Scene 1: Exhibition

In the three days previous to the jereet exhibition, Matthieu goes back to Benatky for Mana. Ernst, standing with Michael, puts up Spirit Sight. Lóránt is awake and projecting, a veil over his eyes to prevent his panic. Matthieu puts up Life Sight and is acting as eyes within the court. Salih is on display as the exhibition, and bestows exceptional luck on himself, with of course his Legacy's Prime Sight. Lóránt views the protocol of the royal box: the Emperor, Michael, Ernst, Matthieu and a bunch of other top courtiers. Lóránt notes the Emperor is still manic; and Matthieu knows that the breaking free of the laudanum was entirely a result of his mania over the New Atlantis. Coming into the box about five minutes after the demonstration, Ernst notices the Imperial mercenary general, Giorgio Basta. Ernst remembers that he was in the field during the expedition to Michael's campaign, and that could not gather his troops in time to help with the pincer maneuver. He is just returned from the front. Life force is strong, no spirit marks. He comes into the box with no fanfare and gets a seat near the Emperor. Order of the Dragon knights mutter to each other in non-German (or Latin). They are making remarks about "the Turk." On the other side of the throne is Pistorius. Ernst sees him jockeying for the Makovsky role. Basta and Ernst greet each other. And they switch to Spanish. "It's a safe bet no one in Michael's court has a dram in Spanish. I have news from the front. It should probably go to your ears, and then the Emperor's. The main problem right now is Sigismund Bathory. If the emperor wishes him eliminated, we will have to find common cause with the Dragon Prince and his knights. If we have a unified front, Bathory can be driven from the field into exile. I know the Emperor has placed his bets on the Bathorys in the past, but Sigismund is far above his station." "If you were given free reign what would you do?" "I would like to use the Dragon Prince as a vassal, providing him with help over this region, would be a simple exchange. My army gives him help, he rules as vassal. Not as a Prince." "Do you feel that would be enough to extinguish the Dragon's flames." "perhaps not, but we can deal with it when the time comes." "You realize you will be the one on the frobt lines?" "I don't fear that, I don't fear any man." "That's what I wanted to hear." "Those lands are full of heretics, Lutherans and Eastern. Michael does not care about religion. If we wish to o the Pope's bidding, we will ned to take the fight to them." "Let us leave the religious politics to the appropriate…" "Freiherr? We are both soliders of Christ?" "Let us render unto Caesar." Basta is exasperated. "D you know how many times I hear that?" The heretics atre at our door. What is that man -- if I dare call him that -- doing here?" Indiciating Salih. "He walks these hallways." "He is a good man with good intentions, but he has not been baptized." "In due time." 

Lóránt hovers over the Emperor, Matthieu watches the crowd. Salih's Mage Sight is not giving him a whole lot; it allows him to see Matthieu and Ernst's auras clearly. Pistorius is not possessed. Michael's soliders seem especially interested in the game. Young vs. old nobles. Salih seeks to make the game as balanced and as interesting as possible; Fate effect. Salih also wants to see who is really getting invested in it; he is unable. Matthieu overhears Pistorius: "I can only give you advice related to the Mother Church, but in my opinion, if Prince Michael is indeed halfway onto his way to heresy, he should be used as a weapon for the Pope and Church before he turns to heresy completely. "What do you mean?" "He has soldiers and territory. He could be used to finish off the factions on the Eastern frontier, and then… he either converts or is removed from the throne." Matthieu notes he was set on a track to get Jesuits into court. He was a Protestant, he is a Renaissance man. He is talking politics in a classically Machiavellian way. But it is more interested in politics than he ever has been. Matthieu wants to look at soul marks. His soul is healthy, but scarred. Maybe due to the repeated possessions? It has had a permanent effect on him. His soul doesn't "fit." No present effects on vampiric presence. 

Ernst reassures Basta. "On this battlefield here, I have had to forge unlikely and unorthodox aliances. This is what I've had to do for the greatness of nature and greatness of God." Political argument. "Well, life at court is very different from life on the front." Ernst wonders if it was a veiled insult but Ernst is older. Lóránt realizes the Emperor always latches onto the last person to speak to him. As Pistorius is talking to him, Emperor keeps stealing glances at two people: Basta and Michael. Maybe Rudolf is making plans to send Basta back with Michael? 

