Scene 1: Recap

M:

Matthieu/Lorant vampire

security devices: The Invisible College!

Llull-Bruno machine hand

Blahel

Labyrinth/Star Palace

(Step 3: Water Labyrinth: the Invisible College)

Step 4: Death Gate

Step 5: Venus (Soul Stone in Heart of Venus for Demesne), uses Death Gate as the circulation to move things around

Llull-Bruno Machine, Profane Urim and Reliquary go to the Star Palace? Ernst wishes to talk to the Reliquary.

Make something for Emperor (items)

E:

Emperor meeting.

Veles? Spirit Court?

Bindele, alchemical sword

L:

Opera

Benatky Cult

w/M on Llull-Bruno machine

S:

Gans to get accurate predictions

Higher Status

Need to figure out Lorant's vampire magic.

(0 - 17)

Scene 2: Vinculum

Matthieu: "I don't intend to chastise you like a child, but I couldn't help but notice that the Emperor is full of vampiric... influence." Lorant: "It is an insurance policy against his mercurial nature." M: "Is that all it is? You know that I like the way that you think. And that in general, I take no issues with the plans you have, because I am also ambitious. I am concerned that perhaps this could be misread by Ernst as being against the sanctions of our cabal. When that conversation happens -- and I'm sure it will -- I'd like to know if I'm right in backing you." "I find myself with the opportunity to do this and ensure that even if I am no longer in the position as valet, I will still have this influence with him. I will always have the Emperor's ear. Which is important not only for me personally, but for us as a cabal and the Jews of Prague as a whole. That is all I am seeking to do. And you know the emperor blows hot and cold and any one of us could end up on the chopping block at any moment. Matthieu nods in assent. "This will give me that little bit of an edge to solidify our positions." "What are you able to do with this, with him so ensorcelled." "He will do whatever I tell him to do, and my powers will be more efficacious on him." "Could you tell him, say, to cut off his own arm?" "No. Because I have seen anyone who fills the position of valet to the Emperor meet a nasty end -- or, indeed, come out on top envied by everybody else -- so this is way I could ensure my safety without having to resort to buggery." "I believe in that case the most prudent choice would be to go to Ernst and tell him this is the case." "I see the wisdom in that. You will however understand my trepidation in doing this because whereas you and I see things in very pragmatic terms, Ernst will be diametrically opposed to this. I do not know how he will take this. He will call me "demon-spawn" and other such epithets." "The fall out either way is yours. I counsel you to head it off at the pass."

Matthieu speaks of the security procured in Bensalem. "I also have a manuscript that is in my head that I need to get out, but I need to make an adaptation to the machine because it is full of illuminations and hand-writing." Lorant first asks if he can install the manuscript into his new Memory Palace. "How quickly can you read?" Lorant says as normal. Matthieu keeps this in mind. "If I can assist you in any way with the transcription, I would like to help you." "If you'd like to look at it now, feel free." Lorant uses Telepathy. Then goes to meet Ernst. (17 - 27)

Scene Three: A Gamble

E: "Good evening. Or good morning to you, I suppose." L: "Ah yes, your humor. I've missed it. There is a matter I need to speak to you about... something that has happened while you were away." "What has happened is everything okay?" "Have you been apprised of the rumors at court about the Emperor's mood?" Ernst has, even since the day they returned from Bensalem, he has been said to be energetic, full of life, taking tours for the first time in months. "I've heard nothing but good news so far, it was certainly unpexcted given how he was when we left?" "It has improved in the few weeks since there was an attempt on his life... by the Torture Demon. I have attempted to quash the rumors of assassins in the palace, and the Emperor is fit. Long story short... the Emperor's mercurial moods are a constant problem for us, and I have taken steps to attempt to smooth them out." "And what steps are these?" "Perhaps we should go see the Emperor... together." He's likely up. "And you're sure this is a good idea, given the..." "I am sure it is a good idea. Before we go, would you allow me to show you the history of what happened with the Torture Demon?" Ernst does. Ernst asks if he sees this as a fever dream? Ernst thinks so, as does Matthieu (not present). Lorant thinks his blood helped. "This is a marked difference with the Emperor. In that case, I think we should rush upstairs before anything changes!" "Oh, I don't think anything will change for a while. I believe I will have the Emperor's ear for quite a long time. Please, remain calm, whatever you happen to see..." Ernst puts up Death Sight, Lorant puts up Aura Detection.

