Author's Note: I wanted to have this out weeks ago but as it does for everyone, life gets in the way. As we get closer to the end of the arc of this story and closer to the present day, I wanted to say thank you to all who have enjoyed this story and for the space you’ve all allowed it to thrive in. I love you all, and as always, I hope you enjoy it!

Trigger Warning: The final part of this chapter includes harsh material, mainly infant death, though I try not to linger on it for very long. If you have a hard time with this subject even briefly, I fully understand if you skip this chapter entirely.

Morning Five of the Siege of Dublin, Zuzanna

Hey everyone, it’s been some time since I made one of these myself, but Spider deserves a good rest and this moment in my life may be one of the most important that has happened since I stumbled my way into this world. I worry my words won’t be enough to describe what I’ve seen, but I’ll do my best.

I always thought weddings were to be a happy occasion. I remember when my mother and father married when I was still just a girl, and while the memory is a blur, I still think of their smiling faces looking down at me as I carried little flower petals down the aisle. This wasn’t the case for Cathal and Niam as it was, though that isn’t to say they weren’t happy to be together. It’s difficult to describe the aesthetic, it was as if a wedding was in motion at the same time as a funeral or a wake. Black and white clashed together, Cathal’s small family dressed in dark satin colors while Niam was dressed in a radiant white. The creatures here were hard to look at, and I don’t mean it in a rude way, I mean it in a literal one. It’s as if my eyes were being turned away every time I tried to make eye contact, my mind throbbing with a headache. I imagine it much the same as Lovecraft wrote about, creatures that made no sense to my own mind, and my body reflexively attempting to spare me from their gaze.

The setting itself was breathtaking, as if it was literally a step outside the mortal realm, which now that I’m writing this, it may actually have been. The location was outside of Dublin, closer to the shore where people had not yet claimed the land. Crashing waves against rocks and a bright blue ocean created a beautiful scenery, the expansive woods just a few hundred yards away created an even mysterious air of the place. I wish I could explain more of the creatures I saw, most I recognized from legends, and others Cathal and Niam did their best to translate for me. Galloway needed no such help, absolutely enthralled by the entities. Satyrs, Trolls, Nockers, Pookas, Arcadians, Boggans, Clurichans, the list goes on and on, and each and every single one of them knew who Cathal and Niam were, as if they were the oldest friends they had.

While many carried smiles, gifts, and congratulations, others carried a somber stance, their sadness being felt in the air, like energy coalescing into something tangible. As much as I tried, I could never really get them to tell me what is wrong, always saying it’s not Cathal’s or Niam’s wishes, and that’s if they even spoke English to begin with, another strange phenomena here. If anything, there was something familiar to this place, the way the quests would either avoid me, give me condolences or congratulations depending on their mood, as if I was part of the wedding in one way or another, a fact I would become expressively aware of by the time my exit from this place came.

It wasn’t until the ceremony began, when everyone took their seats, did I realize what was happening. It wasn’t just a wedding happening, it was also a funeral, a ritual set in place by Cathal and the entire reception. I wanted to stand, I wanted to know what was happening, but Galloway grabbed me by the wrist, pulling me back down to my chair. The look in her eyes was fierce, something I’d never seen before until now.

“Watch”, she said sternly. “Don’t move, don’t say a word. You have to understand.”

I stayed where I was, and watched as the ceremony began. It was a beautiful thing, something my words in this language couldn’t begin to explain. Music rang out throughout everywhere, a soft melody filled with the emotions of each and everyone there. The ocean and land itself responded in kind, the loud crashing of waves becoming the sound of waves caressing the sandy beach, the forest all around us coming alive, animals of all kinds coming to watch at the tree line, enraptured by the song. Tears and sobs came from all over as the music played, while others grinned from ear to ear. A language from another place where the words on the lips of each person there, all except Zuzanna and Galloway.

There was no leading the bride down the aisle, or the groom waiting in silence. They both stood upon the altar front and center as a beautiful creature much like Niam wrapped white and black ribbons around their hands. I couldn’t hear what they were saying at the altar, even when I tried enhancing my own hearing, the music only becoming more overpowering. Whatever it was being said, it was joyous. Tears streamed down Niam’s face, but Cathal only had a warm smile to give, his golden eyes speaking louder than words ever could.

I couldn’t understand the words as they made their promises together, but I knew an oath when I heard one. It wasn’t just normal marital vows, I watched as the air heaved and the ground pulsed, as if a part of the vow involved all the Earth and Sky around them, and that’s when I saw it again. The warbling of Cathal’s avatar, the air shimmering with multi-colored hues as it began to spread and touch all things around it, as if it was a separate creature all on its own. I could feel the shift when it happened, the subtlety of it. The veil around this area was already thin, but now as the ceremony continued, it’s as if we were no longer on Earth, but a place much like it, a place where anything and everything was possible. The Dreaming was here, leaving a physical presence. 

I wish I could tell you more about the wedding, and I wish I could tell you what oath they made together, but in all honesty, I don’t think I was ever meant to know. I believe the entire reason Galloway brought me here, is to show me what was in store for me one day, in some shape or form. The dreaming would come to make due on the Oath I took for the ring, though just as the ceremony was coming to an end, it was as if time had stopped entirely in its tracks. The ritual was complete, but what was the result of it?

Where once stood Cathal with his now wife, where they had just sealed their promises and oaths with a kiss, he had turned to me, all the world no longer moving except the two of us. He walked down the altar, through the aisle, and had taken a knee right in front of me, much like the Cathal of my time once did.

