Session I: The Raven

General Summary

Today is the 3rd of December 1952, roughly half past five in the afternoon. It's an unusually cold and stale evening in West London, the air itself seemingly too lazy to move. Smoke and coal dust flicker in the anaemic lamplights like moths, showing the beginnings of one of London's famous pea-soupers - fog so thick and toxic that it looks like the green-hued soup served in middle-class abodes.   We slide past the kine wandering the slick pavements, bundled in coats and scarves and mittens, resting our viewpoint on a rather innocuous... If a bit posh-looking bar with oblong windows and a polished stone path leading up to a mahogany door through elaborate wrought-iron gates. We push past the cold maitre-d' admonishing a tired looking waitress, past bejeweled kine posing as if they expect their picture to be taken any moment, all the way back, to a small observatory with glass roofs and large windows leading to the private gardens of the establishment.   At a ornate but strangely empty table sit an unlikely assortment of four kindred.

 

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

  The story starts in a pub in West London, at a meeting between the Sheriff of the area and the Ventrue Henry Miers. While the Sheriff is accompanied by one of her Deputies, one Ava Brooks, Miers chose the company of one of his childe, one Adrian Bolton who is just entering Kindred Society.   Straightforward as always, Rowena skips the small talk and asks Miers about the purpose of the meeting. He explains he wants Rowena, and by extension the Camarilla, to investigate the fact that his favourite childe has lost a finger which is not growing back. Rowena points out his request sounds like private business, so she will not start an official investigation. To convince her, Miers offers access to the upper-class of the city. As a gesture of goodwill, Rowena sends her deputy to look into the case.   Ava is given whatever notes Rowena gathered about the case, then sent to the Tremere Chantry to employ the help of one of the warlocks.  

All In Good Thyme

Meanwhile, in Northern London, specifically in the Tremere Chantry, another Kindred has a less-than-pleasant meeting with their superior. Konstantin Daarst is in Alaric Thyme's office, for a talk about Konstantin's latest knowledge pursuits. The Magister, apparently, discovered that Daarst has been interested in the strange curse that befell some Kindred around London to stop their regenerative powers. While Thyme commends him for his curiosity, he strongly suggests Konstantin branches into other subjects.   Konstantin agrees with a heavy heart to stop looking into the cases. That is, until Ava shows up at his door, or more like into his room and requests he assists her in the investigation. Konstantin takes that as an opportunity to continue his research while under the excuse of helping the Camarilla.  

Not Over Until the Canary Sings

  To start off their collaboration, Konstantin requests to talk or have a look at one of the affected Kindred. Ava offers him to meet with Vivian Miers, the favourite childe of the Ventrue. The two make their way to the Miers Mansion, where the Tremere gets obsessed with Vivian's bracelet. According to him, the piece of jewellery is covered with a plethora of Russian runes. The childe claims that the bracelet was a gift from a friend.   During the interrogation, Vivian seems scared, so Ava offers her a meeting somewhere else, far from Miers' spies. The two meet later on and Vivian makes Ava promise she will only talk to her contact, but not meet her. She also makes the deputy promise she will not hurt her contact because "they did nothing wrong". Meanwhile, Konstantin returns to his home to study the runes.   Ava calls the number provided by Vivien and the phone is answered by none other than Theodora Summers, Ava's Toreador contact.