:57:07] Speaker C: Mm hmm. [00:57:09] Speaker E: But Rebecca's on the same page with you. [00:57:12] Speaker C: Rebecca and I do have a little bit in common. I definitely can relate to her on some levels. [00:57:20] Speaker E: Do you share her opinions about the Camarilla and the people that it elevates and protects? [00:57:26] Speaker C: Yes, I do. It's been something I've been reluctant to bring up to the group, but. Well, as she's speaking to me, I just kind of slowly nod and say, I've seen some pretty rough things done by the Camarilla. I want to say that I haven't seen better from the anarchs, but I also don't have a whole lot of anarch experience. I think, in all, there's just bad apples. [00:57:57] Speaker B: Bad apples. I mean, it's fair enough when there's a barrel full of them, but when it's the apples that end up in your mouth and you're biting into worms, then it just becomes a lot more of an issue. I just don't understand, schmendric, how these kinds of people get into the positions that they do, and it's not even carried out with justice. It's just some kind of goddamn popularity game to them. Look at Maya and Ivy, what they're doing back there. Sure, it's a lot more humane than what Newberry was doing, but it's not because we're trying to get witnesses for a proper trial. No, we're just trying to prove to the other primogen that there's a reason that they should put this man down like the dog he is. They don't care about anyone here. None of these people, what lives or families they had before they ended up in Newberry's clutches. [00:58:46] Speaker C: Well, Rebecca, not all of the camera is bad is what I'm trying to stress. I would like to think of myself as not a complete dick to humans at large. I would like to seek justice when I'm able to. And from what I know of Khaled, I don't know him especially well. But he's big on pursuing his humanity, and I don't think he's as big of an asshole as some of the folks we've met. Cedric seems pretty cool, too. There's a couple of us out there, Rebecca, you included, that would like to find justice. [00:59:29] Speaker B: It just seems that there's so few of us compared to the overwhelming amount who are sitting in the chair, signing deals, shaking hands. This calipho, you trust him? [00:59:42] Speaker C: I don't know much about him beyond what I've heard is just that he seems to be more humane than the rest of them. I think that's something that can really be useful here, especially to a bunch of people who've been dementated. [00:59:59] Speaker B: It's our best hope then. And I can trust you on this, Schmendrick. You're a good sort. [01:00:05] Speaker C: Yeah, I hope we can trust me on always. When I was talking to Edith, we brought up how I seem to have a place for humans in my heart. And it's true. But I've also noticed as I've been getting older and as I've been experiencing kindred at large, it's getting harder to keep in touch with that. I have to wonder if other kindred just deteriorated faster. [01:00:37] Speaker B: Do you understand, Snunard? [01:00:39] Speaker F: I'm old. [01:00:41] Speaker D: So old. [01:00:44] Speaker B: I understand it, though you also spent. [01:00:47] Speaker C: A lot of time alone and outside of kindred at large. [01:00:52] Speaker B: Right? [01:00:53] Speaker C: So maybe that's the factor. We group up and we become assholes eventually. I don't know. [01:00:59] Speaker D: Right. [01:01:00] Speaker B: We all encourage the worst impulses in each other. Out there is just me and Silas and all that we had grown up with before. Then the camarilla just had to come marching and sticking its nose into a land it had never been in before and didn't know. Bringing all of that with them. Well, at least there's you, Khaled, and Cedric. Maybe that means the folks here will be safer for it. No more future new berries. [01:01:32] Speaker C: From what I understand, Khaled, for some time has been seeking a way to improve the life of humans that we interact with. Maybe that can get a push. Maybe we can make things a little different in the future. Try not to. I know. Toxic positivity. I'm not trying to do that. But try not to get too angry at the Camarilla. For now, let's work on things one step at a time. Right. [01:02:04] Speaker B: One step at a time. I've just been taking little steps with the Camarilla for over a century now. There has to be something else out there, some other kind of solution. [01:02:16] Speaker C: There could be. [01:02:19] Speaker B: There has to be. I don't want any of this to happen again. And I turn my eyes over to Zion. Am I getting worse? Is being closely tied with the camera making me more of a kindred than I was a person? [01:02:37] Speaker C: I don't think so. You did what