[X] [BRONWYN] "I want to learn how to use the Dominate Discipline to…" (1 point)
-[X] "...cloud people's memories and make them forget the last few minutes."
[X] [BRONWYN] "Is there any truth to the rumor that you used the Protean Discipline to…" (1 point)
-[X] "...help destroy Gary's steel industry using nothing but your gleaming red eyes?"
I enjoyed the discussion regarding the utility of Eyes of the Beast, so I'll break the tie by having Artie learn the first dot of the Protean Discipline. You'll have other opportunities to earn favors from the new Primogen of Clan Malkavian.
A few weeks later, during the wee hours of the morning, you find yourself walking through the streets of the Cabrini-Green neighborhood on a personal assignment from Prince Jackson.
According to the local Bloods, there have been several muggings in the area. While Cabrini-Green has never been the safest of Chicago's neighborhoods, the gangsters under Prince Jackson's control have made it a point to prevent independent petty criminals from operating on their turf, if only to avoid drawing attention to more profitable illegal enterprises like the drug business. Worse yet, such weakness might invite other criminal groups like the Mafia to move in on Blood territory.
Thus, Prince Jackson has tasked you to help cut down on the number of footpads prowling the streets. As you continue your search for muggers in Cabrini-Green, your thoughts can't help but stray. You've already been at this for hours, and you can't help but form an opinion on your current assignment.
[ ] [OPINION] Stopping the mugger(s) is the right thing to do, even if it means indirectly helping gangsters.
[ ] [OPINION] I can't say I enjoy helping hardened criminals take out the competition, but I need the Prince on my side.
[ ] [OPINION] Why is the Prince having me waste my time with the small fry? I can do so much more for the city.
[ ] [OPINION] Those muggers must be taught a lesson, and I'm happy to be the hardass teacher.
[ ] [OPINION] My thoughts are more nuanced than this. I'll write them down.
-
No matter your thoughts on your current assignment, you have to remain focused on your objective. To that end, you've deliberately dressed to draw attention and appear a juicy target. Every stitch on your body screams wealth to any onlookers - a fashion statement amplified by the gold jewelry on full display. It's an ensemble that would look more fitting for a night at the Chicago Opera than on the mean streets near what may be the country's most infamous public housing projects.
While there'd be no shortage of criminals tempted by all the expensive stuff you have on you, the more discerning would have alarm bells going off in their heads. From their perspective, you're either a rich bastard who's stupid enough to go slumming alone in gang territory and risk inspiring the future crime-fighting career of a wealthy orphan, or you're someone who's deliberately trying to get mugged as part of a sting operation by the Chicago Police Department. However, you're counting on your quarry's desperation to override their suspicion and make them take the gamble. After all, they wouldn't be trespassing on Blood turf if they had other ways to make money.
Sure enough, the click of a pistol cock alerts you to a stranger lurking in the nearby alley. "H-Hands up in the air where I can see them!"
You calmly raise your hands in surrender as you turn to face the mugger. The nearby shadows wrap themselves around you like tentacles as you blink slowly. You can feel the vitae pounding in your ears - not enough to rouse the Beast, but enough to bring your vampiric power to the fore. The blackness of the Chicago night gives way to various shades of red - crimson, scarlet, carmine, and vermillion, among others - allowing you to see every detail of the mugger.
Though built like a first-round NFL draft pick, there's enough baby fat on the mugger's face to make you wonder whether he's even old enough to try out for high school varsity. His amateurish "teacup" grip on his cheap Glock also betrays a lack of proper firearms training. His ill-fitting jeans and Chicago Bears jersey reek slightly of sweat like he hadn't washed them after days of heavy exercise. In other words, the mugger before you seems to be a desperate kid in way over his head.
Over the past few nights, you've spent much time looking in the mirror, less out of pointless vanity and more to perfect the dark figure that now stands before the mugger. Admittedly, you still have some ways to go before you can truly call yourself the stuff of nightmares. For instance, while you've managed to keep your glowing red eyes visible through your shadow cloak, the flickering caused by the darkness wreathing your face undermines the intimidation factor somewhat. Additionally, while you can pull off the quiet, foreboding method of intimidation, you have neither the acting talent nor the natural menace to do much else.
However, to a mortal barely in his teenage years, the red-eyed avatar of darkness before him is scary enough. The gun drops to the ground in a clatter as he freezes in place, and you're human enough to feel pity for the poor kid as you reach out to seize him firmly by the shoulder and squeeze. Not enough to hurt, but enough to make him reconsider the decisions leading up to this point. "What's your name, kid?"
