Tale Weaver's Vampire: The Masquerade Game Board

[Strider_Koln]

Oh great, now what am I supposed to do with that!

I don't know what Koln is about to see but what is actually inside the convenience store are your typical products and of course a slushie machine with various flavors. There is a man of Indian decent behind the counter and a group of scruffy-looking kids in the corner of the store near the door talking amongst themselves. They smell of young, fiery blood full of energy.

Hehe, no worries, I got this.
Just sit back and enjoy. Koln is making popcorn if you want some.


As soon as Koln enters the store the laughter stops, but he remains cautious. Everyone in the store watches him carefully, indeed he does stick out, even when he's not dressed as a priest, but he remains focused. He then stops dead in his tracks, noticing a building black mist behind one of the freezer doors. In a matter of seconds, instead of ice cream, a tall ominous figure looms, pressing his long boney fingers to the glass door, opening it, his chocolate-brown cloak brushing over the floor as he glides past the freezer, grinning a fanged smile at Koln. "Ah, at last, we meet again, Kolnyr. I look forward to tasting your blood."

Koln, backs up, startled by what's going on. In the metal of a nearby shelf he sees his strangely fangless reflection. He barely has time to contemplate how he became human again before he hears a voice scream "Catch!" Koln instinctively reaches out his hand, grabbing the Winchester rifle, and giving Crazy Kip who now stands in the corner, munching a hotdog, a thumbs up. Then he faces the Count, cocking the rifle quickly with one hand, the gun whips around in a circular motion, and stops pointed at the target's head. "Come get some."

Before the Count can move Koln had emptied five rounds into the target, missing his head, but dropping him through a number of well placed shots to his chest. Koln then approaches the fallen foe, dropping the gun and reaching for something sharp, his shuriken, to finish the job... However as he approaches the Count's body seems to somehow "phase" right through the floor. Stupidly, Koln steps forward, and falls right through the floor, passing through it as if he were a ghost.

His eyes slowly open, coming too, but only seeing darkness. He tries to stretch out but can't, he's confined, the air is thin, he repeatedly beats his fists around in a frenzied panic, eventually smashing through the wood with his legs, pushing the lid off and sits up in his coffin. His eyes take a moment to adjust to the flickering torches on the stone walls, illuminating the gates, bones, and chains... the stench of death and decay is in the air as he steps out of his coffin in the strangely familiar dungeon.

The gate opens on the far wall, the Count stepping in, barking out, "Does it look familiar Kolnyr, or should I say... Pierre? Ha! I know all about you... I'm shocked you weren't damned sooner, with what happened with that werewolf you were supposed to hunt... or what you did to those teenage witches!"
Koln growls, storms up to the Count, angrily delivering a a front kick, followed by an outside crescent kick, two roundhouses, and a right uppercut, after each one the Count just laughs and laughs and laughs, standing upright. "Pathetic!" Smashing Koln with the back of his hand, sending him flying back painfully into a wall. Something sharp seems to have cut him as Koln's body slumps to the floor he leaves a crimson trail on the wall.

The Count then cockily saunters up to the fallen hunter.. just he opportunity Koln needs! In a flash a shurken rips through the air, piercing the Count right in the eye socket, Koln quickly climbing to his feet and kicks, stomping the shuriken deeper into the vampire's skull with the heel of his boot. Angry, the Count flicks his wrist, creating a small wave of chocolate bats to distract Koln as he pulls the shuriken free from his bloodied face. "Gah... Ha... is that it, hunter?!"
"No, not until I send you to hell in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Sprit!" Koln sharlply replies, brandishing his new whip, and waving on the Count, taunting him.

Meanwhile, back in reality, the patrons of the store stare confusedly at Koln as he rolls around on the floor, legs kicking out every which way, knocking over shelves as he clutches a box of "Count Chocula," spilling cereal all over the place. They scratch their heads, trying to make sense of Koln's frantic gibberish until the clerk, finally getting up his nerve, grabs Koln by his arms and, with the help of the other patrons, tosses him out onto the street.

