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>>3034477
You’ve awkwardly tried to make conversation with a few farmers here and there they seem afraid of you instinctively, but this is really not your thing, and your packmates soon realize it. You’re mostly confined to ‘securing the haven’ while they leverage their skills to gather information. It makes you a bit jealous. Still, let nobody say you wasted your time here. You’re contributing to the Sword! Somewhat! You’ve realized that the Gangrel you devoured, body and soul has left you with a kind of nightvision, though your eyes glow when you use it. Inconvenient, but kind of spooky.

And, after your brief respite, the ghosts at the edges of your vision seem to have returned in force. They still elude your direct gaze, but there’s something flickering at the edge of your vision nearly every 5 minutes, it seems. It makes it difficult to concentrate while you:

>Keep practicing with your natural abilities. This is your FOUNDATION
>Take time to finally go through Salvador’s memories. This… is getting to the point that you shouldn’t ignore it, you don’t think, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
>Practicing your physical moves. You might be stuck in here for the most part, but you can still swing around that sabre of yours.
>Sending your ghouled rat out on scouting runs – he’s increasingly recognized you as his sole master now, you’ve even got a bit better at speaking to animals in general.
>Your packmates are downplaying your skills; investigate one of the locations.
>Other / Some mixture?

>>3034486
>Practicing your physical moves. You might be stuck in here for the most part, but you can still swing around that sabre of yours.
>Meanwhile, have the rat scout
Let's get those mad skills with Innocence
Also, about the rat, how about a name? I vote Lalo.

>>3034486
>Sending your ghouled rat out on scouting runs – he’s increasingly recognized you as his sole master now, you’ve even got a bit better at speaking to animals in general. (Fort)

Perhaps try to ghoul more animals, like a bird or something. If we have time, practice our Foundation.

>>3034495
Lalo is alright with me too

>>3034486
>Sort through the memories
Don’t want that shit to pop up during a fight

>>3034486
>Scout with rat
>Sabre
>Memories

Since it doesn't look like one option is winning in particular, roll 3 shots of 3d100 please

Rolled 88, 73, 100 = 261 (3d100)

>>3034556

Rolled 59, 23, 7 = 89 (3d100)

>>3034556
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

>>3034562
>Crit
Neato. Been delayed by food, another 20 or so and I'll be writing.

>>3034486
>88, 73, 100
>Rat scouts out the fort pretty well
>You don’t really improve with your sword
>Memory scouring goes GREAT

Over the course of several days and nights, your rat scouts out the fort. You gain a rough idea of the layout. It attempted to gain entry several times, but was not able to make it past the various servants who shooed it out.

Some 20 guards patrol the area surrounding the fort, an unusually high number for the seemingly-peaceful town. Lochlan notes that some of the common folk feel it is a sign of troubles to come.

There are three entrances, the main one in front and two servant’s entrances nearer the back of the building. The curtain wall has only the one that your animal could find.

While it’s out, you try to improve with the sabre, but don’t make much progress. The cramped interior just isn’t the right setting for this kind of practice.

As you lay down for the day after a frustrating lack of progress on your sabre-skills, your mind dwells on Salvador. You’ve really got to get a handle on that, this is getting out of hand.

Throughout the day, your semi-conscious mind continues to dwell on this issue, going through Salvador’s presence within you with exacting precision. When you wake up… you get it. You close your eyes, and the flickering disappears.

…Was it really so simple, all along?

You also seem to recall a few ritualistic practices Salvador did, though their meaning escapes you at the moment. Maybe you should try them out and see?

In any case, your packmates are already awake and discussing things. They nod at you as you rise from the floor, stowing your bag of earth.

“We have gathered all the information we need,” Renata states, “and are simply wasting time the more we delay. They will notice us eventually. I say full assault, tonight. Now.”

Lochlan waves her away. “We can wear away at their human pawns first, dear. It is their strength, remember? Remove it and they will crumble.”

Mateo nods. “The b-beggars of the city are beneath their notice. I could… g-gain allies there, strengthen our p-position.”

>Agree with Renata
>Agree with Lochlan
>Agree with Mateo
>Propose something else

>>3034922
>Agree with Mateo
We need back up of our own to keep their forces away for a time.

>>3034931
>>3034922
Or hell, let's combine Lochlan and Mateo's plans, since if we can focus on undermining the Camerilla's hold on the town and build up our forces it would make the assault go a lot more smoothly.

>>3034922
Not a fan of just a straight up assault, but I can’t fathom a use for beggars, and once they notice their humans falling, they’ll probably withdraw and fortify.

>Agree with Renata

Unless someone else has an idea

>>3034945
I'm thinking we use the beggars as scouts to find out where the human agents are in town for us to assassinate, they are the fingers that hold onto the town, start cutting fingers off and you weaken the Camarila's grip.
And you are right, if they do withdraw and fortify, we can always just burn their fortress down and force them out. Unless of course the destruction of the "fortress" equals fission mailed, which in that case disregard my statement on arson.

>>3034942
I like this

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>>3034922
>Agree with Lochlan
>Agree with Mateo

"I think we should build up our strength while weakening theirs." Lochlan and Mateo nod hesitantly after a few moments, though Renata looks unconvinced.

"Ah, I knew you'd come around, friend." Lochlan grins cheekily at Renata, though she doesn't rise to the provocation.

Mateo smiles, though it looks more like a nervous grimace. Well, he tried.

What approach do you suggest?

>Pick off soldiers one by one in the town.
>Lochlan was pretty sure a couple of taverns reported to the Camarilla - cut off their information as discreetly as you can.
>Some of the servants live in the town. Kill them and those idiots will be forced to do their own work, that'll divide their attention at the very least.
>Other?

>>3035030
>Lochlan was pretty sure a couple of taverns reported to the Camarilla - cut off their information as discreetly as you can.
>Find their lieutenants or somebody who commands in place of them, and assassinate them. Without a spine, the head cannot tell the limbs what to do.

>>3035053
supporting

>>3035104
Do you see any holes in this plan? I mean I'm just making a tactical assessment of the situation and what might get us out of this alive.

>Other?
I grew up in a place like this.
There's no shortage of people who want to get rid of the Spanish.
All we need to do is give them the power to do so and they will take revenge given the opportunity, same as I.

We arm the population for a revolt, incite them to attack the Spaniards, then as our mortals strike the mortal servants and spies of Camarilla, they will need to send Soldiers to quell them.

When that happens, we descend on the castle like a punishment sent by God himself as the mortals deal with the Soldiers.

All we need are own spies to see if our quarry makes a run for it, in which case we go for a hunt. This is where the beggars are likely to come in. We have them steal or kill the horses in that night and light signal fires should our quarry escape by then.

Preferably we kill them in their castle however.

>>3035111
nah, it's pretty good.

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>>3035229
>Arm the population
You'd need armaments unless you meant making them into shovelheads in which case bravo, I hadn't thought of that

I really hate to cut it short on so few posts but this week has been crazy - I thought it'd be better to get a little in tonight than none at all, and I call already tell my energy just isn't where it needs to be to continue. Look for more tomorrow and a full day over the weekend at some point. Will leave it open until then

Could always go with an Army of Ghouls or just do a heist on their armory.

>>3035307
Shovelheads is indeed a possibility, but I think that's not gonna be great for out humanity.
Was honestly thinking of stealing weapons, but I guess an outpost this size would have all the stuff in the fort anyway.

Probably better go with surgical strikes.

If we could loot their Armory and give their gear to the local insurgents, that would be pretty good for us.

>>3035307
We could kill two birds with one stone. Catch a few of the soldiers when they’re vulnerable and make them into Shovelheads for an assault on the fort. Perhaps we can ambush them while they patrol the town at night?

>Lochlan was pretty sure a couple of taverns reported to the Camarilla - cut off their information as discreetly as you can.
>Find their lieutenants or somebody who commands in place of them, and assassinate them. Without a spine, the head cannot tell the limbs what to do.

