Re: More Clean Up, New Apprentices and Helping an Union Man IC Thread 28

[Nicole Bouchard]

Anja's Post:

'I'll feel a bit disappointed if it turned out we'd lost them fifteen minutes back and that drone was just doing normal traffic watching.' ending with a little chuckle.

Anja's Post:

Nicole kept a close eye on her rear-view mirror; to see if any cars pulled in behind them, as well as any suspicious-looking folk hanging around for no obvious reason. No point going to all this effort only to good as deliver Shade into the Union's hands...

[A train fire is more often caused by the train itself. 'Rail issues' usually end up as derailments.]

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Colin] (Chicago Umbral Port at 6 30 in the afternoon.)

Colin nodded, "Crafting your own ritual tools is useful, obviously, but it is when you craft for the sake of crafting that you truly improve your skill quickly. It is through the making of quantity that you gain quality; Gabriel should have been aware of that."

"You are right Mentor doing crafting just fo the fun of it will make me better at making things, and then I will make better ritual equipment as well."
Anna agreed and nodded.

He pondered for a moment, "Bugger if I know, actually; I think it's mostly contained to the Middle East and southern Asia... but if travel abroad comes up, I will check the WHO lists."

"Yeah that might be wise, after all I can not go to those places Mentor since I can't be vacccinated."
Your young apprentice said and she nodded.
"I hope there are no worse diseases than that out there."
She muttered to herself.

He grinned, "Well, I do have a few dueling scenarios I mean to put you through once you are well enough - there's a chap visiting Steelhaven right now, a Linear Mage, very good at countermagic. I would like to see which of the two of you can shut down the other completely first... I will have to ask him, of course, but if he is willing, it should be an interesting match."

"That would be fun. I think it would be really fun Mentor."
Anna clapped her hands together happily at the prospect of matching her powers up with Mr Danbrock's.
"I hope you can set that up Mentor."

He grinned and patted her on the head, "You have wisdom well beyond your years, sweetie."

Anna gave a slight smile at the praise.
"Thank you Mentor."

He nodded, whispering back, "Been there, done that... I came out of the Boston Caul unharmed, if not unchanged, but I don't know if I could have survived the fateful trip the Mary's Serafina took... No Fallen likes to think of their time in the Caul; I might be the only Mage in the world who finds it to be only my second most painful memory..."

"Well you did not experience the full effect of the Caul Mr Wainwright, the way I understand it you entered but the process of making you Fall, making you wrong...had not yet started, I suspect it is far worse for those who actually Fall."
Udella whispered and she frowned as she glanced at Anna.

He double-checked the immediate surroundings, then shut the hatch firmly and made his way back, "Right, everything seems clear for departure, Mr. Tasselwell. I heard you've already met my daughter Anna, and my lawyer, Master Adimari..."

Everything seamed fine an normal in the area around the ship.
"Ah good then if you start the egines Mr Wainwright."
Rodger said as he flipped several switches.
"And we should be good to go...yes I met the young Miss and Master and the good Enforcer...lovely company...back to Boston then?"
He said as he took a simp from his flask and then put it back into his pocket.

(OOC: Yes it is becoming an increasing problem so I might have to start going by air as well, the problem is that it is that much more expensive then again so are the stress of of this mess with the trains when I am traveling.)

[Nicole] (On the road in Boston 5 30 in the afternoon.)

'I'll feel a bit disappointed if it turned out we'd lost them fifteen minutes back and that drone was just doing normal traffic watching.' ending with a little chuckle.

"I would feel rather guilty if it was just a traffic drone, but I guess not to much harm was done."
Thorn said and sigh.
"At least there is little chance of anyone following us now."

Nicole kept a close eye on her rear-view mirror; to see if any cars pulled in behind them, as well as any suspicious-looking folk hanging around for no obvious reason. No point going to all this effort only to good as deliver Shade into the Union's hands...

There where no cars pulling up behind you and no one where hanging around, a family with two small kids left their car and headed up to the shopping center to get something to eat, and a pregnant woman on her phone where coming out and going to her apple green Honda, everyone seamed to just be going to and from the mall.

(OOC: Derailing is thankfully very rare so there is little chance of a serious accident, but often the train have to be stopped for emergency repairs to the tracks before it can continue. The fire this time though where caused by hot, dry weather and sparks from the train's wheels kitting the dry grass around the tracks.)

