Bigger On The Inside, The Tzimisce and Hidden Doors IC Thread 44

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

(OOC: Adley is in the Chapel getting up after sleeping in a time bubble. Colin is in the Chapel having breakfast, Serge is in the common room planning with his Mentor and uncle and Nicole is out picking up shapechangers before the run on Wallace Jace's lab. Happy gaming all.)

[Adley]

[Chapel]

"Butter, cheese and paprika Sir, you said plain so that is as plain as I could imagine. We have other things to if you want something else, but not allot of sweet spreads my dad don't like me eating sweet things for breakfast other than for special occasions."
Anna replied.

Adley could in fact imagine plainer things. He took the food though, he didn't want to seem ungrateful and tried to eat some of it and see what happened.

"I can walk with you to your room as soon as we have eaten brother, technically speaking the sun have not changed so my Parma should be put but I need to re cast it just to be sure before heading out."
Helena said.
"Better safe than sorry and do not worry about it Paradox happen to us all though I did wonder who things where moving around up here."

He looked about to protest that he was fine and didn't need an escort, but then just gave a short nod to Helena. Then he fumbled for his writing tablet, and the stylus to write his pater a question. 'If we are both going out of house, then I will need someone trustworthy to help me secure the Deacon V.A.'s spell I put up if something happens using the tass I gave you.'

He frowned, "I should do the same, actually - never got around to it after sunset; all too busy. And I still need that vaccine against the gas. Damn, everything's been a bit hectic."

He was already looking grumpy, and now he glanced at Colin with a flash of envy, then the emotion faded and he nodded. "Very hectic..." He was sure he didn't know half of what had gone on, even.

He nodded sagely, ignoring the dirty looks and lowering his voice, "It's a horrid little drink, or so I'm told. And yes, on this occasion, I'm sure I can make an exception to the usual restrictions. However, the primary use for the gas will not be in the Labyrinth, it will be to acquire the Labyrinth. It is a little complicated, but I will have to engage the Exemplar holding it in person and keep him distracted until he can be hit with a blast of the gas... then I'll get the necklace that hosts the Labyrinth and make a very hasty and apologetic departure while he's in pain. I hope we can get the Labyrinth out without harming the jewelry, so I'll be able to return it with a full explanation later... I think he's the same Exemplar who will give me the hint about the gas, a few years down the line... In any case, I'll need a bit of quick instruction from Master Haagen, as the Exemplar is a Solificati... One of the ones who escaped persecution back then."

"Wait...Exemplar...necklace...the Labyrinth is inside of the necklace...I assume then it is bigger on the inside...damn but that is a smart place to hide it, but an Exemplar are they not like super duper powerful dad..."
Anna explained.
"Are you sure that is safe? Keeping him busy I mean and what will even the gas, whatever this gas we are talking about is, do to an Exemplar? They are almost Gods are they not?"

He nodded, "The Fallen suffered some fatalities in getting the necklace when they did it - it is quite precious to the man, so they chose something that would be difficult to access for invaders. I assume they have a separate entrance somewhere, obviously, since it would be most unwise for them to pop up in front of a roughly six hundred years old godlike being with a grudge... 'Safe' is not the right word for it, but i have it on quite good authority the gas will... temporarily disable him. In a most unpleasant way."

"Miss Bouchard did find a portal but it was not examined in any great length."
Jeffry said with a frown.
"But it is believed to be mostly for storage."
He added Anna nodded.
"Poor Exemplar...so the Labyrinth is inside of his necklace...and he protect it and by that protect the Labyrinth as well right?"
She asked.
"That was a gutsy plan to place it in there."

He looked at Colin, confused and listened to the pair discussing the issue with growing unease.

He nodded, "After a fashion - in the simplest terms, it creates a barrier that keeps heat on one side and coldness on the other, allowing me to maintain a form of temperature control. With it, I could, say, make half the Node chamber a balmy 90 degrees, while the other half would cool down... substantially further than normal. Not that I would, of course, just as an example. Or as I did just now, keep the breakfast basket at 40 degrees."

"Ah, yes," he nodded at this. He'd done similar. "Control is key." But it was all he added, which was telling in itself.

"Indeed they have become quite skilled."
Jeffry said proudly.

He didn't feel particularly skilled at the moment, trying not to heave up paprika.

He nodded, "Simple, so long as you have the idea of the principle in question. I imagine a lot of Etherites use a variation on it, but it might be a bit more obscure in the other Traditions. That aside, I need to brief you on a few other details, preferably in a fireproof room."

The look on his face was clearly 'now what' but unvoiced, as there were others in the room.

// I missed your question earlier Nic - Adley would be Lecturer (that is the term used at BU) or Instructor (similar status). He relatively recently got his PhD so he could be called Doctor (and this is also why they let him teach - but he never asks anyone to call him that). He /could/ be considered for tenure track if his attendance was less spotty and he was more involved in school things and writing and reviewing papers for the school. If he were a mundane person that would be hard enough, but he even really took a grad student with the hopes of them helping him manage his workload while being a secret wizard. As the case with many secret wizards this is becoming hard to maintain as things continue to crop up. One can only have so many family emergencies.

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Common Room]

"Agreed it seams what we need are wards against traveling into Maya and perhaps the rest of the Umbra that are held at the ready but not yet activated so we can lure the Banshee in and then spring our trap."
Your Mentor agreed.
"I can arrange for that...with a bit of preparation I think I should be able to make something that can be activated rather quickly. Maya is not like the other Umbral planes, it is more of a place in the collective subconscious than it is a place of spirit, it will need to be warded differently than simply strengthening the Gauntlet."

"The maya's a place I hope to explore one day." he mused before continuing on with his planning. "That's the trap handled. Next up is wards for ourselves. Once she realizes she's  trapped she'll come swinging. We'll need to protect ourselves and eliminate that as an option for her. I was thinking similar wards to what the chantry has, except miniature. Once both fight and flight have been taken off the menu, she'll have to listen to us. Mostly due to lack of options."

(OOC: No, it was just an annual checkup. I've worn glasses for a while.)

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Chapel]

Adley could in fact imagine plainer things. He took the food though, he didn't want to seem ungrateful and tried to eat some of it and see what happened.

"You don't have to eat it if you don't want to Sir."
Anna reminded you. You managed to keep the food down though pain induced nausea made your stomach protest a bit, and yet you where hungry and the food did do you good.

He looked about to protest that he was fine and didn't need an escort, but then just gave a short nod to Helena. Then he fumbled for his writing tablet, and the stylus to write his pater a question. 'If we are both going out of house, then I will need someone trustworthy to help me secure the Deacon V.A.'s spell I put up if something happens using the tass I gave you.'

Jeffry signaled for the tablet and if you gave it to him he wrote.
"Would you trust your sister Helena with such a task? I am leaving her here while I am away from the Chantry for the mission to watch over it."
He tend handed you the tablet back.

"Ah, yes," he nodded at this. He'd done similar. "Control is key." But it was all he added, which was telling in itself.

"Ah indeed so."
Jeffry agreed.
"Many overlook the impotence of finesse."

The look on his face was clearly 'now what' but unvoiced, as there were others in the room.

After about five minutes of food preparing and eating the Deaconess stood and gathered up her potpourri, then she opened the window and unceremoniously dumped it out, a light breeze caught it and made the little bits of dried plant flutter away. You felt uneasy for a moment as the time bubble rejoined the rest of reality but compared to Ryan's time bubbles this transition was much gentler, there was a difference in skill between an Adept and a Master of the Art after all.
"We are back in the flow of time my little fishes."
The Deaconess announced.
"You can now safely leave."
Despite her cheerful tone Mara looked drawn she had spent eight hours maintaining her spell after all.
"If you help your brother to his chambers I will help Mara to hers."
Jeffry said and he stood, he gathered his hair in a ponytail and then offered his Cabalmate his arm.
"Come Mara, let us get you to a place where you can rest."
He said gently and the large woman accepted the offered arm.
"I fear that if I lean on you Jeffry then even the strong oak might fall over."
"Not to worry dear lady I am stronger than I look."
Jeffry replied as he gently led Mara out supporting her when needed.

Helena got to her feet and offered you a hand to help you up.
"Shall we go baby brother, leave your stuff I will get it for you later unless it is things you can easily carry, let us get our morning rituals done."
She said with a bit of a smile.

[Common Room]

"The maya's a place I hope yo explore one day." he mused before continuing on with his planning.

"You have touched it a few times Serge so I am sure you will learn to walk it soon."
Ange replied.

"That's the trap handled. Next up is wards for ourselves. Once she realizes she's trapped she'll come swinging. We'll need to protect ourselves and eliminate that as an option for her. I was thinking similar wards to what the chantry has, except miniature. Once both fight and flight have been taken off the menu, she'll have to listen to us. Mostly due to lack of options."

