Prelude: Life Begins at Night

Just as Rae is about to thank the young mage for his efforts, the resonant squawk makes her flinch and back several paces away. " What in bloody hell was that?" She sighs and tries to straighten up a bit, "Onward, then?"

Silas looks at the young mage with increased interest as his powers and capabilities have been placed in the forefront. As the bestial squawk interrupts their mission, hesitant to move forward, he looks back at Mehdi and asks, "Did you recognize that? "

As the foursome of vampires and their companions head deeper into the oriental institute, the same strangled snarl can be heard again echoing through the tunnels from somewhere nearby. Up ahead it looks like the chamber that Mehdi recently visited is coming into view.

"I assume that came from whatever horrible thing they pulled out of the aether." He replies bluntly. "Maybe it's an eldritch chicken."

In the middle of the chamber a puddle of some kind of thick fluid lines the floor. A slimy trail leads away from it and into the stacks.

Liam leans down, smelling the fluid and giving it a gentle poke. "Silas, have you seen this?"

Mehdi walks up to the snail trail as well. "Probably whatever they summoned. Maybe they went with it?" the changeling scans the area for any sign of the occultists and quickly spots a bag they must have left behind. "There's something." he wlalks over and grabs it, immediately pulling it open to peruse its contents. Unfortunately all it contains are gnashing teeth and snapping jaws. It clenches around Mehdi's hand which flails in response. He manages to thrash hard enough to send the thing skidding across the floor, but the deceptive creature is immediately upon him, flopping and dragging itself along with it's strap. "Help!" Mehdi hisses sharply as he tries in vain to kick the thing away.

Silas walks over the Liam as he asks him the question. He squats down to take a look at the ichor on the ground. He grabs a handkerchief from his suit pocket and picks up a bit of the fluid squeezing between his fingers checking its viscosity, "Hmm, I would have to study this further to get any ideas as to what it could be." . As Mehdi follows the trail to a bag Silas folds the cloth in a manner that keeps the fluid inside and takes out his wallet and stuffs the handkerchief into it to study it later when he has access to lab equipment. Mehdi screams out as the sound of thrashing and gnarling fills his ears. He springs up ready to fight whatever is causing the turmoil.

Liam too, springs up, a protective snarl on his lips and his fangs bared, claws raised in an uncharacteristic display of violence at the threat to his friend. 

Having already been tense since bowing under the predatory dominance of the elder vampires earlier in the evening, Rae's body acts without her input. In the blink of an eye, she is across the room, attempting to help her friend and wrangle the carnivorous bag. But it only turns its attention to her, clamping down on her leg. Kicking it away, she looks to the others. "Seems like it was created using magic, likely to protect whatever is inside."

As further attempts to dispatch the bag fail and it’s animated maw continues to snap at Mehdi, the bestial instinct wired into the changeling takes over. His hiss becomes a snarl and his flailing limbs erupt in leaves and petals. Beneath the cascade of foliage his flesh swells and turns dark purple, engulfing his form like a bulbous fruit. At last the skin splits, spraying blood and sweet nectar all over the floor. But instead of a plum’s stoney pit, there lies a heaving black panther at the center. Immediately upon transforming Mehdi snaps back at the bag with his own powerful jaws. His fangs tear holes through the magical fabric as he shakes the thing about before slamming it into the library floor.

Khalid follows up Rae's kick with one of his own before taking a step back at the now bestial form of Mehdi.  The mage is briefly stunned before he can formulate a response to Rae's statement, "If it's magic, it's not anything I've seen before.  But I guess that's not saying much."

Eve follows the others, but she keeps to the back, lost in thought, turning different theories over in her head. She is suddenly brought back to reality when a blue bag bites - bites?  - down on Rae's leg. "Oh! Rae, are you okay?" Before she can say or do anything else, Mehdi transforms and takes the... whatever it is, down. Magic?

Seeing Silas hold his sword high, Liam nods in acknowledgement, understanding immediately and springing forward to grab the bag from Mehdi's feet. He pulls the flap up and holds it tight, exposing the seam for the elder vampire to slice the bag in two. wincing slightly as the blade inches past his face he flings the two pieces aside.

The remains of the bag flip flop along the floor of the catacombs for a few moments, before finally lying still. A dark pool of black liquid oozes from it, forming a puddle, and a heavy hardback book stuffed with sheafs of paper cascades out of the opening.