Nobody seems to disagree with this plan and it makes sense, so:

>Just kill a few of them each night, spreading it out over time (subtle)
>Shovelhead them (when they dig themselves up (you can stake/unstake them whenever, so this could be a few days from now) it will be not at all subtle, will pretty much kick things off right the fuck then but you'll have some combat-ready peasants)

>>3036914
>Just kill a few of them each night, spreading it out over time (subtle)
>>

>>3036914
>Just kill a few of them each night, spreading it out over time (subtle)
If we do it right, we can make them think it's some other force other than vampires.

>Just kill a few of them each night, spreading it out over time (subtle)

Roll 1d100 for picking them off (this roll is for the whole pack)

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Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>3037022
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

>>3037022
Back on the forgetting my name train, I see

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>>3037062

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>3037022

>>3037065
>>3037059
On a entirely different note, we're now back to good plans getting assfucked by dice because go fuck ourselves.
Woo woo...

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>3037022
No worries, this roll will save everything!

>>3037081
We're gonna need a lot more Tequila before we're through.

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>3037022

>>3037022
>22
>Hmm… no.

You arrange it with the pack – tonight is the night you’ll strike, and soon, at the conclusion of evening services at the church. They ring the bell at its end, making for an easy way to coordinate your actions. Each of you take one of the guardposts, except for Lochlan, who’s charged with the tavern.

You creep up to the southern post, mind focused on the mission. It’s right in front of you as you meander about the street, waiting for the signal, when suddenly the door opens unexpectedly, clipping your leg and knocking you to the floor. You look up at the soldier who opened the door and he screams in terror. “Monstruo!” He slams the door shut. The townspeople nearby start at his reaction and back away slowly, muttering, though a few lack the nerve of the others and run off yelling about a demon.

…Right, your bone ridges. Dios, your wrapping fell off when you fell down. That’s just bad luck.

>You’ve lost the element of surprise – time to back off and try again another night.
>You’re committed now – kick down the door and continue with the plan.
>There’s only a couple people running – maybe if you stopped them you could contain this mess…
>Other?

>>3037106
>There’s only a couple people running – maybe if you stopped them you could contain this mess…

>>3037106
>You’re committed now – kick down the door and continue with the plan.
FUCK IT GO LOUD. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

>>3037106
>You’re committed now – kick down the door and continue with the plan.

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>>3037106
>You’re committed now – kick down the door and continue with the plan.

You kick against the door, taking a few blows to knock the latch loose and burst in. Three guards are inside, two still readying their weapons from where they had been seated at a table with food and drink laid out while the third has just finished closing the shutters that overlook the road leading into town – the one who slammed the door in your face. He swears and the other two guards’ faces blanche seeing you. They fear you. It is right. They hesitantly form a group at the other end of the room, stances guarded and weapons raised. You charge them – this attack is too soon, the others won’t have started yet. You’ll have to be quick.

Roll 1d100 for combat please.

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>3037163
For the pack!

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3037163
Fuck this shite, start punching.

Rolled 40, 9, 21, 82, 14, 23, 77, 27, 57, 67 = 417 (10d100)

>>3037169
Yeah naw, this is just getting dumb. might as well start tossing dice and risk purging the good rolls.

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>3037163
Hey, we could shovelhead these guys!

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>>3037163
>58
>The dice are just not with you today

You charge at them, swinging your sword, trying to keep them hemmed in from the single exit. If they escape, this will have been a grand waste of time, though at the back of your mind you know the fleeing villagers have already tainted this blow somewhat.

Their superior skill is matched by your superior strength and iron skin, and for a few blows nothing happens other than light cuts that fail to bite into your chest and ineffective stabs into their armour. Finally, one of them overextends and you grab out with your free hand and fuse his fingers into a useless blob while he shrieks and tries to pull away. You let go and he falls away from your grinning form. You turn to the other two and-

Wait, there’s only one left. Mierda. A glance to your right shows the missing one fiddling with the latch on the shutters, cursing as he tries to open it. After a heartbeat more he finally gets it and he throws them open, trying to scramble out with a shout as he glances over his shoulder and notices you’ve seen him. He hurries up a bit more, somehow, from his already-frantic pace.

You’ve got one of them down for the count, he won’t be fighting any time soon, but now your attention has to be divided…

>The man exiting through the shutters is vulnerable now. Attack him, though it might be a challenge to prevent the other from escaping…
>They lost when it was three on one – the single human in front of you stands no chance. Finish him off quickly, then run down the fleeing man afterwards.
>Finish off the man on the floor quickly – make sure he won’t be a problem. (Specify which of the other two you want to do after this one if you choose it).
>Other?

>>3037218
>They lost when it was three on one – the single human in front of you stands no chance. Finish him off quickly, then run down the fleeing man afterwards.
We can still make this work

>>3037218
>They lost when it was three on one – the single human in front of you stands no chance. Finish him off quickly, then run down the fleeing man afterwards.
Guy trying to climb out the window is blitzed out of his mind on fear, he's not really going to be fast enough to get away in time. Outside of a shitroll of course.
Also we REALLY need to get rid of our bone shit that's on our face. Fuck the others feelings on it.

>>3037218
>They lost when it was three on one – the single human in front of you stands no chance. Finish him off quickly, then run down the fleeing man afterwards.

You grin menacingly at the lone man standing in front of you and rush forwards.

Roll 1d100, please

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>3037372
fuk.jpg

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>3037372

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>3037372

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>>3037372
>93

His feeble swing bounces right off your forearm and your sabre cuts deep into his lightly-protected neck. He drops like a stone, gurgling as blood gushes from the wound. At the sight you instinctively lean down, moving to bite, Dios you’re hungry, just a-

No. You’ve got to chase the final man down.

You exit out the door at a sprint into a deserted street – you can just make out the fleeing form at the end of the street, headed in the direction of the fort. Even within a few seconds of running after him, you can tell he won’t escape – he’s in piss-poor shape. Probably why they stuck him in a shack.

He’s not even halfway to the main square when you fall upon him from behind. Nothing impedes your instincts, this time, and you tackle him and bury your fangs in the fat flesh. You feed deeply and satisfyingly.

You come back down from the high several moments later, disappointed as it comes to an end, the drained corpse slumping down to the street. Someone nearby screams.

Dios, this hasn’t exactly gone to plan, you were supposed to-

BONG.

Fuck.

>Clean up the mess in the street as soon as possible and… hope nobody important enough to want to report it saw? You can try to retain the element of surprise, at least.
>Go find the rest of your pack – tell them that the plan’s shredded. You need to move against the fort, now, before they lock it down.
>Go finish off the two in the guard house. You’re still… a little thirsty
>Other?

>>3037501
>Clean up the mess in the street as soon as possible and… hope nobody important enough to want to report it saw? You can try to retain the element of surprise, at least.
Hide the bodies fast.

>>3037501
>Clean up the mess in the street as soon as possible and… hope nobody important enough to want to report it saw? You can try to retain the element of surprise, at least.

>>3037501
>Clean up the mess in the street as soon as possible and… hope nobody important enough to want to report it saw? You can try to retain the element of surprise, at least.

Cursing under your breath, you begin dragging the body out of the main street and into a nearby alley. Nobody seems to be around at the moment, but you did hear that scream. That could’ve been the actions of one your packmates, though, no way to know for sure.

You find a darkened pile of rotten wooden scraps – not even valuable enough for the beggars to steal it – and hide the body under there to the best of your ability. The smell will attract people eventually, but it might buy you a couple days at least.

Now that you’ve time to focus on your surroundings, your enhanced senses are picking up similar commotions from across town. Muffled shrieks, screams, shouted curses… Your packmates are busy, that’s for sure.

They pick up something else too, though. Something closer. Something quieter.

