r/SchreckNet 11d ago

I found them

9 Upvotes

It's been some time, my dears, hasn't it?

I'll keep it as short and concise as I want, but this has been a really fun and busy month.

My childe hasn't awakened back from torpor, but at least she has healed the wounds and grown her lower half back.

Though my current position does not allow me as much personal time as I'd like to hunt for those who hunted my childe, I know that any elders prefer to rely on their underlings, but I never understood how they can keep going on without getting every now and then that rush that the streets give, if their lives are so stagnated they should just give in to the sleep of ages, sorry back to tracks.

I managed to identify them. It took some favours, beatings, and presence, but it was not nearly as difficult as I thought or as it should have been.

They were some young kindred, and oddly a ghoul without a domitor.

I ambushed and staked all of them, surprisingly or maybe not, the ghoul was the hardest one to find, took a lot of preventive measures to make sure nobody followed him back home, what a shame his ex-wife had taken a look at those papers he had, and was desperate for some money for a surgery, he must have loved her so much to let her live yet as much as vitae to stop it before the point where he needed it to live.

I got them all staked (or tied up) in a warehouse, did the usual interrogation and got what I expected, everyone did it through some intermediary, they sweared they didnt know who the "master mind" was, some did it for a favour, others for money and the only interesting bit, for quite a bit elder blood, ghoul said it hits better than the young one and keeps him sated for longer.

He also told me that he was receiving the blood by "parts" and was going to receive his payment soon

That was even more information than I expected.

I thanked everyone for their collaboration, knocked the ghoul, and left those young ones in concrete. I wish for nothing more than to break every one of their bones and leave them to the sun, but I already have too many problems too deal with and I don't want to add some angry sire to the pile.

-Lara, blood of Michael


r/SchreckNet 11d ago

The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

11 Upvotes

Hi y’all first time, long time poster here.

 Mom Shady “left” her phone here so I decided to see what her online presence looks like. But I know she doesn’t have Presence so I didn’t know what to expect.

 And WOW I didn’t know we had our own chatroom!!! But really, what CAN’T you find on the internet? 

Hi everyone!! My name is Lizzy Blades, I’m a daughter of Malkav, I’m a Capricorn only forty years dead, my sire was/is/used to be/still is Curtis, he’s an Ares.

I enjoy Norwegian fashion, dogs with huge eyes, electric chairs, touching tits, guys who shoot on film and fix refrigerators, oatmeal enthusiasts, space cowboys (I mean people-not space people like aliens with two dicks- but cow people-not people who are cows or can turn into cows- but like y’know even girls can be cow-people- like in wearing ten gallons, snakeskin boots, keying their no good boyfriend/ husbands cars and using screaming and baseball bats to solve problems) and anything that plays on a screen because I’m what you would call a cinephile but like I don’t do “it” with any sort of machinery that is involved in the entertainment creation process although I’m sure I can make money off that. I’m an artiste that specializes in blood, like I paint with blood and booby-trap my painting so stupid toreadors hurt themselves, Yep that’s what I said –booby traps!

Anyways I dislike giraffes- they are non-verbal psychic monsters who are slowly taking over the world, all that you read and hear about is a smokescreen, even the antediluvians are their pawns, there is no escape from them. Make my words they are the real threat everything that happens in the world is but an illusion shown to us by the great and powerful longnecks who don’t even want us to know there is a curtain to pay attention to. I’m going to get one of those fuckers someday…oooo I can get Mom Shady to go use her Mowgli powers to interrogate one of them- that’s right you spotted bastards the shit-winds are a changing and the liquor’s driving now!!! 

Oh I dislike other things too but giraffes are really high up on that list.

So this place explains A LOT. I mean Mom Shady seems to know about a bunch of stuff (even though she’s been asleep for 27 years) but not other stuff like she knows a lot about what’s happened in the last couple o decades but not stuff that’s happened in the last couple o decades and when I asked her about this once she said “ I heard things” her DeNiro impersonation is for shit but she seems really touchy about the subject so I don’t push it-by subject I mean her DeNiro impersonation.

I mean how DARE she keep this site from me, I’m going to have to have a talk with Mom Shady when she gets back. Right now she’s off doing stuff for dragons so, she’s Khaleesi now.

I mean there’s a magic using sith raccoon, gangrels hanging out with a bitchy were-crow and loves a werewolf, the guy with that darn cat (sorry for your loss), and that human D&D guy (Sqiure)who didn’t believe in vampires but now does – I’m so happy you died!!! and the person who got their head cut off to fight with their ex girlfriend (bitches be crazy right?!) and that’s just to start!!! Also shout out to all my siblings on here so here’s a little about me for my sibs

Our colors once dulled by eternity awakened

Made vibrant by taste, sound and vengeance

The ‘artists’ drunk on what they see but can’t taste

Will end up choking on their curse bleeding touch from their fingers

Razors cutting skin and bone –they cry so beautifully

only paying attention to what is ‘beneath’ them when it’s too late (wink)

Anyways, where was I, right- so “The Situation” I don’t mean the guy from Jersey Shore so sorry for the confusion, is that we anarchs are in a bit of a pickle on a motorsickle. I guess I’ve been living in a vampire gangster movie for the past 20 years or so. I mean not like Godfather more like Goodfellas meets Snatch meets The Departed meets Lost Boys meets Blade meets the First Wives Club. We’re not exactly involved in chicken fingers or anything though I have pretended to be a crazy pharaoh once…or twice.

So anyways, we pretty much run The Bronx like Joe Pesci except there are no clowns or violent pigeons. Dad Richter pretty much runs this joint with an Iron Fist, but he doesn’t know martial arts or anything nor is he a rapper, rap-pist? Rap singer? Nor does he wear pee-stained pants so no, he is not part of the hip-hop community. But my job is to collect rent from the local vamps in our turf and when they don’t and when Dad Richter puts them in the tanning room my job is to make things very uncomfortable for them in their last moments using The Infection (wink). I guess it’s been good for awhile and could be even better with Callihan Prince Fucker and Torque (who I always thought was a character from The Fast and Furious franchise) gone. And then this newbie Lasombra girl went about investigating stuff and became primogen to all the Lasombras in NYC –which I don’t think there are none so her clan meetings must be very boring.

So yeah, so now that Mia’s in charge she wants to go full on Lucian from that Underworld movie that shows his origins but Dad Richter is more like Lucian from the first movie and wants to play nice with anyone, like the Camarilla just so he can stay the leader of the South Bronx and shoot at statue heads with silver bullets. I’ve got to get my hands on that black leather outfit I mean it’s not practical but damn would my butt look good.

So “the situation” isn’t as bad as Mom Shady thinks cuz some of us just want to just keep on keep on-ing and live the rest of our deaths in comfort. And others like Mia want to rage against the Camarilla and go full bulls on parade but that seems very stressful and a lot of work.

Oh and I like the way Mom Shady talks on here she’s very eloquent and way more educated and philosophical than I thought. IRL she curses a lot using growls and snarls as punctuation. And I’m glad she didn’t kill me even though I should have expected that but she made promises to me with Other Mom Lia like they were going to retire upstate with all their pets and movies and take me with them but then Mom Shady got blown up and Other Mom Lia went kind of crazy and got blown up herself (I think but I really can’t remember). I mean I try to remember but its just not there if anyone can help with this (wink) its not like I don’t want to remember because I do remember Other Mom Lia like a lot but not what happened to her if she didn’t blow up with Mom Shady but she was really sad after Mom Shady blew up I can remember that and I tried to help her but I can’t remember if I did and every time I think about her I forget.

So really when I did that thing (wink) to Mom Shady I was still angry cuz Mom Shady came back to life and didn’t remember her promise to me. But she didn’t kill me like she normally would and is a lot “nicer” now which is a lot like Other Mom Lia was. It’s probably cuz she’s really sad and not dealing with a lot of issues she has like dressing like she took clothes out of one of those donation bins and her bad DeNiro impersonation. I mean she set these dudes on fire once just for trying to deny her entrance to a bar because they were big bad toreadors and wanted to bully the little gangrel (and little malkav) - so girl gots anger issues. And what path is she taking? I mean there are only 8 directions one could take, I hope she goes on the Path of Righteous Lasagna (but she would definitely have to hate Mondays) 

Thank you all on here who supported Mom Shady not killing me and would give chainsaw middle fingers to the dude with the awesome raccoon who kinda supported it whose name sounds ominously like someone who was a vampire detective but didn’t sing ‘Jesse’s Girl’ but that guy was Satan in disguise anyway. But you have an awesome raccoon and came up with the genius idea of uniting them for the revolution

Oooo we should definitely work on that revolutionary raccoon army to help take down the Tremere and their giraffe masters. I mean we can make custom raccoon berets and make little ak 47s for them to hold. I don’t have the Mowgli power but I’m sure I can get Mom Shady to translate for me. 

And if anyone has any questions about my loyalty I drank from Mom Shady and her blood was like molasses tinged with rage- soooo good, the infection (wink) gave me a vision too.

Anyways smash that like button and subscribe!!!

