Vampire the Masquerade - V5 - Session Three - Galerie Sanguine: San Diego

I'm currently running a Vampire the Masquerade chronicle using the 5th Edition rule-set for a small group of fellow role-players.

Our primary chronicle is set in Los Angeles and features a small group of Camarilla agents sent into the 'Free States' to bring them back under Camarilla control. This however is the second one of several planned interludes which will centre on the expansion of Baron Michael Tomassio's 'Galerie Sanguine' franchise to other domains.

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The now obligatory warning bit - These session write-ups will contain swearing, sexual references and other references that might offend. There are however a list of potential triggers listed before the introduction. I've also used actual photographs to represent some characters which I'll give acknowledgements to at the end if I've any idea who they are.
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Links to our main campaign, with a summary of each session can be found HERE.
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Links

San Diego: Chronicle Briefing

Galerie Sanguine: San Diego - 'Part One'

Galerie Sanguine: San Diego - 'Part Two'

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The PC's

Luthor Constantine - The Ministry, Conspiracy Debunker

Ethan Holst - Samedi, Mortician

Luthor Constantine and Ethan Holst

Chronicle Tenet - "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

The Storyteller

As everyone else...

If I think something needs a bit of out of character explanation then those will get a storytellers note that will helpfully be in red. Introductory pieces that I read to the group are in Blue. Where particular NPC's have a mention in a faction profile you will be able to reach it by clicking on their name or faction beneath their picture.

Trigger Warnings for This Session: Blood (Obviously), Familicide, Occultism, Suicide

Introduction

The investigation into the mysterious and brutal deaths within San Diego, and their possible connection to several kindred of influence, continues.

So far they have had meetings with the Ventrue Justin Rush, and the Gangrel representative of the Oratory, Constance Carson, and they have been accompanied in these investigations by the childe of the cities Constable, Cecilia. The primary motivation for their involvement in the investigation is, however, the insistence of Baron Tara that they do so. She is not a kindred who takes kindly to the word 'No'.

Scene Nine - Ethan's Conclusions

Having had time to consider the evidence from both the crime scenes, and after listening to the input from several other kindred with their own theories, Ethan had begun to order the information in his mind more precisely.

As they travelled to the second of the nights meetings, these theories began to evolve.

His first conclusion was inescapable. A vampire was involved. Faking those bite marks would, in theory, be possible, but the exact wound size and impact damage, and additional damage to the arteries and veins from rapid, uncontrolled blood intake would be near impossible to mimic.

Crime Scene One - Conclusions

Secondly. The lone victim, the woman from the first scene, was tortured. Looking back at the symbols carved into, and drawn upon her flesh, their locations seemed suspicious. If one discounted the poorly added occult aspects, then the majority of the remaining wounds were on the parts of her body where the most pain could be inflicted.

He was also reasonably sure that two of the marks upon her wrists that he initially presumed were hesitation marks, could easily have been bite marks. After all, why would a kindred waste the opportunity to feed if they were planning on killing the individual anyway?

He couldn't imagine that she had any information of value to a torturer, until he took into account that her lover was an essential part of the smuggling operations of Justin Rush. Theodore Woodard was killed after her, had no official records linking him to his home, and would likely have taken precautions about being followed. given his chosen profession. It was therefore reasonable to conclude that she would be an ideal source of information on Theodore's location.

Justin Rush and Constance Carson - Possible Conspirators

As he was also now sure that Justin Rush and Constance Carson were cooperating on some level, and she as a representative of Aegis, may have provided the apartment above the medical centre as somewhere for Justin's agent to stash his lover. This would make the connection to Tara and Aegis either a coincidence, or a case of 'killing two birds with one stone', by accomplishing their own goals and inconveniencing the cities Baron with a single act.

Crime Scene Two - Conclusions

In his experience as one who cleaned up after 'accidents' involving kindred, and cross referencing knowledge obtained from events in the past, the scene showed all the signs of a vampire in the throes of a hunger frenzy. The relentless assault from one victim to another, the need to pursue one attempting to escape, possibly only ending when the kindred was full once more and the beast was sated. 

The children were likely collateral damage. They couldn't be allowed to live after they had witnessed the events at the home, but if this amateur had been responsible, it was clear that he was unhappy about doing it. He or she'd also have certainly been full of vitae by this point, his beast silent after killing a mortal while feeding, which made their draining at his fangs seem even less likely. 