Your gaze is drawn to a rooftop overlooking the alley – ne’er-do-wells sometimes hide up there at night if the weather’s good enough – and notice a figure staring down at you, terrified. A young figure. A boy, early into his teen years.

He bolts as soon as you look up.

>…You can’t have a witness. It must be dealt with. For the Sword.
>He’s not likely to report to anyone of note… if you leave him, surely no harm can come of it, right? And it just feels… wrong, still. Despite all that’s happened.

>>3037557
>…You can’t have a witness. It must be dealt with. For the Sword.
Oh boy, our first Ghoul.

>>3037557
>He’s not likely to report to anyone of note… if you leave him, surely no harm can come of it, right? And it just feels… wrong, still. Despite all that’s happened.
What a time for our humanity to come rushing back. It wasn't so long ago that were like this boy. Would we really condemn another youth like us to death?

>>3037561
Eh fair enough, here's to hoping it won't fuck us in the ass in comparison to the rest.

>>3037557
>He’s not likely to report to anyone of note… if you leave him, surely no harm can come of it, right? And it just feels… wrong, still. Despite all that’s happened.

No. Even now, there’s some part of you that says that’s wrong. You won’t. It’s not like he’ll do anything anyways, Dios, the kid’s terrified.

You turn away from the pile of wooden scraps and head towards:

>The guardhouse you left. You need to clean up.
>The nearest other guardhouse was being hit by Mateo, you think. You need to tell the others how wrong things’ve gone.
>Find Lochlan, he’ll know how to smooth things over, he’s a people pleaser.
>Other?

>>3037642
>The guardhouse you left. You need to clean up.
Take care of our shit first.

>>3037642
>>The guardhouse you left. You need to clean up.

>>3037642
>The guardhouse you left. You need to clean up.

You head back over to the guardhouse, where the one soldier has finished bleeding out onto the floor and the other is attempting to drag himself along the floor towards the door. You pull him back to the centre of the room and drain him mercilessly. Yes, that’s… that’s better. You feel a lot less hungry now.

The sounds of muffled shrieks echo across the town; they’d be impossible to pick out but for your senses. This attack’s been a decisive blow against the Camarilla. Whether they noticed, if they'll retaliate… you’ll have to wait and see.

>And I’m gonna have to leave it there for the night – got a lot more done that I wanted to last night but I think it turned out ok. Your rolls had me a little worried there for a second.
>Resuming sometime tomorrow in all likelihood. I’ll post when I know for sure.

>>3037743
Oh good. We can hunt the hunters! See who investigates our slaughter and follow them in turn.

>>3037891
Brill

Should also get rid of those bone things. Really detrimental to the mission.

>>3038625
Nah, they're a symbol of pride. Plus we're unnatural as hell anyway.

>>3038633
Naw fuck the bone shite.

>>3037743
You stand there in the guardhouse, taking a moment to collect your thoughts. Perhaps an unintentional benefit of your accidental early start is that most of the townsfolk were still at the church – this could’ve gone a lot messier, all things considered. The quiet shrieks from around town have died down for the most part, and now you can hear the bustle as people move from the church to their homes. Doesn’t seem to be any widespread panic from the sound of it.

Ensuring your face is covered, this time, you step back out into the street, expensive overcoat and raggedy pants flapping in the breeze, bloody sabre strapped to your hip, cloth wrapping clinging to your face. You must make an odd sight, you probably come across as some kind of bandit, almost. Bandito Juan, hmm, what a-

You cut off the train of thought before you get too carried away. This is enemy territory, still. Making yourself scarce from the guardhouse you’ve… emptied… you stalk through the back streets towards the pack’s house you appropriated, keeping your senses sharp for anyone trying to track you. Those Camarilla can move quick when they’re panicky and backed into a corner – wouldn’t want one to sneak up on you and stab you in the back.

Roll 1d100 for keeping an eye out as you return to the meeting point.

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>3038881

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>3038881

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>3038881

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>>3038881
>83
>Juan succeeds at something for once

Throughout your walk, you keep hearing a soft rustling around your area, though you’re not able to pin it down at first. Finally, about halfway back, you heat it and whip around, hand on your sword, catching glimpse of a raven taking to the air from a nearby rooftop in a puff of feathers. Just a bird, then.

…Or is it something more? You’ve got that rat of yours, after all…

>Probably nothing, and it’s out of your reach anyway. Keep an eye out for it but keep heading back to the meeting place.
>Try to call it back with the power of your blood.
>There’s some loose stones around – try to peg it with one, or something.
Other?

>>3038962

>Try to call it back with the power of your blood.

>>3038962
>There’s some loose stones around – try to peg it with one, or something.

>>3038962
>Try to call it back with the power of your blood.

>>3038962
>Try to call it back with the power of your blood.

You reach out with your mind, trying to form the connection, but… there’s just nothing there to connect to. Where you’d normally feel the animal mind, it’s completely absent. Odd. It flies off and, as you stare at it, a brief flash of pale colours impress themselves upon you. It’s very disorienting.

It disappears into the night sky and you decide to continue on your path, waiting a bit to make sure it doesn’t return. The remainder of your walk through the town is uneventful.

The others are all gathered there when you arrive – you were the furthest away, after all, even if you got going a bit early. They turn to you.

“Good news, friend?” Lochlan grins smugly.

“The guards have been removed, yes. One of them ran out into the street, but… I got him.”

Lochlan nods as you unwrap you cloth facial covering, revealing the ridges and stains of blood on your face. He grins. “I see you had fun. Renata worked cleanly.” She nods quietly. “Mateo…” He clucks his tongue and Mateo looks ashamed. “Mateo let one of the soldiers get away.”

>Suggest you attack now, before they have time to work on defenses. They will definitely realize what’s going on, now.
>This was supposed to be subtler, but you can salvage this. Just keep a low profile for a few days. They’re weakened now, they won’t be able to scour the town effectively. You hope.
>Other?

>>3039157
I believe I might be spied to by some damm bird. Lets do some recruitment and swarm them with shovelheads atte the fortress. Then we mop Up the rest

>>3039157
>Suggest you attack now, before they have time to work on defenses. They will definitely realize what’s going on, now.
But also
>advise that we pull back if their defenses seem too strong, we could always bleed them dry with hit and run tactics if the direct assault fails.

>>3039157
>This was supposed to be subtler, but you can salvage this. Just keep a low profile for a few days. They’re weakened now, they won’t be able to scour the town effectively. You hope.
No one knows where we are, so we might as well wait for a better time to strike.

>>3039157
>Suggest you attack now, before they have time to work on defenses. They will definitely realize what’s going on, now.

Tell them about the bird

>>3038633
You gotta do what you gotta do to survive when you're young.

>>3039157
>Suggest you attack now, before they have time to work on defenses. They will definitely realize what’s going on, now.
>Bring up the raven

“I think a bird was… following me, on my way over here. Pretty sure I lost it but… they’re going to be locking things down, Lochlan, we need to attack pronto. They’ll lock it down or escape, otherwise. We’ve tipped our hand, they know we're here, and we need to follow through.”

Renata and Mateo nod, though Lochlan seems skeptical. “A… bird? That’s what has you worried?

“It gave me a weird impression!”

He really doesn’t seem convinced, but he is outnumbered here. He nods grudgingly. “Very well.”

>Attack the fort head-on. It’ll be tough fighting, but they won’t have prepared enough, yet.
>There’s only one exit to the fort’s curtain wall – trap them in and try to force them to come out to you.
>Make some shovelheads. It worked for Juanita’s pack... I hadn’t even thought of this option until you guys started discussing things.
>Other?

>>3039462
>There’s only one exit to the fort’s curtain wall – trap them in and try to force them to come out to you. See if we can find a way to burn down the fort.
Fire was your true friend all along.

>>3039462
Supporting this >>3039478

>>3039478
Fire is our best friend. Suppor

>>3039462
>>Make some shovelheads. It worked for Juanita’s pack...

