Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Lutetia City: Rollin' Bones Casino

as written by Tiko and Nemo

Nearby one of the officers was examining the contents of Nieve's wallet that they had found in her pocket.

"Nieve Revainer," he noted outloud.

There wasn't much else of interest in the wallet except a few loose bills and it was bagged along with a set of keys and a cellphone also found on her person.

Archard looked up at the name. "She's a Bloodstone." He walked over to the corpse. "Veteran member. I have her record in the car." He stooped down, turning the head slightly to examine the gash in her neck. "This is quite the loss for Mr. Guiscard, but I think it confirms that this little ordeal was a skirmish between the Scions and their ancient rivals."

He looked over to the headless corpse. "The vampire thing though... That's tricky." The inquisitor walked over to the body and peered into the hollow trunk of his spine. "You don't think one of the packs pulled in vampire auxiliaries to give them an edge in the fight?" He swiped up a sample of black blood and smeared it on a glass slate from his belt. "That would be new."

"We haven't had more than a handful of vampire sightings since the purge," Sylviane answered. "Let alone attacks. If they've returned in force, we need to find out about it, preferably before the bodies start piling up."

"And one question asks another..." Archard mused, stepping around bloodied glass to Lance's head. He knelt beside it, looking into the vampire's terrified eyes. A pack war was trouble, but the resurgence of vampires in Lutetia was something else altogether.

"I'll have a look at the body outside," Archard rose, "you take a peek at the killed guards." He snapped of his gloves and plopped them into a nearby trash bag. "After that we should both take a look at the battle zone. Have both vehicles dusted. Look at the ammunition, too - though I saw a high-caliber round in the pavement out there." He stepped around the crime scene and straightened his jacket. "I'll also put a word in with my contacts in Lupaix. I have a hunch that 'Rollin' Bones' Casino wasn't the only battle fought tonight."
 
as posted by Emperor Jester

From where he was now, Isamov could see the chaos before him in its true, terrible glory. There had been some kind of massacre here, and it was still so fresh, most of it anyway, considering the supernatural nature of those involved. Policemen everywhere, watching everything, obviously ill at ease, nervous. They had not the righteous strength for the task that very may well await this city.

Scaling down buildings and gutter pipes, and throw allies, he quickly came to the perimeter of the scene, a tall, somewhat lanky human dressed from head to toe in various black fabrics and materials, a rather advanced long range rifle slung over his shoulder, with his mask still firmly fixed to his face, the lower half painted white like a skull, a singular large crimson eyepiece taking up the upper half. Still, despite his unsettling look, Isamov still approached the on-edge police force, arms raised, clearly away from his weapon. "Law man! I wish to speak with your superiors, in the name of the Lord of Light and Sun!"
 
as written by Ronin

The officers looked at him incredulously. One of them stepped forward.

"Lord of Light and wha?" he squinted at him. It didn't help that the stranger was masked and packing a particularly big gun. "Look pal, this is a police investigation. Why don't you keep walking?"

Archard was just stepping out of the wreckage of the casino entrance, walking towards a mangled corpses near one of the wrecked vehicles. He looked up at Isamov from a distance, a slight narrow drawing his eyelids as he examined the stranger's mask and the stock of his rifle.
 
as written by Emperor Jester

"But I may be of assistance. It is the Lord himself who sends me to parlay holy words with you, protectors of this city!" He voice was loud, and incredibly foreign, a thick accent, heavy and Cossack in nature. "Let me pass, and speak with those who may seek help from the Light!" His hands were still raised, and Isamov continued to walk towards the barricade line.

Not once did he ever make to move his hands towards his gun, nor reach for anything else on his person. From his experience, those in law enforcement preferred to feel in control and safe. "You may even take my weapon from me, if it would make you feel more comfortable. I just wish to pass."
 
as written by Ronin

The officer wasn't persuaded in the slightest - the man's zealotism doing nothing to assuage his suspicions nor bypass his inclination to observe protocol. "Look pal, if you've got information, take it down to the precinct and file a report. But there's nothing-"

"That's quite alright, officer," Archard came up from behind, "I'd be pleased to have a few words with this gentleman. Outside of police boundaries." The inquisitor stepped under the rope and offered the stranger his hand.

