Anniballe and Otto were at Rann's shop, complimenting Rann on his ingenuity. Rann was making furniture for other people as he had a lot of spare time and the skill to do it. Rann and the other common folk all made whatever furniture was required around the house, so at first Rann did not understand why anyone would buy something they could so easily do themselves. In the bustling town of Lientz more and more people were becoming too busy or felt themselves too wealthy to need to do such a simple task, so Rann was surprised at how many items he was selling. The real genious however was that everyone knew Rann would be up working all night, yet nobody in the town was questioning his obvious nocturnal lifestyle.
"So this sign makes people accept you are a vampire?" asked Otto studying the primitive wooden placard
"Aye, Allen wrote it for me when I started renting this place from him"
Allen, was a well known kindred. He was the eldest Toreador in the town and rumoured to be both harpy and a member of the Prince's Primogen Council. He was also buying up the land under the shops on the main street directly from the castle, using this he was charging rent to the shop owners and was known in the town as one of the most wealthy and influential merchants . Rann is renting a small wooden workshop, with a sleeping bunk in the rafters overhead and stone fireplace for heat in the winter months. It was behind a general goods store, Rann's biggest client.
Otto showed the sign to Annie, "Ha, I think it's genius." she said, "do you know what it says?"
"Not a clue, but it works a treat. I put that up when I go to bed and nobody bothers me. Can't say better than that."
Otto and Annie shrugged at each other and Otto placed the sign back where he found it. It read "Out on business, back after dark"
Annie said "don't people open the door, and see you sleeping in the bed?"
"Never use it, I've a place I sleep, but it's not there" Rann said, still not looking up from his work
"You don't have to tell us, my sire also told me to keep my resting place a secret. But it would be useful to know if we need to find you."
"I'll be here if I'm in town, or Antonio's, or your place, or the inn. But probably here working. If I'm asleep there's no point visiting." Rann said matter of factly
"He means it'd be daytime" Annie whispered to Otto, who was still trying to figure it out.
"Good tidings to you my friends" opened Antonio as he enterred Rann's little furniture workshop. "We have a task, this time it comes direct from the Prince"
"Sheesh, not even a pause." Otto whispered to Annie, who sniggered
"What's the job?" asked Rann, ignoring them
"It seems the Prince has arrested Kejetan .. erm .. someone has given him the impression that the old Jeweler is a vampire, probably a Tremere and we have to investigate."
"No way!" exclaimed Otto, "I've known the guy for years, even before I was embraced, there's no way."
"A jeweller did you say? Otto, do you think he's rich?" asked Annie
"Well, yeh I suppose so. I mean he sells gold and silver in his shop" answered Otto
"He is a true artist, he takes the raw forms of precious metal and rough hewn gemstones and creates jewellery of the finest quality" Antonio said flatly, as if reading from a book
"Well, he is in prison and his shop is empty. I think we should start our 'investigation' there." said Annie, a little too excitedly
"And what if he is innocent?" asked Antonio, though the group were already gathering tools and putting on dark cloaks ready for a secret, not entirely profit free, investigation.
As they were walking out Annie winked at Antonio, "I'm not sure a man with unguarded wealth can ever be 'innocent'" she explained.

The jewelers shop was very well guarded by traps and other mechanical measures, hidden compartments, steel lined chests, cupboards with complex locking systems and cast iron reinforcements. Throughout the investigation a bright golden beetle broach, with blue jewels marking alternate stripes on its back sat untouched on the workbench. Every now and then the group would consider lifting it, but always another would stop them and remind them.
"In this tidy room, an item left out like that is clearly a trap"
And so it sat there the entire night.