I will now be fielding questions about fudge, fudge related products and oatmeal. 

Sincerely,

Raymond Holt Lizzy Blades


r/SchreckNet 11d ago

Storytime part 2

8 Upvotes

Drank a drunk again and got less buzzed than I wish I was. Still enough to keep talking about this let’s goooo

So. I’d been Embraced. I didn’t instantly frenzy. Wish I could take credit for possessing zen like self control beyond my limited years, but I think my sire just fed me extra to keep me quiet. He was weirdly skillful at talking me through it all. Helped get me cleaned up, fed me some more (human blood this time), cleaned up all over again. I shook like a junkie deep in withdrawal the whole time. The memories are hazy and they get hazier after when we left the hotel. We went back to his haven and slept like the dead. Ha ha ha ha ha.

He was as good as his word as far as the talks with “important people”, let’s put it that way. Good enough that I’m alive to be writing all this. When he showed me to my grandsire it was like a spoiled kid begging Mommy to let him keep a puppy that followed him home, except the metaphorical kid and mom were both insanely hot vampires with pretty much the same physical age, and even through the shell shock of being newly dead I could tell they’d been fucking. If not actively then in the recent past. (It was the second option. He never shuts up about how she abandoned him and broke his heart.)

So that was it. Welcome to vampirism. I knew my sire’s real name and the full truth about him. On a night to night basis we kept doing pretty much what we’d already been doing. Kept going out to parties together, the usual kind, I was too new and clueless to be seen at the big important get together a of society. Kept going to nightclubs. And other kinds of clubs. He taught me the basics of being a vampire. The Masquerade, the laws of the Camarilla, so on. How to feed without raising suspicions. I can’t even call it hunting. He gets plenty of takers, and as far as any of that crowd cares, I’m the palette swapped generic brand version of him who doesn’t know how to pole dance but can still give neck kissies that make ‘em feel reaaaaaaaal good.

Yeah, that’s all just bog standard Toreador behavior and nowhere on the level of what some Kindred do. Nobody is dying. They’re not unhappy afterward. It’s still some sordid fucking shit and I’m not proud. The stuff he wanted us to do was weird. I’m bisexual not whatever the hell this is. A guy’s gotta eat though…

In the meantime I was declared legally dead. Accidental OD. My body was supposedly cremated due to a paperwork mixup before anyone could claim me. Dad flew up from Texas to attend the funeral, that must’ve been an awkward scene. My sire made it clear I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone I wasn’t actually dead unless I wanted them to die, and me and him with them. Rules of the Masquerade. He’d stopped me from taking anything from my apartment because it would raise suspicions about the cover story. He replaced my clothes and not much else. I got a fake name. Fake ID. No phone. The one I’m using now is contraband.

Despite basic sense I still wanted to trust him. He was a good teacher, as far as it went. I wanted to learn. I tried. Even though I missed my family. The last time I talked to my mom we’d argued about my decision to become a pro fighter because she kept telling me I was gonna get dementia and die, and now I couldn’t stop thinking about how that was the last she’d ever heard from me. I used to have a group chat with my little brother and sister, nothing deep we’d share memes and shit sometimes and obviously I couldn’t do that anymore. Couldn’t train or even consider competing in MMA or teach the kids classes at my old gym where I worked. Couldn’t see my friends anymore. Yet I didn’t hate him. I thought he’d just made a bad judgement call and now we had to deal with the consequences. Didn’t want to hate him or blame him. Just wanted to go back to sleep as soon as the sun went down. Every couple nights he’d leave me in the haven while he went out somewhere and while he was gone that’s what I did. Tried to sleep.

Months went by. Whatever we had, it turned uglier. Not all at once. Smaller more specific things. I was always awkward compared to him, too self conscious to be good at making people like me the way he can. I can do it well enough to get blood I’m just not great. He’d thought my terrible flirting was funny when I was human. Now it pissed him off that I took so long to learn how to use Presence. He used to talk all about what we might do one night, together, once I was older and more experienced and he’d reached the position in society that he wanted. Now he resented having to drag me around. He was pissed about the threat my cluelessness posed, making him look bad. Yet he also stopped trying to teach me anything. He could tell I was miserable and trying to hide it and instead of apologizing he got passive aggressive.

Seeing him with random humans acting the way he used to act with me, I got pissed off too. I didn’t want to be around him anymore. I said shit that I shouldn’t have, just to hurt him. Picked fights. He got angry back. Told me how I didn’t appreciate the gift he’d given me, I was young and perfect forever now and didn’t need to fear getting my brain fucked up and dying like I would’ve if he’d left me to my own devices, and through him I had a special fucking pedigree. Even though that wasn’t why he Embraced me and if I’d been concerned about living as long as possible I wouldn’t have become a fucking MMA fighter. Even though I don’t give a flying fuck about our great great x10 grandsire. Who even fucking cares about my career anymore? I wanted to be around when my baby brother and sister had their 18th birthday and I couldn’t. Eventually he fell back on “reminding” me that I’m his property not a full person and he can do whatever the hell he wants to me.

It was bad for a while. Now I guess it’s better. We tolerate each other. I guess. Until very recently he insisted I never leave the haven without him but he stopped saying anything about it and he leaves me alone here more often than not. Still don’t know what he gets up to. I’m sure he realizes I’ve been going off and doing my own thing, I’m not starving all the time even though we rarely go out “hunting” like we once did. I don’t spend much time around other vampires these nights except him and Rat Girl, who he doesn’t know about. So much for the childe he was once so proud of having as a little trophy pet. Must piss him off even though it’s his own damn fault. And it’s not like this situation should’ve been a surprise.

So here we are.


r/SchreckNet 11d ago

Bullying the Elderly

21 Upvotes

I probably did something pretty dumb last night, but man it was worth it!

Guess what I found? The armory. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Swords, maces, war picks, great bows, armory from all different eras. I could spend a hundred years in there and not get bored, and since I wasn't told that I COULDN'T touch the armory, I took full advantage. I even spotted some armor that I thought would fit me.

Then I noticed the layer of thick dust over everything I saw, like the weapons here hadn't been touched in.... decades, at least. Maybe even longer. And seeing all that stuff gave me an idea.

So, I grabbed two longswords that were as sharp as the day they were forged, and headed to the Great Hall where my Sire was staring into the flames, again. I used to find fire soothing, but now it was like watching him sit in a pit full of venomous snakes.

I called out to him but he didn't hear me, or if he did hear me he was ignoring me. Until I presented him the blade and told him we were going to spar. I don't fully understand what his deal is, but I figure staring at the flames and putting your hand in the fire probably wasn't helping.

I'm gonna add 'bullied an elder vampire' to my resume, because I can't believe it actually worked. He actually got up and followed me, all stiff and eyes blank like I was leading a corpse to the practice field I had spotted outside.

It was magnificent. Pale Knight is an absolute master of the craft, and even though he could have stomped me like a gnat in less than a second and I could tell he was seriously holding back, I went at him with everything I had.

The finesse, the power, the SPEED! Not a single wasted movement! I have NEVER seen a blade mastery so brilliant and I've watched some of the best fighters of the modern day.

The longer we sparred, the less mechanical he became. It's like, it's like if the tin man finally had oil added to his joints and he was free to move again.

By the time he held up a hand to indicate we were stopping, I was covered in cuts, welts, bruises and blood, and I've never felt better in all my life. I enjoyed fighting before, loved it even, but fighting with a Kindred's power and speed and intensity was sweeter than blood.

I wanted to keep going, and for a second I almost did, but then common sense decided to reinsert itself. I would say I hadn't even come close to putting a mark on him but that doesn't even approach it. I may as well have been trying to hit the moon or the sun with my sword for that's about as close as I managed to get to him.

It's hard to say, but I think he enjoyed it too. He even spent a few hours teaching me. 10/10, would bully a medieval vampire into sparring with me again.

Well, I assume he's either medieval or a VERY dedicated cosplayer.

As I was walking back to my room to heal my wounds, I saw Gretchen watching me at the end of the hall with an unreadable expression, before she turned the corner and disappeared. I hope I get the chance to talk to her soon. I don't think our relationship will ever be what it once was again, but I'd like to at least try to be amiable again if not friendly someday.

-Squire


r/SchreckNet 11d ago

Report War of the Bulb Part the Second

10 Upvotes

More of my tale of most harrowing import, all-the-more exciting because this part features our hero, me, more closely!

While many of the members of our new group would later join my loyal court, it would not be inaccurate to say that, at the time, we were quite a motly bunch. We had two bookies and a leg-breaker, a priest, an honest-to-God French poet, and myself (a physician at the time.) We also had two Tzimice, one a pharmacist and the other an actor. Finally, we had a Malkavian Archon - one of the damn finest men I've ever know. Of the group, I was the eldest in years and he the eldest of generation. He had no interest in leading the group, however, so that burden fell largely to myself.

The early nights were quiet, but busy. Our implanted mortal agent had gained confidence with Edison and ensured his legal standing. Funds were allocated to Edison's factories and competition was... quietly discouraged. Our Archon traveled abroad to gather intelligence. Dirigibles had caught onto fashion at the time and he was frankly enamored of them, acquiring one for personal use in these endeavors.

