La Victoire Plaza's Macdonalds

Duncan doesn't pick up his motorcycle. It's close enough that he can get it later if he needs to.

Clothing is armor T-shirt under regular, long-sleeve button shirt. No gun, but those flattened stakes are strapped under his forearms with rubber bands. Phone is in a pocket, and the laptop computer is in a padded, soft case. Plus spare flash drive, empty (cheap; 2 Gb).

Until Lyle sends the files, Duncan looks through the local stock exchange, like he did early last night. He doesn't have a lot of capital to play with (yet), but he wants to become familiar with the business life of Bordeaux.

When he gets the email from Lyle, he starts to examine the files. What format are they? Microsoft Office compatible? Text? Adobe PDF? Something unique? If common format like text or MS Word, Duncan will try to use MS Word comparator to make a third document that tracks & highlights the differences. This would cut down on the four hours you mentioned (although he'll still have to read through that one). If it's another format he can't convert to MS Word, Duncan won't bother.

Four hours to compare the files? Ack! Sounds like the low-tech option. Trying to cut that down. We'll see.

Miriel smiles, Pardon the whisper, but this is sensitive information. She glances around conspiratorially, leaning forward on an elbow, As of last night, the official status report on this artifact that Vonzel and his team was out to get is that it is safely in Tremere custody, in the new chantry. This is what Lyle told me the other night in the old chantry, and so it is what I passed on to the public. What he said, by some indications in his behavior, is not true. This is not to say that the Tremere do not know the whereabouts of the artifact, but he lacked certainty when reporting that it has been recovered. The only information I have been able to glean about this artifact is that it makes Primogen Jacob's domain a place of immediate interest, to some in the past, and it appears, to Vonzel at the time of his search attempt.

She glances at Duncan, her eyes search for a reaction, Rather than dispel the rumors that the Tremere have control over this item of interest for a quick tilt of favor from those that distrust Lyle or the Tremere, allowing the lie to fit in as the official report affords Theo's domain a little more transparency from would-be thieves. It is important that you keep this under your hat until a time or opportunity for investigation of this item presents itself, or if Jacob absolutely must be able to confirm or deny that the artifact may still be in his area of influence. As I see it, propagating the lie will save us some headaches. There was one before Vonzel. Someone named Vranken. They died by Jacob's hand in their search, so I'm sure he has a record somewhere. He may not mind you asking about others who went searching his place for something, since last night was an echo of events. You may be able to dig up more on this Vranken, to help us get a better picture.

She sits upright again, blinking, I'm sure you may be wondering why I have an interest in keeping Theo's place a little less crowded, and I'm sure you're wondering why I've gone to you with this information. Here is the half that really concerns me- she pauses, Frederic Vonzel, while he asserts acted on his own in this little scheme of his, was in fact somehow involved with Alicia Vandenstree. She clenches her jaw before continuing to speak, the muscle knits visibly under her skin, From incidental information at the time, someone sent by Vandenstree to check up on Vonzel let it be known that Vonzel had somehow betrayed Alicia Vandenstree. There are indications in Vonzel's behavior that he may have been in a blood bond with Alicia. All I know is that Lyle was eager to have me use this information as a gambit to play against Alicia, to blackmail or to get favors from her. I don't expect for him, the only other person who should know about this, to keep this information to himself if it isn't promptly used, but I cannot betray someone in my own clan in a new city and contribute to this ever revolving door of favor and dishonor in our society. I also don't trust that using the information won't blow up in my face, as karma does. Information in the files outline that Vonzel's allegiance with the Sabbat was noticeably on the decline. He himself spoke disapprovingly of his involvement with them. I do not think he was here to cause real harm, but Camarilla laws dictate that he must be executed for his actions. I don't agree for moral reasons, but some of his behavior during the interrogation, fueled by Lasombra pride, did not tilt the possibility of mercy in his favor. Still, Vandenstree is a person who is now vulnerable to whatever backlash may get out from this execution. I hoped to share this with you to see if those big eyes and ears of yours might have an itch to use this information that would otherwise incriminate Alicia as information that could instead defend her, discover what Frederic was really doing, learn a bit more about this hot item on Theo's doorstep, and hopefully outline a bit about the Sabbat's possible involvement with recent events.

Leaning in again, she exhales softly, aware that passing on this information may make several issues weigh quite differently, I'm not here as a bleeding heart. Frederic will probably not be spared, even if we find something miraculous in light of his seeming departure from the Sabbat. Hell, Lyle suspects that the guy was dominated into acting as he did. There's lots to think about, with or without the official story. You don't need this information to tell that much. Things aren't adding up. I want to try to work all this out before too much goes to waste.

I wondered about that artifact, when you reported Kersten's claim that it was 'at the chantry all along.' Seems like a lot of wasted effort, if that were true. The Lasombra had to be pretty sure to risk attacking Theo's domain. The same goes for that Vranken, who attacked before.