Pick a random house on the outskirts of town and vamp the family
Just like what happened to us

>>3039462
>>Make some shovelheads. It worked for Juanita’s pack... I hadn’t even thought of this option until you guys started discussing things.

>>3039478
I figure we (or the sword) could make use of a fort.

>>3039759
Maybe when we get stronger, right now we're gonna have to stay on the move.

>Sorry, had to step out for a moment

>>3039478
Firey demise seems to win out.

Roll 1d100 for the setup and initial execution of burning

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>3039764
Still, if we're being judged on our effectiveness on this it might look good
>>3039768

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>3039768

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>3039768
fug

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>>3039768
>Trap them in and fire them up
>79

“Then what, Juan, is your suggestion?”

You grin, an idea forming in your mind. “We burn it down around them.”

About an hour later, the guards seem to have withdrawn from their postings around the curtain wall – that inner fortification must be a fortress of weaponry and bodies right now. Fortunately, you’re not going there just yet. Mateo has gathered some scrap kindling from the surrounding buildings and Lochlan has retrieved a torch from one of the taverns, explaining that ‘they wouldn’t need it any more’. You didn’t ask.

The field between the curtain wall and the fort itself is grassy, the occasional tree or bush dotting the landscape. This time of the year… it’s ripe for a fire. You all back away as Mateo lights it, retreating to the curtain wall entrance, stepping up your pace to a sprint as the fire burns the dry vegetation quickly and mercilessly. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

The fire rages quickly and brightly over the course of nearly two hours with no sign from the fort that anyone’s even in the fort. As the fire dies down near the doors, though, they burst open and someone runs out, making a break for the gaps in the fire.

Your enhanced senses can make out their features even at this distance – their eyes are crazed, their motions frantic. They’ve clearly been overcome by their Beast in the presence of flame. Weak.

To your surprise, you recognize them. Or at least, that Gangrel does. It’s his Sire... Arturio. You know from the thoughts kicking around in your soul that this man is quite a powerful combatant in close quarters, and he’s coming straight for the exit in full frenzy.

This could be challenging.

Roll 1d100 to fend off the frenzying Gangrel and keep your limbs intact.

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>3040043

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>3040043
Whew lets go boys

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>3040043
Pathetic.

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>3040043

>33, even on best of 4

Safe to say limbs are NOT intact. Gonna take a quick break then I got a couple more posts in me tonight, probably.

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>>3040043
>33
>Ouch

His claws tear right into your chest, leaving screaming, gaping wounds as he barrels right by you, mindlessly trying to escape the inferno. You fall to the side, outstretched grip slipping from his form as your attempt to mutilate his flesh completely fails. Lochlan dives to the side after seeing what happened to you, and Renata is too far off to the side to get there in time. Mateo’s the only one left in his way.

His first few wild blows whip by Mateo as you stagger to your feet and charge at his back, intent on preventing harm from befalling your packmate. A few of the claw blows are beginning to land and even in the short few seconds it takes you to get there, Mateo is looking worse for wear.

Roll 1d100 for ROUND TWO

>>3040290
Let's just fleshwarp and frenzy.

>>3040295
You could willingly frenzy, sure, if you wanted to rip and tear even further beyond. You'd still have to roll the d100 for effectiveness, though.

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>3040290

>>3040315
I actually forgot to roll.

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>3040290
Slice and Dice that mufugga with our saber, then fleshwarp

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>3040290

>83

To be clear,

>Willingly succumb to a frenzy to boost your pure combat power
>Keep hold of yourself

>>3040431
>Willingly succumb.

>>3040431
>Keep hold of yourself

>>3040431
>willingly succumb
Ride the wave of frenzy, brothers!

>>3040431
>Keep hold of yourself

>>3040431
>Keep hold of yourself

>>3040431

> Keep hold of yourself

>>3040431
>Keep hold of yourself

>Keep hold of yourself

Takes it. You missed a chance to terrify Mateo more... but it may have been the right choice.

I'll pick this up again on Monday, I think, as it's getting late and my energy is dipping. Until then!

>>3040749
oki doke, take care!

>>3040749
Thank you, have a restful night.

>>3040749
>You missed a chance to terrify Mateo more... but it may have been the right choice.
Thank fuck.

Have a good night QM.

>>3040749
thanks for running man.

>>3040146
Is Juan the new JJ? Fucking crackbitch all over the place.

>>3040936
At least the sabbat saw us at our best. Hopefully we can pull it out and no one has to know how half the group got chopped into pieces multiple times.

>>3040937
I'm starting to wonder if we should look into detachable limbs.

Control them like we would a familiar.

>>3040947
Could definitely experiment with that.

>>3040947
Shoulder mounted guns.

>>3041068
> Bashing damage

We can do better.

>>3041087
Feed an entire colony of hornets your vitae and have them dwell within a ghoul servant as their living hive. It would require a lot of fleshcrafting to make their new home adequate, but I think it could work for terrifying absolutely everyone.
Of course, if Juan were older and more experienced and way less concerned about his humanity, he could act as the hive himself so he always has a swarm of stinging monsters on hand to command.

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>>3041092

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>>3041092
Why not flesh craft the hornets as well?

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>>3041104
Time consuming, but...it could be worthwhile. Perhaps fleshcrafting the queen might somehow affect the resulting brood from her? It's worth testing at least.
Though, they're so tiny that it's hard to do it accurately.

>>3041109
Pffft. We have forever to get good at it.

Just practice on the drones first after ghouling the queen.

fuck yes shovelhead quest! been waiting for ages!

>>3041092
>>3041104
>>3041109

As I think I've mentioned before, ghouled animals can grow past their natural size restrictions. With the addition of competent fleshcrafting you could some truly nightmarish stuff. That's out of reach at the moment, though.

Writing up the post soonish, expect the usual pace for tonight

>>3040431
>83
>Keep hold of yourself

You line up a good overhead blow, coming down from behind at the frenzying creature’s right shoulder as he continues battering Mateo.

It’s a solid hit, digging into the flesh of the shoulder, though it doesn’t go as deep as you’d expect; you remember from Amuniritis that Gangrel are particularly tough. It’s still enough to throw him off, though, and he staggers from your blow, and again as Mateo takes advantage of the opening to strike him across the face with his club. The gangrel looks back over his shoulder at you with a panicked expression. Then at Mateo. Then at the fire.

He bolts forward, pushing Mateo aside – he gets a few good hits in as he goes down but it doesn’t seem to amount to much – as he heads for the opening in the curtain wall. He doesn’t seem particularly fast, but Mateo’s knocked on his ass and Renata’s too far away. A quick glance behind you tells you that Lochlan and Renata have engaged a couple of the guards who have exited the fortification with the dying flames. The guards look pretty roughed up, deep gouges across their armour and faces. Not the kind either of them would make. Where did those come from?

Anyway, if you’re going to chase down the Gangrel, you need to do it now or he’ll be too far away, speed or lack thereof be damned.

>Chase him down, leaving your pack to deal with the emerging guards.
>Stay here, he’s not going to be a problem anymore and who knows what else could emerge from the building.
>Other?

>>3045169
>Stay here, he’s not going to be a problem anymore and who knows what else could emerge from the building.
Don't tackle motherfucking Gangrel alone, they're built to shit on rookie vamps who don't know what they're doing.
Well that and we're gonna have to tackle whoever else is coming out the buildings like those guards with the group.

>>3045169
>Chase him down, leaving your pack to deal with the emerging guards.

Need a tie-breaker or will flip a coin

>>3045169
>>Chase him down, leaving your pack to deal with the emerging guards.
Run his ass down!

>>3045169
>Chase him down, leaving your pack to deal with the emerging guards.