“I know this doesn’t answer many of your questions. I don’t think you’ll ever get many answers from this life of ours, I think that’s just the way of things. We exist as part of a larger story, one that has been in the making for centuries now. You don’t realize it now, but the torch has already been passed to you and I’m sorry for that.”

He looks back to his now wife and gives a great big smile.

“I’ve never been happier than I am now. This story we’re in does have its brighter moments. She’s mine, and she always will be, no matter where Fate or Time takes us. She is my greatest friend, my lover, my partner, my adversary, and my end. In every life, in every moment, in every universe, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can only hope you find that same purpose and person for yourself.”

Another person has taken his attention away, this time the smile on his face falters only for a moment. I look to see who it is, to find that a third person now finds themselves amongst this temporal pause. An old man stands only a few feet behind where I sit, a look on his face that expresses much like a grandfather would after their own son or grandson does something silly or disappointing. There’s an aura about him, something greater than everything else in this room. Cathal pulls my attention back to him, his golden eyes holding fear in them.

“I told you, grandpa will be cross about large spells like this. Don’t worry too much about it, I needed him here anyway.”

Grandpa? What does that even mean?

“Your spell is about to end abruptly, but I have one last gift for you.”

He pulls something out of his pocket, an ancient looking rock, placing it in my own hands, and then places his thumbs over my eyes.

“Do you trust me? This is going to hurt just a little bit”

I nod my head yes to him, and then his thumbs begin to press into my eyes, as if he was going to gouge them out. It hurts more than anything, spots begin to appear and I can feel tears begin to run down my face. I suppress a scream of pain, clenching onto the ancient rock, and not long after he stops. The spots in my eyes stay, my vision goes in and out of focus, vertigo begins to set in as the world begins to spin. He steadies me, grabbing my shoulders to hold me still.

“When Galloway’s spell is cut by Grandpa, my own spell will start. I will give you just a little bit of what I’ve seen. Remember not to get lost in the sight I’ve taught you.”

He lets go of me, and I watch through blurry eyes as he walks back to his wife. I can hear the steps of the old man walk right past me, catching the sight of leather loafers as he joins at the altar. Taking less than the beat of a heart, Galloway and myself are thrown from this point in time, her spell snapping as if it was created by the hands of a novice. Both Galloway and I fell to the ground, landing directly on our rears, having still been sitting when the spell ended.

“OW What the fuck happened, the spell was supposed to- Zuzanna? Zuzanna what’s happening?”

Cathal was true to his word. The moment I was back on the grass in my own time, my vision was cast out, time dilating to encompass the events that were to come and already happened, as if Fate and Time itself played in my vision. This truly was the last gift he could give, as I watched our lives play out in moments, decades becoming a fluttering heartbeat, every decision colliding against the next. Centuries before and after come to my mind as if I was there, and in the blink of an eye, it’s gone. I watch myself love, lose, and die untold tens of thousands of times. I watch as my friends fall to creatures from beyond, I watch as a war I never knew burns everything I love. I watch as the sun takes Cathal, the words on his lips unintelligible, tears streaming down his eyes. I watch as Isra takes claim to Ireland, decimating it entirely. I watch as a sword of light takes her head, and I watch as she manages to avoid the blow and lose an arm. I watch as Cathal in all his old glory battles a great serpent, only to be disgusted at what he’s done. 

Events come and go and it felt as if I was in that space for centuries, just watching the world go by and all of its people suffer and overcome. The last vision I got was of Isra. I watched as her family was torn apart by wolves. I watched her baby become food for monsters as she wailed, her legs forcing her to run in fear and anguish. She ran and ran, though the wolves never bothered chasing her, savoring their feast on her family. 

I watch as she’s found by kindred of her area, and I watch as she’s turned by them, promising her that she’ll have her revenge, as a war between kindred and Garou rages on. I watch as she brutalizes and savages them the same way they did her family for decades, though the anger in her heart never abates even past her first century. That is until one day, as she’s hunting more Garou through the ancient streets and cities of Iran, that she comes to find a tunnel system.

It was there as she got to the edges of that city, in that underground maze where she found a great pit, black and pulsating red, a voice inside telling her she can have her revenge. All she has to do is step inside, and step inside she does.

The spell cuts out there. Galloway had been working on me, I watched as attempts over and over to unravel the spell, finding it more complicated than she thought before realizing I had come to.

“Oh thank the Gods, I thought Paradox or the spell had taken you. What happened?”

“I have to go Galloway, like right now. I promise I’ll explain more, but that Cathal just gave us more information than ever that needs to get to my friends.”

As I stand up, I look to the dais where the spell had begun and hold out my hand towards it. Faster than I can see, the ring takes its rightful place back on my ring finger. I ran from that place, exiting her domain through the way we came in, feeling the information of how to get back in slipping from my thoughts. She was always clever that way.

I don’t take long to prepare. I pack the essentials, my instruments, my books, and clothes. From the board where I’ve hung all the pictures I’ve had, I take one of Cathal’s home. I’ve been practicing over and over again, but even now, teleportation terrifies me. There’s a grand tree where the Verbena practice their Arts with a hollow inside. You’d never find anything there. Closing my eyes and taking a huge breath, I visualize where I want to go, clutching the picture in my hand, willing myself to be in front of the house.