The only conclusion is that he had an ally, someone capable of quietening, or controlling the children, who they called in afterwards. Clearly he (or she) had no mental control capabilities of their own, or the woman killed for information wouldn't have needed to be tortured at all.

The needle marks were an added complication. The bites came first, the needle marks came later, not the other way around as he'd initially thought. But why would someone want samples of blood from the children of a blood-bound ghoul? That was still a mystery.

Therefore...

A vampire killed a woman for information on her lover, frenzied while killing them at their apartment, then called in an ally to help them clean-up or confuse the situation.

But why the occult symbols? He was now moving from evidence based conclusions to conjecture, and perhaps a little paranoia given the situation they were in, but a worrying conclusion kept working it's way back into his mind.

The occult symbolism, and to a lesser extent, the actual location of the crimes, accomplished only one thing. They drew the attention of the cities Constable and Census Takers, who then promptly went and visited the cities Baron. If someone new to the city, or kindred society in general, wanted to know who the power-players were, they now had some excellent intelligence on who these were. If they also had tracking capabilities, they might also now know where they made their havens.

Unfortunately, that would also include himself and Luthor Constantine...

Interlude - Sacrifice

"You failed with the almost-leeches..." stated the robed figure as he carefully honed the sword on his lap. "...it appears your charms were wasted on them. Or perhaps they're better judges of character than you thought?"

Aaron knew that Abel despised him, not for who he once was, but for what he had now become, yet he knew that without his own sacrifice, none of this plan would have been possible. He was also in no mood to be lectured to by a glorified priest with delusions of moral superiority.

Aaron felt his anger rising, a voice in the back of his head urged him to tear the fool before him into pieces. He'd need to feed soon. The beast within always spoke loudest when he hungered. With an act of will he forced it once more into the background, vocalising his anger rather than expressing it physically.

"I volunteered for this because none of your so-called hunters had the fucking balls to do it themselves. You've been at this for centuries and as far as I can see have accomplished basically fuck all. We've had more successes against the blank-bodies in the last twenty years than your fucking priesthood managed in the last two hundred..."

Abel returned the longsword to it's scabbard, rose from his seat and slowly walked towards the door to the staging area where his own warriors awaiting his commands. "You wait here..." he stated matter of factly as Aaron moved to follow him. "...while I go and sort out another of your fuck-ups..."

The door slammed shut, leaving Aaron alone with his anger. Then the whispering began once more...

Scene Ten - Suspicious Devices

Cecilia Baird - Brujah
Childe of Constable Absalom Hood

Cecilia briefed the pair before their next meeting.

"Next port of call is the duskborn... which is the main reason why I'm doing this, and not Absalom. I don't hate them just for being what they are, but if it was up to my sire they'd be ran out of the city as soon as Baron Tara gave the word. I'm not sure why she hasn't. If anyone had reason to hate them it would be her..."

The pair decided not to interrupt the briefing with any queries of their own until she'd finished speaking.

"I'm casually acquainted with one of the Caitiff under Josef and Sapphire's protection, so I have an 'in'. They'd clam up in a second if Absalom turned up. I might have more luck. Hopefully the fact that their friend got beaten into torpor for feeding in your domain won't be held against you..."

This wasn't actually the fault of either of them, this being entirely the decision of Baron Tara and her agents. Hopefully the duskborn shared this opinion. If not, things might become a bit tense.

"Anyway, we're going to need to backtrack a bit because they're currently based in a homeless shelter, off San Diego's Skid Row, just outside of Downtown. It's dangerously close to Absalom's feeding ground, but they weren't given much of a choice. I imagine the fear of accidentally wandering into his poorly defined feeding ground is why they ventured into yours..."

Both Luthor and Ethan got the impression that she felt some sympathy for the Caitiff and thin-bloods of the city but wouldn't go against her sire to help them.

Absalom Hood - Brujah
Constable of San Diego

Luthor decided to use the time to learn a little more about Tara's relationship with Absalom, though approached the subject with unusual tact, for him at least. Cecilia was clearly loyal to her sire, describing him as a "...loyal protector..." of Tara, when Luthor broached the subject of Absalom's defence and rescue of his Baron from the assault by Jenna Cross.

"It's important to do what we can to protect those around us..." agreed Luthor. "...a balance of power is also important to maintain in order to ensure peace, of course, I'm sure you'll agree that this also means that a close relationship between San Diego and L.A., is more important than ever due to the activities of The Sabbat and Camarilla both." 