"That sounds like a good idea we will also need to protect ourselves physically the woman might come at us with a weapon after all, we should probably bring someone with us for that."
Your Mentor said.
"Tell me about this ward of your dear one and how you would make it into a personal ward."

(OOC: I have not gone yearly, I could not afford to update my glasses yearly anyway. I went to an eye specialist last year though as I was considered for minor surgery but since I would have to be put completely under with gas for what they would normally do under local anesthetic I opted against it. I confused my eye doctor though as different part of my vision are differently clear and I have yellow spots in my eyes he could not figure out the cause of.)

[Warpmind]

[Chapel]

"Are you going to torture him dad?"
Anna asked nervously and she plucked at her socks pulling a long thread out of one of them, it was her third pair this month.

Colin shook his head, "No... I will question him, but I won't use torture. Intimidation at most... Well, I just might slap him, come to think of it; he tried to assassinate you, after all."

"I really like it, I like cookies and muffins and desserts and chocolate and card candies and hot cocoa and ice cream..."
Your apprentice declared.
"What can be bad about that?"

He arched an eyebrow, "Cavities in your teeth, and in the long run, diabetes. Trust me, dentistry is unpleasant even with anesthetic. And that, you can't have."

He was already looking grumpy, and now he glanced at Colin with a flash of envy, then the emotion faded and he nodded. "Very hectic..." He was sure he didn't know half of what had gone on, even.

He frowned, then brightened a little, "By the way, capital work with capturing the would-be assassin alive. Though you had some unsubtle help to that end, I'm still commending you for securing the man alive."

"Miss Bouchard did find a portal but it was not examined in any great length."
Jeffry said with a frown.
"But it is believed to be mostly for storage."
He added Anna nodded.
"Poor Exemplar...so the Labyrinth is inside of his necklace...and he protect it and by that protect the Labyrinth as well right?"
She asked.
"That was a gutsy plan to place it in there."

He looked at Colin, confused and listened to the pair discussing the issue with growing unease.

He nodded, "Sneaky and bordering on suicidal. But it is one of the safest places in the city. Kallan said they'd lost people doing it; fortunately, we have a clever way to avoid that for the retrieval. Though going back to him with the necklace later and apologizing is... going to be a touch unpleasant, I fear. Necessary, but unpleasant."

"Ah, yes," he nodded at this. He'd done similar. "Control is key." But it was all he added, which was telling in itself.

"Ah indeed so."
Jeffry agreed.
"Many overlook the impotence of finesse."

He gave Adley a sly grin, "True, but Adley's got a delicate touch, unless he's protecting his loved ones. Then he's pushing enough raw power to make the Founder proud."

After about five minutes of food preparing and eating the Deaconess stood and gathered up her potpourri, then she opened the window and unceremoniously dumped it out, a light breeze caught it and made the little bits of dried plant flutter away. You felt uneasy for a moment as the time bubble rejoined the rest of reality but compared to Ryan's time bubbles this transition was much gentler, there was a difference in skill between an Adept and a Master of the Art after all.
"We are back in the flow of time my little fishes."
The Deaconess announced.
"You can now safely leave."
Despite her cheerful tone Mara looked drawn she had spent eight hours maintaining her spell after all.
"If you help your brother to his chambers I will help Mara to hers."
Jeffry said and he stood, he gathered his hair in a ponytail and then offered his Cabalmate his arm.
"Come Mara, let us get you to a place where you can rest."
He said gently and the large woman accepted the offered arm.
"I fear that if I lean on you Jeffry then even the strong oak might fall over."
"Not to worry dear lady I am stronger than I look."
Jeffry replied as he gently led Mara out supporting her when needed.

Helena got to her feet and offered you a hand to help you up.
"Shall we go baby brother, leave your stuff I will get it for you later unless it is things you can easily carry, let us get our morning rituals done."
She said with a bit of a smile.

He chomped down the last of his sandwich, "That was smooth..."
Quickly fixing another sandwich, he nodded to Anna, "Would you offer the others here some, if they haven't brought food themselves, and then take the leftovers back to the kitchen? I've got to go by the infirmary and Master Haagen, and then..."
He turned to Morgan, "Sir, meet you in Ritual Room one in... thirty minutes to bring you up to date on the opposition?"

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Common Room]

"That sounds like a good idea we will also need to protect ourselves physically the woman might come at us with a weapon after all, we should probably bring someone with us for that."
Your Mentor said.
"Tell me about this ward of your dear one and how you would make it into a personal ward."

"I don't really know. I kinda just said the chantry wards because they seemed so effective against her last time. But it may be wishful thinking to say that Master Morgan can just make mini-version of it for everyone on the team." Serge replied. "All I know is that the ward will need to protect us against spiritual attacks and mental magick. Both of those are likely in her arsenal. If the ward could prevent spirits from coming near to the warded person that could serve as a kind of physical defense against her as well."

[Adley]

[Chapel]

"You don't have to eat it if you don't want to Sir." Anna reminded you.

"I need to eat." It was a half-order to his own gut to stop acting up as it was anything else.

Jeffry signaled for the tablet and if you gave it to him he wrote.
"Would you trust your sister Helena with such a task? I am leaving her here while I am away from the Chantry for the mission to watch over it."
He tend handed you the tablet back.

He looked thoughtful, then nodded. He erased the board again.

He frowned, then brightened a little, "By the way, capital work with capturing the would-be assassin alive. Though you had some unsubtle help to that end, I'm still commending you for securing the man alive."

"It was just me in the right place with the right spell up, and your warning. Otherwise, the credit goes to our Cultist cabalmate and my sodalis, I would say. And some other, surprising assistance. Though, when he tried to teleport out, I tried to counterspell him using that technique we were working on." He ate a bite of food. "Your daughter seemed to want to save herself, and up to the task, mind but no use making it easier for them."

He nodded, "Sneaky and bordering on suicidal. But it is one of the safest places in the city. Kallan said they'd lost people doing it; fortunately, we have a clever way to avoid that for the retrieval. Though going back to him with the necklace later and apologizing is... going to be a touch unpleasant, I fear. Necessary, but unpleasant."

"I'm not sure how I feel about this plan already and I haven't even heard half of it," he said, wryly.

He gave Adley a sly grin, "True, but Adley's got a delicate touch, unless he's protecting his loved ones. Then he's pushing enough raw power to make the Founder proud."

He blushed a bit. "Well...in all fairness it can be as hard to do something with fine finesse as making a large explosion land where you want it to, just differently challenging."

"We are back in the flow of time my little fishes."
The Deaconess announced.
"You can now safely leave."

"Thank you, ma'am." Privately, he was relieved that nothing had happened to the stuff that had been on the ground, given his paradox. He stomach was giving him another gurgle but it wasn't too bad this time.

Helena got to her feet and offered you a hand to help you up.
"Shall we go baby brother, leave your stuff I will get it for you later unless it is things you can easily carry, let us get our morning rituals done."
She said with a bit of a smile.

He was well enough by now to look a little embarrassed. "I will be okay, but if you want to do workings in my room then that's fine. I'm bringing all my gear though," he said stubbornly. "It's not that heavy." He took her hand.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Chapel]

Colin shook his head, "No... I will question him, but I won't use torture. Intimidation at most... Well, I just might slap him, come to think of it; he tried to assassinate you, after all."

Anna considered then she nodded.
"Indeed he deserved a good slap."
She declared.
"Perhaps two."

He arched an eyebrow, "Cavities in your teeth, and in the long run, diabetes. Trust me, dentistry is unpleasant even with anesthetic. And that, you can't have."

"Yeah I don't want anesthetics."
Your apprentice said with a frown.
"There is a kid in Dr Boudavich's phobia group that I am in that have diabetes but he do not let them treat it so he is getting pretty ill."
She muttered and looked down.

He nodded, "Sneaky and bordering on suicidal. But it is one of the safest places in the city. Kallan said they'd lost people doing it; fortunately, we have a clever way to avoid that for the retrieval. Though going back to him with the necklace later and apologizing is... going to be a touch unpleasant, I fear. Necessary, but unpleasant."

"Are you sure you shouldn't just leave the necklace somewhere and run instead of going and talking with the Exemplar dad."
Anna asked sounding worried.
"Well let us worry about getting it first young lade then we can think about how to return it."
Jeffry replied and Anna nodded.
"Yeah I guess so Master Morgan."

He gave Adley a sly grin, "True, but Adley's got a delicate touch, unless he's protecting his loved ones. Then he's pushing enough raw power to make the Founder proud."

"He really do."
Jeffry said proudly.
"He is a skilled protector."

He chomped down the last of his sandwich, "That was smooth..."

Mara gave you a bit of a smile.
"I have had a few seasons of practice my dear Craftsman."
She replied.