Salih's effect goes off; it is weak. Matthieu: "Pistorius is sitting awfully close to you, my Lord?" "We have found his presence in the aftermath of all the events of the last week to be a comfort to us." Matthieu notes he uses the royal we. "I'm sure he offers a great deal of comfort." "He has knowledge in a wide array of fields, and as you know we appreciate… where is Kelemen today?" "He is under the weather." "Is it the plague?" "No, no." "I wish him back at court, you need to make him well." Rudolf continues to talk about Pistorius's knowledge, you could even think of him as a doctor? "No, I wouldn't think of him that way." Matthieu's pridefulness makes a point to the Emperor. "Explain. How is he not a matchless intellect." "In my experience, I have seen him stumble over himself to find references, knowledge… things that should be at his fingertips. I have seen him intent to bring…" "We are somewhat at a loss without Herr Makovsky at our side." 

Ernst, seeing Matthieu, seeks to intercept and distract Pistorius. "Freiherr, good morning." Ernst says he wanted to properly greet him. "Who do you like in the tournament? I was under the impression it was your idea to set up these teams? Are they at your school?" "Bright minds, bright future ahead of them." "I hear you have new faculty. The Klementinum has lost a few of its brightest minds." "We must be doing something right then." Pistorius hits him hard on the Jew and Turk, and now the Jesuits. "Certain people might take this the wrong way. Capuchins, Dominicans, even Jesuits." "But we do reflect the diversity of Prague, and the world we live in." "You know I am no close-minded individual, but to start a school with these kinds of ideals? It traipses along the boundary of something that could be dangerous." "If it were not us, it would be someone else." "I should trust you other than someone else." "I am not going to instruct them in a way counter to us." Ernst intends to accompany Pistorius to Mass. Lóránt notes his biography.

Matthieu has convinced the Emperor that he is superior to Pistorius. And Makvosky is missed for multiple reasons. Makovsky acted like a dumb valet? He obviously was feeding the Emperor occult stuff. As a Guardian? Did he part the Veil for him? "In the time I have been here Makovsky has been a mentor and ally for me. But Pistorius cannot fill those shoes." The Emperor notes Makovsky's Utraquism. "Or, when you bring Pistorius to this level, you sacrifice some of what you have created here." "What do you mean?" "Well, Prague is a place of knowledge and discourse, or Catholics and Protestants. Pistorius unbalances that." "I miss Herr Kelemen." "If he is feeling well, I could bring him along." "I will be dining with Prince Michael but he is obviously invited." Pistorius makes his way back over. Pure envy. "Doctor." "Sir." Matthieu stays by the Emperor's side. (0 - 75)

Scene 2: After

Michael: "I could see training value in this. We should meet the Turk in charge." "Definitely. How are you enjoying your stay." "I wish to get the negotiations started. I know I am dining with the Emperor tonight, me and him and 200 of his closest friends. You know what I'm up against back at the front." "I can tell you that externally, you have nothing to worry about." "Let's not speak in riddles, Freiherr." "Here in Prague, you are safe." "Are we speaking of the leeches? How did you do this?" "I am not hesitating for any other reason but for how to put it. They are successfully distracted." "I can negotiate with the Emperor without interruption. Let us begin the discussion tonight. What early signs are there from the Emperor?" "I couldn't even begin to guess. This is not me diverting the question. There are constant changes in the military and political landscape. I do know the Emperor is being kept abreast of all your desires, and we want things to be as fair as possible for both you and the Empire." "Ah, there he is now." "This is Salih Cavus, the Turk in charge." Salih bows. "Sir, approach the princely presence." He gives him a bear hug. "This, I wish to bring this back to my court. These are the tactics of the Turk. You understand we will use these tactics to kill them." "I feel that many of my people have… strayed from a good path." "We'll talk more tonight. I hope in a week or two, we can get my men in a real competition against the Emperor's men." "Doesn't that mean your men are going to win?" "If "win" means they will be able to fight Bathory better, yes." Matthieu spends the rest of his time positioning himself, and earns a seat higher than Pistorius. (75 - 84)

Scene 3: Pre-dinner

Lorant angles for the valet role. With Matthieu in charge of the medication? His waking and sleeping is under our control. Could be trouble with Lorant being a Jew, leaving aside the vampire thing. Zsuzsanna: wild card? Ernst is not afraid. He thinks she's not stupid. Lorant obviously is worried because of his ghouling. Salih: Michael is very war focused. More than just training his men for jereet, Salih wants to keep the conversation going with him on tactics. Perfect moment to give him another conversational opportunity with Michael. Salih also a day of rituals: flashback. Lorant had looked for Zalmoxis and not found him. Ernst has kept David safe but he is still not executed. At some point Matthieu will see him. 

