By Jason C. Marshall
"Lying, cheating, backstabbing . . ." The Brujah representative was shouting.
"Gutter trash, gangster wannabe . . ." The Ventrue was shouting.
She put her head in her hands.
Caine, wouldn't this ever stop?
The door to the room opened, admitting a young waifish, women to the meeting. As Ellen watched the newcomer calmly walked up until she was standing just a few feet from the two screaming Cainites. Ellen's eye's widened slightly as she saw the young women's eye's glow briefly, as if with a blue fire.
The two Cainites instantly fell quiet.
Ellen blinked and checked herself. No one had used any Presence, she was sure. She knew the feel of such power like the back of her hand. What had this stranger just done? Ellen rose and started forwards, her hand moving towards her gun. She got halfway when the stranger looked at her. Really looked at her. Her pale blue eyes seemed to drink in all of Ellen's suspicions and anger. She felt oddly calm.
The stranger looked at the assembled Cainites.
"Gentlemen and ladies, I am Dame Marrisa, and have been appointed legal negotiator to these meetings by the prince himself."
The Ventrue turned to the young woman, a look of disbelief on his face. The Brujah, on the other hand spun about angrily and opened his mouth as is if to begin a new set of shouted debate at Dame Marrisa herself.
There was a flash of pale blue from those eyes and as Ellen watched, the Brujah sank to his seat, a look of utter calm and serenity on his face.
Dame Marrisa extended her hand, a letter of introduction in it.
"As I said, gentlemen and ladies. I am here to act as negotiator."
Framed by a rival clan, most probably the Baali, for diablerie and dark thaumaturgic practices, the Brujah watched in horror as Ventrue and Toreador soldiers decimated the ranks of the peaceful Ashurians.
Many feel that this was the first of the rifts that was created between the Brujah and the Ventrue.
It wasn't until nearly all the Ashurians had been put to the stake that the crime was uncovered by Brujah and Nosferatu. The Toreador and Ventrue were shocked at what they'd done and immediately set about trying to find the hiding few Ashurians in order to offer protection and restitution for the heinous act they had done to their fellow kindred.
The remaining Ashurians took hope with this act, and indeed sought the help of these clans.
As the years passed, those of Brujah's clan became more and more temperamental, unable to still their tempers due to the lack of the Ashurians help.
Many of the Brujah thought their sister clan had been destroyed and the Ventrue felt it was unnecessary to tell them otherwise.
Today the Ashurians act as diplomats for the Ventrue, still under their wings of protection.
"Once we committed a heinous crime against these our brothers and sisters. They, in their grace forgave us, so now we try and pay back the sin we committed against them by fostering and nurturing them back to strength."
Sabbat: Though filled with rage and doubt they still need our help. One day they will listen with their hearts and minds as well.
"Us??? Help??? Peace???? Don't make me laugh."