[PRP] Reclamation of the Lost (Lilith & Ravnos)

[Kinu]

Lilith had fallen hard into a slumber so deep that should someone try to rouse her they would think someone had managed to inflict final death upon her. Violent images flashed like snapshots, rough jagged seconds of memories, blood, screams, violence... unimaginable horrors. Lilith walked a desert of bodies, limbs covered in blood, grinning with teeth like razors as she stepped through limb and torso, her nimble feet finding the blood caked ground. The earth was scarlet, soaked by vitae. From the depths black plants erupted, twisted and thorny as they exploded in roses that screamed as they opened their blooms. But from one large bloom a book sat nestled in its petals.

A simple brown book, the cover stretched leather, weather worn and the pages yellowed with age. As she reached for it the dream collapsed in on itself and she awoke with a start, sweat had broken out across her flesh and had she a heartbeat it would have done so wildly. The book. Her book. That was it. But it was lost, someone had taken it ages ago. Just before... Caine. Had he taken it? Perhaps one of his Disciples had it now. She wasted no time, getting to her feet she stepped quickly into the shadows and appeared at the edges of her son's temple. Her glowing eyes roved the impressive structure before she hurried through the front doors and inside.

"Ravnos." Her voice called, echoing through the room like the whisper of a ghost. She knew he would be here. Since he and Grendel had begun making children it seemed he spent most of his time in the temple watching over them, it was admirable. Considering the poor parenting track record of so many powerful creatures these two appeared to actually have some concern for and even investment in the lives of their offspring. But she wasn't here to congratulate them on their parenting. They didn't need her praise. The Dark Mother's footsteps were silent as she wandered from the entrance deeper into the Temple, seeking the Disciple and hoping he would be able to help her. She hadn't spoken to Ravnos, not really. The extent of their interaction had been some brief eye contact and amiable expression exchange at dinner. Her personal feelings about his relationship with her son didn't really matter and weren't relevant to what she needed now. And in all honesty, as far as she was concerned, if they were happy it didn't matter what anyone thought anyway.

Yayoi

 

[Yayoi]

It had been quite some time since the last Ravnos had seen of Lilith. But their relationship with one another tended to foster that distance. Neither had a vested interest in the other and if the Disciple was perfectly honest with himself she rarely, if ever crossed his mind. His time, his thoughts were occupied by his children and Grendel. Although perhaps his clan had taken a bit of a back seat he was confident that the right people were in place to look after it while he occupied himself with the God and his whims.

While his Vardo still moved with his Kumpania, Ravnos spent most of his tim there at the temple. And why not? This was where everything that was important to him was after all. Most of his time spent caring for their budding number of children and spending whatever free time he had from that with his red haired love. And for now he was content. Though he knew very well that wanderlust could strike him at any given time.

When Lilith had arrived he was in the middle of placing the children down for their mid-evening sleep. He felt her before he heard her. The same, familiar dark energy that preceded Grendel whenever he appeared, flickering through the air. Though it was different in some ways. He wouldn’t say more chaotic perhaps more….fragmented. Fractured. It was an odd sensation in the very least. And as her voice drifted to his ear he tilted his head slightly before making his way out of the children’s room, leaving the heavily guarded family quarters and making his way down the many flights of stairs. His figure darting in and out of the shadows as he moved quickly.

If she was here there was a purpose.

Brilliant green eyes glowed as a boot step clicked against the stone floor. The gold heels of his boots lent sound to his movement. As did the various metallic trappings and charms upon his outfit. Ravnos was the epitome of of his clan in all ways. As those eyes landed on Lilith as she moved through the temple he cleared his throat. “Lilith. A surprise to see you here.” His tilted his head with a light quirk of a dark eyebrow. The beads in his hair clattering against one another. “And calling for me no less.” He smiled. A charming, roguish smile meant to disarm and make one feel comfortable in his presence.

“Do tell me, what is it of me you seek then?” He was curious. They weren’t friends but they also were not enemies. They had all suffered. Even Ravnos himself. Slipping his hands into the sleeves of his shirt he patiently awaited her response.

Kinu

 

[Kinu]

Lilith could feel him moving through the temple before she heard him, her eyes shifting suddenly in the direction of his energy. When he appeared she allowed a kind smile though that kindness was laced with a weariness, like someone trying to keep up a polite appearance but exhausted by the effort it took to maintain. It wasn't at him personally, more rooted in the exhaustion of holding herself together. His sense of her energy being fragmented and fractured on the nose precisely. She looked away for a moment, contemplating how to ask what she wanted to ask of him. It already felt strange enough being here, asking him for anything at all. When she looked back there was a sense of determination about her. "I would like to ask a favor of you. I need information, perhaps a guide for an evening depending on the circumstance."

Though she had no personal feelings about the male she found Ravnos' presence pleasant enough, it was easy to see why her son had been drawn to the charismatic vampire. Though she suspected it was much more than his appearance which had caught Grendel's attention. From her limited time spent around him she found him to be one who was far more bold about his convictions and the one most likely to face the fires of retaliation for standing firm in those same convictions. He hadn't flinched in the face of the former god, a fact she enjoyed immensely. But that was another life. That god was buried.

The light in her eyes flickered between a soft glow and a swirl of shadowy inky darkness where the usual red sat before it vanished completely. "A book. This big. Brown and leather bound with yellowed pages. It would have no inscription on the outside but there would be a seed like this at the bottom of the spine. I believe it may have been taken by the former god and then possibly by a Disciple once he fell into Torpor. Have you seen anything like this?" Her hands gave example of the size as she spoke, her fingers swirling in the air to quickly produce one of the nine pointed seeds before she waved it away, her expression genuinely curious if not a little hopeful. Lilith had no airs to put on nor any desire for exerting self important games in the way of posturing and clever quips. She was here to ask for his help. If he didn't know she would begin hunting down every Disciple to see if they knew or had taken it.