With a sigh, Koln brushes himself off and continues walking into the night. "You got lucky this time Count... We will meet again."

 

[Tale_Weaver]

Downtown Denver

Meanwhile, back in reality, the patrons of the store stare confusedly at Koln as he rolls around on the floor, legs kicking out every which way, knocking over shelves as he clutches a box of "Count Chocula," spilling cereal all over the place. They scratch their heads, trying to make sense of Koln's frantic gibberish until the clerk, finally getting up his nerve, grabs Koln by his arms and, with the help of the other patrons, tosses him out onto the street.

With a sigh, Koln brushes himself off and continues walking into the night. "You got lucky this time Count... We will meet again."

LMAO, wow...

Koln walks away after being throw out of the store by a rather angry store clerk. As he's walking down the street he feels eyes on the back of his head. He can see the group of kids who were in the store before walking down the street behind him, there are three of them. They are snickering and Koln is certain that they are laughing at him. One of them even has a shopping bag that Koln can hear laughter coming from.

 

[izillama]

"Onefrom my family has left already, I will not see them dissapionted again..." she shook her head as she tried to suddenly change the subject. "There is something I must talk with you about Clover.." she said as she locked eyes with her gently full of sorrow. "...what made you want to end your life? Please, I want to understand," she said in endearment.

Clover wasn't surprised that Ruby had asked her this. She had known that it was coming, but that didn't make it any more pleasant. Clasping her hands, she sat down on the bench at the bus stop. Her back was straight as a board, her legs crossed at the ankles. She put herself back in the mindset of Catholic school.
She nodded, "Have you... have you ever studied for a test, Ruby? I mean, really studied? You stay up all night. Go to the tutor. Brush off all your friends to flip through flashcards. And then you turn up to school on the day of the test. Go to class. And then... you realized that the class you studied for was actually the wrong class. You had a test in English, not math. And you haven't cracked a book open in a week?"
She didn't look at Ruby. It was tough putting it all into words.
"I've... spent my entire life being perfect. Not a perfectionist, mind you, but just in that I can do no wrong. My grades are perfect. So is my attendance. I was praised by everyone. Idolized. Everyone wanted to be me. I mean, I really do see myself as a humble person, Ruby, but I think that, really, I enjoyed the attention."
She halted herself. 'Wow, that sounds really... terrible. I must sound like the most selfish person in the world...'
"And then, I went off to college. I was like, okay, everything I've learned up until now I can apply here. I'll still be popular. I'll still be successful!
Clover found herself getting a little too animated, and she restrained herself, staring straight in front of her at a point on the ground. Her voice was bitter, "But you know what they say about the best made plans of mice and men. I had spent so much time being successful in an all-girl's Catholic school, always being my teachers' and my parents' pet, that I had never learned anything! I was a complete fish out of water. My values were completely different than the values of my peers. I couldn't relate to any of them. The harder I tried, the harder it was to fit in.
"I realized that my perfect life, one that I and others had valued... really... was worth nothing.
"Who was I to impose on my peers?" she hissed. "Who was I to make them feel inferior, even if I wasn't trying? I felt guilty for being alive. For wasting everyone's time. I stayed up at night, staring at the ceiling, thinking about how many people in the world there are and how insignificant I really am. I felt small and alone. Seeing Mindy going out every night with her friends, coming back drunk and spewing vomit, I wanted no part of it. But I wanted to be invited. But I didn't know how! I didn't know anything! I'm just a stupid girl who's gone to Catholic school all her life and now doesn't even know how to talk to guys!" Angry, she punched the wooden bench. It splintered, but didn't break.
"What good am I with no real life skills. I had been like a puppet. Get up. Go to school. Come home. Study. Go to bed. Repeat. My father wanted me to be happy. But he thought that my happy was following what he did. But I don't like it. I don't like it at all. Banking? Business? I just happen to be good at it. But I don't know what I want! Is it that? I don't know. I don't know anything about myself, because all I know is what I've been told. I have no personality. No worth. My dad used to call me his little China Doll. I would sit and be quiet. Be rigid. Be perfect and pretty. But there was nothing going on in my head. I have no thoughts of my own. No life!"
She grew quiet again and bowed her head, defeated, "I know what they say about suicide. It's selfish. My mother, you know, she can't have children anymore. It was a miracle that I survived being born. She loves me very much. She would be so sad to see me go. But... I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. And every time I thought like that, I grew more depressed.
"A complete downward spiral. Once I let it get a hold of me, there was no escape.
"I... wanted to die. I wanted to end it all. Even I can't really pinpoint it, Ruby. I can't really explain why. It's stupid. It was a stupid reason. And now," she clenched her fist that had just splintered the bench. She saw her veins showing blue through her paper-thin, super pale skin, "and now I'm as good as dead. I was ruined either way, wasn't I? Fate. I was going to jump off of a building on Halloween night. I wanted to, though looking back on it now, I don't know if I would have had the courage to. Instead, I got turned into the undead. Heh, that's pretty funny, isn't it?"
She grew quiet, squinting her eyes shut in pain. She had never said anything like that to someone before. She had never admitted a weakness. But Koln and Ruby, she felt, could be her outlet. Ruby had sat there listening. She hadn't tried to stop her.
Clover was so grateful.

