Latest / Dubious Creatures Presents / The Vampire With No Name 1.23 - Fair Shake

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The Vampire With No Name 1.23 - Fair Shake · Dubious Creatures Presents

0:19
Music. A highway wanders through the
1:19
desert. A tumbleweed drifts past a dusty
1:23
dive bar. A coyote shrieks out to no one
1:26
in particular. Someone's bleeding out in a
1:30
bathroom stall. The stars tonight are bright,
1:34
but not nearly bright enough. This place does not exist, and
1:41
yet here you are. Welcome to San Arroyo Kindred.
1:47
We here at Dubious Creatures present to you the Vampire with
1:52
no name, Rowley the Pastor. You mercifully make it to the
2:01
Three Flags Truck Stop with no other encounters with law
2:09
enforcement. That's good, it's about the same
2:17
as when you last visited. It's a truck stop on a busy
2:22
stretch of Hwy. so it's never not active even this late into
2:30
the evening. Kind of.
2:33
I don't remember if we decided where Toad was going to meet us,
2:37
but try to remember where we encountered him the first time.
2:43
Try to head back in that direction, Yeah.
2:47
While doing that, Astor is going to keep an eye out for those
2:50
little Gray lizards. Yeah, Astor, give me a wits plus
2:55
awareness role or potentially Wits plus animal Ken. 2
3:02
successes. 0 successes. Two successes.
3:08
You're scanning around. Oh boy, the two, you're kind of
3:15
scanning around looking for any of those.
3:19
Granted, those little lizards, pretty common, just urban
3:25
wildlife, especially in California.
3:30
So you're not even really sure what you're looking for really.
3:34
Eventually, pastor, you see skittering out from the tires on
3:40
the rigs. They're really large specimen,
3:42
maybe like a good 6 inches long from snout to tail.
3:47
Yeah. Suddenly just scurries out right
3:53
at your feet, looks up at you with these be the lies, and then
3:59
scurries back off in direction. Do you want to follow it or
4:08
should we wait here? What do you think is better
4:11
because I. Don't, I don't know, follow?
4:17
OK, follow it is. Let's go.
4:19
You lead. Yeah, sure.
4:25
You start heading in that direction and that's when you
4:36
start to hear the music. Well, that kind of music.
4:43
I. Hear your music.
4:45
Yeah, you recognize it's faint at first, but eventually you get
4:48
closer. You start to recognize the
4:50
melody Uptown Girl by Billy Joel.
4:55
Lol S. It appears to be emanating from
5:05
one of the cabs further into this, just like essentially maze
5:12
of parked trucks. Yeah, let's try to find where
5:17
it's coming from, I guess. Not terribly difficult because
5:23
one only one of the cabs has its lights on.
5:27
You make your way through the narrow space between two of
5:30
these trucks, and as you're heading up to that lit interior,
5:39
you see behind you sort of blocking out the way you came.
5:46
It's big burly guy with a stud baseball cap, and you see
5:59
another one. Not the same headwear, but same
6:06
burly presence, and another and another until effectively you
6:15
get 4 or five sizable looking individuals sort of crowding out
6:23
either exit to this narrow little corridor.
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Well, you know guys, I know I'm real famous and all, but you
6:31
know, you don't have to go through this amount of work to
6:33
get an auto craft. That's when the cab door opens
6:37
and you see Toad in all of his wrinkled, scabby glory.
6:51
Well, isn't this a pickle? I mean, it doesn't have to be.
7:00
You say that, but I'd be honest, when you all showed up I thought
7:08
you were just a bunch of little baby licks without a clue in the
7:14
world. But now, Now I know you're a
7:20
bunch of baby licks without a clue in the world who have
7:27
stepped in it big time. Yeah, not exactly our choice.
7:36
Really couldn't have asked for a better distraction though.
7:38
I mean that whole freak out, just I don't know.
7:46
We we work with what we got. We came up, but notice you
7:53
didn't hold up on your end. We tried, and then the freak out
8:01
happened. Yeah, freak out kind of happened
8:06
before we could even make our move.
8:11
But you seem so gung ho about it to begin with.
8:15
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you want stud material
8:18
after all. Yeah, no, maybe we aren't.
8:24
So what's this? What's this journal really mean
8:30
to you exactly? Because I'll, I'll be straight
8:34
with you. I nabbed it and I saw some I I
8:43
don't even know what, but it was intense.
8:48
Yeah. You're all wrapped up in some
8:53
real, real shit punching way above your weight class.
9:01
Yeah, unfortunately I saw Rocky way too young and it inspired
9:07
me. Yeah, jokes.
9:09
That's good. Yeah, well, you know gals humor
9:18
about sometimes the only thing I got left.
9:21
Hey, it'll get you far. I mean, look at me.
9:26
I've looked like something that got smeared and dried out on the
9:30
freeway for some decades now, but I still haven't lost my
9:36
smile. Got to get, got to hand you
9:40
that. But there's only so much I can
9:42
grin and bear, you know? And one of the things I
9:46
absolutely hate, you know, just really grinds my gears are
9:55
people who enter into a business arrangement and just don't
9:59
deliver on their end. I know, it's the worst, isn't
10:04
it? Isn't it?
10:07
Mm hmm. So what are we going to do here?
10:14
It sounds like you have an idea, so why don't you just say it?
10:18
Yeah, we've we've had a bit of a night and I don't know if my
10:23
friend and I are in the mood to beat around the Bush anymore.
10:27
Oy vey am I getting that predictable?
10:31
No, I've just, I've been in a lot of movies.
10:34
I know how this plays out. Blood Hunt?
10:38
Yep. Mm hmm.
10:44
Against massage the California whirlwind himself, my dear sweet
10:54
bouncing baby vampires is an opportunity that comes along
10:59
once in a non lifetime. If you say so.
11:06
You're tracking him, ain't you? In a very roundabout way.
11:12
Yeah, that's a. That's a cute way to phrase
11:14
that. That's what this whole rigmarole
11:17
was about. If you know tracking him
11:22
involves putting up a giant fucking beacon to the sky and
11:25
hope to lure him in, yes. But you are trying to lure him
11:31
in. Against our better judgement,
11:35
yes. We're only doing it because we
11:40
don't really have a fucking choice.
11:43
Yeah. All right.
11:47
So, new deal, real simple. I'll give you this all important
11:53
journal if only if you provide me with his current whereabouts
12:03
or anyone else does. As in, like his whereabouts
12:09
right this very second, or the place that we found him at.
12:14
Nice try in where he's at right now.
12:19
Is there someone who has got the beast on the brain?
12:24
He seems to have been mighty adept at avoiding the
12:29
Constabulary. Although based on what I
12:33
eavesdropped on, shit, I guess dusty old prick like Anselm's
12:41
got to get it up to something. I'm not one to judge.