Roll 1d100 for the solo fight, please

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>3045402

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>3045402

>>3045402
Doom

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>3045402
Swiggity Swooty

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>>3045554
Surprise motherfucker

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>>3045169
>98
>The DC was really high for him to not escape but damn, son, you did it
>Sorry for the delay, also

You tear after him, quickly catching up despite his panic-driven legs. A few slashes across his legs slow him down – he’s barely paying attention enough to fight back. Finally, he falls down, dragging himself forward by his hands. You slash at the back of his torso and neck for quite some time until finally, after what feels like far more blows than it should’ve taken, he stops moving. You grimly mutilate his eyes and mouth shut; they’re barely recognizable. You mess up his hands and feet as well, for good measure.

Looking down at him, though, you can feel that your Beast hungers for more. You do, too. Those vampires you’ve drained have been exultant. He’s so defenseless… and you’ve already got the soul of his childe. This would be complete. The thought fills your beast and you with a perverse satisfaction. The only shame is that most of his blood is covering the grass behind you, already. It won't take long.

A glance back at your pack tells you they have things mostly in hand – not like a group of humans ever stood a chance against a pack of the Sabbat, in any case. You’ve got time to enjoy this, if you want.

No doubt his knowledge of the city would prove useful, as well… It’s the right thing to do…

>Commit the Amaranth.
>Leave the body here for later and rejoin the pack. He's not going anywhere.
>Other

I’ve seen a bit of chat about how the Sabbat can look down on serial diablerists – Juan would know from the talks with Juanita, Vadim, and Amuniritis this is not the case. For the most part, the Amaranth is viewed as a holy act bringing the vampire closer to Caine and bestowing the power to serve the sword with greater ability. Most Sabbat vampires who have the humanity to spare, or are on a path diablerize as often as they can, especially against the Camarilla and Anarchs and even within their own ranks. Juan may seem like he’s diablerising a lot but he’s been in the equivalent of a war pack so far, so he’s just getting a lot of opportunities to do so. Regular packs that are settled in cities simply don’t have a lot of access to enemy vampires. The tradeoff is that they are far less likely to perish, of course.

>>3045688
>Commit the Amaranth
Last one, I promise. Well lay off the diablerie. Totally.

>>3045688
>Rip his head off
It's like poetry. The "Childe" surpasses the "Sire"

>>3045688
>Commit the Amaranth.

>>3045688
>>Commit the Amaranth.
Its fiiinnnne

>>3045688
>Commit the Amaranth
>Juanita is proud, wherever she is, probably

You lean down, grinning, fangs out. He damn near tore your chest out. You're going to enjoy this.

Roll 1d100, best of 3, for beating his soul down and absorbing its power

>>3045688
>>Leave the body here for later and rejoin the pack. He's not going anywhere.

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>3045858

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>3045858
Hope

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>3045858

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>3045858
SUCC

Oh boy, looks like we're going on a trip.

Guys, we have commited like four or five Amaranth already. We have to slow down or the beast shall take us with her

>>3045967
Do we know this?

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>>3045858
>64

The act is just as incredible as you remember, a boundless rush flowing through your spirit as you drink what little remains in the cainite veins. Then, after a disappointingly little time, you get to his soul.

You devour.

It’s… hard, this time, almost feeling like the soul is fighting back as you somehow sense it flowing down your throat. It takes much longer than it has in the past – you think, it’s a bit challenging to keep track of time – but finally the soul ‘goes down’. You almost enjoyed it more, this time, with the fight he put up.

You lean back onto your knees from the kneeling position you’d adopted, a wide smile growing on your face, and the memories flash through you. It’s a lot easier to not be overwhelmed, now that you have some experience. You smirk, realizing that you remember siring that Gangrel from both perspectives. Dwelling on it quickly grows disorienting, though, and you abandon it for less reality-confusing topics.

This man died terrified. Despite his advanced age, he had never really gotten a handle on his fear of fire like the Sabbat forces its members to. Lucky for you, too: you realize as you comb through his life and undeath that this was no fresh-faced vampire. In a straight fight, without the fear frenzy on him… he’d have mopped the floor with you. He’d have good odds against the whole pack, even. The Sabbat didn’t teach you to ‘fight fair’, though. With such a clear and vulnerable weakness, it’s no wonder you came out on top.

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>>3045978
On a more useful note, though, he had extensive knowledge of the layout of the fort, and the defenses therein. There should be… a dozen more guards left, not counting the ones you had seen Lochlan and Renata fighting earlier, along with the Camarilla leader of the fort – not a ‘prince’, this is just a glorified lookout post, really – and a single vampiric guard.

The Camarilla leader is a centuries-old Nosferatu by the name of Gregor. Nearly everyone who knows him is terrified of him, and his powers are rumoured to be vast. He was assigned to this relatively-unimportant post due to political blunders of some sort or another. Typical Camarilla incompetence, you think to yourself.

The vampiric guard is a new childe of Gregor’s, barely a few decades old, and by all accounts a fairly competent scout and combatant. The Gangrel you just devoured… Ali, his name comes to you… didn’t know any more – Gregor kept many secrets.

Finally, not particularly relevant to what you need to do to finish the mission but catching your attention nonetheless, Ali remembers Castellana, that Brujah who escaped Monterrey, coming through here not a few days ago and meeting with Gregor while she stayed here over the day. It seems she was on her way to San Antonio, an established Camarilla city further north. Interesting.

You spend a few more moments just… enjoying the feelings rushing through you. It’s almost spiritual, the way it lifts you up.

Finally coming down a little from the high – Dios, nothing really compares to this, does it – you look back over your shoulder. The fires have mostly died down and your pack… is nowhere to be seen, though the guards they had been fighting are dead. No chance, as you knew from the start.

You head back in towards the fortification, anticipation and – knowing Gregor as you now do now - trepidation gathering in your thoughts. Your pack will need you, you know that, if you’re all to avoid death.

>Done for the night here, we didn’t get too much done but it seems to be a slow day, or something
>Roll 1d3 for the discipline you got from Ali, also

>>3045967
>>3045973
This will come up soon, actually, Juan's humanity has dropped quite a bit. Probably after dealing with Laredo, however that goes.

Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>3045981
Sure I guess

>>3045983
No shit Sherlock, I'm actually expecting us to start jumping anyone with a pulse like a drug addled whore with how everyone's picking the drain option.

>>3045984
I wonder what we got?

Quite frankly either Animalism or Protean will be quite nice.

We already got Fortitude but hey another point in that never hurts.

Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>3045981

>>3046003
I'm hoping it's a box of go fuck ourselves, but that's just me bitching about things I can't do anything about and should take the spear sized stick out of my ass and deal with it.
Honestly I'm betting it's Animalism if he's going from top to bottom for the Discipline lists for each clan.

>>3046025
That will help us control the beast at least then.

I wonder what gen we are by now.

Also, I think we should start getting tighter with our pack mates. This Old Vampire would not have died if he had a strong and loyal pack.

At this point, while we may or may not end up detaching from Sabbat, we do still need a pack to survive.

>>3046115
Yes, a strong and loyal pack under us sounds about white.

>>3046160
While being a Ductus would be nice, I don't think it's ultimately necessary.
So long as we don't step on eachother's toes, and we watch eachother's backs, we should be fine.

So long as the pack moves with the understanding that loss of one risks us all, and that the pack is the best means for the individual to survive, that is good enough.

The Pack is everyone's best and final defense against the final death regardless of the circumstances. It's the only way for us to stop being a pawn and start being a player in the Sabbat and in unlife.

>>3045988
>>3046025
I feel you. I've been pushing to keep holding on to your human side from the start. To keep us from feeding, to keep from killing folks in cold blood. But apparently the majority want to give in to our inner monster.

>>3046180
Well, I think the solution to that we must be strong enough so that we need not be a beast.

>>3046190
The solution is useless because we keep doing things that kill the parts of us that CAN help us not be a beast. Because once you lose all of your humanity the "you" that is you no longer exists. You are effectively a mindless thing that has no goal in mind except get all the blood you can get your claws on, you can't do anything that requires require finesse, patience, or rituals.
You're also limited to level 3 on most Disciplines because your brain has become too junked out and irreparable to comprehend the more complicated processes.
You are essentially one of the zombies from the Left 4 Dead series.

