undergrounds | Territory Claim: Newham

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Territory Claim: Newham

"Snow Patrol - Take Back The City" (Watch on YouTube)

With Raymond Harris dead, and the structure of Islington Nest potentially fragile, Cesare has a point to make. It is always during sudden changes in leadership that others have a tendency to fight for influence, a standoff of peace followed by a sudden rush for power and position. Cesare himself has done it many times, but just this once he would like to avoid it.

The Nest needs to assert its strength and Cesare is happy to be the one facilitating that. The assassination of Raymond Harris has whetted his appetite. He had missed this.

Although abhorring Sylvia, he decides not to attack her directly just yet, settling instead for the easy enemy, East End Pack. He tells only a few of those in his nest who he thinks he can trust, and sets out during the night, capturing strategic points, pushing out political figures and killing those who refuse to move. Cesare believes in fairness, but he does not believe in mercy.

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Cesare is specific with exactly who he decides to let in on his plans. To say that he doesn't get on well with all the vampires is a bit of an understatement. So chooses to tell specific members of the nest, inviting those he doesn't deem a waste of time to his hotel "for a chat". Clearly something is up, though, when instead of sitting down in the lounge where anyone can overhear them, they are taken up to a private lounge with just the two of them. Even the staff are fairly absent as Cesare pours two drinks and holds up one of them in a toast.

"To Islington."

"To Islington."

Joscelin is drinking only wine tonight. He'd had his fill of blood earlier in the evening and he doesn't trust much of what is being offered to him at any Islington gathering these days. There is still a lot of fae blood going around in certain circles; reserves left over from Raymond's time, no doubt. Cesare is not one Joss thinks would do that sort of thing, but it's probably best to keep a clear head when politics are being discussed.

"I must confess, Borgia, that I was somewhat surprised to receive the invitation. To what do I owe the honor?"

Cesare notices Joscelin's lack of blood drinking. It's a small slight, but he takes it calmly, also choosing only to drink wine in a gesture of fellowship. The two of them need to be on the same side right now. Cesare doesn't have many confidants, but Joscelin verges close to one.

"First, to celebrate our victory," he says with a smile, lifting his glass. "But second, to maintain it. I would not have our shift in leadership be misread as weakness."

Ah, so there it is. Joss nods, approvingly.

"Jean-Claude took a great risk in doing what he did, but he isn't usually one to get his hands dirty. What do you propose?"

Edited 2016-11-21 18:17 (UTC)

"A territory claim. The fae are out of the question and, as much as I hate it, Redbright is too powerful a beast for us to anger it just yet. I propose we target the East End Pack. Easy prey, yes, but this is to prove a point, not to have a challenge."

If they want to do something difficult, they can save that for later. Cesare is more than happy to take on Sylvia eventually, but that will come in time.

"What do you think?"

"You're asking for my help in making life more difficult for the wolves?" Joss asks mildly, eyebrow raised. "We've known each other for how many centuries and you still feel a need to ask?"

He grins.

"When do we start?"

Cesare grins in response. He's pleased. His relationships with some of the other vampires in his nest have been chilly at best. It's nice to know that he still as an ally in Joscelin.

"As soon as I can gather a team. I don't intend to provide the wolves any chance of a warning ahead of time. The quicker the better." Act fact, get in quickly, remove them even quicker. Cesare is not a man who likes to waste time.

Joscelin nods. "Then don't drag your feet. The calendar is currently with us; the moon is waning. Wait too long, and we lose the element of surprise. If you want this done quickly and cleanly, best do it soon."

He was on board, of course. That was implied. But who else could join their little team?

"Who else have you got in mind?"

"I was thinking Dame Frye, for one. She has a calm exterior, but I'm fairly certain she's itching for a fight." Whether he's right or not is another thing entirely, but what's the impression Cesare has of her.

"I would appreciate it if you could gather your people as best you could too. It would save us a lot of time." Joscelin isn't exactly the highest rank in the world, but Cesare knows that old vampires tend to have friends.

Cesare has sent out multiple clusters of people across the district of Newham. Cesare himself is in a slightly smaller group of five. He can handle himself, he thinks, and as he approaches a tall clocktower, now presumably a watchtower, he smirks to himself.

He and his team make his way up the steps, with the intent of banishing or killing (either will do) whomever is inside.

Evie doesn't want to kill any wolves. That's not her plan. She's here because she understands Cesare's plan. He's right: they need to remind everyone that they're still a capable group. The wolves make the most natural people to go after- the fae are right out, witches and Redbright would only aggravate their situation.

