Midnight Circus: November 2007 Archives

I'm back in New Orleans. It has been a year since I arrived to the city for the first time. I would have never imagine that what I though at first to be a simple mission to consolidate the Tremere influence in the city would become a  frantic search around the world, following the shadow of a long forgotten myth. the Midnight Circus. We almost lost our existence, our very essence, almost becoming slaves for all the eternity. I still have daymares about the horrors and terrors that I witnessed, suffered and lived.

The idea of spending the eternity as a slave of the circus makes the prospect of having a sunbath at noon to be tempting and pleasurable.

I consider that my mission was accomplished: The Tremeres have improved their image at the Prince's eyes (which does not means that he trust us... nothing farther than the truth), we established several powerful "allies" that may prove to be be useful in the future, and the Vienna Chantry will send two Tremeres to help Alexandra strengthen the local Chantry.

Anyway, I long for the day I leave this city. There are very few kindreds, there is a very tense relationship with the faes, the Baron Samedi completely controls the (???), the Sabatts are always coming and going, waiting to perform a new strike, and so are the Garou. It's a disaster in the making.

I cannot perceive an interest in the other clans to strengthen their presence in the city, and that is understandable: the whole city smells decay. Old. As if the Time itself has trouble to go forward.

In short. the kindreds of this city are on their own, and the future is gloomy.

I reported to Vienna the existence of Immortals, and the existence of a Fairy Court in New Orleans.

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The night is still young.

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Today Melissa steeped over the line. She showed her powers in public to bully Mona (the youngest Kindred in the city) in front of the chantry. The end result is that Mona will now talk to the prince and accuse her of breaching the Masquerade, of course following my subtle "advice". I doubt that the prince will burn her for that, but will put her off-balance in this game of power.

I talked long with Alexandra about Melissa's behavior, and I know for sure that she talked long with Melissa about it. Now it's only a matter of time.

I tried to find Alex and the immortal, but I'm still new to the city. Definitively I have to expand my influence somehow.

Today I learned that there are another kind of supernatural creatures in the world: They call themselves Inmortals. They have true immortality, not like our curse. Their aura has very bright colors, and is swirling with energy.Had we found them before, we Tremeres would not be cursed by the beast.

I need to capture one of them to study, or send him to Vienna.

Another vampire was killed. The crime seems to be related to the one last night. Who killed them is still a mystery, but there are several hypothesis. It could be a personal vendetta against the city Brujah's, an immortal demon hunter, or one of the fairies.

That last possibility send chills down my spine. I remember very well the elfs with their flaming swords and portentous presence. They're not a lot to be taken easily.

Today a vampire was killed. Who killed him is a mystery. The images collected by the Prince are those of a "Demon" with a "Flaming Sword"

Today the Archon came back. The Prince announced that he was going to help the Archon. As was expected, the Seneschal resigned to help him, Christine Bradox expressed her intent to go (of course, to be with the Prince without all the princedom stuff), and Alexandra sent me "in the name of the Tremere". All of the Primogen (except the Brujah, personal friend of the prince) stating that they will stay in the city to "protect it". I'm sure that the Gangrel Primogen is not overthrown while traveling around the world.

The following days will be somehow slow and boring, but I hope thing will get more interesting as the time goes.

Expanding our power base in the city will be difficult. The police is the domain of the Brujah primogen, the underground/illegal part is the domain of the Sheriff, one hospital is the domain of the city's Seneschal, the cementery is the domain of another vampire I don't know, and the black quarter is the exclusive domain of the Baron Samedi (and he has more power and control over there than the Prince in the city).

I think I'll have to work on the bankers, the docks and some other hospital.

Perhaps the Ventrue will be in the way, but I'm sure that he will see things MY way at the end.

Booring night. Nothing to do.

There is something curious in the way the sisters behave. Alexandra seems to be shy and insecure, while Melissa is extroverted and rebel. Yet Alexandra has the authority and Melissa obeys. That makes me think that Alexandra is more dangerous that she seems (either that or Melissa is little more than a little annoyance)

What is really troubling me is Melissa attitude over things. See seems more like a Brujah than a Tremere, following the "Noctum diem" instead of following the clan's ways.

She's endangering the Tremere influence in the city... something must be done about it.

Finally I had the chance to fully check out the chantry library. To my surprise it seems to be very well stocked. I wonder how many rituals are there.

Mikea must have been a very powerful and knowledgeable Tremere, given the size and quality of the library. I'm not surprised that the city want these books...

My mentor told me that the clan is interested in the Midnight Circus, and so they're sending me... I think that Alexandra and her sister will be very happy with the news.

The weird thing is that he also told me that there are registers in Vienna that "proves" that both were presented to the clan. I can bet those registers were not there when I searched. Something very strange is happening here.

I talked with my mentor. He'll answer me tomorrow.

In the meantime, I spent the night gathering my notes and creating a "Who is who" in New Orleans.