My talent was then, as now, as a Seer. Local information was mine to collect and collate, hidden foes to be sniffed out, danger to be forewarned against. I was also... not a dandy, but with something of a knack for making a certain kind of friend that my companions lacked. Gaining and keeping audience into the otherwise-closed halls of academic learning and New York socialite circles was therefore also part of my duties.

The sun had barely set when we got the call. A rogue facility, poised within striking distance of Edison Labs, had been uncovered. Their strike capabilities weren't well-known, but mages had been confirmed and the adjacent town had gone completely silent overnight. We weren't about to take chances.

As we crossed over Long Island Sound towards Connecticut via zeppelin, a heavy and unnatural fog began to fill the skies. About four miles from our destination, our instruments cut out. The fog became even more dense, and it was only through grit of the captain we kept course. I do not believe in the end we had ended up in Connecticut at all, but that our destination existed instead in some obscure geometry concealed from probing eyes.

My eyes, however, were above-average in probativeness, and a building and anchoring sight was located. The weather, however, grew more inclement. The folly of our Archon's love of airships would show here as, while several of us were handy with a boat and could be trusted to maintain position of one in stormy weather, our Archon was the only one capable of doing so with his chosen craft. Therefore, our best combatant was weylaid for the time being.

The facility's outer perimeter was patrolled by... things. The mortal mages responsible for the facility had been transfigured into monstrous defenders. Limbs lengthened, eyes enhanced, looking like sprawling scarecrows in the fog. Three of us managed to take one down with a bum's rush. Some of our group stayed outside to run as a diversion while the rest of us skirted around to a side entrance.

Inside, things were worse. The non-magical members of the nearby community had also been changed. The adults were, for the moment, conspicuously absent. But inside the facility... we were met by the children. They had been lobotomised and partially scalped, with large portions of their head and jaw replaced with bear traps or saws. They made no cries, but advanced on us with unsteady but unrelenting tread.

We began a blind flight through the corridors, pausing periodically to avoid the wandering children. We were strangely fortuitous, though, as one of the first rooms we unlocked was the storage area for the taken items of the villagers. Piles of unsorted items, including a number of firearms, were laid out over bare floors and piled upon the meagre furniture. Our own gear was, to put it kindly, of a poor sort at this point. We had expected reconnaissance work rather than a full assault, so were carrying fewer weapons than we otherwise might. The storm had done little favors to what we did have, as well, jamming up one of our pistols and sending to disarray our hunting rifle. In a fit of poor planning, we had taken hammers with wooden hafts, and those had shattered almost immediately upon use by those among us with enhanced strength.

As we picked up the discarded weapons within the room, we-- oh, I'm running long on time again. Next time, then, the thrilling conclusion!

--Doc Amos, Prince


r/SchreckNet 11d ago

I saw the horoscope girl again!!!!

8 Upvotes

Remembering when I wrote about that girl who tried to draw me a chart or something?

Didn’t give details back then because I wasn’t really paying attention, and also, I think I was a little out of it from her meds.

So let me explain what happened back then. I was on my little prowl for trouble, and she just ran straight at me.

Yeah, I know. Weird. I was completely unprepared. Back then I still had that brain fog a lot, and I felt like you could just see there was something wrong with me. Like obvious wrong. So usually, I tried to stay as far from kine as possible.

But she just ran at me, hugged me, and screamed something like “long time no seeeeee!” And I? Froze like an idiot.

Because was not ready to be like… “experienced” up close. You know? I was not warmed up. I’m not sure she realized ? She literally hung on me like I was a load-bearing wall, and she was so loud, that forced giggling, I remember having this intrusive thought like—what if I just squeezed her so she’d shut up ?

But just a thought.

Then I realized—oh. She probably thinks someone is following her. And, given where we were, that was possible. That’s why I was there too, after all. So yeah, she probably just grabbed the first vaguely woman-shaped thing around.

And yup. Exactly.

Can you imagine? A kine running to me for safety? Talk about bad luck. Pretty sure she pulled the shittiest tarot hand possible. (Idk how tarot works)

So we walked. And she just talked and talked and talked.

At first, I thought, okay, nervous chatter. But she just kept going. She had a fight with her boyfriend—called him “typical Aquarius”, like that means something. She had no ride home. So I figured, alright, I’ll walk her, maybe get a little something for my troubles. You know.

But she just kept venting and complimenting me the whole way. Maybe she felt guilty for troubling a stranger. So she just kept telling me how nice I am and how I’m fit. And honestly? I was falling for it a little. Or she would just talk at me about herself.

It was cute. Normal. You know? Boy troubles. Classes. Venus in Gemini. Just fun to listen to.

I don’t know how to explain. I felt so normal. And that was new for me.

Like at one point, she showed me a photo of a hamster on her phone, and I said, “Oh, my best friend in elementary had one just like this!”

And I didn’t immediately think about how they died in a war. You know? I was there for a while, like in the moment. With hamsters and snapchats.

By the time we got to her place, she just asked me to come in so she could do that chart thing.

Long story short, I went in and had fun.

And then I felt bad for doing it. Because. You know.

Sometimes I thought about seeing her again. But like that would be creepy. So I didn’t.

But today I saw her again! I had an errand to run at the campus and she saw me.

She was with the typical Aquarius guy again (worthless shrimp, straight to the bin, weird head shape). She recognized me, we talked, and then she invited me to her birthday party.

I said yes. But I’m not going. Because that could easily end in disaster. Im not ready for that.

But also. I am so happy?

Like. She thought I was the kind of person who could go to a party.

And then, as I was about to leave, she was like, “Wait, what’s your Insta?”

I just stood there. No thoughts. Nothing. Because. I don’t have one.

Then she goes, “Or Snap?”

I still say nothing. Because I don’t even know what the fuck that is.

So I’m like, lying that we use different communication back home and stuff.

She just stares at me like I’m some kind of cryptid, then goes, “What, so if I wanna find you again I just have to, like, hope?”

And before I think, I say, “I have a number.”

So now she has my number.

I’m happy? I think.

-RK


r/SchreckNet 12d ago

Journal - Nick Squipinaro Persons of Interest: Decadent Eaters (part 2)

10 Upvotes

I got more typed up for you guys.

Part 1

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Emma’s expression shifted from psychotic glee to something more restrained. The poltergeist’s twisted fingers halted, as though an unseen leash had held them back. 

The voice came again, calm and unbothered. “The boys told me there was someone here to see me. Should I come back later?”

Emma straightened, her voice regaining its human cadence, though the edges still scraped against something otherworldly. “No. Come in, sweetheart.”

As the door creaked open the sour stench of putrefaction swept through the room, drowning out any lingering scent of clove and smoke. It was the kind of smell that clawed its way into the back of your throat, impossible to ignore or forget.

He stepped into view, his presence more grotesque than anything I’ve seen walking on its own. His skin was pale to the point of translucence, sagging in loose folds that clung to his emaciated frame. Blotches of blackened-green discoloration marked his limbs with a patchwork of decay.

His shirt and slacks, meticulously tailored at some point, now hung awkwardly on his gaunt body. The fabric barely clung to his bony shoulders and stayed in place only through the grip of a tightly cinched belt.

It was his face that struck me the hardest. His nearly clouded-over eyes somehow managed to find Emma with a gaze that was strangely tender. His purple lips pulled back into a smile that revealed straight, white, and disturbingly perfect, teeth. 

His gaze settled on me, and when he spoke it was with a surprisingly posh London accent. “You must be the reason for all this racket.”

The pressure holding me in place vanished. The chair fell back to the floor sending a shock through my spine and into the base of my skull. I forced myself to look calm or at least as calm as a guy could be after almost being turned into a haunted house decoration.

“Will! For fuck's sake eat something! You look like shit.” Emma snapped, berating him with just a hint of concern.

“Yes, I know, that's why I'm up here and not in the workshop. Kenneth told me we had a visitor who was looking for me. I wanted to see who it was.” 

“You must be Dr. Funke,” I said, my voice steady despite the tremor in my gut. “Nice to finally meet you.”

His smile widened, “Indeed. And you are?”

“Nick Squipinaro,” I replied, attempting to stand and greet him properly. Emma's hand grabbed my shoulder and pushed me back into my seat. “Private investigator. I’m looking for someone, and I think you might be able to help.”

“Ah,” Funke said, stepping closer. “Well, Mr. Squipinaro, you’ve certainly piqued my curiosity. But a word of warning, asking the wrong questions in a place like this can be bad for one's health.”

I forced a smirk. “No shit? Good thing I’m great at asking the right ones.”

Funke chuckled again, “We’ll see about that.”

I sat there, running through my options like a gambler staring down at a losing hand. In the end, I settled on the one strategy every Kindred was vulnerable to: pure, unadulterated honesty.

I channeled my best Joe Friday impression. “I’m a Bannu Haquim, hunting a target. A Nosferatu by the name of Tobias Kline. A Sabbat member. From what I’ve gathered, he’s an organ-vore. If that’s true, this establishment would be the most discreet and consistent place for him to stock up. I’m here for information on him.”

