Activity Log, February 16, 2001 The subjects convened this evening, before the first Elysium, to discuss the matters they had learned of the previous evening. They discussed a variety of unimportant matters, including the weaknesses of the various clans, something that has been well-documented elsewhere. (I was, however, impressed that Ari convinced them that there was no weakness associated with clan Tremere. Perhaps he has not been told of it?) Ethan seemed rather upset and talked about how his sire intended to keep him eternally bound, though I am not certain how he learned this information. They did discuss the matter of the cathedral, but they did not seem to know anything more than was spoken of last night. Fortunately for my patience, the group eventually ceased their nattering and went to the party at the Guggenheim. Outside, they encountered Stanislaw, who was overseeing some matters of security. After he and Parker exchanged a few unfriendly words, the group entered the museum. I was most impressed with the setting for the party. There were perhaps three hundred guests by the end of the party, which filled the space quite nicely. Art was hung around the great spiral ramp, and several bars were set up on the ground floor, with provisions for both mortal and immortal guests. The gallery spaces served for more private conversation, though I did witness a bit more than conversation going on in a few of the darker ones. There were many of their kind at the party, and the subjects wasted no time in making themselves known. Ethan spent some time talking to Elena, who looked most uncomfortable and out of place; they left together and returned perhaps half an hour later. It seems that he bought her some clothing, and I must say that she is quite an attractive woman, if only she would take care of herself. Christine needed no such admonishment, wearing a costume that showed off her impressively shapely form to great advantage. As always, she was the center of attention. If only she were my subject, my duties would be far more pleasant than they are. However, the subjects did manage to have several encounters of substance. Parker and Cliff both had long private conversations with Angel, and Angel offered the dancer, Hannah, a private performance at her party the following week. (Hannah seemed quite pleased about this, and I heard her hawking her performance among the various vampires present; from things Ethan has said, this will conflict with Sophia's opening performance and should be most interesting.) Parker also talked to a strange woman named Xu, who must be Gangrel, judging by her appearance. Xu claimed to be worried about Mobea, something I find rather hard to credit, but I assume she must have her reasons for saying so. Cliff spoke with Julia, and talked to Alice on the matter of her arm. She explained to him that the power of Vicissitude was able to harm her permanently, and only the same power could cure it. He found it quite odd that the same power could negate itself. It is most interesting that he has independently postulated the Kiriki-Meyerhoff theorem -- this one will bear careful watching. Christine was rather unpleasantly embarrassed by Zero; Christine had put on some of this modern music so that she could dance in public -- quite enticingly, if I may say so -- and Zero unexpectedly changed the music on her. I am not certain why this "Baby Got Back" caused such amusement in the crowd, but Christine certainly seemed most displeased. However, her displeasure paled next to that of Alice when she was approached by Winter. I could see Alice barely keep her temper in control, though I suppose it is fortunate that she managed it. Winter exclaimed her surprise that there were illegal residents in the city, generating quite a gasp from the onlookers, and extracted a promise from Alice to try harder in catching them. I do not envy Alice for catching Winter's eye; she is quite frightening, with her young face and her snow-white hair. I would not like to know what she has seen. As the group left the party, Ethan was stopped by one of the Nosferatu, who set up a meeting with them at the docks on the east side of Manhattan. Ethan was nearly prevented from going with the group by his sire, but Melanie deftly freed him from her company, and all the subjects (accompanied by this Hannah; if she intends to follow them everywhere I shall have to put a watch on her as well) proceeded to the docks. In the car, talk turned again to the matter of the cathedral. Parker mentioned that he had learned something of it from Angel, and shared his knowledge with the group. It seems that this cathedral is indeed below the city, as Cliff had postulated earlier. It was once a Garou holy site, and was taken by the Camarilla and turned into a cathedral to demonstrate their utter control over Manhattan. As it lies beneath the middle of Central Park, it is in a most auspicious location for such a thing. This explains why it is such a symbol for the Camarilla, and why there has been such talk that it has not been retrieved. If there is truly a nest of Sabbat so close to the Camarilla bases of power, their hold on the city is far weaker than I had thought. Parker did raise some rumors Angel had mentioned about Garou magic, but I am sure such things are no more than rumors. When the subjects finally reached the docks, they were met by the wheelchair-bound Nosferatu named Faith, who I believe Ethan has had dealings with in the past. After some bargaining, Faith revealed that the Nosferatu had encountered Vassily and Nathaniel in their sewers on the Upper West Side, and that the Nosferatu believed that they were seeking the cathedral as well. The Nosferatu agreed to notify the group if the two entered the warrens again, but would not allow the group passage to seek their friend without a price. After leaving Faith, the group decided to continue investigating the matter of the Cathedral. They drove to Central Park, where according to rumor they would be able to find Garou. Truly, Reginald would be most pleased, as I know his work with them has gone poorly of late. The subjects were indeed able to locate one of the mysterious shifters. I had heard that Garou and vampires often do not get along, and I was most concerned that this individual would annihilate the products of so much careful work. Fortunately, I was able to influence his mind, giving him a far more positive attitude toward these young Kindred. He even went so far as to invite two of them -- Parker and Cliff -- into the woods with him for colloquy. Cliff accepted, and I am thoroughly pleased. Anything I learn about the Garou will give me a bargaining point with Reginald when it comes to next year's funding. Unfortunately I was not able to observe the Garou's conversation with Cliff, but it seemed to go quite well. Even though others of this wolf's pack were watching the group, they were not assaulted, though I imagine Cliff's poor contact will get quite a talking-to when he returns home this evening. When Cliff returned to the group, he explained that the werewolf was named Eric. Eric had told him that the Camarilla had stolen the cathedral from the werewolves, the Sabbat had stolen it from the Camarilla, and now it was not in the Camarilla's hands nor in the hands of the Garou. The group seemed unsure how to assimilate this information, and decided to search for Nathaniel as they pondered. They were quite successful -- after only half an hour of driving on the Upper West Side, they found Nathaniel prying up a grate in the street, trying to enter the sewers. After remonstrating with him, they found him immovable on his intentions; he claimed that he was a failed prophet and wished only to be a sacrifice so that the next might come. Naturally, his friends did not wish to see this, and so they staked him and brought him to Ari's haven in Rego Park. It seems that Vassily has not only blood-bound poor Nathaniel, but has also used his mind quite cruelly. I almost pity him, but I am comforted that his friends are trying to aid him as best they can. Transcribed and maintained Elizabeth Kent