Quickly fixing another sandwich, he nodded to Anna, "Would you offer the others here some, if they haven't brought food themselves, and then take the leftovers back to the kitchen? I've got to go by the infirmary and Master Haagen, and then..."

"Yeah I can do that dad before I meet back up with Yu Die."
Anna agreed.

He turned to Morgan, "Sir, meet you in Ritual Room one in... thirty minutes to bring you up to date on the opposition?"

"It will have to wait Mr Wainwright as I am moving out in ten minutes or so to go and raid Wallace Jace's laboratory, can it wait?"
Jeffry asked.

"I need to eat." It was a half-order to his own gut to stop acting up as it was anything else.

Anna nodded at that.
"Okey Sir let me know if you want another one."

"It was just me in the right place with the right spell up, and your warning. Otherwise, the credit goes to our Cultist cabalmate and my sodalis, I would say. And some other, surprising assistance. Though, when he tried to teleport out, I tried to counterspell him using that technique we were working on." He ate a bite of food. "Your daughter seemed to want to save herself, and up to the task, mind but no use making it easier for them."

"I do not like to wait to be rescued but I did obey Sir."
Anna shot into the conversation to make it clear she had indeed did as you told her even if she did not like it.

"I'm not sure how I feel about this plan already and I haven't even heard half of it," he said, wryly.

"Yeah what Mr Roth Hicks says."
Anna chimed in and she frowned at Colin.

He blushed a bit. "Well...in all fairness it can be as hard to do something with fine finesse as making a large explosion land where you want it to, just differently challenging."

"Yes very much so."
Jeffry said.
"And often finesse takes as much if not more raw power and skill as just blasting of a fireball. I have always valued a bit of finesse in my work myself, unless cruder methods are absolutely needed.

"Thank you, ma'am." Privately, he was relieved that nothing had happened to the stuff that had been on the ground, given his paradox. He stomach was giving him another gurgle but it wasn't too bad this time.

Mara gave you a nod.

He was well enough by now to look a little embarrassed. "I will be okay, but if you want to do workings in my room then that's fine. I'm bringing all my gear though," he said stubbornly. "It's not that heavy." He took her hand.

"It might be easier if I did so indeed and you know all the secrets I do. I can just use your bathroom while you work in your regular space to be out of your way."
Helena said as she helped you up.
"Very well."
She said then she waited for you to pick your belonging before she walked with you out of the Chapel, supporting you if you needed it but letting you have as much dignity as possible and unless you protested she led the way towards your room.

[Common Room]

"I don't really know. I kinda just said the chantry wards because they seemed so effective against her last time. But it may be wishful thinking to say that Master Morgan can just make mini-version of it for everyone on the team." Serge replied.

"It is your ward child, can not you make mini versions of it?"
Ange asked. How did you make your ward? it is very well made and I have been told by several how impressed they are."

"All I know is that the ward will need to protect us against spiritual attacks and mental magick. Both of those are likely in her arsenal. If the ward could prevent spirits from coming near to the warded person that could serve as a kind of physical defense against her as well."

"That is something we can work with, let us create this working together Serge if you handle the mental side I will deal with the spiritual."
Your Mentor said and Ryan chuckle.
"I might be able to throw something interesting into the mix as well."
He added.

[Warpmind]

[Chapel]

Anna considered then she nodded.
"Indeed he deserved a good slap."
She declared.
"Perhaps two."

Colin grinned, "Such youthful enthusiasm... I think one shall suffice."

"Yeah I don't want anesthetics."
Your apprentice said with a frown.
"There is a kid in Dr Boudavich's phobia group that I am in that have diabetes but he do not let them treat it so he is getting pretty ill."
She muttered and looked down.

He nodded, "That's not a good situation, for the boy, or for his parents..."

"It was just me in the right place with the right spell up, and your warning. Otherwise, the credit goes to our Cultist cabalmate and my sodalis, I would say. And some other, surprising assistance. Though, when he tried to teleport out, I tried to counterspell him using that technique we were working on." He ate a bite of food. "Your daughter seemed to want to save herself, and up to the task, mind but no use making it easier for them."

"I do not like to wait to be rescued but I did obey Sir."
Anna shot into the conversation to make it clear she had indeed did as you told her even if she did not like it.

He smiled wryly, "All the same, while they deserve credit, as well, I know how hard it can be to detain a person highly motivated to not be captured alive... Last time around, we did not manage to capture him."

"Are you sure you shouldn't just leave the necklace somewhere and run instead of going and talking with the Exemplar dad."
Anna asked sounding worried.
"Well let us worry about getting it first young lade then we can think about how to return it."
Jeffry replied and Anna nodded.
"Yeah I guess so Master Morgan."

"I'm not sure how I feel about this plan already and I haven't even heard half of it," he said, wryly.

"Yeah what Mr Roth Hicks says."
Anna chimed in and she frowned at Colin.

He sighed, "The thing of it is, I have a pretty good reason to believe the same Exemplar will be the one to deliberately walk into a weapons test a few years from now, so I could learn what the gas will do to him... which means, I have to really smooth over the entire diplomatic situation afterwards. Or, you know, get the tea and mint candies ready in bulk. I believe I would rather face the Exemplar again."

"He really do."
Jeffry said proudly.
"He is a skilled protector."

He blushed a bit. "Well...in all fairness it can be as hard to do something with fine finesse as making a large explosion land where you want it to, just differently challenging."

"Yes very much so."
Jeffry said.
"And often finesse takes as much if not more raw power and skill as just blasting of a fireball. I have always valued a bit of finesse in my work myself, unless cruder methods are absolutely needed.

He nodded, "Perhaps not more raw power, but certainly higher skill and control. It's like hammering silver; you don't want more strength than you can hold back."

Mara gave you a bit of a smile.
"I have had a few seasons of practice my dear Craftsman."
She replied.

He grinned, "And you've developed a most graceful touch in those seasons."

"It will have to wait Mr Wainwright as I am moving out in ten minutes or so to go and raid Wallace Jace's laboratory, can it wait?"
Jeffry asked.

He pondered for a moment, then nodded, "The ghosts and the... other matter should be in the Labyrinth, I believe, so yes, it can likely safely wait until you've dealt with the laboratory. Let me know when you're back, then, and I will prepare for obtaining and entering the Labyrinth in the meantime? Though, if you have trouble with some of the ghost army, don't hesitate to bring me in at once; I have... Fetters of most of them with me."
He paused, "By the way, I didn't get the time to ask, how's Mr. Griffith treated?"

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Chapel]

Colin grinned, "Such youthful enthusiasm... I think one shall suffice."

"Ok...I guess if it is a really good slap."
Anna agreed like a merciful judge agreeing to reduce the accused's sentence.

He nodded, "That's not a good situation, for the boy, or for his parents..."

Your apprentice looked down sadly.
"Do you think he is going to die dad?"

He smiled wryly, "All the same, while they deserve credit, as well, I know how hard it can be to detain a person highly motivated to not be captured alive... Last time around, we did not manage to capture him."

"They did very well."
Jeffry agreed.
"Yeah Mr Yager and Mr Roth Hicks and the strange old man and the kid they had with them saved me and Yu Die's lives, we should get them a cake."
Anna agreed.

He sighed, "The thing of it is, I have a pretty good reason to believe the same Exemplar will be the one to deliberately walk into a weapons test a few years from now, so I could learn what the gas will do to him... which means, I have to really smooth over the entire diplomatic situation afterwards. Or, you know, get the tea and mint candies ready in bulk. I believe I would rather face the Exemplar again."

"Okey I guess if you have to dad but you have to be careful."
Your apprentice said with a concerned look in her blue eyes.

He nodded, "Perhaps not more raw power, but certainly higher skill and control. It's like hammering silver; you don't want more strength than you can hold back."

"And yet at times holding back is like when you hold something heavy and rise, it is harder to stop half way and hold your position than to get up fully."
Jeffry replied.
"But yes allot can be accomplished even with fairly simple magick with time and practice."

He grinned, "And you've developed a most graceful touch in those seasons."

"Why thank you my good Sir."
Mara said with another smile.

He pondered for a moment, then nodded, "The ghosts and the... other matter should be in the Labyrinth, I believe, so yes, it can likely safely wait until you've dealt with the laboratory. Let me know when you're back, then, and I will prepare for obtaining and entering the Labyrinth in the meantime? Though, if you have trouble with some of the ghost army, don't hesitate to bring me in at once; I have... Fetters of most of them with me."

"Very well Mr Wainwright if you would not mind talking with our new prisoner in the meantime I would really like to know who he is, who he is working for, where the man he impersonated are and what happened to him if anyone at Golden Rose are involved with the Nephandi...I want to know everything he knows."
The war mage said.
"Attacking members of my Chantry is not acceptable and yes you have my permission to give him a good slap but do not otherwise harm him, we will not stoop to that...unless there is no other choice."