12:48
Yeah, well, unfortunately we don't know where he is at this
12:51
second. That's why we're doing the
12:52
whole, you know, ritual thing. Like the beacons of fucking
12:57
Gondor. Exactly.
13:00
Gondor calls for aid. We can tell you where we found
13:05
him the other night in exchange for the journal.
13:10
No, no, no, no. See, that's kind of slow.
13:12
Because clearly, clearly you did find him.
13:15
He's still everyone's problem. That means you've failed big
13:20
time now. Now the dinner.
13:26
Now the dinner bells well, truly won.
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Now his exact whereabouts is priceless and you all are in
13:39
such a prime position to find out, and I imagine the journal
13:48
will help you do the deed, so to speak, once you do.
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Now what you crazy kids get up to?
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That's between you and whatever passes for God these days.
14:03
But I just want to know where he's at before the fun truly
14:09
gets started. Look, my guy, as I said before,
14:17
we don't know where he is at this second, but say we come to
14:23
some deal where he will come to us when we do this ritual.
14:34
Give you a tip when that happens.
14:42
I like you, you're definitely the sort of person who is always
14:49
trying to find a loophole and I appreciate that, but you know it
14:53
will be once. Shame on me, fool me twice.
14:59
He looks back towards one of the guys behind him and you see they
15:04
take out an old battered looking moleskin notebook and on the
15:13
other hand they have a lighter. Going to look at Aster for a
15:23
second and my face says I have a bad idea.
15:33
Aster sort of being able to read said bad idea face kind of cogs
15:43
an eyebrow in the what are you thinking?
15:50
The idea of you know, they can't burn the journal if they don't
15:56
have it of. Course, there's always the risk
16:00
that it does get burnt and then you lose 1 of the things that
16:04
you desperately need not just to solve the massage problem, but
16:07
also get yourself and Taylor the hell out of Dodge in orderly
16:12
fashion. The question is really how done
16:23
are you with tonight? I'm really done and I'm really
16:29
hungry. So done.
16:33
So done. So I think it's less a question
16:38
of if you're going to do it, more question of when.
16:46
Look at Astor with the I have a bad ideal look.
16:50
I turn back to Toad and say I'm sure you getting in the way of
17:01
the sheriff will go great. He's kind of on the warpath
17:08
right now. Oh.
17:11
The sheriff? Scary.
17:18
You really think anyone in this city is afraid of Masaf's sloppy
17:24
forts? Well, who knows?
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What do I know? I've been doing this for a week
17:35
and a half. I hadn't met him until last
17:38
night. An improved opportunity to
17:41
listen to your elders, No. Yeah, unfortunately I skipped
17:47
that day and that's when I want to activate fleetness.
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Give me the Rouse check #5 Hello, the dice are not in fact,
17:58
but nice to you. Our fleetness still goes
18:01
through, so in that split second, as you're able to act
18:07
before anyone else does thanks to your rapid reflexes, what do
18:12
you do? I rush at this person who's
18:15
holding the journal and I want to snatch it from their hands as
18:19
I and somersault over them, possibly on top on top of like
18:27
one of the trucks. Give me dexterity plus
18:34
athletics. And bucket.
18:39
We're going to spend one more willpower and there's only one
18:42
dice I can reroll, but if I can turn that into only four
18:46
successes. 4 successes. OK, you shoot forward faster
18:59
than Toad can react. Literally leaving whatever
19:03
smarmy remark he had in the chamber in the dust behind you
19:08
with Astor as you suddenly realize, oh, this was the bad
19:14
idea. You effortlessly reach out,
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almost in as if the rest of the world is in slow motion.
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Grab journal away from this guy. Put one knee into his solar
19:35
plexus and as he pulls instinctively down to his knees,
19:44
use that to put your own foot up on that leg.
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Jump off, reach up, grab the edge.
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One of these large freight containers.
20:00
And pull yourself up one handed a feet you probably wouldn't
20:06
have ever managed in your mortal life without the help of wires
20:10
or potentially tearing some muscles.
20:17
And you're on top of it all, the notebook in hand.
20:20
But that's when something happens.
20:24
Just as the adrenaline clears, really, so you touch the
20:30
notebook. Suddenly, from everyone else's
20:35
perspectives, You, standing there, triumph at 1 moment, and
20:38
then your eyes rollback into your head and you just go, not
20:43
quite limp, but almost dazed for a second.
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Aster, several things are going to happen at once.
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The first one is that you hear a snarl from Toad as soon as he
21:01
leaps, clearing a good five feet directly upwards, straight
21:12
towards Raleigh. The truckers are a bit slower to
21:18
react, but you see them rushing in to fill the space that the
21:22
two of them just vacated. What are you doing?
21:27
Is there a way for me to go underneath one of the trucks and
21:29
like scoot out from underneath? Absolutely.
21:33
Doing that. Give me I think this will also
21:38
be Dex plus athletics. 3 successes. 3 successes You
21:44
instantly cram your frame beneath one of these flatbeds,
21:51
soldier crawling your way across the asphalt even as you hear
21:56
Scouts curses Raleigh. Yeah.
22:05
You're somewhere else. You're someone else.
22:16
The hands that are scribbling in the margins of the notebook that
22:22
you now carry are not your hands.
22:30
Rough, calloused, scarred, yet holding this pen with surprising
22:36
dexterity. Inside of this notebook is a
22:40
dense tangle of words and phrases and symbols that you,
22:50
Raleigh Asher, don't understand. But the person whose eyes you're
22:57
currently staring out of seems to make perfect sense.
23:02
Some kind of personal code or cipher?
23:07
Some of those symbols look a little similar to that strange
23:12
cuneiform you saw in the Church of Cain.
23:18
You're interrupted by a stirring.
23:23
Your perspective shifts. Whoever you're riding in the
23:27
skin of turns around. You could feel this person's
23:33
apprehension, and not quite guilt, almost, but sadness, like
23:45
they'd rather be doing something else.
23:47
You can see you're in AI think it's a bedroom, you don't you
23:53
wear exactly. It's lavishly decorated wherever
23:58
it is. Lots of strange baubles, pieces
24:04
of medical work, of metal work, rather various different shaped
24:10
lamps providing illumination like an sculpture.
24:18
Artist's OCD collection and a bed and there's someone's
24:28
languid form stirring out of it and you get the sense that this
24:37
person solve this exact moment rather be sharing that bed.
24:42
But there's too much to be done. There's too much work to be
24:47
done. Whatever this is, whatever your
24:52
so obsessed with in the pages of this book, it's it's more
24:57
important than this. It's more important than and you
25:03
see Anselm sit up in the bed. Look at you.
25:14
There's an entire world that's communicated in that gaze, but
25:21
he doesn't say anything. He just says.
25:30
Hey. And you hear yourself rumble.
25:37
Hey. Your skull hits the asphalt and
25:45
your GERD back to reality as Toad has tackled you off of the
25:52
rig, over the side and onto the ground opposite of it.