[Warpmind]

[Chicago Umbral Port, 6:30 PM]

"Yeah that might be wise, after all I can not go to those places Mentor since I can't be vacccinated."
Your young apprentice said and she nodded.
"I hope there are no worse diseases than that out there."
She muttered to herself.

Colin grimaced, "There are worse diseases out there... fortunately, most of the really horrible ones are what you might call exotic - rare occurrences, and not highly contagious. Take leprosy, for example, it is horrible if you get sick, but it's extremely difficult to actually get sick - I think it requires some serious malnutrition to become susceptible. Still, every disease has a fatality chance, however slim..."

"That would be fun. I think it would be really fun Mentor."
Anna clapped her hands together happily at the prospect of matching her powers up with Mr Danbrock's.
"I hope you can set that up Mentor."

He nodded, "The man is quite agreeable; I'm sure I can convince him to accept the challenge."

"Well you did not experience the full effect of the Caul Mr Wainwright, the way I understand it you entered but the process of making you Fall, making you wrong...had not yet started, I suspect it is far worse for those who actually Fall."
Udella whispered and she frowned as she glanced at Anna.

He nodded, whispering back, "This is true... though I might have a few insights into the tortures of the thing; I experienced... pains which were, in hindsight, quite clearly illusory; whether it tricked my body into telling my mind lies about the harm done, or it tricked my mind into registering pain, I cannot say, but... I felt a lot of injuries that never occurred, for that brief eternity i was in there. It would seem the tortures are part of conditioning the victim for further corruption, but a strong will might not be so easily swayed... as evidenced by a few Nephandi I have met recently."

Everything seamed fine an normal in the area around the ship.
"Ah good then if you start the egines Mr Wainwright."
Rodger said as he flipped several switches.
"And we should be good to go...yes I met the young Miss and Master and the good Enforcer...lovely company...back to Boston then?"
He said as he took a simp from his flask and then put it back into his pocket.

He nodded, pushing the engine to a comfortable output, quickly running through the other preflight checks, "Yes, straight to the Umbral Port, and make as good speed as can be done comfortably; my daughter's got a heart condition, so we had best avoid unnecessary physical stress..."
He glanced outside, "The ship that arrived in my absence, you didn't by any chance see whose she is?"

((OOC: Did you make a mistake and respond to one of my lines by quoting that very same line? Look at the first block.))

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Colin] (Chicago Umbral Port at 6 30 in the afternoon.)

Colin grimaced, "There are worse diseases out there... fortunately, most of the really horrible ones are what you might call exotic - rare occurrences, and not highly contagious. Take leprosy, for example, it is horrible if you get sick, but it's extremely difficult to actually get sick - I think it requires some serious malnutrition to become susceptible. Still, every disease has a fatality chance, however slim..."

"Well that is good that most really bad disseases are rare Mentor."
Your young appretice said then she looked very concerned for a moment.
"Is there any illnesses that harm the brain Mentor?"
She asked as she looked at you wide eyed.

He nodded, "The man is quite agreeable; I'm sure I can convince him to accept the challenge."

Anna grinned at that and nodded.
"I will look forward to it then Mentor."
She said happily.

He nodded, whispering back, "This is true... though I might have a few insights into the tortures of the thing; I experienced... pains which were, in hindsight, quite clearly illusory; whether it tricked my body into telling my mind lies about the harm done, or it tricked my mind into registering pain, I cannot say, but... I felt a lot of injuries that never occurred, for that brief eternity i was in there. It would seem the tortures are part of conditioning the victim for further corruption, but a strong will might not be so easily swayed... as evidenced by a few Nephandi I have met recently."

"Perhaps so Mr Wainwright, then again what the Fallen prisoners I have spoken to describe it as being slowly ripped apart, mind, body and soul and then put back together again wrong Ido suspect torment comes with that, which you did not experience when you destroyed the Caul Mr Wainwright."
Udella whispered.
"But then again I was not there so I really can't comment on your experience and I am sure it was very traumatic and certinly not something you would want to experience again or discuss at geat legth I suspect."
She said sounding concerned.
"I do not think that someone's will are going to matter much if the full process are allowed to take place though."
She added and frowned.