 

[ladyphoenix]

She grew quiet, squinting her eyes shut in pain. She had never said anything like that to someone before. She had never admitted a weakness. But Koln and Ruby, she felt, could be her outlet. Ruby had sat there listening. She hadn't tried to stop her.
Clover was so grateful.

Ruby listened earnestly as Clover told her story while desperatly trying to contain her anger. She paused for a few seconds and the gently placed her powder ivory hand on her clenched fist. "Now I truly see Clover.." she began softly, trying not to get emotional herself. "I understand that pleasing others is really trying when you want what is best for yourself. I might not know about universities and competitive exams, but I do know that there is nothing wrong with wanting to be accepted and loved at your best..."
"One of my brothers, Jeb. (Jebodiah), is an exceptionally strong man out of all the other villagers, but he was also gentle in the heart. The other men would be jealous and would always challenge him to oxen plow pulls and the like. They said he was too prideful, which is a sin. One night, a neighbor's barn was on fire due to a tipped propane lantern. Everyone scrambled to get the animals out but realized one of their own family was still inside. Jeb ran inside the barn to notice a man stuck underneath a firey hay wheelbarrow. He realized it was one of the men that bullied him. Jeb could have easily left him to burn for his cruelness and state he was too late, but instead he lifted the wheelbarrow above his head and carried him to safety. The villagers soon knew Jeb to be stronger in heart instad of body."
She looked into Clover's eyes. "You see, I see a light in you out of the dark shadows that your mind tells you. You have strong empathy that outshines anything else. Your concern for Suzy.. for us.. your parents.. even your peers. You have one of the Lord's marvelous gifts Clover. And you also have the strength of a leader, a role model in your heart, even before you transformed. Even leaders have imperfections, but I see you with a perfect heart..." she said with a tint of red film in her eyes. She slowly hugged clover as if to seal what she felt about her the entire time...