Ernst and Lorant arrive, the Emperor is within. The Emperor is at a table near his bed, playing cards with Catholic nobles. Ernst and Lorant bow. "Gentlemen! The night is young, and I, it is apparent, have cleaned out two of these gentlemen. Perhaps you'd care to try your luck." Ernst sees a vampiric taint on the Emperor's aura, and immediately shoots a look at Lorant and then turns back to the Emperor. "Something wrong Freiherr? Are you in great debt to Herr Kelemen at the gaming table?" "I learned long ago never to gamble with a rogue like this." Everyone chuckles, thinking it a friendly joke. Lorant realizes even calling him a rogue could be dangerous, but they are assuming it's a gentle jibe. Lorant laughs it off, and Lorant has bigger fish to fry; who are these Catholic nobles? These tarock-players are rising Catholic nobles and it has to be intentional and political. Ernst knows them very well. Two of them get ready to leave because they have been cleaned out by the Emperor. Lorant looks at their auras to see if they threw the game. They are slightly flushed and upset and surprised. "Gentlemen?" Ernst focuses further on the Emperor's aura. Nothing new. Lorant sits at the table. Ernst: "It is against my better judgment, but what can I say." The Emperor acts as dealer and croupier and enjoying it. "Your credit is good here." He smiles. He uses an Italian deck and deals tarock. First hand goes by, there's banter. "Freiherr, were you away from town on pilgrimage?" "Mostly pleasure, some business, nothing too extravagant." Lorant, accusingly, "Do you ever do anything extravagant, Freiherr?" "My dealings are not ones that require me to go out for blood." The Emperor wins the hand. And before Ernst switches to Life Sight, he realizes something: in his card-playing? The Emperor is using magic. (27 - 45)

Scene 4: Defenestration

Salih and Gans doing early researches to delve deeply into the future. No using the coffeeshop yet; it's not mature and it's going to be used for changing the future, not analyzing the future. He feels like using the astronomical clock will be a good focus, along with some kind of iconic map to aid in figuring out where and when the chaos set to overwhelm Europe will happen. Salih wants to defer to Gans on the whos and wheres and whens. Salih wants to assemble symbolic objects for all the power centers in Europe, chart the most significant people and places to pull together what might happen. Assembling the objects: mundanely. Salih does not want his Fate magic to muddle any of the objects' Resonances. We get Jiri to rent the apartment and he does, providing a two-window view of the Clock. Salih scores a map and objects.

Salih delves forward in time. It's a Vulgar effect, uses tools and sigils. No Paradox. After an hour of ritual, the pieces start to shift and turn. Many factions, major capitals. Concentrating on Bohemia. First thing that happens, Emperor falls over. Stands back up with his back to his nobles. The Protestant nobles in the hinterlands congregate on Prague. They and the Catholic nobles cluster around the Emperor. Four of the figurines, representing Catholic nobles, fly through the air, smash through the window, and end up on the street. (45 - 58)

Scene 5: Hand

Matthieu at the drawing board, knowing he can construct anything as good as a hand, will never be able to match God's creation. So it might be time for some grave-robbing. Matthieu considers using a prisoner's hand, but perhaps Hagecius would be a better choice. An expert writer, someone with a connection to the Llull-Bruno machine, not too long dead... (58 - 67)

Scene 6: Hands

Lorant decides to let the emperor win. Lorant feels like the emperor might be cheating. Ernst wants to try to win the hand and uses Perfect Timing to do so. Rudolf's devastated and surprised. Rudolf is especially watched by Lorant. Ernst uses Perfect Timing and incurs Havoc Paradox; Lorant uses Auspex and sees the Emperor is using Obfuscate. Lorant lets him win again. (67 - 74)

Scene 7: Aftermath

Gans: "That was odd." No one moved except those Catholic nobles in Bohemia. "I'm trying to connect this up with the other ritual I did for Makovsky? And I think what you've discovered is the beginning of it all. The triggering event. I don't know how far in the future this lies, but I believe that the triggering event for the entire war is going to happen here in Prague, and it's going to involve Catholic and Protestant nobles. Salih wants to attach a Fate and Time effect so that they will arrive in his hands when the actors arrive in the city. (74 - 77)

Scene 8: Manuscript

Matthieu uses a Matter/Death version of Self-Repairing Machine on the hand to reinforce it. And then Prime to craft a piece to cause the motive energy and help it fuse into the machine. (77 - 80)

