Jason and Lance met at Brooklyn College, which also happend to be Jason's recognized Domain within New York. He spoke about their Psychology Department having 2 rooms that were designed to test the senses of participants in sensory deprivation studies. All of this sounded like absurd wierd science to Lance, but what was he going to do... Question a Mekhet on learning the Discipline of Auspex? He decided to go along with it and just try to be polite as he possibly could be while being subjected to these tests. He was a bit nervous about this being conducted by mortals but if anything went wrong, he felt comforted that his powers with Dominating were finally growing to exercise the memories of those who had witnessed too much.

For the next 7 nights, Jason tested each of Lance's senses individually by forcing them to stretch past their natural limits. The first 5 nights handled each of Lance's 5 senses. The 6th night came and it tested the ubiquitous "6th sense." This tested Lance on trying to see through nothing... At least that is what he was told, while Jason was walking around the room with Obfuscate shielding his presence. After a certain point, it became plain to Lance that Jason was in the room with him the entire time, just pacing back and forth or sitting in a chair, bored and waiting for a reaction from him that he would finally see him. On the 7th night, Jason conducted tests. One after the other, testing Lance's senses at a random intervals to force Lance to adjust to the rapidly changing stimuli become a monumental effort that was a near torturing experience. Being bombarded too all the stimulation of sensory overload could render a Kindred immobile and blind and def for that matter. This was his method of teaching Lance to adapt his senses and not to over extend them all at once.

After Lance had left that week, he had seen the world in a new way, never before percieved as he use to with his dulled senses. Fragrances and textures were felt and smelled in all new ways that opened his mind up to new possibilities. The ability to see to the limit of the human eye was intoxicating, he couldn't get enough of using these senses to experience all these foreign sensations to him... But in the end, he knew he was on his way to fufilling his requirements to becoming a full fledged notary. No one told Lance why he needed to be adept in the ways of Auspex, but it is what the most successful Notaries possessed... So he had to follow in their footsteps with Jason leading the way.

Lance arrived in Staten Island to witness the Carthian's sponsored event called "Carthian Kareoke." The gathering brought quite a crowd to the island, apparently everyone wanted to see how far the Carthians could sink in terms of embaressing themselves. To start the night off, the worst Carthian of them all, Guillermo, decided to take his turn at singing, in what was the most ear shattering rendition of a modern 80's song ever heard. Lance though any of the poor Mekhet who were listening in on conversations would have had blood pouring out their ears from the rendition he gave. Then after he left the mic, the kareoke Machine was left unattended for quite a while, I think this was the social fallout of dropping a nuke and watching the aftermath of a growing mushroom cloud.

Thankfully, Alder Casio called an Invictus meeting to discuss what had occured with the Church of the New Dawn, and had "politely" excused all the members of the First Estate from experiencing anymore ear shattering awkwardness. When the unconquered gathered, there was even more disturbing discussions of a Prince in Albany that followed in the foot steps of the former Prince Sinclaire... Obviously this Prince needed to be delt with. But before anymore discussion could be heard on this matter, Alder Cassio asked Alder Phelps and Lance to investigate the gathering being held tonight in the Bronx with the Church. Eager and awaiting to see what would occur, they headed up there and perched ontop of a nearby building with surveilance gear to watch watch the audience.

To the suprise of the 2 Daeva, they spotted Alder Gambara's Ghouls making their way through the crowd to be "Healed" by the minister. To everyone's suprise, something went wrong as he sensed that the Ghouls were "different" and thus began a chain of events that sent the crowd into chaos. Alder Gambara finally showed up with his Ventrue family members, and began possessing members of the crowd to try and save his Ghouls. To everyone's unfortunate suprise, a swarm of rats overran the crowd on the stage that scared the mortals below into a fleeing panic. Utter chaos errupted as Simon and Lance sat ontop just shaking their heads, all from 2 Ghouls of Lorenzo, not informing us of their presence.