He nodded, pushing the engine to a comfortable output, quickly running through the other preflight checks, "Yes, straight to the Umbral Port, and make as good speed as can be done comfortably; my daughter's got a heart condition, so we had best avoid unnecessary physical stress..."
He glanced outside, "The ship that arrived in my absence, you didn't by any chance see whose she is?"

"Ah off course, well I doubt we will have much stresses or issues along the way. I will get us to the Umbral Docks of Boston as quickly as possible non the less though."
Rodger promised.
"The ship is the St. Isobel she is a Etherite combat frigatte, why where you wondering?"
The Umbral Pilot said as he guided the ship up from the docks and flipped several more stiches.
"How are the engine output looking my good man? Are we ready to got?"

(OOC: So I had, I have fixed it now."

[Warpmind]

[Chicago Umbral Port, 6:30 PM]

"Well that is good that most really bad disseases are rare Mentor."
Your young appretice said then she looked very concerned for a moment.
"Is there any illnesses that harm the brain Mentor?"
She asked as she looked at you wide eyed.

Colin looked at Anna for a long moment, "...Yes, there are. You don't want me to go into details, since I don't believe most of those will be relevant, but some would consider phobias and similar problems illnesses that can be treated, even cured... Not to worry, though, most diseases that harm the brain are exceedingly rare and difficult to contract in the first place."

"Perhaps so Mr Wainwright, then again what the Fallen prisoners I have spoken to describe it as being slowly ripped apart, mind, body and soul and then put back together again wrong Ido suspect torment comes with that, which you did not experience when you destroyed the Caul Mr Wainwright."
Udella whispered.
"But then again I was not there so I really can't comment on your experience and I am sure it was very traumatic and certinly not something you would want to experience again or discuss at geat legth I suspect."
She said sounding concerned.
"I do not think that someone's will are going to matter much if the full process are allowed to take place though."
She added and frowned.

He pondered, "No, I won't want to recall much of it... but it seems the motivation for going in is going to strongly affect how susceptible the victim is to the mental corruption... Individuals who have gone in to save or protect someone seem to be... far more decent in attitude and treatment of other people than those who have cheerfully let themselves Fall. Perhaps a certain... shield of innocence is more of a factor than strong will."

"Ah off course, well I doubt we will have much stresses or issues along the way. I will get us to the Umbral Docks of Boston as quickly as possible non the less though."
Rodger promised.
"The ship is the St. Isobel she is a Etherite combat frigatte, why where you wondering?"
The Umbral Pilot said as he guided the ship up from the docks and flipped several more stiches.
"How are the engine output looking my good man? Are we ready to got?"

He shrugged, scanning the radar and engine readouts, "Call it a little paranoia, perhaps - and fairly justified as such; there's a person who... might be wanting to get me. Also, it is a good looking ship, so I suppose honest curiosity may have been a factor, too. Output looks smoother than a baby's bottom, and the area looks clear. I believe we are clear to depart."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Colin] (Chicago Umbral Port at 6 30 in the afternoon.)

Colin looked at Anna for a long moment, "...Yes, there are. You don't want me to go into details, since I don't believe most of those will be relevant, but some would consider phobias and similar problems illnesses that can be treated, even cured... Not to worry, though, most diseases that harm the brain are exceedingly rare and difficult to contract in the first place."

"Mine can't be cured, my phobia that is..."
Anna said and pouted then she sigh.
"No I guess I do not think I want to know more than that...a illness that can hurt my brain is a horrible thing to think about and I would not want more nightmares than I already have."
She said and frowned.

He pondered, "No, I won't want to recall much of it... but it seems the motivation for going in is going to strongly affect how susceptible the victim is to the mental corruption... Individuals who have gone in to save or protect someone seem to be... far more decent in attitude and treatment of other people than those who have cheerfully let themselves Fall. Perhaps a certain... shield of innocence is more of a factor than strong will."

"That might be so Mr Wainwright, the question is if this will also be so for the next incernation, when that Fallen mage become a widderslainte, are they then also kinder than others of their kind for if it is just that first original Nephandus then the reason why he or she is kinder than other Nephandi might be that they in the first place where kinder pepole, choosing self sacrifice rather than being, if you excuse the language, ripe bastdards who come to the Nephandi for selfish reasons and then the Nephandi give them leave to be as cruel as they where originally but where afraid to live out."
Udella protested and frowned.