Cecilia's reply was noncommittal, clearly she didn't feel like she could speak for her superiors on this matter, though Luthor got the impression that she agreed with him, at least in principle.

Luthor had a talent for conversation, though often he simply went into auto-pilot while he considered other things. In this case, he was considering Ethan's suspicions, shared with him earlier, that they themselves may also have drawn unwanted attention. On a whim, he decided to have a quick look underneath their vehicle.

Luthor was no expert on cars, but he was pretty sure that the square box beneath, heavily camouflaged with dirt and oil, definitely wasn't meant to be there. Deciding this was a job for someone a lot smarter than he was, as far as gadgetry was concerned at least, so he called over Ethan.

Ethan was experienced at cleaning up crime-scenes, both legitimately, and not, and so knew his way around surveillance devices and worse. The hardware was professionally concealed, though had been done in a hurry, and was also in completely the wrong place if it was an explosive device. Even with this conclusion made, he still approached it's removal with extreme care.

"It's a tracker with an independent power source..." concluded Ethan after cleaning the crap from the contraption and examining it closely. "...it's better to connect these things to the vehicles power source so they last forever, but obviously our spies didn't have the time or opportunity. This was their next best plan, I imagine."

He then turned to Cecilia. "Do you want it destroyed?" The neonate Brujah shrugged. Clearly this was a problem she'd never had to deal with before. After some consultation between Luthor and Ethan, they decided to conceal the device on another vehicle in the carpark, possibly belonging to one of the building staff, and let the devices owners chase that around for a while instead of them. They then took an indirect route to their next meeting. If they were still being followed, whoever it was, was very good, because none of the kindred could spot any sign of a tail.

Storytellers Note - 5 Successes on the roll was a bit of a a waste as they weren't being followed at this point anyway, but at least they felt reassured...

"I wonder where we were when they planted that?" mused Luthor. 

"First place we went...." theorized Ethan, though he had his reasons. "...remember how all the lights were out? It would have been fairly easy, and we were in there a while..."

Scene Eleven - Duskborn

The homeless shelter was open, but there were very few people outside. Hardly surprising considering how cold it currently was.

Daniela Merritt - Duskborn

Cecilia reveals that her contact was a woman named Daniela Merritt, and was usually on lookout due to her keen senses. Fortunately, she was indeed lurking around outside and recognised their companion. Daniela walked over and shook Cecilia's hand, though initially ignored both Luthor and Ethan. "Who are they?" she asked after a few moments delay.

"They have some relevant expertise in the matter were looking into, and then they kinda got drafted..." explained Cecilia "...They were sensible enough not to say 'No' when Tara decided they were going to continue helping... are they here?"

Daniela merely nodded, and headed inside, clearly knowing exactly who they were here to see...

Luthor lent over and whispered to Cecilia "Now we're here, we'll rely on you a little, we may not be the most welcome visitors." She subtly nodded her agreement.

Josef Moyer and Sapphire Khan are waiting for you all in an upstairs store room, half filled with boxes of food, presumably for the mortal inhabitants of the shelter. A selection of crates seemingly act as both table and chairs. Both have their backs to the walls, and seem less than happy to see you all.

"What the fuck are we being accused of now?" asked Sapphire, her hostility evident in both her tone, and her facial expression.

Cecilia explained that it was just routine. Sapphire clearly had her doubts that this was anything but 'routine' but made an effort to pretend that she believed what she was being told. 

Josef Meyer - Brujah
Former Civil Rights Activist

"We're not conspiring against Tara, we're just trying to survive..." began Josef, but after hearing about the investigation, opened up a little.

"We heard that there might be a kindred operating out of the airport. Whoever they are, they're well funded and have apparently found a way round the cameras. I can't see it being related to your investigation though. If anything the last thing someone like that would want is the Inquisition turning up, surely?"

Luthor pointed out that if they had other suspects to look into, then the Duskborn might end up out of the spotlight for a bit. Sapphire seemed to consider this for a moment, perhaps deciding who exactly to throw under the bus. it seemed that someone had sprung to mind as she answered. 

"That Ventrue and her two Brujah pals might be worth talking to. I hear that they're establishing a presence in the city, and that seems like a strange move for kindred who are 'just passing through'. There's also a rumour that the Ventrue, Anika I think her name is? likes her meals young and tender, so maybe dead kids are her thing too?"

The connection seemed vague to Ethan, but Sapphire seemed very keen to point them in her direction, which only made him more suspicious. Luthor was also sure that this was a distraction, even if it might be true, and that she was withholding something from them.