"You know this is strange" said Antonio shortly after entering the workshop area. "I was expecting the guards to have arrested him, and well surprised him. I don't understand why the place is so tidy."
"Aha!" exclaimed Otto, interupting everyone's train of thought.
Otto had found another secret door, this one contained a ladder. They group had found a hidden cellar. Annie and Rann took the task of exploring the new area. They very quickly encountered a sort of dog with a large gold collar. It attacked the pair immediately after the second one entered the room. After a few flailing swings, Otto swung into the fight from above, landing his back on top of the dog, he slid off it and skidded along the floor. With the beast distracted Annie grabbed at the beasts neck, which allowed Rann to line up a swing with his claws. The beast shattered into a dozen stone fragments.
As the dust cleared Rann said "Hang on. The dog was made of stone? How is that even possible?"
"There must be a vampire involved" said Antonio, descending the ladder carrying a large leather bound scroll "Keep searching"
Eventually a second basement level was opened up and this contained a large stone coffin like box.
"This must be where the vampire sleeps" said Antonio, "see if you can lift it"
It turned out only Otto, with his Potence was able to move the stone lid. Inside was another coffin, an ornately carved wooden box with faded paint depicting an old man, the box was so ancient the wood felt like stone.
"Only a potent vampire could sleep here comfortably, we have all the evidence we need. Kajetan is clearly a vampire."
"What are these funny little jars?" Annie asked
"Storage" said Antonio
"They have markings on them, look too decorative to be storage" replied Annie sceptically
"Well open one and find out, I need to get this up to the Prince or one of the elders" Antonio said patting the scroll
As the group left the cellar Rann looked back. "You know, there's something that's bothering me about this" he said to Otto as he pulled a large cobweb out of his own hair.
"What's that?" Otto replied, waiting for his turn up the ladder into the workshop
"It's all really clean down here too" said Rann
"So" said Otto as he started to climb.
Rann swept more cobwebs off his coat, waiting for his turn. To himself he said "So why was the sleeping chamber filthy?"
"What's that?" asked Otto from the top of the ladder
"Ahh nothin" Starting to think like Antonio is all, forget it, I'm sure you've all notice already anyway

Antonio led the questioning, first of the guards. Turns out the kindred Prince, Darius doubled as the town's Lord Chancellor and was a well known, if rarely seen figure around town. Known to spend his days locked away working, he would only be seen in the evenings when his many duties spared him. The guards explained they were a little puzzled at first when the Chancellor himself wanted to escort them, but the Chancellor had explained that as the shop was filled with Jewelery it was necessary. They answered that they did get to take the guys coat when they finally ditched the Lord and were free to beat on the prisoner.
Antonio added to his list, Kajetan was expecting them. He must have been if he was wearing his coat and ready to leave. He checked a double checked this with the guards, they were pretty spooked too when it was explained and embellished the tale a little. Just to add flavour. A few days later and anyone hearing about Kajetan at the inn would hear of a demon worshipping witch. The truth can be so boring to bored guards.

Antonio tried to speak with the Prince, but the affairs of the visiting dignitaries made that impossible. They spoke with Kajetan next. Kajetan confessed to know nothing of any strange goings on, he just wanted to go home. Antonio reassured him that they represented a collective of merchants in the town and he pressed that they only wanted to help. Kajetan then confessed that he was secretly a Jew and that the priest had visited him many times asking about visiting the church. Kajetan said that he blamed his arrest on the priest and that Antonio, his artisan colleague should go and see the priest. Convince the priest that Kajetan had converted to Christianity and perhaps he would be released. Throughout the interview Kajetan was impressively resisting any form of hook which would reveal him as a vampire. Antonio was a little confused by this but put it down to the man being a skilled liar. Rann mentioned that he noticed the way Kajetan had acted during the questioning, even though they had brought no light at all into the room the man could clearly see them. Antonio then reminded the group that he knew the Priest of the town was secretly a member of the inquisition, so that it would natural for the priest to dislike any vampire.
As they left Rann said "Do you think the guy thought it strange that we didn't take a lantern or torch into the cell with us?"
"Are you kidding, I don't want to burn up" answered Otto