He shrugged, scanning the radar and engine readouts, "Call it a little paranoia, perhaps - and fairly justified as such; there's a person who... might be wanting to get me. Also, it is a good looking ship, so I suppose honest curiosity may have been a factor, too. Output looks smoother than a baby's bottom, and the area looks clear. I believe we are clear to depart."

"A person influensial enough to hire a warship to get you...it seams you have powerful enemies my good man."
Rodger said and frowned.
"Yes she is good looking, she is probably here to escort the Mercere ship, they might be bringing something important with them, just a guess off course but that is what I would put my money on, she is a beautiful ship though that I agree with, two Quintessence cannons, four lasers and enchanted torpeedoes launched from two beys and room for two fighters...a beautiful ship indeed."
He said and grinned.
"Off we go then, if you keep an eye on the engine output and the radar and let me know if any spirits get sot close to us."
The Etherite said as he guided the shuttle outof the Umbra Docks and as he did the creepy, red cross slowly vanished and you where again flying over a Umbral cityscape. Anna looked out the window and smiled happily she seamed to be enjoying herself.

[Adley]

"I guess thingie is not the right term for someone that important but I do not know what to call her, she is always there, I do not always see her but I sort of feel her with me...as for our Mentor he do seam to enjoy going into lecture mode at times." Kyle said and smiled. "What do I call that woman? My Gift like my dad call his talent for magic?"

"Gift is acceptable," he said. "We will talk more about terms later. Alright. I know you would like to stay longer, as would your parents, but there are a few more things that I need to take care of, soon. Were you given direction of what to do after your visit here?" he asked.

[Nicole Bouchard]

Anja's Post:

Nicole drove up close to the door to the mall itself, breaking sharply. 'And we're here. Last bit of advice; sit by the emergency door of the bus. So if for some reason they do stop and board it, you can try to slip out the other door. You'd be surprised how many folk forget it exists.'

Here she leant over to the passenger seat, grabbed the rucksack and passed it over to Mr Shade. 'And here you go, and I wish you luck. Oh, there's a gun at the bottom of the bag. Just in case.' she'll say just as he made to exit the car.

Once their passenger had got out, Nicole will immediately pull off again, leaving the former Union man to his fate, whatever it was. They'd done all they could to give him a fair start - her conscience was intact.

[Ah. That merely means the train company has forgotten the lessons of the past - to cut the verges by the tracks so fires don't happen. They used to have to back in the days of steam trains]

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Adley] (Steelhaven at 5 30 in the afternoon.)

"Gift is acceptable," he said. "We will talk more about terms later. Alright. I know you would like to stay longer, as would your parents, but there are a few more things that I need to take care of, soon. Were you given direction of what to do after your visit here?" he asked.

"Gift then that works and we can talk more about it later."
Kyle agreed.
"Yeah I would like to stay longer."
He said sounding disapointed.
"It is ok son, we have now seen that you are ok, and hopefully once we have talked to the man that is to be your teacher we will be allowed longer visits."
Mr Danbrock said and Kyle sigh and nodded as he hugged his mother and his father again.
"Yeah he gave me a room key and told me to bring the book I had been reading and read some pages in that an memorize three hand gestures and then I could play some on my handheld game."
Kyle said.
"So I guess I will go and do that then.."
He said though it was clear he would love to spend more time with his parents.

[Nicole] (On the road in Boston at 5 30 in the afternoon.)

Nicole drove up close to the door to the mall itself, breaking sharply. 'And we're here. Last bit of advice; sit by the emergency door of the bus. So if for some reason they do stop and board it, you can try to slip out the other door. You'd be surprised how many folk forget it exists.'

James nodded at what you where saying.
"Yeah that are good advice Miss I will do that."
The former Technocrat said and nodded in agreement.

Here she leant over to the passenger seat, grabbed the rucksack and passed it over to Mr Shade. 'And here you go, and I wish you luck. Oh, there's a gun at the bottom of the bag. Just in case.' she'll say just as he made to exit the car.

The former Union man took the sack and he looked suprised as he stepped out of the car.
"T...thanks...."
He managed as he stepped fully out of the car, he gave you and Thorn a greatful look and then hurried into the mall.