Scene 9: Counsel

Lorant makes it his goal to clean the Catholic noble out. Ernst sees the Perfect Timing land on the Emperor. The noble loses, and bows saying, "It was an honor to play at your table tonight your Majesty." "Are we going to take this to the end of our banks, gentlemen?" E: "I would prefer not." with a chuckle. L: "Yes, your game has vastly improved, my Lord." R: "I've been feeling lucky the last few days," he says it in Latin, with "felix," for the double meaning. His mind is more acute too. He is an auto-didact. E: "I hadn't seen you since my return and I am pleased to see you in such spirits." "I won't lie, it was touch and go for a bit. But Herr Kelemen proved an able replacement for Dr. Demont." "And you found his practices to be satisfactory?" "Dr. Demont instructed him and Dr. Maier well for my care and prescriptions." "I am glad to see you are well. Is there anything I can do for you now that I am returned." "Well, there are a few... vacancies at court in positions of counsel. Could you use your contacts in the Catholic community to find replacements for Makovsky's men?" "If that is your wish." "That is my wish." Ernst: The Emperor has had problems so he has not been intent on being involved politically, but now he is back and he is back on fulfilling his promises to the Pope and his men." "Do you have anyone in mind?" "Well, I know you are close to the Jesuits, I could use one or two of their number close by, but it is entirely up to you, as long as they are of our Faith." "I will submit a list of names to you as soon as I can." "Shall we play one last hand for... all of the gold?" Lorant: "Let's play a hand. Plain and open. No tricks." Ernst examines their auras: no effects. "Just what do you mean by that?" "As I said, my Lord, I appreciate someone who plays a good game..." uses Obfuscate to do card tricks. Rudolf smiles. "I enjoyed watching you fleece the noblemen, but I hope we can respect each other enough to..." R: "Freiherr you can leave." Ernst bows, shoots daggers at Lorant. Lorant says using Telepathy, "Don't worry. I've got this." (80 - 89)

Scene 10: Interlude

With the ritual done and the secondary ritual done, Salih and Gans. Salih recaps the symbolism with Gans. "Well, I think that's enough for today of this." Salih needs to see Ernst. Matthieu is preparing the machine. Ernst goes downstairs to await Lorant. (89 - 91)

Scene 11: Privacy

"So. Who taught you to play cards so well?" "I think you know who did." Lorant sees lust in his aura. Ernst opens a scrying window. The emperor gets up from the table and walks over to Lorant. "I honestly can't thank you enough for what you have done for me. It's a new lease on life; the laudanum was never this good." Lorant begins to theorize; because he was a pseudo-Sleepwalker, did he Ghoul himself? "I am glad your melancholic mood has broken. It is good to see your mood has changed given the events that happened in this very chamber a few weeks ago. But it would be a good idea to..." "Practice discretion. Well, isn't that what you've taught me? The pure art of absolute subtlety and hiddenness? No one needs to see anything. Anything that we get up to." "And yes, that's very true." "Can we turn invisible?" "No." "That is disappointing. I wished to wander these halls unseen, to hear what people are saying." "If you wish to know what people are saying, you need only to ask me." "I'm glad you see I am going to need loyal men. My asking Freiherr is to keep the Papacy satisfied. What I need near me are men of knowledge and action. To be quite honest, I don't ever want to taste that laudanum again.... not your laudanum, Dr. Demont's." "I will speak to the doctor." "I don't think it did very good things to me." "In any event, you should perhaps not stay too late." "I am glad we had this talk." The lust is fading, becoming something more solid, like respect. Seduction is out of the picture. (91 - 98)

Scene 12: Agendas

Ernst intercepts Lorant on the stairs. E: "So, you did stay pretty busy while I was gone." L: "You must admit, it's much better to have..." "Someone in your thrall?" "But also he is much more in control of his faculties." Ernst repeats back the first line of their conversation to show he was scrying. "You've taken a man we know to be rather impulsive and suggestible, and enhanced the two qualities that cause the most problems. Bravo. As if our job here was not difficult enough." "It will be interesting to see how this plays out." "Does everyone else know yet?" "I have spoken to Matthieu." "Do they know the extent?" "I have spoken to Matthieu. If you overheard what I said, you'll note I said discretion is important. You do not need to be so excitable. This is an opportunity." "This is just another problem when we have too many problems." "Then I would suggest you not be at court." Ernst storms off. 