He paused, "By the way, I didn't get the time to ask, how's Mr. Griffith treated?"

"He is being kept in the basement hobb yroom he is restrained but unharmed and our Scribe's apprentice is keeping him company. Hum I think Adley is trying to steal him for the Traditions though...so perhaps we will need an Sons of Ether teacher for him soon, if all go well, or perhaps a Virtual Adept, but from what saw an Etherite would be better, the boy have made a very ehm...Deviant ray gun."
Jeffry replied with a bit of a grin.

[Warpmind]

[Chapel]

"Ok...I guess if it is a really good slap."
Anna agreed like a merciful judge agreeing to reduce the accused's sentence.

Colin nodded sagely, "With my newfound understanding of energy, combined with my penchant for geometry, it will be a perfect slap."

Your apprentice looked down sadly.
"Do you think he is going to die dad?"

He sighed, "Eventually, obviously, but in context... I can't say. He'll likely get a lot sicker, though, and that might cause long-term problems even if he accepts treatment. But I really can't say whether he'll live or die here and now... Chances are good, though, that once he gets sick enough, he'll have treatment forced on him... that's not going to help with his fears, but at some point, I'm afraid he will either break or bend, as it were..."

"They did very well."
Jeffry agreed.
"Yeah Mr Yager and Mr Roth Hicks and the strange old man and the kid they had with them saved me and Yu Die's lives, we should get them a cake."
Anna agreed.

He smiled thinly, "I do believe the strange old man does not eat, but he does enjoy the smell of tea, so Lady Crexia was invited to raid my tea cabinet for the fellow's sake. The young man, on the other hand, we'll see."

"Okey I guess if you have to dad but you have to be careful."
Your apprentice said with a concerned look in her blue eyes.

He nodded, "I do have a... small ace up my proverbial sleeve, at least. And of course I will be careful; I'd like to see you grow up excel, after all."

"Very well Mr Wainwright if you would not mind talking with our new prisoner in the meantime I would really like to know who he is, who he is working for, where the man he impersonated are and what happened to him if anyone at Golden Rose are involved with the Nephandi...I want to know everything he knows."
The war mage said.
"Attacking members of my Chantry is not acceptable and yes you have my permission to give him a good slap but do not otherwise harm him, we will not stoop to that...unless there is no other choice."

He nodded, "I will question him, then, but you know my feelings about torture - they're on par with your feelings about slavery. If I break someone, it will be through kindness, not cruelty..."

"He is being kept in the basement hobb yroom he is restrained but unharmed and our Scribe's apprentice is keeping him company. Hum I think Adley is trying to steal him for the Traditions though...so perhaps we will need an Sons of Ether teacher for him soon, if all go well, or perhaps a Virtual Adept, but from what saw an Etherite would be better, the boy have made a very ehm...Deviant ray gun."
Jeffry replied with a bit of a grin.

He nodded, then gave Adley an amused look, eyebrow raised, "I like that idea. Hum, with your permission, then, I will ask Master Haagen about introducing the man to his little sister? I suspect that might provide a bit of extra leverage..."
He frowned, "By the way, I just spoke with... the remnant of Jace. He implied he might have more clones lying around - though with the three we've pretty much accounted for, the inanimate one in his lab included, I am inclined to suspect he may have tried a bluff to unsettle me. It didn't work... but be alert for other various contingencies he might have prepared. He would not rely on a single backup body... even if he's only got two clones walking around, he may have more - a lot more - in test tubes waiting to be either artificially grown or implanted in women for natural gestation... Those might well not show up on most scryings, either, being only a single cell or two, too small to register through the figurative noise."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Chapel]

Colin nodded sagely, "With my newfound understanding of energy, combined with my penchant for geometry, it will be a perfect slap."

"Good...good please let the intruder know it is from me."
Anna said with a satisfied nod.

He sighed, "Eventually, obviously, but in context... I can't say. He'll likely get a lot sicker, though, and that might cause long-term problems even if he accepts treatment. But I really can't say whether he'll live or die here and now... Chances are good, though, that once he gets sick enough, he'll have treatment forced on him... that's not going to help with his fears, but at some point, I'm afraid he will either break or bend, as it were..."

"You think his parents will force treatments on him?"
Your apprentice said nervously and she plucked another thread out of her socks.
"That will not be good...but I don't want him to die either."
She said with a sigh.
"Do you think I will ever get so sick I have to accept such treatments or die?"
Anna asked and she looked sadly up at you.

He smiled thinly, "I do believe the strange old man does not eat, but he does enjoy the smell of tea, so Lady Crexia was invited to raid my tea cabinet for the fellow's sake. The young man, on the other hand, we'll see."

"Is the old man the same as Lady Crexia dad? He to is blue, but he is allot more blue than her and the smell of tea is pretty nice."
Anna said.
"That kid they had with them who is he?"

He nodded, "I do have a... small ace up my proverbial sleeve, at least. And of course I will be careful; I'd like to see you grow up excel, after all."

"Yeah and I want you to be around for a long time dad."
Anna declared.

He nodded, "I will question him, then, but you know my feelings about torture - they're on par with your feelings about slavery. If I break someone, it will be through kindness, not cruelty..."

"Well you have managed to do that quite well on other occasions so I hope you will be able to get this prisoner to talk as well Mr Wainwright."
Jeffry replied.

He nodded, then gave Adley an amused look, eyebrow raised, "I like that idea. Hum, with your permission, then, I will ask Master Haagen about introducing the man to his little sister? I suspect that might provide a bit of extra leverage..."

"I will allow it if Master Haagen agrees and if the girl is kept out of harms way."
The old war mage replied with a nod.
"Perhaps it will tip the scales in our favor."

He frowned, "By the way, I just spoke with... the remnant of Jace. He implied he might have more clones lying around - though with the three we've pretty much accounted for, the inanimate one in his lab included, I am inclined to suspect he may have tried a bluff to unsettle me. It didn't work... but be alert for other various contingencies he might have prepared. He would not rely on a single backup body... even if he's only got two clones walking around, he may have more - a lot more - in test tubes waiting to be either artificially grown or implanted in women for natural gestation... Those might well not show up on most scryings, either, being only a single cell or two, too small to register through the figurative noise."

"I trust Mrs Von Hess's scrying but I will put nothing past Wallace Jace at this time, any un developed clones he have though will have to be destroyed it is something else with clones already born and alive but just things in vats those we will not chance to let live."
The Hermetic replied.
"We are going to have to see what we find in the Labyrinth and in the man's lab."
He said with a sigh.
"Well I have to get Mara to her room and then get going, if you will excuse me."

[Warpmind]

[Chapel]

"You think his parents will force treatments on him?"
Your apprentice said nervously and she plucked another thread out of her socks.
"That will not be good...but I don't want him to die either."
She said with a sigh.
"Do you think I will ever get so sick I have to accept such treatments or die?"
Anna asked and she looked sadly up at you.

Colin nodded, "Most likely, yes, they will... And I don't know if you'll ever get that sick - but if that happens, we'll deal with it as best we can. We have a few options outside of school medicine, after all."

"Is the old man the same as Lady Crexia dad? He to is blue, but he is allot more blue than her and the smell of tea is pretty nice."
Anna said.
"That kid they had with them who is he?"

He nodded, "An old lich, yes, a Chantrymate of Lady Crexia, in fact. And the kid... I believe the most accurate answer is that he's Cava's big brother."

"Well you have managed to do that quite well on other occasions so I hope you will be able to get this prisoner to talk as well Mr Wainwright."
Jeffry replied.

He saluted simply, "I will see what I can do."

"I will allow it if Master Haagen agrees and if the girl is kept out of harms way."
The old war mage replied with a nod.
"Perhaps it will tip the scales in our favor."

He nodded, "Most likely, I think, Mr. Griffith will display a protective instinct. I'm not making a wild guess here, I'm basing the assumption on his reactions when the assassin tried to strike. But, it is Master Haagen's decision."

"I trust Mrs Von Hess's scrying but I will put nothing past Wallace Jace at this time, any un developed clones he have though will have to be destroyed it is something else with clones already born and alive but just things in vats those we will not chance to let live."
The Hermetic replied.
"We are going to have to see what we find in the Labyrinth and in the man's lab."
He said with a sigh.
"Well I have to get Mara to her room and then get going, if you will excuse me."

He nodded, "I have no doubts regarding her scrying, but Jace would be the sort of man to hide things from divination... But yes, best of luck. Bring everyone home safe."

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Common Room]

"It is your ward child, can not you make mini versions of it?"
Ange asked. How did you make your ward? it is very well made and I have been told by several how impressed they are."