"J-Jamal," the would-be mugger stutters fearfully. You get the sense hearing such a typical question in such a normal voice coming from a being of red-eyed shadow frightened Jamal more than any attempt at booming villainy would have.
"Nice to meet you, Jamal," you continue as though you don't look like you've emanated straight from the depths of Hell. "You're lucky to have tried to mug me, you know? Not every monster is as nice as I am."
Jamal nods, unable to speak a word. Though he trembles in fear, he cannot bring his eyes away from your crimson gaze. Rather than let the silence lengthen into awkward territory, you press on. "Since I'm in a good mood tonight, I'll let you off with a warning and a word of advice. Don't
ever threaten anyone in this neighborhood ever again. You got that?"
Jamal nods with enough vigor that you worry his head will pop off like a cheap action figure's. Your gut tells you that he won't dare speak of this encounter with anyone, but even so, you can't have him connecting any dots. As your eyes meet, you utter, "Forget!"
Jamal's memories flash past your mind's eye like a video on rewind. However, your training with Bronwyn allows you to pick out the moments between Jamal first sighting you and your inhuman disguise completing itself and delete them as though you were editing a video. It's less than a minute's worth of memory, but if Jamal were to think back hard enough, he would realize the absence of those fleeting seconds in which he saw your face. It isn't much protection for the Masquerade, but every little bit helps.
You finally let go of Jamal's shoulder as you finish clouding his memory. "You'd be best go home before you run into more trouble."
"I-I will! Thank you!"
As Jamal flees into the night, you notice that he's left his pistol behind. As you pick it up off the ground to unload the magazine and eject the round in the chamber, you look up toward where Jamal ran. "Go and sin no more, Jamal. Go and sin no more."
Disciplines
- Dominate 1/5
- Cloud Memory: By uttering the phrase "Forget!" you can make a target forget the last few minutes - enough to mask a superficial feeding or a chance meeting. Clouding the memory of a resisting victim or another vampire requires a Charisma + Dominate roll.
- Protean 1/5
- Eyes of the Beast: You can will your eyes to gleam a supernatural red, ignoring any sight penalties imposed by darkness, mundane or otherwise. The inhuman appearance of your eyes also grants you a two-dice bonus to intimidate mortals.
-
"Artie?"
"Hey, Eleanor. I just wanted to check in and see how you've been doing since we last met. How have classes with Naomi been going?"
"Oh, everything's been going well so far," Bruno's mother replies. "We were just discussing the recent disappearance of the, uh… MP?"
"Jason Newberry?" you ask.
"Yes, him," Eleanor confirms. "Who will replace him now that he's gone? I still don't know much about club politics, but I'd like to be able to put a name to the title."
"Probably Bronwyn. She runs a club called the Blue Velvet on Rush Street. Their side of the family isn't known for their love of structure and organization, so I doubt she'll face much, if any, competition for the open seat." After a moment's consideration, you continue. "She's also got literal centuries of experience in the hospitality industry. It might be a good idea to contact her about your Airbnb."
"Isn't that against the rules of the elite club, though?" Eleanor asks. "What with me being Duskborn and all?"
"Well, yes, but the elite club's members thrive on double-dealing. So long as you avoid making the association too public and keep things quiet, she'd likely be pleased to discuss business with you."
"Okay. Thanks for the tip, Artie, and for checking on me."
"You're welcome. Stay safe out there," you reply before hanging up. Now that you know how Eleanor Chang has been settling into Kindred society, you only have one more question to answer. Where to tonight?
[ ] [NEXT] I'm attending Elysium to try and gather reformist allies among Chicago's Kindred.
[ ] [NEXT] I'm hitting the gym. I came far too close to losing my fight with Jason Newberry.
[ ] [NEXT] I'm on my way to meet with a Kindred visitor from Milwaukee who could help grow Crossguard Security.
[ ] [NEXT] I'm heading to the Diamond Library for a one-on-one meeting with Rebekah.
Kindred Relationships
- Bronwyn
A promising Kindred.
Bronwyn knows you're why she is now the Primogen of Chicago's Malkavian. Should you wish to help her expand her spy network or the Circulatory System, you need only ask.
- Eleanor Chang
Can they help keep my family safe?
You've made a decent first impression on the thin-blooded stay-at-home mom, though she can't help but fear for her loved ones. While she's now taking night classes at Naomi Stewart's school for fledglings, it should be easy for you to reach out and strengthen the connection.
Jason "Son" Newberry (Adversary 2)
Thanks to you, the former Primogen of Clan Malkavian is in no position to hurt anyone else ever again.