you thought was right with him. He'll get better. You've offered a really big step to his improvement, and it may not agree with your principles, but I think it was your best option. His best option. [01:03:01] Speaker B: I appreciate it, spundric. It's just going to weigh heavy on me for a bit. And even heavier on him, I imagine. From what I know of the blood pond, Silas would never have put me through it after what happened at first. [01:03:16] Speaker D: But. [01:03:18] Speaker B: I just don't want something bad to happen to him because of me. [01:03:24] Speaker E: Well, you've both stumbled on to a pair of very interesting questions. Fundamental inquiries into basic kindred nature. One, what is it that makes kindred relinquish their humanity? Schmendick's proposition is that proximity to other kindred accelerates the process. The beast is competitive. It demands to dominate its lessers. They can only be fueled by what you pull out of humans. Ergo, the more you want to compete with other kindred, the more of humanity you have to consume. Is it the proximity that does that, or is it merely kindred nature? Is it inevitable? Is it possible, as Rebecca is attempting to demonstrate, to hold on? [01:04:14] Speaker A: I don't know. [01:04:16] Speaker E: And then the second is a question about institutions. Schmendric is correct. I won't say there are good kindred in the camarilla. Being a vampire, by its very nature isn't good. But there are less monstrous ones among you, using what power they have in the ivory tower to smooth things over, who find Newberry's actions just as revolting as you do. So is it better then to take a. We'll call it a Schmendrikian approach, and from within, the camarilla, use its power and its leverage? Or is the whole thing just too rotten, and the only option is to tear it down and start over with fresh bricks? You weren't the first two kindred to encounter these questions. If you manage to figure it out, you'll be the first two kindred to ever find an answer. But that's certainly not something we're going to be able to figure out tonight. [01:05:16] Speaker B: Not enough like minded kindreds in the Cameroon from my thought. Ask me someone else I can talk to about this. [01:05:24] Speaker E: We'll draw a list in your head who comes to mind. [01:05:28] Speaker B: I'm not sure about Rosa. Despite her being my primagen and one of few gangrel in the city, I doubt she'd care unless it involves hunting werewolves. [01:05:39] Speaker E: She is a woman with a very discreet set of priorities. [01:05:44] Speaker B: The strong and silent type. I've already pumped Mendrick for what she cares about, and quite frankly, I'm conflicted about the answer. That really leaves only one person I know. But if I told Ivy or Maya who I wanted to speak to, they'd be furious. [01:06:04] Speaker E: You can tell me if I can keep a secret. [01:06:07] Speaker B: Anita Wayne Wright. [01:06:09] Speaker A: Really? [01:06:12] Speaker B: She's always opposed to the Camarilla. And while that might just be rebelling for the sake of it, it has to stem from somewhere, right? Aside from disagreeing with the institution just for existing, she has to hold something against its principles. And she's not like Genjas, who's just going to bluster and make a big show of it. She seems more subtle than. [01:06:38] Speaker A: Hmm. [01:06:40] Speaker E: Well, that is certainly an interesting proposition. You plan on finding her tonight? [01:06:47] Speaker B: I can trust Manjrik with the fate of these humans. And, well, I don't want to stick around for what Maya and Ivy have in mind for those guards, so why not look outside of it? [01:06:57] Speaker E: Are you going to tell Schmendric what you're up to, or is this the time that Rebecca starts making excuses? [01:07:03] Speaker B: I feel like I can be honest with Schmendric. She's not going to go off on me about the tenants and how the Camarilla is trying to maintain order within the city of Chicago despite a fire raging and the primigens going at each other's throats. I'll be honest. Rippervan. Hey, Spundrek. [01:07:23] Speaker C: Yeah? [01:07:25] Speaker B: Look, I don't want to stick around for what Ivy and Maya have planned. And these folks, they're gonna be good? Safe. Safe as they can be, considering the situation. [01:07:38] Speaker D: I hope so. [01:07:39] Speaker B: Good. I'm going to go talk with a friend. I think you might know her. We had a little bit of a chat at Elysium, but I think I can discuss the situation a little further with her. [01:07:53] Speaker C: Sure. That sounds good. If you don't mind. Keep me in the loop. You should know well by now that I'm not exactly happy with the situation either. So the more heads we can get together, I