25:59
Take only a point of superficial damage, but the impact is enough
26:05
to send the journal skittering out of your grasp.
26:13
Mother. You still don't seem to get it.
26:19
His grip is like iron. I'm.
26:22
Just going to head butt him. Straight.
26:24
Let's roll. Another 4 successes.
26:30
Get him right in the bridge of the nose, right where you know
26:33
it hurts the most. It you feel a crunch of
26:37
cartilage. You don't think it's enough to
26:40
necessarily injure him in any real way, but it's enough to get
26:43
him to rear back a little, enough to break the grip.
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What do you do? I am going to.
26:55
I necessarily don't want to reverse, I just want to get him
26:59
off me and rush for the journal. You both died for it.
27:04
Mm hmm. And just like I'm really tired
27:08
of men telling me I can't do something well.
27:11
It's going to roll Dex plus athletics.
27:12
Let's see who gets there first. We're we're rolling failures. 4
27:19
successes. Unfortunately, you're fast, but
27:24
he possesses some kind of ability to leap in.
27:29
Well, not an entirely unlike his amphibian namesake, allowing him
27:35
to cross distances almost as quickly as you, and he snatches
27:39
it up and rolls away with it as your fingers were centimetres
27:45
away from it. I see him still.
27:49
Oh, you can see him still. He's still fully within your
27:51
eyeline, but he's currently like maybe a few feet away from you,
27:55
kind of having skidded on his back, journal clutched tight to
27:59
his chest. And fuck it, you know I'll
28:04
continue letting my momentum carry me and just bringing my
28:07
fist down on his face as hard as I can.
28:13
Strength plus parole. 2 successes.
28:18
Rain down blows, no technique, you're just bully trying to beat
28:24
his scaly ass into the dirt. Oh shit, fuck, get off me.
28:31
You has been. He plants a foot directly in
28:36
your chest during the struggle. You've got some good hits in,
28:39
but he's a lot stronger than you are, a lot stronger than anyone
28:43
whose size is any right to be. And you feel it connect and it
28:48
pushes you back, sends you right on your ass.
28:53
You take after having again only one point of superficial damage.
29:00
Yeah. Astor crawling under.
29:07
You can kind of see the altercation between the two from
29:11
your limited viewpoint. You see as you get to the other
29:15
side, Raleigh goes flying backwards.
29:20
You see Toad holding the journal, but you don't think he
29:25
sees you yet. Astor is is not much of AA
29:33
fighter, so in preparations to go to the church, she in fact
29:40
put 2 little syringes strapped around her ankle just in case.
29:46
You don't say Oh. I do say so.
29:51
She's going to drive, going to take a moment and like, plunge
29:56
one into her thigh. And.
30:00
Pull out a lighter. Get me the Rouse trick to
30:04
activate the alchemy First off. Oh, Oh, my beast is with me.
30:11
It appears to be you take those syringes and it occurs to you
30:16
you've never actually done this in a situation that hasn't been
30:18
extremely high stress, but well, in for a penny.
30:25
Shab it into your thigh, mummy. Depress the plunder.
30:29
Every single vein on your body, there's a split second pulses,
30:37
something that's weird, something like it's not like
30:41
before in the switchyard. It's a different feeling.
30:47
It's heat. It's an angry burning that sears
30:54
its way through your arteries. Not to the point of pain yet,
30:59
but just this feeling of something angry and volatile
31:04
that desperately wants to be released, but desperately wants
31:08
to be ignited. She will fight through these
31:17
bizarre feelings and in fact almost relishes in it given the
31:24
immense anger that she is carrying within her at this
31:27
moment. Calmly and casually walk over to
31:32
Toad while ripping her wrist open with her teeth and just
31:38
starts bleeding. Like free bleeding and tries to
31:45
fling it on him and then she's just going to light it.
31:50
Either decks or stamina plus athletics I'd say.
31:55
Been using that pool a lot, but it is technically the pool for
31:59
thrown weapons and it is technically a thrown weapon in a
32:03
sense. Or successes.
32:09
Or successes. So just as he rears back onto
32:15
his feet after kicking Raleigh off of him, turns around and
32:22
gets suddenly splattered all of his face and front, but just a
32:26
streak of your blood that you just sort of flick out at him.
32:31
And for a moment he's a little shocked, surprised, not really
32:36
sure how to respond to that. Then you toss the lighter at his
32:40
feet. Raleigh, maybe you're just
32:45
hypersensitive to the moment, but Aster's blood smells a lot
32:52
like gasoline. The interesting fact about
32:59
gasoline it's not actually the liquid that's flammable, it's
33:04
the fumes. So she doesn't necessarily need
33:07
to hit Toad with the lighter to get the effect she's looking
33:13
for. Has suddenly all the areas where
33:20
he was splashed with the blood go up like a Roman candle keeps
33:25
up a hideous beastial shriek and even you Aster are caught a
33:30
little off guard just how suddenly he catches you're over
33:36
Hydreia telling you that this one packed a kick but well,
33:40
this. 1 packs a kick. Raleigh I am going to need a
33:49
willpower check though. 1. You've had too many close calls
33:56
tonight with, well, open flame and you are bolting.
34:02
Unfortunate. Hester, you see Toad similarly
34:08
flailing about. Oh shit, the journal.
34:12
He still has it. You could see his boys coming
34:16
around the bend and Raleigh is taking off.
34:20
Lots happening. What are you doing?
34:23
Yeah, I'm going to try to get the journal.
34:24
I guess I don't know how to do that.
34:28
Just run and grab. I guess that's.
34:31
Yeah, you know, just have to run grab and there's a run.
34:35
There's a non zero chance that you may get burnt in the
34:39
process. Wouldn't be the first time
34:41
today. Give me if I'm going to say dex
34:44
plus larceny. 3 successes. Toad's in no position to stop
34:51
you. He's desperately trying to put
34:53
the fire out, but all that, all that beating at his, at his face
34:57
and chest is all really doing, is spreading the fire to his
35:00
other hand. Because he's still got enough
35:05
sense to hold the journal away from him.
35:09
You can snatch it out of his hand and just bolt yourself in
35:15
any direction other than him. You see the other truckers catch
35:18
up on him. They quickly try to help put him
35:22
out, try to douse the blaze, preventing them from coming
35:28
after either of you. Do I see which direction Riley
35:36
ran in? You do, but the problem is Riley
35:40
is moving very, very fast. Much faster than you all.
35:46
Right. Well Astor will just run after
35:51
Raleigh and just fucking haul ass and go.
35:55
All right, so as the two of you are hauling ass, what'd they
35:59
say? Ash and Jeremy finally arrive at
36:03
the airport. Or what passes for it.
36:08
Excellent. Ash will pull up, get out of the
36:12
car and well we will head towards is there like towards
36:20
one of the towards the the hangar?
36:23
Yeah, you remember it from the last time.