 

[izillama]

Clover quietly shook her head, mumbling quietly, "Thank you, but you give me too much credit."
She shut her eyes and inclined her head towards the sky. The bus seemed ages off. She could afford to indulge one other fact.
"You know, Ruby, my name isn't 'Clover.' I'm really Angelica. That's what I was baptized. I answer to Angelica, Angie, Ang... any variation. But I caught my nickname back in middle school. My mother came up with it. She said I was so lucky. One in a million. I had the luckiest life a girl could ask for. I had been born, something the doctors had thought I wouldn't survive back when my mother had given birth to me. One day, she just came out and said, 'You're like my little clover!' And, it stuck. My friends started to call me that. At first, it bothered me. But then, it made me special. It made me stick out. How many Angelicas were there in my class? Several. How many Clover's? Heh, just me. It was nice, being different. My class was all smart. We all got great grades. Albeit, I had the highest, but there was nothing special in that. Just the name. After a few years of calling me Clover, my mother took it a step farther. It hearkened back to her Irish roots. Her Clover. Her Trinity. Her own little Catholic miracle."
She laughed, remembering brightly how cool her mother had thought it was. Catherine Edwards was deeply religious, after all. Then, Clover mellowed. She smiled, though somberly.
"But do you know what a clover really is? You probably do. You lived on a farm. Clovers are animal fodder. They're grown for the benefit of the cows and whatever other animals there are. They're mowed down every other day during the summer. Trampled over by children on Easter morning. Clovers contain trace amounts of morphine. Painkiller. That said, clovers are meant to be used. They're not special. They're not unique. They're everwhere. Existing for the benefit of others.
"My classmates in high school idolized me. But really, I know now that they would never want to be me. I advocated for them. I spoke out for them. I took the heat for them. So at the end of the day, I guess I was just what helped them grow, and they were the ones that got to use me. Lucky? Maybe in some ways. But more like a host to a group of parasites."
She smiled warmly at Ruby, "But I made my peace with that. I was useful, though more used. However, what I absolutely couldn't stand was not having any usefulness whatsoever once I got here."
She sighed peacefully, and reflected, "Your brother sounds like a good man. A better person than I could ever be. If the circumstances were a little different," she indicated herself, pointing out the fact that she was no longer human, ", I wish that I could have met him."

 

[ladyphoenix]

She sighed peacefully, and reflected, "Your brother sounds like a good man. A better person than I could ever be. If the circumstances were a little different," she indicated herself, pointing out the fact that she was no longer human, ", I wish that I could have met him."

Ruby nodded in response and smiles. She was glad she was feeling at least a little better. "I apologize, I remember hearing your real name earlier, but I thought you just preferred to be called Clover. I do know about the medicinal effects of clover in usefulness, however I also see the potential in its simplistic beauty as well. The symmetrical heart shapes, it's soft texture, especially when rubbing it against one's cheek, the subtle green shades that range from sea foam to emerald.. I guess I always loved the beauty of nature in its simplist forms. The clovers have a purpose as we all do. As for your classmates, you can lead a horse to water but it doesn't mean it would drink it. Your intentions seem very good to me"
She chuckled and playfully but gently elbowed Angie/Clover's side. "You know, if you need to sit back and watch us lead the way once in a while, have some fun, especially when Koln comes up with an idea." : 3

 

[Tale_Weaver]

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

Ruby listened earnestly as Clover told her story while desperatly trying to contain her anger. She paused for a few seconds and the gently placed her powder ivory hand on her clenched fist. "Now I truly see Clover.." she began softly, trying not to get emotional herself. "I understand that pleasing others is really trying when you want what is best for yourself. I might not know about universities and competitive exams, but I do know that there is nothing wrong with wanting to be accepted and loved at your best..."
"One of my brothers, Jeb. (Jebodiah), is an exceptionally strong man out of all the other villagers, but he was also gentle in the heart. The other men would be jealous and would always challenge him to oxen plow pulls and the like. They said he was too prideful, which is a sin. One night, a neighbor's barn was on fire due to a tipped propane lantern. Everyone scrambled to get the animals out but realized one of their own family was still inside. Jeb ran inside the barn to notice a man stuck underneath a firey hay wheelbarrow. He realized it was one of the men that bullied him. Jeb could have easily left him to burn for his cruelness and state he was too late, but instead he lifted the wheelbarrow above his head and carried him to safety. The villagers soon knew Jeb to be stronger in heart instad of body."
She looked into Clover's eyes. "You see, I see a light in you out of the dark shadows that your mind tells you. You have strong empathy that outshines anything else. Your concern for Suzy.. for us.. your parents.. even your peers. You have one of the Lord's marvelous gifts Clover. And you also have the strength of a leader, a role model in your heart, even before you transformed. Even leaders have imperfections, but I see you with a perfect heart..." she said with a tint of red film in her eyes. She slowly hugged clover as if to seal what she felt about her the entire time...