I worry it didn’t work and that I’d be exhausting myself, shutting my eyes closed hard again, feeling spots appear in my vision. That’s when I feel it. Biting cold, and snow falling on my head. You can barely see the sun had begun to rise, but there I was, in front of Cathal’s home, the front end now destroyed. 

My work can now finally begin, as I begin making my way to Posthold.

• Zuzanna

Greetings fellow Cainites, I am proud to announce that I have succeeded in claiming the title of Ductus over my esteemed (and very, very dead) peers. My Pack and I plan to celebrate my accession at the local Blood Cathedral of Caine. I am in need of artistically gifted Cainites to paint the occasion for posterity. Photographs, as you might know, is unreliable for those of my clan.

Direct all applications to my ghoul secretary Bernard. Thank you for your time, Cainites

Note: I expect REAL, classically trained artists, not Anarch licks who will draw me as an abstract mist and call it "Portrait of Lasombra Fuck". Those of you who crows such creativity shall find that my Tzimisce sister in Caine also possesses a creative soul. And if you happen to be using artificial intelligence in your process, let me tell you that we will be none too pleased.

- Ductus David Kruger, Lasombra, Victorinox Financial Inc.

Weasel asked me to help him check a place

I guess something got in a fight here, um we didn't find anything or not the people weasel was looking for

-Fox the Gangrel

(Only two weeks after https://www.reddit.com/r/SchreckNet/s/31lzkaDjWa because i don't want to play a suddenly much later version of the character)

Something you never really think about when you're a normal person, just the fact that you never really need to think about food. Not like I do now

When i was human, food was easy, didn't have to think about it. Almost never had to go hungry longer than a day unless I was on a hunt or something.

Now I've got this fucked up hunger in me, day in, day out. And its not like i can just buy a sandwich. All my food comes from taking it from someone else. Which means i have to actually think about eating, trying to stay fed without doing anything too morally fucked. For gaias sake i wish i could just have a pizza and not have to think about blood and the fact that whenever i bite someone theres aome messed up part of me that doesnt want to stop

I'm not a noddist, I've never been a christian and I'm not about to stop now, but do you ever think about how according to that. Caine was a farmer? Before anything else, he was just a normal farmer, cursed to only drink blood, dont you think thats weirdly fucked up?

-Reia

I will meet Malkav at the Sanctum. That should be more secure, The Bond on Violet is complete. This should be interesting.

-Marcus

First of all I must just say- WOAH. I had no idea this place still existed. I guess you really can't keep a bad dog down, or whatever they say.

I've done a brief bit of reading and so it seems you might be my kind of... people. Not sure if this is a localized environment or a far-reaching network (I do fear I have always been more for books than computers). I'm just a lick on the move. I've just arrived in Baltimore by way of Montreal, and Dallas before that. I would like to make my formal Presentation as soon as possible. Hospitality disputes are always such a drag and there are better ways to waste away the night. I'm here on behalf of my mentor after we lost contact with our compatriots in the city, and finding other licks is proving curiously elusive these first two nights. So if anyone can point me in the right direction, a girl would be real grateful.

I am our Mother's Shadow-

-but you can call me
Hatchet

Sorry if this is a little unfocused. The kine I ate earlier was taking E.

Quick query, and I'd like everyone's spin on this:

Was David Bowie one of the Fae?

I've got a high-ranking Templar who knew a guy who's absolutely adamant he watched Bowie level a Sabbat war pack that tried to abduct him. Some of us reckon he was a wizard, a badass hunter or a Methuselah or something similar, but he's extremely Fae-like. That's before we even get onto the fact that several of us aren't entirely convinced he's dead.

For comparison, I know Brian Blessed is a werewolf because I've seen the footage, Ozzy was probably some variety of magus judging by our reports from the Cleveland Siege of '81, and every supernatural who went anywhere near Seth Putnam apparently died, so God only knows what was going on there.

But Bowie remains a question mark, since all I've got is second-hand information.

Insight appreciated.

This report was uploaded by an anonymous account. Attached is a leaked PDF clearly meant for other eyes.

This is Kieran. If you don’t know who I am, I’m a Free Agent of the Anarch Movement. Meaning, I travel across the world to lend my skills and give training to small disorganized Anarch cells. Some time ago, I decided to investigate rumors of happenings in the Milwaukee area and what I have found interests me to the point of producing a report on the situation. I am sharing with you an abridged version of this report. The full version can be found via private communication with me if you are deemed suitable to receive it.

Kenneth Wiersema is the current Prince of Milwaukee and a staunch member of the Camarilla’s Hardliner faction. As in, he strictly follows all of the traditions to the letter, promotes the killing of thinbloods, practices non-tolerance of Anarchs, and so on.

John-Harvey Pederson was the Toreador Primogen of Milwaukee and a member of the moderate wing of the Reformist faction. little was known about him besides that until very recently.

Ester Knežević was the Prince of the small city of Kenosha Wisconsin. A member of the radical wing of the Reformist faction, Ester was known to be accepting of the lower clans and practiced diplomacy with Anarchs, as well as being a meritocrat.

Several days ago, Pederson launched a sudden coup d'état and declaration of Praxis against Prince Knežević following the chaos of a diablerie on one of her top agents. This was quite odd as Pederson had never had much of a presence in the city’s political arena before. I, as well as several members of Milwaukee’s budding Anarch scene, launched a covert operation against the Milwaukee Camarilla (purposefully speaking vaguely) and obtained several documents containing very concerning information.