Sapphire Khan - Caitiff
Former Civil Rights Activist

Luthor decided that the Duskborn desire for privacy was the best weakness to exploit and so began to explain that kindred of note were now taking an interest in the airport, that this would mean more people sneaking around, and that this might draw attention to Josef and Sapphire's followers that they could do without. He also subtly reminded them that Cecilia's fairness and consideration wasn't shared by her Sire, nor the city's Baron and that co-operation now might save them some less pleasant attention later.

Ethan let Luthor talk. He usually got results, despite Ethan wishing he'd get to the point a bit quicker than he normally did, especially given the recent revelation that someone was spying on them.

"Okay..." conceded Sapphire. "...about three months ago a duskborn neonate made contact with us. They were green as fuck, or at least that's how they acted, but had cash on the hip, and wanted a place to stay... after a private discussion between me and Josef, we told them we couldn't help... " She then turned to Josef, who continued.

"He smelt like a cop, and believe me bitter experience has made me wary enough to sniff those fuckers out from a mile off. The authorities were always trying to sneak people into the civil rights movement, as either spies, 'agent provocateurs' or whatever, and this fucker had that vibe. He was definitely kindred, but he had 'personal agenda' and 'self-centred prick' written all over him. whatever he wanted, it wasn't help. It was, in my opinion at least, credibility. Acting on our instincts has kept us safe, and something about this fucker screamed 'bad news'. We fobbed him off..."

'Aaron' - Caitiff
Possible Murder Suspect

Cecilia asked for a description. This was more in her ballpark now, having become a more traditional investigation once again.

 

"He said his name was Aaron, but if that's his real name then I'd be fucking amazed. I took a still from one of our security cameras and printed it off so the rest of our people would know to give him the same 'no thanks' message. I'll get you a copy..."

Ethan thanked them for the information, but had a few more questions of his own. 

"I'm hoping you might be able to provide a level of insight, people from my clan have an interest in more esoteric areas. Methodology differs, but something about the crime scene was especially unusual. In addition to fangs a needle was used to extract blood from some of the victims. As we're cooperating at this point, do you have any insights?"

Sapphire pointed out that some Duskborn and Caitiff lacked fangs and sought alternatives, but that none of those under their protection had that flaw. As for Alchemy, Josef lamented that they had no-one with such capabilities, as that would have been a useful resource, but despite rumours to the contrary this was a very rare ability amongst duskborn. Though disappointing, this was more or less the answer that Ethan had been expecting

Luthor, having has some success exploiting the groups desire for privacy, switched tactics.

"It's irritating that we have yet another seeming dead-end. Invisible, untraceable duskborn, supposedly in a place they shouldn't be. It would excellent to have some concrete evidence that this isn't some vagrant or straggler. If this is indeed the person we're looking for, of course,,." 

Galerie Sanguine's Feeding Ground

"Now I think about it, that's the sort of thing that could make a big difference to an investigation such as this. but we need to bring them to the fore, and though that information would be worthy of reward, I can't see Tara being particularly forthcoming. We, on the other hand, would be more than willing to share our resources. Voluntarily this time. Helping those in need is a noble cause, on that point at least we can agree."

"If only there was someone who could keep an eye out for this person, and keep us informed..."

Sapphire was clearly keen to expand the Duskborn's potential feeding grounds, especially without risk, though Josef was more reticent. Apparently life, and unlife, experience had made him suspicious of any offer that seemed too good to be true. Nonetheless, he too could see the benefits of keeping the investigators informed.

"We'll keep an eye out for him for you..." agreed Sapphire. "...but we'll expect you to keep your side of the agreement if we learn anything..."

It seemed that they were making some progress.

Interlude - Alchemy

Alchemical Laboratory

Ethan actually knew a lot more about the esoteric properties of blood than he'd let on.

Broadly speaking, as far as kindred were concerned at least, mortal blood generally fell into one of four categories, or resonances as they were more commonly known. Each was associated with a mood, and, in more archaic circles, one of the four elements. Choleric, Melancholy, Phlegmatic, and Sanguine, or Fire, Earth, Water and Air from an elemental perspective.

He also knew that thin-bloods, or duskborn as they themselves preferred to be called, used alchemical principles to mimic the disciplines and abilities of vampires whose embrace had given them all the kindred gifts, rather than the pale imitations possessed by most Duskborn. He was also aware that the methods they utilised varied considerably. Some used their own bodies to mix the necessary blood, vitae and other required ingredients of each ritual, some used a human body, and others utilised actual equipment, creating laboratories like something from a mad scientists movie.