Alder Strauss had talked with Lance a few times since his revealing of his true identity. She seemed to take a genuine interest in the wellfair of the Invictus of New York but unfortunately, she seemed to be pinned down time after time by the other Alders, Lorenzo and Simon. It was a pitty Lance thought, that she had great ambition and ideas underneath the vissage of a Librarian... But the lack of nerve and means to take what she wanted is what kept her in place. The blood of his relatives made him question if placing seeds of distrust amongst the Alders would be wise if it wre to give her a stepping stone, but he had come to the conclusion that it would be best to wait it out and keep discussions to the more mundane and tedious rather then letting the gifts of the Daeva and the Ventrue be thrown around.

At the same time Mr. Phelps seemed to be taking a different route of expanding his power, his control over the Bronx seemed to be growing as it sprouted from the oddest of all places to begin with.... Yankee Stadium. Who knew the financial accumen and sway over the fans could produce such great gains in terms of influence, and from there his influence spread even farther as he discussed what to do with cadette training for the police and other facets of control in that neighborhood of the Bronx. Lance was glad to assist with financing some of his needs and looking over records to help him maintain his grip on the heart of the Bronx. At least in these 2 members of the First Estate, Lance saw promise as well as the future of where the Invictus could be within the Court of New York.

He felt slightly guilty though, knowing that Alder Gambara had slighted him on quite a few occasions yet he was also responsible for undoing his memory... He had also owed him a major boon so it was something he weighed heavily in his conscience, how to approach him and what to help him with. Lance went over every member of the Invictus within the city lately and measured their worth with what he could percieve for soon, he would have the need and the means to push them all the achieve greater means for themselves as well as the First Estate.

Ethan had finally established his own place to live, after feeling guilty for living under Jasons roof for a while. He decided to move into the Invictus territory of Downtown Manhattan, feeling safer amongst the feeding domains that his Covenant had claimed. It was a small but quaint apartment overlooking the Staten Island Ferry... His goal was to be able to afford an apartment... Or even a building right next to Grand Central Station. He always had fond memories of the Railways he use to own and operate. He had recieved word from a Crone he previously met with in Pennsylvania, a strikingly beautiful vixen who had a fetish for being garbed in slave atire... Obviously a Daeva who knew how to use what she has for what she wanted. A message was delivered to him in a tattered parchment, almost out of a dark ages form of presentation, left at his door.

Taking it to his desk and carefully trying to peel away the stained seal upon the parchment, which held the scroll closed, he unravelled it and began to read what she had to say. She was delighted to see me in action against the other Ordo who had become to greedy with their positions of power, and abused the court with their political agendas, the letter was mostly for ego stroking as any good Daeva knows how to do when trying to make an arrangement. Reading further on, the business proposition finally presented itself, a flower of some sort that the Crone could manufacture, with Kindred Vitae, gived the ability to make you feel and sense as if you were once more mortal. Lance remembered taking one at the party and for the entire night, everything in his body worked and functioned just as it would during his breathing days... And she made sure during that night that Lance was "completely" human after the gathering. He almost blushed if it wasn't for the fact that he had not fed recently, but it went on asking if he could oversee and negotiate the finances of a Casino she was to build in Atlantic City.

The thought of New Jersey made him cringe as he held the parchment tightly in his grip, knowing full well that he finally settled down into the court of New York. Acknowledged and a member of the Invictus, he dreaded reading on incase he were to be tempted by what was offered. She needing a simple contract signing and to make sure her profits were kept at an optimal rate from this Casino, in exchange, Lance would recieve 20 of these flowers a month. This was to be the retainer of keeping Lance on for his services, but he knew full well that his efforts were needing in the city with Alder Strauss and Simon Phelps needing some influential and financial backing for their latest endevors. He sighed and thought of the insurmountable task that laid before him... How to tell such a beautiful Daeva "No"

Unfortunately, business has kept Lance away from the courts this month, making new connections in New York, getting to know the mortal power structures, making himself at home with the new people who he feels should be under his control for the greater good of the First Estate. Ever since his memory has been unlocked, his amibition has taken off with a ravenous fever, analyzing everyone, seeing what their worth to him and the greater scheme of things, and slowly plotting where he should be and when he should get there. He recalled his trip to Pennsylvania, where the Gatherings from that court were quite unorderly, the Dragons held praxis there and most of the political officers, which in Lance's mind explained why there was so much that was unorganized.