Once their passenger had got out, Nicole will immediately pull off again, leaving the former Union man to his fate, whatever it was. They'd done all they could to give him a fair start - her conscience was intact.

"We did a good deed today Miss Bouchard, let us hope it pays of with an ally and more information about our enemies further down the line."
Thorn said as he glanced behind him at the mall.
"Now we should probably get back to Steelhaven, I need to check in there and then get back to Westchapel."

(OOC: Yeah then again it is allot of track to cut the vegetation around, but yes they should have done that.)

[Jeremy Silverstein]

The room grew brither as you asked about Bernard's mother.
"She is a great cook...I mean she make all sort of dishes, pies, this amazing soup with meat and noddles, meatloaf, all sort of things and she bakes these great cookis, all crispy on the outside and realy moist and nice on the inside."
He said and smiled.

"She sounds awesome!" Serge said, glad that Bernard was talking about something other than the women. "Pies, meatloaf, cookies. All of the classics. You know....we haven't had desert yet." he said gesturing to the empty plated of spaghetti on the table.

"I think some of those cookies would make for a good treat don't you think. Just imagin them....soft and moist. Pulled fresh out of the oven with steam wafting over them in decorative swirls. Warm at the touch but cool enough to take a big bite out of them." he continued helping Bernard to imagine some cookies while making himself hungrier in the process.

"But I...going outside is terrifying. I do not want to face what happened. I do not want it to have happened."
Bernard replied and he looked down.
"But I guess that if the ash girl is me and she think I can do it then I could try but...I am coming right back here afterwards."
He hesitently agreed.

"Of course. There's no shame in just trying and this place will always be here waiting for you. You know, we can go together if you want." Serge suggested. "I can do my best to help you along the way."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Serge] (Steelhaven at 5 30 in the afternoon.)

"She sounds awesome!" Serge said, glad that Bernard was talking about something other than the women. "Pies, meatloaf, cookies. All of the classics. You know....we haven't had desert yet." he said gesturing to the empty plated of spaghetti on the table.

"You are right, no meal is complete without dessert is it, and yeah my mother is a great person, she is kind and caring and while she raised me on her own, she made sure I never lacked for anything."
Bernard said and he smiled a little and the room got brither, the wall repaired itself and the screens and their horrible content vanished.

"I think some of those cookies would make for a good treat don't you think. Just imagined them....soft and moist. Pulled fresh out of the oven with steam wafting over them in decorative swirls. Warm at the touch but cool enough to take a big bite out of them." he continued helping Bernard to imagine some cookies while making himself hungrier in the process.

"Yeah that would be great right now."
The wounded man agreed.
"I guess I could try to imagine them, if this is an imaginary room perhaps it would work."
He said and he closed his eyes and soon a plate of steaming, fresh out of the oven, large chocholate chip cookies stood before you on the table, all uneven and homemade and perfectly golden brown on the outside. Bernard opened his eyes and smiled a little.
"I...it worked."
He said sounding astonished that it did.

"Of course. There's no shame in just trying and this place will always be here waiting for you. You know, we can go together if you want." Serge suggested. "I can do my best to help you along the way."

The wounded man looked nervous then he sigh.
"I...I guess...but how do I leave here? I do not even know how I got here, I only wanted to be safe and imagined myself in my favorite place in the world, a place where I have always felt completely safe and happy."
He said and looked at you.
"Can you show me how I return to the real world? Though if I get scared I will go back here."
He said sounding uncertain.

[Warpmind]

[Chicago Umbral Port, 6]

"Mine can't be cured, my phobia that is..."
Anna said and pouted then she sigh.
"No I guess I do not think I want to know more than that...a illness that can hurt my brain is a horrible thing to think about and I would not want more nightmares than I already have."
She said and frowned.

Colin smiled thinly, "That's a bit fatalistic for a Mage... It can perhaps not be cured, but it can be controlled, you will learn methods for keeping it in check. There's nothing a Mage cannot change, so long as there's the will to do it."