Salih comes to Ernst's office. "How are you today?" "It was a long evening. It's been a few long evenings since I returned. The work is piling up with no respite." "I'm sorry to hear that. If there is anything I can help you with, let me know. Because I also need help from you." "The emperor has tasked me in finding replacements for his inner circle. The one requirement is that they all be of the Catholic persuasion. From what I've deduced, this is to keep the Papacy at arm's length." "We haven't had the best of luck dealing with... them." "It's a delicate balance, because I want to get people in there who are not of consequence but also, shall we say, a better influence on the Emperor. There may not be three people like that in the Empire." "I'd like to suggest Father Jiri, we trust him, and we know him and I have a good working relationship with him. You should come by for coffee at some point. You could talk to him yourself." "That would be very good. What can I do for you?" "I've been doing research with Gans on the future. I've learned that the first step in what is to come will come from Protestants in Bohemia, so I'd like to... I don't know anything about the politics of this, so I was wondering if we could go over some of that information and the right people will float to the top." "I will search the records and bring it to you." "Thank you." "Before you go, I would definitely suggest finding Lorant, because he has some very interesting information to share with you. You will find it most intriguing." Ludovic looks at the Protestants, Ernst at the Catholics. 

Matthieu leaves a note for Lorant to meet him at the Star Palace when he wakes up. Matthieu is tinkering with the new structure of the Llull-Bruno machine. Lorant smells the dead flesh. M: "I'm glad you could come." L: "I'm looking forward to seeing what you concocted." "It's changed a bit from what we discussed. When I thought about what would be required, I found a representation would not be sufficient. You cannot improve on the human hand. So I am using a human hand. Now, that said, the mechanism is a little bit more sophisticated and I was wondering if you would be hooked up to the machine first so I can watch its operation." "Yes." "Excellent." "Please walk me through the machine." They do so. Re the hand, "You have outdone yourself Doctor. We should keep this between ourselves." "Can I confide in you why would they be so disgusted." "They are small minded." "No one was using this hand! And now I am."

Lorant and Matthieu discuss whether he could sequester part of his consciousness. Not yet. "I would say you owe me but I have the feeling I will need your help on something in the castle." "Do you want to tell me before I hook you up to this?" Telepathy. "The Emperor did that to himself??" "I freely admit I may have bitten off more than I can chew. But don't let that get back to anyone." "Are you positive that he did it to himself?" "I'm positive, I did not want this to happen." "And there's no way that another vampire could have done this." "Possibly. As far as I know I am the only vampire in Prague. I did not want him to be a ghoul. I merely wanted the thrall. This went a step further. This is an opportunity, it just depends on how we stage-manage this." "There may be a way to step this back down." "I had not even considered that, you might be able to cleanse his system." "It might be possible. But sometimes a problem is an opportunity, and sometimes a problem is an 'opportunity.'" "He has a stronger hand on the mental tiller now." "I hadn't considered that. It is good he has better control of his faculties, but I think a large part of why Prague is the way it is is because of his nature. When the man makes his own decisions what is it going to look like here?" "But that brings me back to square one. I wanted to be the one to guide his decisions and have his ear." Chuckling, "I would say that in a very short time I have become as indispensible to him as Makovsky was." "He no longer wishes to receive the laudanum?" "He does not." "Well, he'll still need to receive a physician's services." "It will be interesting if you are there whether he will take it." "He should not need the laudanum. We need someone to monitor him for a while to see how he is steering the ship of state under your influence. You can't during the day." "That is what we need to do next, find out who is in the role of valet." "Far be it from me to bring up the slippery slope argument, but are we going to be crawling with ghouls." "This is why I desperately want to return to Benatky. I have an opera to write! This game of politics is getting very tiresome." "Fair. And how will the Emperor do without a steady supply of... you." "It should wear off in time." Not sure how long. "We need to ascertain what he is." "That is my next move. If you would be there as I administer to him in the morning in case he were to get mad at me, that would be good." 

They worry about other agendas, but say we should check off this manuscript creation. While he is under, L experiences the feeling of unconsciousness and then finds himself reclining in the Memory Palace. Through the ceiling comes thrusting a giant golden needle, walls falls, columns tumble. Lorant is very upset about the intrusion. He picks up the room of the memory palace by hands. He sees reflected in the mirrors on the walls. What is coming out on Matthieu's end is a blurry mishmash of bits and pieces. Despite L eidetic memory, there is a blur to it. It's not the hand. M thinks of pulling the needle, but doesn't want him to be confused. He fears Frenzy. It completes. It's a crappy version of the voynich manuscript. L has rebuilt his palace. "So it's my turn, I guess." Lorant hooks Matthieu up. For Matthieu it's like reliving all the research. L thinks to himself my God what language is this? It's a beautiful mystery and... Lorant wants to abscond with it. And he does. Matthieu sits all night with a needle in his neck. (98 - 131)