I'm not going to say anything, of course. Not only would it be foolish to call Kersten a liar without proof, staying silent would also take some of the heat off of Theo's domain, as you pointed out. I'll ask Theo what he thinks, when I tell him about what this Frederic Vonzel said.

As for the stuff about Vonzel knowing Alicia... that would require verification, even if I were spiteful enough to want to use it against her. Besides, I'm sure a lot of elders know people on both sides of the fence... some were probably around before there was a Camarilla or Sabbat. What matters is whether they are betraying their comrades. That also requires proof. It's something to keep in mind though, when we're looking for answers about the current attacks.

I doubt the Prince will spare this Vonzel. They need someone to punish for these attacks, and he's not giving us anyone else to substitute as an 'example'. Whether he's been Dominated or not, there's a lot he's not telling us.

I'll continue later tonight. Just got off work, and heading over to my sister's.

Well, after I left St. Eloi, I stopped at my place briefly, and then went to El Bodegon. Carrion was waiting there, to deliver that old copy of the identification papers. Basically, whoever told her to deliver it had some conditions-- don't talk about it to any Tremere or Ventrue. Not sure why yet. Theo got a copy too, and I waited around until he got back to talk with him about it. Without any other information about the relationship to Claudia, we decided that we'd talk about it later, after we'd done some digging. You know whoever gave the information to Carrion has their own agenda... I'd rather find out a little more before I go blundering around, led by someone's puppet strings.

Carrion mentioned the missing students, and that someone had asked her to look into it. Theo said Mike was interested in that too, and sort of suggested that I might look into it... you know, like he suggested we talk to Tarcisus. So I went with Carrion to talk to the Followers of Set. Theo also suggested that I see whether they knew anything about the attacks.

When we got there, Claudia was already there. So was Tarcisus; he was visiting his old buddy Mephisto, the Setite leader in Bordeaux. We talked a while, and I asked if they had heard anything about the Sabbat attacks. Mephisto and Tarcisus had heard the news reports, but the Sabbat involvement seemed to be news to them. When I pointed out in an offhand way that none of the attacks happened on that side of the river, Mephisto got all angry at first, thinking that I was accusing him of being in league with the Sabbat. I told him I didn't think that, which was true. I said it was more likely that the Sabbat left the Setites alone because they were independent, and that the Sabbat were waiting until they threw the Camarilla out before they put pressure on the Setites. Now, of course, I know that the Sabbat were after this 'noddite' artifact, so apparently the Setites weren't a target anyway.

I didn't know that at the time... but I'll bet Tarcisus made the connection, once he heard about where the Sabbat attacks took place. That's probably why he assigned Mikael to 'help our Camarilla brethren' investigate the attacks -- he wanted to be kept in the loop about what we discovered. I expect everything we find out about that will be relayed back to Tarcisus. That's okay; everything I find out about the attacks will be shared with Theo.

Anyway, Carrion also talked about the disappearance of those skulls; those 'clocks of life'; I guess she's investigating that too. I didn't know what that term meant, but Tarcisus knew all about it... probably because of the necromantic connection. The Tremere might not like to admit any knowledge of necromancy, possibly to avoid being painted with the same brush as the Giovanni; but they certainly are familiar with the lore. These clocks are human skulls, put into some sort of display or box. It's usually only done with the remains of important people. The Giovanni would definitely be interested in them -- I take it these things would be very useful in some of their rituals. But it may be too obvious trying to pin the thefts on Catherina and her people. However, whoever is stealing them is certainly stirring up mortal interest, which is bad.

Anyway, Mephisto said that he'd ask around, and let us know if he found out anything about the attacks. And that was pretty much it. You would've been proud of me... I didn't try to prod Tarcisus this time. Duncan chuckles slightly.

Before Duncan shuts down his computer, he will transfer a copy of the files onto the empty flash drive that he brought.

Info noted :-)

If Lambert modified the files, he did it when he kind of stole Scoop's computer.
If Lyle modified the files, he did it while the Sheriff was giving his report, right under Gosuin's eyes, as the Prince was looking as the files.

https://camarillaedition.darkbb.com/t687p315-le-grand-theatre

Duncan was occupied during the time when Lambert and Scoop were talking, so that's why he didn't notice that. And while I had guessed that Lyle's computer would likely be how the Prince viewed the files, Duncan wasn't in there when they had the big reveal. So Duncan is only relating his guesses to Miri based on what he knows.

I only had to look at the Grand Theatre thread to confirm Theo going over to the Sheriff and Doctor. Damn I'm good. Modest, too. I told Nachtrae that I couldn't make Duncan as smart as I am because I didn't have enough points. LOL

Not Xavier, Victor Corrected that

Duncan will scan through the crowd, both outside and inside El Bodegon, to see if there is anyone he recognizes. This starts as soon as they get close enough to identify faces.

Duncan 's eyes furtively look through the crowd in front of the bar. He doesn't seem to be looking for anyone in particular; just a general precaution.

Noted !

Response given in the proper topic ^^

Chris gets all charismatic and manipulative when he says this :3