Salih also a day of rituals: flashback. Salih wants to use the Celestial Orrery to find the place that relates to Makovsky's ritual. Then scry. During the first hour Salih goes over empty miles of Pacific waves. Then Salih notices a current from west to east. The tablet is floating there amongst the wreckage of the Caleuche. A waterproof chest. Inside is a sea chart that shows the path they took from New guinea. Leads to the middle of the ocean. Santiago has marked a billowing wall of clouds. As Salih scries out, he can see the same wall of fog. And then the scrying is forcibly cut off. The powerful permanent effect came from the wall of clouds. Lorant wonders what made the ship break up. Pull a piece of it back to us? For use with L's and S's post cognition. Ernst wonders if they struck a spiritual or Twilight obstacle. L wants to get it before makovsky does. S also wants to get a look at the night sky to find precise coordinates. M can provide us with a flotation device. M wants to assist in retrieving the chest and the tablet. 

Lorenzo? M wants the list of individuals who the seers habitually used. Surveil them mundanely. One of Ernst's first spy games. Once he visits David he will spend XP on spies. 

Veles? Ernst will handle it himself. School organization? After story. Each of the cabal is the head of a department. Lorant has plans for Jiri, as does Salih. Salih vocalizes his interest in him for the coffeeshop. He will make an excellent steward and leader of the salon. Lorant actually agrees. Lorant ghoul an owl? In conjunction with Life magic from Ernst.

Klementinum/machine. Key components? Steal it outright? Shrink it? Take it through Twilight? Give the relic back so Ernst can't be possessed. Ernst doesn't want it back. They decide to steal key pieces. Lorant goes to snag them while S and M do an apportation ritual. They grab the chest with chart and tablet. Ship's log and ship's map. Following the directions on the tablet in reverse. Came upon a rough patch of seas. "We can see in the distance a great endless wall of fog. It looks like the end of the earth." The ship was shaking apart according to post cognition and the sailors were drawn through the wall. Lorant says this makes it easy for us to get in. Salih is worried about getting out. We assume Makovsky is beyond the wall. Lorant says absolutely, one of our cabalmates is beyond the wall. Lorant wonders if he'll be able to go due to sunlight. Matthieu says he should stay here to protect the Emperor. (84 - 117)

Scene 4: Dinner

E: spirit sight. M: death sight. S: free prime and perfect moment and shifting the odds to get in good with the knights. Lorant puts up Telepathy. Matthieu is placed near the Emperor, and Ernst will mill about. Matthieu sees an assistant reserve a seat for Lorant. Salih sees 8 out of 10 with a mark on their auras that matches Lorant's ghoul aura. They are also all part of the doomed contingent. The Emperor enters and commences the banquet. Much more military and diplomatic than past banquets. Lorant comes in, Awe-less, and humbly begs the Emperor's forgiveness. "Herr Kelemen, come in! Please, sit. first of all, I trust you are feeling better." "I have been better, but I am here to serve at your pleasure." "You must have Dr. Demont care for you." The Emperor makes a joke about the false arrest warrant, and Lorant wittily parries the Emperor's jests. "Freiherr! Have we found out who used your seal?" "No, and it would be uncouth of me to speculate." Emperor: "We must let our guests know that this sort of thing does not happen here at this court." He apologizes to Salih and he says, "I've seen worse places, my Lord." More laughter. "What shall we speak of this evening General Basta?" "The opportunity that has been presented us." Ernst gives Michael the high sign. "The opportunity to destroy the traitor Bathory is before us. If we could root out his allies, we could be in control of the entire region," he says gesturing to the Knights. They bang the table. "You've just returned, you seek to go back right away?" "It is my life, my Lord. It is all I know. I came back to share this intelligence and to perhaps entreat the Prince to join us in this endeavor. Emperor: "Herr Kelemen, what should we do tonight? Talk business or revel since we saw such a display of martial athleticism." Lorant wonders if Makovsky's absence is helping. "We are here to serve you, play the tune and we shall dance to it." Emperor says we should discuss the next campaign. Very happy knights. Basta smiles satisfiedly. Michael says, "At least now My Lord Emperor, the preliminary decision has been made, and we shall speak of strategies later. And now we can wipe out the traitor Bathory." More cheers. 

