Short Story: The Deadly Art Known as Vicissitude

[Deathcon]

(First post was in Elysium so i'm continuing here with permission from Keira"

As Luca awoke the next morning he went back to the library to do more research and find more Disciplines to help him in his pursuit to make this chantry into a fortress. He began reading about the different clans and noticed about the Tzimisce and their Vicissitude, more commonly called Fleshcrafting. As he researched into it more it became apparent he would need someone to teach him this discipline. He thought for a moment about how he could come into contact with a Tzimisce of high enough power to teach him the basic level of Vicissitude. Luca made a quick call to his Rom contacts "I need to get a hold of a Tzimisce elder who would be willing to teach me Vicissitude." Ruffling could be heard on the other side of the phone as if he was looking through a book. "I've got one guy that fits what you need but this doesn't fall under what the Rom normally would do to support you. I am going to need a favor for this." "Done give me his name and address." "Alright this is his address and his name is Norman Voltire, he is hiding in your city but since your an independent you shouldn't have too much problem swaying him to teach you. I will give him a heads up that your on your way to meet him." "Thank you, just call when you need something done." "I already have something in mind but that can wait till your done. Good luck." Luca hung up the phone and jumped on his motorcycle and headed towards the address. It was going to be a long night.

[Deathcon]

Luca got to the address and knocked on the door. A hideous man dressed in a butlers outfit opened the door and said "Hello are you Luca?" "Yes I am." "The master has been awaiting your arrival please do come in." Luca walked into the house, the walls were covered in chains and blood as he walked into the main hall he saw the Tzimisce sitting in a flesh crafted chair. "Why hello my young vampire what a nice night it is tonight." "A very nice night, I think you know why i'm here." "Right down to business... I like that. Yes you are here to learn Vicissitude and I am more than happy to teach you..." "Great!" ".. but I need you to do something for me first." "Name your price." "Still down to business, your going to be my favorite little student. Now I need you to gather eight mortals for me." "Any specifics?" "Yes, they need to be in good health and that's it." "Right away I will bring them back soon." "Oh and if you don't bring them back by the end of the night I will not teach you." Luca nodded and was shown out he took his motorcycle and road back to the chantry.

[Deathcon]

Luca quickly parked his bike and got the truck and went to the Church. That was the easiest place to get eight mortals and hopefully there would be some new members he could take advantage of. He parked and walked into the church dressing himself in the illusion of an angel. The members of the church went silent as he walked up to the platform he called out "Let the newest members of our congregation come forth." 15 people quickly walked up to the platform and bowed before him. "Rise my disciples, I need 8 of you for a dangerous mission against the wicked. You will not return but you will gain rapture!" The whole crowd gasped and all of them raised "I cannot take all of you, decide among yourselves who will go and who will stay." The 15 people all looked in good health and after a few minutes 8 people stood before him. "Good now I must make myself look human so that we do not raise suspicion." They nodded and he slowly dropped the illusion. "Now come with me I have a car that will take us to where we need to go." They walked outside and got into the truck, most of them sitting in the bed.

[Deathcon]

As Luca was about to enter the truck a strange looking person approached him "What the fuck are you doing with these people?" "None of your business pretty boy." He glared at Luca "Look this is my herd so back off." Oh a vampire and a Toreador by the looks of it, fuck he would have to get his hands dirty. Luca walked toward the Toreador and burned a little blood for his path, gaining the Potence like effect of the second level but not the first level, and said "Now look we can discuss this..." Luca drew his stake and stabbed at the Toreadors heart.

Luca Stake the Toreador
Weapon Strike with Stake
Difficulty : 6
Roll: 6, 2, 7, 4, 6, 5
Successes: 3 (3 sucesses, 0 failures)
Quality of Success : Complete (just done right)

Damage Bonus : 2 dice
Final Damage Dice Pool : 8
Damage Roll: 3, 8, 9, 7, 1, 6, 10, 8
Successes: 5 (6 sucesses, 1 failures)

Enemy Soaked : 0
Final Damage : 5

Luca stabbed the stake into the Toreador and he dropped into Torpor. Luca picked him up and threw him into the back of the truck. "Listen my disciples this is one of the wicked ones and he has tried to stop us. Keep an eye on him and do not touch the stake in his chest for he is a vampire." they gasped but kept silent.

[Deathcon]

Luca drove towards the Tzimisce lair a blacked out sedan tried to stop them. Luca put the petal to the metal and attempted to escape this would be hunters.

Luca has taken the action Escape the Hunters
Difficulty : 4
Roll: 7, 1, 10, 5
Successes: 2 (3 sucesses, 1 failures)
Quality of Success : Moderate (unrefined success)

Luca manages to lose them but only just before reaching the Tzimisce's Haven. "Alright my disciples this is our staging area, the things you might see may be strange but have faith in me." They all nodded and he realized they must be somewhat blood bound from the wine they had made, well perfect. As they followed him to the door Luca grabbed the Toreador and knocked. Soon the horrible butler opened the door. "Awh I see you have them please follow me." They looked at Luca "Go, trust me." They followed the butler into some strange area that was not visible before. Luca approached the Tzimisce Elder and he said "Very, very well done my student.And what is this on your shoulder?" "Luca dropped the Toreador and toke the stake out placing his foot onto his head "A present for you master." The Tzimisce laughed maniacally "You are my favorite student, Alfred come here." The butler silently came and re-staked the Toreador and then dragged him off. "Now the training can begin."