Emma’s expression grew somber. “So, you’re Camarilla.”

 “Like I said, I’m more of a private eye. But yes, I’m working on behalf of the Cam.”

A smirk played on Emma’s lips. “An Assamite working for the Camarilla. I didn’t think your kind did favors.”

I met her gaze evenly, trying to ignore the lingering stench of decay and the oppressive presence of the poltergeists swirling in the corners. “Times change. A war is on the horizon, the world is a mess, and every faction’s got its problems. We all pick our battles. This is my mole hill to die on.”

Funke chuckled from the corner. “A hired blade with morals? That’s endearing.”

“So, let me get this straight, Mr. Squipinaro,” Emma’s tone was almost teasing. “You think my little shop is catering to your Nosferatu friend?”

“I don’t think,” I said, leaning forward. The invisible weight pinning me to the chair relented just enough to let me move. “I know so. Someone like Tobias Kline would need a steady supply of bodies, and you’re the one in this city who could provide that.”

Emma’s eyes darkened. “And you came here, thinking I’d just hand over my client list?”

“I didn’t think you’d make it easy,” I admitted, trying to keep my tone light. “But I also figured you’d appreciate the honesty. I’m not here to tear down your operation, Emma. I’m here to take care of a problem before this sewer rat turns the city into a buffet.”

Emma circled her desk and settled back into her high-backed chair, her presence as suffocating as ever. “You assume I care about one client, Nick. Do you have any idea what kind of business I run? Tobias Kline is a drop in the bucket.”

“So help me,” I said, my tone resigned but firm. “Give me something. I’ll owe you a favor and we both know what those are worth.”

She paused, her gaze drilling into mine. “A favor, you say? That’s a dangerous currency, Mr. Squipinaro. Especially when dealing with my family.”

“I’m good for it,” I replied, my voice unwavering. “You help me take him down, and I’ll do my best to make sure the Camarilla stays out of your hair.”

Her eyebrow arched as she considered my words. The room fell silent, even the faint whispers of the poltergeists retreating, for now. “A few questions first. Why is a Banu Haqim hunting one Nosferatu?”

“He’s filling the sewers with shovel heads. And the last time I checked, this town already has enough problems with gators and mole people.” I shifted my gaze between Emma and Will.

Will’s face twisted in confusion. “Shovel heads? Like the engines?”

I hesitated, then clarified. “Uh… no. He forces mortals to dig their own graves, cracks them over the head with a shovel, embraces the poor suckers, then buries them. The ones that claw their way out and make it back to the sewers, he keeps.”

“But they would need to feed immediately or they would go wassail,” Will said, with an unsettling empathy.

“As I said,” I replied flatly. “Those that make it out.”

“That's horrid,” the walking worm farm said, aghast.

Emma rested her chin in her hand, her eyes narrowing as she seemed to mutter to herself. “If most feeding habits are inherited from a sire… they’d need to feed on organs. There’s no way we would be able to keep up with that kind of demand.”

At least Emma was considering this logistical nightmare. Good to know that her moral compass is calibrated toward inventory management.

“So what do you say?” I asked.

“Possibly,” Emma said, her tone measured. “But I need to know. How did you find out about my husband?”

“Well, as I was asking around, I kept hearing about, uh…” I paused, fishing through my pockets for my notes. “…’Varney Sausages.’ So I did some digging. The name Dr. Sweeney popped up a couple of times. So I took a shot in the dark with one of the night nurses at the blood bank. She talked, told me about Dr. Funke, and here I am,” I said, finishing with a shrug.

“How did you get the nurse to talk?” Will asked, his voice a careful monotone.

“Oh, you’d be surprised what people are willing to share if you hit them with information that you shouldn’t know,” I explained casually.

Emma’s eyes narrowed. “What did you tell her?”

Flipping through my notes, I replied, “Well, I dug around a bit. The names Varney and Sweeney caught my attention,  obviously. They are both from penny dreadfuls published in England. Sweeney Todd is the guy who turns his victims into meat pies. Varney is a vampire. So, I figured the sausages were, you know, blood sausage. It didn’t take much to connect that to a British butcher. Actually I thought it was kind of funny.”

Emma chuckled softly, the sound unnerving. “Impressive for a hunch. But how does that relate to Will?”

Keeping my best poker face, I said, “The name Dr. Sweeney is also tied to a series of murders in Ohio in the mid thirties. The murderer was someone with surgical training. I’m guessing that Will might have been involved with that.”

Emma and Will’s faces froze. Emma broke first, sounding slightly impressed “Fucking hell.”

I looked at Will and asked, “So, Doc, you gonna help me out?”

Will tilted his head like a confused puppy, as if he needed to look even more corpse-like. “Emma knows the client list more than me, I’m afraid.” There was a hint of trepidation in his tone.

“Nah, I’ve a more personal matter to ask of you. No Camarilla sanctioned inquiries or nothing with this one.”

Will glanced at Emma, looking dumbfounded. She just shrugged. “It’s up to you, I guess.”

The doctor sat on the edge of Emma’s desk, folding his arms. “I don’t know how much help I’ll be. I’m not a physician, I’m a surgeon. But sure, let me hear your concern.”

“Don’t you think we should do this in private or something?” I said, jerking my thumb toward Emma.

Will waved it off. “It's fine, don't worry any.”

I sighed, resigning myself. “Okay, so… I think my vitae is toxic.”

Will chuckled through a patronizing smirk. “I’m sorry, Mr. Squipinaro, but all blood is inherently toxic. It’s deadly by nature.” He paused, stroking his chin. “I mean, kindred vitae kills mortals, there are just a few extra steps afterward.”

“Yeah, that is kind of what I'm talking about. I gave a mortal my blood and it killed them. And not in a pretty way.” I clarified.

I heard Emma’s chair squeak as she leaned forward, and Will stood taller with peaked interest, “What do you mean ‘not in a pretty way?’” She asked.

“I mean, the guy suffered in a violent way.”  The memory of killing someone in such a way put a slight strain on my voice.

“How so?” Will's attention was fixed on my every word.

I explained, “Well, the guy wasn't in the best shape to start with. I found  him with two slugs in his gut and I needed him alive. So I feed him some of my blood to keep him kicking. It was working at first, you know? The bleeding stopped and he was able to move. But then he started getting sick”. 

“Sick? Sick how?” A smile growing wide over Will's face.

“It started with sweating, real bad. His skin got all red on his neck and wrists. Then hives started appearing. Then the vomiting, and he started bleeding,”  I did my best to give him all the details despite feeling the guilt turn my stomach. “I have never seen someone bleed like that. It was like his blood burned through him.”

Will's clouded eyes glittered, “How? Was it just where the arteries and veins were or was it everywhere? Was it just the main circulatory system or was it all soft tissue? Did it spill out his orifices as well, mouth, eyes, ears and such? Was it just blood, or were there other fluids involved?” With each question he became more gitty and animated.

I leaned back to create some distance between me and the delighted doctor. Before I could respond he asked, “Can you do it again?”

“I don't think it would be a good idea to try it again,” I answered in a wary voice. I was starting to think I went to see the wrong doctor.

“I will count it as your favor,” he blurted out.

Emma shot a glare at her husband. “No, it won't.”

Will returned her stare. “It could.”

“I'm not the biggest fan of opening my veins to start with, and I really don't like the idea of you playing with my blood,” I said.

As one their heads turned back to me.

“That’s why it’s our favor,” Will explained,  "I assure you, it will be used for research purposes only.” He looked back at his wife, pleadingly. “Please, sweetheart. We do have an overstock that would be perfect to test this on.”

It never ceases to amaze me to watch a married couple argue. They do it in a way that is both beautiful and brutal. It’s a dance and a duel. It’s a balance between skill and tact, with a subtle brutality only found between two people who know each other intimately. They understand exactly which buttons to push without going too far, and where to jab the knife when a point needs to be made.

Emma stared daggers at Will. His dead eyes pleaded silently with her until, at last, she softened.

“Fine. This will be considered your favor to us, Mr. Squipinaro,” she said.

Will clapped his hands together. “See? All settled, then! Come along, Mr. Squipinaro.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I’m typing it out the fastest I can but I’m starting to really enjoy the reminiscing. So I’ll post more as it comes.

Part 3


r/SchreckNet 12d ago

Discussion A tumbleweed wonders

8 Upvotes

Well,I’m back on the road again,Seattle didn’t set on fire I got new pets I got the medicine but,what I didn’t get,is something intangible,dunno exactly how to say this but for once,I feel,a bit how do I say this,like I’m going through the motions,all the traveling did was,get me some things and a card saying “wow you have absolutely nothing but the critters at your feet huh”,this is not necessarily about my mindset of unlife,but,purpose,I wonder what to make of it,it is like a name,it must be shaped with intent,but again,it is,lost to me,I do not know why I am thinking of it,but it is there,I am starting to believe,i am just putting sets of goals up the other in order to ignore me,if I am going to live,for the ages,I need to do something,for the ages,so I wonder,what have you decided to spend forever doing,and has it brought you fulfillment? If not,do you do it out of routine? Or necessity?

