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Haven And Hell
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Character Creation rules and suggestions for
the latest installment 
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Character Creation rules and suggestions for
the latest installment
From meager beginnings come grand designs (or some kind of mixed metaphor like that). Jonathan Lamy calls to him his two* progeny to him. He informs them that they are not quite ready to be introduced to Kindred society as independent members, but they are to be given an opportunity that should prove to be invaluable. And as such, Neil Arrington and Jack Tempson are sent to meet an anonymous contact in Elysium.
On the same night, Benedic, a youthful Tremere, is informed he has the choice of being in Elysium this evening, or traveling to Vienna. Life can be difficult when your sire drops you off at a chantry to be raised by the Tremere community. Nick Pavel stops by Elysium to make sure his childer - a story in and of itself - is going to be present throughout the evening and that Newton Briggs still has his pager number.
Damian, artist and Toreador lapdog receives a letter from his sire, Chikako Kakita to meet her that evening at the manor, the same manor which the prince makes his home. From there, after numerous outfit changes, they head to Elysium and proceed to join the others already present.
Once at Elysium, and comfortably waiting in Blessed Passions, the each of the individuals recognizes each other, many from before their embrace and begin to ponder as to why they are all present. Mounting some courage, Damian finds it in him to ask Kita if she knows why they're all here. She gives them no indication or clues, and tells them simply to wait and see. Neil, who was told that they should be there at precisely 12:30am, starts to get nervous and fidgety as the time comes and passes. He takes an assessment of the situation and realizes that they are being watched. A figure in the corner, looking a bit shady, is distinctly not paying attention to them to the point that it's almost obvious that he must be paying very close attention. Neil files this away as information that may be important later and goes back to waiting impatiently.
At about quarter to one, Folke makes his typical entrance and walks directly to the group. Neil looks back at their "watcher" and at this point he has ceased to attempt any discretion and is now staring at the group and Folke - as is most everyone else in Blessed Passions. He sits down with the group and starts to explain to them that they have been individually selected for a project. He will not tell them why they were selected, or who selected them, only that he was told who was picked and to use them appropriately. When asked how long the project would last, Folke responds: "The project will last as long as it is successful, or until it proves that it will never be successful." He also indicates that the project may last longer than their involvement in it, should any of all of them prove that they are more useful somewhere else in the city.
Folke continues to answer their questions with an appropriate amount of vagueness and finally tells them to meet here again the next night at the same time. From there they would go somewhere more discreet to go into more detail about the project, it's purpose, and possibly it's first assignment. Folke then goes back to his city rounds, leaving the group to wonder what they have gotten into. Neil, ever skeptical and opposed to personal failure then assesses the group, asking each what their useful skills are, trying to find any method to the madness.
While they are pondering and discussing, a rather grungy and disheveled girl enters Blessed Passions, looking quite out of place. As she walks to the bar, she draws the eyes of all the guys at the table, so much so that she looks back at them in disgust and embarrasses at least one or two (mostly Jack). Damian takes it upon himself to go up to her an apologize for their awkwardness and offense. After some less than witty banter on the part of all involved, the learn that she seldom comes into the city and she is only here for a drink. Damian learns that she normally feeds from animals in the National Reserve up north but food has become more scarce lately. This news seems to coincide with some information that Neil had overheard recently of transients going missing or dying. So even without full organization of the project, the members of this new coterie start looking at the city and trying to find out what would require a group with their skills.
*Losing the position of Primogen, Jonathan Lamy was given a slight consolation by being given the opportunity to embrace two childer. However, there may be other consequences to his actions in the future.
After the group splits up for the evening, Damian takes the free time to go follow up on some leads from their conversations. Dropping in on Proctor Edris, he asks about any news from the National Reserve. Proctor admits that he has very little contact with that area, but at the same time, has always felt a kind of "protection" there. He then heads over to Spirit Drums where he spent a lot of time in life, and now gathers a lot of information from the streets. One of the guys, after the drumming circle, admits that he has a friend who usually summers in the forest, but this year the entire campground has been booked for some kind of reunion. This of course interests Damian greatly. Upon hitting on this rather notable information, Damian heads out to tell the others and promptly realizes he has no way of contacting them.
Each of the four makes note of what they need in the warehouse to be effective in their specialty (including Damian's need for an amp and some speakers for his cello) and confer, most agreeing with the others' decisions. After a while, they decide to go and fetch Damian and Benedick's cars - Neil drove them all out the the waterfront in the first place. On the drive back into the city, Damian confronts Newton with his findings from the night before. Newton admits that he can't think of any legal issues against that many people in the national park, but is certainly interested in what may be going on. The juxtaposition of the predators of the woods being in short supply and a huge reunion seem a bit thought provoking. The two decide to take Damian's car out and investigate, or at least walk around.
At the national park, they are surprised to be let in to the park (even though it's not really that surprising), and head in to get a look around. The park the car and walk around the campgrounds, noting that the majority of the camping pads are populated by gear that is more utilitarian than today's standards. Most of the tents are of the canvas and wood strut kind and most of the campers are the older model Air-Stream types. Damian comments that they all look like seasoned campers and rugged outdoors types, but at the same time, their coolers and food reserves are on the ground where animals could easily get to them. Newton notices, with his keen animal-like senses, that there is very little in the trash cans that would normally decompose. In other words, the only things in the trash are items that would not waste away quickly in the open air. Whoever is here is very environmentally conscious and not at all afraid of the wildlife.
As they walk deeper into the campsite, the hear the sounds of a party, hushed this late at night, but still going on. As they approach, a man, very strung out and obviously high, walks up and (after questioning them repeatedly if they are cops) invites them to the party. At the party, Damian gets a very uncomfortable feeling as he walks around and talks to the other campers. Newton is drawn to one person that stands out from the rest of the group. The individual is wearing very urban style clothing, baggy pants, a neon jacket with reflective patches, etc. and is sitting apart from everyone else, next to an enormous boom-box. They guy introduces himself as Time Bomb and he's a new "runner" in the city. He admits the only reason he's even out here is to supply to the party. Newton seems a bit uncomfortable with the situation and about that time Damain comes over and admits he's getting a wierd jive from the partiers. They call it a night and head back into the city to further ponder their findings.
