Spoilers for the Gehenna hardcover and novel
CONTINGENCY PLANS AND DESPERATION
or "Before the finale, we always have a medley"
A dark temple. Set is sitting in a giant comfy chair, smoking a pipe, spectacles pinched on his nose. He is immersed in the Gehenna book lying on his lap. Suddenly he looks up and notices the audience. He slams the book shut and grins
SET
I know what happened - truth from lies
And I can tell you - for a price
(Puts the pipe on a table, leans forward)
But since your urge to know is strong
Let's deal with payment... later on
He waves his hand and air ripples, displaying the deathscenes of various Antediluvians
SET
I blasted Ravnos from the sky
Through Bell I made Tzimisce die
Ventrue, Malkav, Auggie too
My will was what Lasombra slew
He smiles smugly
SET
Their plans, of course, all pale to mine
(Shrugs)
Still, have a peek... to pass your time
The air ripples and we see what others are planning
Etrius has made his way to the Nephtali headquarters in London and is presenting his bold winning strategy to the leaders of the sect ["Easier than you think"]
ETRIUS
It really is much easier than you think
We'll simply use the names from Salt Lake City!
It really is much easier than you think
We'll slay the Antes and we'll show no pity!
Let's use the Mormon files
Employ our sneaky wiles
And this ritual will make a global link
It really is much easier than you thii-iink!
Ventrue and Troile are falling through the stratosphere in their celestial haven
VENTRUE
We're going down
We're going down
Well, seems like I'll die after all
TROILE
It's so unfair
It's so unfair
Like Carthage was before the fall
Lambach, having finally overcome his fear of The Eldest, is rallying a large group of Sabbat vampires under his flag ["Where did we go wrong?"]
LAMBACH
I was afraid, but that's the past
Now I have seen the light
Let's slay the Ancients to the last
Let's show them we can fight!
So won't you come along?
Let's fix where we went wrong!
Rafael de Corazon hasn't given up the fight, running on the streets and trying to convince people nothing's really happening ["Destroy the Masquerade"]
DE CORAZON
Please spare the Masquerade
What a bunch of jerks
Can't you show some decency
To all my unlife's works?
Arikel standing on a large stage her minions have constructed in what was previously known as Paris. All around her ghouls are busy setting up the lighting, microphones and cameras. Villon is sitting in a director's chair. Arikel hums happily ["Ugly heart"]
ARIKEL
They'll love me and my lovely heart
And when this broadcast we will start
Together all, we'll never part
To me they'll gladly give their heart!
Haqim is blowing around, singling out vampires for exsanguination ["The Shepherd is here again"]
HAQIM
The Shepherd is dead and gone
But Haqim is going strong
One by one - now I have time
All heart's blood will be mine
Because Haqim's still going strong!
Isabel Giovanni addresses her clanmates in the Giovanni Mausoleum in Venice ["Uncle G!"]
ISABEL
There is a chance
To work our plans
The Shroud is thin
And we can win
So we will rule the clans!
The Nephtali sect and their mortal allies are dancing their way through the streets of Salt Lake City, Etrius is leading the way ["Easier than you think"]
NEPHTALI MEMBERS
It really is much easier than we thought
Nephtali and the mortals work together
It really is much easier than we thought
This new alliance shall be true forever
A paradise on Earth
Shall be given birth
With the blood of Elders freedom shall be bought
It really is much easier than we thoo-ught!
Philippe de Marseilles, the redeemed ex-vampire, and his Hermetic companion, Cecilia Lyons, are fleeing from the madness on the streets["How it turned out"]
PHILIPPE & CECILIA
Let us find a little den
A place to call our own
We have seen what happens when
The proud take on the Throne
Space debris from Ventrue's station hits them, brutally killing them both
In San Fransisco, Prince Wilder is still caught up in the giant rave.
WILDER
I... hate... dancing...!
Lambach's army of Sabbat is marching towards the greatest recongnized Antideluvian stronghold in Paris ["Where did we go wrong?"]
LAMBACH
They saw their Childer as no threat
They thought we were just food
We'll kill Arikel, Haqim, Set
This time we wont get screwed!
You know it won't be long
We'll show them they were wrong!
Beckett is running around happily in a park, as the Japanese duet sings his theme song. Finally he earthmelds with the ground, waving to the camera ["OH! You heroic Gangrel-Man!"]