Members of the First Estate there were... Timid, to say the least, 2 lone warriors of the Invictus coward in the Shadows, almost imprisoned by the very politics that elevate our Alders and make the First Estate... Well, First! It was a pitty to see them in this situation, Lance thought, but his services were obviously needed here. Watching all the bonds and connections formed by the members of the court of Pennsylvania, his old instincts kicked in as he felt the Kallisti blood finally taking over, wanting to destroy the bonds that would hold his enemies trust, their loyalty, even their love for one another. Lance sat down with the 2 Invictus and told them that everything would be alright, and that he would handle this situation being that no other Alder had stood up for them as of yet. He started with the Prince's wife, another Dragon, arrogant and egotistical, the perfect target for the powers of a Kallisti. As he guided her to let her hair down and to enjoy herself, she became more spiteful, hateful towards her husband, remembering things from the past that drew his attention away from her and focused them towards his ambitions, his studies, and even other women... She was set on her path to make an embaressing scene on behalf of the Dragons that night.

Lance then looked over the crowd to find the 2 members next road block, a Carthian upstart who had taken every chance to challenge the local Invictus to debate and make them look like fools during every conversation. Lance decided to very unrespectfully excuse everyone at his table so they could speak alone... Fortunately everyone had assumed that Lance was a bit more powerful then what he truly was. This Carthian was also another Daeva, and they decided to handle this dispute like any 2 Daeva would... By who could overwhelm the other with emotional sway. Lance's age gave him a great deal of potency within his Blood, giving him the ability to shrug aside the Carthian's attempts to sway him. Lance decided to test what kind of man he really was and once again, guided the Carthian into letting himself go with the gifts of the Kallisti. Immediately he started spinning his conversations into a deep self loathing and depressing state. Becoming unsatisfied with himself, he excused himself from the court in a rather unrefined method as he stormed off crying.

It was later learned that others were listening in on the conversation with their Auspex yet found nothing in the conversation that would lend itself to someone manipulating him. After all, Daeva don't possess a power to make Kindred run off in a crying tantrum of self loathing... Lance kept thinking in his head "Thank god know one knows about what a Kallisti is capable of" the entire night. He had also encountered a few elders at the gathering... Those that could only feed of the Vitae of Kindred, this kept him on edge as he shared delicate conversation with them, but he felt no such intrusion in his mind as the Mekhet normally use so he persisted with his attempts to make the enemies of the Invictus look like fools. Towards the end of the night, it had been known that the Primogen of the court were going to "reconsider" the praxis of the Dragons and their holdings in the Court, this indeed became a satisfying night for Lance as he allowed the 2 Invictus a chance to reclaim the Domain they resided within.

Although Lance always has his ambitions of one day taking Praxis himself of a Court, he knows his role is best suited for corrupting and destroying from the Shadows, hiding behind a friendly smile and handing out business cards to his enemies.

Ethan visited the court of New York, this time finally to recieve an audience with his majesty, Prince Felipe... Although an odd occurance came with this, his name could not be said outloud or written down in any form of communication. Perhaps it was some form of sorcery that the Crone had devised, but why? Only they would know what power is to be held within a name. The court was awkward to say the least, as Ethan's new Primogen spoke up for him (Who's name was also Ethan.) He was an absolute embaressment to the Unaligned, blubbering about while making most of the women feel awkward or demeaned... Yet he was pittied and unscathed by any of the Harpies in the Court. This reminded Ethan of how the mentally disabled were shown tollerance for their misguided actions in the middle east, and were given charity to. But what struck him even more befuddling was that he was a member of Clan Ventrue. An idiot who parades himself around like a fool, holding patronage to one of the most esteem clans of the night? Either way, he was to be Ethan's primogen.

