marseilles ♔ swallowing the pill til i breathed my last

[likedillinger]

We Carry On - Portishead

WHO || Dean, Rose, Gus, Ashley, Elijah [closed]
WHAT || The Knights head to speak with the Carmilla
WHERE || Marseilles, France
WHEN || Mid April 2016
HOW || Actionspam

Last fall, two Knights were killed in action while investigating a group of rogue vampires in Paris - Sir Dragomir and Sir Rast. While the vampires were brought under control, the mystery of who exactly killed the Knights remains up in the air, and to that end, Wynn has decided to establish contact with an ancient vampire known as Carmilla, leader of a vampiric coven of Elders who dictate the rules by which most nearby covens live in order to maintain their existence without bringing humankind down on their heads.

Also of interest to the assigned Knights is the strange abrupt departure of Sir Helen Magnus, who stayed behind in Paris and sent an unusual letter to her daughter Ashley that refused to explain what she was doing, but left the woman more concerned than ever.

Wynn has made arrangements with the coven, who have reluctantly agreed to meet with the Knights, and so a few days after their briefing, Dean pulls their rented vehicle up to the gates of the creepy manor where the Elders have at least agreed to rendezvous. While the grounds are well kept, there's an air of emptiness to the whole place.

Comments

[littledhampir]

[Rose glances briefly at the bear before looking back to the Manor that looms before them.]

Alright... Lets not keep them waiting.

[likedillinger]

What, vampires aren't big on fashionably late? [ he directs the sarcastic remark to elijah, but they make their way towards the steps of the manor. a large raven alights on a nearby spire, seeming to affix them all with one beady eye, as they reach the top of the steps. they're decorated with an immense, somewhat ghoulish knocker. ]

[bagsthem]

You'd think they'd be all about that with the whole can't come out 'til it's dark thing.

[She peers up at the raven briefly as it's landing catches her eyes before she shakes her head and moves toward the doors, reaching out to use said large knocker.]

[littledhampir]

[Rose shoots Dean a look but says nothing, instead letting her gaze slide to the Raven as she falls in to position to Elijah's right. Leaving him to do the honors.]

[druidisms]

Hope they have a butler, [ gus supplies idly, glancing at the raven with a nod. 's up. he wouldn't be surprised if that raven is one of their familiars or companions. and if it's not, gus likes birds.

but, i mean, someone'll have to invite the vampire inside. ]

[ofmyword]

Oh, I'm sure it varies from vampire from vampire. [He's gonna do that weird smile that means he knows something you don't.] Do try not to insult our hosts until after we have what we came for.

[Since Ashley is already using the knocker, Elijah will just fold his hands in front of him and wait for it to be answered.]

[likedillinger]

[ ashley's hand is about to curl around the ring of the knocker when with a loud grinding sound, the doors open of their own accord inward, revealing the elegant entrance hall, all dark wood and dated but expensive furnishings that are immaculately kept. dean glances back at rose ] Little showy, aren't they? [ please excuse him, he has to get all these quips out of his system now or he'll never shut up inside ]

[ofmyword]

[Elijah is just like 'let's get this over with first' and steps forward to enter.

Will he smack into an invisible barrier?? We just don't know.]

[littledhampir]

[Just because her Will Saves are usually better than Dean's, doesn't mean she disagrees with him and the smirk that touches her lips says as much.]

Certainly makes an impression... [Tone dry.]

[likedillinger]

[ elijah... sure does, finding himself stalled at the doorstep. there's an amused murmur from within, and seconds later, a slim woman with lightly curled blonde hair wafts into view. diamonds shine from her neck, and her collar is fur-lined. she fixes them with an appraising gaze, lifting her hand lightly to her chest as she says: "So. He sent an actual vampire after all." ]

[druidisms]

[ gus barely restrains a snicker. he actually barely restrains a lot of comments, as well, mainly "good thing we brought this original along, guys". as it is, he simply watches the woman with idle curiosity. (spot 30, knowledge: arcana 20 total) is the a vampire?? who knows. ]

[littledhampir]

[Keeping her features schooled to neutral, Rose strains her hearing to try and catch anything being said beyond (Listen 35/39 if undead) as she regards the woman.]

That's not going to be a problem is it? [Standing aside as if waiting for Elijah to be extended an invite.]

[ofmyword]

[Fortunately, he manages to stop himself before there's a clearly audible thud. (reflex 32 (nat20+12)) So I guess he just sort of makes himself look as classy as one can when they're stalled by an invisible barrier.]

Send a vampire to deal with vampire problems. [Smile.] Elijah Mikaelson.

[He gestures at the door.]

May I?

