Activity Log, January 10-11, 2001 I am constantly amazed by the sheer inventive scope of the subjects, at least when it comes to mishaps and misadventures. In some ways they remind me of my own younger days, before I learned wisdom. When Parker and Ethan met tonight, it did not take me long to realize that they were engaged in covering up the evidence of what was likely a feeding accident. (They were quite flamboyant about it, sinking the body in the Hudson wrapped in a sheet, and driving their stolen car into the East River.) I suppose the subjects will eventually learn how to feed in relative safety, but even then they will likely kill from time to time. If they all take it as badly as Ethan seems to have, I do not know how useful they will be. Perhaps it would not be too great an interference to ensure that a few more of their victims live than otherwise might? All in the name of research, of course. When Ethan and Parker ran into Nathaniel at Pitt's, I noticed that Nathaniel seemed rather upset as well. I believe it is feeding issues that trouble him as well, since he discussed the matter with Pitt and talked about his place on the food chain. His views on the matter seem rather naïve, but I am quite pleased that the subjects are discussing these matters. Fine fodder for case studies, if not for truly scientific work. Fortunately, the group's depression did not prevent them from remembering their assignation with the representative of this group of elders who claim to offer them protection. They proceeded to a large building on Central Park South and were escorted to the fourteenth floor, where the one named Angel keeps a lovely apartment. (I shall have to ask Thomas for additional funds for housing; these cramped quarters seem even more intolerable.) She brought them out to a long arcade overlooking Central Park South -- one which seemed to be armed with both mundane and mystical protection against interference. I wonder why she chose to conduct her conversation with them in such a potentially public space, and where she has obtained the mystical knowledge that protects her. She seemed quite well-disposed to the group, a fact that I must admit made my heart leap. If they are truly involving themselves in the affairs of the elders, I will finally have my entry to the secret world of the older ones, and I must be ready to exploit it at any moment! She offered them rich gifts -- a key to a private club for Ethan, an easel and paints for Nathaniel, and what appeared to be a sniper rifle for Parker -- and told them that she would ask no obligation, she merely wished them to consider the proposal she would place before them. I am not certain what they have done to rate such condescension from an elder, but I am certainly most pleased about it. Angel explained that it was most useful for her and the other elders in her group to have assistants, especially ones whose connection to her was not widely known. She pointed out that she could help protect them from the Giovanni, and mentioned a few of the tactics the Giovanni could potentially take against the group. She also explained debt and the gradations thereof -- nothing that has not already been covered in a hundred manuscripts, though her terms were somewhat different (trivial, minor, major, blood, and life boons). In return for regular installments of debt from the party, she would be willing to deal with them for their various desires. Parker seemed quite eager to take this offer; I imagine that he believed she could protect him from his sire. Ethan offered to take the entire party's debt on himself, as it seems he feels responsible for the situation with the Giovanni, but Angel refused this possibility. It seems she is interested in the group as a whole, even to the point of giving Ethan gifts for both Cliff and Ari, though they were unable to appear at the meeting. After briefly meeting individually with Angel, Ethan, Parker and Nathaniel all agreed to enter her employ for various amounts of debt -- I am not certain who owes her how much, but she seemed rather pleased with the result. Nathaniel gave Angel the first painting he made with his paint set (while waiting for the others in their meetings), which she seemed to appreciate. After some pleasantries - including Angel's injunction not to tell anyone other than Cliff and Ari, and not to approach her in public - the group left Angel's home. Ethan suggested they explore Ellipsis, the club he now had a key to. They repaired to Tribeca and found an unmarked door, where showing the key gained them admittance and excellent treatment. An attractive young woman showed them the various facilities of the club, including multiple entertainment spaces, studios, a small theater, a gymnasium and spa, and apartments for the use of the guests. As a keyholder, it seems Ethan is eligible for an apartment of his own, and I believe he intends to move in. It should be rather interesting, as Ellipsis seems to be quite the meeting place for the cognoscenti; I recognized two of my fellow researchers there, though naturally neither are mystically enabled as I am, as well as a number of quite talented young writers. Ethan arranged for Parker to be put on the permanent guest list, and would have done the same for Nathaniel if the mad one had not managed to get himself politely expelled from the private areas of the club. The three of them agreed to meet at court the following evening; Parker told the others that he had a message to give to the Prince from Mobea, and Nathaniel and Ethan both agreed to be there in