"That might be so Mr Wainwright, the question is if this will also be so for the next incernation, when that Fallen mage become a widderslainte, are they then also kinder than others of their kind for if it is just that first original Nephandus then the reason why he or she is kinder than other Nephandi might be that they in the first place where kinder pepole, choosing self sacrifice rather than being, if you excuse the language, ripe bastdards who come to the Nephandi for selfish reasons and then the Nephandi give them leave to be as cruel as they where originally but where afraid to live out."
Udella protested and frowned.

He nodded, "It would seem likely that there could be such a lingering kindness that can last for incarnations, though the darker impulses would likely be harder to control then... In fact, I will introduce you to a perfect example of this, if she is well enough and willing to; our own Beatrice Alexander... She might be a bit too wary of Quaesitors after this week's trials and tribulations, though..."

"A person influensial enough to hire a warship to get you...it seams you have powerful enemies my good man."
Rodger said and frowned.
"Yes she is good looking, she is probably here to escort the Mercere ship, they might be bringing something important with them, just a guess off course but that is what I would put my money on, she is a beautiful ship though that I agree with, two Quintessence cannons, four lasers and enchanted torpeedoes launched from two beys and room for two fighters...a beautiful ship indeed."
He said and grinned.
"Off we go then, if you keep an eye on the engine output and the radar and let me know if any spirits get sot close to us."
The Etherite said as he guided the shuttle outof the Umbra Docks and as he did the creepy, red cross slowly vanished and you where again flying over a Umbral cityscape. Anna looked out the window and smiled happily she seamed to be enjoying herself.

He smiled thinly, "I would not go quite that far - but yes, I do have a few powerful people who strongly disapprove of me... I doubt they'd be prepared to hire a warship, though - but it might be possible if the owner or pilot owes them a favour. All the same, if there are any shenanigans afoot, it will probably be once we reach Boston... We might meet a welcoming committee or two - plus I'm planning on providing cover fire by surreptitious ways, should it prove necessary - so I hope you have a sidearm ready in good condition, just in case."
He eyed the scanners, "Looks like clear skies at least to the shadow of the stateline - excepting a few air spirits of varying magnitudes over Chicago, nothing unexpected."

((OOC: A part of the problem with Norwegian railroads is that up to 2004 or so, they were state-owned and operated. After that, the part responsible for operating the trains got privatized, while the part responsible for maintaining the infrastructure for the trains remained in state hands with a diminished budget... Recipe for disaster. :/ ))

[Nicole Bouchard]

Anja's Post:

Gave a nod to this, then pulled off rapidly.

Anja's Post:

'At very least he'll distract a few Mirrorshades in attempting to trace him.' Nicole replied. 'Now to lose any remaining tails. Do you know any way to change the colour of a car for a bit?'

[Not really. Rail companies used to have special units which were like the bastard offspring of a train, lawnmowers and hedge-cutters which did the job. Problem is, they got rid of most when steam engines where phased out due to the much lower risk of sparks causing fires].

[Tane Karyak]

[Tane] (Labyrinth Master Dupre's strike team, 3: 30 in the afternoon.)

If we stay to reach the heart... it will have enough time to drag us further into the umbra. WHat should we do? ASked Tane, trying to bring it to him,, like a magnet based on him.

Arete:
784
613
572

[Adley]

"Gift then that works and we can talk more about it later." Kyle agreed. "Yeah I would like to stay longer." He said sounding disapointed.
"It is ok son, we have now seen that you are ok, and hopefully once we have talked to the man that is to be your teacher we will be allowed longer visits."
Mr Danbrock said and Kyle sigh and nodded as he hugged his mother and his father again.

"Sorry everyone. Maybe we can all have a meal together, maybe breakfast or lunch, soon though, that would be nice. My concept of time is a bit off right now though so what might be breakfast for you might be dinner for me, though but you get what I mean," he said wryly.

"Yeah he gave me a room key and told me to bring the book I had been reading and read some pages in that an memorize three hand gestures and then I could play some on my handheld game." Kyle said. "So I guess I will go and do that then.." He said though it was clear he would love to spend more time with his parents.

"Alright. Let me walk you to your room and help you get settled a bit, okay?" he offered, but didn't push him if he wanted to say a few more things to his parents before he left, or vice versa. "See if you'll need anything and if I can get it for you."