figure we might come up with something. [01:08:10] Speaker B: Of course. And don't worry we'll spill any of your nosferatu secrets to her. Anita's nothing like Genjith. [01:08:18] Speaker C: I don't think I've ever told you any of my nosferatu secrets. [01:08:23] Speaker B: Look, you've let me into your. What's it called? The box that Bob keeps you in. [01:08:30] Speaker C: I did? Yep. Oh, gosh. From now on, I'm gonna call it the box that Bob keeps me in. [01:08:37] Speaker B: It's a pretty cozy, but, uh, I hope Gallup gets here soon. And thank you, Schmandrick. [01:08:45] Speaker C: Yeah, no problem. Hopefully, when you come back after talking to Anita, maybe there'll be a couple fewer people here. [01:08:54] Speaker B: Here's hoping. [01:08:56] Speaker E: Here's hoping, indeed. While Rebecca won't be the first or the last gangrel to stalk out into the night with thoughts of fury, the city of Chicago should breathe a bit easier knowing that you have at least a healthy outlet for your frustrations. And Rebecca should breathe easier if she could breathe knowing that she has someone like Schmendric to hold the fort down. [01:09:24] Speaker A: So, in the meanwhile, we turn to Ivy, to Maya, to their victim hostage. What word do we want to use here? [01:09:37] Speaker D: Volunteer. [01:09:39] Speaker A: And their volunteer. Driving away from the grain silo on the banks of one of Chicago's many rivers and heading north into the city. North is a curious direction. Maya knows enough about the tramire in the city to know where the chantry is located. And based on that knowledge and a little cross application with geography, you know you are heading in the wrong direction. But Ivy seems determined. Navigating by memory, no need for gps. She's obviously heading somewhere with intent. [01:10:17] Speaker D: Ivy, if you intend on driving me out of the city to, I don't know, put me into torpor, you're going to be very disappointed. [01:10:27] Speaker F: Why would I want to do that? [01:10:29] Speaker D: We're clearly not headed towards the chantry. [01:10:35] Speaker F: You thought that I would take you to the chantry and that that would just be okay. [01:10:42] Speaker D: It's where you do all of your witch stuff, isn't it? [01:10:49] Speaker F: It's where I used to do my witch stuff. But no, even if I liked you enough to take you, you would not be allowed inside. That's not up to me, obviously. No. We're heading to my manor. [01:11:07] Speaker D: Oh, so I get to see where you live. [01:11:11] Speaker F: Unfortunately, you've brought yourself into this, so, yes. [01:11:20] Speaker D: Manor, are we going to get to see Barbie's magic dream house? [01:11:26] Speaker F: I close my eyes and tilt my head just a little bit before opening them back up. We have a job to do, and I am not here to get into any more squabbles. With Maya tonight, so I'm going to ignore her comment and focus on the road. [01:11:47] Speaker A: Ooh, Maya. Ivy's trying out a new battle tactic. The silent treatment. [01:11:55] Speaker D: Well, I can't say I like being ignored. I let out a deep sigh. That's too bad. I was really excited to see how your whole pyramid scheme worked. [01:12:10] Speaker F: Maya, what the fuck is your problem exactly? You have invisible masters, same as me. That's why you are here, right? You're Sierra's hand, after all. And she is just a finger of the amici. We are not that different. [01:12:32] Speaker D: I don't think that's true. See, the amici, Sierra, the rest of the Losambra, my sire, even, they all trust me to get the job done. That's why I'm here. The pyramid, your daddy, your mommy. They need to be constantly breathing down your neck because they don't think that you can get the job done. Or maybe they think you're incompetent. That could be it. I would assume it's your lack of confidence. Actually, maybe you're constantly second guessing yourself. That is the difference between you and I. The pyramid, to you, is a corporate ladder that you think you can climb. I know it's a safety net. [01:13:25] Speaker F: I know it's a corporate ladder. Maya. With all of our elders scrambling to rebuild the pyramid, there are plenty of opportunities for neonates such as myself to climb the ranks. [01:13:38] Speaker D: To climb the ranks. To let you in. You need their permission. You're constantly waiting for someone else's permission to do things. You're just some dog on someone's leash. [01:13:51] Speaker F: Only masters who are scared of their pets keep such a tight hold on leashes. The tremere know that what we have to offer the camarilla is so powerful, and eventually the students do indeed become the masters. So if I'm kept on a short leash, it is because those above me fear what I can become. But