Thankfully, it was not he who vouched for his welfare and status within the city, instead, a member of the Invictus by the name of Simon Phelps, took Ethan under his wing as a fellow Daeva, the tight knit bonds of the Daeva Clan seemed to run tight within New York, especially after hearing Ethan's tale of how New Jersey's court had collapsed due to civil dispute amongst the Unaligned and the Prince who had never shown her face amongst the members of the court. He was a refugee now in a foreign Domain with Kindred he had never knew before recently. Simon decided to show him around, and make him a few offers to come to a meeting of the First Estate and see what they would have to offer him. Being that this was the second time he was looked over by an Invictus, he figured maybe there's something he doesn't see within himself that would make him a worthy candidate for their Covenant.

While he was giving consideration to this proposition, Jason asked for his attention for a moment. It seems that his suspicions grew that all the things Ethan had recieved before, the pocket watch, the flower, the card, all of this were things to try to jump start his memory. He too believed the theory of that his mind has been tampered. At first, Ethan though this to be very suspicious as he was talking to Pyp, but another Ventrue he had trusted, Artemis, had attended court that same night. He sat down, thinking long and hard in contemplation about his options and choices... Allowing another Vampire into his mind is not something most Kindred should ever trust to go as well as planned. But if it were true, he'd need some answers as to what exactly was covered up. He agreed to the Ventrue's as well as having Jason supervise since he was under his sway with his Daeva gifts.

So they began to Dominate him in a secluded area away from court, starting to sift through his thoughts and memories, Pyp apparently had a hard time learning how to navigate through Ethan's thoughts since he was more adept at speaking to animals rather then humans. After a few minutes of disgruntled muttering and Ethan just staring at him blankly, waiting for something to happen, Artemis decided to step in and take over. His attempts garnered a bit more, he couldn't find anything specific, but knew that Ethan's mind definately was tampered with by another who possessed the gifts of the Ventrue to cloud the minds of others. He apparently could offer no more but when Simon Phelps showed up to check and see how I was doing, he offered a suggestion that Ethan should speak to Lorenzo Gambara, another Ventrue of his Covenant. He recommended him since he was quite adept and tearing apart minds as well as Kindred reputations, as long as Jason and Simon gave him his blessing and offered to watch over him, he decided to take them up on his offer, as he continued with his odd game of musical chairs, moving from one Ventrue to the next.

Lorenzo Gambara was a busy man for the evening, he barely even raised an eyebrow when being introduced to Ethan but he some how managed to eek out a second of his schedule to speak with him. Ethan pleaded his case to him and requested that if he were to help, he would be indebted to him with a major boon. He agreed to do so later that evening, with the company of Rebecca Allen, a Carthian who was also adept and sifting through memories of Kindred and Kine alike. So as the night dwindled down, they informed Ethan to visit them at Lorenzo's private Hotel. He had a private suite set out for the evening so they wouldn't be interrupted during the process. They sat down and began exchanging simple questions without the use of the Ventrue gifts, comparing and cross examining him, making sure this wasn't some sort of trick, and then Lorenzo went to work as he began to lull Ethan under his gaze. He started questioning his name, when he was born, everything down to his covenant and status. They looked a bit taken away to find out he was a member of the First Estate, a VERY old member to be precise. He was already an Alder in terms of the Invictus, yet he had been on the streets this entire time among the unaligned... Given the name of Ethan when his true name was Lance Morrison.

After they ended the session for the evening, Lance went back home and let it all sink in for the next few days. Realizing the past 2 centuries of his life were a lie. But if that was the case, then who is he really? Would memories (false or true) determine who he was or what he was to become, or could he still be his old self even after all this time, being misguided by clouded memories. He took up enough time before visiting Lorenzo again to help with anymore probing into his head, coming to terms with he'd have to represent himself to the Prince again as a member of the First Estate. Lorenzo proceeded once more and dug as far he could, finding certain parts irrevocably lost to the time and determination of his sire's clouding. Who ever she was, she didn't want Lance knowing why or what she did this for. After the session, Lorenzo began to speak of how the First Estate was holding up within New York. This inspired old memories Lance had of being in the Invictus before, how he always sought to bring his Covenant to power by his hand and ambitious nature with negotiating and brokering deals.