"Really!" Serge said with a smile, looking quite excited that both his mentor knew about and was impressed by his prized ward and that she had been told by others about it. "Who told you about it? What did they say? I was actually referring to the other wards of the chantry. My ward is more so to protect the other wards from being tampered with so it's not actually that great for this purpose. It's made from the nature of trickster characters in fiction and created from seven drawings spread throughout the chantry."

"That is something we can work with, let us create this working together Serge if you handle the mental side I will deal with the spiritual."
Your Mentor said and Ryan chuckle.
"I might be able to throw something interesting into the mix as well."
He added.

"Yay, teamwork!" Serge cheered. "Wait, we're doing working now or tommorow? When we know who's going on this road trip?"

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Chapel]

Colin nodded, "Most likely, yes, they will... And I don't know if you'll ever get that sick - but if that happens, we'll deal with it as best we can. We have a few options outside of school medicine, after all."

"Can we use magick to help him somehow, so that it do not get to that? I mean I don't think my friend will ever trust his parents again if they forced treatment on him."
Anna asked sounding concerned.

He nodded, "An old lich, yes, a Chantrymate of Lady Crexia, in fact. And the kid... I believe the most accurate answer is that he's Cava's big brother."

"I wonder what it is like to be a lich...do they really not eat dad? Lady Crexia is a lich...ehm lich lord like in computer games? That kid is Cava's brother do she know he is here?"
Your apprentice asked.

He saluted simply, "I will see what I can do."

"Good man."
Jeffry replied.

He nodded, "Most likely, I think, Mr. Griffith will display a protective instinct. I'm not making a wild guess here, I'm basing the assumption on his reactions when the assassin tried to strike. But, it is Master Haagen's decision."

"From all my apprentice have told me and from his actions during the fight in the basement Mr Griffith is a good kid even if he is a Technocrat I do not think he will harm Miss Haagen but be careful non the less he is Wallace Jace's creation and he is a member of the Union, even if his is the least aggressive Convention."
The old war mage replied with a nod.
"And yes it is Master Haagen's decision."

He nodded, "I have no doubts regarding her scrying, but Jace would be the sort of man to hide things from divination... But yes, best of luck. Bring everyone home safe."

"Indeed so he is a most sneaky man."
Jeffry agreed with a frown.
"I will do my best, I do not intend to loose anyone today."
He said with determination in his voice.
"Well then good evening for now Mr Wainwright."
He said before nodding to everyone else in the room and then he helped Mara out the door supporting the fay mage down the stairs to her room.

[Common Room]

"Really!" Serge said with a smile, looking quite excited that both his mentor knew about and was impressed by his prized ward and that she had been told by others about it. "Who told you about it? What did they say? I was actually referring to the other wards of the chantry. My ward is more so to protect the other wards from being tampered with so it's not actually that great for this purpose. It's made from the nature of trickster characters in fiction and created from seven drawings spread throughout the chantry."

"I believe it was Miss Williams who mentioned your ward on her way up to the chapel to get some rest she said."
Your Mentor said.
"Hum...interesting way to work, that suit you well."
She added approvingly.
"I am proud of you kid. Now as for the ward we will need for tomorrow you where thinking more in general that we need a mind and spirit shield about us? Yes we can do that I think."

"Yay, teamwork!" Serge cheered. "Wait, we're doing working now or tommorow? When we know who's going on this road trip?"

"I am thinking we work out how to do the working today but then cast the spell tomorrow."
Ryan said and Ange nodded.
"Yes that is probably wise so it is as fresh as possible."
Ange replied.

[Warpmind]

[Chapel]

"Can we use magick to help him somehow, so that it do not get to that? I mean I don't think my friend will ever trust his parents again if they forced treatment on him."
Anna asked sounding concerned.

Colin smiled sadly, "I'm afraid neither you nor I can do much for him... Dr. Boudavich, though, can do a great deal, but she's got to do it slowly and gently. And... if his ailment goes too far, he won't be able to protest. Nor possibly even remember what happened... He might not lose trust in his parents, but it won't do any good for his fears, either."

"I wonder what it is like to be a lich...do they really not eat dad? Lady Crexia is a lich...ehm lich lord like in computer games? That kid is Cava's brother do she know he is here?"
Your apprentice asked.

He shrugged, "You might ask Lady Crexia that; it's not *quite* like in games, but then, not too dissimilar, either. Though she does look a lot better than the skeletal stereotype. And neither Cava nor her brother know about the other."

"From all my apprentice have told me and from his actions during the fight in the basement Mr Griffith is a good kid even if he is a Technocrat I do not think he will harm Miss Haagen but be careful non the less he is Wallace Jace's creation and he is a member of the Union, even if his is the least aggressive Convention."
The old war mage replied with a nod.
"And yes it is Master Haagen's decision."

He smiled thinly, "I am told there is a researcher in Antarctica - or was it the Arctic? - who is greatly similar. Mary Shelley even wrote a book based on him... It would not be the first time a creation turned on its creator."

"Indeed so he is a most sneaky man."
Jeffry agreed with a frown.
"I will do my best, I do not intend to loose anyone today."
He said with determination in his voice.
"Well then good evening for now Mr Wainwright."
He said before nodding to everyone else in the room and then he helped Mara out the door supporting the fay mage down the stairs to her room.

He nodded to Morgan, wolfed down the rest of his other sandwich, then nodded to the remaining Magi and headed for the infirmary to get that damnable vaccine.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Chapel]

Colin smiled sadly, "I'm afraid neither you nor I can do much for him... Dr. Boudavich, though, can do a great deal, but she's got to do it slowly and gently. And... if his ailment goes too far, he won't be able to protest. Nor possibly even remember what happened... He might not lose trust in his parents, but it won't do any good for his fears, either."

"You mean that if he get really bad he might get unconscious?"
Anna asked sadly.
"Well I guess that if he don't remember what happened he might be fine but if someone just hold him down that would not be good. I hope Dr Boudavich is able to help him."

He shrugged, "You might ask Lady Crexia that; it's not *quite* like in games, but then, not too dissimilar, either. Though she does look a lot better than the skeletal stereotype. And neither Cava nor her brother know about the other."

"Yeah Lady Crexia looks human, the blue could just be her being very pale. Are liches like really undead dad? As in they really died?"
Your apprentice asked.
"It will be quite a surprise for both then to learn they have a sibling."
She added with a grin.

He smiled thinly, "I am told there is a researcher in Antarctica - or was it the Arctic? - who is greatly similar. Mary Shelley even wrote a book based on him... It would not be the first time a creation turned on its creator."

"I have read it, the construct is a member of the Sons of Ether I believe, and no it would not be the first time a creation of some form turned on the one who created them if the creator mistreated his creatures or if said creatures objected to being created in the first place."
Jeffry agreed with a nod.

He nodded to Morgan, wolfed down the rest of his other sandwich, then nodded to the remaining Magi and headed for the infirmary to get that damnable vaccine.

You got to the infirmary. Richard was checking on Freddy while Master Nassa was looking in on Bee. Both Beatrice and Kira was sleeping. A mage you did not know, a red haired woman was sitting on one of the spare beds with an ice pack on sore knuckles it looedk like she had punched a wall and she looked both sad and angry. Richard looked up when you came in.
"Hello Colin."
He said.
"Freddy was awake for a little bit a few minutes ago before she fell asleep again, she talked about some green teddy bear you had given her, do that ring any bells to you?"
He asked.
"In either case she is resting comfortable now, have you come for the liquid chalk ehm...I mean vaccine from Master Haagen?"

[Warpmind]

[Chapel]

"You mean that if he get really bad he might get unconscious?"
Anna asked sadly.
"Well I guess that if he don't remember what happened he might be fine but if someone just hold him down that would not be good. I hope Dr Boudavich is able to help him."

Colin nodded, "The big problem with that scenario is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... If someone falls into a diabetic coma, there's usually a lot of irreparable damage already..."

"Yeah Lady Crexia looks human, the blue could just be her being very pale. Are liches like really undead dad? As in they really died?"
Your apprentice asked.
"It will be quite a surprise for both then to learn they have a sibling."
She added with a grin.

He nodded, "The blue is the potion they have in place of blood... Remarkable substance, really."

[Infirmary]

You got to the infirmary. Richard was checking on Freddy while Master Nassa was looking in on Bee. Both Beatrice and Kira was sleeping. A mage you did not know, a red haired woman was sitting on one of the spare beds with an ice pack on sore knuckles it looedk like she had punched a wall and she looked both sad and angry. Richard looked up when you came in.
"Hello Colin."
He said.
"Freddy was awake for a little bit a few minutes ago before she fell asleep again, she talked about some green teddy bear you had given her, do that ring any bells to you?"
He asked.
"In either case she is resting comfortable now, have you come for the liquid chalk ehm...I mean vaccine from Master Haagen?"