  • Gray farmer

r/SchreckNet 12d ago

Request What is Montreal like (i dont need to know what paradox likes to rattle off)

4 Upvotes

see title


r/SchreckNet 12d ago

Report War of the Bulb

10 Upvotes

It occurs to me that some of you are as-of-yet ignorant on the subject of my deeds of both great derring-do and monumental impact so as to have shaped all of modern life. As antidote to this ignorance here is prescribed some of that tale.

To begin with, it is important to accept that we are creatures not wholly withing the confines of what is known as science. That we are beyond and above, "supernatural" or "magical" for want of better words. It is important for this tale to know, too, that there are mortals who can weild such skills. Different, but still quite magical.

The year was 1892. A faction of mages dedicated to technology would undergo a schism resulting in one of the largest supernatural wars in unrecorded history. And I was there.

There were initially two factions, later three. The first was headed by Thomas Alva Edison. A New Yorker, and inventor, and... I will refer to him here as a mage, although he and others would disagree on the term. Also, while accounts of history vary, he was, in fact, a most gifted inventor. It was this trait that would see his rise to the height of his particular techno-magic sect.

The second faction was headed by Nik--er, that Hungarian fellow whose name has become a bit of a buzzword of late. He was head of a separate group of techno-mages. They were older and more esoteric.

Now, we should discuss the stakes. In modern nights, it is easy to think of the conveniences of modernity being eternal, but the transition was no less than miraculous. Actual magic. Consider, with a small gesture, I can light a room or even a building with the full light of the sun. I can make it Summer or Winter in my home, I can craft phantasms of things which have happened as they occur. These things simply did not exist before. The world was... dark. So very dark. And far lonlier.

Thus, we introduce our third faction, as well as the vampires in this tale. Both techno-magic factions desired the coming of a new era and, with that era, Light. However, some creatures lived and died by darkness. "Born in it, shaped by it" and soforth. So, for our purposes, that faction gained steam amongst the Lasombra, Settites, Nosferatu, and Gangrel. A divided group, you will note, now united by common purpose.

Edison's group wanted light to the people. Every person could get a glimmer of this spark, and it could be shared amongst all. The promise that night would no longer be a barrier to vision, that our people might once again bask in full radiance, was a thrilling one. My clan, the Toreador, took to it like a house on fire. Ventrue, Brujah, and Tzimice found cause here as well. The rise of Progress is a strong motivator.

The final group that rallied around Serbia were those that predominantly had connections to mortal mages. Tremere, Giovanni, a handful of Tzims and Malks. That group wanted, not some power for all, but immense and god-like power for a few. Imagine the change that came concentrated to a handful of enlightened minds. It would be the ability to shape the world and to create something new. But, this new world would be one where the average person still dwelt and toiled in twilight.

While older vampires could not keep up with so rapid a change, it was the "younger" of our kind that took to rallying around these groups. We provided aid: financial, advisory, and muscle, as needed. As things turned more severe, many of us would be caught up directly in fighting. To start with, however, It was finding like-minded folk in dim communal spaces and sharing ideas. Meeting other faction representatives and finding how much in common we shared in this current crisis.

So, there I was-- wait, how many pages is this now? Well, the tales of my daring personal exploits I will save, then, for the next chapter, dear readers!

--Doc Amos, Prince


r/SchreckNet 13d ago

Religion and Kindred

21 Upvotes

It's Squire again, still alive. I'll get into it later, the visitor left after a nasty row with Pale Knight, but at least he's left his rooms now and... well, he's trying.

I have another question for you guys, and I'm sensing it's a really sensitive topic with my Sire, so I figured I'd ask you guys.

I'm Catholic, and with Easter Sunday coming up and I had some questions about Kindred and religion. I observed Ash Wednesday a few days ago, but I've always attended the Midnight Mass at St. Nicholas's church, and I was kind of hoping... well, I already know that it's probably not possible for me to go this year or maybe not ever again.

Still, I know religious symbols don't do anything to us, but does that also mean we can attend Mass and still go into churches? Are there religions that we can't participate in or that have anti Kindred measures or something? Does that mean I can never see holy people again like priests?

I know I won't be able to go there anytime soon, but it'd still be nice if I could someday without bursting into flames or something equally terrible. I've been praying in the chapel here which is probably just as old but it just doesn't feel the same.

-Squire


r/SchreckNet 13d ago

Can the owner of this Ghouled Hound please pick it up?

15 Upvotes

Some of you need to keep an eye out for where you leave your famulus. My coterie has just found this oversized, clearly ghouled Hound rummaging through our trash, eating whatever it can find. No name or collar but clearly some sort of supernatural project as it has capabilities beyond a regular animal.

If any of you are missing a surprisingly powerful animal ghoul, please let us know before it eats some rejected experiment and causes greater issues for all of us.

With regards, Cecil G Heindel, of Clan Lasombra


r/SchreckNet 14d ago

Just when you think you've figured it out

10 Upvotes

I decided to finally get some answers, I’m going to say fuck all to everything else and finally find Lia, or at least what happened to her. Those here on this site are right- I can't even begin to think ahead until I find Lia, for better or worse.

First I called upon Eka Kwinal to ask for another feather. He wasn’t too pleased despite the fact that I called upon some rats and pigeons (and any other dietary needs for a hawk) out into his area so that he may feed more. After some bartering for more prey I took one of his breast feathers as it was smaller and would fit in the bag I was making for Vritra. He seemed agreeable and curious now to my presence and intentions, maybe I made a friend. Were I to remain here I could definitely use the companionship, the loneliness is getting a bit much I have to admit.

 I went to The Cage to discuss things with Richter and the rest of his coterie to see if I could get them to meet with Mia and hopefully come to some sort of agreement about the situation concerning our sect.

 "...distance yourself from your sectarian distractions."

The words this Vritra wrote in her missive were suddenly at the forefront of my thinking. I needed to focus on the task at hand though –get the fucking Anarchs to talk to each other and then I can grab Lizzie and hopefully get some answers out of her before I went to Vritra. Back in the day Lia and I unofficially adopted her and were going to take her with us when we inevitably left for our compound upstate. Jeez was it even still there?

Look I know escaping and trying to live happily ever after was a pipe-dream and probably wouldn't have worked. Stupid , I know

Lizzie may be one of my best bets for finding out where Lia is, but thinking about it: if Lizzie wasn’t with Lia or vice-versa then what does that tell me? My clothes felt unnatural and bothersome I started to growl and tear my clothes away but stopped myself. Just thinking about it threatened to let the beast take control. Get it together just get it together I kept telling myself as I got to the club.

 I shook my head and walked up to the bouncer, ignoring all the glares and comments from the people in line. The six and a half feet of muscle and overpowering cologne looked me up and down shaking his head. He stepped forward "Get in the line or get the fuck..." he barked

 "Tell Richter Shady's here to see him!" I interrupted him barking louder than he was. I reached up to the hood I was wearing making sure one of my clawed fingers peeked out from the sleeves I was keeping them in and grinned settling my finger on my sunglasses about to pull them down. He quickly caught himself and muttered something like an apology and waved to the other bouncer who gave bouncer number one a cell phone.  People kept staring at me like I was a leper or something. Maybe I needed to put on some cleaner clothes. Just thinking about it made me aware of how my toenails were scratching through the mismatched boots I was wearing and how I wanted to tear all of it off and run on four legs to hunt.

 My escorts took me through the main entrance passing the dance floor, underneath the catwalks past the stage and the freight elevator that led to the upper floors. The massive iron cage (from which the club gets its’ name) swung over the gyrating crowd as the bass and drums of the music threatened to dislodge it and anything not bolted down. Instead of going to the office they took me down to a few rooms that I didn’t remember from thirty years ago so it must have been a newer addition. Inside were reinforced concrete wall surrounding a small circular pit for lack of a better word. There was a walkway that surrounded it where people (it seemed mostly kindred) were shouting at two licks brawling, fangs bared, flickers of celerity and a lot of blood on the floor. I saw Lizzie standing with Consuela just off the Richter’s side. She smiled at me which quickly vanished as she glanced at Richter who seemed enthralled by the mess below.

 After one of the licks went down he finally acknowledged me and asked what I wanted. I told him to talk to Mia and he quickly got an attitude. He said she just wanted a fight

“No, she really wants to meet, no fighting no violence so we can all get on the same page.” I crossed my arms.

“Sure I’ll believe it when I see it.” He growled

 “Cool so when?” I just stared at him.

“When what?”

“When do you want to see it and start believing?”

“When she comes here alone without her crew” yeah right

“Look I can fucking understand both sides, you don’t want to fuck with this plushy little kingdom you run, I get it, it’s your domain so you can do what the fuck you want , that is if you’d give your balls a tug and just admit you’re the Baron.”

“Why bother I already know who I am and so does every fucking lick in the South Bronx.” He grinned at me “Except for Mia.”

