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Got a call for help from Vlad earlier in June, and since then, the shit hit the fan over in Portland. Turned out that Vlad had fallen to the Dark Side--turned Nephanus--and stirred up trouble for me and the rest of the cabal in an attempt to get us to all turn, too. Didn't work. Long story made short? Vlad fucked with a few members of the Portland chantry, and after it became clear he was about to get caught, he enlisted the aid of Briar and Shade for his own defense--and then called me in, too. By the time I got there, the trio of Hollow Ones were in captivity and there was a tense stand-off between me and the Portland chantry. (Apparently I seem to make them nervous as there was some outright fear among some of their chantry members.) Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed. A tribunal was formed, we eventually got to the bottom of things, discovered that Vlad was Barabbi and lost, and.... As his mentor, I had to agree to tribunal's decision to execute Vlad. I looked for ways around it, but... Vlad was not doing himself any favors throughout the trial and was lying relentlessly to implicate anyone else he could. Fortunately I was not the only one with sufficient background in Mind magicks to see through his attempts at deceit. Still? Still. He's dead now. The cabal that was once four young Hollow Ones is now down to but two. I got a tongue lashing from the tribunal by virtue of being Vlad's mentor, but I could tell they were pulling their punches. Word seems to have spread about my being a Master of Forces, which seems to carry a significant amount of weight in a chantry where there are currently no Masters. In the end, it was strongly suggested that I spend more time with those Ophans that I mentor--and that is honestly probably good advice.
Briar and Shade were clearly at odds with the outcome. On one hand, I'd allowed their cabal-mate to be executed. On the other hand, Vlad had tried to corrupt and implicate them, and had he succeeded with either, they would be dead, too. In fact, had I not shown up to intervene, I suspect Shade and Briar would not have gotten off so easily. Relations are, shall we say, a little strained while emotions run high and hot. I ended up spending a couple weeks with the Hollow Ones, just keeping an eye on things (in case Vlad made friends who wanted to come visit) and teaching. I also helped them to abandon their hideout and shared apartment, relocating to a new place. The only link now is their node, which I've suggested that they keep an eye on from afar for a time rather than visit. Just to be on the safe side.
Briar and Shade were clearly at odds with the outcome. On one hand, I'd allowed their cabal-mate to be executed. On the other hand, Vlad had tried to corrupt and implicate them, and had he succeeded with either, they would be dead, too. In fact, had I not shown up to intervene, I suspect Shade and Briar would not have gotten off so easily. Relations are, shall we say, a little strained while emotions run high and hot. I ended up spending a couple weeks with the Hollow Ones, just keeping an eye on things (in case Vlad made friends who wanted to come visit) and teaching. I also helped them to abandon their hideout and shared apartment, relocating to a new place. The only link now is their node, which I've suggested that they keep an eye on from afar for a time rather than visit. Just to be on the safe side.