>>3046199
>>3046190
I've repeated myself a few times in my post but I cannot stress how retardedly fucked (in a bad way) things get for a Vampire when they reach 0 Humanity.

>>3046200
>>3046199
Humanity isn't really a thing for 99% of the sabbat.
They abandon it for paths.
Hell, shovelheads come out without humanity IIRC.

>>3046203
Even the Paths themselves still can be failed and we end up becoming a mindless junkhead once we reach 0.
There's also the fact that we have to live long enough AND keep ourselves together to actually pick up a path since we didn't immediately bro it up with the Vampire Priest.

>>3046173
You either stand above or under, but the nature of Vampires won't let use stand aside.

>>3045981
The only way I can think of to take down such a powerful vampire is by creating a lot of new ones make them go frenzy and use them as fodder to wear him down.

I seriously doubt a gang of young vampires can take him on.

>>3046210
Diablerie doesn't lower your position on the paths unless it states so, I believe.
I could be wrong though.
Either way, you shouldn't worry about it. I think we have some kind of path or at least pseudo-path that we're on at this point, otherwise we'd alright BE a mindless junkhead, since shovelheads start out with no humanity. They pretty much get immediately set on a path by their superiors, I think...since yeah, otherwise they'd be instant wights. I don't question WOD's weird details at this point.

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>>3046214
If that is the case (Which I did look it up to make sure you were right and you are) then why are we "losing" humanity? Shouldn't we be fine if that's the case? Why would the QM bring it up in the first place if should technically not be there.
The only way this shit makes sense for an answer is if the QM homebrewed parts of the mass embrace shit for the Sabbat and went from there.

>>3046223
We don't have a path of enlightenment yet to replace it, just humanity.

>>3046243
>We don't have a path of enlightenment yet to replace it, just humanity.
And that brings up my earlier statement that we're not actually making ourselves hold out until we change to a path, and that's gonna be what fucks us over and will more than likely make the QM give a nonstandard game over.
I really should just quit my bitching and call it a night since I'm just going to be retreading old ground

>>3046223
Who knows.
Maybe it's a matter of Juan currently being on a "sliding scale" of sorts, between humanity and one of the paths. His humanity weakens as he follows the path more, and the reverse might happen as well if we do that - if this IS the case, then presumably it would be our sire's path that we're instinctively being drawn towards. Whatever her path is, it sure loves diablerie and has very little compunctions about mindfucking people.
Oh yeah, the mindfucking. That's probably also a factor in the whole humanity/path thing. We've been getting mindfucked since the start by a lot by sabbat members and it feels so good.

>>3046248
Yea, I'm all for cutting down on cannibalism.

>>3046257
>>3046248
I don't know anon. I think all this fighting has to stem from the fact OP hasn't actually explained it to anons so all we can do is guess and argue.

Right now I just try to vote for the smart options and hope it doesn't backfire on us later. Like slaughtering lots of humans draws unnecessary attention. Keep casualties to a minimum is a good thing mostly due to the lack of attention it draws.

Its just OP hasn't flat out told us why or why not we should be worried about it. In a way its fucked because anons won't know if its terrible idea until its too late simply due to them not really knowing. I mean sure we can make educated guesses from the source material but this is fanfic quest so we can't say for certain if those rules still apply or not.

Which admittedly makes me hesitate a lot since the arguments make good points on both sides but we simply don't know because OP refuses to flat out tell us.

>>3046265
>Fanfic quest
Anon, I don't think you know what that term means.
It's not fanfiction to run in a tabletop game's intended setting, when that tabletop game isn't based on pre-existing material.
It'd be a fanfic quest if it was, for example, set in the world of Castlevania™. But this ain't be like that. Like how it ain't fanfic to play a DnD module or some shit, unless you MAKE it fanfic.

>>3046265
> I mean sure we can make educated guesses from the source material but this is fanfic quest so we can't say for certain if those rules still apply or no

> Fanfic quest

Nigga you what?

Actual autism in your post there. Have you ever played a real life TTRPG before? This is what it's like.

Losing humanity is bad. We're dealing with it next session. Don't read ahead in the sourcebook.

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I WANT MY CHARACTER SHEET
GODDAMMIT

>>3046312
Later. People are Meta’ing the fuck out of the game, better that we don’t have sheet for now.

>>3046350
This man speaks the truth.

Hey guys, wanna get True Faith? How about we pick True Faith? You know what will be handy late game, True Faith!

>>3046351
Shovelheads start with Humanity, but lose a point as they diablerize other vampires that they have been buried with. A normal human starts with Humanity Seven and we have diablerize thrice, on top of all the other vile acts we commited such as the party which killed a whole town.

We should be Humanity 1 or with some luck, 2. Another Diablerie and it is over folks

I wish anons would leave their autism at the door

>>3046401
I've been deliberately voting for diablerie and frenzies to lower our humanity because this looks like the one decent Vampire quest we'll get and I won't let Humanity friends ruin it for me.

>>3046401
Ironic.

>>3046411
You're boring. I'm willing to rock with whatever we end up.

I just wanna fleshcraft and go full Orange and Blue morality.

My concern is too much diablerie/frenzy and we'll just become a cheesy ass "For the evilulz" bullshit character.

Lucky the lure of power is working so far.

Honestly, look to BCQ and Snake Catcher, or Lamplighter, for how to ideally create an evil character naturally without being a basic bitch edgelord.

Also remember this is VTM so it's going to happen regardless.

>>3046453
I'm very on board with Metamorphosis.
I share your concern with becoming a useless degenerate one step from frenzy.
And the protag of Lamplighter isn't evil

>>3046455
I'm glad we can agree on some things.

I would hesitate to argue that Orion was intrinsically "evil", but then players dropped a star.

Not because it was necessary.

But because it was convenient and they were afraid.

I would have been totally on board with dropping the star at a time that made sense, quite frankly though they ducked everything up and burned out Ouro

>>3046571
Oh shit, I dropped it around about when they were considering it.
Kinda sad they went ahead with that.
Makes Orion a far more complex figure morally.

The problem is if Juan keeps on going full hard on diablerie he really isn't going to end up anything whatever.
Like someone said, he's going to become a wight, which is the V:tM version of a Left 4 Dead zombie. Not even the cool named ones, just another screeching feral abomination.

It's not about morality, it's about preservation of the protagonist so this awesome quest can KEEP ON GOING. Come on my fellow anons, don't you all want to see where this crazy show will go?

Perhaps a variation of Metamorphosist path, one that seeks both spiritual and physical perfection.

Maybe one that circles around the words "Man was made in God's image" which would mean that the form of man is closest to god and thus we need to understand it.
Imperfections and weaknesses in man are brought from sin.
Purge the sin from body and soul is to become closer to what god had intended.

Was not Mortality and pain after all not caused by Eve disobeying God and luring Adam to sin?

>>3046704
As stated repeatedly, diablerie doesn't have a negative consequence if you're on a path that allows it

>>3046778
Every Path of Metamorphisis is personal. The Path itself isn't a Path, it's a method of attaining Enlightenment for each Tzimisce.

In fact, I would argue that since we have observed ghosts ourselves, spirit should be highly important to us, should we strive on a road to enlightenment.

>>3046783
And tp retread this ground again, (It's like I'm a drug addict towards this sort of thing) we haven't even bothered with actively learning a path for it. We've pretty much brushed off their spiritual teachings as the ravings of lunatics and sinners.

>>3046805
Well we're gonna have to start listening then.

