Mai writes:
Mai sits outside with Randolf for a loooong time, watching him stare at the building. Her brief glimpse at his aura shows her immense rage.
So intent is Randolf that he does not see the huge creature fly directly over the scarab club, so Mai leaves him momentarily to give this information to teh sheriff's deputy, and then returns.
After some time, Winston Mac comes out and asks to have a moment alone with Randolf. Mai makes a fool of herself with her reluctance to leave Randolf, but edges away, and Winston and Randolf edge the rest of the way away. Apparently Winston somehow convinces Randolf to join the party, and the two walk inside. Mai allows them their own entrance and then follows a way behind.
⚠ <i>JT, the deputy, investigates the claim of a flying intruder that was spoken to him by Mai. JT circles the building a few times and finds nothing of importance.⚠ </i>
Mai attempts to mingle but Aiden approaches and tells her that the Keeper just asked her to check all the windows and isn't that strange. Mai says it is not strange but at just this time, Justus walks up and distracts Aiden, so Mai takes it upon herself to check the windows.
At one window in a back room, Mai feels a draft and calls J T in to take a look. She also yells at him about the drapes. ⚠ <i>As if JT cares about window coverings when Mai can barely keep herself covered.⚠ </i> Nobody seems overly concerned. ⚠ <i>JT confirms that the Brujah anarch from before the night is still stakes in a private room.⚠ </i> There's an Irving inside and nobody seems concerned about him either and Mai begins to suspect that Irving is really somebody else...
At about this time, the big whigs retire to a private room for their symposium. ⚠ <i>JT guards (successfully) the front entrance to the meeting and no one gets passed him (as far as he knows). JT sees the reaction of the meeting and verifies that Bon Heur's side loses/Maximo's side wins the vote.⚠ </i>
Aiden soon joins Mai in her investigation of other windows and says that Irving is most likely Marcellus since his brother is here and they like to cause trouble together. Mai shudders... Aiden says Mai should get over it... Mai responds with a barbed tongue... but Aiden doesn't take up the argument.
Gangrel are odd creatures.
But it's kind of refreshing, so when Aiden asks Mai who Milli is and why she's been spreading rumours about her, Mai points Milli out but warns Aiden that she didn't hear it from Mai.
The symposium ends and a chess game is started... apparently this is what Godkin wants to be our entertainment for the night. Mai tries to hide her disappointment in her sire for not already having arranged entertainment so this could not happen.
Apparently the symposium was in Maximo's favour and not Duke Bon Heur's... so the chess game is to be had against the Duke... apparently to further insult him...? Strauss and the Duke sit down.
It doesn't take long for the Tremere to notice 'bad things', so they warn the Keeper. Godkin indicates the game must go on. More bad things happen... there are repeated warnings from the Tremere. By the time the auras become visible to the rest of us who can see, they are uncontrollable. Godkin is near insane with his willfulness for this match to continue... when even the Duke was in check several times and the game could've been called a 'draw' to save him face... it continues. There is no politeness here.
Jen tries to fling herself onto the game to stop it, but the chess board splits, the room explodes with color, and someone steps out...
Jen Speaks
The back hall way is not the place to be. The Duke and Irving are being restrained, and Tom has just spilled the beans about... something. Yet, we manage our way thru it, somehow.
I manage to piss off a few more Kindred, then notice that Irving is standing alone, although Aiden and Just are staying near him. So I approach Irving, and ask him for this dance. Irving turns out to be a FINE dancer, and as we disengage...
Irving turns out to be Strauss! Wow, he IS a good dancer!
At the balls end, the Duke has been challanged by Strauss to a chess match. Since I know Strauss, something MUST be up. So, I linger near the chess game. The Duke is in over his head, (as I warned him!), and it is soon clear Strauss will win. The Tremere, (for once, they serve a usefull purpose!), start warning Prince Godkin that strange stuff is up, but, THE GAME MUST GO ON!
So, I interfer. First, trying to lay the Duke's King down, but Strauss, (or WHOEVER he is!), is to fast for me. Finally, before the Duke can make his last move, I fling my self upon the chess board, and for me, all goes black...
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