Istvan returned home to find his shoes stolen and his sword replaced with an identical but unfamiliar one. Meanwhile, Katherine sought out a captive to feed on and had a tense conversation with her ghoul, Rudolph, who confessed to entangling her in a dangerous conflict. She agreed to secure him a horse for his escape.

Jardani encountered Wilhelm Stretcher in the Night Market, engaging in a deep—if unusual—conversation about pears and loyalty, with Stretcher questioning if Jardani was merely a pawn of the court. Elsewhere, Istvan met Theodosia, again offering to accompany her to investigate the butcher shop, but she remained hesitant to act without the group’s support.

The party gathered to strategize their approach for removing Count Orlach, who held control over the city’s noble houses and the mortal court. They determined that pressuring the nobility could be key to his downfall.

Their plan led them to a gambling den, where Dalibor and Istvan descended to confront Orlach. To clear the area, Theodosia dramatically revealed herself by peeling off her own face, sending bystanders fleeing in terror. As combat erupted below, Katherine rushed to suppress an explosion.

In the chaos, the Salubri struck the killing blow, reducing Orlach to ash as he attempted to escape with Celerity. Zemislav doused a Tzimisce in oil, and Dalibor set it ablaze. Meanwhile, Theodosia, seemingly possessed, tried to shield the burning creature, but Zemislav restrained her with his tentacles as her face grotesquely flapped around.

As the dust settled, Katherine sensed someone psychically projecting into their space, observing them from afar. Realizing the gravity of slaying an Elder, the group quickly decided to flee. Before leaving, a stranger approached Katherine, urging her not to destroy valuable knowledge. Instead, he suggested staking her sire to preserve him as a source of information.

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Chapter 1 - Game 10