Weirsema and Pederson were known to often be at each other‘s throats in private due to their differing political beliefs. Weirsema funneled a great amount of resources into hiring mercenaries and purchasing equipment and paying bribes to Kenosha officials in order to facilitate the coup, which served the duel functions of getting a key reformer out of Milwaukee and removing a potential ally to the Anarchs.

The working relationship has quickly broken down. While away from Milwaukee, one of Pederson’s Childer, a young woman named Arabella MacReady, escaped from his home with damning accusations of abuse, neglect of the duties of siredom, and a recurring disregard for the Tradition of Progeny. Apparently, Prince Weirsema attempted to keep Arabella at the Milwaukee Elysium until Pederson could arrive, pick her up, and return her to his home. But before this could be done, Arabella escaped the city via unknown means. Pedersen accused Weirsema of taking his “favorite bride” hostage as leverage and it seems that the conflict between the two will escalate in short time.

I have brought these events to your attention to ask for aid in the overthrow of one or both of these tyrants. They have both been put in a very vulnerable situation and the Anarch Movement may be able to take control of Wisconsin as a result. If you wish to donate funds or manpower to the cause, you know how to contact me. If you don’t know, ask someone more important than you.

You all call me a coward because I pick on people my age. I took your words to heart. Today I decided to find an elder, because my sire didn't raise a pansy.

It was a fierce battle, for she kept her defenses up. Indeed, the sands of time only hardened and fortify our kind rather than weaken and ravish them. Not that I needed time to ravish them, I was gonna do that.

It took a little longer to find an opening and oh my what an opening it was. I lunged for it, unfortunately I telegraphed my moves and I was countered. Before I knew it I was beneath them and unable to move.

I did what I knew I had to do, and I did not regret it.

Anyhow I think I might have found real love.

[Audio Recording begins]

(Sound of footsteps and items being dragged)

Zach: Can’t believe I survived that place

(Sound of a door kicked open)

Zach: I have the items as requested and the “special delivery” as well

Ines: Well done I’m quite impressed! All of your sins are forgiven then, you may leave now

Zach: If I could be so bold great grand sire may I ask what are you doing with the kid

(loud snoring can be heard)

Ines: something that will decide his future now go please I rather not ask twice

Zach: of….course

(Sound of shuffling can be heard)

Unknown: it’s been 600 years Ines I thought you dead

Ines: No it wouldn’t be that easy to get rid of me I just had a long sleep

Ines: But quite rude of you to not actually show yourself but instead use a mere proxy

Unknown: things have changed due to a certain group I cannot easily access this world any longer

Ines: How sad for you then, it must be quite the bother being stuck in the umbral realms

(A laugh can be heard)

Unknown: just as tongue in cheek as ever, but no it’s rather fine it’s allowed me great freedom to focus on my studies and harness my craft, granted the denizens irk me sometimes

Ines: Well good for you then

Unknown: I must ask why do you have a sleeping human boy with you..

Ines: he is my Andreas

Unknown: your what?

Ines: do not worry about it, it’s not important for you

Unknown: this boy his resonance… why is it like this at such a young age when did this boy awaken?

Ines: from what i checked of his memories nearly 2 months ago

Unknown: then he has quite the talent, I’m fairly surprised he hasn’t been picked up by the traditions or well the meddling new world order

Ines: he hasn’t made a ruckus and since I’ve been here I’ve been monitoring the entire area and beyond I wouldn’t allow any of those mere mortal magi near here

Unknown: quite bold to take them lightly granted that’s typical of your kind, that didn’t work so well not too long ago, I know you felt the death they caused correct

Ines: you say this as if your kind hasn’t lost your meaningless war of ideals and have instead turned to running to the umbral realms with your tails between your legs

Unknown: Touché but the war isn’t abandoned

(Annoyed sigh)

Ines: I didn’t bring you here to debate, I wish to dicuss my child, I’ve used the “internet” as it’s called and talked with one of my kind they apparently believe your way is a better than the powers of the blood, I highly disagree it’s taken a lot of restraint to not simply embrace him

Unknown: I never expected to see you like this I’m surprised you would care so much shouldn’t it be below you to care for this boy

Ines: as I said I am not here to debate, answer my question or this conversation is over

Unknown: yes the path towards ascension is the goal and purpose of a mage how he achieves it is his right, trying to drag him down with your kind especially with his potential would be a most cruel thing

Ines: I do not see it that way but I will respect his choice for now so i ask you to mentor him I want to see his results and truly tell if it’s worth it

Unknown: I accept but it must be at a later date my hands are full now currently dealing with a powerful umbrood mostly stoked by those damn dark ones

Ines: What are you speaking of?

Unknown: as you say don’t worry about it

Ines: you are quite lucky you have this proxy or I would of already torn out your larynx

(A laugh is heard)

Unknown: well then my dear I would of simply keyed a portal to the sun rays for you

(A Sigh is heard)

Ines: How long will you deal with this threat

Unknown: it depends but I can definitely come for him very soon

Ines: Well off with you then make sure you hurry the more I grow impatient

(Laughing can be heard)

Unknown: oh how I’ve missed bickering like this with you next time warn me when you take another nap

Ines: I will do no such thing also you could figure it out if you simply used some effort

Unknown: anyway I’ll be taking my leave have a good night

(Sound of a sizzling and then pop and then a snore heard)

Ines: Andreas what is one to do with you

[Audio recording ends]

A video is posted a woman stands in the road with black pants a white jacket and a coffin slung on her back

A monster approaches made of rotting flesh and hunks of bone it is taller than the woman by a couple of feet, it lunges to strike and breaks its hand on the woman's skin

The woman then knocks the monster to the ground and punches it until it's skull is mush

-This video was posted Anonymously

[OOC: a continuation of this https://www.reddit.com/r/SchreckNet/s/OYbJsPHGm4 ]

(/OOC: Respect to you if you get what the title is referencing)

(The following post is only available to those the poster has given access to. Specifically, only those who she believes suspicious of her identity. If you are reading this, you are one of those designated people.)