36:28
Knock at the little side door that you remember Sebastian
36:32
knocking at couple nights ago. Opens a crack and it opens all
36:42
the way and you see a guy in mechanics coveralls glowering
36:48
down at the two of you. Hi there, Ash Crawford here to
36:52
speak with the Sheriff. Yeah, Regent told me you might
36:58
be stopping around. Come on in.
37:01
Don't touch anything. You walk into this brightly lit
37:06
hanger that contains no aircraft, rather multiple tables
37:14
containing all kinds of strange archaeological paraphernalia and
37:19
of course, a massive, complicated, most hermetic
37:26
looking glyph sketched out in the middle of the minoleum floor
37:32
in what is definitely not red paint.
37:36
It's around this circle. You can see the Sheriff and the
37:43
Regent and Nick all gathered around.
37:50
They seem to be conversing when all three of their heads snap up
37:54
to see the newcomers. Ash makes a pleasant smile.
38:02
We were told you wish to speak with us.
38:06
You're not sure if the sheriff has any expressions other than a
38:13
somewhat dangerous grimace, but it gets a bit more dangerous
38:21
looking by at least a few molars.
38:24
Rafe, meanwhile, very calmly walks around the circle to the
38:31
two of you. Indeed, I had a feeling you
38:35
would make your way here at some point, although I admit I didn't
38:38
expect you so soon after the incident.
38:46
We're presently working on reacquiring the item, but we
38:54
wanted to bend the sense of expediency also clear this up
39:01
and well, learn a little bit more about what this actually
39:06
is. That's a complicated question
39:13
with a complicated answer. I understand as much as I as
39:19
much as things are simple. As the ears tick along, it stops
39:24
being simple. Jeremy, all this stuff laid out
39:33
normally. Normally when you enter into a
39:37
new space, when meet new people, that little tune in the back of
39:45
your head, that sour note stirs up the band to some new
39:49
configuration. There's no sound here.
39:54
And at first it's kind of comforting, but then you
39:57
realize, no, there is sound, but.
40:03
It's not music, it's more like when you're close to a sinkhole.
40:09
That sucking noise when you're close to something that's
40:16
drawing all the air in to somewhere dark and out of sight
40:25
and it's setting your teeth on edge.
40:31
Yeah, he's staring. Directly at it.
40:34
And edging back. Is there a reason for this
40:40
interruption? Growls Langford as he
40:44
approaches, Rafe very calmly pivots and says not at all.
40:52
In fact, it seems you both have arrived with quite a similar set
40:57
of questions. How to elucidate?
41:01
Well, as I was explaining to the sheriff here, and as I explained
41:05
to you and your compatriots when we first met, the gathering of
41:11
these artifacts of significance is integral to this particular
41:18
ritual, as it is a working of sympathetic magic.
41:26
I suppose you could say by extracting elements of a thing's
41:32
nature, you gain mastery over that nature.
41:38
As above, so below. That is, of course, a very, very
41:46
simplified version, but I'm afraid that there are some
41:52
things, as you gentlemen are all aware, that Planned Shamir
41:56
simply cannot reveal to those outside of the blood.
42:03
So by all right, that at least makes sense.
42:09
You'll have to excuse me, I've up until a few days ago, why
42:12
would I hadn't considered the possibility of actual practical
42:16
magic? Yes, I'm I understand it's an
42:22
adjustment period, and you've had to adjust quite a lot.
42:25
But yes, sorcery in a sense is very real, though not nearly
42:35
what you might have come to expect from pop culture.
42:39
Does it have to be an object? Says Langford.
42:46
Rafe looks at him curiously. No matter the replies, the crux
42:52
of this ritual is the connectivity between the items
42:57
gathered and the individual they once belonged to.
43:03
But what if it were to say someone who once belonged to
43:06
him? Someone for whom the blood is
43:10
familiar, You see? He looks over at Nick, who has
43:17
this very, very dour expression. She starts to walk away.
43:26
What exactly do you have in mind, Sheriff?
43:31
Two birds, one stone. I think referring to Miss White
43:39
Bird. If only you see Nick returns.
43:52
He walked out through the door you guys just came in through.
43:56
A moment later he shoves someone forward.
44:02
Tall broad shouldered guy in dirty cargo pants and a tank
44:11
top. That seemed better days.
44:13
He's got a bag over his head and his wrists are tied behind him.
44:20
Langford puts one claw on this guy's shoulder as he gets just
44:27
barely outside the perimeter of the circle and then forces him
44:30
down to his knees and rips off the bag.
44:33
And you see Mike Phillips. Ash is going to restrain a
44:41
flinch upon seeing him. Looks that little bit curiously,
44:45
as Mike, you can see he looks like an animal with its leg
44:50
caught in a bear trap. He's looking around wildly.
44:56
Is that the sheriff's for a retainer?
45:01
I'm given to understand that he's going into withdrawal.
45:06
He hasn't tasted the blood in some time, but it's still fresh
45:09
enough to be of use. And you're suggesting will it or
45:17
will it not work? Rafe thing?
45:21
Rafe genuinely seems to ponder it for a moment, like his eyes
45:27
land on the 2 of you and he just says please, please come on, I
45:35
helped you, I told you about the cult, please.
45:39
Ash will look to Langford and say he was useful in the
45:45
investigation to find one of the items.
45:48
He's a burnt out veteran, vitae withdrawals already making him a
45:54
liability and there are too many loose ends being left behind in
46:01
this incident as is. Ash is going to look over at
46:04
Jeremy and look at his eyes as if trying to mentally like Gage.
46:13
How far do you want to go with those?
46:16
He looks distinctly uncomfortable.
46:20
Ash will step forward and say I understand that he that he's a
46:29
potential liability, but if we could find we are in the process
46:38
and we have narrowed down 5 items that we believe will
46:45
suffice, 3 and the journal, the two we have already and two more
46:52
that we're in the process of hunting down.
46:56
I would ask that perhaps the sheriff consider that Mister
47:02
Phillips beacons be a last resort and they'll look over to
47:09
rave and say, especially considering the possible
47:12
volatility of it not being an item.
47:19
We don't want to get this wrong and lose our shot.
47:25
Ashes hoping, hoping that they could at least judge on a like
47:33
they can try to toss on a scientific uncertainty on this
47:41
to try to save Phil's any way they can.
47:45
Give me Manipulation plus either Persuasion or possibly a Colt.
47:56
And the dice roller says fuck you and that is 3 successes on 9
48:05
dice with a re roll. Didn't see Nick the entire time
48:09
he's got his arms folded and is trying real hard not to look at
48:14
this clearly terrified man. I think for just pauses for a
48:21
second and then the same hand that was previously on his
48:26
shoulder, he just grabs Mike by the throat and just squeezes.
48:32
Not hard enough to break anything, but hard enough that
48:35
one handed you start to see his face go red and purple.
48:41
He starts to cough and splutter and he's staring you directly in
48:47
the eye the entire time. I'm given to understand.
