Darkness Emergent - LA - Epilogue - Thursday Night

THURSDAY NIGHT

The evening began as Barons Nelli G and Victor Temple greeted the assembled guests. They introduced the visiting diplomats, Renato Cristoval of Clan Lasombra, speaking on behalf of the Camarilla, and two delegates from the Mountain of Alamut on behalf of the Banu Haqim. The pair further explained that Los Angeles had seen a rise of Hunter activity, and that Barons Therese Voerman and Nines Rodriguez were both missing.

The gathering was then interrupted as two confused looking mortals wheeled a large, waterlogged chest into the center of the room. The pair said they were marine salvagers who received a very specific set of instructions from Jeanette Voerman. She had given them a set of coordinates to search for the box, and strict orders not to open it until they arrived at the Biltmore. Unaware of what it might contain, the pair then proceeded to open the box as the guests gathered around.

As they pried open the lid, a hand reached out. X, having spent the last few years underwater, stood bewildered and in the throes of his beast. He stared hungrily and unable to speak.

In 2021, X suffered a near-fatal encounter with a former bishop and powerful true faith wielder as he sought to escape from a SI facility. It left him unable to derive sustenance from vitae, leaving him in a state of perpetual hunger, and at risk of losing control to an increasingly ravenous beast. Among kindred, true faith is a terrifying and scarcely understood force, and X’s seemingly incurable condition defied all understanding of the kindred condition. Fearing what he might become, he asked a favor of Jasper to seal him in a container and drop him into the ocean off of Santa Monica.

Fortunately, Jasper had spent the past two years researching a treatment, and entrusted it with Nelli. Acting quickly, she poured a vial down X’s throat which managed to stabilize his condition. Nelli then informed the guests that Jasper would join just as soon as he was able, but for now, there was work to be done.

On his way out, one of the mortals revealed he had a letter for X from Therese. In it, she formally appointed X the Baron of Santa Monica. X was delighted at his appointment, but realized he needed a longer-term solution to his hunger issues.