The passing of Sir Caiaphas Redfern

[Jedediah Knox]

[Jedediah Knox]

Bath Abbey’s cavernous interior is dimly-lit as Jedediah Knox busies himself placing wreaths of flowers on the weighted coffin in front of the altar, muttering their Latin names to himself as best he can remember without his sire to prompt him. A priest stands awkwardly by the vestry door, uncertain of how to proceed, awaiting instruction. Near the entrance doors, Francis Beauclair and Ebeneezer Sisyphus await the arrival of mourners - if indeed any will attend.

[Christine Daye]

...comfort ye, comfort ye my people.... saith your God.... saith your God... speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her Iniquity is pardoned...

Christine, dressed in her most sober green gown, trimmed with black, and with the veil on her top hat pulled down to shield her eyes, comes in through the doors. There's a half-hitch in her stride as she sees Beauclair and Sisyphus, which she covers by dipping into a curtsey.

She murmurs acknowledgement to them both before continuing up to the coffin. There's a hesitancy about her, as if she's unsure of whether she is welcome. But she still approaches, and gently places a hand picked posey of bluebells, tied with a green ribbon, upon the coffin.

"Eternal rest, grant unto him oh Lord, may your perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace."

Her voice is a soft, musical murmur. Then, to Knox:

"Mr Knox.... my deepest condolences... I am sorry for your loss."

[annabelle]

William walks in silently and slowly. Mr Knox will recognise him as Helen's ghoul whom she brought in Gloucester. William is wearing a black suit and is holding a bouquet of white carnations. Helen wasn't sure what was the appropriate choice of attire and flowers for a british funeral but white carnations is what was appropriate back home.

She was hesitant to visit once she've read the announcement but then Mr Knox was of her clan and despite their differences nobody deserves to mourn alone.

She nods at Christine, Francis and Sysiphus even if they propably haven't realised who she is and walks towards the coffin. Carefully she places the flowers and doesn't say anything. Instead she faces her fellow Ventrue and bows respectfully. The voice of the human low and calm.

"I am coming in peace Mr Knox. It's Helen. Please don't take my choice of body as an act of disrespect. It's a matter of safety. My deepest condolences..." there is a slight hesitation but then she continues with sad eyes

"Grief is the price we pay for love." and she bows again.

[Erika Leroux]

Erika enters the church shortly after Christine. She is also dressed sombrely, and holds a modest but elegant nosegay of mixed zinnia and sweetpeas, which she lays upon the coffin, with a simple nod of acknowledgement to Knox. There is sympathy in her eyes. Yet as much as she's here to pay her respects to the dead, there's a small part of her that remains exceedingly suspicious. She wants to make sure she'll know if anything untoward happens. And so she takes her seat next to Christine.

[Christine Daye]

Christine raises her veil as Erika sits next to her, and smiles at her Prince. A soft smile, but one that Erika recognises. A smile that speaks of pure joy and delight to see her mentor, her love.

There are no words said. There doesn't need to be. But somehow, hidden between the bulky fabric that forms the two women's skirts, a green gloved hand finds Erika's. Comfort and safety, in a time of politics and sorrow.

[Jedediah Knox]

Knox quietly acknowledges each of the Kindred who arrive, and politely thanks those who approach him, although he sits on his own at the front of the church. A number of mortal members of the BRLSI are also in attendance, but the cathedral is largely empty and sound echoes uncomfortably, and there is no music.

The service is sombre but generic, the priest clearly having no familiarity with the deceased except what he’s been told. We mourn the passing of Caiaphas Redfern. He leaves no family, but his name lives on in his prolific and influential publications on the topic of entomology. He has been described as a man of principle and science. A lover of creatures and his society. A true believer in God and in order. An example to us all, who stood up for what was right against tyranny and darkness even unto death.

Jedediah stands and walks aggrievedly to the lectern as if to give a reading, but instead speaks more freely, slipping into a comparatively comfortable old habit from hurriedly burying many men he had fought alongside in relative isolation. He speaks in a slow, considered drawl, picking each word carefully. His words strike no strong note of familiarity with the mortals present, but Knox’s almost-palpable air of gravity and authority stifle any displays of confusion.

“Amongst those who had the honour of calling him kin, none are more proud than Ah am. He was mah friend before mah introduction into our society, and in bringing me into our fold he literally saved mah lahfe, having found me lahying victim of a brutal mugging. Ah owed him mah lahfe, and having failed to repay that debt, Ah instead owe it to his wish to leave the world better than he found it. But he is owed so much more than that, from us all whose lot he trahed to improve.

Caiaphas Redfern was the best of us. The purest, the most principled. It is our failing and forever to our shame that we refused his leadership when it was offered, and our punishment is to live with the consequences of our folly. But even in death, we can still look to his memory to gahde us and provahde the example he was for us in lahfe. We are beset bah oppression, but bah standing together we can weather the insidious tahdes that would destroy us. And then we can be the example to the world that he was to us.

Thank y’all for coming.”

[Mr Ebenezer Sisyphus]

As he stands by the entrance greeting those that enter, he is reminded of Elysium and greeting people there, but this is a much less happy affair. The sorry mortals that mourn have no idea Redfern lived two life times, and himself and Beauclair who great them have lived many more.

This damned idea with the train was his undoing in the end, that’s always the way when one sticks their neck out in this society.

His thoughts are interrupted as an unfamiliar fellow gives him a familial nod. “Hmm, Matthias I expect” he thought from lazily checking the aura. “No, not Corvinus, he doesn’t have that bally ungodly aura, someone else possessing someone it seems, Palaiologos or one of those new Ventrue perhaps.”

A few more mortals and Kindred file in.

“Good evening Sire,” a mortal gentlemen of spoke to Sisyphus as a stiff distracted by the Prince sitting with Mia Daye. Mr S smiled and quickly leads the man away from the door and listening ears. The two converse a little amicably before Mr S helps him find a seat.

He will say hello to all the kindred present. )Having spoken before hand to Knox and Beauclair about how sad it is and sympathies)

When the service begins he sits by the In the allotted space for poll bearers.