[X] [SCOUT] Let's see if the local wildlife saw anyone suspicious walking down the street at night.
-[X] I'll roll a Rouse check so the roll automatically succeeds.
As the third-most-populous city in America, Chicago is best known for its human inhabitants. Before becoming President of the United States, Barack Obama represented Illinois in the state legislature and the US Senate. Al Capone may have been born in Brooklyn, but it wasn't until he arrived in the Big Onion that he made a name for himself as a gangster and later as one of the Old Prince's progeny. Actors, comedians, musicians, politicians, sports stars…Chicago has given birth to them all.
However, that isn't to say that humans are the only living beings in Chicago worth mentioning. It only took a few moonlit walks with Cedrick Calhoun for you to realize just how many wild things called the concrete jungle home. Like most cities in the United States, there are rats, pigeons, and strays, but there are also birds of prey and other animals a student of the Animalism Discipline should be aware of. Even in the suburbs, one can find more unusual specimens if one knows where to look.
It doesn't take long for you to find the specific animal you're looking for. The nearby streetlight illuminates the coyote's reddish fur as he sniffs around the trash can left on the curb for collection, bushy tail wagging with anticipation. You call to the coyote in a low voice to avoid waking the neighborhood. "Smell something good to eat, boy?"
The coyote's ears perk up upon hearing your voice as he turns to face you. Most animals show an aversion to Kindred, but this one seems unafraid of you, perhaps because of the confidence bestowed by his unusual size. While most coyotes are around forty pounds, you estimate this one to weigh almost twice as much. Given his prodigious size and fur color, there was only one name suited for your new canine acquaintance. "Here, Clifford. Let me help you with that trash can."
Clifford watches in awe of the power of opposable thumbs as you slowly tip over the trash can onto its side. Fortunately, the family whose waste filled the container didn't dispose of anything too noisy, allowing the coyote to tear open the plastic bags inside without fear of being chased off.
As Clifford digs in with gusto, you can't help but be impressed by what he's willing to eat. To your knowledge, coyotes prefer fresh meat but have been known to scavenge and eat fruits and vegetables if live prey is unavailable. However, Clifford seemingly possesses an iron gullet. A half-eaten apple goes down the hatch, along with two mushy-looking bananas, a dried-up pickle, and chicken giblets that were likely discarded when preparing a finer meal.
Once Clifford has had his fill, you lift the trash can back up and return it to its original position as though nothing had happened. Having finished making yourself an accomplice to a coyote's dumpster diving, you get down on one knee to look Clifford in the eye as he sits on his haunches. "Hey, boy. Remember how I asked you to look out for others like me?"
Clifford nods, tail wagging. Part of you still feels faintly ridiculous when conveying complex thoughts to a wild animal via the human tongue. However, the vampiric power in your veins is enough to make yourself understood. "Have you seen anyone like me sniffing around this area?"
In response, Clifford cocks his head as if trying to recall the scent of any strange vampires. He sits in contemplative silence long enough for you to believe he hasn't seen anything unusual. However, your canine acquaintance suddenly gets on his paws and yips an affirmative before trotting away with you. You hastily take long strides to catch up with him, but before too long, Clifford halts at a street corner a few blocks down the road.
As Clifford lies flat between two cars parked on the side of the street, you take the hint and call upon the nearby shadows to cloak you. Once you're confident that the power of Oblivion has fully concealed you, you peek your head out from behind the minivan you've pressed yourself against.
Walking down the sidewalk on the other side of the street is a pale man - too pale to be among the living. Every button on his expensive coat is fastened, and you watch as the young-looking man idly combs his fingers through his swept-back blonde hair. Your voice comes out in a low whisper. "Well, if it isn't Jason fucking Newberry."
Had you called upon your vitae to imitate life, your heart would be racing. What business does the Primogen of Clan Malkavian have in this neighborhood? While some part of you is willing to believe that it's innocuous, the rest of you grows ever uneasier as you pull your phone out and begin tailing Newberry. As the Malkavian Primogen stares up at the second-story window where Sravya Kathy sleeps, you finally receive a reply from her aunt.
I'm stuck in traffic. Please save her.
Your fingers trace the outlines of the weapons concealed on your person. Expecting Kathy to arrive on time from downtown was a long shot at best, but at least she's been made aware of what's happening. You'll have to stop Jason Newberry and whatever he has planned for Kathy Glens' mortal family on your own. Fortunately, he hasn't noticed your presence yet, giving you precious seconds to consider your options.
While you carry a pistol hidden inside your jacket, gunshots in this neighborhood would attract too much attention and raise too many questions. Thus, you consider the combat knife and wooden stake instead. While sharp objects aren't much of a threat to Kindred, a wooden stake through the heart could stop Newberry in his tracks before he even has a chance to fight back. However, even under ideal conditions, staking a vampire is no easy feat.
Getting into close-quarters combat with the Malkavian Primogen offers better odds. However, if Newberry were to escape to see another night, he is almost sure to make your unlife even more complicated. The last thing you want is to fall out of Prince Jackson's favor for infringing on the prerogative found in the Sixth Tradition.
Of course, you could always use your words and keep things civil. While Newberry's presence is highly suspicious, he hasn't violated any Traditions. If you were to use the power taught to you by Erzulie, negotiations could go much more smoothly for you. However, no one gets a seat on the Primogen Council without becoming aware of the Presence Discipline. It may prove safer to rely on the people skills you honed as a mortal artist rather than the power of your vitae.
Last but not least is the option of recruiting Clifford to your side. While he has yet to leave, the coyote is unlikely to stick around for much longer. If you can talk him into fighting alongside you, you can turn the confrontation into a two-on-one fight. However, wild animals aren't known for risking their lives for humans they've only met recently, much less vampires. It'll be a hard sell, but perhaps the extra help is worth ceding the initiative.
As Newberry steps forward toward Gagandeep's front door, you make your decision.
Happy anniversary, guys! I'm currently trying to put together reference material for an art commission of our protagonist, so if you could include a picture or two that brings Artie Delacruz to mind along with your vote, I'd be grateful.
[ ] [SON] Time to stick Jason Newberry with the pointy end.
-[ ] I'll activate Blood Surge to add two dice to my roll.
-[ ] I'll spend a point of Willpower to reroll up to three dice unaffected by my Hunger.
Dexterity + Melee (Difficulty: 1)
[ ] [SON] I won't get a better opportunity to put a stake through Jason Newberry's heart.
-[ ] I'll call upon the Beast to add two dice to my roll.
-[ ] I'll spend a point of Willpower to reroll up to three dice unaffected by my Hunger.
Strength + Melee (Difficulty: 8)
[ ] [SON] If I'm going to handle things nonviolently, I'll do it without resorting to Presence.
???
[ ] [SON] I'll activate Awe to help the Malkavian Primogen see things my way.
-[ ] I'll roll a Rouse check to add two dice to my roll.
-[ ] I'll spend a point of Willpower to reroll up to three dice unaffected by my Hunger.
Manipulation + Presence (Difficulty: 3)
[ ] [SON] I'll quietly convince Clifford to help me fight Jason Newberry.
-[ ] I'll tempt the Beast to try and convince the coyote with two extra dice.
-[ ] I'll spend a point of Willpower to reroll up to three dice unaffected by my Hunger.
Manipulation + Animalism (Difficulty: 6)
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