How to encounter Monsignor Stanford in Leysha’s second scene (Scene 03 - The Loft) in Vampire the Masquerade: Swansong.
Despite the fact that your primary objective in Leysha’s second scene (Scene 03 - The Loft) is to rescue the Prince’s childe, Miley, you can let your curiosity get the better of you and seek out the leader of the mortals who attacked the loft, Monsignor Stanford. A dangerous individual indeed.
It’s worth noting that while this is an optional objective which you’ll fail if you instead opt to rescue Miley, meeting Stanford will cause you to fail to rescue Miley. Both are worth the same amount of XP, but they’re mutually exclusive ways to end the scene.
(1 of 2) You’ll be given a concoction for winning the confrontation with Richard,
You’ll be given a concoction for winning the confrontation with Richard, (left), which will give you the Elusive trait, temporarily unlocking Obfuscate Rank IV - Doppelganger. (right)
How to Find Monsignor Stanford¶
Monsignor Stanford can be found on the loft’s balcony, which is near the end of the scene, hence it’ll take a bit of doing to reach him. After the intro conversation with Halsey, Obfuscate to copy the uniform of a Homicide Officer, pass through the police tape to enter the second room and get through the first confrontation with Halsey. Check out the link for more information about how to win the series of three confrontations you’ll have with Halsey, all of which must be dealt with en route to the balcony.
Once done, go through a door to the loft proper and turn right, passing through the living room where you’ll be treated to a scene of some cops and feds divvying up the crime scene. Continue forward and when you reach a fork turn right down a hallway, where you’ll have your second confrontation with Halsey.
To your right is the Safe Room - Bathroom, which will be useful in a bit. First, however, go through a door to the left to reach the kitchen, talk to Officer Opuedo (he can be found standing nearby in the kitchen), then use Obscucate to copy a Forensics Specialist uniform. Change in the Safe Room - Bathroom, then cross the police tape just outside the kitchen. Halsey will appear shortly thereafter and guide you into another Safe Room, where the third confrontation with Halsey will occur.
After the third encounter with Halsey, exit the Safe Room - Laundry Room and turn right. Head down the hallway and go through the door to the right. In this room you’ll automatically engage in a confrontation with Richard. Check out the linked page for info on how to win the confrontation with Richard, which you’ll almost certainly want to do if you plan to risk confronting Monsignor Stanford.
How to Earn the Elusive Trait¶
If you win the confrontation with Richard he’ll give you a concoction to imbibe, which will bestow Leysha with the Elusive trait. This trait temporarily gives Leysha Obfuscate Rank IV - Doppelganger, which allows her to convincingly mimic a specific target, rather than merely adopt their clothing. You won’t be able to safely encounter Monsignor Stanford without using this discipline, and it’s unlikely you can earn enough XP to obtain Obfuscate Rank IV - Doppelganger at this point in the game.
Note that while gaining (and hence using) this trait is actually optional, it’s highly recommended you do so, otherwise you’ll obtain the Marked by the Faith trait when you encounter Monsignor Stanford, a permanent debuff.
(1 of 2) Talk to Novice Olsen and complete some dialog checks to gather intel on him,
Talk to Novice Olsen and complete some dialog checks to gather intel on him, (left), then take his form so you can safely meet with Monsignor Stanford. (right)
Novice Olsen¶
When you’re done with Richard - for better or worse - go through a hole in the wall to the left, which exits out to the balcony. When you reach the balcony turn left and approach the agent blocking your way forward. Copy his suit to obtain the Government Agent outfit, backtrack to a Safe Room and change into this new outfit, then return to the balcony. You should now gain access to the main part of the balcony.
While there’s a good bit to see and do out here, for the sake of meeting Monsignor Stanford you’ll want to seek out Novice Olsen. You can, of course, skip this step and head right for Monsignor Stanford, who can be found in the tarp-covered section of the balcony. You’ll be warned off by Agent O’Neill, but he ultimately won’t stop you from going through the flaps that separate you from Monsignor Stanford. This will result in you being branded, suffering the aforementioned Marked by the Faith trait debuff, and will end the scene.
Assuming you talk to Novice Olsen, you’ll need to gather three bits of info, which requires the following dialog options to be selected:
- “I could help him.”
- Psychology 2: “He’s afraid of Monsignor…”
- Dominate 1: “He knows that I’m a novice, just like him.”
Succeeding at these three options will get you the three clues you need to successfully pass as Novice Olsen via Doppelganger. After you have all three clues, use Obfuscate to copy his identity, return to a Safe Room and assume Novice Olsen’s form, then head back to the balcony to confront Monsignor Stanford. Copying Novice Olsen’s form will earn you the Foresighted trait, and while the encounter with Monsignor Stanford still can’t be called a success, your duplicity apparently buys you enough time to avoid being branded. Either way, meeting Monsignor Stanford will end the scene.
Encountering Stanford will end the scene, and if you failed to use Doppelganger adequately, you’ll be branded by your foe.
Sign up
No Comments