[likedillinger]

[ with all of gus' masterful vampire knowledge, his best guess would be... yes, she's probably a vampire. something about the graceful air of her movements and the pale cast of her skin, but mostly that unnatural vibe that he'd pick up on as a druid student of the living.

rose can hear the very distant sound of conversation behind closed doors somewhere within, enough to make out multiple voices, but no specifics.

the woman smiles demurely at elijah, and says in her notable french accent: "Of course." she gestures for him to enter, and when he has, extends her gloved hand delicately. "Delphine." ]

[bagsthem]

[Ashley stays silent from where she stand, crossing her arms over her chest as she waits for the two vampires to do their introduction thing.

Elijah seems to have this covered, which is good since that's why they brought him. She knows better than to interrupt them.]

[littledhampir]

[It's not lost on Rose that the rest of them are practically invisible to Delphine. The hint of a grin touching her lips as she stands back, letting Elijah do his thing so she can fall into step behind him once they move inside.]

[ofmyword]

[Elijah steps inside and immediately takes Delphine's hand, brushing his lips over her knuckles in show of respect. He looks up with a smile as he releases her hand.]

The pleasure is all mine. Now, I'm sure my associates are eager to get down to business. So, shall we?

[likedillinger]

[ her coy smile twists a bit at his words, one eyebrow rising.

"Your associates. Of course. Follow me." she turns from him, trailing her gaze across the rest of them as she does so, before heading for the staircase. everyone can make spot checks as they go~ ]

[bagsthem]

[Oh good, here we go into a potential den of murderers. It's fine.

Ashley keeps her eyes and ears peeled as they make their way after the two vampires (spot 20, listen...5).]

[littledhampir]

[Without so much as a smirk, Rose falls into step behind the Vampires. Eyes peeled as they move through the mansion. (Spot Nat 20, Listen 40.)]

[druidisms]

[ gus is on alert with all these unnatural fucks around. (spot nat 20, 31 total; listen 26) and mellie is snuffling her nose across the floor like a curious baby bear. (spot 26, listen 16) ]

[ofmyword]

[Elijah stays silent as he falls into step behind Delphine, glancing around occasionally but otherwise keeping his eyes locked on the other vampire. (spot 18, listen 28)]

[likedillinger]

[ while elijah and ashley might notice that the place is more than a bit spotless, gus and rose would pick up on the fact that there's nothing that indicates that anyone actually lives here. it looks... kept, but only for appearances.

rose can make out movement both further back within the first floor, meaning that not everyone is gathered upstairs, where they're being herded. she and elijah both catch some voices drifting out from behind the heavy wooden doors of the room that delphine leads them to - they catch snatches of something about "--bringing his companion with him, I do believe" and "--from America, yes."

delphine pushes both doors open, leading into a plush red parlor, that's quite spacious. the room has no windows, and there are six people already gathered here, arranged on the various furnishings: three men and three women. all of them would probably be able to tell that there are two who look more... human than the rest, not the least of which because the young man and woman have open bite marks on their necks, with no attempts to cover them. a woman with bright red lips and old hollywood hair watches them from a seated position, her arm sprawled across the back of the cushions. behind her stands a solemn looking vampire with dark features and an elegantly long nose. across the room, pouring what can only be blood into a crystal glass is a blonde vamp with an incredibly strong jaw and icy blue eyes, and sitting with one leg slung across the other, dressed in a dramatically punk fashion is a pale, dark-haired woman who sports a number of chains and piercings, standing out quite a bit from the rest of them in their classy attire.

they all cease talking when the doors open, scanning the entering group with casual interest or disinterest, as the case may be. delphine gestures airily to the two humans.

"Tell Carmilla they've arrived," she says, and without a word, they slink past the Knights to head out the doors, leaving them there with the five vampires. ]

[littledhampir]

[The presence of feeders isn't lost on Rose but if she happens to have any opinion on their existence? It's unlikely anyone in the room would be able to tell by looking at her. (WS 27)

With her features schooled into a mask of neutral, her gaze moves over the faces of each person assembled. The Dhampir tracking the exit of the humans with an infinitesimal raise of her eyebrow, trying to discern if they're here of their own free will or if somebody has been laying a brain whammy on them. (Spot 32, Wis 21, Sense Motive 28: IDEK what to roll/if it's rollable but there ya go.)]

[bagsthem]

[Ashley moves into the room, not hiding her displeasure at OPEN NECK WOUNDS not quite as well (will save 20), but they're not here to judge if the humans are willing, I guess. One thing at a time.

Her arms cross over her chest as she stays near the doors until she's told to do otherwise. She's not here to do any of the talking, after all.]