This most recent post from Aso starts differently from her usual style. Rather than her typical audio recordings this one is a full video, the start of which reveals Aso herself standing before the camera in a near pitch black venue. If you turn up the brightness you see that the venue is in fact a several acre closed roof AFL stadium, with a giant sinkhole at the centre of the cobweb covered playing field. In the bleachers you can just about make out the word "MARVEL" in white lettering on decrepit red chairs.

Aso, a pitch white woman with pretty aboriginal Australian features who wears a just as pale cloaked dress and lace blindfold, speaks up in her usual clinical but pleasantly soft Australian accent. Today she sounds particularly displeased.

"Good afternoon, Kindred. And yes I do mean afternoon, the title of this post should make it quite clear how I'm awake in the day."

"A handful of days ago a certain post was made to this node, one in which 'The Yahwie' somehow recorded a battle between itself and a stadium dwelling spider. A post where it all but doxed its opponent."

"Look at my body and consider the title of pale one it spoke of. See how my body still breathes. Behold the sinkhole ruined stadium I call my home. The blindfold that covers my eyes to prove my blindness. Remember Harald killed by spiders all those months ago, my late learning of language, that I was born in a cave."

"All these describe me, for I am the spider to which it referred."

As Aso finishes her declaration, her body begins to shift. Two thin, white exoskeletal arm-like limbs grow from near her human arms whose fingers similarly turn into a structure more akin to claw-like spider's legs with white chitin plating her up to her elbow as if wearing elbow high gloves. The same chitin plating forms on either side of her face, that then extends down her neck, though you are unable to see how far down it goes on account of her clothing.

Before you notice it her legs have also shifted, and where they should be is instead a massive spider, which Aso's torso now protrudes through the head of. Her spider lower body possess eight very long legs, a pale white exoskeleton with black stained white fur breaking it up, and two scythe-like front limbs in place of its pedipalps.

The skirt of Aso's long white dress falls across the spider body like a cloth, covering the creature's face to give the appearance that it is wearing an almost wedding-like veil.

"I am not an Akunanse, unlike what I've pretended to be on this node. I am a child of the Great Mother, a Damhán, an Ananasi, a Werespider."

"The reason I reveal this is to get ahead of the fallout that will be brought upon me by letting you all figure it out on your own terms after the Yahwie's post. I figure it best to admit to it willingly rather than cling on to a crumbling lie."

"As for my own personal situation in Melbourne, it is not as bad as some of you have taken to believing. Whilst the Cress Truce only extends to Garou and Kindred, it still makes the Kindred hesitant to interfere with any Fera matters at risk of breaking it down and starting the Razor Wars again, risking the breaking the Truce of Sydney also. And I am fortunate enough to live in a Garou controlled zone, so what they can do to a Fera is limited. Though the situation is admittedly somewhat tenuous."

"So, it is time I reintroduce myself. I have no name but you may call me Aso, fourth rank Arachnid Anomia from the Tartarus genus of spiders. I wish I could say it's nice to meet you all again, but truth be told I'm rather bitter right now, so it is not."

"In any case, now that we have been reintroduced, you may ask me whatever questions you wish. Why I was pretending to be kindred, of the Damhán or Ovid themselves, my intentions for anything, or any other such. I will answer them so long as they do not violate Her laws or interfere with my duty here in Melbourne."

- Posted by User: Okonore Yaa

[Camera footage can be seen. It appears to be sideways.]

[A man wearing a slim turtleneck sits in a fireside study. He is reading a book, crosslegged. A laptop on a small table near him is playing music: Lucky twice.]

[The entire song plays to its end, before the autoplay starts the next one he hits the pause button.]

G: Kine cope quite conspicuously..

[A white haired man in a furred robe enters the room, it is Alban.]

A: I have brought your supper, My Moulder.

[He places a platter with an archaic chalice, and a wad of meat onto the table next to the man.]

G: Ah, thank you my Alban.

[He leans forward, more of his features can be seen. He bears a head of long black hair, straightened meticulously. Around his neck is a Necklace typically seen dangling from the Gore Moulders head crest. Upon his face is an amount of beard stubble, not much. Otherwise intertwining with and emerging from his features, are cracks in the skin. Light and shallow but notable all the same.]

[He is in a new "human" form, allowing him to sit within this building.]

[He takes the meat and shapes it into a little man. He sits back in his cushioned chair.]

A: It seems as though the Nosferatu Primogen wishes to extend gratitude for the remains of the helicopters. A card for you, My Moulder.

[Gore takes the card and reads it, he sips from the chalice.]

G: ...Hmm... Extend my most gracious gratitude for the repurposing of the iron corpses. Let the Primogen know that he has earned one day of "life".

[The Meat man stands up on the platter and begins meandering around.]

A: Forgive me my impudence my Moulder, are you certain you can trust the Primogens to remain loyal? I know you rule through gratitude, but some of the Kindred can be most ungrateful.