First, "Who is Who" in New Orleans:

• Jacques LeBlanc[a.k.a Remy LeBeau]: A Toreados, the current City Prince
• Alexandra: Tremere Regent, childe of Mikea, biological sister of Melissa
• Melissa: Biological sister of Alexandra. Still in doubt if she is a Tremere.
• Alex LeClaire: City Seneschal and the Voice of the Prince, also responsible for the security of the Elysium.
• Alexander: Gangrel Primogen.
• Blacke Corven: Gangrel, city Sheriff.
  
• Jhonny Giuliani: A Gangrel I meet long time ago. He is the childe of the Gangrel Primogen, Alexander.
• Christine Bradox: Toreados with Gangrel/Brujah tendencies. She is the Prince Blood Puppet
  

Now, the questions:

1. Why the prince didn't ask the Regent?: Because the Voice didn't think that it was necessary (yeah, right).
   
2. Who is the City Regent?: Alexandra, child of Mikea
   
3. Who is this Alexia?: a.k.a Alexandra City Regent, child of Mikea
   
4. There was any other candidate for prince when Remy was elected?: There where so few Cainites left in the city when he was "elected" that there weren't many options. And he was more or less the "leader" of the remaining Cainites, so he was the logical choice. 
   

Questions left unanswered:

1. Who was the mysterious vampire that killed several vampires in the city?:
   
2. If the rumors are true, who was his child?
3. What happened and why during the confrontation with the Mayfair family?
5. Who is this Mikea, and why there is a veil of mystery surrounding her?
6. What happened to her?
7. Who is Alexandra, and her twin?
8. What does the Prince really want?
9. How did a bunch of Sabbat kill a Tremere that manage to cast so many preoccupied glances over so many Tremeres in Vienna, one who managed to sever connections with the Council without retaliation?
10. How did the letter stating that Alexia and Alexandra are Tremeres came from Vienna if there are no records there?

Something strange happened tonight. A Nosferatu Archon came to "ask" the city to help find out what a thing called "Midnight Circus" is. He will came back in a week to see what is our answer.
It seems that at least two Camarilla members that where investigating it disappeared without trace.

I went to our library to find some info, but to no avail.
I'll talk tomorrow with my mentor to see if Vienna is interested.

I talked with Alexandra and her sister. I point out my views that the city prince and followers don't take the Tremeres too seriously, and that they don't respect us, because they distrust/dislike both sisters.

The reaction was what I expected: Alexandra acted as if she was confused, and her sister was very enraged... Then I asked them to submit themselves to a ritual to know if they are really Mikea's childe, and her sister was very quick to point out that she don't need to be submited to the ritual, as only the Regent identity need to be verified. We had an exchange of very subtle insults and she ultimately refused to be part of the ritual.

Alexandra gave me some of her blood, and I found out that, in effect, she is a child of Mikea, thus is a Tremere, and have the required link to the clan. As long as the Vienna chantry don't tell me otherwise, she is the Regent of the New Orleans Tremere, and I'll burn whoever say otherwise... Her sister, on the other hand, don't have neither my "trust" nor my sympathy or support as I don't know for sure if she is really a Tremere.

Later today I talked with my mentor about the current political situation of the Tremere clan. I also notified him that Mikea was "dead"... and he showed very incredulous about it. After a mention with the incident with Alexandra and her sister, we agreed that he's going to investigate if they were presented to the clan.

After that I went to talk with Alex LeClaire to tell him that the Clan Tremere recognize Alexandra as the Regent, and that every future request to the clan must be channeled thought her. Also, to maintain my "cover", I asked some thing I would need for my "investigation" of the Vodoo cult. Christine Bradock was there, and she gave me a hint that perhaps is more valuable to us that she imagine: there is a Mayfair that was embraced. I wonder....

I have my orders: The strength of the clan must increase, no matter the cost; I have to find out what happened to Mikea, and I have to gather information about all the vampires in the city.

Today I found an old "friend", a Gangrel called Jhonny Giuliani... He nearly tored me into pieces once during a frenzy, and I had to put him on the air until he calmed. He showed me a bracelet from a Garu and asked me advice... As soon as I have time I'll look into it, one never know what can be found in one of those.

I managed to talk to Alex LeClaire. I asked about Mikea, and he told me the whole story: Mikea was killed in a Sabbat incident, Alexandra and her sisters appeared soon after that claiming to be childe of Mikea. Of course they asked Vienna for the veracity of that statement... what is puzzling me is that he have a letter from Vienna saying that they really are childe of Mikea, but I know that in Vienna there are no records of childs of Mikea.

I think I'll have to talk with Old Wolf, and have a word about it with Alexandra.

Questions left unaswered:

1. How did a bunch of Sabbat kill a Tremere that manage to cast so many preoccupied glances over so many Tremeres in Vienna, one who managed to sever connections with the Council without retaliation?
2. How did that letter came from Vienna?