48:52
Do you think you have a certain amount of leniency?
48:55
Blue blood because of who your living relatives are?
48:58
Because of who your sire is. But you're in my jurisdiction
49:03
now. You have been helpful.
49:08
Don't push it. See Mike's face go purple and
49:16
then he passes out and Sheriff just drops him like a sack of
49:23
garbage. What other items?
49:30
A good luck charm and a reaper's blade.
49:37
That gets a reaction. I was told there might be a
49:45
story there some more, some information that you might be
49:51
able to provide if you'd be so generous.
49:57
And told you this handsome. Indeed.
50:07
Of course, his clan was always better at chronicling and they
50:12
were actually contributing. You know, probably too young to
50:17
remember, but the 80s in this city were a turning point,
50:23
sliding up the face of social relevancy, and the vultures
50:27
found their way in the Sabbat sect of death cultists,
50:35
Diabloists, people that make me look humane by comparison.
50:45
And the Reaper was a great warlord among their kind
50:55
decades. He harried the Bringes St.
50:58
Arroyo, and not even the great Massaf conceivably put an end to
51:04
him. I put an end to him.
51:09
I took his trophy and I drained him to dust.
51:19
The way Anselm described it was as if this Reaper was something
51:27
more, but I also wonder how much of that was artistic license.
51:36
And some fled. He hid behind his outrage and
51:45
sense of nobly obliged rather than contribute to the defence.
51:49
And all because his precious little territories weren't
51:54
attracting the same crowds they were in the city's heyday.
51:58
The only reason he's tolerated is because the strength of his
52:04
blood, the history he shares with Her Majesty.
52:07
If it were up to me, he would have been banished at best.
52:17
At worst, the night's still young.
52:23
Maybe he'll try doing something stupid again.
52:27
If you were the one who killed the Reaper, why would his blade
52:36
be connected to Masaf? Because my predecessor, perhaps
52:42
the closest thing that beast had to a nemesis, armchair generals
52:51
like Anselm, made such a yarn about the many clashes they had.
53:03
As though any of that was supposed to excuse the fact that
53:07
our city was hemorrhaging money and people, all being preyed
53:11
upon by the shovelheads they sent into our city, marauding
53:18
through our streets. But now let's focus more on the
53:25
great Massaf, the noble warrior, the tragic hero.
53:32
Surely he'll keep us safe with his flailing.
53:39
Makers of history barely appreciate the ground troops
53:44
People on the mock you said you haven't or that you took it.
53:51
It is mine by every right. I keep it as a remembrance both
53:59
of my first successful hunt and of my humble ascent.
54:06
Ash shrugs. Although I think that would be a
54:12
rather big ask to make you pass up on it.
54:15
But Ash, Ash looks at Phillips. You seem to have made-up your
54:22
mind already that we have a third in custody, so 1/3 ritual
54:30
item. So I guess we just need one more
54:38
and Ash is saying this all with the the intent that they are
54:41
going to get two more, they're going to get all 5 before coming
54:45
back so that they don't have to or they're going to try to get
54:50
as many as they can so they don't have to kill Mike.
54:52
But. There's something very feral
54:56
about him too, but it's different than the white.
55:02
It's like a thing out of a horror movie.
55:05
This eloquent, mutilated creature, like something
55:11
straight out of Hellraiser, but the delight and schadenfreude
55:18
that lit up in Langford's eyes. Either of you can give me wits
55:26
plus insight. 3 successes from Jeremy or successes?
55:35
Oh, this chip on your this guy's shoulder is bigger than either
55:39
of you imagined. For Langford Masaf going feral
55:48
is like Christmas and his birthday wrapped up into one.
55:52
You don't know what exactly happened to make this guy
55:55
despise the previous occupier of his post so much, but clearly
56:01
his blood hunt. It's exactly the opportunity he
56:04
needs to show just how better he is, and you're pretty sure he
56:10
would do almost anything to get that point across.
56:17
Ash is going to. Step forward closer and they're
56:21
going to say, of course, though, not to not to be too poetic, but
56:29
there is a certain narrative irony in using the blade that
56:39
you like, you stole the best kill this this city's seen in
56:44
the 20th century out from him. And then he used that blade to
56:52
unmake him. That's like, that's the shit
56:56
that he used to film here in Hollywood's shit trying to and
57:02
well, shrug and say, I mean, hey, I mean just feels poetic,
57:07
feels narrative, you know, And once you get like one last dig
57:14
in and you can sure Ansel Will has written the story so far,
57:20
but you're the sheriff now. You get to tell that story now.
57:26
What pool do you would think best for what you're trying to
57:30
do here? I think it would be manipulation
57:36
plus persuasion because while Ashe is trying to be like, is
57:44
trying to provoke a reaction, they are not like they're not
57:50
trying to deep Lankford, they're trying, they're trying to sort
57:54
of flip this around on them. You know a thing or two about
57:58
massaging people's egos. It's not your usual tactic, but
58:03
it is a tactic that works. Didn't want to go into politics
58:07
Once Upon a time. Yeah.
58:09
I mean, I would, I, I would also consider that politics that,
58:15
that this could also be a manipulation plus politics role,
58:18
I think. Politics is more suitable.
58:22
All right, 4 successes. Yeah, that.
58:27
Look, for all his grandstanding, you know what this guy is about?
58:33
This is a guy who likes flexing his authority.
58:38
What precisely are you proposing?
58:43
I mean, anything goes if a item can't be acquired or just need a
58:55
5th item and don't want to maybe try test the waters of the
59:02
volatility of a blood that's been diluted through.
59:08
Well, a guy who's seen Purple Haze more times than either of
59:13
us wants to count. The blade gets tossed in.
59:18
You have a fantastic little story about how you say that you
59:25
took as a prize when you saved this city, took down the person
59:30
who should. Have done the job in the 1st.
59:32
Place. Mm hmm fine, I will do this.
59:40
To show that unlike some, I do not need to rest upon my
59:44
laurels. However, this is still
59:49
contingent on you lot acquiring the rest.
59:55
Of the. Items and ringing.
59:59
A location out of that, sorry. Excuse for an elder?
1:00:04
We'll get it. See what you do.
1:00:09
We've delivered so far, we don't.
1:00:11
Plan on stopping now. Let me make something.
1:00:15
Very clear. Your assistance in this matter,
1:00:20
despite the unorthodox means you were recruited into, it has been
1:00:28
noted. But when Masab falls, it will be
1:00:34
at my hand. Do we make do I make myself
1:00:39
absolutely clear? Of course.
1:00:45
It's your honor, after all, and frankly, sounds sounds like it'd
1:00:51
be fun to watch. Or at least juicy.
1:00:56
Pardon me, but. What about Rafe?
1:00:58
Just points. Down to the unconscious Mr.
1:01:02
Phillips. I'll take him.
1:01:07
Nick speaks for the. First time since he got here I
1:01:12
know a thing or two about. Guys like Phillips.
