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]

Both of you. Move. [Voice cold as Rose uses this round to empower her stake for 8 rounds. Providing a +4 to DMG and allowing her to hurt creatures with damage reduction.]

[daredtobelieve]

[Her instinct to protect the others wars against the logic that she has no weapons and those behind her are much more equipped to fight. She glances to Kiance, both surprised and not to see him stepping away from Dashiell to stand beside her. She reaches out a hand to wrap around the young vampire's forearm, drawing him back a few more steps with her, stepping back towards the Knights.

She doesn't dare to look at any of them in particular, afraid that she might lose her composure if she does.]

[druidisms]

[ the moment helen moves back, gus casts flame strike and unleashes a pillar of holy fire on helen's former flame, pun intended. (divine fire dmg 57, ref 26 to half) he's just setting him up for everyone else to take down tbh. sorry about your rug, carmilla. ]

[roux]

[ with a 29 reflex save, the vampire ducks aside from the pillar with an insane show of speed... but he lets out a snarl as it burns at him anyway, his fangs making an appearance as he yells out angrily: ] CARMILLA!

[ annnd it's init time~ ]

[littledhampir]

[The second the peace is shattered, Rose doesn't hesitate to go for Dashiell (Heroic Surge 1/5). There are no words to taunt him. Just a look of pure hatred that twists her features as she strikes out at him with deadly precision;

Atk: 46, 42, 35, 21. Dmg: 61, 60, 50 52. Evil Dmg: 4, 10, 9 7. Total: 194. (Double Dmg for Holy + Silver Stake. + 2d6 per attack for Evil. Empowered stake ignores Dmg reduction.)]

[roux]

[ she jams the stake into his chest repeatedly, but it's the last one that causes him to gape, his mouth falling open, eyes widening as he stares at her, as if unable to process what is happening. his already pale skin begins to grow grayer, and he turns just enough to lock eyes with helen. ]

You must live... with this... [ and with those utterly unfair words, his body begins to disintegrate before their eyes, as the other vampires look on almost entirely impassively. delphine however, presses her own eyes closed, looking away, and victor grants her a contemptuous glance for it. carmilla merely watches, her chin held high, as dashiell vanishes to dust around rose's blade.




/init (unsure) ]

[littledhampir]

[As she slips the stake beneath his ribcage for the final blow, Rose holds steady. No emotion on her features as she watches him slowly turn to dust before her eyes. Caring as much about taking his life as he had about Lissa and Max's.

As his body falls away around her stake, Rose turns. Lingering for a moment on Helen. That same emotionless look on her face before she turns her attention to Carmilla.]

Should we hear any new reports of humans being killed by Vampires in Paris. [All very matter of fact as she slides her stake back into the leather holster at her side.] We'll be back.

[does_not_sparkle]

[and he just... stood still. Unable to move as he watched his grandsire attacked and killed before his eyes. He took a step forward, but not in a way to try and start anything. Just... seeing one more person in his sire line killed in front of him and not knowing how to handle it anymore.

No one else was supposed to die. That was why he came here from America... so that he could learn not to let people die when he returned to his region. But now that was obviously not going to happen.

Let's be real - probably wasn't going to happen here either...

And he just felt loss, and that sire bond pain in his chest making him rub at it absently.]

[daredtobelieve]

[The worst part of being so undeniably human is that emotions rarely follow explicit logic, rarely obey and do as you believe they should. And so Helen can't help but feel an ache within her as Dashiell dissolves before her eyes, can't help but hear his final words echo in her mind. 'You must live with this.' Isn't that her lot with life? Living on and carrying the burden, the pain, the guilt... Her eyes close briefly, calling on that reserve of white hot anger to mask the lingering sense of loss for something that was never as real as she had wished it could be.

When she opens her eyes, she meets Rose's gaze, but can't hold it for more than a fleeting second. She looks instead to Kiance at her side. Rose's words to the Carmilla urge her to speak to him quickly and quietly.]

Whatever choice you make now, you must do it quickly. [She won't force his hand in either direction. He's had enough decisions made for him recently.]

[bloodqueen]

You're welcome to remain with us. [ carmilla's offer is off-handed, however, and she shrugs once ] If you choose to stay in France, you are bound to our rules and to our way of life.

Beyond that, you're on your own.

[druidisms]

You can bill me for the carpet cleaning. [ or the carpet replacement??? holy fire tho. anyway gus isn't even being a twat, she held up her end of the bargain once the truth came to light and let them get their justice. ]

[does_not_sparkle]

[if you choose to stay in France. That meant whether he stayed at the chateau, or at the flat he inherited from his sire in Paris he would be stuck by the rules of these strangers he didn't know. Ones who lived in paths he didn't... wouldn't let his nature fall to.