For the coming months ahead, Lance had decided to re-instate himself within the First Estate of New York as a Commissioner (His previous title he held within New Jersey) and see what he could do with becoming a prominent member of the court.

While staying with Jason in New York for the evening, he clutched the item that baffled him with great frustration yet comforted him to know that he had it. It was as if he owned it previously in some distant dream, the Pocket Watch with the train emblem on it. Holding it in his palm, opening it to check the time, it came to him like second nature, like his muscles never forgot the motions of pulling it out of his pocket and flicking it open. After his research a while back, he had discovered that it was from the 1800's, the peak of American engineering and industry... But why would he be sent this? Did he know someone from the far back, before his embrace? Was someone looking out for him or was this a warning? Perhaps a stolen treasure from a great adversary... Regardless of how many possibilities he pondered, he couldn't come up with anything solid that would stick in his mind.

Then while he was on Jason's computer, looking up some stock quotes, he felt something come back to him as if it were a brief flash for a second... It was for his retirement! It was his watch! But... He retired from what? Ethan was too timid and frail to be someone to work on the railroad tracks themselves... Perhaps he was a ticket clerk? A conductor? No, those were too low on the totem poll of employees to recieve a solid gold pocket watch from a train company. Could he possibly have been one of the investors in this train line that ran through New Jersey? He pondered this for a moment then started typing away in a blur on Jason's computer, going through any reference and historical site Google would allow him to find. Digging through site after site, the hours drifted into the night. Jason had returned to see Ethan still on his computer, typing away like a madman. Even though it unsettled Jason, Ethan explained to him that he thinks he might have remembered a bit more about his past and that he might have been someone important that was connected to the railroads of New Jersey and perhaps New York as well.

For the rest of the evening they both stood awake until the sun rised, plowing away at the keys, taking turns when one ran out of ideas or leads of where on the internet to look. The next evening Ethan awoke to find that the name inscribed on the Pocket Watch (Lance Morrison) was found in the databse, was it a sign that this was his name as a Mortal? But why would his sire give him a different name, and why can't he remember that this was his mortal name if his memories were changed?

With some income and some negotiations in hand, Ethan was well on his way to becoming a more prominant figure of the Unaligned, unfortunately things were all to grim in Jersey City to consider keeping himself situated there. Riots and fights would be a weekly occurance, Kindred were roaming the city, unchecked by a Scourge or a Sheriff, the city was the epitomy of anarchy itself. Things became so bad that the Carthians even decided to lay low since this sort of freedom was too much even for them. The city had officially began to crumble, and Ethan wanted out.

He kept close relations with some of the Kindred in New York's court should this day ever come, when he would have to flee from New Jersey and seek refuge across the Hudson River. Jason and Phelps were ready to welcome him with open arms, as was the Unaligned Primogen, Ethan. He had quite a selection of places to stay while he were to establish himself in the city, unfortunately Prince Felipe had not responded to his messages with asking to seek an audience. The Unaligned Primogen though, told Ethan that he would speak on his behalf for him and try to arrange his status being recognized within New York's Domain. The thought of seeing what the Scourge of New York could do did frighten Ethan, so he pushed the fact that he needed to be recognized immediately, less he'd be a helpless victim for some brute Gangrel or Nosferatu enforcer of Felipes.

Due to all the Chaos in New Jersey, Ethan thought it was about time to stop settling for standards of the Unaligned (Not their spirit, just their means of getting by.) After all, not having any money on hand ment he only had his Daeva gifts to use, which wasn't entirely all to bad, it just wansn't something he was proud of. It was a sign that he couldn't accomplish things on his own. He wanted to know the toil and the joy of earning something on his own skill rather then his supernatural gifts, so he decided to set out, away from the Unaligned. He found himself making his way into small night clubs at first, singles bars, meeting women who found him naturally attractive. As Ethan spent time with them, he would get to know every single detail of their life, finding out what they enjoyed, who they knew, what they did for a living, everything.