"Inquisitor-Archon Archard Pierpont. I work closely with the police and the church." He began walking - away from the crime scene - motioning for the stranger to follow. "You said something a moment ago about the... what was it... 'Lord of Light and Sun'?" He looked curiously at the rifleman. "I assume you are referring to Elueu - the Wick - the one true God and the lord of mankind?"
 
as written by Emperor Jester

Isamov gave no such introductions, but he did follow closely behind, hands at his sides, never removing the mask. "This one cares not and knows not of your proclaimed God. The Judicator's Path sets him upon the Light and Fiery Glory that is Gwyn. But holy speeches have a time and place."

Without missing a stride, and without a pause for any buildup, Isamov simply came out with it. "You are scared, no? That the cursed nosferatu are once more making moves in this city. I can see it in your eyes, in your soul. I have lived here short, not long in Lutetia, but your secrets are not as well kept as you'd think. I see them, every night, increasing in numbers, their confidence growing."

"Tell me, Inquisitor, have you looked into Merveilleux or the Phantom Quarter lately? All the mangled corpses piling up around those areas?"
 
as written by Ronin

'Cursed Nosferatu'. Vampires. Sylviane and Archard were just beginning to correlate the pack wars with vampiric involvement - and now this man had arrived, claiming to have information about them. Coincidence...?

"Our reach in these areas is short," Archard replied, "shorter than I would like. What have you seen in these areas - and how do you know that this all part of some larger plan?" The inquisitor remained expressionless. "People die in the Phantom Quarter all the time. Muggings. Senseless murders. You propose that there's a bigger picture in the works?"
 
as written by Emperor Jester

"I propose nothing. I know or care not for how the soulless undead plan or think out actions, like cunning rats. I only seek to eradicate their filth, for it profanes my Lord's eternal light." A pause, before he reaching into a pocket on his vest. "These are pictures of some of the killings. Mangled bodies, torn flesh, veritable blood baths." The foreigner handed the photographs over.

"Now, in the Quarter, less than two nights past, at a run down hotel I investigated. Two corpses, one human, one vampire. The stench of undeath was present, seeping into the long dead wood." He'd spit if he could, but the mask. No, a Judicator's face must always be hidden. "Look at the brutality. Compare it to the similar violence in the other pictures. Think about this city's past with the nosferatu. I do not believe these killings of women and children to be the work of the vile beast that performed..." An indication to the Casino behind them. "This...tonight."
 
as written by Ronin

"I see," Archard examined the pictures, flipping through them with reserved calm. He took stock of the wounds, the manner of disfiguration and any distinguishable markings.

"The history of the nosferatu in the city," the inquisitor mused, "that's a difficult one. The vampire councils are as old as the church itself - as old as the city, even." He looked up. "There's a reason we haven't just purged from Lutetia in one swoop. They're careful. They do not kill senselessly and they do not reveal themselves. We haven't been in open confrontation with them in centuries." He shook his head. "I share your sentiments, my friend ... but purging the city of these undead is an incredibly difficult task. We need to find them before we can hunt them. They leave no tracks."
 
as written by Emperor Jester

Isamov clicked his teeth together behind his mask, his words taking on a short, testy tone. "But you have! I've found record of it! There was a family, a clan of vampires, that wreaked havoc through the city, half a century ago! I could not find out the name, but there it is! Thats your clue! That is no werewolf killing! No fur, no saliva, no smell, the cut marks too clean despite the heathen savagery!" Then, the man seemed to somehow sour his own mood even further, throwing his hands into the air and letting out a string of hysterics in his foreign tongue!