MALE & FEMALE JAPANESE SINGER
OH! You heroic Gangrel-Man!
You finally came to understand
There was no giant masterplan
No reason for you to exist
No "Why there are vampires"-list
Now your hard night's work is done
Sayonara, Beckett-san!
In Paris, the preparations are almost ready for Arikel's "World-Wide Broadcast of Presence". She claps her hands excitedly, whirling on the stage ["Fashion, Raves & Snakes"]
ARIKEL
Your beautiful queen
I shall steal the scene
With perfect teeth and perfect hair
As fair as the sea
Like sun I shall be
And all shall love me and despair!
El Diablo Verde has constructed a giant metal cage and is waiting for the Antediluvians to join him in a final battle royale
EL DIABLO VERDE
Come on! Arriba la Raza! I'm waiting!
The grand majority of Clan Giovanni has gathered to the Mausoleum to enact the Ritual of Endless Night ["Uncle G!"]
CLAN GIOVANNI
Let's tear the Shroud
When it's allowed
The ghosts will rise
Dead girls and guys
The Skinlands they shall crowd!
We return to Set. He has put the Gehenna book aside and is painting a complex sigil on the temple floor. He stands up looking at the audience
SET
All these schemes I set in motion
My clan died with great devotion
And I DON'T want my old clan back
(Shudders)
"We're evil. EEVIL! Have some crack."
He taps his nose
SET
And as for me?
Well, you shall see...
He lights a candle and we see the temple is filled with literally thousands of huge statues, carved to resemble the Typhonic Beast
SET
The spirits of my faithful priests
I'll house inside these ancient beasts
My ancient lore, my knowledge banned
You'll see, when darkness sweeps the land!
The music rises and we see everyone at the same time, singing on top of each other
TROILE & VENTRUE
We'll hit the land...
HAQIM
My form of sand...
DE CORAZON
The Masquerade...
ISABEL
It's not too late...
LAMBACH
Where we went wrong...
A BUNCH OF CAITIFF
Let's get it on...
ARIKEL
And in my heart...
ETRIUS
My plan is smart...
SET
My ancient lore...
INSPECTOR JAVERT
One day more...
The music stops
SET (Indignated)
Dude! Wrong musical! Get out! Shoo!
Javert walks off, mumbling "damn undead bastards think they're above the law..."
Everyone joins in the passionate climax of the song, as we behold Etrius and the Nephtali spreading the Mormon computer printouts in a circle, Arikel preparing to start the broadcast as Lambach's army attacks the set, the Shroud beginning to break in Venice, El Diablo Verde waiting, Haqim blowing (sorry, I had to), de Corazon watching the skies as Ventrue's space station burns in the stratosphere and Set chanting in his ritual circle
EVERYONE
The future's right in front of us
And now we all can see
Through all our plans and all our fuss
It was all meant to be
The next world is a-coming
Is there room for you and me?
The cogs of fate are turning
And we're granted clarity
We will know...
When they show...
The World of Darkness...
TWO! POINT! OH!
And everything freezes
In a cave, somewhere in the Middle East, three people climb out of a deep, deep well
MYSTERY MAN #1
And we are back. Not that I doubted it for a moment, after all, it was me who checked the calculations. And no-one's as rational and logical...
MYSTERY MAN #2
We get it! Don't forget it was ME who actually brought us back! So, how'd you two like being well and truly dead? Not bad, huh?
The third guy bursts in an evil overlord laugh
MYSTERY MAN #3
MWAHAHA! My evil plan is proceeding! (Coughs, continues softly) Oh, I didn't like it. All those dead people. Horribly sad. Yes.
MYSTERY MAN #2
So, are we ready to do this?
MYSTERY MAN #3
Certainly, captain! With my knowledge of the soul...
MYSTERY MAN #1
... My understanding of temporal mechanics...
MYSTERY MAN #2
... And my mastery over death, no-one can stop us!
The camera pans the cave and for the first time, we notice something hanging on the wall
Three masks
MYSTERY MAN #3 (Insane laughter)
Endgame! Mwahahaha! FUCKING ENDGAME! MWAHAHAHA!
MYSTERY MAN #2
You always say that.
MYSTERY MAN #1
Anyone else have a sense of Deja vu?
MYSTERY MAN #2
You *always* say that.
NEXT in Act 13:
Fucking Endgame!