Chapter 2: Power Play

• The PCs continued to fight the ghouls and Gargoyle at the Scotch Bonnet in South San Fran. The PCs killed the Ghouls and battled the Gargoyle for brief time.
• While in the alley way, Max and Valmont encountered a Nosferatu named Kiren who was very powerful and later revealed as an Inconnu member. Kiren was accompanied by a "servant" Nosferatu named Fleck.
• Kiren was very angry of the violence disturbing his area (South San Fran) and did not take kindly to the gun fire and ruckus that was going on.
• Kiren swarmed rats all over Valmont and held Max by the neck, off the ground for approx 1 minute.
• The Gargoyle flew above the PCs and Nosferatu and then flew away as he was likely outmatched by the presence of the Nosferatu elder.
• Kiren and Fleck disappeared back into the garbage and PCs were free to leave.
• Mavis said she would be fine and the PCs went back to speak with Lazo about what had occurred. 
• Lazo told the PCs that he would tell the Prince and Primogen what happened in South San Fran and that the PCs needed to "lay low" for a couple months.
• Max still had his employees stake out the wharf / Sabbat area at the USS O'Brien.
• Two months have past (now Aug 30 2023) and PCs and Jarvis are invited to speak with the Primogen and Prince at the Palace of Fine Arts (Primogen HQ). Ghoul, the Prince's body guard, is at the location as well.
• The PCs enter the chamber and see all the members there plus the Archon ORION-the 7'2'' huge Justicar enforcer. 
• The PCs are also introduced to archon Fenris, a silver haired powerful looking kindred and also Austin Steele, the famed kindred from the pre purge days. 

• The PCs pick up in the Elysium with the Primogen and Archons. The Prince explains that the Archons had been in the city for a long time.
• Lazo Gajic, Peter Takin and Gunnar Torsten all stand up and speak highly of the neonates.
• The archons assume control of the Sabbat problem in the city an the primogen capitulate to them. Jarvis makes a bold move and turns around and goes back into the Primogen chamber to address the Archons. Javis asks for the name of the Justice. He is told by Orion that the name is Castille.
• PCs leave and goto Nobu's home to hire him to get the floor plans for the deli and theatre in Oakland where Fabian Bullard lives.
• While at Nobu's, the PCs note a Mynimoto mon as well as an obscure assamite symbol of one of Nous's armour.
• PCs run into former primogen member Sting! Sting is a powerful and very old kindred who was very loyal to Nathan Kent. His whispering voice carries power. His dark skin denotes his age and power.
• Pcs bring Sting and Nobu to their Elysium where Sting demands to see father Trouts body. PCs show Sting the body and Sting informs the party that he will now reside at the current location.
• The PCs learns via Sting that Vangard's brother, Draco, is the caretaker of the Coit Tower Elysium. The players go there and speak with him.
• Valmont uses his auspex to see through the mask of 1000 faces of the caretaker and they learn it is a nosferatu named Draco.
• Draco mentions that the PCs have helped the Nosferatu and not shunned them like the other kindred in the city. As such, he is friendly and stated he will take the PCs to Vangard's resting /burial site.

"Vengeance is mine; I will repay"

•  Jarvis states that he wants to find and recruit Billy the Kid into their group. Jarvis states that Billy lives in New Mexico and wants to take a motorhome (provided by Fedor) to go get Billy.
• This session included a massive revelation of Nathan Kent, who appeared at the PCs Haven (The Mansion) in his new role, Justicar of the Inner Circle!
• Archon Orion visited Ban and the Tremere Chantry and was demanding in wanting to know information about Father Trout. Orion used his dominate on Ban and was partially successful using it. Ban was obstinate towards the Archon and was "saved" when Lazo interjected and appeared.
• Archon Fenris visited Maxwell at Max's home. Fenris was polite and "friendly". Max relayed information to Fenris about the Sabbat and Fabian Ballard.
• Archon Austin Steel spoke with Valmont at the Mansion. Valmont used his double speak to dance around the issue of where Father Trout was but eventually brought Austin to the boiler room. When Austin uncovered the Boiler, Trout was not there. Then Sting walked down the stairs indicating that Trout was "safe". 
• Sting and Austin spoke briefly and you could see that the two had a previous past with one another.
• All the PCs plus Jarvis came back to the Mansion where the other Archons eventually showed up. Then, the PCs were visited by a beautiful Woman who was the Justicar Constatine Castille!
• The PCs then learned that Castille was actually NATHAN KENT (using mask of 1000 faces). Nathan Kent was not dead and going by his real name VALKRANE ANDROSCUE. 
• Ban was forced to swallow a black opal making him susceptible to blood bond. Kent then made the PCs drink his blood twice to gain obedience and make sure then did not break his secret that he had returned. 
• Kent stated that he was there to destroy the Sabbat threat and also uncover the treachery from 30 years ago.Kent stated that the PCs will deal with Bullard in Oakland and he will deal with the Sabbat on the USS O'Brien. Sting was made an Archon. 
• PCs learn that Trout was also an undercover archon for Kent for the past 12 years.
• The battle is getting closer!