it's all part of the game. [01:14:18] Speaker D: How long are you planning on playing this game? Until you break free of that leash. [01:14:24] Speaker F: I have the rest of time to play this game? [01:14:29] Speaker D: That's right. Tell yourself you're playing the long game. There are two kinds of canites in this world. Those who wait and those who act. And right now, you're showing me a lot of the kind of kindred you are. You waited around with the SI agent. You wait for the prince's orders, you run back to disable. The only way you could be in any less control is if your sire was around and pulling your strings, too. Ivy, your sire isn't around, is she? Oh, please tell me she's not. [01:15:10] Speaker F: What? No. I mean, not right now. But she got me set up here. [01:15:20] Speaker D: So you're here in Chicago because she put you here? Why don't you just leave? [01:15:28] Speaker F: I can't. She told me to just stay here until she came back. [01:15:32] Speaker D: And what, Ivy? [01:15:34] Speaker B: What. [01:15:34] Speaker D: What are you waiting for? At this point, what is left for you here? [01:15:38] Speaker F: I. I don't know. I've spent my time here trying to figure out how to live without her until she comes back. I don't know where I'd go if I left. [01:16:00] Speaker D: This. This right here. This sad, mopey, unsure attitude. This is what I mean. This is the difference between you and me, Ivy. You're a little lost puppy and a fucking junkyard dog. Kindred, don't put puppies in power. And if you truly hope to affect the pyramid in any meaningful way, you need to learn to trust in yourself, in your abilities, and not just the kindred ones. The ones that you brought with you. [01:16:34] Speaker F: Maya might be onto something here, but there's no way in hell I'm going to let her know that. And luckily for me, we've arrived at the manor. So I turn to look at Maya and say, we're here. [01:16:54] Speaker D: Saved by the bell. [01:16:59] Speaker A: Maya. For someone of your elevated tastes, the manor is impressive. A relic of Chicago's gilded age, a beautiful icon of architectural excess. The volkswagen rumbles up the long driveway past an electronic security gate. Sturdy. Most importantly, solid. Everything about this building, its classical elements and modern ones, are designed to keep the outside out and the secrets in. The car arrives at the end of the drive. Adjacent to kitchen, you can see disused appliances, old cast iron things through the windows. The door waits. [01:17:48] Speaker D: As soon as the car stops, I grab our wonderful volunteer and head on over to the manor. The kitchen door, I assume, is unlocked. [01:17:58] Speaker F: Whoa, whoa, whoa, Maya, not so fast. [01:18:03] Speaker D: Wanda. Thought we were in a hurry. [01:18:06] Speaker F: We are, but. And I point all around the door on the window sills. There are wards aplenty. Also, ground rules first, so we don't have to waste time on that later. [01:18:22] Speaker D: Ooh, some teeth. Okay, fine. What are your ground rules? [01:18:28] Speaker F: Rule number one. Don't touch anything. Rule number two, you don't say anything. Not a single word to any of the Duchesski living here. Third, you don't touch anything. Clear? [01:18:49] Speaker D: Crystal. You know, you're not the first tremeura I've met. Don't act like you've cornered the market on secrets. [01:18:57] Speaker F: Good. Now that that's settled. [01:19:00] Speaker A: Ah, mistress. I see you've arrived home with guests. The eldest, Ducheski Grigor, has appeared, waiting in the doorway. You're not clear whether you just didn't hear him coming or if he'd moved that silently. He looks to Maya first, then to your volunteer. Is this a matter that will require. [01:19:23] Speaker D: My assistance before Ivy can get a word in? Well, hi. My name is Maya. We're here to do a little business, but I'm loving that mistress thing. You can refer to me as such. [01:19:36] Speaker B: As? [01:19:36] Speaker D: Well. [01:19:37] Speaker F: I reach forward and dig my nails into Maya's shoulder and turn her back to face me. Rule number two, Maya. I turn my eyes to Grigor, pretend she's not here. [01:19:53] Speaker A: Of course, mistress. [01:19:55] Speaker F: This woman I gesture to our volunteer is a ghoul. I intend to identify her owner. If you could meet us in the lab with all of the necessary reagents. [01:20:09] Speaker A: As you like, mistress. He turns, vacating the doorway, disappearing into the house. [01:20:18] Speaker F: Don't push your luck, Maya. [01:20:23] Speaker D: I would never. [01:20:25] Speaker F: Doubtful. And I start walking into the kitchen, keeping a very, very close eye on Maya and our guest, making sure that Maya is the one who's leading our