1:01:15
Let me take him in, Langford. Just shrugs.
1:01:21
Dismissively on your head. Be it hound.
1:01:29
Unless there's anything. Else, I do believe the two of
1:01:32
you. Have quite the busy night ahead
1:01:34
of you, of course. Thank you all three.
1:01:39
Of you for your time as they. Leave.
1:01:45
And once once the door once they have exited the hangar and the
1:01:49
door is shut, Ash is going to just under their breath.
1:01:56
Fuck that was really stupid if. You reach.
1:02:03
Just reach yourself. It gives them.
1:02:04
A a clap on the shoulder and and nods to the cart.
1:02:08
You got this? Yeah.
1:02:12
I mean like, sure. Well, I I can unclench.
1:02:21
My asshole now and. Yeah, let's.
1:02:24
Let's go, let's go. Get those last two things and.
1:02:29
Ash is going to pop into the driver's seat and once they're
1:02:35
inside of the doors are locked, is going to like pump their
1:02:39
fists. And it's like that went so much
1:02:42
better than we thought that I thought it was going to go.
1:02:44
And I am so glad I have all my lips.
1:02:47
Be glad I talked to the sheriff. Back at the.
1:02:50
Church, I think all things considered, this is for the best
1:02:55
and he's going to reach forward to the radio and he's going to
1:02:58
start playing relaxed by Freddie Goes to Hollywood.
1:03:05
Seems appropriate. All right.
1:03:13
Really. Yeah.
1:03:17
You don't know where you are. It's.
1:03:21
It's, it's dark and you're in a city that you fucking hate and
1:03:25
you just want to leave and you just want to go and you're
1:03:28
hungry and you're tired and you're scared shitless.
1:03:32
And that the, the emotional whiplash of just was that was
1:03:37
that what Crow was talking about?
1:03:39
Is that what she saw? I'd like so many thoughts,
1:03:43
feelings, all of it in your head.
1:03:47
You're back within your body. You're not running away anymore,
1:03:52
but you are a whole new feeling of just.
1:04:00
Being overwhelmed. He's crashing down on you in the
1:04:04
absence of that fear. I'm so tired you.
1:04:12
Say I don't know where I am looking around and you're
1:04:18
pretty. Sure, you're still in the truck
1:04:19
stuff, but these lots, it's like a maze.
1:04:22
It's a big. Facility.
1:04:24
There's lots of these rigs parked out here.
1:04:26
You, you don't know where your damn car is.
1:04:33
Yeah, I could have. I.
1:04:37
Still have the keys on me? I'm going to.
1:04:42
Hit the lock button in hopes that I can.
1:04:44
Hear the beep. Aster.
1:04:48
You've been running after Raleigh like a.
1:04:51
Mad woman keep periodic checking behind you if toad or any of
1:04:58
his. Studs are.
1:05:00
Chasing after you. And you don't think so.
1:05:04
You see Raleigh just wandering around suddenly just holding out
1:05:10
her keys. Raleigh just like.
1:05:14
Waves with the. The Journal in one arm like
1:05:17
Raleigh rear good we. Got it, got it.
1:05:24
I'm sorry, I should have warned you.
1:05:27
It's OK, we. It.
1:05:31
It worked out in the end. Right it it worked out that was
1:05:38
a it. Was a real stupid decision.
1:05:41
But I'm glad it worked out. It's pretty dumb, but it could
1:05:46
have been. Worse.
1:05:48
Yeah, I don't know. It's just I'm getting.
1:05:55
Real tired of all these. Style of this bullshit.
1:06:03
Yeah, real hungry. Oh man, I am so hungry.
1:06:07
You. Have no fucking clue.
1:06:10
Oh God, if I was still human, I could probably eat my way
1:06:12
through the the the entire In-n-out menu.
1:06:16
Oh, I just. Wanted an emotional support
1:06:19
milkshake so bad. Oh God yes, strawberry
1:06:22
milkshakes and so. Would have sounded so fucking
1:06:25
good a week ago and I'm just. Kind of walking and hitting the
1:06:31
button occasionally. And trying to achieve if like I
1:06:35
can hear my cargo blue loop it's it's so.
1:06:40
Absurd. You were just a moment ago in a
1:06:42
life or death battle with a guy who looks like he's part naked
1:06:45
mole rat, and now you're wandering around a truck stop at
1:06:50
night because you can't find your car.
1:06:53
You're sure there's a lesson in this?
1:06:55
Somewhere but. You're not sure what it is, but
1:07:00
eventually you do find it. It's, it's been like an hour,
1:07:05
right? We should go figure.
1:07:08
Out, yeah, and some we should just figure all of.
1:07:13
That we should. Just head over.
1:07:15
To the address and she'll like, oh, it'll like fumble around in
1:07:20
her pockets for. The address.
1:07:24
Yes, start up the car. Start to drive.
1:07:30
Really. Really.
1:07:31
Hungry, but you know we're going to.
1:07:33
Deal with that later as they're driving.
1:07:38
As your world text ash and be like with just a thumbs.
1:07:45
Up and I hope that. They understand what that means.
1:07:51
Ash is going to. Toss their phone to to to
1:07:58
Jeremy. And say can.
1:07:59
You ask if they're all right. I don't know, just vibes.
1:08:06
Oh shit, I'll shoot them a text. Well, actually, I'll shoot.
1:08:11
A aster. Attacks asking hey everything
1:08:13
good been a bit yeah we're we're the text back we're.
1:08:18
Good. Hungry.
1:08:22
But that's not. Here nor there and we'll figure
1:08:25
that. Out later.
1:08:26
At least I'm prepared for the feeling of.
1:08:29
Withdrawals again God. You all have an address to
1:08:38
converge on. Takes you pretty far out outside
1:08:46
the city limits. Point of fact, just.
1:08:50
Outside the city limits, rather. See dude driving along old
1:08:57
battered side, says Yorkshire County Municipal Junkyard old.
1:09:08
Rickety chain link fence. Surrounding basically just.
1:09:15
Massive. Scrap disposal yard, old cars,
1:09:20
decommissioned Rd. signs the peeling frames of old highway
1:09:27
advertisements, not the sort. Of place you expected.
1:09:32
A guy like Anselm to spend his nights, not TB.
1:09:39
HI, totally expected. This, yeah.
1:09:45
And before we get. Out of the car I.
1:09:47
Will look over. At Aster and say things are
1:09:52
making a lot more sense now. When I touched the journal, I
1:09:57
saw some shit. You know, like, like.
1:10:05
And. Ansom were like involved OK
1:10:14
that. Definitely explains a few
1:10:17
things. Yeah.
1:10:19
Yeah, it does. I don't know what to do with
1:10:22
that information to be honest with you.
1:10:25
It's something and it kind. Of makes sense as to why Ansom
1:10:30
really, really wants to save Masaf and I can I can understand
1:10:40
the desire to do everything you can to save someone you loved.
