[Video] [Encoded]

[fromfryingpantofire]

[The video comes up on a back corner of the library, where Sam's set up a little research table of his own. Not that there's much there. For all that they have a 'library', it's really not all that interesting. Definitely none of the things that he's used to being able to find.]

[Though it is at least a QUIET section of the library. Nobody much comes back there. Of course, if it was anybody other than Sam, they'd find that corner to be nearly devoid of wifi signal.]

[How does Sam have signal? Nobody knows.]

So. I know that there are a few of you here who aren't too keen on the whole idea of the supernatural and magic and things that don't make sense to the rational mind. And believe me, I get it. If I hadn't grown up with this sort of thing, I'd probably be right there with you.

I also get that we don't know for certain that what we're facing IS something that's supernatural. After all, there are other explanations for what she can do. Some of us have powers that we never had at home as an example.

However, if she is, there are a few things that you can carry that may help either ward her off or fight her off. None of them are heavy and we have access to at least a few things that would work.

[He reaches off screen and brings out a salt shaker from the cafeteria.] Salt. Table salt will work just fine. My brother and I buy a lot of Morton's back home.

Anyway, salt has been an ingredient in purifying rituals for millennia. It's often used to ward off evil spirits and cleanse an area of bad...juju, for lack of a better word. Back home, spirits can't cross a line of salt, so a quick and easy ward was just to pour lines of salt across any entrance to a room. Shooting rock salt into a spirit would disperse them, too.

There's stuff that works better when it comes to spirits, but I don't have access to the supplies I need for them. Salt is nearly as old school as blood, though, so it should do you in a pinch.

Second. [He reaches off to the side again and comes back with a firestarter.] This one is a lot more difficult to get hold of, so this may be something more to look for when we go on missions. Iron. Again, just about as old school as it comes. There are a lot of things that are weak to iron, including the Fae. If you have the ones from the right stories, at least. A good length of rebar that can be wielded like a sword or a bat is great. Again, good for dispersing a spirit, though it won't get rid of them entirely. It'll buy you time to get back up, though. So, again. Useful.

The third isn't really useful for ghosts or spirits, but if the salt doesn't work, then maybe this will. [Out comes a water bottle.] Holy water. Mostly works for demons. Won't kill them, but will cause harm and may burn them. Again, good for buying you time to get away and get help. Luckily, I was able to pick up a rosary on the last mission, so I can make as much as we may need. I tend to also throw a handful of salt in for a twofer.

As far as I know, we don't have access to any, but another good all around weapon against the supernatural is silver. I'd suggest keeping it away from those among the New Hires that might have an allergy to it, but there are a LOT of supernatural creatures out there that are weak to it. Again, purifying qualities that have been in use for a lot of centuries. And another thing to keep an eye out for on missions.

[Sam settles the items in front of him.] I'm not going to say any of this will keep you safe. That's not a promise I can make, especially since we don't know what, exactly, our enemy is. At best, I can say that they might be able to help. At worst, they're inert and you're no worse off than you were a moment before. At this point, though, I think we can use any edge we might be able to get.

[He folds his hands, leaning forward on the desk.]

Any questions?

Comments

[vampthropologist]

Yes - one bloodline, which they maintain the purity of via traditionally pharaonic methods.

[By which he means, marriage of close blood relations; brother to sister, aunt to nephew, uncle to niece.]

Their customs are unique among my kind. Some kindred may watch over their descendants, or have relationships with families from which they traditionally draw mortal servitors. [Oh, so delicately put.] But the Giovanni consider themselves all one unit, mortal and kindred alike; kindred Giovanni don't hide their nature from their mortal relatives. And they all practice necromancy, mortal and kindred alike. Rather like that television show, what was it, with the disembodied hand, except not at all harmless and charming.

[fromfryingpantofire]

The Addams Family.

[The answer is just automatic. He barely even thinks about it. Damn it, he actually likes that show.]

That's not...entirely unlike how angels work in our world. I mean, not...most of that. Like the incest and the necromancy. Well, not the necromancy in the ways that humans do it. Angels can bring somebody back from the dead fairly easily if they have the soul.

[It feels a bit like he's rambling, but he's just trying to get this settled.]

There are certain bloodlines that work best for angels to take as vessels on Earth. Some of them are more powerful than others. Like, anybody from one of those bloodlines could be a vessel for a regular, run-of-the-mill angel. But for more powerful angels like archangels? It would have to be a powerful bloodline. To the point where some believe an archangel can only take a vessel that has been specifically bred for that reason.

[vampthropologist]

Yes. Charming little show. Totally inaccurate, of course.

[Beckett has a sense he's touched a nerve, and listens with intent as Sam rambles]

No, it's not exactly that - the Giovanni have their superstitions, but practically speaking the only advantage their customs afford them is that their newly-created kindred are already indoctrinated and prepared for their new existence, and have some meaningful experience with the supernatural.