case of trouble. Court began rather uneventfully, as those vampires I am beginning to recognize talked among themselves. Nathaniel continued to cement his relationship with Alice, who seemed rather unhappy about being out of the social loop; I am glad he has sufficient sense left to continue courting his one acquaintance in a position of power. Unfortunately, his later actions seemed to anger her a good deal. The mad one managed to find an argument with a young woman named Ana Fernandez. They seemed to be arguing philosophy of some sort, and Nathaniel seemed to be deliberately provoking her. (She has some notions of responsibility for the humans, which I imagine is due to her youth and idealism; she was one of the other individuals chosen for the war, as I recognize her from the camp.) The two of them exchanged a couple of blows, with Ana getting quite the better of it, until the quarrel was broken up by Julia and Alice. Julia took both participants into a side room and, I assume, chastised them, since Nathaniel returned quite subdued. Fortunately, he was unable to make any further trouble before Jan arrived. Wisely enough, Jan did not allow Parker to speak. He himself announced that Mobea had claimed Staten Island as her domain, and that this was a clear breach of the traditions. In consequence, he placed her under the blood hunt, and promised the reward of a childe to any who slew or staked her. (I imagine this prize would have quite a bit more significance if it were not just after the war, but those in the crowd still seemed rather enthusiastic.) Julia was named as the organizer of the hunt, though it seemed that most of the vampires in the room planned to do their own hunting, as few approached her. I had never actually witnessed a hunting before, and so I was quite thrilled to have the opportunity to see the protocol with which it is conducted. In the chaos after the announcement, Jan left court. Parker was approached by Von Brauer, who seemed rather upset at him for some insult he had offered Nicola. Von Brauer spit at Parker's feet; Parker returned the favor, and Von Brauer seemed to take this as a challenge to duel. Von Brauer informed him that he would see him in front of court the following night. I wonder whether this is a wide-spread vampiric custom. I have heard of staged fights held for the amusement of princes, but I do not imagine Jan would be attending such a minor matter. On the other hand, Von Brauer helped run the camp and is likely in the Prince's confidence to some degree, so I cannot be certain. Shaken and confused, the subjects left court and stood for a few moments outside the Battery, trying to understand the significance of the events that had just passed. As they talked, a group of elders came out of the Battery with Julia at their head -- including the three Archons. Parker stopped them and offered any assistance he could in hunting his sire, including information on her whereabouts. In the course of the conversation, the subjects invited themselves along with the hunting party. I cannot say how glad I am that they did this thing -- finally, a chance to witness some of the extraordinary powers of the elder Kindred has fallen within my grasp! I shall have to find a suitable way to reward them, subtly of course, so that they will continue this behavior. After stopping to pick up weapons provided by Angel, whom Parker had called, citing the "emergency" clause of their contract, the group proceeded to Staten Island. The Archon Dimitrios seemed to be leading the group, at least tactically. He assigned himself, Julia and Antoinette to close combat duties; Faida and Alice would remain hidden from Mobea's sight and strike using the element of surprise; Celeste would perform scouting duties and shepherd the subjects as well. Celeste immediately began the hunt for Mobea. Her eyes rolled back in her head and her body went limp. I could see her seeking spirit as she scoured the area incredibly quickly. Fortunately, her attention was turned to other things, and she was examining the buildings and streets, else she certainly would have noticed my watchers. I must determine a way to circumvent this power, or at least to have some advance notice of when it might be used. Watching her spirit, however, was quite instructive. I have sent some sketches to Thomas so that he might compare them against the various works in the library, and perhaps settle our debate on whether the Kindred do indeed have souls. I still believe that despite their undead state, their consciousness determines that they must, and I would posit that what I saw sweeping over Staten Island was Celeste's soul itself. It took only a few moments for Celeste to locate Mobea. As she returned to her body, a process which I have detailed elsewhere, Celeste gasped out instructions. She seemed quite disoriented for at least a minute, something which I believe I can use to my advantage, should my watchers ever be discovered. Alice and Faida disappeared into the shadows; Julia, Dimitrios and Antoinette advanced quietly but quickly through the streets; Celeste, somewhat dazed, and the nervous subjects brought up the rear. It seems that Mobea found them just as they found her, leaping from a rooftop into the street in front of Dimitrios. Wisely, she kept the element of surprise until she was close enough to Dimitrios to make the use of grenades or flame impractical. I was quite surprised to see that she and Dimitrios appeared to know each other. She growled at him about being a lap-dog of the Camarilla -- I suppose she is