1:10:45
Just if Taylor was in the same position, I'd I'd do the exact
1:10:50
same thing. OK, Yeah.
1:10:57
Well. Let's let's.
1:10:59
Go in there and meet this person, I guess you all.
1:11:09
Arrive there and isn't it supposed to be like a security?
1:11:13
Guard or something for these? Sort of things you don't see
1:11:16
anybody on duty. Whole place looks about as
1:11:21
derelict as one of these areas can be.
1:11:25
The only lights you can. See come.
1:11:28
From this the interior of this sort of silo shaped shed.
1:11:38
See around it are a bunch of these weird looking abstract
1:11:45
sculptures made from various pieces of metal that appear to
1:11:51
have been spot welded and molded and shaped.
1:11:55
And do they almost look like metallic coral in a way?
1:12:02
Some of them look half finished, like they're still.
1:12:04
Works in product. In progress.
1:12:08
Some of them remind you a lot of some of the installations at the
1:12:13
park. I actually wonder how many
1:12:17
statues. He's done in the park.
1:12:20
Yeah, it certainly. Looks like quite a bit. 4 of
1:12:25
you. Walk up.
1:12:28
The door. You can see light spilling out
1:12:32
from underneath it. I casually knock.
1:12:36
Yep. The sound of a very heavy latch
1:12:41
opening on the other. Side and and some opens up the
1:12:45
door, you can see he's exchanged his old clothes for some much
1:12:50
fresher ones. But that's not what gets you
1:12:52
retention, Rollie. You get a look at the interior
1:12:57
and you realize you've seen this place before.
1:13:03
It's in my vision. This pretty much all but
1:13:07
confirms. It there's no no fridge, no
1:13:16
central heating, it's like a combination between a auto
1:13:25
workshop and artist's retreat and someone's impromptu bivouac.
1:13:36
But it's strangely. Cozy in its own way.
1:13:42
I take it. Your sudden arrival.
1:13:44
Means that things are, for once, going to plan.
1:13:51
As close as they can. I got the book though as you
1:13:56
will like. Unceremoniously.
1:13:59
Flop it on a table and we've reached.
1:14:04
The agreement in. Principle for the Reaper's Blade
1:14:10
Storyteller. How fucked up do I?
1:14:12
Look, I'm pretty much sitting at a full track of superficial
1:14:18
damage. Yeah, you look like.
1:14:22
You look like. You just.
1:14:25
Got back from a shoot schedule. Yeah.
1:14:31
Whereupon someone pushed you down a hill covered in rusty
1:14:36
knives, and they maybe kicked you the ribs A few.
1:14:40
Times for good measure. Certainly feels like they kicked
1:14:42
me in the ribs a few times. I mean, you did kind of go
1:14:45
flying them across the parking. Lot.
1:14:48
Went a couple of rounds on. Strato's wild.
1:14:51
Ride, can't recommend it. Set them on fire.
1:14:57
You can tell. Me all about it.
1:14:59
I cordially welcome you into my hospitality, he says, somewhat
1:15:05
sardonically. But you think the joke might be
1:15:07
a little lost on you. Enter freely and of.
1:15:11
Your own will. Ash.
1:15:16
Snaps their fingers and is like, I know that. 1.
1:15:21
He looks at you just. Flatly like.
1:15:26
Once again. Something else is sailing over
1:15:29
his head. Yeah.
1:15:31
Thank you. Take a seat somewhere.
1:15:35
Yeah, I'm going to flop down in something that appears.
1:15:38
To be a chair so you I hate. I know you just offered us
1:15:45
hospitality and that's like a really big thing.
1:15:49
You wouldn't happen to have anything to like SIP, would you?
1:15:57
Nothing particularly satisfying. But he goes over to underneath
1:16:05
the workbench. He pulls out.
1:16:07
Looks like a cooler fiddles with the padlock.
1:16:11
Opens it up. And on a bed of ice there's a
1:16:15
bunch of look like plasma bags. I hate how.
1:16:22
Appetizing this Look, I'm not going to say no.
1:16:28
These don't. Do anything for me but I.
1:16:33
Used to have. Company.
1:16:38
I nod. Like I understand because I do.
1:16:41
Understand he. Picks one up and looks at it.
1:16:49
They should still be good. Yeah, it's.
1:16:54
Not in a place to complain right now.
1:16:57
It's dead blood, so. My apologies in advance.
1:17:03
You know what? I.
1:17:06
Any other day, I probably care. But right now?
1:17:10
I'm yeah, going to take one. Yeah, just going to Cheers.
1:17:20
Yeah, I can get away with two. I'll take two, but if I can only
1:17:24
get away with one, that's fine. That'll and it's just get away
1:17:29
with two. Yeah, you look like.
1:17:31
You've earned 2. Yeah, just.
1:17:34
You know, look at Aster as I drink and.
1:17:36
Say it's being like, remember juice cleanses not going to miss
1:17:40
those Oh, I super didn't miss that I.
1:17:43
Said she like wipes, you know what?
1:17:47
And just goes for it, yeah. Yeah.
1:17:55
There are chairs and a. Table, although he has to.
1:18:03
Pull something. Strange and spiky that it looks
1:18:07
like he was working on off of said table.
1:18:10
And the chairs are eclectic at best, waging from old wire work
1:18:16
things to very tattered looking lawn chairs.
1:18:21
And there's not enough for all of you.
1:18:24
If he did have guests before, clearly he didn't have this
1:18:28
many. He just stays standing.
1:18:34
So how was? Your your trip was successful
1:18:40
Looking at Ash and Jeremy, Yeah. Ash convinced the sheriff to.
1:18:51
Find one of the items for us. Even better, I'm really
1:18:57
impressed. That you were able to do that.
1:19:00
He. He sees where you put.
1:19:03
The Journal, and he looks like he's going to pick it up, but he
1:19:08
stops, just closes his first. Yeah.
1:19:17
It's a journal's A. Interesting little thing.
1:19:20
I haven't gotten to take too much of a look at it.
1:19:24
I think it's written in some sort of.
1:19:26
Cipher or. Code.
1:19:28
They played a code breaker. In a film.
1:19:31
Doesn't mean I understand any of it.
1:19:35
Never wanted me. Looking in the damn thing?
1:19:40
Yeah, Probably just love poetry. Jeremy like looks over like,
1:19:53
lifts my eyebrow. Like what?
1:19:54
Why are you laughing that hard? It wasn't that funny.
1:19:59
Explain later. So just rolls.
1:20:02
His eyes just like. Oh good, And now we get.
1:20:06
To this part. This part.
1:20:12
The part where. You ask the obvious question.
1:20:16
I mean, I don't need to ask the. Obvious question.
1:20:19
I saw it I. Think it's something that's been
1:20:25
happening with all of the artifacts.
1:20:29
That's. Did you see?
