Well it’s been an interesting few months.

Lets re-cap.

We tracked down and killed Legion.

Fragor met the Vampire Prince briefly. He also managed to gather the groups that helped take down Legion and threw a bit of a bash. This could be the beginnings to some sort of Accord. But that is something Fragor and I can work on over the next few years.

Oh and Grim died. We had just come back from handing Legion over and about to walk in to our Sanctum when he got shot. The impact threw him over the side of our building but his body was never found. It’s been three months. We had a funeral, even Morwen Bevan spoke over the empty casket.

The gap in our group can not be filled. While I may not have agreed with Grim on much he was part of our Cabal. Sylas has not given up trying to locate the killer and wile I have my own theories I help where I can. Not that I have much spare time now that I feel that we need to cement in our claim to our Territory. I have spent a lot of time walking around getting to know the people, developing a connection to the area.

I have also discovered that there are a number of semi-sentient Gargoyles around. I have made it a task to befriend them as they could be a very useful asset to watching our territory. We have eyes and ears covering most of our streets now. Using them I have discovered a small group of Vampires. It took me about two months before I could meet them in person. At the time they didn’t know who I was nor what I stood for. All they new was that I was a Mage of some clout. Apparently the Cabal and the other troupes has become a little famous amongst the various races after taking down Legion.
The group known as either the Carthian Movement or the Reformationists. The terms seem to be interchangeable. The leader who introduced himself as Elwood Kean spoke to me at great length once he found out that Fragor had met the Prince. Apparently the Prince is not well loved in London and there are groups such as Elwood and his gang who openly oppose the Prince and his lack of foresight. It has become known to me that Prince Vincent has a great intolerance of the other races in London. THis could pose a great roadblock in Fragor and my plans. While Elwood has expressed a keen interest in working with both Mages and Werewolves within London. He went on to tell me of how Chicago has managed to pull off this loose alliance with each race benefiting. Maybe this could be worth looking in to more. Unfortunately the sun was on the rise and Elwood needed to leave.

One week later I found a message to meet someone named Agent Rosswell at the same warehouse that we met with The Damned. She had information on something I sort for. I attempted to scry ahead but was blocked. Every attempt to gain knowledge of what lay inside was smashed. Some Mage with great power lay waiting for me. I needed to know what the Agent Rosswell could tell me. Was it about the Council, Legion or some other knowledge? Inside I went and was promptly knocked out. Serves me right.

I don’t know how much time passed until I gained consciousness but I was somewhere else. It was dark, quiet and had five other people in it. An attempt to locate myself in relation to the Cabal’s sanctum left me in pain. “Who are you?” someone whispered. This was the time that I noticed I had a mask on as did the other five people in the room.

“Who are you?” The question came again.

“I have no name.” I answered truthfully.

“Why are you here?” Someone else whispered.

“To seek the truth.”

“How do you seek the truth?” Came the whisper from behind me.

“I watch.”

“You see?” a woman’s voice came from my left. “He is one of us without even knowing it.”

A man’s voice spoke. “One more question. Man with no name, will you lead others to the truth?”
Something deeper was going on here. Something profound. Something that probed my soul. the question sort an answer that would change my life. If I did not answer correctly I may not leave this room. But only one answer came to mind. “No. I do not lead, I will guide those who lead. I will whisper in their ears. I am no-one.”

The woman to me left giggled. “I’ll teach him.” With that she walked forward and grabbed my arm. “With your permission I claim this man with no name as my apprentice. I shall show him the ways of the Ahl-i-Batin.”

“So be it.” Spoke the man in front. “I release the space. Go and watch.”

Darkness. I awoke in the Cabal’s Sanctum. “That had better not have been a dream.” I yelled.
Only Anastasia answered, “What was that Steve?”

“Never mind.” My thoughts were broken by a knock at the door. My emotions were in a grim place when I opened the door to see…

“Grim? But your dead?” Apparently he isn’t though and also no longer Grim. His new shadow name is Ankou.

Well I am stunned to silence.

We spend the next day speaking to Grim/Ankou finding out that Death had come for him but turned out to just be the ARCH MASTER OF DEATH. Freaking hell.

The Toilet door knocks and we invite Lord Dylan in. He has come bearing news that the Council has passed the notion that the Colicium is to be broken up. Lord Victor is to become the new Hierach of the London Square Mile. We have also been invited to the first council meeting to be held soon.

The next day we have another knock at the door. Man we got to do something about the security of this place. Oh we have? Bugger.

Anyway we have a visitor by the name of Gawain, a well travelled Mage of the Mysterium. He came seeking Hospitality and offered us the Right of Sanctuary. He is wounded and asks to stay with us for three days. We can not refuse.
What we do find out later this that 1. he is a nice guy 2. he is on the run from a group he knows nothing about (sounds familiar) and 3. he and the Cabal he was with (The Broadening Mind) were archaeologists.

We put him up and become friendly with him. He is after all a second degree master and could easily pass news of our treatment to the council. That will not do with the plans I have.
The next three days go passed without issue and Gawain leaves us early in the morning before any of us are awake. He has left us a gift. A small hand bell and a poem.

By Her grace She leaves this Ring,
So all might find the Truth they seek.
—Gawain

Fragor examines the artefact and comes to the conclusion that once infused with mana from a Mage it will enhance a future spell of Unveiling. That is all he can tell us thus far. we find out later that Grim leaped at the chance to use it while the rest of us are away researching it.
Once we return we discover Grim/Ankou’s activities and it seems that Death has not dampened our brother’s enthusiasm for leaping before thinking.

Now we need to find out what it does. We take Ankou to a fairly quiet park and have him cast an unveiling spell such. Nothing happens from our point of view. But for Ankou his Mage Sight becomes stronger and changes his perceptions. We now all have Toe Tags on parts of our bodies. we do not know what to make of this. Fragor expresses interest in using the Bell himself. I caution him against it until we know more.

The next day more research managed to find us more of the poem.

By Her grace She leaves this Ring
So we might find the Truth we seek.
She leaves this Robe of mystic night
So we might dwell beyond Their sight.
This Sceptre drawn She leaves for all
To brush aside Their distant calls.
She leaves to us this Crown of souls
To twist Their thralls toward our own goals.
By Her grace She leaves this last;
A Throne whose seat will let us pass.
—From Gifts of the Dethroned Queen

We are going over this when the Toilet door knocks Bugger I forgot about the Council meeting. Lord Dylan has come to collect us. we are to meet wit the other Cabals that populate the London Square Mile.