Mehdi stares at the ruined bag with the contempt only a feline can convey. His tail flicks in agitation; he always hated taking animal form. It reminds him of his durance, and it even holds echoes of that time physically. With the commotion over, the other can see his larger than normal ears and flared nose: vestigial traces of his time as a bat. Despite his discomfort, he figures he might as well make use of the panther’s enhanced senses. While the others make for the book, Mehdi makes a wide circle around the space with his nose low to the ground. He is surprised to catch the trail of the robed summoners heading back out the way they came. Growling in frustration, he pads back over to Akil. Could the mage still understand beasts? One big paw pokes at the man’s leg, then the panther lets out a series of varying growls, occasionally pointing back to the door with his nose.

Khalid didn't need a spell to realize Panther Mehdi had found something important from the way the group came.  Giving the room a once over he turned to the rest of the group, "Seems like the cat found something.  I figure it wants us to follow it."

When the book tumbles out, Eve quickly grabs it before too much of the dark liquid oozes onto the pages. Carefully inspecting it, she muses out loud about her findings: "The binding is original, maybe sixteenth or early seventeenth century? Definitely pre Revolution." Once she has examined the spine and back, she gingerly turns a few pages. "Handwritten, gilded... Oh, it's the Mabinogion! I didn't expect to find that here. You're in the wrong library, my friend."  Eve laughs to herself, assuming the joke is obvious.

"I expect it came with the intruders here. Do you know what it covers? Perhaps it can inform us of their motives?" Liam looks up, a little interested now. "And does anybody know anything about this fluid?"

"I can't think of any connection to an Egyptian cat goddess... The Mabinogion is a collection of tales, the oldest of its kind for the British Isles. Some are of gods, others of heroes, some fantasy, some love stories, some tragedy... not unlike the classical collections you would be familiar with. It even contains what is believed to be a really early and quite different version of King Arthur." Eve shrugs. "The only connection I can see is that these stories are also old. Oh, and goop is not my area of expertise." She wrinkles her nose in distaste.

Liam nods. "So why might they want it? Perhaps one of the stories relates to the history of the ancient kindred?"

Lowering his sword as the imminent threat is gone, Silas looks to his empty hand that he used to collect the fluid earlier and raises it to his face to give it a whiff. He can only smell the scent of metal on his fingertips. "I've heard of creatures that can imitate objects only in theory. I've never actually seen one in person. It truly is something new to study and learn from but, I have no idea what this blood-like substance actually is."  He wipes his hands briskly on his pants as he looks to Eve holding the ancient book, "Are there any markings or notes left in the book that is more recent than the book's writing?"

Silas approaches Eve and asks to see the book himself. He notices in between the pages are many scrawling notes in a script that he cannot read. However, he does recognize it to be the script of mages, maybe a mage would be better at reading this, he thinks as he turns to Khalid. "Young mage, are you able to discern any of the notes written in this book?" 

Khalid was still distractedly looking towards the way the group came before Silas grabbed his attention.  He turned towards the vampire and nodded as he approached, "I can take a look." He reads softly aloud, the written words instinctively translating to a more familiar language.

As Khalid begins to read, another tortured shriek echoes through the tunnels, followed by the oncoming echo of slapping and squelching from along one of the adjoining tunnels.

"We should get out of here fast" Liam springs up, less interested in the goo now.

Khalid stops his reading abruptly, looking towards the sound of the scream, "I agree.  We can figure this book out later." He clasps it shut and holds it to his side, "Strange that it's written in High Atlantean.  I'm not familiar with anyone but mages who uses the language."

Mehdi's hackles raise in response to the disturbing sounds. With his tail flicking in agitation, he prowls around the group then pads over to the tunnel where the robed figures fled. If it wasn't already clear that he wanted the rest to follow, the impatient growl he lets out makes it that much clearer. 

The harsh clip-clop of cloven hooves on the metallic grills that pass for the floors of the catacombs rings out through the space. From the shadows between the stacks and tunnels a low growl can be heard and a bizarre, alien-looking creature steps forth. It crouches low on four legs, slimy grey tentacles flailing atop its back and a hideous, toothed maw bellows a roar at the vampires and their companions.

Grabbing the book from Khalid, Eve bolts for the exit, pushing her legs to run as fast as they possibly can.