What you're describing bears some resemblance to revenant families - the traditional servitor bloodlines associated with certain clans that I mentioned before. Revenants do manifest certain innate supernatural abilities as a result of their condition. Giovanni do not; until their embrace, they're mortal, and may be necromancers, but that's it. They also tend to be more receptive than ordinary mortals to, ah, the use of certain kindred abilities, and there are kindred who can perform feats like possession who would find it easier to do so with a revenant associated with their clan. Some kindred do use revenant to test pet theories, and sometimes they are - bred - to a purpose or aesthetic, but they are not ultimately considered terribly important - whereas the Giovanni will hunt you over the death of a mortal family member just as surely as a kindred one.

And there is, with certainty, nothing like divinity involved on any level.

[He ends his explanation looking far bleaker then he'd started]

[credit_not_blame]

Gross. Are you aware of any tangible benefits to doing it that way, or are people just weird all over?

[And, if Beckett were aware of a tangible benefit, would he be willing to share that information?]

[vampthropologist]

No. See comment above, to Sam. The thing to be aware of is that unlike most of these situations, the Giovanni are extremely invested in the welfare of mortal family. And are very, very used to people trying to use that against them. Caution would be warranted.

[He's not going to pretend he doesn't know what she's fishing for.]

[credit_not_blame]

So, no real benefit aside from that they're already indoctrinated into the Weird Necromancy-and-Incest cult. Which isn't to be sneered at, depending on the goals, you wouldn't believe how much screaming at people I did when I was getting So You're A Werewolf 101.

[Stacia raises her eyebrows.]

Yeah, it wouldn't have occurred to me at all that these guys would be deeply invested in keeping their family safe. Give me some credit here. I showed up for the gossip, not to hunt.

[vampthropologist]

There's all kinds of hunts, Ms. Novik, and I would never dream of assuming information I give you won't be used against my kind under any circumstances.

But frankly, if you're able to grasp the inadvisability of that stratagem, you're already capable of defeating any average kindred.

[credit_not_blame]

And I'm sure it's the same for you and any information you pick up about my people. All I'm trying to say is that I'm not trying to dig around the established "Be Cool" rule.

But I'll keep in mind that's the level of strategy we're looking at. It's nice to know exactly how stupid someone's been when they've gotten themselves in over their heads.

[vampthropologist]

I didn't at all intend to imply you were digging; I was, bluntly, being a prat, and speaking as I would to the young of my own kind, who understand everything they hear solely in terms of how they can use it to get what they want.

It's been about three hundred years since I had cause for meaningful conversation with anyone not Kindred. I expect I'll do this again.

[tfw you start rolling social combat on instinct]

[credit_not_blame]

I should probably be offended that your impulse was to treat me like a young vampire; but something about me seems to say "I'm a baby, teach me" to everyone older than me, so I'm going to be amused instead. And I'll keep in mind that your social skills are a little rusty.

[vampthropologist]

It doesn't mean that much, most people are young compared to me, even kindred. Surprisingly few make it past a century; those of us who do make it that long end up all knowing each other by attrition. Bit of an old bloodsucker's club.

[that is An Joke, it's funny, please politely snicker]

[credit_not_blame]

[How about groaning, is groaning acceptable? She does smile a little though, that'll have to do.]

I regret embarking on this conversation. Vampire incest is one thing, but vampire dad jokes is another entirely.

[vampthropologist]

[Beckett is confused and mildly alarmed]

Dad joke?

[Is she accusing him of being her father????]

[credit_not_blame]

Wow, that's sure is an expression on your face right now.

[Note to self, springing unfamiliar slang on vampires is hilarious.]

Dad jokes are the kind of jokes that dads tell. The ones that you don't so much laugh at as groan and roll your eyes. Like when you go "I'm hungry" and they go "Hi Hungry, I'm Dad!"

[smallmediumwelldone]

[actually guess who DOES have no compunctions about giving hunt information here]

It would be a waste of your kind's unique talents to attempt to go on the hunt in that fashion in any case. Just as they keep a close leash on their family, the Giovanni prize even more dearly their spies and servants – the spirits they bind. The spirits they forcibly bind. [There's a note of genuine anger in her tone.]

The Garou might be able to tear free those bindings in a way that most of the Giovanni's enemies cannot. I assure you, not a tear would be shed by most.

Their gossip is terribly boring in any case. They are a very juvenile lot that mistake being Italian and monstrous for having a personality.

[credit_not_blame]

I've actually had fairly minimal contact with Kindred so far. One showed up to return a jar of blood as an apology for snacking on someone I knew, and there was an incident with...well, there was skin, it was gross, and I was mostly there to see what clean-up needed to be done. But it's nice to know that I might be able to truly wreck some creepy Italian vampire's day and piss them off real good.

[Is it a good idea to piss off a creepy vampire that practices necromancy? Depends on if you're setting them up for something...]

I think I probably still qualify as juvenile myself, but I'll keep in mind that I should look elsewhere for the really juicy stuff.

[smallmediumwelldone]

[Beatrice snorts at the description of the jar of blood, and then promptly tries to pretend like she didn't laugh.]

An apology jar of blood is certainly a, ah, novel approach. Was it gift wrapped with a little ribbon on it? A get well soon card? Er, did the – Kindred in question actually make it out alive?

Technically, it is written in what one might call Kindred religious texts that we ought not to drink the blood of the moon-beasts, but no one ever listens to the inconvenient bits. You know, the ones that say what not to do. Very predictable.