>>3046805
Initially, perhaps. But since then we engaged in a highly spiritual party/mass murder with a side of mindfucking, bonded at least somewhat with a few of our sabbat comrades, and recieved another, more in-detail explanation about Sabbat Things™
At this point in time Juan has no reason to even believe that Diablerie is something wrong. He's been repeatedly told that it's what he should be doing, it feels great to do it, it actively gives him more power, and he's only been doing it to people he genuinely believes are working for horrendously fucked up people and refuse to NOT work for them fuck the antediluvians though

>>3046826
So why

>>3046828
>>3046826
Fucking damnit. Lost the rest of my post.

So again why are we losing humanity if incrunch this should be no longer a problem? I mean hell arguably we shouldn't be having the "doubts" in our head.
I am full agree with you on that one, fuck the Antediluvians and the horses they rode in on, fucking cuntwaffles.

>>3046831
because we're still on the Path of Humanity. It's a deeper metaphysical moral reality that our thoughts do not influence without deliberate and distinct thought process changes.

>>3046826
This. Our chatacter has no reason to think there’s something bad with diablerie, so stop meta’ing about it.

>>3046850
You're probably right, maybe I am being meta. Maybe I am just bitching because shit's not making any sense regarding smaller pieces of lore and I should just roll with it. All I know is that I'm passing time till the QM gets back so we can get this show back on the road.

>>3046312
Soon™, I promise

>>Regarding a whole bunch of people
Juan is currently on the Path of Humanity, along with almost the entire Camarilla and a non-trivial amount of the Sabbat. Switching to a Path of Enlightenment does indeed offer a great deal more protection against falling to wightdom from diablerie, as the act no longer automatically drops you down one closer though depending on the tenets of the path you might still lose some, if the circumstances merit it. Switching to a Path is a significant undertaking that a non-zero amount of vampires fail and succumb to the Beast, hence why the 'pleb masses' of the sabbat ex-shovelheads who are not particularly competent or spiritual sometimes just hover at a very low humanity and aren't able to diablerize that often. Vampires within the Sabbat who are on a path sometimes see each other as the 'elite' of the sect, as they have truly committed to the spiritual message and goals rather than just being around to drain humans for the lulz. Obviously, this varies vampire-to-vampire.

Juan's humanity is very low by now, to the point that interacting with humans can be difficult - this partly added to the reactions of the townspeople when you rolled like shit though it was mainly the bone ridges - but I'm not going to just let him diablerize himself into Wassail, that would be a dick move. Like I said, this will come up after the Laredo mission, unless plans change. The only way I could see that happening is if he dropped to humanity 1, then frenzied and diablerized someone. That'd have to be a particularly bad string of luck, though. And I have rough ideas for what could happen even then.

No session today, work ran late and I don't have the mental energy to be focused on writing and planning actions and reactions right now. Feel free to shoot any more questions if you feel I've glossed over something here, though.

>>3047288
Finally a proper answer. Now I know to vote against diablerie.

>>3047288
Thank you QM for actually explaining what actual changes there are in this quest.
It really does enlighten a shit ton of things on both ends of the scale.

>>3047288
> And I have rough ideas for what could happen even then.

Diablerie is a go, then.

Worst comes to worst, we get retarded and have a timeskip while we kill all the voices inside us at a cost of a significant portion of our power.

How would a city run where everyone was blood bonded to everyone?
All humans Ghouls, all vampires bonded to one-another to the max.

>>3047699
Absurd and extremely confusing levels of intrigue.

>>3047738
Nanny state to the max

>>3047699
Eventually will self-destruct due to crippling levels of intimacy and psychosis.

>>3047699
What happens when you blood bond things like garou?
I know that most don't take well to vampiric blood, but some do. The same ones that would have the potential to turn into abominations.

>>3048085
I assume they end up with a murder boner and start eating you to have all your blood safe inside them.

And then become abominable.

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>>3045981
Walking towards the fortification with the light steps of a diablerie high, you run through the opposition in your mind, hardly noticing the carnage of the mutilated soldiers your pack left behind. Gregor, his childe, the dozen guards. The dozen guards are hardly an issue, though.

Gregor, and his childe. The two nosferatu, one an elder of apparently-terrifying power and the other still a decades-old, respected fighter. Incompetent Camarilla scum or no, you’ll need more smart tricks like the one you pulled outside if your pack wants to pull through cleanly.

As you pass through the door to the fortification, the age of the interior strikes you. From outside, it looked to be a fairly recent construction, though the interior is draped in crumbling, foreign-looking furniture, dusty tapestries covering the otherwise-bare stone walls. Deep gouges cover the walls – going right into the stone – and furniture with random patterns. A flash of recognition passes through your mind as you remember doing that, shredding inanimate and animate material alike, the throes of fear frenzy overtaking you as you futilely looked for an escape from the inferno outside. Your fingers curl sympathetically, and your claws dig into your- wait.

Long, wicked claws extend from your fingers, dripping with blood where they briefly cut into your palms. You examine them curiously, surrounding momentarily forgotten. Interesting. They slowly retract as you stop focusing on them.

Returning to your detached investigation of the room after a moment more of hesitation, you notice newer bloodstains that what you – Ali – left on your way out, leading down one of the side passages. Seems your pack fought their way down that way. As your senses hone in, muffled sounds coming from that direction become clear to you. There are more passages leading away from the main entrance hall, though.

>Stay here and guard the exit; nobody escapes.
>Follow your pack, they’ll need what direct support you can offer.
>Go down an adjacent-seeming passage, if you can come around from the side and surprise whatever they’re dealing with at the moment, you can do more good than if you just came in directly.
>Other.

>>3048535
>Go down an adjacent-seeming passage, if you can come around from the side and surprise whatever they’re dealing with at the moment, you can do more good than if you just came in directly.
Time to explore.

>>3048535
Flanking
>Go down an adjacent-seeming passage, if you can come around from the side and surprise whatever they’re dealing with at the moment, you can do more good than if you just came in directly.

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>>3048535
>Go down an adjacent-seeming passage, if you can come around from the side and surprise whatever they’re dealing with at the moment, you can do more good than if you just came in directly.

You pick the passage to the right and head down it, half-walking half-jogging down the hallway, hearing the sounds getting louder, despite being muffled through the stone. To follow the passage to your left you have to move up a staircase, then a sharp left brings you to an opening – no door, even – onto a balcony that overlooks a… well, you can’t quite tell what it’s for, but it’s a large, open room of some kind on the lower floor. In it, Lochlan and Mateo are fighting what you recognize to be the childe of Gregor. Their sword and club are matched against his longsword and large, steel shield, and the Camarilla vampire is backed up by what looks to be a flock of dark birds who divebomb your packmates periodically. He seems to disappear every few seconds, or when on his back foot, reappearing a few moments later at the side of your allies to strike, although they’re clearly used to the tactic by now.

Renata, as you’ve come to expect, is nowhere to be seen.

>Jump down and rush the childe from behind!
>Stay up here and wait for an opportunity to get a perfect blow on the enemy, your packmates can hold out a few moments longer.
>Try to fuck with those birds somewhat, the distraction they represent can be deadly in a fight like this.
>Other?

>>3048615
>Stay up here and wait for an opportunity to get a perfect blow on the enemy, your packmates can hold out a few moments longer.
Get a good feel for the situation. See if there's any deeper pattern, any sort of *rhythm* to the fight we can exploit. It won't do to simply rush in, not unless our allies are in dire need.

>>3048615
>Stay up here and wait for an opportunity to get a perfect blow on the enemy, your packmates can hold out a few moments longer.
Yeah the birds already ignore us and animalism wasn't our best suit.

>>3048615
>Stay up here and wait for an opportunity to get a perfect blow on the enemy, your packmates can hold out a few moments longer.

Death from above!

>>3048615
>Stay up here and wait for an opportunity to get a perfect blow on the enemy, your packmates can hold out a few moments longer.
>Sorry, got dragged away for a bit

Roll 1d100 for ambush, please

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>3048718

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>3048718
STEALTH! SO MUCH STEALTH!

