The Regent's Riddle
"The word on everyone's lips, Kindred or kine, seems to be epidemic." The Tremere Regent, Maximilian Strauss, spoke in a clear, firm tone: a man used to be listened to. "It seems that disease has been spreading at an alarming rate throughout the downtown population. Considering our particular... appetites... the local Kindred are more than concerned about these developments."
Sitting across from him in the study room, Amara did not look at the other kindred, but at a folded paper she had found in her mailbox: At your convenience, please come and visit me at my home downtown. I leave you this to guide you: Dark blood, our curse, alight this verse / Such power I sense in one so young / Come find me where burns the mystical sun. - M. Strauss, Tremere Regent. The building was not hard to find, in the end, decorated with a violet sun at the peak of the roof.
Eyes half-lidded, she gave a small nod. "A withered horse runs among us. Dirty blood is our doom."
"Yes, indeed." Strauss watched The Fledgling with a carefully neutral expression. "My opinion is that the local Anarchs are responsible for these outbreaks. Their precipitous indulgence of certain passions often leads to such things. Ergo, their need for the watchful eye of the Camarilla."
The last word caused a brow to rise, and her mind to switch tracks. "Uncloud this Camarilla. The Smiling Demon speaks ill of it."
"The Camarilla?" Strauss displayed genuine surprise. "It is merely a Kindred sect that exists to protect its members from the outside world. There are specific codes of behavior that we abide by in order to insure the continuance of our species. It is nothing more and nothing less." He then gave a half-shrug. "There are many independent clans who are not aligned with the Camarilla. And the Sabbat is another sect of various vampire clans whose beliefs are very different than our own. Unsavory sorts, to say the least. I understand you have already run afoul of them."
Amara tucked the note into her unipack, and peered more intently at the Tremere. "What you would have of me then, wizard-king?"
Strauss gave a thin smile, getting up and pacing the room a bit. "The anarchs feel that they don't need the structure and discipline of the Camarilla. I feel that they pose a threat, both to those loyal to the Camarilla and to themselves. Most are mere children, and need our guidance." He paused, and turned back to The Fledgling. "If you succeed in finding the cause of this epidemic and putting an end to it, I will compensate you appropriately for your efforts."
There it was: once more, the older ones wanted the younger one to carry out their whims and wishes. "And what of my reward, wizard-king?"
"I will ponder the nature of your payment while you are gone." Strauss gave a small nod. "Believe me, I will treat you fairly, neonate. And your service to the Camarilla won't be forgotten."
After a moment of pondering, Amara rose to her feet. "I shall do this deed. My shadow darken other domains. Farewell." She adjusted her unipack and made her way to the door.
Sitting across from him in the study room, Amara did not look at the other kindred, but at a folded paper she had found in her mailbox: At your convenience, please come and visit me at my home downtown. I leave you this to guide you: Dark blood, our curse, alight this verse / Such power I sense in one so young / Come find me where burns the mystical sun. - M. Strauss, Tremere Regent. The building was not hard to find, in the end, decorated with a violet sun at the peak of the roof.
Eyes half-lidded, she gave a small nod. "A withered horse runs among us. Dirty blood is our doom."
"Yes, indeed." Strauss watched The Fledgling with a carefully neutral expression. "My opinion is that the local Anarchs are responsible for these outbreaks. Their precipitous indulgence of certain passions often leads to such things. Ergo, their need for the watchful eye of the Camarilla."
The last word caused a brow to rise, and her mind to switch tracks. "Uncloud this Camarilla. The Smiling Demon speaks ill of it."
"The Camarilla?" Strauss displayed genuine surprise. "It is merely a Kindred sect that exists to protect its members from the outside world. There are specific codes of behavior that we abide by in order to insure the continuance of our species. It is nothing more and nothing less." He then gave a half-shrug. "There are many independent clans who are not aligned with the Camarilla. And the Sabbat is another sect of various vampire clans whose beliefs are very different than our own. Unsavory sorts, to say the least. I understand you have already run afoul of them."
Amara tucked the note into her unipack, and peered more intently at the Tremere. "What you would have of me then, wizard-king?"
Strauss gave a thin smile, getting up and pacing the room a bit. "The anarchs feel that they don't need the structure and discipline of the Camarilla. I feel that they pose a threat, both to those loyal to the Camarilla and to themselves. Most are mere children, and need our guidance." He paused, and turned back to The Fledgling. "If you succeed in finding the cause of this epidemic and putting an end to it, I will compensate you appropriately for your efforts."
There it was: once more, the older ones wanted the younger one to carry out their whims and wishes. "And what of my reward, wizard-king?"
"I will ponder the nature of your payment while you are gone." Strauss gave a small nod. "Believe me, I will treat you fairly, neonate. And your service to the Camarilla won't be forgotten."
After a moment of pondering, Amara rose to her feet. "I shall do this deed. My shadow darken other domains. Farewell." She adjusted her unipack and made her way to the door.