All Aboard for Armageddon

[Mercury "Merc" Miller]

_{Ragna-Rock-and-Roll, the clock has tolled
our talk was bold but we lost control...}

War's over. Luthius is the big hero. Madsen's dead. And everyone will go back to life-as-normal, right?

Except - How did any of this even come to be? Siegfried hasn't been Prince of Vancouver all this time by being an idiot; he's a survivor. Many have tried to dislodge his gnarled claw from his city, all have failed. So when Hans Madsen declares war on someone he perceives as not exhibiting the proper amount of fealty, Siegfried should have just circled the wagons and said "Come and fucking get it. And I've got werewolves, bee-tee-dubs."

There's not a lot of kindred as old as Madsen that are willing to throw their life away on that kind of bargain. But somehow, against all logic and reason - maybe there was some sort of woojee involved thanks to "Prince" Luthius - Madsen actually agrees to square off, fang-to-fang, against Madsen in a random field. Throwing away hundreds of years of warfare technology, throwing away what is easily a dominating board position in chess terms, he agrees. Maybe he figures if he soundly beats Madsen here, it'll be over with (as if it ever is).

And the idiots in Seattle line up behind Luthius, because for all his faults I do gotta hand it to him, he's not a bad general. But Grant wasn't a bad general either, and he's easily one of our worst presidents. They all march out to stand across from each other in a field, while I imagine the wind whips through tall wheat cinematically, while Carmina's "O Fortuna" doubtlessly plays nonstop from some hidden speakers.

_{we gonna party it's the end of the world
all aboard for armageddon, c'mon bring ya girl
don't hold back, no slack
what you waitin' for?
you wanted a party, well say no more.}

[/sub]

And in the end, like all actual warfare, the rules of honorable combat are quickly discarded in place of expediency. Siegfried unleashes his talents, quickly dispatches Hans Madsen then inexplicably lets the rest of Madsen's now-demoralized forces go home. Now me, I'd take this opportunity to literally cry havoc and let slip the dogs (and werewolves) of war, slaughter every last kindred who took up arms against me. Or at least decimate the opposition to remind them that I was not one with whom to fuck.

But the reasoning behind an ancient Ventrue is not to be kenned - they go more insane than a Malk by that age. The real question is, what do we do now? Where does a kingless Luthius intend to take us?

Martial law, and mob rule and that's it
we building walls from bodies wrapped in plastic
and we celebrating like this chaos is a mosh pit
We just wanna party no matter what the cost is

[/center][/sub]

Does Luthius intend to contine Madsen's war? He claims not, but I know addicts, they can swear off for a time, but it always comes back worse. And we all know Luthius is addicted to conflict.
Does Luthius intend to declare himself King? Will he kneel to another, knowing that he could just as easily lead the combined domains of Portland, Couer-d'Alene, Olympia, and Seattle?
Does this mean the end of the Bowsley Doctrine's American experiment?

These are questions you Cammies can have fun answering. Meanwhile, our doors are always open, and if you get tired of one conflict after another, feel free to visit us.

[Eugene Krantz]

Jesus. Seriously? A lot of sound and fury coming from the kiddie pool.

"Where does a kingless Luthias intend to take us?"

That's your sales pitch to the fence-sitters?

"Leadership is uncertain in Seattle! Come over to the Anarchs where...where...we're so STABLE."

IT'S FUCKIN' SEATTLE. Leadership in that town is and has been about as stable as a one-legged Vietnam vet at a fireworks show. I should know.

And weren't *you* a 'Cammie' yourself about a week ago? Oh, yeah. BIG consistency you have on offer there.

You want to make an argument people are going to believe? Then how about you put as much time, effort, blood and struggle into your corner of the realm as Luthias has. Or Morris has. Or Siegfried has.

You want to use this 'soapbox' as a way to promote a different way of doing things? Then be the guy that is DOING that WAY.

Tell us about your block. Tell us about the culture there; the people there; what you're doing to claim it. Put some work into it and then plant your flag for all to see. At that point you won't need to advertise with words; the like-minded will flock to your example.

Y'know, like all those idiots who stood aside Luthias, who even you can't help but compliment.

I don't have any fancy quotes to end with, so I'll just leave this here for you.

[Deleted]

(OOC) ROFLMAO Ross. Fucking priceless.