He took a deep breath and steeled himself, standing up straighter.]

I'll collect my things from Dashiell's tonight.

[he didn't need anything from his grandsire's inheritence. He had enough of his own already from his own clan's deaths as well as his own wealth. Let his other kin fight over the scraps]

[bagsthem]

[Ashley narrows her eyes at the other vampire, the one who is apparently not staying. He was previously just asking them to spare the murderer who kept her mom away and lied to her, so she can't say she trusts anything about him.

But if she's going to have words about it, she's not going to do it here.

Then her eyes flick to Helen, tight at the corners and unsure, before she looks back at Rose.]

Can we get out of here now?

[She's mission leader, after all.]

[littledhampir]

[Mirroring Ashley's thoughts and narrowed gaze. Rose offers the blonde a curt nod. Not about to stick around and see how long it takes for things to escalate again.]

We're done here. [Unable to keep the distaste from her tone, after seeing their so called rules in action.] We'll see ourselves out.

[likedillinger]

[ dean isn't happy about leaving it like this, clearly, but he'll respect rose's call. look at him growing or sth. he still gives helen a look like he doesn't know who she is anymore as they start to leave. ] You comin'?

[daredtobelieve]

[There's a haunted look in her eyes when she meets Dean's gaze. She gives the smallest nod of her head to his question.]

Yes. [A simpler answer, but the most she can manage for now. She turns to Kiance.]

Should you find yourself in London, you may find me, if you wish.

[ofmyword]

[Elijah's eyes flick over all the other vampires in the room, Kiance included, before he settles on Carmilla, inclining his head slightly.]

My thanks for allowing them to find some sort of justice. Hopefully our paths won't cross again.

[Someone should probably give her the respect she thinks she deserves. (diplomacy 25) Thank god they're leaving now tbh.]

[littledhampir]

[Good thing that somebody is Elijah because from Rose's retreating back as she doesn't even bother to step over the pile of dust that is what's left of Dashiell, it was never going to be her.]

[bagsthem]

[Ashley follows right after her, not bothering to give a single person in the room a second glance.]

[bloodqueen]

[ as they retreat, they would hear carmilla's last words to the other vampires: ] Someone clean that up. [ and then the doors close and they make their way back down and out in relative silence ]

[does_not_sparkle]

I don't know where I'll end up next, but if so I will come to find you.

[and once they are outside, he will stop to let the group go, his hands sliding into his pockets as he contemplates just what he will do next]

[druidisms]

[ gus passes over one of his karthur institute cards to the vampire. helen seemed to want to offer her help and he doubts she has any cards on her.

meanwhile mellie will lick helen's face. ]

[daredtobelieve]

[It's the warmest welcome she's received from this group, but not at all unappreciated. Helen's eyes close as Mellie's tongue roughly drags up her face. She reaches both arms up to hug the bear around the neck, briefly burying her face in the animal's fur to try to give herself time to compose herself, swallowing the lump beginning to form in her throat.

There will be time to fall apart later. Much later. When no one is around to question just what motivates it.]

[msattentionspan]

[Faith had been sent as back-up. She brought Quinn after detailing everything she could about her association with the Knights. Wynn had allowed it and she figured it would give her closure on that last mission. She needed that closure and if she could get a little bit of blood on her dress, she wouldn't be too upset.

She lingered at the outskirts of the gathering. Keeping an eye on things and making sure they didn't need her. She saw Helen and it made her wish she could hear what was going on better or that maybe she'd learned how to read lips. Sure, for a minute she made up what she thought they were all saying, but it wasn't as much fun as it looks on the internet.

She watches as the altercation starts and for a split second she thought she might actually get to do something fun. Then it was over in a minute. She was impressed with Rose and her instinctive action. The way she didn't hesitate. Of course, that meant she got all dressed up for nothing. Except that they seem to have Helen back. Or maybe she just showed up at the right time.

Faith slips through the crowd and lifts her chin in acknowledgment once she catches up with the group.]

Looks like I did get all dressed up for nothing. Everything settled? [Not that she even knows what could be settled, but she's just generalizing. She does offer Helen a glance, her curiosity pushing on her, but she doesn't say anything.]

[littledhampir]

[Leaning against the car, Rose's eyes narrow as Faith appears out of nowhere. Body stiffening as she glances from Faith to Quinn then back again.]

Everything that needed to be dealt with in France. [A slight edge to her voice as she pointedly doesn't look at Helen.] How did you know we'd be here?