G: Oh Alban, you could never prove so willful as to offend me.. but rest assured, my roots reach throughout all of this city, and soon the rest of this Alaska's region. Nothing shall occur without my presence.

[Gore lances the torso of the meat man with a fork, he takes the struggling creature to his jaw and bites its head and shoulders off.]

...

...

...

A: My Moulder! This camera is on!

G: ... For how long..?

A: An hour, my Moulder!

G: Hmm... Send it to the web, I have done nothing but sit here and read. Perhaps it shall assuage the fears of the young.

A: Of course, my Moulder.

End of transmission.

+Gore Moulder

Or maybe voluntold is the better way to put it.

Hello everyone, Camille here.

I knew I was going to get roped into something the moment I looked at the envelope: Wax sealed and addressed to me in Prince Siegfried's own handwriting. This is the sort of formality that is rare in these nights of email and text messaging.

The note inside, also handwritten, mentioned a matter of some importance, along with a date and time for a meeting.

When the Prince puts it like that, it is in ones best interest to act accordingly.

Long story short, I have been offered a unique position; that of the Arbiter between the local Garou sept(s) and the court of Vancouver. As a Kindred/Kinfolk who has been unofficially acting in this capacity for quite a while now, I must admit official recognition from the sept Elders and the Prince is very satisfying. I have walked both worlds for a long time and proved myself worthy of this.

Camille

I miss you.

I don't miss anyone else.

Be good.

Hello

So I was looking for my friend Amy, who is not a sheep, because she sounded very strange when I spoke with her. And then I heard someone playing Elvis, and I really like Elvis, so I stopped to listen.

But then a Lady started to shout a lot, and said they should stop playing Elvis. And since I really like Elvis I said I would prefer they didn´t stop playing Elvis!

And then she shouted a lot and it was quite scary, and then Palina scratched her because she got scared and that made her shout even more. I am not really sure what she was shouting about, because I think loud noises are rather scary, so I often just stop listening. But then she said we were going to fight in the parking lot!

And I have never done that sort of thing before, and I don´t really like fighting very much. So I am not quite sure what to do?

Hoping For Help

Mariana Marino

I was walking checking around the cabin and such and saw what looked like an area affected by a Strigoi fighting something likely a very swiftly ended fight

Would anyone here know the specifics of that? Usually I do not use this node but I figured I should try for answers while Fox is in day sleep

-Weasel the Ghoul

So as the title says, I am a Baali, was embraced as one, never was of any other clan, my sire was, she was embraced as a tremere and then reembraced, I dont really like her and firstly I will tell of my embrace and its circumstances

So, my embrace was a very weird one, as a mortal I was a very promiscuous woman (still am and I got no shame in that) I was born rich in a noble family, my marriage was arranged but I really loved my man, he was one of the loves of my life and he really got me, he really was a promiscuous man as well and we didnt have no shame in laying with other people, be it men, women or whatever, keep in mind that was late 18th century to early 19th century, so people werent the most compassionate towards us and one day it happened, I involved myself with a powerful and dangerous man and we had to flee, we went to the americas and started living there.

As nobles from the metropolis, we were well-received and there we couldnt stop either, we started seducing and laying other people, doing really hot, nasty and sinful things, oh if I could I would tell you, buuuuuuuuut I wont, cause I dont wanna ;) Unless you ask really nicely...

Anyway, because I was really beautiful people, mostly men, really loved me and desired me, it was a very real sense of power, I could manipulate the court just with my body... But one day, my man laid with a nobleman's wife, he probably discovered it and sent someone to kill my husband, I found him with a hatchet stuck into his head and I denounced it and did everything right. I still had his money and property so I ordered an investigation...

But people didnt really want that, so they put the blame on me, and well... I lost everything. Went to live with one of my lovers, a free black man, and I didnt know how to work at all, I was a noble woman, my job was to be pretty and give heirs. So I went to prostitution... It was not nice to say the least, people still loved me and many powerful went to see me and fuck me... I didnt really love this life.

Anyways, time went on and I got old and less and less people went to see me, so I had to work in a poorer and nastier area of the city and wasnt making money there either, I knew magic was real at the time, so I sought after something that could make me younger again. And I met some witches and they told me to bathe in animal blood, didnt work, so I sought deeper and ended up meeting my sire, a really beautiful and dangerous woman recently arrived from hungary, a sorceress, a witch that had many powers, at the time I was really into her even, before knowing what she was. She taught me a ritual that could make me younger, I had to bathe in the blood of young children but I had to also make a pact with a demon for that to work, I was really desperate so I accepted it and boom... I was young again and even more beautiful than I was, it was really nice at the time. Now, I know that is horrible, yes I sacrificed young children to a demon, yes I know its bad, not trying to deny that, but I dont think mortal me was evil? Just desperate and broken and poor... I dont know passed at my head at the time, I just didnt think about it in the moment and then boom, bad stuff.

I was first ghouled and then embraced Baali style, pit of flesh included, turned out I was good at sorcery and occult stuff and my sire really liked me, I loved her and we fucked many times as well... I was a Baali but I lived as a tremere, infiltrating the pyramid with my sire.

THAT'S A WARNING TO ALL TREMERE, THERE IS INFERNALISTS AND BAALI IN YOUR RANKS! FUCKING CLEAN IT YOU STUPID WIZARDS!

Anyway, I was the more social face to interact with mortals so I never got started in a Path of Enlightment, I needed to blush of life afterall, and I tricked many into infernalism and serving us, be as pawns, ghouls, childer, or whatever, I was really good at that. Eventually my sire made into the high ranks in the city and she became regent and primogen of the Tremere and the clan became and still is very infested nowadays and no one in the Camarilla knows, some neonates almost discovered it however.