He nodded to Richard, "Hello again, doctor. Ah, yes, hold on..."
He drew up a quick circle on a page of his notebook and reached into the bedroom to retrieve the teddy bear, strolling over to put it next to Freddy, "Here... She grew quite attached to it, quite quickly..."
Then he sighed, "And then there's that vaccine, yes... Are there any spare doses? Anna will need one, too."
He glanced toward the redhead, "And has a certain visiting Hermetic Adept infuriated more people, now?"

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Chapel]

Colin nodded, "The big problem with that scenario is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... If someone falls into a diabetic coma, there's usually a lot of irreparable damage already..."

"I don't want him to get damaged he is a nice kid."
Anna said with a sigh.
"Yeah it must be hard for his parents to being in such a situation not knowing what to do."

He nodded, "The blue is the potion they have in place of blood... Remarkable substance, really."

"They have a potion instead of blood? How did it get there? Can they run out of it? Why is it blue?"
Your apprentice asked in rapid succession.

[Infirmary]

He nodded to Richard, "Hello again, doctor. Ah, yes, hold on..."
He drew up a quick circle on a page of his notebook and reached into the bedroom to retrieve the teddy bear, strolling over to put it next to Freddy, "Here... She grew quite attached to it, quite quickly..."

You gave Freddy the teddy bear and she turned around in her sleep, grabbed it and pulled it close and settled down again with one arm around the green toy. Richard smiled a little at that.
"Well green is her favorite color."
He commented.

Then he sighed, "And then there's that vaccine, yes... Are there any spare doses? Anna will need one, too."

"There are, Master Haagen likes to make extra of his batches if he can."
Richard said and he went to get a small, glass bottle filled with white, penalized fluid it looked like the glitter glue that was part of one of Anna's arts and crafts kits. He also put a glass of orange juice and several sour candies in wrappers before you.
"And there are for taking away the taste when you are done."
Your Cabalmate informed you.

He glanced toward the redhead, "And has a certain visiting Hermetic Adept infuriated more people, now?"

Richard glanced in that direction and shook his head.
"No...she is the wife of the man the attacker in the basement pretended to be, when she was informed about what had happened, and that her husband is likely either captured by the Nephandi or dead I am not sure which is worse...she made a little dent in one of the walls with her first...Adley's spider friends are already on the job fixing the wall I think this woman's heart will be harder to mend though."

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Boston]

Anja's Post:

'No. "Chick Tracts" are a long series of little comics drawn by - it's assumed - this guy called "Jack Chick". It's like the adventures of characters in this fucked-up world where like, other things nobody seems to have ever heard of say, the Bible or Jesus.' Nicole replied. 'Though now I think of it, them characters could have been ones who grew up as animals...'

Anja's Post:

'Hmm... not sure most folk pick a church on the basis that it's wall insulation are good to hide in.' the Etherite replied with a laugh. 'Who's Charlie?'

Anja's Post:

'Yeah. Though in this case it's a situation that everybody agrees the same lie so they don't spend forever arguing about the truth.'

Anja's Post:

'Or... it's all got the same truth behind it at the end. Just like...' clearly straining her mind to come up with an example '-all transportation boils down to the principles of mechanics. From a space rocket to a golf cart.'

[Roxbury]

Anja's Post:

'Who... or what is Coawa?' Nicole replied, clearly looking and sounding wary; one hand moving to the gears as though readying to drive off.

Anja's Post:

'The Chief - our Security Chief - will give us the final updates for the likes of ROE, the location and shit when we get to the RV point.' Nicole replied, taking a drag from her cigarette and blowing it out of the open window. 'Chances are most the defenders will be either mages or spirits. However, can't discount brainwashed normal people, other shifters or vampires.'

[I went to mine in October; which is why I went to the specialist at the hospital on Monday. Or as we call it in the UK, 'the opticians'. Have no idea why Americans elevated their opticians to 'Dr' status... Warp; take note for Colin. *smirks*]

[I thought as much re Adley's professional rank. Part of the problem (as I gather) is that a combination of the Great Recession and a glut of young-ish grads means that the low levels are getting *very* congested esp as tenure track usually has the 'up or out' rule and Boomer Professors are basically, refusing to retire (it being 'dead Professor's chair' rule). Though in Adley's case he might be able to freelance as an Instructor (chances are he already is on a variant) at the myriad of institutions in the Greater Boston area, produce a butt-load of papers (tenure requires 'contribution to field') and *then* get on the tenure track on that basis. Plus; surely at least one Hermetic has some clout at a local institution and can push from 'their end'. After all, Hermetics are almost as nepotistic as Ventrue or Tremere... Now I think of it, chances are Nicole has higher pay, better conditions and more job security than Adley does. This might piss him off a bit - being outperformed by an ignorant high-school dropout...]

[I find it slightly odd that Norway, that bastion of the social-democratic welfare state (in British eyes) is slightly outclassed with dental/optical by our NHS. Though admittedly I qualify for the highest band due to the Byzantine regulations.]

[Warpmind]

[Chapel]

"I don't want him to get damaged he is a nice kid."
Anna said with a sigh.
"Yeah it must be hard for his parents to being in such a situation not knowing what to do."

Colin nodded sagely, "And that is why we have Dr. Boudavich and her like - to help the kid before it gets that bad, if at all possible."

"They have a potion instead of blood? How did it get there? Can they run out of it? Why is it blue?"
Your apprentice asked in rapid succession.

He held up a hand, "Slow down, Sweetie... First, yes. Second, they drank it before... they died, and as a result, they reproduce it naturally, like we replenish our blood, so third, no, I don't think so, at least not permanently. And fourth... Bugger if I know. But it is probably not food dye."

[Infirmary]

You gave Freddy the teddy bear and she turned around in her sleep, grabbed it and pulled it close and settled down again with one arm around the green toy. Richard smiled a little at that.
"Well green is her favorite color."
He commented.

He grinned, "So it is."

"There are, Master Haagen likes to make extra of his batches if he can."
Richard said and he went to get a small, glass bottle filled with white, penalized fluid it looked like the glitter glue that was part of one of Anna's arts and crafts kits. He also put a glass of orange juice and several sour candies in wrappers before you.
"And there are for taking away the taste when you are done."
Your Cabalmate informed you.

He sighed and picked up the little bottle, "Well, then, down the hatch."
He downed the potion, and before his face even could have the time to contort, chased it with the OJ before swiftly ripping loose the candies and shoving them in his mouth, sucking intently on them, "I've certainly had better... Anna knows she's getting some candies outside of her schedule, as it were, with the potion; she'll need it before we head to the Labyrinth... I'll make sure to keep her protected, though, and she and I are in agreement to not bring your sister along. Though if Yu Die tries to insist, I will leave the negotiations in your capable hands."

Richard glanced in that direction and shook his head.
"No...she is the wife of the man the attacker in the basement pretended to be, when she was informed about what had happened, and that her husband is likely either captured by the Nephandi or dead I am not sure which is worse...she made a little dent in one of the walls with her first...Adley's spider friends are already on the job fixing the wall I think this woman's heart will be harder to mend though."

He frowned, then nodded, "I have to see Master Haagen now, but I'll be questioning the prisoner afterwards... I might swing by to ask her a few questions first, then; might be helpful to know a thing or two about the impersonated man. Let's hope it's like in Harry Potter, though, that her husband is needed alive and unharmed for the doppelganger trick to work right..."

((OOC: Actually, from a quick check, opticians aren't doctors in the US, they're just the specialists who dispense the actual glasses. Opthalmologists and optometrists are two different medical degrees, though.))

((OOC2: Also, yeah, the financial situation for academics is generally worse than for people with a trade education, pretty much throughout the western world. The job market and the ridiculous overhyping of academia (including promoting degrees with negative practical worth when student loans are taken into account) has had some pretty nasty effects - makes me glad I never pursued a degree, myself. Egyptologists, for example, will likely find that their only available career options in their field is further education followed by teaching Egyptology to others - literally a pyramid scheme. ))

((OOC3: Yeah, if there's one massive defect in the Norwegian healthcare system, dental is it. Optical, not so much; it's just that for most, the costs of optical correction doesn't tend to exceed the normal expenses cap. If you've got serious eyesight problems, it's probably covered, at least in part, last I checked.))

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Boston]

'No. "Chick Tracts" are a long series of little comics drawn by - it's assumed - this guy called "Jack Chick". It's like the adventures of characters in this fucked-up world where like, other things nobody seems to have ever heard of say, the Bible or Jesus.' Nicole replied. 'Though now I think of it, them characters could have been ones who grew up as animals...'

"Yeah they could have been...who is Jesus by the way, he sound Mexican, they have nice food."
Strawberry declared.
"Though I think one of the werewolves in the city are Mexican...I do not know if he is also a good cook...he could be. He take people apart and put them back together again better in a big white building."