"I come to you, police man, to tell you of my intent! I will work with or without your men, with or without the church itself, but until I shed my dying breath, I have vowed to Gwyn to purge this necropolis!" He then began to dig around in one of his inner vest pockets.
 
as written by Ronin

"Half a century ago," Archard repeated the words back to the Judicar slowly, "House Caer. As I said, we haven't been in open confrontation with the vampire houses for some time. Caer was the last time the church ever faced the houses in open combat. The councils have since learned from their mistake. They are careful. They do not grow too large, they do not make loud noises. They clean up their own loose ends and ensure their own secrecy." The inquisitor chuckled humorlessly. "The number one killer of vampires in the last few hundred years haven't been paladins or the Arledeans ... but other vampires."

He folded the pictures and stuffed them into his jacket. "I'm willing to investigate the activities of the vampire councils, but I need actual proof - not speculation over a few murders in the slums. Even if it is likely that the nosferatu are openly killing in the city, I would need reasonable evidence that would allow me to launch an inquiry."
 
as written by Emperor Jester

Isamov clicked his teeth behind his mask once more, before fishing something out of his pocket, the crimson light of his sensor glowing sharply in the dim lighting around them now, as if it were losing power. This item too, he pressed into Archard's hand. "If that is what you truly believe, then I will leave you to your folly. However, I will not remain inactive. My Lord does not allow for the laxness that yours seems to grant."

To religious folk, a mocking comment about their respective deity would be akin to a verbal slap in the face, or worse. Which is exactly what the Judicator intended. "That object I've given you is one of mine. An example of my Lord's divine wrath." It was, of course, a round from his rifle, complete with foreign theocratic markings, the most stand-outish one being a large crown of fire and lightning, resting above a bonfire. "I will be cleansing this city. Of the sinful. The impure. The allies of the damned. I am giving this to you out of trust. So you might identify my work."
 
as written by Ronin

Archard took the round in his fingers, turning it over delicately. "The Holy Wick does not make the laws in this city," he replied, "while my faith lies with the church, my duty is to the state." His pale blue eyes snapped up. "You tell me you are going to hunt vampires. That is fine. No laws protect their kind in this city - I would no sooner stop you from hunting rabid dogs." The bullet twirled twice in his fingers before disappearing into his jacket. "But I urge caution, friend. For if by some unfortunate accident your vengeance should befall the innocent - or even the guilty for whom the law protects from punishment without trial..." He shook his head, a 'tsk' escaping his lips. "...suffice to say it would be most... unwise."
 
as written by Emperor Jester

"Do not speak to me of unwise when this so called "state" of yours issues protection and citizenship to savage beast and practitioners of the dark arts." Isamov would then spit out some kind of...angry sounding phrase in his foreign tongue, the harsh electronic clipping of his mask making it all the more harsh to listen to, even if Archard couldn't understand a single syllable.

"I said what I intended to say. What you choose to do with this knowledge is between you and your deity. Gwyn waits not for the laws of man, nor does he care. He is the Great Lord of the First Flame, and his judgement has already been cast on this city." Then, suddenly, the Judicator would turn, as if to leave on a whim. Rudely too.
 
as written by Tiko

"What was that about?" Sylviane asked as she walked towards Archard from the nearby crime scene.

Her eyes followed Isamov's retreating form neutrally as she reached Archard's side, but she hadn't caught more than the trailing end of the pair's conversation.
 
as written by Ronin

"A fanatic on the prowl, it seems," Archard replied, "I've been hearing rumors of them taking to the streets with the recent spike in paranormal crime. They try and hunt down the monsters plaguing their neighborhoods. This one is going after vampires." The inquisitor turned back towards the crime scene. He didn't show her the bullet. "He takes some sort of religious reverence as his driving purpose. I advised him to leave the monster hunting to the professionals. I don't think I convinced him."
 
as written by Tiko

Sylviane didn't take her eyes off Isamov as he left, until he was out of sight. Only then did she turn her attention to Archard who she gave a curious glance before shaking her head and heading back to the crime scene with Archard.
 
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