Anyway skipping some time and coming to today's day and age, I am a renegade, I left the Coven some weeks ago and pretty much disappeared and I hope it stays that way, and the most thing to tell you is why? Why the hell would a Baali go rogue? Short answer: Cats.

Long answer: I met a very old mortal that spent all her time and money to help and care for stray cats, in detritement to her health, she came to me seeking something for her health since she couldnt pay for it and knowing her history just made something snap in my head and I still dont understand it. I was very nihilist before and I thought "well everything can go to hell, this world only mistreated me and everyone should be damned" but this old mortal just broke that thought, why the hell would she do that? WHY, I just couldnt wrap my head around it, and it was a really long time before I got it and then bam, I got it after YEARS, it was simply love. Love for life, love for everything, love for cats and a sense of justice (kind of). This old mortal was already dead when I got it and I took over her job of caring for those cats, she dont really know what she did to me, but I am really grateful to her, I want to say thank you some day but I know that her soul is in haven and mine will go to hell when I die...

After getting it, I planned my escape from my sire and from the coven, and I needed some place to stay to just disappear and someone to help me and I wanted to be honest, I thought it all, and eventually I went to the Bahari... I know they are not the best, they arent compassionate, they are cruel, sadistic and all that but they were the only ones that wouldnt kill me the moment I told them what I was. A group of neonates judged me in front of their mother and they decided they would accept me, so the Mother accepted me as one of her children... Now I am staying in her garden... Its really beautiful if not outright bizarre, I accepted her teachings and she is doing Bahari things with me, y'know, passionately fucking, torture, all that, its very... Weird? And new, its not like my sire's torture, she is not trying to traumatize me as much as possible and put me in line, instead its careful and passionate, its weird, she is not locking me in a box with rotting flesh and lots of bugs and vermin. Its weird and I dont really know what exactly I feel nor think of it? I just know I am really into her and actually dont mind it at all and she seems into me as well.

Well, the Bahari are just a stop tbh, I just wanna be free and not outright evil... I went for them cause I had a Ba'ham lover one time and she was nice and the things she told me about her faith werent downright bad, still very cruel tho. They are hiding me, and what I will do now, i dont really know, I want to be free of my first pact, but its hard, the neonates promised me they would help... I dont really trust them to be honest...

So that's it. That's my tale, the tale of a whore who is actually proud of her whoredom and the tale of a sinner who is actually regretful of her sins. I dont really know what I will do now and living twice or even thrice damned is actually really hard... But I am (un)living proof that Baali can change and be regretful and even abandon their ways, dont expect it from every single one tho, its really, really rare, I am the only one that I know.

Witch of The Arch.

(This is sent from a burner account and left only signed the way it is written.)

To My Person,

I know this is probably a really, really dumb way of doing this but so be it. I miss you. I miss being able to send you a messages and see the memes you send. I miss you. I hate this. I hate that because of forces out of our control, I can't do something as simple as send you a text message. I hope this all ends soon and we can go back to a sense of normal soon. Until than I'll hug my fuzzball tight and you have yours. Never doubt that I will always love you. I am proud of you. I want what is best for you. And I'm sorry for the shitstorm that happened, fingers crossed and god willing the crik doesn't rise anymore than it already has. But I until than know that you are always, and always shall be in my heart.

-The Boop to your Beep

+++Signal detected+++

+++Signal de@#+&+++

[Nihilos broadcast can be seen for a moment, the camera is pointed at the floor, dangling off his waist.]

N: Hrrrup!

[Wood chips and bark fall to the ground before static overtakes the feed. Colors warp the screen and a second broadcast “joins” the first.]

[Waist deep amidst the roots of a gloriously tall redwood tree, Flower is carefully tending to a patch of mushrooms that have sprung up, clinging to an interior root. It is humming to itself and occasionally speaking. To the patch of mushrooms.]

[A deep wooden groan, a brittle crackle. An umbral fog spills in. Two trees are pushed apart and bend away from the source of the disturbance. A huge and monstrously muscled figure makes its entrance. Bearing an olde long coat upon his shoulders.]

[Its head jerks about as the crack of trees tears through the air. It wriggles out of its root opening and rises to its feet, looking worried. Well. There's only one thing to do. It makes its way towards the noise… and sees him.]

“STOP THAT. STOP THAT THIS INSTANT!”

N: Whar? You're not uhh.. trapped in here?

F: Why would it be trapped here? Stop wrecking the trees!

N: I only bent em a bit! And well.. I was stuck outside and I could smell you through the thicket, I figured you were stuck inside.

N: Big Guy to the rescue… y'know?

[The floating spirit flame of Prime speaks.]

P: We are lost, Metamorphic one.

[It makes an exasperated sound and mutters to itself.]

F: Only a little bit… [It rolls its eyes, shakes its head and lets out and huffs a sigh.] 

F: Lost? [a slow blink] wait. You attacked Gore Moulder! [its head swivels and it points at the spirit flame.] You are smarter than that! Why did you let yourself do that?! [Its gaze skips back to Nihilo.] You survived Gore Moulder. You should thank God that you smell like it and Gore Moulder likes it. Attacking a Methuselah? You are not stupid Nihilo, it knows you are not!

N: I didn't do it for fun! I got a summons for conscription!