The bus quietly rolls up to the curb as Ruby hugs Clover and memories of Jebodiah unfurl. You both enter the bus and the doors shut behind you. You can't help but think of Koln as he wanders the streets of Denver. Clover knows that this is the last bus so he'll probably need to catch a cab or walk, neither of which are pleasant ways to travel in Denver at night.

 

[izillama]

Clover and Ruby settled down into their seats as the bus began to rumble away. She smiled to her friend, "No, I don't mind being called Clover. After all this time, I actually prefer it." ^.^
As the bus continued, she found herself staring out the window, wondering what Koln was up to and if he had satisfied his thirst yet, "Hm... you don't think Koln's done anything to get himself into trouble yet, do you? I mean, he's far from stupid! But I wonder if it was the best idea to send someone so unstable out into Denver at this time of night. Especially with no way back to campus."
She looked at her friend, "Ruby? You don't seem to be too saddened by all of this. Do you mind being a vampire? I mean, I know there are countless drawbacks. But really, is it so bad? You seem the only one among us who doesn't wish that they could jump out of their own skin."

 

[Strider_Koln]

LMAO, wow...

Koln walks away after being throw out of the store by a rather angry store clerk. As he's walking down the street he feels eyes on the back of his head. He can see the group of kids who were in the store before walking down the street behind him, there are three of them. They are snickering and Koln is certain that they are laughing at him. One of them even has a shopping bag that Koln can hear laughter coming from.

Koln hears the laughing echoing in his ears, so loud to him it's painful, even the bag is having a good laugh at his expense! He contemplates turning, his fists shaking in anger, those ungrateful bastards! He just saved the entire store from Count Chocula, and they laugh at him?! No...Koln remembers, no that was not reality... Embaressed Koln starts to briskly walk, then run out of their sight, turning a corner and sitting under a tree. He takes off his hat as he places Socrates on his shoulder. Looking up at the waning moon, obscured by the bare branches of the tree, he wonders how long must he suffer until it all stops...

Perhaps he should head back, although the night is still young, he is too filled with self-loathing to do anything else. He just wants to be with his friends and shut his eyes for another day. As if God were listening, his wish is immediately granted, a large yellow bus with the name of Clover's school pulls up in front of Koln. As it hisses to a stop and its doors swing open, he could have sworn he saw smoke or fog escape from the inside. Strangely, the inside of the bus is not lit, but it does not matter.

Gripping the railing Koln steps onto the bus. The driver greets him, a pale man with sharp facial features. He wears a red collared shirt with the nametag "Fred" and dark green khakis. Koln nods, almost bowing, happy to meet the driver, someone who is not laughing at him, someone whom he can trust for now...

He lets his weight drop lazily into a seat, and as he does he hears giggling behind him. Cautious, he turns his head, noticing a young girl, about Clover's age, smiling at Koln and trying not to make it look obvious that she's looking at him through her red hair. Koln just politely smiles back and looks away, rather angry inside that she's laughing too.

The entire ride was rather uncomfortable, he can sense the girl staring daggers into the back of his head, but he lets out a sigh of relief as Clover's university starts to come into view. He feels his pockets, making sure he didn't forget anything, and notices that his shuriken pouch feels slightly lighter. Upon opening it and counting he notices that he now has 19 shurikens, one mysteriously missing. He shrugs, standing up only to fall back down from the force of the bus as it speeds past the school, the driver seemingly having floored it!