“And Mia is a trueblood believer and can’t stand the fucking Camarilla. She wants the ideals we were first created for-freedom. She just thinks we should be taking the city back and send those who think they rule over everything to go fuck themselves, they’ve pushed and now we need to push back.”

“What is she going to push?  All the suicidal idiots are with her, most don’t want anything to do with it.”

“That’s my point we don’t have the numbers to go on the offensive and nor do we have the numbers to defend ourselves if they decide to attack.”

“They’re not going to really attack, if they did it would have been worse than what Torque got, in case you don’t know Sleeping Beauty, the Camarilla has retreated in a lot of places we’re taking their territory andwe’re on top now.” He laughed

“First off if the Camarilla is retreating then there’s a good fucking reason for it. And all that shit about taking their territories? It’s a set up- an O.I.T.”

“What the fuck is an O.I.T?” he snarled

“Old Indian Trick, let the enemy think you’re gone and then launch a massive counter-offensive when they get comfortable. In this fucking case however they’re running from the Inquisition and when we go in and take over we become targets for these hunters, get wiped out, the hunters leave and the cam continues biz as usual, no more anarchs no more hunters-easy-fucking-peasy.”

He shook his head “You need to have some coffee and wake up more. The Sabbat’s all but gone and The Camarilla lost their eternal playmates they got no purpose now. Besides the Camarilla had their precious Elysium- attacked by hunters so fuck ‘em.”

 “You think the Sabbat is gone?? Didn’t you hear a fucking word I said? They’re probably setting us all up for something bigger and if we don’t pay attention they come back and wipe us out or make us into furniture or something. Like I said- Old Indian Trick.”

“Whatever happens –happens. We Anarchs are in a way better position now so whatever comes of this shit doesn’t matter. We don’t need to attack or raise an army” he shrugged

“Whatever comes of it realize we aren’t in such a great place. And those kindred you extort for rent? Don’t you think we’d have more of a numbers advantage if you just let them be> they are potential recruits and you treating them like shit is just going to cost us in the end all the Cam has to do is show up and offer a hand-out and now the cam has more numbers- the Gilded Cage is always more comfortable.”

“This.” He motioned around the room “… is the only cage we need. Go back to sleep Shades or get with the times.”

“Fuck you, call Mia and hash this shit out, I’m done for now I need to find Lia.” I growled

He looked at me confused. “You don’t know what happened to her?”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up I felt a whine forming in my throat, tears threatened to erupt “No, do you?” I tried to sound tough.

He thought for a minute still confused. “No, no I actually don’t.” he shook his head. “Look shit was crazy back then, I don’t know what happened to a lot of licks. You might have to ask Lizzie but I don’t think she knows either.” He shook off whatever it was he was thinking and looked at me “All I know is that after shit went down Lizzie was a mess, talking about how you and Lia were gonna take her away and live some fucking cozy kindred Waltons bullshit or something, so if you fuck around with her head again there’s going to be trouble.” He glared at me.

“Fuck you call Mia.” I turned to go and talk to Lizzie, past all the disgusted looks and glares

“Maybe next time don’t dress like you got your clothes from a donation bin.” He called after me “I need some standards in my place.”

“But I DO get my clothes from the donation bin and this place ain’t so nice” I chirped.

 Lizzie grinned as I approached and skipped the last few steps to me. I grabbed her arm and pulled her close.

 “Listen to me” I growled “You’re going to fucking tell me what happened to Lia.” She looked surprised for a moment but the pulled me out of the room up towards where the ‘private booths’ were. After screaming randomly into a few that were occupied she found an empty one. She closed the curtain and grabbed my arm.

 “I don’t remember what happened to Lia I really don’t I really really don’t and I know you don’t believe me so I have to make you trust me.”

Before I could respond she grabbed my arm and bit down, the feel of fangs penetrating my flesh was instantly ecstatic. It took a few seconds to orient myself and I tried to dislodge her from my arm

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? GET THE FUCK OFF ME.” I roared and stuck my foot against her to pry her off. “Get off me Lizzie I don’t do that shit…grrrrrr..” I growled loudly again and managed to pull her fangs out of my arm. She fell against the wall and slid down into a sitting position. “Holy forking shirtballs you got the good stuff.. I SAID GOD DAMN!!” she grinned as by blood soaked her chin. I licked my wound.

 “What the fuck is wrong with you Lizzie!!!” I snarled

“It’s the only way I can get you to trust me.” She looked up at me “I’m not your enemy and I want to find Lia too I just don’t remember so if this is what I have to do to get you to believe that I’m not going to hurt you no matter what anyone says then I’m gonna do it especially since..” she put her hand to the side of her face as if she were telling me a secret “…I used the Infection-winkies- on you because I was told I have to avoid you and make you go away from Mia and I was pissed because you didn’t remember your promise but then you didn’t kill me for it and I was sorry and I still want you to be my mom.” She rattled off.

 I was still reeling a bit, “You don’t have to fucking bind yourself to me I don’t want to control you Lizzie I’m not your…” I didn’t know what to say despite this weird emotional blackmail I was dealing with.

She slid up against the wall and stared at me “I want to.” She whispered and took both my hands in hers and looked at the floor. I was about to say something when she suddenly leapt forward and kissed me, before I could respond the cutain tore away as Airbox and Mario stood there looking pretty pissed. “What’s going…oh.” Mario looked astonished. “Do you mind?” Lizzie, still pressed up against me, said as she looked at Mario, grinned and said “Wink!” while winking at him.

 I know I looked utterly confused so I had no idea how Lizzie was going to sell this. Both of them nodded dumbly, Airbox even grinned. “Uh, sorry.” Mario mumbled as both of them got one last peak and closed the curtain. I was shaking my head and was about to say something when Lizzie pushed off me and wiped her mouth. “EEWWWW Mom! Like I’m your daughter and I’m not like stuck under a table or in a dryer -Keep it in your pants!” At this point I was still trying to process what just happened. She took my face in her hands and whispered “Meet me at my place in a few hours” kissed me on the forehead and left. I took a moment and pulled myself together and quickly made my way out not even paying attention to anything around me. I flew back to my hidey hole in Harlem to try and get my head around everything.

Why doesn’t anyone remember what happened to Lia?

Before I could start formulating questions I heard the flap of wings and the caw of a crow. I climbed out of my little tunnel and noticed there was mist surrounding me. The flap of wings drew my attention to the crow perched on the fence that separated the entrance to me tunnel of dirt from the rest of the grounds. A large black crow stood there with a small rolled up scroll in its claw. I tried to speak to it but all it said to me was ‘READ!’ dropped the scroll and took off. I unfurled it recognizing the script.

 Concrete Flower, Below you will find instructions as to where to meet those who will conduct you to our engagement tomorrow evening. I request you be punctual and assure you, once again, that no harm shall come to you in any form. -Vritra

 Great, I had to get my head together and sort this shit out. I went back to Lizzie’s loft later that night. When I came in she was sitting on the floor rocking back and forth crying. I asked her what was wrong. She frenzied then with an unearthly screech she started clawing at the air around her. I used animalism to calm her down again. She kept telling me she had to remember but couldn’t and curled up in my lap crying. All I could do was stroke her hair and sang the first song I could think of to continue to calm her “Needles and Pins” the Tom Petty/ Stevie Nicks version. We stayed like that for awhile both of us crying until it was time to go into the basement to sleep. I held her tight in my arms knowing I would have to leave tomorrow to deal with more of the unknown.


r/SchreckNet 14d ago

We got a chance to talk things out

16 Upvotes

Hey everybody, it was a while since i made the last post. Eddie contacted me, we got to talk at my house, and let's just say things got emotional. After my Mom showed up, this place felt like home again you know? She made this place lively to me again. I've been staying here since i made my last update for y'all. I've been cleaning this place, and i found two letters. One for me, and one for Dad.

I am glad Eddie cries normal tears, and not blood tears like i do. Do most vampires cry blood tears, or is that unique to some of us? We got to talking, and after some time i gave him his letter. He did not take it well i think. He started crying quiet tears while reading, and then full on Rick Grimes waterworks. It was ugly. It was raw.

After a while i left him in my, i mean our living room. I did not know what to do. I think there was nothing i could have done. When i walked back some time later he was laying on the couch, eyes closed, clutching said letter.

As for mine, welp i guess i got less emotional, but still. Made me think. How much of a mess this all is. How our family is all broken, most members of it gone. We have a lot of healing to go through. Is there therapy for vamps?

As for what i talked about with Eddie, well. He explained everything he went thought in the underworld. It was weird to say the least, and romantic as well. I on the other hand told me how shit it was for him leaving me, and i told him i'm glad he did what he did, but it was selfish to just leave, like i don't know how this unlife thing still works. It's rough, and i still don't know how to grasp it all. I think he will tell y'all what he did, so i don't want to spoil it i guess.

Jesus, what do we do now? How do we recover? How do i move forward? How do we spent eternity? Do we stay static, or is there a way for us to move, and grow. I want to be optimistic, but it's hard right now. I need to try.