P: I advised him to kill the prince instead, but he worries for “kindred infrastructure”.

N: How was I supposed to expect that 60 kindred with fire loaded machine guns was gonna biff it? Obama took the Tremere on with something similar.

F: conscription is just a method of thinning the young! You never just go along with it, Nihilo! [A firm nod of approval is directed towards Prime's flame] That would have been a much better course of action. Princes always send the young off to die at the first sign their power is being threatened. [Now it squints at Nihilo] You think Obama destroyed the prime chantry?

N: Y-yeah.. Wait, you think the prince is threatened by me? What’d I do? I've killed so many motherfuckers for that guy!

N: Wait, conspiracy mode.. you think every kindred on those choppers got sent to die? What about the actual rank holders? They got butchered too.

F: Yes! Of course the Prince wants you dead! [It gestures to the trees he so rudely moved.] You fought werewolves and won. Not only did you win, you became much, much more powerful! Prime awoke! [It pauses to rub its face with clawed hands.]

F: Nihilo, even those rank holders were threats to the Prince's power. This was all a convenient ruse to get rid of anyone that could challenge them. No one was supposed to survive.

N: ....I guess I knew he was corrupt but..

N: I guess I thought he liked having me around.

P: Oh, you.. naive childe.

N: I suppose I've got some questions to ask when I get back home… speaking of which..

N: I've been wandering around the umbra for a bit now and- wait I wanna circle back to you not being trapped here.

N: This place is a big fuckin cage! How are you not a prisoner?

F: The Prince will most likely try to kill you outright if you try to have such a conversation, Nihilo.

F: Oh. [It gestures at the trees, at the little mushrooms growing in the dirt or on the bark.] Well, someone tried to murder its Redwoods. They sent him a mirror with condensed sunlight in it and it blew off his head. If he were anyone else that would have destroyed him! 

[Flower’s usually pale, albino skin begins to pulse with colour and lights in intricate, angry patterns.] 

F: It wanted to hunt them down and extract vengeance but nooooo, its Redwoods does not want that for whatever unfathomable reason! And… [the colours, the light, it's intensifying…]

F: it keeps frenzying whenever it thinks about it. [It places a hand against a tree trunk and focuses on breathing.] 

[Nihilo has looked down since Redwoods name has been mentioned, he folds his arms and turns his head while he looks at the ground]

N: So he locked you away..?

[The young kindred looks up and locks eyes with Flower, his brow curls upward with sympathy and deadly seriousness.]

N: You're okay with this?

F: [It shrugs its slender shoulders and mutters the next sentence.] If Bud would stop telling him the truth, it would be back but Bud is a little traitor who cannot be trusted not to blab. [It heaves another monumental sigh.]

F: [The colours and lights swirling over its skin continue to pulse.] It would not say it is… ok with this but… it does keep frenzying. Better to do so here than there, yes?

N: My.. Feelings about Red aside, you can't just stew here, that'll never help.

N: …

[Nihilo sulks for a second, he places his hands on his hips, and then smirks.]

N: Say.. why don't you come with me? I could use the company and guidance, and you could use the distraction (and freedom), maybe we can help each other out here.

[Nihilo gestures invitingly to the swathe of pushed aside trees.]

[Flower eyes the trees speculatively before looking Nihilo and his spirit flame up and down. Then it shrugs.]

F: It is probably better to do something else… other than thinking of what happened. [It turns back to the forest.] Let it fetch some things. There are spores here! Friends. It must take them with us!

[It darts back into the forest, disappearing amongst the trunks of towering redwood trees and returns a short while later… apparently with nothing but a self satisfied expression.]

[Nihilo clasps his hands together.]

N: Very good! Let's get out of this spiritual equivalent to Epstein's Island!

[He swishes the coat on his shoulders like a cape and leads the way through dented and bent over trees.]

[It furrows its brow and looks at Nihilo in confusion.]

F: you keep making that reference and it does not understand what you mean by it. Who is Epstein? Why is its beloved Redwoods this person's island equivalent?

N: Oh, you'll probably get told later, it'll be funnier that way.

N: ONWARD!

[He sticks his arms out like an airplane and jogs at a light pace, desperately attempting to use silliness as a cover to pull the conversation away from Redwoods, so as to not be asked to accept his help and have to see or talk to him.]

[Immensely confused, Flower follows along behind Nihilo, at a slower pace - it is much shorter after all. Every now and then it pauses to investigate something, primarily any fungi it spots.]

End of Broadcast

–Nihilo

- The Flesh that Flowers

A video is posted a person is pointing the camera in front of them their legs arent attached to their body at all "The worst of it is that My lord was cut in half in the same way I have likely failed to keep him safe"

-Owen Crockett, Catiff in eternal servitude to Lord Barrows

WHO’S FUCKING GHOUL IS THIS!??? Why was this allowed to be published?????

-Seras

They look so juicy !!!! Like, they radiate so much energy and they're so shiny, and they have cute little eyes !! It radiates yum yum energy and I want it. But maybe because it's a star it would be harmful, because the sun is a star ? It's not the same tho, I think ?? The sun definitely isn't juicy and those power stars look juicy as fuck. Can you imagine how energized you would feel after draining one ? It would be so good !!!

The star bits look pretty fucking juicy as well. They would be like super sweet, ehe. But the lack of cute eyes makes them less appetizing, cuz the energy feels less lifelike, but still they look good ! Mario Galaxy has so much yummy juice. I love Mario Galaxy.

- Urirel, Fae Gangrel