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Re: (TFT) SOLO II

The streets are still crowded but the mob of spectators is slowly breaking up. You can hear music coming for neighboring buildings. The smell of whisky and bourbon seems to be paved into the very streets. You turn to Roget. ``Where do these street kids usually stay?'' He rubs his chin for a minute and says ``A lot of them stay in the cemetery. But that's outside the city. It's probably awash in fire right now.'' He looks down and scuffs the brick road with his boot. ``I don't think they're down there.'' He rubs his chin again. ``I've been thinking about the rats and I bet they're in the walls of the houses.'' He gestures broadly to all the buildings around him. ``The question is how often do they feed.'' 
    You respond ``Every five days.''
Roget smiles. ``That gives us some time. I should round up some men and set about smoking the rats out.'' You say, ``I'm going down to The Cabildo. I want to question that kid. Find out how many more there are like him, and where they may be.'' The two of you part ways. You thread through the night crowds to The Cabildo. On the way you have the distinct feeling that people are watching you from the roofs. You don't see them. You know they are there. Walking along you see a stray dog. When it senses you it yelps and runs. Like it fears you, or seeing you hurt it. At one intersection you see a team of three hookers. They are strutting, striking poses, and calling to lone men. When you approach, the seem terrified and scatter in different directions running. The ground floor of The Cabildo is buzzing with activity. The town guard, or city police, are very busy. They all have the mark of the cross on their foreheads. Smeared in ash. It occurs to you that none of the revelers you saw out this evening had the mark. It is probable that most decent citizens sleep at night. You take your crucifix and tuck it underneath your robe's collar to hide it. You get a Lieutenant to take you to the holding cell where they have the vampire youth locked up. He brings you into the armory hall where they have rows of cells. In front of one is stationed a guard sitting on a stool next to a small canon. They have the cannon pointed at a cell. In this cell is the youth. The guard has a lit torch. It seems funny that they would feel the need to cover a child with a cannon. The lieutenant notices your smirk and says ``We're not taking any chances.'' The lieutenant leaves. You approach the bars of the cell and ask the youth his name. He is sitting unnaturally still on the edge of a bunk. As though in meditation. He opens his eyes a mere slit and smiles broadly showing his fangs. ``Toby.'' He says. 
    ``Toby do you want to be cured?''
``Why?'' He opens his eyes all the way. ``I'm stronger. I can fly. Grown men fear me. Why should I want to be cured.'' He laughs. You pull the crucifix from under your robe. The youth shrieks and starts climbing the walls. You put the cross back under you robe. Breathing hard, Toby lets go of the wall and floats back down to the bunk. He's still standing. Nervous looking. 
    You speak.  ``Wouldn't you rather this kind of power?''
    He just hisses at you showing his fangs again.
``Toby. You're going to tell me where your friends sleep during the day, or I'm going to hang crosses all over this cell.'' You threaten him. He stops hissing, closes his mouth, and searches your eyes to see if you are serious. He sees that you are and his posture wilts a little. His shoulders droop. He says ``The old brewery. The one that burned last year. We've been staying there.'' You turn and leave. 

    [get 20 experience for finding where they sleep during the day.]


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