The evidence they had gathered might point to the latter method, but Ethan was sure that Josef hadn't lied, and that alchemy wasn't something these duskborn had access to. Of course that didn't mean that 'Aaron', or some other conspirator, did not.

Scene Twelve - Pressure

There was the sound of scuffling from downstairs.

One of the staff shouted up to Sapphire and Josef. "A gang of assholes are causing trouble..." Sapphire asks if they're "...the same ones as before..." according to the reply, they were not.

Homeless Shelter - Caitiff Base of Operations

Sapphire sighs, then explained. "Sometimes they're locals who think the problem needs to be moved somewhere else, sometimes they're just assholes who like picking on the weak, the worst however are the local drug dealers who see the destitute and desperate as excellent potential customers, drug mules, runners, whatever. I'd like to tear them up, but the last thing we need is local cops harassing us like the kindred equivalents have been doing..." 

She looked pointedly at Cecilia "...the cops would also like to see this place closed and the homeless problem 'moved on' to someone else's jurisdiction ..."

Ethan moved to a position where he could observe the disturbance while remaining unobserved. Luthor meanwhile, just went downstairs to have a look, without any attempt at subterfuge. The 'gang' were easily distinguished from the shelters residents by the quality of their clothing, attitude, and the fact that several were obviously armed.

From his place of concealment Ethan could see that someone was watching the events unravel with considerable interest. Occasionally one of the trouble makers looked in this persons direction as if looking for directions of some kind, yet appeared to receive no reaction at all. He looked less like a gang-banger, and more like a school teacher or priest, and something about him set Ethan on edge.

Religious 'Gang' Tattoo's

Luthor was, as usual, in the thick of things and had made some observations of his own. The 'gang' didn't seem to fit the mould, like someone had dressed them for the part without really knowing what they were doing. The visible tattoos were also suspect. They were real, but were generally religious in nature. Though biblical imagery wasn't uncommon for tattoos, he'd expect a gang such as this to have gone with something a bit more 'satanic' for want of a better term.

Seeing that Luthor was in the thick of it, Ethan decided to intervene before Luthor did something to antagonise the situation.

"The police have been informed of your unauthorised presence in this area..." lied Ethan as he emerged from his hiding place, in so convincing a manner that even Luthor had to double-take. "...and I'm sure they'll be interested not only in the fact that you are refusing to remove yourself from private property after a reasonable request, but also that several of you are armed with what I can only presume are unregistered weapons. Though maybe you all have applied for the appropriate concealed carry permits required in this city..."

"Well?.."

Apparently trouble with the law wasn't something they'd prepared for, nor were they expecting someone in the shelter to be able to fluently quote to them the exact laws they were allegedly breaking, and after a brief look towards their puppet-master, left.

"Looks like 'Aaron', decided to send some guys around to apply a little pressure?" Theorised Luthor.

"There was a guy watching..." confirmed Ethan. ",,,but it wasn't this 'Aaron', and he made sure to stay out of the line of sight of the security cameras." 

Luthor smiled. "So it's a conspiracy? Excellent... that's right in my area of expertise..."

To Be Continued in 'Galerie Sanguine: San Diego (Part Four)'

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Storytellers Conclusions

I sometimes like to do a round-up of how the session went in these features but if you couldn't give a shit what I think then feel free to skip this bit....

More clues discovered, more confusion, and some great roleplaying from the players. I especially enjoyed Ethan's player defeating an enemy by quoting San Diego firearms regulations at them...

Song Lyrics

Also, the quote in the header is from the following song, should any-one be interested.

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Further Acknowledgements
“Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of White Wolf Entertainment AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved.”

I've used pictures of real people to represent some of the characters and art for others so in no particular order Luthor Constantine is Michele Morrone Michael, Ethan Holst is Bryan Cranston, Justin Rush is Armie Hammer, Constance Carson is Dina Meyer, Cecilia Baird is Lynn Gunn, Absalom Hood is Jamie Dornan, Daniella Merritt is Sandrine Bonnaire, Josef Moyer is Sterling K Brown, Sapphire Khan is Uzo Aduba and 'Aaron' is Dave Franco.

Everything else is from vampire related folders and searches and is as far as I know is all of the 'fair use' variety. If there's something that you feel should be attributed to some-one then feel free to let me know and I'll happily add an acknowledgement.