SeditiousAmbitions 06-10-2009 09:21 PM<br/>Malachi could feel Enoch feeding his mental imagery, or its possible that Malachiâ€™s silent scheming fueled Enochâ€™s pent up rage for being so easily forgotten. Either way, this was shaping up better than Malachi couldâ€™ve projected. There were many nervous faces in the chamber now. It was interesting to say the least at how quickly Enoch turned to Malachi. Of course, from Malachiâ€™s perspective it made sense. Power recognizes its own.<br/><br/>Malachi turned and leaned against the council table and folded his arms over his chest. The leather of his jacket creaked with the movement. â€œHmmm. If memory serves me properly, Prince, the societies of history that endure the longest and thrive the strongest are most often lead by only one man. Caesar, Alexander, Hitler, Napoleon, Xerxes, The British Empire, the Hung and Jin Dynasties, all were lead by a single being.â€ A fire was brewing inside the Methuselah now. He was slow cooking the blood in his veins in case any grew too threatened by his words and dared to challenge him. â€œIn truth, all of these men had their brain trust, but no organized council or senate. Sure, the Romans held a Senate but having been to a few sessions; it was merely a placebo for public approval ratings.â€ Malachi chuckled and rose from the table freeing his arms and allowing them to swing behind his back where his hands would clasp.<br/><br/>He strode in a leisurely fashion around the chamber with no real direction or line. He made sure to make eye contact with a few people he thought could be useful, Ariel in particular as he spoke. â€œUltimately, the best strategy I see is to reduce the circle of knowledge to a select few and delegate out missions. I personally think guerilla tactics would make the most efficient use of our skills against their technologies. These hit squads or whatever would only need to know targets and time tables. This would limit the complications as well.â€ Malachi came to a stop next to Enoch and surveyed the room again. He was mildly nodding his head having just spilt an entire lecture in tactics and methodology. â€œUse what you like, Prince. I have other ideas, but these are the ones I feel relate best to our present situation.â€<br/><br/>braioch8201 06-10-2009 09:36 PM<br/>Enoch watched Malachi as he strode across the room, his eyes locked on the man's movements. After Malachi was done speaking Enoch only continued pointing his gaze at Malachi for a moment, feeling a sense of respect for the vampire. To say the least he was bold, and definitely had an intelligent mind and as he had seen before a shrewd eye for things. He noticed a vague sense of suprise coming from Malachi when Enoch had addressed him directly, even Malachi had suprised Enoch in kowtowing so quickly to him.<br/><br/>Then again, he thought to himself, genius immediately accepts genius<br/><br/>He felt the council shifting slightly behind him, he regarded Malachi one more time before turning to the council table and glaring at the council members.<br/><br/>"It is almost as if," he began his words sharp, "the newcomer has read my mind."<br/><br/>The council stared at him in shock, a few of them even gasping, giving signs of protesting. Enoch waved them off with a glance, "the time for discussion and meetings are over gentlemen. You are built for quiet times when all is well and we must discuss what to do with things, laws, policies, all the other qualities of a calm world. Well this is our world now, built upon the blood of our own, while the humans stampede amongst us as you discuss and debate. Now there is no debate, you no longer dictate this city, or give argument. I am the law, the guiding factor of our kind."<br/><br/>Five of the seven council members stood up, protesting loudly, a few of the others in the room gave their own protest. Enoch turned away from them and motioned at the guards at attendance. The handful of them only walked to him, he motioned to the outcriers, "silence them, bind them, if they put up a fight, slay them."<br/><br/>Within moments, the council members and others were bound, with the guards standing over them, save for Ohram and his companion Nidan. They only looked at him gravely, wishing for answers they would never completely receive.<br/><br/>Enoch turned back to the proceedings, he hadn't moved or spoken during the debacle of the restraining of the others. He glanced around the room for a moment.<br/><br/>"This is how it will be my people, no questions, only response. You see how my faithful guard obey without objection? This is how things are done. I am the Prince, the ruler, and what I say, will be so. Ohram, you of all the councilmen I trust the most, I will keep you close for my own personal council. You, Ariel, I will of course use your services as well, pray that your of use to me. Malachi, I'm still undecided, but you and I have somethings to discuss. Any questions anyone?"<br/><br/>SeditiousAmbitions 06-10-2009 10:02 PM<br/>Malachi watched as the uprising began and was quelled. How beautiful. As people moved and were bound, Malachi made sure to draw Arielâ€™s attention as if to say â€˜do not reactâ€™. It was amazing how efficient the grunts were. Shame they werenâ€™t more powerful, because they might be useful against the human squadrons. Malachi made sure to gaze over Ohram as he was called out. The right corner of his lip curled in a sneer. You did know, you sneaky fuck. Malachi chuckled and rocked back and forth in small motions.<br/><br/>Once Enoch had concluded his change of edict for everyone; Malachi decided to air some of the thoughts he had been toying with. â€œPrince, if you donâ€™t mind, I would like to make use of Ariâ€™eil. I have no bearings in this city and she has, thus far, been an effective guide. Itâ€™s obvious you donâ€™t have a direct purpose for her yet, so until that time comes I could keep an eye on her for you.