Yayoi

 

[Yayoi]

Ravnos had never been one known to back down in what he believed in or when there was injustice perceived. In all honesty he had expected to be struck down that day when he had essentially told Caine to go ******** himself. How he managed to leave the God’s presence unscathed had been beyond him. But he could not abide the demand he had of the Disciples. To force the Clanless into their clans was more like subjugation to him. Instead of the freedom that they all deserved to have and that left a bitter taste in his mouth. Ravnos had had enough of that for many tire times. Had the God been in any other kind of mood surely Ravnos would not have been here today.

At that point he had grown weary of the God and his demands upon his people while he gave nothing back for their loyalty. And weither or not the other Disciples felt that way had gone unseen and unheard. And that had been fine by him. Ravnos had always been the outcast amongst them. But he was also the most free thinker of them all.

He listened quietly to her favor. The description of the book seemed unremarkable to him. Many books fell into that description. The size, the color, pages so yellow you merely breathed on them and they crumbled. But what he did take note was of the symbol she mentioned, producing the seed to give him a better visual reference. A curious bauble which he would perhaps like to inspect a little more closely but he dared not reach for it. He could see it well enough from where he stood. The Ancient Vsmpire delved into the coffers of his mind. Ages upon ages of memories looking for some sort of recognition.

But when she mentioned a Discille may have taken the book it snapped him out of his thoughts. “A Disciple?” Well, if such was the case there were only two who instantly came to mind. The Tremere and Kiasyd Disciples both had extensive libraries both of which Ravnos had been able to peruse on his own time without detection. He knew little about the new Tremere Disciple but Marconius, well, the he had had run ins with the strangely tall vampire before. Though the Kiasyd had always had his nose stuck in a book and was generally less than pleased at the other Disciples presence. A shame really. Ravnos could be a fun guy.

However, there was one other library that was less well known to most bust Ravnos knew it well. “Sil’Ilos. If anyone would have your book it would be her.” Knowing the Tremere’s connection to Caine it was no surprise. She had produced a child with him afterall and always seemed favored by him. Why not give her a gift of what she truly desired? It made sense to him at least. She wasn’t a Disciple but the dots all connected in an instant for him.

Kinu

 

[Kinu]

The petite female's eyes searched Ravnos's face as he contemplated, hoping desperately that he knew something. She needed... she needed a break. Just one small lead to push her towards being reunited with her past, to mend these fractured memories. When that name left his lips she visibly bristled, a sound clicking up from her throat that fell between a growl and a deep exhale. Of course. She should have known. The darkness in her eyes erupted, the shadows lengthening in the temple as Liliths temper flared. Caine couldn't be faithful for more than five seconds and that whore of a Disciple had eagerly jumped at the opportunity. His arrogance knew no limit, he had even produced children with her, effectively spitting in Lilith's face.

While she felt no love for Caine the blatant disparity between his behavior and what he expected of her forever made her want to rip the throat out of anything that bore his blood, her own children the exception for the most part. His hold over her, making her lose herself completely, boiled her blood. Being used to produce children that she never had a chance to bond with fully was already a hard memory to live with, the former god sticking it to random others while expecting her to remain blindly loyal was another thing entirely. At least those mothers had a chance to bond with their children, whether they chose to or not. It was vile filth and she refused to stomach it or pretend it was fine.

The Dark Mother flexed her claws, her gaze far away. "Do you know where she keeps them? Her... books." Lilith's voice a soft echo, that strange rolling clicking noise deep in her chest, a predatory sound. Her claws extended and flexed as the shadows retreated. She'd happily dismember the former Disciple if she were still around. Such a blind loyalist Sil. So ready to worship Caine and birth bastards. That darkness spilled over onto her cheeks, adding to the stain that marred the otherwise pristine pelt. If Sil had it, if she had even touched it, that would be another nail in her coffin if she ever showed her face again. Lilith would rip her throat out and laugh as she choked on her own blood. A delightful daydream.

Yayoi

 

[Yayoi]

All he could do was stand there and watch as the darkness within her flared. He might have been Ancient but what he had was nothing in comparison to the…..well. What was she now? She was no longer an Angelique. Ah.

He smiled warmly, bright green eyes filled with good humor. Certainly he had no intended or expected that kind of reaction. But he knew it well enough to diffuse. “Her library of course. I can take you there if you wish. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump away.” Chuckling he gave his head a small shake. Inclining his head in apology. And why not? She was desperate for the book and it he could help her why not. He didn’t need anything from her for it. However… “Ah, I must inform you that there may be dangers.” Namely in the form of a particularly bored Goddess that they had had a run in with and still didn’t know what her deal was. Last time Ravnos had a run in with her he’s ended up dissolved into ether and thrust into another life at another time. “Caution would have me not take you there. But if you really want this book we will go.”

Grendel hadn’t been all that thrilled the last time Ravnos had gone back to the library. And the Disciple kept his time there very limited.. He had found an old copy of ‘The Wounds of the Night’s Sword.’ All dribble. How did he know? He wrote it of course. Ah, that was a good time. A amazing epic that some had latched onto. But then it was better than a theif being caught stealing from a God, unknown to him.

But there had been other things as well. He surmised he had only explored a fifth of what was actually there.

Kinu