Rae hovers at the edge of the group as they attempt to uncover the purpose of the book withdrawn from the mimic. One night. The world could turn on it's head so spectacularly in a single night. She thinks of the ramifications of the evening's events, likely to echo out into the incoming decades. The feeling reminds her of the night when Eve approached her and offered her this life.  So lost in thought is the young vampire that she doesn't detect the presence of the strange creature until it is upon them. As Eve turns and runs, Rae follows suit, her athletic build augmented by the vitae that has settled throughout her body. Faster than thought, Rae is suddenly beside her dear companion, charging forward and away from the entity.  

Khalid looks panicked as the tentacled monstrosity approaches.  He absentmindedly held the book out as Eve snatched it to run away.  He barely notices Rae's rapid disappearance as his entire focus is taken by the creature, "What the fuck?" He stumbles a couple steps backwards before steeling himself.  Why should he be afraid?  This creature may be an abomination but it's potential was still limited.  It may be deadly, but it still needed to walk.  He ignored the small voice in his head which seeded doubt.  He could not hesitate. Khalid focused his supernal energies into both fists not bothering to utter a mantra or even control the paradoxical energies.  He then took to one knee and struck the ground as his magic took hold.  The room in front and behind the creature began to slowly tilt before gravity itself flipped sideways.  Khalid did not bother to watch his spell succeed and instead took the opportunity to follow the group with his own enhanced speed.

The cloven hooves of the eldritch abomination scrabble against the metal of the floor as gravity abruptly shifts, dragging the monster backwards away from its fleeing prey. Slime-coated tentacles flick forwards as the creature falls and numerous suckers open with a pop, clinging to the ground and holding the monster in place.

Feeling the vitae inside him rushing to where the cold dead muscles attach to his limbs, Liam wills himself to move as fast as he can. Running past Mehdi in his feline form he gestures at him to follow as he overtakes his companions in his desperate attempt to flee.

Mehdi bounds off after his vampire friend, eager to escape the strange alien monster. Meanwhile, the horrific creature begins to rapidly drag itself across the grills of the floor as though climbing a wall, before throwing itself at Silas with impossible force. A tangled mass of hooves and tentacles collides with the elder vampire, knocking him from his feet, and jaws lined with serrated teeth burrow into his torso, tearing through fabric and rending flesh to a mangled mess.

Fuck fuck fuck. Khalid risked looking back and almost wished he didn't.  The beast was tearing through Silas and although he wasn't particularly attached to him it still didn't sit right to just keep running.  He could do something, but not to Silas.  His brief teachings told him that Vampires were not affected by the magics he was familiar with.  The beast though, that he could mess with. Slamming his gloved fists together he looks back for a moment and channels his force of will towards it.  As he attempts to weaken the beast he surprises even himself as his spell appears to take hold.  He once more turns away to run further, hoping that this would give Silas the edge he needed to escape.

"RAAGGHH!"  Silas yells out in pain as the maw of the abomination digs deep into his torso. His mind gets clouded, his blood begins to boil, as he hears an animalistic voice inside his head whispering to him,  survive . Silas's fangs grow sharper and longer, pulsating black veins begin to stretch across his skin as his inner beast is released. At that moment he felt a faint weakness in the monster's grip and like a predator he takes his opportunity. In a voice that sounds like Silas's with a demonic presence underneath it, he declares his battle cry,  "ROAAAWRGHH!". He sends nearly all the remaining vitae in his system into his muscles as he grabs the teeth of the monster tearing them off of his sides, saving himself from its grasp. The bestial voice in his head spoke again run, and so he did, with an unnatural speed he runs past anyone in his way as he makes his way for the surface.

The monstrous creature howls in fury at being denied and gallops after the fleeing vampires with a speed to match Khalid's own magically enhanced mobility. Just as it's on the verge of catching up to Eve, the stacks grow too narrow for the enormous beast to fit and it wedges itself awkwardly between the bookshelves, flailing and gnashing as it stretches after her with its tentacles. Far ahead, Liam sees the exit come into view. The four cats sit facing him in a row across the breadth of the doorway, their tails swaying left to right in unison.

Khalid was not about to take any chances with this beast and grabs Eve as he meets her.  Cradling her as best as he can, he continues running with all his enhanced might.

Liam feels a wave of apprehension as he sees the cats, slowing to a wary jog then a walk.  "What are you doing here little kitty cats?" 