And I am afraid that you mortals all qualify as juvenile from this perspective, but at least you seem like you can't be any younger than.. [A very long pause. Oh god, what are mortal ages, again? What seems like a normal in between year? Beatrice flails, and comes up with the insultingly low-] fifteen.

[credit_not_blame]

[Stacia makes two mental notes: that Beatrice thinks it's funny, and that Beatrice thinks she shouldn't think it's funny -- or, she doesn't want people to know that she thinks it's funny. Further investigation is necessary before any conclusions can be reached.]

No, no ribbon or card. It was her blood, I think he was just trying to indicate how very little he wanted to have our attention. "Look, see, I haven't consumed it, I'm bringing it all back, let's please not make this a thing" kind of move.

He did make it out alive, and with all his limbs intact and no new holes for good measure. Between the problems we were focusing on and his strong indications that he was doing everything he could to not be a problem, the people in charge decided to let him walk unharassed. At least, that's my assumption, I wasn't exactly privy to the conversation.

[She'd been up a tree at the time, because surrounding herself with sticks seemed like an excellent idea when faced with her first vampire.

She snorts in amused agreement at people skipping over the rules that they find most inconvenient. Though it's interesting to know that there's a vampire near-religion and that it discourages drinking from shifters.]

I would have thought that the practical reason of "if you drink from a moon-beast, all of its friends will get pissed off and come for your ass" would have been discouragement enough!

[The guess at her age that is clearly a wild stab in the dark is funny, but only because if Stacia thinks too much about it, it might make her sad that Beatrice is so out of touch with the humanity that she used to be part of that the only thing she can make is wild stabs.]

Well, you're not wrong. I am older than fifteen!

[vampthropologist]

If I may jump in, that likely was the reason behind that prohibition. Several ancient texts list several rules about how and when and from whom to feed, and all caution against feeding from shifters, mages, the fae, and essentially anyone who isn't an ordinary mortal. The reasoning given is generally along the lines of "however fun it might be at the time, the consequences will be dire."

Of course, you can imagine how effective a cautioning that is.

[credit_not_blame]

Oooh, yeah, the fae play dirty.

[They also gave her a Holiday Barbie her first Christmas as a Garou. She's still not sure what kind of magic it has going for it; she should probably talk to someone about that.]

And yeah, there are always idiots who take that kind of warning as a challenge.

[vampthropologist]

I've never had reason to cross the fae, and I count myself lucky. A fellow of my acquaintance ran off with them once and didn't come back for five years, which to him was a single night. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't know the man it happened to.

[credit_not_blame]

I know they can take your memories if they decide you owe them payment. But they give good gifts if you catch them in the right mood. I've got access to a meat-generating mini-fridge thanks to a Christmas party with the fae. [The mini-fridge is a better story than the doll.]

[smallmediumwelldone]

Ah good, you did strike me as of a similar age as Kevin. It's the correct ballpark though, yes?

[Beatrice nods along to the age lores, because it's not like '15' and 'young adult' means much different to her. What is a few years to someone where they've started to blur together? She remains amused, corners of her lips curling up around the hand pressed now to her mouth.]

Goodness. What you describe is a much less..acrimonious interaction than I expected. Leaving with all his limbs intact is impressive indeed. A high standard for how it typically plays out. If only we had known that apology blood gift baskets were the way to the Nation's heart. We can add ribbons to it in the future - for that special personalized touch.

It is - good though. If surprising. That it was taken in the spirit it was intended – most wouldn't have tried, or thought to.

[A humorless half smile.] After all, Mr. Beckett is quite correct that your, ah, eloquently put point about the practical downsides was likely why it was written, but no one ever thinks the consequences of dire warnings will happen to them. Oh no, surely not.

[credit_not_blame]

Most observers would likely assume that Kevin and I are of similar ages, yes.

[Stacia chuckles.]

I think blood only works if its specifically the blood of a living werewolf being restored to its original owner -- though a few bags of medicinal O-negative might not go amiss on occasion, we end up bleeding an awful lot. However, I believe the most effective gift to indicate a desire for diplomatic relations between our peoples would proof of death of an enemy. The moment of confusion should provide an opening to get some words in. Though finding exactly the right werewolves in exactly the right mood is also important.

[She groans and covers her face with a hand.]

You know, sometimes I think that particular delusion -- that surely, consequences won't apply to me -- might be the most accurate sign of self-awareness.

[smallmediumwelldone]

Oh, well proof of death of an enemy isn't difficult at all. We Kindred are remarkable killers of other Kindred – with voracity and glee. The Nation is, I am sure, quite grateful for our efforts.

[She's 100% messing with Stacia, even though it is true. No one kills vampires like other vampires do. Beatrice tilts her head, still looking mildly amused.]

If a delusion is widespread enough to be standard, does it really make for an accurate litmus test? Besides, I must disagree. I have met some who shared in that belief that were roughly indistinguishable from a plotted plant in terms of mental actualization.

The plastic sort of plant, before your treehugging nature assures me that there are some very intelligent plants out there. I wouldn't doubt it.