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>3048718
watch this

>>3048733
BAM, perfectly average
That's why my nickname is "Average Joe"

>>3048718
Also,

>Trusty old steel sabre (AKA you've been using it for like a week, you can use it to parry though)
>New hotness (claws that you use instinctively with your street fight-fu)

>>3048736
>New hotness
It's time to start phasing out that ineffective steel. Flesh and bone will do us better.
Hmm...maybe in the future we should do some stuff so we can stab people with our bones easily. Or something. We're a fleshcrafter, damn it!

>>3048736
>>New hotness (claws that you use instinctively with your street fight-fu)

>>3048736
>New hotness (claws that you use instinctively with your street fight-fu)

>>3048736
>Trusty old steel sabre (AKA you've been using it for like a week, you can use it to parry though)

>>3048736
>Trusty old steel sabre

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>New hotness (claws that you use instinctively with your street fight-fu)

Writing

>>3048615
>Stay up here and wait for an opportunity to get a perfect blow on the enemy.
>Use your claws
>76

You wait on the balcony’s edge, birds swirling below you, waiting for the right moment. He disappears and reappears on the other side of the room. He disappears and reappears to your left. He disappears and you get a sudden sense of him moving to a spot right below you. You drop down just as he reappears.

Curiously, he carries no armour aside from his shield, and so your claws find little resistance as they tear into his back, great gouges splitting his flesh from the back of his collarbone to near the end of his ribcage. He howls with fear and rage, staggering forward with a shuddering step before turning quickly, whipping around his sword at you with wild eyes.

Your skin hardens instinctively but his blow has power behind it. It digs deep into your left arm, nearly removing it and rendering the limb all but useless. Your right struggles to reach around the shield that he uses to hold you at bay as he pulls his sword back for another swing, his form not quite as good as you had seen it before – his back can’t quite support him standing up straight, now. It goes wide.

He steps back further with a hateful glare and vanishes just as your other two packmates were approaching him from behind. They eye you apprehensively, Mateo more so than Lochlan, of course.

“W-w-we chased the soldiers inside, J-j-juan. This fucker though, he’s tough. Thanks for coming to-“ Lochlan waves him off. “Yeah, yeah, thanks, take all the diablerie for yourself, why don’t you.” The two of them stand back to back, waiting for the next assault.

You remember that sense you got of the childe’s movement before and scan the room, seeing if you can pick him out before he attacks. Your arm is already nearly fully healed, you notice idly.

>Roll 1d100 for spotting

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>3048784
>your arm is already nearly fully healed
oh my

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>3048785
shit, with a result like that, do I even need to roll?

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3048784
99 problems but this >>3048785 ain't one. And if you're havin' dice problems I feel bad for you son!

>>3048785
*nice*

>>3048784
>It digs deep into your left arm, nearly removing it and rendering the limb all but useless.

Seriously, we are so bad at keeping our limbs.

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>>3048784
>99
>Why do you even need packmates, really

You get a sense of him almost immediately. He’s off to your right, approaching Mateo – who’s looking a little shaken – probably to pick him off. Neither of your two allies seem to have noticed. Are your senses really that much sharper? It must be one of those things where it gradually improves, like-

No time to finish that thought, he’s attacking. You rush him from the side as he swings down invisibly at Mateo, a brutal – maybe even lethal – blow to the neck. He’s not paying attention though, shield held loosely, confident in his victory. Overconfident. Typical Camarilla.

Your blow removes his shield arm at the shoulder and a good deal of the side of his torso, gore spraying the floor as your hand follows through downwards. He instantly flickers into visibility as he screams and falls to the side, barely hanging on to his sword with his remaining good arm. His previously-deadly blow cuts into Mateo’s bicep instead, doing only minor damage. He hits the ground hard, flickering out of visibility a few times weakly, trying to push himself up to his feet. After a few weak moments, a few superficial wounds closing quickly but the gash you left remaining, something seems to snap in him and he throws his sword to the side, jumping up with agility and energy he did not have a second ago. He swings a punch at Mateo with his one good arm, a frenzied snarl on his freakish, ugly face as he rushes you, completely without fear. Looks like he's succumbed to a frenzy due to his hunger.

…You know, provoking frenzies is turning out to be a really good tactic, it seems.

>Roll 1d100 for fending the weakened, frenzying creature off
>I don’t like these sequences of ‘roll 1d100’ with no choice but this is just the way it played out, sorry

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>3048828
Oh boy here we go again.

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>3048828
Well, if you want any kind of input, I think a good tactic would be holding the frenzied motherfucker's attention as much as possible and setting up our allies for the finishing blow.
They...need experience with these things, I feel. They're a little fresh when it comes to killing vampires, from what I can tell.

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>3048828
Taste this sword, knave

>>3048828
>58

Now that he’s not trying to shift around and you aren’t ambushing him, he’s actually putting up a tough fight, despite his frenzied state. His blows have enough force behind them to knock you back and you aren’t able to get a good hit in, while the few blows Mateo and Lochlan do get in don’t seem to amount to much. The childe finally separates Lochlan from the two of you with a flurry of dangerous blows and lunges at him, fangs bared, clamping viciously onto his neck. Mateo and you take the opportunity to attack the hunched, feasting creature while Lochlan fades from consciousness, overwhelmed by the ecstasy he’s feeling.

Mateo’s blows don’t amount to much but yours do, and his fangs’ grip is finally broken. The body is thrown off by a particularly forceful swipe on your part and flops to the ground, a few feet away from the stirring form of Lochlan. The childe gives one final shiver before falling still – you notice the signs of torpor setting in, as Amuniritis taught you. Lochlan’s eyes snap open, and you recognize the Beast being barely held at bay. His eyes drift over to the unconscious form and he begins dragging himself over, a hungry expression on his face.

>Stop him, you might need to interrogate the childe later you’re not fooling anybody
>Let him devour the childe, he’s your packmate and he needs the blood.
>Other?

>>3048872
>Let him devour the childe, he’s your packmate and he needs the blood.
what's the harm?

>>3048872
>Let him devour the childe, he’s your packmate and he needs the blood.
>When he's done, pat him on the back jovially and congratulate him for having done so well today.
I mean, besides the end there, he DID do pretty well in my opinion. Mateo is barely any help beyond being a distracting force and a meatshield, so it was essentially Lochlan who took on all those guards and kept this guy at bay long enough for us to come by.

>>3048872
>Stop him, you might need to interrogate the childe later you’re not fooling anybody

We killed it, we keep it.

We can give Lochlan some of OUR blood afterwards though, to tide him over.

>>3048882
>>3048872
I like this better. Do this.

>>3048872
>Let him devour the childe, he’s your packmate and he needs the blood.

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>>3048882
Is that how you treat a packmate? Shame on you! Our brother has already expressed his concerns about us hogging the amaranths, and why should we deny him such a sacred rite when we've certainly had our fill of it lately? Share the wealth, and the blood, I say. It will serve to strengthen the bond between brothers.

>>3048882
+1

>>3048872
Quick clarifying vote needed I think, sorry

>Stop Lochlan, diablerize the childe now, give Lochlan some blood to help him recover from being drained
>Stop Lochlan, save the childe for later, give Lochlan some blood to help him recover from being drained
>Don't interfere with your packmate's diablerie

>>3048905
>>3048872
>Don't interfere with your packmate's diablerie

>>3048905
>Don't interfere with your packmate's diablerie
I vote for NOT committing anymore diablerie

>>3048905
>Stop Lochlan, save the childe for later, give Lochlan some blood to help him recover from being drained

>>3048905
> Stop Lochlan, diablerize the childe now, give Lochlan some blood to help him recover from being drained

>>3048887
We are protecting them from Camarilla taint and the burdens of responsibility. Besides, Lochlan will still get some blood, and be bound tighter to us besides.

>>3048909
Im with this guy at least for a while if not for our humanity, we at least need to let our packmates catch up too us