• The PCs can feel that a great battle is coming.They travel to New Mexico in a RV (leant to them by Fedor) to find Billy the Kid. Fedor, Jarvis join the PCs on the road trip. The PCs find Billy in an old Bead shop and convince him to help them in their efforts against Fabian Bullard.
• Max knocks out a Hell's Angel outside Billy's haven. The HA spits out two teeth and just smiles.
• PCs get a blueprint of the Fox theatre from Nobu and discover that a second basement was built in 1991. The PCs figure that the wealth of Valmont is found there.
• The PCs head to Oakland to speak with Remus. While using their powers to hid, Valmont discovers a look out across from the theatre that is Remus's hideout. Max notices several lookouts around Fabian's building.
• A very lengthy conversation occurs between the PCs and Remus. Remus is well spoke and and well dressed who is helpful after he finds out that Ms Ling sent the Pcs.
• Mavis Murray was killed several weeks ago! Likely from the Sabbat.
• Remus explains that Fabian has several powerful kindred that assist him including Renwick (Nosferatu), Sandor (Toreador Antitribu), and Kernon (Brujah Antitribu). All very powerful.
• A kindred named Tama (Asian) is found to be visiting Fabian but is discovered to be the Gargoyle from the battle of South San Fran!
• PCs noted that a black kindred with a black hand symbol was seen at the theatre. Fabian is seen leaving with several mobsters.
• Dean Hawkes was a very powerful Giovanni but disliked by many Kindred. He is rumoured to have been involved in the purge but was killed. Manfred Sheffield, Prince of San Jose, knows a lot about Hawkes
• Azul will help cut off the power to Oakland area to help in the heist. Valmont phone was traced, likely by Sabbat member Jinx.
• More to follow...

• It is Sept 30 2023, a week has passed since the stakeout and the PCs have prepped for the Heist against Fabian Bullard in Oakland. 
• Max speaks with Felicia and is able to get 2 bars of C4 (and detonators) and he offers her a boon in return. Valmont visits South San Fran and the Scotch Bonnet so see if he can communicate with Mavis Murray who was killed by sabbat a few weeks prior. He is unsuccessful.
• The PCs meet at the Mansion and discuss their plan to steal the 200 lbs of silver from Ms Ling. They recruit Azul, Jarvis, Billy, Remus and Nobu for the heist. Gideon and Drake are the getaway drivers. Fedor provides a large van for the operation.
• Remus provided a back door (via sewers) to break into the deli. Azul waits with Drake and Gideon several blocks away and hacks into Bullard's security system, relaying in real time what she sees and tells the PCS via headsets the movement of Ballard's men.
• Jarvis and Remus guard the back entrance where the PCs entered the deli (via the old store room). Max, Ban, Valmont, Billy and Nobu enter the basement level with the intention of finding the silver and stealing (it back) from Bullard.
• Ban uses is ritual of mask of shadows to keep invisible from the cameras and Nobu uses his obfuscate to remain hidden. The PCS enter and old store room to find two of Bullard's men playing cards. Nobu sneaks in and assassinates them quietly. In a moment of comic relief. Ban robs the the former alive henchmen and says "I need the cash. Im not rich like the other guys."
• They continue  and note a painting on the wall of Bullard that reads "PRINCE of Oakland", denoting Bullard's ego and over confidence. The PCS then get a radio message and text from Azul who states that Hannibal (Sabbat Black Hand member) and the Gargoyle are around the corner from the them. They remain quiet and hear that Hannibal has "spies" and Hannibal tells the Gargoyle to use his power whispers of the Chamber to notice any intruders in and around the deli. Hannibal then receives a call and is heard saying " The boat, where is it? Off shore?" and then leaves the room and walks up the stairs to the first floor
• Ban then fails to remain silent like the rest of the group and steps on a creaky floor board. Valmont hears Hannibal stop at the top of the stairs -listening. The players remain utterly still but need to act quickly as the Gargoyle is imminently going to use his power which will certainly reveal them. They need to make a choice. Remain quiet and don't move or attempt to pick the lock at a closed door and move to the next building (the theatre).
• Max uses his security and picks the lock with massive successes and the players  make it out of range of the Gargoyles power in the nick of time. 
• The PCs make their way through the basement level, avoided CCTV and Bullard's Men. More stealth and security successes by Max! They make their way to the vault and Valmont uses his psychometry (6 successes) and "sees" the number code on the key pad. The vault opens!
• Once inside, the players see about 100 kilos of cocaine, 10 million in cash and they find Valmont's stolen silver!!
• BUT, the silver has been melted down into a life size statue of Bullard with a plaque that reads "Regent Bullard of the Bay Area". Valmont makes a save vs his elf control and Max picks up the statue (awkwardly). The players start packing the two duffle bags with money.
• Then Azul comes over the air and says that two car loads of mafia guys are pulling up in front of the theatre. The PCS tell Azul to cut all power to the building and run towards their escape route. The power comes on briefly and Azul yells that Renwick, the Sabbat Assassin, is seen walking down the hall in the direction of the PCs. The PCS run as fast as they can toward Jarvis and Remus who are holding the rear.
• Max drops the statue down the hole and the golden "junk" breaks off. Ban picks it up and they run toward the getaway cars. Gideon, Drake and Azul pull up, screeching tires and the PCS throw all their loot in the van and take off, over the Oakland bridge and back to San Fran! They successfully pull of the heist without a hiccup!
• The reach the Mansion and offload everything. They call Ms Ling and tell here they got the silver and upheld they promise. She picks it up and thanks the group. Sting is briefly seen watching the characters and gives a silent nod of approval.
• The Pcs call Austin Steel and inform him to tell Justicar Valkrane (Kent) that they disrupted Bullard and have evidence that he is working with the Sabbat. Austin says that the Justice will be in touch and that the attack on the Sabbat (USS O'Brien will happen in a few months).
• Several months pass (Jan 30 2024) and the PCs divide the 1.3 million they stole from Bullard among all who helped ($150 000 each). Furthermore , Ms Ling drops off the base of the statue to Valmont and says that it is Gold (200 lbs worth) and valued at about 4.2 million. This revelation reverts Valmont back to his original self and he no long has amnesia. It is revealed that he is 10th Generation and not 13th!
• This Ends Phase One and Two of San Francisco Rebirth. What is in store for PART 3?