She holds up a hand, indicating that the rest of the group should stop, hold back and let her go first.

Without a word, she raises an arm and shoots a zip-line up a few stories. Best to get a look at who they'll run into, see if she can take them out.

Cesare waits. He's impatient but he manages it, standing by until she returns. He wants to get in there, but if Evie wants to be the scout and potentially the person to get shot, that's fine by him.

When she's back, Cesare pulls her back into the group, a hand on her shoulder.

"How does it look up there?"

In one quick motion, Evie manages to move in closer and shrug Cesare's arm off her shoulder. Not tonight, Borgia, she's in her element.

"Three up by the clock face, a few more on the floor below, it seemed like. We'll have to be quiet, stick to the shadows." Her face was already obscured by her hood.

Cesare can cope with the shadows. Although he has a tendency towards spectacle, he's surprisingly comfortable with staying out of sight at times. When he chooses to, at least. He nods and already starts making his way towards the clock tower, looking at her.

"More than us? Are we outnumbered?"

No such thing as out-numbered, is what she wants to tell him, but Evie holds her tongue.

"They've at least six. We'd do well to come from the West."

It's a good thing Evie doesn't sass him right now. He's not entirely in the mood. He's a confident guy, but he does believe people can be outnumbered. It's simple maths and probabilities.

He nods. That works for him. He gestures for the rest of the group to follow him and makes his way to the west of the clock tower, sword drawn.

She'll sass him later, with her dry wit.

Evie takes point, her arm outstretched and poised to send an arrow through anyone that dare try to take the group by surprise. Speaking of, she isn't surprised, and is rather impressed with Cesare's use of a sword. Remind her to invite him to spar with her at some point. She had a place.

She follows Cesare, wordlessly, ears open for any noises.

They approach a corner. With his back to it, Cesare peers past it to see two men guarding a door. He silently holds up two fingers to signify the number of people before gesturing, asking if she would like to take the man on the left. One for each of them. Simple, really.

He hopes she'll finish them properly, not just knock them out or otherwise incapacitate them. Cesare isn't here to do things in halves.

Evie nods back. Alright, man of the left.

She looks at her arm for a moment, fiddles with her bracer. In no time, she's got a small arrow mounted. Perfect. E

She keeps her back to the wall as well, seemingly blending in with the shadows. She waits for the opportune moment, before stepping out, aiming the dart towards the man on the left. She fires, and it hits him in the chest. It takes only a second before he hits the deck.

Cesare is quick to follow. He sneaks up behind his target, wraps an arm around his shoulders to pins his arms in place. Cesare pulls out a dagger from his belt and slits the man's throat as quickly as he can manage. It's quick, less then a second, but it feels like longer.

When the man is dead, Cesare lets him fall on to the flow, his own breathing a little short, before tilting his head in a gesture that suggests they continue.

The sharp scent of blood fills the air and Evie inhales sharply. Not the time to drink, they had to keep going. She nods just once at Cesare.

Evie moves to the door, crouching to look through the keyhole. She straightens up, and beckons him to follow her through the door. The first room is empty.

It's almost an anti-climax at first. After all, with two guards at the door, it seems odd that they would be guarding an empty room. Cesare's eyes narrow for a second as he thinks on it, before looking about the room, hands on the walls, looking for cracks.

"There's something in here." There has to be.

Cesare's right. Evie instead opts to close her eyes, places a hand on the floor and concentrates.

"An entry somewhere..." She rises, and slowly opens her eyes, turning to look up. "Or it's a red herring."

Cesare and his group are trying to remain subtle and not draw attention to themselves, but there's truly only so subtle a shadowy vampiric murder squad can be. Their weapons are hidden and they are keeping to the shadows, but it's pretty clear that they shouldn't be there. At least, not if they want to keep the peace. It's a good thing that they don't.

If someone approaches, Cesare will warn them to leave immediately for their own safety. If they don't, then there might be some conflict on the cards.

Success! Cesare is throwing a party at his hotel. The hotel itself is heavily guarded this evening, but once you're inside, there seem to be very few rules. Cesare has always been keen on the pagan festivals, with their proclivity towards drinking and revelry, and so his event is in the model of that.

There's an open bar and, in addition, waiters handing out even more glasses of blood and alcohol and blood with alcohol. It's practically bacchanalian.

If someone finds the party a little distasteful, it's likely because it probably is.

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Territory Claim: Newham

TELLING THE VAMPS (Open to Islington Nest)

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CAPTURING POINTS (Open)

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WALKING THROUGH THE STREETS (Open)

GLOATING. DRUNKEN PARTY. (Open to whoever will listen)