volunteer. If her hands are busy with our guest, they can't be pocketing anything. [01:20:43] Speaker A: And you're heading to the lab from here, I assume? [01:20:46] Speaker F: Oh, of course. I don't need to give Maya the grand tour of my manor. [01:20:51] Speaker A: No, certainly not. Well, why don't you tell us what she does? [01:20:55] Speaker F: See, unfortunately, I do have to take Maya and our guest through the kitchen. All of the appliances are old, as you've mentioned before. I'm very unclear if any of them actually work. I haven't tested them myself, and I don't know the last time that fridge was actually plugged in, but it looks decent enough. [01:21:20] Speaker A: At least better than it used to. [01:21:23] Speaker F: At least better than it used to? [01:21:25] Speaker A: You've had the jet skis hard at work, eh? [01:21:28] Speaker F: Well, of course. I mean, it's only been a few nights, but a little bit of dusting goes a long way. This is especially noticeable as we enter the foyer, though with that grand staircase that I have, there are still what look like paint tarps draped over the furniture. The bookshelves are a little sparse in this part of the house, but there isn't that thick layer of dust that used to exist, and the cobwebs have been cleaned, so that's nice. The elevator still doesn't work, though. [01:22:02] Speaker A: Are you satisfied with their work on the banisters? [01:22:06] Speaker F: It's a very large house, and there's a lot to do, so even though I wish more had been done, I also understand that Rome wasn't built in a. Hmm. [01:22:17] Speaker A: Careful with that. The venture built Rome. [01:22:20] Speaker F: That they did. [01:22:23] Speaker D: I have to admit, I am impressed by the commitment to aesthetic. You really have the spooky bitch thing down. [01:22:31] Speaker F: Thank you. I give a genuine smile at that. Of course, I wouldn't let Maya know that this isn't exactly what I want it to look like. And once I actually get to spend some time on it, it'll clean up a little bit nicer. But if she's impressed by it, then so be it. [01:22:50] Speaker A: Classically tremir, there are things other people need to know. There are things they don't. [01:22:57] Speaker F: Exactly. I do tell Maya as we ascend the stairs to watch out, because that fourth step is a little creaky and the banister about halfway up is a little wobbly. But other than that, the stairs are safe to traverse. [01:23:13] Speaker A: Kind of you to forewarn her. [01:23:16] Speaker F: If it was just her, I probably wouldn't, but I don't want anything to happen to our. [01:23:22] Speaker A: Ah, there it is. I'd forgotten. Maya, you're awash in this. What's your take of things? [01:23:30] Speaker D: Like I said, there's a real commitment to aesthetic. I don't know that Ivy quite understands how to keep house yet or organize her help, but beggars can't be choosers. [01:23:46] Speaker A: It's true. And Chicago has very specific laws about the kinds of improvements people can make without the consent of their landlords. But after some careful navigation of an ancient staircase, a right turn at the second floor landing and a bit of a trip down the hallway, you arrive in the laboratory. [01:24:06] Speaker F: When we get inside, I will send Maya to the center of the room with our volunteer. There's a nice wood stool, and it's right next to this circular black marble workbench. [01:24:22] Speaker A: We can call it finger quotes. [01:24:26] Speaker F: Yeah, heavy finger quotes. You can sit our guest there, Maya, and cut those zip ties, because I'm going to need her arm. [01:24:36] Speaker D: I'll do as you say. This is your domain. [01:24:39] Speaker A: The eldest ducheski arrives carrying two objects in gloved hands. In the left, a small silver chalice the size of a child's cup or a mason jar. In the right, a pouch, the kind that you would expect to see. Maybe an assortment of lock picks or vials. In this one, containing various herbs, roots, the basic elements of witchcraft. He places the chalice in the center of the altar. And then, Ivy, he presents the pouch for your inspection. [01:25:15] Speaker F: I take the pouch and open it up and start rummaging through the different plants, pulling out little sprigs as I go. Got vervain, poppy, nightshade, henbane. I give the henbane a little bit of a look, but then I see that there's another sprig that's a little bit better, so that's okay. And ladies mantle. That's the one I was looking for. All of these are great. [01:25:45] Speaker A: Grigor keeps an impeccable garden, thank goodness. [01:25:50] Speaker F: You know what they say about good help. [01:25:53] Speaker A: It gets exiled from town if you complicate someone's. Right, Maya. [01:25:58] Speaker