Scene 13: Coffee

Ernst arrives, sees Jiri circulating, leading discussions. Jiri says hello as does Salih. Gentlemen, sit, let me get you some cups. Jiri: "I've got the strangest feeling this is not just a social call." E: "Given how excitable our friends is here..." J: "I am surprised you've never come; Salih has tried to bring everyone in Prague in here at least once." E: "I tend to have much on my plate at the castle. My time is busy and our interests do not always cross so it's nice to see how our friend lives; he seems to be in his element." J: "I'm sure he is going to tell us why we are here, he seems to relish the role." S: "I might have... other thoughts, but for now let's just chat." Idle banter, a social occasion. "We don't get to relax very much, and that's important to me." Jiri's caffeination belies that point. Ernst knows Jiri has been here two decades. Jiri says he's very excited to hear about the new students at Benatky. "I know the four of you don't get out there very often, so I'm hoping when the matriculation happens you'll be there." Salih and Ernst agree. "Your school is making waves in certain circles." "Good waves I hope?" "See, your school is neither one thing nor the other. It has Catholic and Protestant students. It has a royal charter, and you know that the next generation of Protestant nobles is being educated in chartered institutions. Everyone believes it is something it is not. No one trusts you, and no one trusts us, and for the nonce that might be for the best." Salih says going down the middle of the road is the best way to go. "We are better having two enemies than one, and I say that in all seriousness." E: "We stand in the middle and watch the battle." J: "Or make peace!" E: "We need to walk before we can crawl." J: "I believe this next batch of students will enable us to do so." E: "Have the higher-ups in the church had any objectives?" J says no, they haven't called any of the Jesuits back. They're also not giving Jiri trouble. "Should I try to find out?" Ernst and Salih say no. J: "Now that you've made small talk, can you say why we're here?" E: "It was recommended to me that we may make you a little busier. The emperor is looking to fill some holes in his immediate circle." J: "I've heard about Makovsky's departure. You two have not been around the emperor as much; he has flavors of the month, they come and go. Especially amongst the valets..." S: "And this month it is respected Catholic nobles." J: "Ah, he's afraid of the pope again." E: "Aren't we all." J: "One way or another we all are. Ironically this is what I was taught by the brethren of Ignatius. Who are you looking to find?" E: "I have certain qualities in mind." J: "They can't be quite like me, because the Pope would disapprove of a cosmopolitan like me." E: "They also have to have strong knowledge of the area, the court, and strike a balance between the ecumenical needs of the society and its other needs." 4 positions. "You are asking me to thread a small needle here." "I am not. I am asking you to be one of these people." "I'm not objecting. Do you know of this?" S: "Yes." "I'm not going to be a valet." "If you do not take the Makovsky position, you must take one of the other positions." "So I am going to be a valet." "No." "No." S: "We know that ending up in this position are going to be Papal-supported individuals. However, you have a feel for not only this court but all of Prague, more than any of these people will have. I felt that if anyone should be close to the Emperor, and have the chance to moderate them, talk to them in a way they will accept, it would be you." E: "You are not accountable to us in any way. You are free to use your conscience and ability. We are not going to direct you. We are looking for someone with integrity who meets the basic requirements the emperor set out for us, and we can think of no one better." "If I am nominated I will accept, but I will only take the chamberlain position." E: "At this point I would appreciate your opinions on these men." J: "We want the people who would do the least damage." E: "And hold the least influence." (131 - 150)

Scene 14: Cyan

Matthieu awakens at sunrise. The needle has fallen out of his neck. On the platen is a full vellum manuscript. Lorant is nowhere to be seen. Pages are exactly as he remembers them. Matthieu decides to go to Lorant's Haven. L: "I am so sorry." M: "I'm glad to see that you are well. What happened?" L: "You know how I have my episodes with sunlight... fire..." M: "Blood?" L: "I had an episode like that but with knowledge." M: "Interesting. How likely do you feel this will happen again?" L: "I honestly don't know." M: "Is this common with your kind?" L and M... could it be the fact the machine uses blood? Could it be the Prime gear? Could it be due to his being a Mekhet? "I'm sorry I left... here the final page." "You only took this page?" Matthieu seems dubious. But putting that aside, Lorant sees a bruise near where the needle went in... it's not a blood bruise. "The wound on the back of your neck looks odd." "How so?" "It's not a bruise... it's cyanosis."