V5: Stolen 1.07

Vampire: The Masquerade

Stolen

1.07

Lessons

Beck

Maebh

Reverend Beck finds Maebh a few nights later, directed by Antha, to inquire about other possible suppliers of antiquarian books and other artefacts. She agrees to ask around in return for a favour owed, and meet him at his church after a service.

That night’s service is private for Kindred and guests, from the Book of Nod itself. He speaks on Lilith’s offer of knowledge and power, the warning that “I do not know what the Awakening will do for you, for you are truly Cursed by your Father. You could die. You could be forever changed.” And that Caine took that step bravely. And next that he entered a city and mortals came to him seeking power in turn, showing themselves more corrupt than he. And that he returned to solitude and sorrow, reason to gather.

His congregation includes a Nosferatu who attends every service, a couple he knows from Elysium, a group of four unfamiliar Kindred dressed like modern young people and two seeming mortals with them, and another seeming mortal sitting along at the back.

And he realises that he’s seen her before, and she was most curious when he read about the prophecies of the Time of Thin Blood.

As the Nosferatu approaches after the sermon to ask about the Church’s plans for midwinter, the girl gets ready to go, and he goes over to her. Confirming that her breath steams in the cold of the hall.

“It is good to see you attend. If you ever have any questions, I can always be reached here.”

“Ah, thank you, Father. I have... well, too many really. I mean, like, do you feel the cold?”

“I do, and it reminds us we are still connected to the world.”

Maebh, at the door, notices the large group covertly observing this. And as the girl goes, they don’t make an immediate move to follow but they do start to stand.

She has her magpie follow the girl as she heads out, and intercepts the group, asking about seeing them at XOXO

“Antha’s friend, right?” asks the man who puts himself in front.

“Yeah. Guess we don’t get to church that often?”

“Who has the time?” the woman beside him asks with a thin smile.

“Exactly...”

Maebh warns Beck that the group, she suspects anarchs, are going to follow the girl.

“Best not let an innocent stray,” Beck says.

Maebh exits, steps out of sight, and a wolfhound runs of the shadows.

The anarchs follow the girl at a discreet distance, she doesn’t seem to have noticed, as she heads down to a common.

Beck’s driver pulls up, and Beck winds down his window. “Child? You left something behind.” He beckons her over, and she looks nervous.

The anarchs draw closer and their spokesman approaches. He and Beck lock eyes. One of the others keeps looking into the dark up ahead.

“What do you want with her?” the anarch asks, and Beck narrows his eyes.

The wolfhound circles the car, and Maebh steps out of the shadow it casts. Her magpie returns, confirming another group is coming. Two of the dead, three seemingly alive.

The girl looks ready to run from every group.

The anarch observer points them out and Beck recognises the approaching vampires from Elysium. 

Camarilla agents...

2 XP