'Hmm... not sure most folk pick a church on the basis that it's wall insulation are good to hide in.' the Etherite replied with a laugh. 'Who's Charlie?'

"I guess that is because most people will not fit in the walls."
The werrat reasoned.
"Charlie was my friend he was one of the few Ratkin who was kind to me, he was killed by the Nephandi and then Tane found me and rescued me. Charlie took care of me now he is dead. Nephandi are assholes!"
She muttered sadly big tear welling up in her pink eyes.

'Yeah. Though in this case it's a situation that everybody agrees the same lie so they don't spend forever arguing about the truth.'

"Well as long as the lie they agree on work."
Strawberry said with a shrug.

'Or... it's all got the same truth behind it at the end. Just like...' clearly straining her mind to come up with an example '-all transportation boils down to the principles of mechanics. From a space rocket to a golf cart.'

"What about teleporting or walking through the Umbra do that have the same truth to? And what about hamster balls? I want a hamster ball to roll around on the floor with...a red one."
The little shapechanger informed you her attention span nearing it's end for anything not food related.
"I think it would be fun."

[Roxbury]

'Who... or what is Coawa?' Nicole replied, clearly looking and sounding wary; one hand moving to the gears as though readying to drive off.

"He is a wershark a...ehm...Rokea I think they are named. He is nice he lives with Tane as well, him me, the spider and Paula all live with Tane."
Strawberry informed you.

'The Chief - our Security Chief - will give us the final updates for the likes of ROE, the location and shit when we get to the RV point.' Nicole replied, taking a drag from her cigarette and blowing it out of the open window. 'Chances are most the defenders will be either mages or spirits. However, can't discount brainwashed normal people, other shifters or vampires.'

"Very well."
Gerda replied.
"I have never fraught mages, I have had it out with other shifters and a few vampires in my day...I can't do much about spirits though, shifty bastards the lot of them."
She grumbled as the huge man called Coawa reached the car, he was close to 2 meters tall and built like an oxe, there where no hair on his body what so ever and his skin where of a hue that was just barely passing as human, his teen where jagged like a shark's. He lifted one huge hand and waved to you and the others. Gerda looked rather skeptical but Strawberry waved back happily.

[Chapel]

Colin nodded sagely, "And that is why we have Dr. Boudavich and her like - to help the kid before it gets that bad, if at all possible."

"Yeah...hopefully she can do something."
Anna sigh, she hesitated for a moment then she took out the blue cat paw print notebook you had gotten her, the girl had noticed how Adley and the Chief always had a notebook to write in so she wanted one of her own, she scribbled something down tore out the page and handed it to you.
"I don't want to die. If I die either the Nephandi find my reincarnation and I will become a Nephandus again or the Traditions find me and...well...so here, so that you don't have to worry about loosing my trust if I ever get close to dying and there is no other choice...so you don't have to face the same choice that my friend's parents do. But only if there is no other choice to keep me alive okey, not for anything preventative or...if there is other options or anything only if it is getting treatment with needles or I die."
She muttered the note said.
"If I am about to die or something my dad can overrule my wishes and get me whatever treatment is necessary but if there is needles involved that is only if it is absolutely necessary to keep me alive. I do not want to die so I give my consent. Anna Wainwright."
Anna looked at you then she picked nervously at her socks again.

He held up a hand, "Slow down, Sweetie... First, yes. Second, they drank it before... they died, and as a result, they reproduce it naturally, like we replenish our blood, so third, no, I don't think so, at least not permanently. And fourth... Bugger if I know. But it is probably not food dye."

Anna smiled a little at the food dye joke then looked at the Hermetics to see if they knew but none of them spoke up either.
"Perhaps I should ask Lady Crexia."
Your apprentice commented.
"Perhaps she know why it is blue."

[Infirmary]

He sighed and picked up the little bottle, "Well, then, down the hatch."
He downed the potion, and before his face even could have the time to contort, chased it with the OJ before swiftly ripping loose the candies and shoving them in his mouth, sucking intently on them, "I've certainly had better... Anna knows she's getting some candies outside of her schedule, as it were, with the potion; she'll need it before we head to the Labyrinth... I'll make sure to keep her protected, though, and she and I are in agreement to not bring your sister along. Though if Yu Die tries to insist, I will leave the negotiations in your capable hands."

The potion tasted exactly as Jeffry had described, like chalk dissolved into a liquid that was horribly bitter, it was not exactly a nice taste the juice and the sour candies helped to make your mouth feel less chalky and eventually the taste started going away.
"Are you sure you should bring Anna into a combat situation Colin? Yes she is capable but she is also a twelve year old girl with a weak heart."
Richard said with a frown.
"I take it there is something she need to do only she can...wait...what Yu Die...oh no no she is not going anywhere near a Labyrinth not if I have to lock her in my room, she is just a kid, there is no way I let her go into combat and definitively not into a Labyrinth not until she is adult and preferably not even then."

He frowned, then nodded, "I have to see Master Haagen now, but I'll be questioning the prisoner afterwards... I might swing by to ask her a few questions first, then; might be helpful to know a thing or two about the impersonated man. Let's hope it's like in Harry Potter, though, that her husband is needed alive and unharmed for the doppelganger trick to work right..."

"We can always hope."
Richard said with a sigh.
"I can not imagine she will be up here for long, I am just taking care of the swelling in her hand before healing it, doing a few mundane bits of first aid can make magickal healing easier later, then she should be fine to return to her group, and good luck with the prisoner."
He replied.
"Well I should attend to my patients and make sure the infirmary is ready in case we get wounded tonight."

(OOC: Yeah it is the same here you have those who just do eye examinations and make and sell glasses they are not actual doctors and then you have Opthalmologists and optometrists however who are.)

(OOC 2: Yeah I am lucky I get dental covered, at least for now, who know if it will last but for now I do but most do not and it sucks. The same with glasses you have to be near blind and in no way shape or form be able to function without them to get any them covered by the state, and that can get really expensive. I have never gotten any of my glasses covered in any way and last year I got recommended some protective glasses to wear outside since my eyes poke out of my skull but I do not get those covered either it all have to be from my own pocket but any eye operation and such that are not cosmetic you get covered.)

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Boston]

Anja's Post:

'Not touching that with the biggest pole in world.' Nicole replied. 'Ask someone else and expect to be lots more confused.'

Anja's Post:

'Think I've heard of him.'

Anja's Post:

'I see. Why aren't the other Ratkin nice to you?'

Anja's Post:

'Just 'cos I don't understand something it doesn't mean it's magic.' Nicole replied stubbornly.

[Roxbury]

Anja's Post:

'I... see.' clearly suspicious of this turn of events.

Anja's Post:

'Each one is different, like. One might try to blow you up with a fireball while another will try some fucked-up killer song. My advice is; hit hard, hit fast and hit close - mystics usually have like, some warm-up time before doing their thing so don't give them that time. Or hit from shadows, if possible.' Nicole said in a matter-of-fact manner.

Anja's Post:

If either of the Ratkin had been looking, they'd have seen Nicole's face become a little paler. But she got out of the car and looked in Coawa's direction; marvelling at the rather rare situation where the other... person was taller than her. Though not by much.

'Erm... hello. Can I help you at all?' she'll say to the Rokea, doing her best to present a calm, confident but polite air. Wishing that the low-rent cable channel hadn't shown that killer shark film a couple of nights before...

[Vast majority of 'opticians' in the UK are technically 'ophthalmic opticians' - they can test your sight *and* dispense eyewear. It's so common that when Serge said 'optometrist' and Great One mentioned glasses I wondered why they didn't say 'opticians'. And why we don't call our optometrists 'doctor' even though they are entitled to it, apparently.]

[Reminds me of my quip about quadratic equations - the only time I've ever used that knowledge was to teach another quadratic equations. Think Nick pointed it out IC to Adley about the general RL uselessness of his education (which must have gone down well, esp coming from some white trash Woonie). Though I'll be careful where you say that opinion, Warp... I got banned from a forum for saying that! *rolls eyes*]

[Well, NHS dental is subsidised; most paying a low-ish flat rate. Though some stuff (mainly cosmetic) isn't covered. Though finding an NHS dentist isn't always easy. Special groups get it all free (kids, unemployed, elderly etc). But even then, finding 'just' £60 for a clean and filling can be hard if you're on the minimum wage. Optical is a voucher scheme with similar criteria as dental. This means you can get free test and specs but usually you'll end up paying a bit more to 'get something nice'. Example; my opticians' bill was £135.31 but the vouchers knocked it down to me paying £29.90. Main problem; no 'intermediate' subsidy level like dental has.]

[Adley]

[Chapel]

"I do not like to wait to be rescued but I did obey Sir."
Anna shot into the conversation to make it clear she had indeed did as you told her even if she did not like it.

'You did yes, after taking a few potshots at the attacker. I think you got him once, too but unfortunately I got 'doxed then and all I recall were spells flashing past me..." He grimaced.

