Violence continues to escalate across the city. Reports have confirmed at least one thin blood has died. Felix offers Christiana his Fortitude, providing draughts of his Vitae for the coterie to use as needed. He also checks in with Nikki, who appears improved thanks to the familiar trappings of the Bishop’s home. She offers to help. He demures, but does Mesmerise her under the guise of the Confessional to try and pull more information. Nikki is able to confirm the Magdalena Troupe appears to be made up of five individuals, plus two others who appear to come and go. She describes those present, including Magdalena, Osin and Danny.
His work done, including providing the Bishop with blood, Felix does something uncharacteristic and arrives unannounced or invited at the Belfry, an action he has not taken since the confrontation between him and Pippa in the Warehouse during the fight with Samuel’s people.
Pippa meanwhile has been conferring with Doc and confirmed the location of the Sabbat hideout in an abandoned station in Schoenberg, the site previously having been used as a nightclub.
PIppa also, after much debate, decides she needs to tell Michelle about Danny. She does not, however, feel like doing this face to face. So she calls her on video chat.
Michelle is obviously displeased, but manages her emotions, recognising PIppa is simply the bearer of the news.
“How deeply is he implicated…?” she asks.
Pippa states it is difficult to say, but shares the video of him at the pawn shop, noting he is clearly working closely alongside the Troupe. Michelle offers to call Danny out, and states she will have Doc shadow him to collect more evidence.
They then discuss their plans for the Second Inquisition and Sabbat, confirming the intention to leak the Sabbat’s location to the SI, suggesting to the agents this is where the sword they seek may be found. Pippa will use her access to their network and the agent she has ghouled to make this look convincing. Her agent will then lead a sting on the Sabbat base.
Before signing off, Michelle has a further piece of potentially unrelated information:
A location in the city once used by the former Camarilla Primogen (before the fall of the Wall) has been disturbed. As a place of interest, she has someone checking the site regularly. Though her people missed who disturbed the site, Michelle notes there are only a handful of individuals who would have been aware of it that remain in the city: herself, Alexandr (currently in torpor), Adelaide and possibly Michael.
She notes she will keep a closer eye on the place.
At the Belfry, Felix arrives to find Pippa just finishing her call. He explains his intention to meet with Michelle to explain the Danny situation.
“I may have mentioned this already… sure she’ll appreciate hearing this from you in more detail though,” Pippa replies with an apologetic smile.
Felix nods, unfazed. “I have something to discuss. Do you have a flat surface…?” He casts about at the sea of electronics equipment that is Pippa’s living space.
Pippa clears some room (Felix ‘helps’), and Felix presents the portrait he has recently recovered from the Castle (Alexandr’s former residence). It is the painting depicting him during the Russian’s (ultimately futile) campaign against Napoleon, just before his order to cede Moscow. Pippa has of course seen it before, the piece taking pride of place in Alexandr’s throne room. However, what neither realised until now was the identity of the woman stood behind Alexandr: Magdalena.
Felix notes Alexandr famously had one other Childe, who the Gosudar always stated died during this very conflict. The resemblance between the portrait and the woman in the video on Nikki’s phone is undeniable however. The Magdalena is quite clearly Alexandr’s progeny.
The pair discuss the possible ramifications for this, including what (if any) designs Mags may have on Alexandr’s remains. He highlights his concerns about the possibility of her reawakening Alexandr, and the lack of love the former Gosudar will likely have for them all.
They then go on to discuss wider strategy, including how to deal with Danny, whether to confront him at Elysium.
“If we do this, will it tip our hand?” Felix wonders. He also notes that the date and time of Elysium will be known to the Sabbat via Danny. “Also, we’re all in one place,” he reminds Pippa, “which might become something of a tactical blunder…?”
There is discussion about overtly ‘staging’ Elysium, using it as an opportunity to the spring trap on the Sabbat.
Felix also feels the information about Magdelena can’t be hidden from Michelle.
For himself, Felix has had word in the form of a sign from Juliana via one of their previous modes of communication: a picture of a Harley Davison with a cross on the handlebars has been left on the pin board of a particular bar she formerly frequented. Felix resolves to go and check it out, leaving his usual response to indicate his acknowledgement of her desire to meet in the hope it is in fact Juliana reaching for him.
Meanwhile Pippa will go with Marcus to speak with the Lycans about the possibility of parlay.
Both note that it is now Sunday, and Elysium is scheduled for Thursday, leaving some room for manoeuvre.
PIppa will drip feed information into the SI network to back up her agent’s move for a sting operation. This will include the suggestion the Sabbat are about to move, to drive urgency. Her agent Kris will push for an operation on the day of Elysium, in order to hopefully secure a victory for Michelle to announce at the Kindred gathering.
They discuss all this with Michelle, who questions whether to actually hold Elysium at all. It is agreed the event remains an important symbol and so to go ahead, but with contingencies in place should a swift exit be necessary.
Felix highlights the possible need to hide Alexandr’s body, which again Michelle approves of, particularly in light of the revelation Felix gives of Magdalena’s identity.
Felix wonders if the risk of Alex being ‘alive’ is too great, suggests the blade might be used to dispose of him? Michelle wonders if they might leave him out for the sun on the rooftop of the Castle (his former home).
PIppa feels he might still be useful in the future, that there is the possibility for him to redeem himself.
Felix wonders therefore if there is “…somewhere we can put him beyond the reach of the Sabbat.”
PIppa has a bold suggestion: “With the Lycans…?”
They discuss this, noting there is a concern the Lycans may leak that they have Alexandr. Pippa offers to broach the subject when she meets them to parlay.
Michelle confirms she will continue with preparation for Elysium as planned, with the noted contingencies for a swift exit. The group agrees on Thursday, during daylight, to spring the trap with the Second Inquisition storming the Sabbat base.
Michelle notes she will also reach out to Danny to make him master of ceremonies at Elysium, which should guarantee his attendance and distract him from any whiff of the proposed attack on his co-conspirators.
All part ways. Pippa to prepare for her meeting with the werewolves (chuckling over the possibility of the ‘Wolves of Suburbia’, hulking beasts with white picket fences) and Felix to meet with Wulf, whose safety he is concerned for, given the former Thin-bloods relationship with Alexandr. He has the young Tzimesce drink from his for his Fortitude, the pair sharing more than they have allowed themselves to in previous months.
Zak's Midnight Show 