Lorant uses Aura Perception on Basta. He sees one color: bright intense purple, aggressive, confident, assertive. Ernst goes to Pistorius. "How are you this evening?" "A bit out of place, this is a military gathering." "Truth be told, as a former military man, I am feeling out of place as well. These evenings don't usually devolve into bloodlust." Pistorius: "I don't know if I'd call it that... what can you tell me about Herr Kelemen's presence?" "He is a trusted courtier, a good citizen of Prague." "What is his position?" "The Emperor has a great fondness for him." 

Salih seeks to further foster the warrior camaraderie. He seeks to share soldier tales from the road. Not battles, but the things we all remember on campaign. Salih keeps them rapt, and elicits their own tales. No one other than us at this table would understand what we've been through. After this, we give them coffee at the coffee house to ensure the ritual.

Lorant knows where this is headed. Specifics will be hammered out over the next few weeks. Lorant is solidly at the Emperor's right hand. Whenever the Emperor comments, he will echo his thoughts.

Seeds of Fate at the coffeeshop. Cast now, reinforce at the final jereet tournament. 5 successes. 

Over the week, Lorant slowly makes his way into the Emperor's service thanks to Matthieu's laudanum and his own skills. Two announcements: Jan Pistorius will be the Imperial confessor and valet will be Lorant Kelemen. The order: Lorant gets him dressed, Pistorius for prayer, and then Matthieu for medication.

After a week of them going back into camp, Salih has two degrees from all soldiers in Prince Michael's retinue. Not sure where the doom is coming. They come back either to the jereet field or the coffeeshop. He analyzes the web for fluctuations and where the web of individuals connects to others who are not yet known. Ernst keeps the books and makes sure David does not get killed. Matthieu sees one of his subjects is Awakened. Basta will not approach Ernst, and Ernst will not volunteer information.  (117 - 151)

Scene 5: Gaol

Matthieu analyzes his aura. "Oh wonderful, another one." "Excuse me?" "You're that doctor, who comes to visit us out of the kindness of his heart." "That doesn't sound like me." "All but me." "I noticed. Your companions took me into yon torture chamber a week or so ago and tried to scare me into worshipping devils with them." "I'm sure you must have been confused." "No." "I'm pretty sure you were." "Over the last week or so I've been talking to him." "The Devil? You are most assuredly confused." David goes over to the corner of the cell, and sees the shoulder of one of the prisoners has been lashed and flayed. "This is what he likes to do. And he likes me better than your friend Ernst." "It seems to be you're confused about how things work around here." "I've got the feeling I could be out of here pretty easily if I tried. I just haven't tried yet. He tried to get me to confess how I came to this state, but I think I know how. I think it was you. I had never been this sick. Nobody ever got better. Except for me. I had to go through hell and back to get that to happen. Hell is a jungle. A vast forest full of hungry beasts which I learned to master. I think you should get me a full pardon from the Emperor." "What do you have to offer me?" "Well, looking at you I can't fight you, nor do I think I'd be useful to you in any way. I guess what I have to offer is that if you get me the pardon, I won't tell people what you've been doing to the prisoners around here. Certain religious organizations..." "How are you going to talk to anybody when you're dead." Intimidation. He bluffs. "You don't have ways. I know all the ways of... I know the ways with which the dead have to interact with this world and you will have none of them. Now, you are a small man who through a mistake of my own has come into possession of a modicum of power. It would behoove you to stop making threats, to stop defiling my specimens. What will be done with you? I'm not quite so sure." "I suppose if you're going to offer me this, I could leave the city and never come back." "Is that what you wish?" "I don't want to talk to either of you ever again. Mostly I just wish to be out of this place. You can get me to a different cell, I am making a request of you that you do so." "Indeed." He is thrown in solitary. Jan the executioner asks, "What did he do?" "Mutilated other prisoners." "The jailers didn't hear anything?" "No." "I wonder if he was  a doctor at some point." "Can you have him placed under watch? He is a lunatic but made some statements about escape." "Who hasn't?" (151 - 161)

Scene 6: Tournament

At the tournament, Salih senses his web and how it's related to Zsuzanna. Zsuzanna has a few more blood bound knights than he does. Some overlap (4-5 guys), so that means Lorant bound a few Zalmoxis/other vampire bound. All the doomed men are either from Lorant or Zsuzanna. All 80 are closely bound to Zalmoxis. And Zsuzanna is no longer in Prague. 

Lorant's plan is to Vinculum the Emperor. Lorant is not planning on being in this role very long. (161 - 173)