1:20:34
Yeah. I saw it through his.
1:20:37
Eyes, I understand why you're doing this.
1:20:44
I understand your motivations. Because if it was me and person
1:20:53
I cared about, person I loved. Was like that I would do.
1:20:59
Anything I understand and I wish there was something we could do,
1:21:04
which was anything we could do to help you.
1:21:06
He does sit down. Then sort of the edge of the.
1:21:11
Bed at the far end of the room. It wasn't as though it was.
1:21:16
Some great star crossed. Romance we started out as.
1:21:22
Colleagues and. Lived and worked together for
1:21:26
decades, and sometimes we grew. Together and sometimes.
1:21:32
We report to tell. It's so many.
1:21:42
Things made. About so many stories, so.
1:21:44
Many songs. How many plays?
1:21:48
Movies. Made about what love does.
1:21:50
To a person, and it's a real destructive force.
1:21:53
What it wants to be, yeah, I've no idea.
1:21:59
I know that if. Anyone threatened Taylor, I
1:22:04
would not stop until I destroyed them.
1:22:10
That's supposed to be what? Makes us stand apart from the
1:22:15
other great clans we still. Even the eldest.
1:22:21
Of us feel that draw to beauty. It comes in different forms for
1:22:30
different souls, but we're always reaching out for that
1:22:35
great intangible quality that no painter or poets.
1:22:43
Or. Sculptor has ever really managed
1:22:45
to put into words or form that drives us to do fantastic things
1:22:57
and it drives us to create horrors.
1:23:04
Raleigh, Kind of. Tilts her head a little bit.
1:23:07
Like she's thinking because it has to be that just it's only
1:23:14
been 2. Weeks, but it's like.
1:23:16
I haven't felt anything that tense, and you know, my Felix
1:23:20
for Taylor kind of exists before I was a vampire, and I probably
1:23:24
would have destroyed someone if they had tried to hurt him
1:23:27
before then, so who knows? My horror is named.
1:23:33
San Royo, that's. Certainly something was the
1:23:42
first one here, you know. First kindred to ever lay down
1:23:48
roots. Why here?
1:23:53
At the time. Convenience my.
1:23:56
Home was Napoleon had destroyed it first.
1:24:02
I was just one alone kindred. Lost.
1:24:07
Among the masses came to the new world, so many others did,
1:24:12
hoping to get a fresh start. Stryver was the clever.
1:24:17
One he realized the. Value the Borax deposits here
1:24:23
long before anyone else did. I just helped facilitate.
1:24:29
For a time. There was a silversmith before
1:24:33
this, a new thing or two about luxury goods, and who would?
1:24:41
Pay. Even in this frontier bore them
1:24:47
and then others. Came as they.
1:24:50
Do and. As with the kind so.
1:24:56
Do with the Kindred wasn't very long after that I first got
1:25:04
company. That was a long time ago, yeah.
1:25:11
Yeah. I'm really sorry.
1:25:15
I'm really sorry that you have to go through.
1:25:16
This I'm I'm. Sorry, I really wanted to be mad
1:25:23
at you. Too, but I.
1:25:25
Can't, because now I just understand.
1:25:28
Just completely understand why you're.
1:25:30
Doing this. Yeah, same.
1:25:36
I'm not telling you this for. Sympathy.
1:25:40
I didn't think you were. I'm trying to, I suppose, impart
1:25:45
some. Wisdom in my role as a venerable
1:25:49
elder among our kind, I'm trying to explain to you.
1:25:54
That even if you do get through. Tonight's survival.
1:26:00
Is what you have to look forward to.
1:26:03
Not living learning that real fast.
1:26:08
I had a life before this now. I had a wife, children.
1:26:19
I don't remember any of their names anymore.
1:26:24
I. Don't miss them.
1:26:28
Anymore. I just.
1:26:29
Remember that I'm supposed to miss them, yeah?
1:26:35
Well, I think of a lot of us. If we could have that choice to,
1:26:40
you know, not be this, I think I wouldn't.
1:26:47
Have taken it. I I had known.
1:26:51
What was offered? To me when it was offered.
1:26:55
I. I don't think I would have.
1:26:59
Yeah, lots of times. I wish I.
1:27:01
Had never taken that Katia. Movie on a brighter note.
1:27:06
Because Astor. Is one of those people looks at
1:27:11
everyone and it's like, well. You.
1:27:13
Know. Can't change it now, but at
1:27:16
least I got to meet. Y'all.
1:27:17
And that's pretty. Cool feel like.
1:27:21
Asheville snored at. That there is.
1:27:26
One thing that we need. Still beyond whatever white bird
1:27:32
has than that would be. We still need a location.
1:27:40
I look around this place. And.
1:27:45
Say I know the location. That was important to myself.
1:27:53
I can save you the. Search.
1:27:57
Yeah, heat it, using the flood tunnels to trample around
1:28:06
undetected. I had a fucking feeling.
1:28:13
I. Might have really.
1:28:15
Pissed off an Asperatu tonight. We should all be aware of that I
1:28:24
think. If I go with.
1:28:26
The tunnels. Or if we go to the tunnel, if we
1:28:29
go with the tunnels to back to the authorities.
1:28:36
They're going to say be more. Specific Is there a place that
1:28:47
it would have an attachment to? A place that would find refuge?
1:28:53
Maybe near the laundromat? I can tell you this much.
1:28:59
At any given point of the year. There's.
1:29:02
Around 300 to 500 unhoused individuals taking shelter in
1:29:06
those tunnels. Jeez.
1:29:10
A white will concentrate to the largest group of prey.
1:29:16
Because that is old beast. Demands of it.
1:29:19
You all saw that first hand at the warehouse.
1:29:26
Yeah, but you don't need to find the white, you just need to find
1:29:33
where it's likely to go hunting. Do that.
1:29:38
Or we hold another party. Let's not do that.
1:29:43
I wanna push your luck with the. Sheriff, at this stage, yeah.
1:29:50
So, yeah. And.
1:29:51
The flood tunnels around where people gather, you hear.
1:29:57
From outside, the sound of. Engine riving Ash instinctively
1:30:05
tenses. Motorcycle no.
1:30:11
It's not nearly. Loud enough it sounds more like
1:30:14
a. Dirt bike and some just stands
1:30:21
up very carefully, clearly still in a fair amount of pain.
1:30:27
That'll be her. Anything you can.
1:30:33
Probably she can do last minute. She's in a good mood.
1:30:42
Try to be. Differential.
1:30:47
But she's a bad. Mood run, I guess we'll
1:30:52
hopefully. Figure that out really quickly.
1:30:57
You all head to the doorway. Opening up, you see just outside
1:31:05
woman on a dirt bike, her face obscured by the shadow of some
1:31:11
pillar of junk, but you can see her eyes.
1:31:19
Bright, burning red coals remind you, unsettlingly, another
1:31:28
creature that you encountered with those same predatory eyes.