angry that he was not an independent -- and he responded with equal anger, claiming that her power-hungry actions did not give her the right to claim the title of Gangrel. Antoinette and Julia hung back, I believe wisely, as in their fury I believe they would have lashed out at any who interfered, regardless of sides; it seems that Dimitrios and Mobea have fought before and that Mobea has defeated him in the past, and yet she regards him as something of a thorn in her side. Soon enough, however, Mobea's taunts enraged Dimitrios sufficiently that he bared his claws and leapt on her. Moments later, Julia and Antoinette followed. I was most interested to see that Julia sprouted claws as well. Perhaps my information is wrong, and she is truly of the Gangrel clan? I have never heard of them teaching their secret knowledge to an outsider. If she is Brujah, as she claims, then she must have some extraordinary connection to the Gangrel, and I would give a great deal to know what service she has done them to be deemed worthy of this knowledge. Antoinette and Julia were both moving extraordinarily quickly, but Antoinette's blows seemed to do little damage to Mobea. Even Julia's blows were able to shake Mobea, but rarely even pierced the skin. Mobea's very skin seemed to be hard and stony, resisting blows of incredible force. Dimitrios fought as well, but he seemed to be taking far more damage than he was dealing. After only a few seconds, he was covered in his own blood and unable to use one of his arms, while Mobea had suffered no more than a few bruises and scratches. This from the assault of three elders! I cannot even imagine what immense power she must have, to withstand their blows for so long. Mobea seemed to be focusing on Dimitrios, despite Julia and Antoinette's best attempts to distract her. She clawed at him, nearly cutting him in two, and Dimitrios doubled over in agony. She swiped at him again, but was distracted by Alice, who stepped out of the shadows and swung her sword at Mobea's neck. The blow connected, I witnessed it, but the sword rang like a bell and flew from Alice's single hand. The attack eased Mobea's blow to Dimitrios, but not enough: as she ripped at him again, he collapsed to the ground. Faida stepped from the shadows to protect her comrade and threw Mobea nearly forty feet, but it was too late for Dimitrios. As my subjects bombarded Mobea with grenades and flame, Dimitrios groaned and crumbled to ash. I admit that I was watching the death of Dimitrios -- I have never seen an elder die before -- and so I was distracted from Mobea's next actions. It seems that she somehow escaped the flames and explosions, I believe by taking on a form of mist and flying upward in time. The next thing I noticed was a short discussion among the various elders about the next step. They seemed grieved and discouraged. Faida seemed especially sorrowful, and Julia especially despairing: she did have the presence of mind, however, to secure the silence of my subjects in return for giving a debt to each of them. Fortunately for my research, Parker chose this moment to step forward. He volunteered to bring his sire back down to earth by taunting her, and to partake of the blood of the various elders present in order to gain sufficient power to fight her. Julia, Antoinette, and Alice all gave him of their blood, and he seemed immediately to gain an aura of power. I know that the power of the vampires is inherent in their blood, and from all I have heard, drinking the blood of a powerful vampire imbues one with some of their power, but I had never seen it practiced before. It was most interesting: his aura seemed to glow and flicker with suppressed power and strange colors. Perhaps he actually imbibes a piece of the personality of the donor, along with their magics? In any case, Parker shouted to Mobea that he repudiated her. After a few moments in this vein, Celeste called out that Mobea was descending and monitored her downward progress aloud. I admit that even I found her quite difficult to see among the smoke of the explosions. She regained her natural form in mid-air and dropped out of the sky in front of Parker, who immediately leapt on her. The two of them tangled for a few moments before anyone else could react, but Parker seemed to be holding his own against her quite well. The blood seems to have given him powers of strength and speed, as well as adding to his natural resistance to her blows; he managed to wound her slightly across the face, and deftly avoided taking any wounds from her as well. After a few moments, the others leaped on Mobea as he struggled with her, and held her down. Parker attempted to stake her, but failed to even penetrate the skin. Instead, he sank his fangs into her and drank for a few moments, until she turned into mist again (I was able to observe this time!), rose into the air, and escaped. The group seemed disheartened again, with the exception of Parker who was gleeful over his ability to stand up to his sire for once. Faida and Celeste had a short confrontation over Dimitrios's body; Faida scooped his ashes into a small bag and faded into the shadows, while Celeste departed in her car with Antoinette. The group helped Julia and Alice clean up the evidence that anything supernatural had occurred, and departed themselves some hours later. I am most grateful to them for allowing me to witness these great events; I will have to find a suitable way of recompensing them that would not interfere with their usefulness as subjects. Transcribed and maintained Elizabeth Kent