Sometimes he'd even escort them back to their apartments where things would become much more intimate, either way, he was making connections through his charm and looks alone. At the same time he was also finding safe places to stay and learning information from some of these successful women. While having his way with them, he began to select the more business oriented women as well as those who served financially powerful men, garnering specific information and learning things he considered to be more valuable then gold itself... Information to be used in the Stock Market. He convinced these women to invest in the stocks he choose, none of them knowing that the information he had came from other women he was manipulating.

In time, the women he had influenced had come to make themselves (as well as Ethan) quite a profit, and all through the means of just enjoying himself with the company of other attractive and successful ladies.

While driving to New York, he recalled the previous gathering that occured in New Jersey...

The Harpy and Prince allowed a Carnival of sorts to be held for the Kindred of Jersey City... From all walks of life, everyone showed up for the festivities including some poor souls who were used as sideshows or games. Ethan found a crossbow game that was rather pleasing to him where guilty kindred would be put on a spinning wheel and the first to torpor them would recieve a boon from the Harpy. Out of pitty's sake, he picked up the cross bow and began to fire, getting lucky with his first shot, the Kindred was put into torpor and he won the boon. Ethan though, felt an excited though at the sport he was playing. The pain and the fear he struck into his victim, he felt compelled to stay at the booth and ask that another victim be strung up so he could keep firing away, and as he played more and more, this disgusting habbit took over... The need to inflict superiority over someone else. Each crossbow bolt that landed in his victim was a sign of making that Kindred submit to his will, begging for mercy to end the pain and the hunger that the beast would bring about.

As the night unfolded, he began to feel somewhat... Familiar, when they began auctioning off Kindred and Ghoul slaves on stage. Ethan didn't recognize any of them but he could swear that this situation... This scenario was all too close to home for him, but yet he sat their in awe and amusement as people bidded away boons and favors to collect these "slaves." Later on in the evening, the event was interrupted by wrecking ball from a construction vehicle, coming through the Carnival like a raging bull. This obviously sent everyone fleeing but later it was found out, a few of the Unaligned had taken some steps to show in an act of defiance that they weren't under the Prince's rule. Hudled in the parking lot as we watched on, 2 other Kindred sat beside Ethan as he hurried to get his car keys out of his pocket and get away. They talked about how to handle the problem of the Unaligned within Jersey City and rather then his usual humane approach, the first thing that Ethan could blurt out was "I know where a few of them make Haven during the day... Would you care to get a few mortals together and drag them out during the daytime?"

Between conversations with Jason and Victor, it was apparent that Ethan was starting to change in personality the more he obsessed over this bizare situation he was involved in. The more the name "Lance Morrison" kept coming up in his searches, the more he became callous and cruel. He didn't really care about who he used or what he did to others, but he made sure that no matter what it would take, he would find out why this was being done to him and why. He spent his evenings travelling back and forth across the George Washington Bridge getting into Manhattan, talking back and forth with the local Kindred and seeing if any he had not visited before could make any sense of these cryptic clues or the name he was given. One such individual by the name of Pyp kept glancing at him, making remarks that he seemed dazed and distant when Ethan tried answering a few simple questions about his past.

Immediately, the Ventrue jumped to the conclusion that he should see someone soon unless he would let him into his memories to see if he could find any tampering... Obviously, Ethan thought, that this was the classic Ventrue ploy to brainwash someone and Convert them to their Covenant. Pip was a member of the Invictus and quite frankly, it rubbed Ethan the wrong way, especially with letting someone go through every private though and secret he's held. He merely excused himself from the Ventrue's presence and went about visiting a few of the other social places in New York's court. He had desperately kept trying to seek an audience with Prince Felipe, as he was not yet acknowledged within New York, making him quite vulnerable to anyone's attempts of attack. How odd, that one of the greatest cities in the world, not have a more formal system of how to handle new visitors who would seek to make haven in the Domain of New York... But that still didn't stop Ethan from popping in from time to time, hopefully waiting to catch a glimpse of his majesty or someone who would help him if he decided to leave New Jersey, due to it's increasing chaotic element.