Today my Regent and I were summoned for an out-of-the-city operation. I guess that it went very well, as we didn't have to do anything. It was a very boring night.

The only thing that I learned is that the Regent is not respected here. I don't like that. I'll fix it... very soon.

Today Alexandra presented me to the Prince. For some reason (security, he was busy, I presented
myself to his voice, a vampire called Alex LeClaire. She looked nervous and very passive. She said that I was the vampire sent from Vienna, and showed him the letter from Vienna to the Regent. Now I'm sure that there is more than meet the eye in this city.

I had to present myself just before leaving (she "forgot" that), and gave him the letter from Vienna to the Prince... I think I have to talk to him again... alone.

I take that Alexandra is the current Primogen and Regent of the Chantry. I wonder what happened to Mikea... I will ask Alex LeClaire tomorrow about it. Something smelly is happening.

Today I met the vampire Alexandra. She looked very nervous about my arrival and very unsure of herself. I'm sure that she hides something.

She has a twin, the only thing that differentiate them is the hair color. Alexandra has flame red hair, and
her sister has golden yellow.

I notice that there are no other Tremeres living in the chantry, and none came during the night... Is that there are no other Tremere in the city?

If the prince want to increase the Tremere population it would reinforce my suspicious that the prince want us as allies for some reason.

Questions left unaswered:

1. Who is Alexandra, and her twin?
2. What does the Prince really want?

The regent is called Mikea. There is something strange with her, as she is somehow disconected from Vienna. I manage to get a lot of raised eyebrows, some frowns and very heavy silence when asking about her.

I investigate a little about the latest events in New Orleans. That city was an "interesting" place to live lately.

Some time ago the prince was a Toreador named Dider Gunt. The Brujah primogen (called Rake) wanted the princedom, and the war erupted in the city. At the end the prince managed to stop the war and keep the princedom.

Not long after that there was a silent invasion of Setites, who kidnapped and killed the prince. The crisis was solved, the Setites exterminated and a new Prince (a Ventrue called Jefferson, who was the former second-in-command) was established.

Not long after that a powerful vampire appeared in the city, wreacking havoc among the vampires. Who was he we don't know, but there are rumors that he was the sire of one of the older vampires in the city. After a long fight, he was contained and anihilated.

At this point the prince (Jefferson) resigned (I guess it was too much for him) and they elected a new prince. The new (and current) prince is a Toreador called Remy LeBeau.

After the election, the Sabbat decided to make an assault upon the city. The vampiric polulation was severely diminished. Also there was a public attemp of assassination on the new prince, who "died" in the mortal's eyes. Now he use the name Jacques LeBlanc.

Taking advantage of the situation after the Sabbat conflict, the Setites returned to the city for retaliation. Somehow they city managed to survive again.

Six month ago, there was a confrontation with the Mages of the Mayfair family.
There are no detail of what happened or why, but it seems that most of the family was anihilated. Among the vampire casualties was the former prince Jefferson

Lately the city has been in a tense calm. I'm sure that something will erupt soon...

Tomorrow I'll flight to New Orleans. We'll see that's in the store.

Questions left unanswered:

1. Who was the mysterious vampire?
2. If the rumors are true, who was his child?
3. There was any other candidate for prince when Remy was elected?
4. What happened and why during the confrontation with the Mayfair family?
5. Who is this Mikea, and why there is a veil of mystery surrounding her?
6. What happened to her?

Today I was dispached a curious letter from New Orleans, USA. It is an invitation/autorization from the City Prince (a Toreador called Jacques LeBlanc) for the Tremeres to study the Vodoo culture and history in the city.
What is curious about this is that the letter didn't come from the chantry Regent but from the prince, and that they ask nothing in return for this "kindness"

Nobody gives something for nothing. This smells like a political plot of some sort. The facts that the regent was not asked by the prince and that the regent haven't informed us about this, means that the clan is very weak in the city or that the regent is an incompetent. Any regent would have taken a letter like this as an insult (to his pride, if nothing more).

Perhaps the regent is in the midst of the political plot. Hmm, now that is an interesting thought: The prince don't like or trust the regent, want him replaced, and is trying to involve the clan so the removal and substitution is painless. Very clever. I wonder if he planned that all by himself.

Expanding the above idea, the Prince is trying to have us as allies which means  that his possition is not consolidated (or has strong enemies).

Anyway, this is a very good opportunity for the clan to get a hold in the power structure of the city. And if there is a war for princedom, we will be the winners no matter who emerge victorious.

Another curious thing is that it say that the Primogen is a vampire called Alexia.. but there is nothing in our record about her...

I think I'll accept the job. Besides studying Vodoo, I want to be in the first row when the show starts.

Questions left unanswered:

1. Why the prince didn't ask the Regent?
2. Who is the City Regent?
3. Who is this Alexia?