On their way out of the castle the group encountered Jor, the sargeant of the guard was Sevarus, the kindred sherrif's ghoul and they could speak freely with him about kindred affairs. They asked about the prisoner, and explained their theory that the man was a vampire. Jor said, "Aye, the lord chancellor thought that too. That's why we slammed him up in that cell. It's exposed to the sunlight see. The guys been in there three days now and not burned up at all."
"Aha", said Antonio, "then that explains it all. He must be a ghoul. Lets get back to the prince and tell them what we have found"
"Not so hasty", piped up Annie, an odd look in her eye "What were the instructions exactly?"
"Why, I do not see why that is relevant" blustered Antonio
"Humour me" said Anniballe in her sweetest voice
"Oh, err, well he said we had to 'sort it out'" said Antonio
"Really, that's it? what does that even mean?" said Rann annoyed
"Well I took it to mean that we had to investigate him and report back." said Antonio
"I can think of a dozen explanations for 'sort it out', but that is not one of them. Are you sure he did not give you any other details?" said Annie, mocking Antonio's male voice and Venician accent as she said 'sort it out'
"Well, no. I guess. Maybe" said Antonio

The group found Alfonse outside of the inn. He was strutting up and down as they had passed by earlier, though now was sitting on a low wall. He was clutching a rolled up piece of parchment. They asked him why he was waiting, but the exiled Lasombra from Salzburg said it was a matter for the prince only. The only problem was that the prince had not emerged from the inn all night. He said that three dignitaries representing the interests of Hardlestadt were arguing with the dignitaries from Venice and that the prince and the sherrif were very stressed trying to keep everything calm. He had heard a fair bit of the conversation, it seems the Venicians had bought most of the land from the church to the North of them. This was a sizeable area previously called the Patriarchate of Aquileia. It was now part of Venice. Luckily the great city of Kranj was still within the Holy ROman Empire.
Annie said "Is Salzburg not a Patriarcate too?"
Alfonse explained that the Patriarcate of Alpes Penninae, Salzburg, Roma and many other places where the church held direct control were the domain of a truly ancient kindred, and a Lasombra, who went by the name of Boukephos. He explained that the upstart kingdom of the holy roman empire was the domain of Hardlestadt and the two rival nations had been waging a nightly kindred only war for centuries. The power of Boukephos was waning, while the council of elders managed by Hardlestadt was in ascendance.
Alfonse also mentioned that he thought the scribbles on the scroll matched similar markings he had seen a Settite use in a magic ritual several years ago. This was a new kindred to the group, but they accepted his words gladly and decided to retire.

Otto, was plagued by the thought of the Jewelers shop being unguarded. He worried it was too exposed. So he went to close up. As he was leaving he thought he'd just try that beetle thing. Only one way to find out if it was a trap. He picked it up. Then immediately started screaming as the pain of blood being forced out of his system, into the broach was unbearable. He eventually managed to knock the thing free. It skittered along the floor, under the table.

Otto thought he'd just quickly put it back where he got it and leave it at that. This time the thing drained him fully of all of his blood. He screamed from the pain again, and was able to stop it only by pulling it out of the flesh of his hand. This time he left it where it was and rushed out to feed. Behind him the mechanical device snapped back into its innocuous scarab beetle form.

The next evening Otto arose and practically attacked his herd, the staff of the house his sire had left him. He was still furious that the beetle had drained him twice. When he was done he headed for the castle.

It coincided that many kindred were all rushing into the crossroads at the end of Schlossegasse (the main street). The prince, the sherrif, the dignitaries and several other kindred were present. It was not clear when it happened but Alfonse moved swiftly towards the prince. A cry was heard "He's going to kill the prince!" a woman ran faster than a blur at Alfonse, brandishing a large soldier's axe. Alfonse glanced at the prince, then plunged the area into pure magical darkness with a wave of his hand. Rann reacted instantly, he rushed to the prince and tried to push him out of the way by diving heroically at him from the side. The darkness covered him as he collided with the elder Ventrue and dropped to the ground. Darius barely moved.