D: Yeah. [01:26:00] Speaker A: Ah, but that was impolite. On the topic of impolite, Maya, at this moment, I think it would be the longest you have gone without engaging in some kind of exploration or mischief. Ivy has her back turned, carefully inspecting her reagents. [01:26:17] Speaker E: Are you playing by the rules and staying on the stool? [01:26:20] Speaker D: Well, you know what they say. Idle hands, the devil's plaything. And I will admit, I'm not much of a saint. I will say I'm very intrigued by this vial I've found. It glitters magnificently, and it's just fascinating, especially when you hold it in the light just so. [01:26:45] Speaker B: Ivy, what's this? [01:26:50] Speaker F: I hand Grigor the pouch of herbs and turn on my heels to see Maya holding a vial that she should absolutely not be holding. Maya, you should really put that down. Oh, ultimately, I guess it's your choice. But just know that if any of what's in that vial spills on you, it's going to turn your skin so paper thin that your Vita will just. [01:27:19] Speaker C: Seep out of your body. [01:27:20] Speaker F: And I can't do anything to stop it. That's by design. [01:27:27] Speaker D: Oh, pleasant. I'll put the vial back. [01:27:34] Speaker F: Wise choice. And I point at the stool that she should definitely be sitting on. [01:27:41] Speaker A: Well, with that crisis averted, perhaps the ritual. [01:27:46] Speaker F: Yes. We just have one final ingredient left to collect. [01:27:51] Speaker A: As someone who has never conducted this ritual before, can you walk me through what happens? [01:27:57] Speaker F: Of course. Anything involving the blood requires blood. Our volunteer puts up a little bit of a fight, but she's definitely a little weaker than she'd like to be after spending some time in the silo without quite enough food. So when I grab her arm and hold it with the palm facing up over the altar, she just kind of gives me a look, but ultimately relents to whatever I'm doing, which is great. I like willing victims. Volunteers. [01:28:33] Speaker A: Excuse me. [01:28:34] Speaker F: I take my index finger claw, and I make a nice little incision about two inches wide. And I turn her wrist and just let her blood flow into the chalice. And when it's about two thirds full, I flip her arm back up and I look at Maya and I say, deal with her wound and tie her up again. [01:29:02] Speaker D: I would love to be snippy in this moment, but some things are more important, and I understand that. So I'll follow along. [01:29:13] Speaker A: Ivy, what's the next step from here? [01:29:16] Speaker F: It needs a little bit of the good stuff. And I prick my own finger and hold it over the Chalice, squeezing the tip of my finger so just a drop of my own. Vita splashes inside, and then I lick the little pin prick so the wound closes itself. [01:29:36] Speaker A: Well, in addition to an abundance of knowledge, all rituals have one thing in common. So far as requirements go, will you make a rouse check for me? [01:29:45] Speaker F: Rousing success. [01:29:48] Speaker A: Splendid. Proceed from here. [01:29:51] Speaker F: It's going over all of the herbs that Grigor has brought me, carefully measuring them out, picking the correct amount of buds from each sprig or the leaves, or crushing the flower petals. And once I know that I have the correct amount of each, I place them in one at a time before mixing it all together. [01:30:17] Speaker A: At this point, I'd like you to make an intelligence and blood sorcery role for me. [01:30:22] Speaker F: That is four successes. [01:30:25] Speaker A: The work is impeccable. But you don't need me to tell you that, do you? Hard won knowledge, hours of practice under an exacting master. You know exactly what you are doing. That makes it a bit of a surprise when this mixture begins to smoke like oil on a frying pan. An acrid stench clawing up into the room. It's not supposed to do that. [01:31:00] Speaker F: I furrow my brow a little. Hmm. Well, of course, this ritual is meant for kindred Vita. It allows you to peer into a canite's lineage. Their sire. Their sire. Sire? I'd hoped, diluted as it was, that this ghoul's blood would at least reveal her regnance clan. [01:31:29] Speaker D: What? And you don't get the o de poisson that we would get from. [01:31:37] Speaker F: No, no, it doesn't work like that. What we need is. [01:31:44] Speaker A: If I may, mistress. [01:31:47] Speaker F: Yes, Grigor? [01:31:49] Speaker A: If one wishes to distill the essence of the living from the dead, perhaps an aqueous levixiant might. [01:31:56] Speaker F: Right. Leech away the impurities. [01:32:00] Speaker A: Yes, mistress. Shall I retrieve an appropriate substance? [01:32:04] Speaker F: Please