[Deathcon]

Luca nodded. "The first thing you must learn is that Vicissitude will drain your humanity so you must cling to something different something much more fitting." He walked down to Luca and continued "You most become whats known as a Metamorphosists. A person who seeks to become perfect in every way. They will go to anything lengths to secure this perfection which is why many use the discipline you came here to learn." He continues "Now each follower has their own way of attaining perfection and I will leave you to decide how you go about it but I will teach you the fundamental tenets. You must study life, how to give it and how to end it. Mortals are nothing but tools for testing and feeding. Your body and mind must be honed for perfection and neither must be lacking.You must have control of your beast and never let it get the better of you. Lastly many wish to pursue perfection alone but that is mostly a Tzimisce ideal as we are solitary creatures. All of that make sense?Luca nodded "Yeah I guess its time to give up my humanity and become the creature I am." "Good now let us begin the fun part."

[Deathcon]

The Elder began leading Luca down into the dungeon area he saw earlier. "My ghoul has finished melding the subjects you brought into a creature I am making a creature called a vozhd. They a terribly powerful beast that are very hard to control but very much worth it. Your first lesson will be to help me finish it, this will develop the skills needed to fleshcraft." They walked down to the bottom level of the dungeon and a huge beast was there writhing around. "He is not yet finished so now its time to work." The Elder began bending the flesh around and moving it with ease "You need to sculpt the flesh and even the bone look at what I am doing melding and binding the flesh together in perfection come and try." Luca went up to the creature and tried to meld the flesh.

Luca has taken the action Mold the flesh of the Vozhd
Difficulty : 6
Roll: 9, 5, 6
Successes: 2 (2 sucesses, 0 failures)
Quality of Success : Moderate (unrefined success)

Luca molds and bends the flesh rather well and melds the creatures bottom area "Very good my student you have learned Vicissitude." Luca laughed in delight "One more thing though I have two things for you. First thing is that for bringing me the Toreador you need a reward I can offer you 10,000 dollars." Luca though for a moment "Do you have any mystical items?" "Yes I do this is a simple fleshcrafted item but many do not know of it. It is an Odious Chalice and will store large amounts of blood, this one is semi small so you can easily hide it." "I'll take it." The elder laughed "Very good my student now I wish to ask your continued help with this Vozhd." "Done."

[Deathcon]

With a better crafting skill Luca once again began molding the flesh of the Vozhd.

Luca has taken the action Mold the flesh of the Vozhd
Difficulty : 6
Roll: 7, 6, 1, 7, 6
Successes: 3 (4 sucesses, 1 failures)
Quality of Success : Complete (just done right)

Luca perfectly molded the flesh and kept working on the Vozhd

Luca has taken the action Mold the flesh of the Vozhd
Difficulty : 6
Roll: 6, 1, 8, 2, 8
Successes: 2 (3 sucesses, 1 failures)
Quality of Success : Moderate (unrefined success)

While less perfect the flesh was still melded and The Elder cam to Luca "The creature is almost complete just one last touch." The Elder brought a bucket of blood and fed the Vozhd it. The creature screamed and the Elder screamed "I DID IT! IT IS ALIVE!" The elder had the most evil look in his eyes and Luca just sat there and admired the creation. It was a perfect killing machine and he loved it."

[Deathcon]

Shortly after the Butler came down to the Room "Master we have intruders. The Camirilla are here to destroy us!" The elder kept his cool and responded "Then let them taste the Vozhd." With that the creature marched upstairs with full intent to kill everyone there. "Luca you must leave immediately before they discover you I have taught you the first level of this path. Now go and become perfection." Luca ran up the stairs to see a Camirilla hit squad fighting the beast. Luca ran to the Elders bedroom and searched through his bookds looking for anymore information he could use.

Luca has taken the action Search for valuable information
Difficulty : 6
Roll: 1, 10, 6
Successes: 1 (2 sucesses, 1 failures)
Quality of Success : Marginal (barely working)

Luca found a medical book describing sculpting clay. He grabbed it and ran down to the main corridor. He saw the Tzimisce Elder lying on the ground in torpor and the Vozhd was going berserk. Luca ran to the elder and shoved a stake into his heart. No one was paying attention as the Vozhd was tearing through the attack squad. Luca took the elder and ran out the building.

[Deathcon]

Luca got outside and was confronted by a group of humans "We heard that you just sold off some humans and well that's our business." Luca silently cursed ot himself, these guys traded organs and they had caught wind of what he was doing. Fuck he had been sloppy. "Now boys you don't want to attack me you want to know why? This is why." With that Luca imagined a sniper bullet hitting the ground in front of him as he made a hand gesture.

Luca has taken the action Trick the Slavers into backing off
Difficulty : 6
Roll: 6, 5, 6, 8, 10, 5, 1, 1, 8
Successes: 3 (5 sucesses, 2 failures)
Quality of Success : Complete (just done right)

They backed off "Now if you want what I had go into that building and that's where you'll find them"

Luca has taken the action Trick slavers into going in the Haven
Difficulty : 6
Roll: 7, 10, 7, 3, 10, 6, 10
Successes: 6 (6 sucesses, 0 failures)
Quality of Success : Phenomenal (perfectly done with mastery)

"Thanks we remember favors." They walked past Luca into the building and then a large amount of screaming was heard. Luca ran to the truck and drove off with book in hand and The Elder in the seat next to him.