Spoiler: Theo
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The divine grace of Charis fills you, making you react faster than your fellow priests, faster than the Vanguard, even faster than the supernaturally quick vampires.

But, swift though your combat reflexes are, the madame behind the counter by some fluke proves quicker. Perhaps this is because she has used this conversation to maneuver into position; perhaps it is because all she does is seize an object from behind the desk and strike it against the wall.

The object is a glass statuette, shaped into a skull, and decorated with a pattern of sinister symbols. There is no time for a full inspection: the statuette shatters into innumerable pieces on impact, letting loose a wail of very human anguish.

In clouds of smoke, accompanied by the stench of decay, four figures appear in the room.

Three are dark-robed, hooded figures bearing staves of carved bone. Their bodies are wreathed in sinister purple flame, and their faces hidden in shadow. They begin to chant, their sonorous, foul-sounding incantation causing your hair to stand on end.

The fourth figure, you recognise with a shock of memory - or, more accurately, you recognise the suit of all-concealing full plate armour the hulking figure wears: blackened steel, wrought with silver filigree; grey cloak; bronze helm with two sweeping horns.

Drawing a greatsword from his back, the armoured colossus pauses, seeming to recognise you in turn.

"Roost?" he demands in a deep, terrible voice that reminds you of steel and tombstones. "This cannot be. Shroud burned you to cinders."

Spoiler: OOC
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Your initiative when you're ready, or feel free to talk - within reason,
I'll treat it as a free action.