He smiled wryly, "All the same, while they deserve credit, as well, I know how hard it can be to detain a person highly motivated to not be captured alive... Last time around, we did not manage to capture him."

"It would have been easier to kill them but perhaps it will yield something important though."

"Is the old man the same as Lady Crexia dad? He to is blue, but he is allot more blue than her and the smell of tea is pretty nice."
Anna said.

"Speaking of him..." He shook his head and wrote out something for his pater and Colin, not for the least the content might be upsetting for Anna to hear. 'He was found by the Technocrat, dumped there by Nephandi, and he kept him in a storage area instead of turning him over to his people. But, he had many wounds as if he were drained of his lichdom potion. I hope they are not making something else.'

He sighed, "The thing of it is, I have a pretty good reason to believe the same Exemplar will be the one to deliberately walk into a weapons test a few years from now, so I could learn what the gas will do to him... which means, I have to really smooth over the entire diplomatic situation afterwards. Or, you know, get the tea and mint candies ready in bulk. I believe I would rather face the Exemplar again."

"Pardon? No, nevermind. This is best for private conversation perhaps."

"It will have to wait Mr Wainwright as I am moving out in ten minutes or so to go and raid Wallace Jace's laboratory, can it wait?"
Jeffry asked.

"Is that what we're doing next?" he said. He honestly wasn't sure what the next target was supposed to be or if more teams were going out or what was going on.

He nodded, then gave Adley an amused look, eyebrow raised, "I like that idea. Hum, with your permission, then, I will ask Master Haagen about introducing the man to his little sister? I suspect that might provide a bit of extra leverage..."

I will allow it if Master Haagen agrees and if the girl is kept out of harms way."
The old war mage replied with a nod.
"Perhaps it will tip the scales in our favor."

"He expressed some...discomfort with the direction that his group is currently taking. I do not know if it would be a good idea though, she is just a child. And it may be upsetting to her and also him, who has had rather a lot to deal with as is. Perhaps we should talk about this later though." Slowly, he was starting to sound more like himself and less like he had woken up on the wrong side of every bed in existence.

"It might be easier if I did so indeed and you know all the secrets I do. I can just use your bathroom while you work in your regular space to be out of your way."
Helena said as she helped you up.
"Very well."

He nodded. Sharing space at times with his sister wasn't strange, though it had been a while since she'd moved to San Francisco. "Is your friend meeting us here then?" After a moment, he picked up his tablet to add to his bag, but first wrote out a couple things for her. First, it was a codeword request then: 'My pater and I have a special and somewhat personal request of you. He checked over his area to make sure it was clean and that he didn't forget anything, then slowly stood up.

// Yes, Adley could freelance if he had more time but he doesn't, same reason that he doesn't produce more papers to secure himself tenure track for BU. Plus, comparitively yes he is younger than many of those holding chairs (much like in his mage life). He probably was watched by Lux Iternis as that chantry has a portal by BU and that's likely how he got found and headhunted for initiation, and eventually given to Jeffry. Also, yes Nic probably does make more money than he does (and is in far less debt) and no, he wouldn't begrudge her that at all. He assumes she is good at what she does with cars and equip, she's an SoE. He has never said anything bad about her competency with stuff she builds, repairs etc. He does not measure his performance to hers at all. For the most part he measures his performance against himself and his own path, with an occasional human dash of envy for when say, his best friend learns a spell that he wants to know that is a hermetic secret ahead of him lol. As for her saying that his schooling was useless, it hasn't been to him due to him using as a mage, even if he's never going to be rolling in dollars in it unless he spends more time trying at it. His field does have options though, which he brought up to Nic.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Boston]

'Not touching that with the biggest pole in world.' Nicole replied. 'Ask someone else and expect to be lots more confused.'

"I am already confused."
Strawberry complained.

'Think I've heard of him.'

The werrat nodded at that.

'I see. Why aren't the other Ratkin nice to you?'

"Because I was born to a pet rat in a pet shop I am of a breed of rats that look like big mice and are bred to be cute and generally I look like a human pet and Ratkin don't like humans, that is why they treat their human kinfolk like garbage."
Strawberry explained.

'Just 'cos I don't understand something it doesn't mean it's magic.' Nicole replied stubbornly.

"No but you said Umbra travel and teleportation had the same thingy as other travel, dos it?"
The little shapechanger asked.

[Roxbury]

'I... see.' clearly suspicious of this turn of events.

"He is really nice unless you are a fishie...or a dolphin, better not mention dolphins around him he really don't like them."
Strawberry warned.

'Each one is different, like. One might try to blow you up with a fireball while another will try some fucked-up killer song. My advice is; hit hard, hit fast and hit close - mystics usually have like, some warm-up time before doing their thing so don't give them that time. Or hit from shadows, if possible.' Nicole said in a matter-of-fact manner.

"Hitting from the shadows that I can do."
Gerda said.
"And I can be fast if I want to and if teeth and claws fail there is always guns, oh but I do love guns."
She said and she lovingly patted her bag.

If either of the Ratkin had been looking, they'd have seen Nicole's face become a little paler. But she got out of the car and looked in Coawa's direction; marvelling at the rather rare situation where the other... person was taller than her. Though not by much.

'Erm... hello. Can I help you at all?' she'll say to the Rokea, doing her best to present a calm, confident but polite air. Wishing that the low-rent cable channel hadn't shown that killer shark film a couple of nights before...

"Yes...you are in Tane's ehm...Cabal that is what he calls it right? I am Coawa, I was sent by my friend, she says she know you that you killed her sister, she is still grateful, she says that she knows that the family of the rats have been going missing and during the last two hours two family members of local spiders have been going missing to, she sent me to help, she wanted to come but someone had to stay and watch over Paula, she is to young to be left alone."
The wershark who looked like he could rip a man in half and eat him said counting of points on his fingers, you got the impression he was strong but perhaps not the smartest fish in the pond.

[Chapel]

You did yes, after taking a few potshots at the attacker. I think you got him once, too but unfortunately I got 'doxed then and all I recall were spells flashing past me..." He grimaced.

"Yeah I got him in the guts but it was sloppy, I should have hung back and focused on what I am good at, countermagick allowing those with more offensive potential to take him down while I restricted his magick Sir."
Anna evaluated her performance matter of factly.
"I am sorry you got Dox Sir, it sucks, I grew a tentacle out of my butt once from Dox they had to cut it off."

"It would have been easier to kill them but perhaps it will yield something important though."

"Let us hope it dos mea filius."
Jeffry agreed.

"Speaking of him..." He shook his head and wrote out something for his pater and Colin, not for the least the content might be upsetting for Anna to hear. 'He was found by the Technocrat, dumped there by Nephandi, and he kept him in a storage area instead of turning him over to his people. But, he had many wounds as if he were drained of his lichdom potion. I hope they are not making something else.'

This made your Mentor scowl. Looking at Anna and deciding the conversation should be done in writing he flipped up his notebook and wrote out in neat script.
"What could they possibly want with lichdom potion that is not their own? Other than Tass. It will not work for others than the mage it is made by."
He then showed what he had written to Colin and Adley.

"Is that what we're doing next?" he said. He honestly wasn't sure what the next target was supposed to be or if more teams were going out or what was going on.

"Yes it is, if you are feeling up to it mea filius."
The Chief replied.

"He expressed some...discomfort with the direction that his group is currently taking. I do not know if it would be a good idea though, she is just a child. And it may be upsetting to her and also him, who has had rather a lot to deal with as is. Perhaps we should talk about this later though." Slowly, he was starting to sound more like himself and less like he had woken up on the wrong side of every bed in existence.

"You have spent more time with the boy then the rest of us mea filius, do you think he would not handle seeing his ehm...sister and it would be better if the two did not meet? As for her I think we can leave that up to her Mentor to decide if seeing a man bound is acceptable for the child."
Your Mentor replied, as you spoke one of Colin's cherry tomatoes jumped out of his basket and rolled across the floor on it's own.
"Attack of the Killer Tomatoes."
Helga commented with a rare smile.

He nodded. Sharing space at times with his sister wasn't strange, though it had been a while since she'd moved to San Francisco. "Is your friend meeting us here then?" After a moment, he picked up his tablet to add to his bag, but first wrote out a couple things for her. First, it was a codeword request then: 'My pater and I have a special and somewhat personal request of you. He checked over his area to make sure it was clean and that he didn't forget anything, then slowly stood up.

"Yes I believe Miss White where driving to the airport to pick her up."
Helena replied she took the tablet and read it.
"Off course brother whatever you need let us discuss it inside."
She said but as you got to your apartment door you saw Yu Die Qen there waiting for you, she curtsy to you and your sister and said.
"Mr Roth Hicks do you have just a moment?"

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