Koln growls angrily, about to shout at the driver that he just blew past the school when he is stopped, the girl having now just falling onto his lap and coiling her arms around him, quite literally! In a panic, Koln tries to stand, but he can't, somehow this girl is overpowering him, looking at him mockingly with her head tilted, neck bare and exposed to his fanged mouth. "Do it" she pleades... then commands "BITE ME! I WILL MAKE YOU SIN!"
Koln fumbles for his shurikens, hoping they'd scare her enough to get her to back away, but they are absent, and so is Socrates!
The girl lets out a strange, deep laughter as the bus now rumbles offroad, and speeding through what appears to be a barren desert, lighting piercing the sky overhead, soon striking the ground with such force that it creates hellish craters all around the bus. Fortunately, Fred seems like a good driver, able to dodge the emerging craters as they're created in the sand and rock.
"C'mon Koln... bite me." She pleades again, this time in Ruby's voice... Angered, Koln finds the energy to stand, pushing her to the floor of the bus as he rises. The driver stands as does Koln, both focused on ending one another. Just as Koln reaches for his whip, the girl surprises him from behind, pushing her arm into Koln's open growling mouth, laughing in his ear as he is forced to drink in her blood.

He shuts his eyes, not wanting to show how much he needed this... how much it fills him, how the more he drinks, the more the ugly images around him face away. With a last wild maniacal screech that seems to come out from thin air followed by a silence the dream ends. He opens his eyes to realize that he has just sunk his fangs deep into the neck of a dying doe. He must have "sleepwalked" some distance from the tree, although the road is still visible. He takes cover behind a nearby bush, returning his fangs to the wound, ripping, tearing, biting, sucking, and finishing his meal in pathetic self-loathing while denying the inherent high.

After he has had his fill, and wiping his chin with the back of his hand, he hears a squeak behind him, Socrates looking up at Koln with wide black eyes. "I know... but you understand. Thank you..." He takes Socrates in his hands, nuzzling him and placing him on his shoulder. "Let's go home now..."

 

[ladyphoenix]

Clover and Ruby settled down into their seats as the bus began to rumble away. She smiled to her friend, "No, I don't mind being called Clover. After all this time, I actually prefer it." ^.^
As the bus continued, she found herself staring out the window, wondering what Koln was up to and if he had satisfied his thirst yet, "Hm... you don't think Koln's done anything to get himself into trouble yet, do you? I mean, he's far from stupid! But I wonder if it was the best idea to send someone so unstable out into Denver at this time of night. Especially with no way back to campus."
She looked at her friend, "Ruby? You don't seem to be too saddened by all of this. Do you mind being a vampire? I mean, I know there are countless drawbacks. But really, is it so bad? You seem the only one among us who doesn't wish that they could jump out of their own skin."

"I hope Koln is ok too, I trust he will find a way back. His Malkavian bloodline most likely have a silver lining in their mental state that keeps them surviving all these years, I'm sure of it," she says as she forces a smile.
Clover asked about why she didn't seem upset about being a vampire. "Well, to tell you the truth, I'm terrified on the inside. It's just that we have been trying to survive this whole time that I guess I haven't been able to focus on my own emotions. I've been ripped from my family quite literally, which at times is unbearable, and half the time I'm trying to control my brawling instincts and animalistic outbursts. Whenever I lose control, I feel the animal part of me taking over and that's probably why I try to block out as many negative emotions as I can. It's almost like my other side is just looking at satisfying my basic needs and if I over-induldge, things could fall apart," she said while having a strained look on her face. "It's hard to explain this feeling inside, but at least I can be positive. I'm just afraid that someday, I will no longer look human anymore," she said with a frown.
She looked out the window and smiled, trying to remember the little things that make her smile..."I like buses.. they know just where they are going.."
She looked back over to Clover "So what should we do when we get back?"