A few seconds later the darkness started to fade away. When it was gone the ancient and decayed corpse of alfonse lay at the feet of Marie, a minor rank Toreador who had moved to the town from Bohemia a few years earlier. She threw aside the axe and dropped to her knees. She begged forgiveness of the prince for bringing final death to a kindred resident in his domain without permission. After a moment or two the prince gave his permission for her to explain herself.

Marie gave a grand tale, explaining that Alfonse had asked her several strange questions. She brought some witnesses forward who also testified that he had asked them similarly strange questions. Marie then explained that she had investigated this trail and followed Alfonse to a meeting where he engaged with a shadowy figure. He had been given a vial of some kind. She then examined the decayed corpse that was once Alfonse and produced from within the rolled paper he had been carrying a vial of blood. She presented this for examination. A kindred stepped forward and volunteered to identify the mixture, however when it was uncorked Annie knew instantly that it was Assamite blood, empowered by quietus, the blood poison created by her clan. Lord Jurgen, one of the dignitaries stated that there had been a trade in 'extracted' poison of this nature during the Assamite wars, though as the last crusade ended almost a century ago the substance was rather rare. Annie scowled, she could not imagine what tortures the kindred of her country had performed to make one of her clan submit his blood. But she also knew that the blood had to have been magically sealed inside the vial. She kept quiet as she knew this was not adding up.

She met with her fellows secretly a short while later and Antonio had more news. The vial had been planted by Marie, he had seen it. But also did not want to be the one to speak up. Annie pointed out that the vial needed to be opened to be useful and handing a sealed vial of any poison would never harm anyone. The group decided they would keep an eye on Marie, but not confront her directly.

Otto was even more annoyed. He had been plunged into darkness. He realised he needed to learn how to see in the dark, and knew that Auspex was required, a discipline he did not have. Antonio and Annie had both promised to teach him, for a price. This annoyed him. The beetle thing annoyed him. The flood of having drunk a gallon or more of blood without even enjoying the taste properly annoyed him. Otto was in a rage. Annie followed, fuelling the fire with her sweet words of advice. Such a lot of wealth, all held by Kajetan. How long had they supposedly been friends, yet Otto was now about to lose the house, and fail the mission his sire had given him. The list went on. Soon they reached Kajetan's cell.

"Right you bastard!" Otto yelled as he entered Kajetan's cell. "Just what the hell are you?"
"I, Otto. You've known me for years. I thought we were .." the old man replied, scared at the sudden aggression.
Otto asked over and over. Kajetan refused, or did not know how to answer. Otto eventually lost his temper, drew an axe and thumped the old man with it repeatedly. When it was over and his friend lay dead in the cell. Otto spat at the corpse "You should've come clean, this was your fault." With that justification he left, leaving a little of his precious humanity behind when he did so.
As he left he turned to Jor and said "sort it out" indicating the dungeon entrance he had just departed.
He missed the irony.

The dignitaries departed that night. But before they left Antonio went to wish them well on their journey. He happened to still be carrying the scroll. The old stoic Cappodocian noticed it immediately and asked to look at it. When he did he became animated with excitement "The book of going forth by Night", I have the Settite version of course, but this, the original. Why its even been copied onto new parchment. The elder was enthralled.

Ennio sidled up to Antonio. "A hundred ducats" he said casually
Antonio who was waiting politely was suddenly annoyed, "er, excused me, what did you say?" he said indignantly
"Master Voltan do we want to buy the scroll or take it?" Ennio asked the engrossed elder
The Cappodocian made a hand wave as if to shoo Ennio away, but said "Yes, of course buy it, and for a fair price too. We do not steal."
"See, told yah." Ennio continued "You've got a sale. Tailor" With that he slapped a bag of coins into Antonio's chest. Anotio could feel a strength beneath the action, he glanced around and found the veiled woman behind him. Far too close for comfort.
After a few more long moments the elder turned "Be careful who you insult Antonio de Veneta, we do not steal. Now begone"
Antonio sighed, "fine, fine" he departed richer in wealth only.