â€ Spiders and worms would blush at the silk web of words that spun from Malachiâ€™s lips. He sometimes wondered if his innate charm was almost too much. There wasnâ€™t much he could do about it. Centuries and centuries of perfecting the art of eloquent speech would not unravel easily.<br/><br/>Malachiâ€™s mind moved forward still. He would need some weapons. Wars were different than everyday squabbling between immortals. Humans liked to use their modern technology to set elaborate traps and stage magnificent raids. It was all too overdone. Small groups laying ambushes at random would be a good way to disrupt their flow. Feint attacks would be another good way to divert attention. All of these things twisted their way up and down the conscious of Malachi as order was restored.<br/><br/>braioch8201 06-10-2009 10:14 PM<br/>Enoch turned to Malachi, fixing his cold gaze on Malachi, "Nor do I have a use for you just yet."<br/><br/>His attention remained on Malachi, "Ohram, return to your chambers with your wife, I will deal with you shortly."<br/><br/>His gaze steadfast on Malachi, if he was capable of it he would even be suprised by the wave of ice that seemed to emanate from him. If it were possible fire wouldn't have been able to melt the cold that he emanated at this moment. He knew that his new personality was born of the times, too much had happened for him to not have changed.<br/><br/>"Not at this moment will you leave my sight, if you wish to still be welcome here you will obey that order. Now the rest of you, find something else to do. Malachi you are to come with me, as I said before we have things to discuss."<br/><br/>He turned briskly and walked past the council table towards a large arch that led into a dimly lit marble hallway. As he walked into it, his voice echoed out, "kill all of the dissenters."<br/><br/>He ignored the outcries, and then quickly the screams of pain and anguish. His feet made no sound as he walked the length of the hallway, passing several openings into various living and sleeping rooms. Reaching the end of the hallway he the large marble door that sealed it from the hallway. Walking inside he eyed the room. The normally black marble was now a stark white that contrasted with the rest of the haven. Bookcases lined the walls, a couple tables in front of him, covered in books, writings, and weapons. He strolled past them, taking the few stairs that led up to the raised platform of white marble that the desk sat upon. He sat in the cushioned chair, a large painting that reached the ceiling, dark, a lone vampire stood upon the dead and bloodied bodies of humans, mages and lycans.<br/><br/>He glanced now to the rest of the room and waited.<br/><br/>SeditiousAmbitions 06-11-2009 08:33 AM<br/>Malachi reacted plainly to Enochâ€™s statement. He did not move or give much attention to those who were soon to die. Enoch was a rage and who wouldnâ€™t be? Malachi allowed the blood in his body to cool as he no longer felt any threats from the protestors to the new order. He moved silently behind Enoch. He matched the Prince in pace and stealth.<br/><br/>Once he reached the chamber where Enoch had come to rest, Malachi paused. He looked at all of the books and even glanced over some of the titles. He had read many of them but some were chronicles from the Kindred of Solace herself. He took a brief overview of the weapons as well but was unattracted to any of them. He allowed his eyes to wander about and found himself staring at the picture. Things made much more sense now in regards to Enoch.<br/><br/>He stopped flipping along the bindings of old books and walked to the steps which lead to the raised loft. He ascended quickly and stopped just at the top of them. â€œI commend you on the swift actions, Prince. I wonâ€™t pretend to be coy with you. I can tell that you are willful enough to not buy into my mannerisms, so with you I will speak plain.â€ Malachiâ€™s face darkened some as did his tone. â€œI knew I could find power here. That is why I chose Solace. I never intended on ruling the city, however. You will learn to trust my judgment and abilities. I could be a great tool for you in the respect that I can manipulate almost anyone.â€ Malachi paused and moved over to examine the painting before continuing. â€œYou have dissolved the council; a good start. There are still some who oppose this new regime but are intelligent enough to remain silent. These must be rooted out and destroyed. This should be a primary concern. Internal housekeeping will have be to finished before we can hope to go after those who have wronged our kind.â€<br/><br/>braioch8201 06-11-2009 04:37 PM<br/>Enoch blinked slowly, his attention spent directly on Malachi. He stayed silent for a moment, before he spoke, his tone clipped, "while I am aware of that fact, it does not change the fact that it needs to be changed as well. I'm well aware of the possible dessention within the ranks, and I plan on dealing with them swiftly and soundly, those who do not submit will meet a fate similar to those who roused themselves in the council room. Now a primary focus on just within would leave us blind to outside world, and in these times that is plain foolish. Addressing that, I will arranged for those that are best skilled in stealth to keep their eyes and ears on the other preternatural beings of this city, and others within the realm of the humans."<br/><br/>He paused for a moment his eyes fixed on Malachi's face, "Now my question is what to do with you. I am fully aware of the fact that you are both mentally and physically fit enough to take care of yourself. This is of use to me and my aims, but it still leaves your real intentions under question. Under your own admission you are a manipulative creature who takes great pleasure in conning others. So by that I must keep my eye on you, now also your own admission, I wish to know, where do your skills lie? In the Cleansing team or the Shadow team?"<br/><br/>Enoch was definitely sure of his skills, but he wanted to see the man in action. Needed to study him and figure out his motives and where to place him.