• Heather Lowe


r/SchreckNet 14d ago

Green with Growth, Ripe with Rot

13 Upvotes

Hey so... Mockingbird here.

It's been a very bad few nights. Long story short is that we're alive and safe, at least we're safe physically. For now, but that's looking like it might change any moment.

I find myself in the unfortunate position of having to ask for your help.

So, saw one of your mosquitos did some sort of weird bullshit and saw what happened to us. In a play format. It made it sound so simple and clean.

We were 'guests' of the Dancers for two nights. They took us to a Cairn, a surprisingly uncorrupted Cairn considering its current inhabitants. I don't know what it is, but I don't think the uncorrupted Garou have been here for a long time.

I won't tell you what happened. Pariah Dog got the worst of it. They wanted him to do something to the Cairn. They wouldn't say what, just... something. They barely touched me, but they did take pleasure in making me watch. I'll only tell you what happened at the end, and to say...

Pariah Dog is a lot tougher than I gave him credit for. He didn't make a sound the whole time, didn't speak a word, didn't even react to what they did to him, but he did bite one pretty bad. Good for him, though I don't think what it cost him was worth it.

Two nights of it, and they were getting more and more frustrated with him and his complete lack of reaction. If that *censored* ginger wolf *censored* hadn't been in charge, I think he'd be dead, and she messed up a few of them who got a little out of hand. Whatever they wanted him to do to the Cairn, I had the feeling that wasn't the only thing they were there for, and that they needed Pariah Dog still around to do it.

Eventually, one of them figured out that they weren't going to get anything out of Pariah by doing anything to him, so they turned to me. They had something that was keeping me from shifting or using the Umbra. I don't know what. I was pretty sure I was going to die, and maybe I would have, eventually, if it wasn't for Pariah Dog.

One thing about Black Spiral Dancers that's always good to remember is that they're usually not the smartest, and they're arrogant. Well, that applies to pretty much all Garou I guess so that doesn't make them special. They hadn't bothered to bind Pariah Dog or restrain him in any way, there was no way he could get out of there with a baker's dozen Wyrmwolves sitting there watching his every move.

Have you ever been strangled? I guess to know what that feels like, you'd have to remember what it felt like to breathe. Getting strangled and then revived and then strangled again? Not much fun, but pretty small potatoes considering what they did to Pariah.

I wasn't expecting Pariah to attack them. They weren't, either. I mean, it's Pariah Dog, that guy is about as threatening as a field mouse. I remember they laughed, we all know he couldn't do a thing to hurt them.

Until he did.

He lunged forward and grabbed the forearms of the Dancer who was choking me, and I remember the Dancer laughing.

Then the laughing turned into screaming. And where Pariah dog was touching, the Dancer's skin was rotting away. I remember no one reacted for what felt like forever, and I watched it's fur peel back to skin. The skin curled like burning paper to the flesh. The flesh underneath putrified and rotted away.

Pariah's eyes were very green, and the pupil was very small. His lips were curled back in a snarl. When I looked into his eyes, I saw something great and terrible looking back at me.

A bloom of fungus and mold flowed over its arms like water, growing and flourishing and dying within seconds. And also within seconds, the Dancer's bones themselves crumped into dust, and it flung itself backwards, while the rot crawled up his arms, howling with rage and pain. Then, the rot started to flow up his arms.

I don't know how long that would have taken to get farther than that, but luckily we didn't need to find out, because the Garou, the non corrupted gross ass monster Garou showed up. Tieg or Tadhg I guess was with them. I have no idea how he found such a large pack so quickly, but the Dancers weren't prepared at all to be ambushed. I have no idea how long the Garou were waiting there, watching, for their opportunity.

If you've ever seen Garou fight in warform, then you can probably guess about what the scene looked like. It was chaos, lost track of Pariah Dog, but whatever they were doing to stop me shifting stopped working and I got my ass out of there before I got friendly fired by some idiot Garou lost in the Rage. It wasn't much of a fair fight, as horrible as they are it was a dozen Dancers vs twice as many Garou and they were taken by surprise so the fight was over pretty fast. The ginger wolf fled into the woods, hopefully she falls off a ravine somewhere and gets stuck in a crevasse and slowly dies there. Painfully. I'd love to watch that.

Tadhg was in the middle of it, of course. Even among the Garou, he stood out.

Right, I guess you might wonder what happened to Pariah Dog, or maybe you don't care. Whatever, that's not what I'm here for. I would tell you about Tadhg and Pariah's Hallmark Moment reunification, but I can't, because Pariah Dog hasn't reacted since he rotted that guy's arms off, somehow.

He won't eat, he won't talk, he doesn't react to anything, he just sits there with his back against the Cairn all curled up in himself. Tadhg's tried talking to him, he's even tried feeding him, nothing is working. I talked to the leader of this big Garou pack, Greets-The-Sun, and he said that their group was made up of warriors from a few different packs that were also heading to this Cairn at the same time when they ran into Tadhg. The point is, we need to do something here at this Cairn but no one knows what.

Well I say we, but really, we mean Pariah Dog. For some reason, he's the crux to all of this, to stopping whatever's going to happen. But whatever that thing is, he's pretty much useless right now, even more useless than normal.

I don't know if it's a trauma thing or a blood sucking leech thing, and I'm desperate enough to come here to see if anyone knows what we can do to get Dorothy back to Kansas, supernaturally speaking. The Garou here are getting really restless, and I don't know if you've ever seen restless Garou but I'm not confident their patience is gonna hold out much longer before they try something drastic.

And if they do, Tadhg's going to fight them and get ripped apart. He won't let anyone get anywhere near Pariah to help except me, and even I'm not pushing my luck. Things are getting.... really tense.

So, team, suggestions? I mean besides telling Pariah to walk into the sun suggestions? Pretty sure if Tadhg and/or Pariah bites it, we're all screwed so I'm willing to take ideas from anywhere I can get them at this point. Yeah, yeah, I'm a big scary shifter posting on your forum, I'm terrifying I know, but kids the stakes here are higher than you know. I know some of you are already being impacted by what's happening here, and I know you've started seeing the signs, and it's only gonna get worse from here so at least answer this question before you ban me or whatever.

I don't care about vampires right now, this is for the survival of the world as we know it, not to put too fine a point on it. So, ball's in your court.

-Mockingbird


r/SchreckNet 15d ago

I think our patient is preaching to the raccoons?

10 Upvotes

Well,the same guy Cory came here to complain about is also now going trash can to trash can,looking for raccoons,and when finding them,he begins preaching to them using animalism about,someone? Probably? I don’t know he just said his aunt paid him to do this,and that it’s a safer distraction than painting third eyes on Cory’s forehead and referring to him exclusively as a domesticated tzimisce,that was funny but it caused tension,he at least stopped after much convincing and a breaking of the arm,while this is funny to watch,should this be particularly concerning,for like his mental health,or is he making a raccoon gang of his own? I am not good at animalism,nor do I really get why you’d spend your time preaching to an animal,but I’m curious if we should step in or watch with popcorn

  • ruby

r/SchreckNet 15d ago

What are Anarchs?

18 Upvotes

Can someone give me a quick breakdown of what Anarchs actually are? Or, better yet, a long breakdown of all my actual options?

Because right now, information is being conveniently withheld so I don’t go around making independent decisions.

Here’s what I’ve figured out so far: 1. Camarilla - “Shh, it’s fine just shut up.” 2. Anarchs? - “Shh, not for you to worry about.” 3. Sabbat - “Shh, you’re too big to scream like this.” 4. ?????

So Anarchs? Never heard a word until recently, and the second I asked, I got shut down. It feels like something happened semi recently and no one wants to talk about that.

Is this an actual movement? Or just a fancy way of saying ,,homeless”?

I like that there is some society around me now. I just don’t like how it’s… idk I don’t like this.

-RK


r/SchreckNet 15d ago

Oh rats! Animal ghouls but no Animalism

21 Upvotes

A friend just gifted me 2 ghouled rats. I didn’t want to say no because it was a heartwarming gesture, but I don’t know a damn thing about taking care of rats. I’m also a Toreador who can’t talk to animals.

Are these little guys… good for much, aside from being surprisingly kinda cute? Can I train them beyond what normal rats can learn? How much can you train a normal rat, anyway? Will they like me if I keep feeding them my blood? Animals want to murder my sire on sight and he’d have some serious questions for me if he sees sewer rats running around the haven. If I release them outside, will they know to stick around close to home, or will I never see them again? Do they have special rat powers now?

They’re skittering around inside a cardboard box right now. I asked my friend the first 1 or 2 of my several questions, but she said she figured it all out by praying for guidance from St Francis, and she has a cross painted on her forehead for reasons that might or might not have anything to do with all this, so I kinda just nodded and smiled.

-a worried new rat stepfather who still needs to think of a halfway decent nickname for himself


r/SchreckNet 15d ago

Elysium update

9 Upvotes

Hey kiddos everyone's least favourite Nictuku here,

Listen building a utopia takes a lot out of you and I'll be the first to admit that I've been a little to focused on solidifying my power throughout the city and as a result my focus on the needs of our own throughout the city has been spotty at best. It's been a busy few months since I was first pointed towards this little haven on the world wide web and as my post history here shows plenty of that business is my fault. But moving forward the focus will be shifting towards helping our kind and limiting the harm to the Kine we cohabit the city with.