do, Grigor. [01:32:07] Speaker A: I'll only be a moment. [01:32:09] Speaker F: As Grigor departs, I need to keep myself looking busy, so I turn around and start organizing the reagents, putting the unused flowers back in the pouch, tidying up while he's gone? [01:32:24] Speaker A: Waste not, want. [01:32:27] Speaker D: Hmm. For those of us who maybe studied finance and other useful things in school, could you explain what's going on? Talk to me like I'm Rebecca. [01:32:40] Speaker F: The tiniest hint of a grin crosses my face. I'm so happy that she asked. I spin around on my heels. It's very simple chemistry, Maya. A laxiviant is a chemical. When stirred into a mixture like this one, it selectively extracts the desired substance, and it leaves the rest behind. Mortals use it with metals, so dissolving away rock to leave gold behind. For example, automaturge can use the same principle to separate various natural substances from less natural substances. [01:33:25] Speaker D: Like a ghoul's blood from the vita. [01:33:27] Speaker F: Exactly. [01:33:29] Speaker D: And what laxiviant will work here? [01:33:34] Speaker A: White plasm. If my instinct is correct, Grigor has returned. Silent as ever, he approaches ivy and extends a glass vial, the barest dab of atari. Black substance clinging stubbornly to the bottom. Ivy, you know what this is? Something dangerous, rare, and valuable. Found only under very specific circumstances. [01:34:02] Speaker F: Right, of course. White plasm. [01:34:07] Speaker D: Appropriately named, considering it looks quite dark. [01:34:14] Speaker F: No, Maya, not white like the color. White. Like the creature. W-I-G-H-T. White plasm is the dust of a white that has been destroyed by the umbra. [01:34:35] Speaker D: For the first time since I've met Ivy, I will admit I am very, very uncomfortable. [01:34:45] Speaker A: What's the matter? [01:34:48] Speaker D: My clan has a tenuous understanding with the umbra. To distill it, to play with it in your chemistry set, is. It's unsettling. [01:35:04] Speaker F: Thank you, Grigor. Let's proceed. I grab a thin metal rod from the workbench, and I carefully uncork the vial. [01:35:16] Speaker A: The very instant that cork pops clear, the entire room is consumed by an otherworldly chill. In temperature, yes, but also that cold dread you feel in your bones, like being soaked after a storm. Like being alone in a dark house. This is not a fear. That kindred experience on a regular basis. This reminds you of being a child, unsure of what's lurking in your closet, and it is everywhere. [01:35:52] Speaker F: It's still an unsettling feeling. I don't often find myself using white plasm, so it's not like I can become accustomed to this feeling. But I can't show it on my face. Unluckily for me, my back is turned, so it's easier to hide it. I collect the tiniest bit of plasm, immediately recorking the vial as I take the rod out and then place the rod in the chalice, stirring it to make sure that the plasm is fully mixed in. [01:36:24] Speaker A: There's no heat in this room, but the mixture nevertheless begins to boil as the raw essence of the Umbra burns through the human life force in this chalice, a cloud of bloody steam pours up into the room. After only a few seconds, nothing but a few globs of Vita, putrid and thick, remain. [01:36:50] Speaker F: There you are. Now, whose are you? As I situate myself in front of the chalice, I begin to chant. [01:37:02] Speaker A: What does Maya hear as you begin? [01:37:05] Speaker F: The thing about rituals is that the words matter, the language less so. So what Maya hears as I begin to chant is ancient Greek. It's the way Gabrielle taught me. [01:37:24] Speaker A: As is the way she learned the ritual requires concentration. Chanting for one full hour, Ivy's demeanor trance like, utterly focused. Grigor watches quietly, his body still. Maya, you can't help but be enraptured in this moment. It's magic, yes, that you don't understand, aided by a power that you only understand enough to know that it should not be trifled with. It's a tense proceeding, and as the ritual completes and Ivy's voice dies down, something else, something other, speaks, using her lips in a cold and hollow monotone. [01:38:20] Speaker E: Jason Newberry. [01:38:26] Speaker A: The sensation of having her own lips stolen away from her is going to follow Ivy for the rest of the evening, even though the information she's received promises to change the outcome of nights ahead. But there are still yet errands our coterie needs to run before they've polished their investigation into a pearl worthy of the primaging council. What comes next? That's a story for another night. 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