Once she feels that she has put a fair amount of distance between her and the creature, Rae's panicked mind turns to her next immediate priority; Eve. Looking back, she sees her cradled in the arms of the young mage. Ok, good.  Dashing forward, Rae spots Liam slowing to inspect the cats standing in the doorway to Radcliffe. As gently as she can while moving at such high speeds, she tries to scoop up her cat as she passes, only to have it bound away from her hand and watch her as she propels forward. Shaking her head in confusion, she rushes up the stairs before her, with Liam rapidly retaking his place at her side.

The elder vampire rushes through the stairway encountering the line of ominous cats his companions just passed. In his frenzied state, he pays no heed to the inferior meal as his primal senses can still smell the vile scent of the monster in the building. He continues his path towards the surface and away from the creature, holding back his ravenous hunger, for now.

Mehdi is next to emerge from the passage. As the strange cats come into view, he roars at them. It isn't an expression of aggression, it's a warning: Danger! But whether they listen or not he doesn't care. He slows just enough to pick up the scent of the cultists again then bounds after it in pursuit.

As Akil whisks past the cats with Eve cradled in his arms, the eldritch beast can be heard roaring in fury behind them. There's a clatter and a noise like rent metal from down the stairs and then a high pitched keening like tinitus just on the edge of hearing. Meanwhile, upstairs a starving Silas is hot on the heels of Liam and Rae.

As Silas storms through the building, he reaches the ground floor where he finds himself in the company of Rae and Liam. He feels the beast inside him calm for just a brief moment and he capitalizes on it to take control of himself through sheer willpower, growling, and hissing as the beast is hesitant to subside. In this moment of clarity, he realizes that this is a bad situation for him to be trapped in a room with and decides to run towards the barriers in order to leave the building, making a dash towards the door.

Pushing herself to her limit, Rae rushes up onto the Radcliffe ground floor alongside Liam. The unfettered animosity of the pursuing elder's predatory aura is unmistakable, and Rae knows that she would not survive a frenzy of such magnitude. Having nearly depleted her store of Vitae, the Beast is more than willing to bare its fangs. Alright, just like we practiced. S he feels her own frenzy loom over her body, threatening to seize control, and she lets out a snarl as she embraces it. Performing the mental techniques taught to her, she holds onto herself, corralling the Beast and working in tandem with it, directing the monstrous intent to a focal point. We bring him down. Not Final Death. Rae watches as Silas emerges into the library, snarling and hissing and....composing himself?! Running towards the door, he seems to be in control? This momentary lapse in focus is enough for Rae's hold to slip, and in an instant she is overwhelmed. No longer in command of her body and mind, her vision begins to tunnel as she is fortified and renewed with vigor. Turning to the figure that just ran by, she launches herself at it, acting with strength unbound. But the figure is stronger still?! It turns in her grip and retaliates with an agonizing bite that rips all vitality from her. Barely holding on, it takes all she has simply to remain standing...

Liam, caught up too in the hunger, leaps instinctually at Silas, the elder vampire brushes off his first attack, but a blurry figure to Liams left takes his attention and a second bite lands solidly into Silas'shoulder. His fangs drip with anticipation and his eyes narrow as the all consuming need to feed draws all of his attention. 

Mehdi nearly bounds past the tangle of frenzying kindred, but there is a pang in the changeling's feline chest as he realizes how dire this situation is. He turns, claws digging into Radcliffe's carpet as he reverses his momentum. Then the panther leaps at Silas and his claws rake against the vampire's back. Mehdi snarls as the whole cluster staggers away from him, and the panther coils up ready to launch another attack if need be.

The figure is assaulted, howling in pain as teeth and claws tear into its flesh. Its grasp slips, and Rae takes the opportunity to fight her way free, struggling against the might of the superior creature. With one final surge of strength, she is loose, and turns to sink her teeth deep into the figure's neck.  As Silas is drained of his last vitae, his skin turns ashen, withering and tightening against his bones. A stillness like death takes him as his form slumps to the floor, and the unknowable dreams of torpor whisk his mind to a far off place. But the frenzy of the hungry neonate is far from quelled, and she wraps her arms around the man territorially as she continues to drink.. 

"Dammit, was this really happening again?"  Khalid ran forward finally setting Eve down as he saw Silas being drained.  "Goddammit all."  He dashed towards the fallen form looking to both Liam and Mehdi as he shouted, "Hey panther boy and music man, you both better start booking it." In the supernal world a soft grey mist trails behind Khalid as he surges forward slamming into Rae, initiating a grapple.  He hooked his arms underneath her joints and began to lock her in place.  This was his playing field, but even through his adrenaline and confidence some primal part of him howled in terror.