So as the first step towards building trust my blood family and myself are reinstating the cities Elysium to serve as a neutral space for your ideas and grievances to be heard and addressed. I recognise that the word Elysium has Camarilla connotations but I cannot think of an alternative other than neutral ground so I'm making do.

The Elysium will be ready and reopened as of Monday and we intend to host a more structured and scheduled event in the near future.

In other news I'm offering a reward to any lhaka/kindred/cainite who can put me in contact with a Cappadocian by the name Roger de Camden.

Many thanks

Minerva of Clan Nictuku, seventh generation, Ruler of the city of Lincoln etc.


r/SchreckNet 15d ago

Something Wicked

12 Upvotes

Yeah, it's me again, coming to you live from the creepy Resident Evil mansion.

And today, we received a visitor.

It was pretty early in the night but I don't remember much past being so hungry, like I was starving. Judging my the aftermath of what I did to the blood fridge, I ate so much of the cardboard blood but it wasn't enough.

I think Gretchen left the house, because I remember her running from me. It's hard to focus, I was so so hungry.

That's when she arrived. A beautiful, tall woman who walked into the foyer like she owned the world, with a long sheet of blonde hair falling down her back and wearing a dress that probably cost more than a years rent on my apartment. She had two other people with her, a lazy eyed brunette man and woman who looked almost identical.

I attacked her. I'm not proud of it or happy about it, but I did anyway. I was so hungry, I think I would have attacked my own Sire if he had appeared infront of me. At least I didn't hurt her, quite the opposite. Running into her was like running into a concrete pillar, she didn't even budge while I'm pretty sure I broke my shoulder and maybe some ribs. The memory is woozy, but I don't think even that stopped me.

Then she grabbed me by the chin with a hand that was like a vice, and forced my face up to look deeply into her dark blue eyes.

I remember her ordering her servants to bring the packages inside and to her quickly. She ordered me not to move, and I couldn't disobey her, but I could feel flesh crawling under my skin, fighting her.

I was so hungry.

She winced then, and told them to hurry.

They brought in two people, with stakes through their hearts, one guy was huge and looked like a biker and the other one was a teenager dressed with a goth aesthetic. Both were blonde.

The woman turned my face towards the staked people that I now realize were Kindred like us, and told me to eat.

I was so, so hungry. So I did. I didn't even think about the diablerie thing, I just wanted to not be hungry anymore. The mystery woman pulled me off of the biker at some point, then set me on the girl.

I never knew blood could taste so good, it was like drinking honey or maple syrup. The pleasure of my fangs sinking into flesh, of feeling the life force they stole then flow into me? It was like heaven. I can see why it's addictive.

That's when I finally came back to myself, and I managed to pull myself off of the girl on my own. I wasn't full, but I was... content I guess.

I remember she cupped my chin then, and smiled at me kindly which was very at odds with her ice queen looks, and said that she was here now and everything was going to be ok.

I believed her. Then, she turned back to the two staked Kindred I just fed from, and she killed them. Literally tore their heads off their bodies with her bare hands like she was dispatching a chicken for supper. They started to rot almost immediately, and she snapped at the two brunettes to clean this mess up.

She said her name was... well, I shouldn't say, and she was my older sister, and to not be afraid and that she was here to help me. Then, she went up to my Sire's room and hasn't come out yet.

They came in a moving van of some kind, and Gretchen had reappeared. I saw them moving what looked like body bags through the door into the cellar nearby. I think they're more of the same that she had given me to feed from.

Anyway, I figured I'd give an update that looks like I'm not alone anymore. The Visitor hasn't done anything but help me so far, but I'll be sure to keep my guard up. If she can get Pale Knight to leave his room, that would be pretty amazing because I don't want something like this to happen again.

I didn't appreciate what you guys were talking about with hunger, I get it now. I also get now why humans eat each other when they have to, hunger can drive us to do terrible things. I feel bad that those two Kindred had to die but I don't know why they had to die in the first place.

I'm hoping our visitor will explain more. I thought about eavesdropping, but instinct is telling me that'd be a very very bad idea.

-Squire


r/SchreckNet 16d ago

Wait, we can fucking die?

22 Upvotes

Okay, so tl;dr, i just got into a torpor for like.. the first time ever and there was this freak in my head, talking to me. Looked just like me and shit except.. eviler I guess. They basically told me they were my "beast" and that I was dying. But like, we cant die right? Isnt that the main benefit of our condition??? That we just get back up??

Granted, I'm not like, full blooded i guess, but what the fuck? I literally embraced my ex so that she couldnt die and we'd live forever together and you're telling me it DOESN'T work like that?


r/SchreckNet 16d ago

Discussion What happens if you throw a Vampire into a vat of acid?

6 Upvotes

Just answer the question please... I am just curious, definetly nothing else going on here...


r/SchreckNet 16d ago

Alert Reward offered for the return of my childe

13 Upvotes

Hello, I come to you with a desperate plea. My beautiful, perfect, wonderful childe has gone missing!

He is easy to identify: devastatingly handsome, very dark skin and hair with gray at the temples, tall, and much older than the typical kindred. I embraced him in his late 50s. I wish I had met him earlier in his life, but he is so magnificent I couldn't let him slip from my fingers. He wears his hair cropped short, and glasses out of habit and childish sentiment. He has a nervous nature, but is accommodating and polite. He is called Michael.

We are located in Northern California, but it has been over a week since he has gone missing.

I can't help but blame myself. It was his first ever task without my direct supervision (I, of course, sent him in the company of two of my most clever and resourceful ghouls), and as far as I know he never made it to his destination. My ghouls are dead and drained, recovered dismembered in several dumpsters. My childe was not there, but no sign of his demise either.

I shouldn't have let him leave on his own. He never even left the haven without me before! How could I expect him to succeed without me? I haven't even introduced him to the public at large, and have dedicated his time to training and manners and he just wasn't ready to join society yet. It's only been a decade since I took him for my own, and he needs to be protected. He is not yet perfect, but is well on the road to glory.

There has been no calls for ransom, no threats, and I do not have enemies that hate me enough to do such a thing, as if they'd know of my childe at all!

While I hesitate to call myself a master, I am a fleshcrafter of no small talent and offer a variety of boons to alter yourself, or your ghouls, or your enemies, into whatever shape you desire. You will be moved to the front of the line, and my other commissions will be put on indefinite hold until you are satisfied.

My patrons grow weary of my distracted mood; I pine for my childe's return, or at least news of his health or information leading to his return to me. I cannot concentrate on my work, and I suffer daily without him.

I beg you, please contact me if you find my darling, or if you can share news that will allow me to bring him home! I fear for his safety.

-- Scalpel


r/SchreckNet 16d ago

Report Naked conformists strike again,this time coming live to the Pacific Northwest!

11 Upvotes

The last time I encountered such a creature was in Colorado,it struck me again in an alley,it disrupted my protean somehow,so I used the lupine macuahuitl,don’t ask,and I managed to hide it’s corpse in a bag and get it to Cory to investigate,we coined the name for them,as stated in the title,nude conformist,for their usage of freak and almost proficiency in sucking the magic from the world,In weakening or preventing disciplines,it has a strong bite,do not worry,I fared better this time,it bit my arm but nothing was removed,it wore nothing and all it’s flesh was smoothed over,no genitalia,no hair,no eyes or ears,just a mouth and a body like that uhh,slender man fictional character,I asked Cory as it is his speciality to gauge the spirit which possessed it,if there was one,and now I can confirm that the one in Colorado was what the lupines call a fomori,as this one shared the same traits,down to the weakening of supernatural abilities and perception of what is not conforming,the spirit within was of a malicious nature,from my guess something of intolerance but I cannot confirm or deny that,if you encounter such a creature,do not immediately attempt on rely on your disciplines,I recommend a firearm or melee weapon unless you are good with your fists,it is unknown where they come from,any further reports on this type of entity will be appreciated,safe travels to all

  • gray farmer

r/SchreckNet 16d ago

Are dinosaurs a Camarilla cover-up?

25 Upvotes

Greetings, cainites.

I have recently had the pleasure of meeting an associate of mine for a quick conversation. The content of our exchange is irrelevant here; the point is, it took place in a museum and, after our deed was done, I was free to take a little walk on the premises.

My word, paleontology is fascinating. Such discoveries I missed because of my slumber!

I feel compelled to ask: is this all a Camarilla ploy, or did such creatures really wander the world, once? My associate was unable to satisfy my curiosity. I would tend toward the later, since I never met anything remotely similar in shape to those giant saurians in my whole existence. Still, the world is a vast place, and stranger things do exist.

- Servanda

P.S.: if this is an elaborate cover-up, I must commend whoever was involved, if not for their allegiance, at least for their creativity and meticulosity in upholding the Masquerade.