Dr. Caul raises one of her expressive eyebrows, impressed by your restraint, but perhaps concerned by your temperament.
"Did Prince Lettow tell you what news I should expect?" she says. "Because I already know what happened to Jasper Knowles. He was a friend and a colleague, but I had to sever ties with him when I learned he was experimenting on Kindred. We all must draw our line in the sand somewhere. Still, I will miss him."
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Image Description: Dr. Invidia Caul, Tremere Scientist
Doctor Caul strips off her black gloves, revealing long black nails and a garnet ring. Vani hands her a lab coat.
You think quickly as the Tremere twists the knobs of the microfiche reader and starts reading the first page of Prince Lettow's document rescinding her authority to operate this facility. You should probably say something to soften the blow.
Or should you use this moment of vulnerability to learn something about the facility's secret operations?
"What is it, Doctor?" Rene asks. He and Sonam approach the reader. A few other scholars wander in, talking quietly among themselves about occult or scientific matters, but they keep a cautious distance from Dr. Caul. Only Vani is willing to get close.
"It's bad news," you say. "I don't know how to tell you this, but—"
"Shut up and let me read!" Dr. Caul snaps. She scans the microfiche, then hisses with rage and fury. "You knew about this, didn't you?" she whispers, not even looking at you.
Misreading the extent of her rage, Rene puts his hand on Dr. Caul's shoulder and says, "It's going to be okay, Invidia."
Her eyes turn black. "Okay? You think this is okay?"
She stands up and slaps Rene, knocking the much larger man to the tiled floor. Still, you think you might be able to calm her down. You consider your words carefully, trying to figure out what to say.
"Calm down!" Sonam yells.
That wasn't what to say.
Dr. Caul grabs Sonam's skull. Blood runs from beneath her fingernails. Alchemically transformed, it smokes and fulminates like acid. Sonam can't even scream as the flesh drips off his skull.
Next
The other occultists scream in horror and drop their books, running for the exits. But when the corrosive steam rising from Sonam's corpse reaches the ceiling, the facility's fire detectors go off and a massive security door starts to close. An earsplitting alarm goes off.
Dr. Caul turns, both hands dripping with corrosive acid that blackens the tiled floor.
You throw yourself behind a couch as Dr. Caul lashes out with her corrosive Blood. The chair next to you dissolves, throwing up spumes of noxious gas. Your Beast screams inside your brain, as if it were surrounded by flames. Your iron will allows you to master your fear, but you still don't dare approach her to attack—not with so much unnatural acid dripping from her fingers.
"How could he?" Dr. Caul screams, her face scrunched up in fury. "I've done everything for him!" She turns and a wave of corrosive Blood blackens the microfiche reader, filling the room with the stink of burning plastic. Her garnet ring flashes with thaumaturgic power.