[Jeremy Silverstein]

"You are right, no meal is complete without dessert is it, and yeah my mother is a great person, she is kind and caring and while she raised me on her own, she made sure I never lacked for anything."
Bernard said and he smiled a little and the room got brither, the wall repaired itself and the screens and their horrible content vanished.

"Yeah that would be great right now."
The wounded man agreed.
"I guess I could try to imagine them, if this is an imaginary room perhaps it would work."
He said and he closed his eyes and soon a plate of steaming, fresh out of the oven, large chocholate chip cookies stood before you on the table, all uneven and homemade and perfectly golden brown on the outside. Bernard opened his eyes and smiled a little.
"I...it worked."
He said sounding astonished that it did.

"Don't look so surprised dude. This is your world! You control and create everything here whether your conscious of it or not." Serge said with a smile as he reached out and grabbed a cookie. He happily munched on the cookie, enjoying all of its imagined taste.

"You should see my world. It's...well I'll be honest it's kind of a mess. It started off as a mystical forest full of adventure and then it just sort've expanded from there. It's full of things that I've imagined and drawn. Weapons, characters, items, buildings, settings. If I've thought about it, it likely exists somewhere in that world." Serge said with remembering his own mental world and wanting to go back and explore it.

The wounded man looked nervous then he sigh.
"I...I guess...but how do I leave here? I do not even know how I got here, I only wanted to be safe and imagined myself in my favorite place in the world, a place where I have always felt completely safe and happy."
He said and looked at you.
"Can you show me how I return to the real world? Though if I get scared I will go back here."
He said sounding uncertain.

"You just have to imagine yourself going back. Remember the real world and let lose all of your fears and inhibitions that are weighing you down. Only then can you go back." Serge said simply as he held out his open hand. "If you want I can help guide you back to the real world. Just grab my hand. Keep in mind, this will only work if your truly willing to go back. I won't force your consciousness to go anywhere it doesn't went to go."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Colin] (Chicago Umbral Port at 6 30 in the afternoon.)

Colin smiled thinly, "That's a bit fatalistic for a Mage... It can perhaps not be cured, but it can be controlled, you will learn methods for keeping it in check. There's nothing a Mage cannot change, so long as there's the will to do it."

"Most of the time, just about anything can be healed, the only thing that makes healing difficult is if it like with you Anna when an injury have set, or when Paradox or other magick resistant forcces have caused the injury, and even then it can be healed it is just allot more dificult, so should you get seriously ill child, a solution will be found."
Udella said and Anna seamed to settle down with that.
"I guess you are both right."
She said and smiled.

He nodded, "It would seem likely that there could be such a lingering kindness that can last for incarnations, though the darker impulses would likely be harder to control then... In fact, I will introduce you to a perfect example of this, if she is well enough and willing to; our own Beatrice Alexander... She might be a bit too wary of Quaesitors after this week's trials and tribulations, though..."

"I would love to meet Miss Alexander but only if she feels up to it, considering that I am a Quesitor I do not want to frighten her, and you might be right, I guess there is allot of the process of Falling we do not yet know."
Udella said and nodded.

He smiled thinly, "I would not go quite that far - but yes, I do have a few powerful people who strongly disapprove of me... I doubt they'd be prepared to hire a warship, though - but it might be possible if the owner or pilot owes them a favour. All the same, if there are any shenanigans afoot, it will probably be once we reach Boston... We might meet a welcoming committee or two - plus I'm planning on providing cover fire by surreptitious ways, should it prove necessary - so I hope you have a sidearm ready in good condition, just in case."

"I never leave my home without it."
Rodger said and he patted one of his pockets.
"If there are trouble at the Umbra port I will help you out as best I can my good man but let us hope we can avoid such unplesantness."

He eyed the scanners, "Looks like clear skies at least to the shadow of the stateline - excepting a few air spirits of varying magnitudes over Chicago, nothing unexpected."

"There are always air spirits of various kinds flying around Chicago, they should not bother us."
Rodger said as he piloted the ship. You saw no other large spirits on the scanner though there where a few entities here and there none of them moved closer to the shuttle or seamed to pay it any heed.

[Serge] (Steelhaven at 5 30 in the afternoon.)

"Don't look so surprised dude. This is your world! You control and create everything here whether your conscious of it or not." Serge said with a smile as he reached out and grabbed a cookie. He happily munched on the cookie, enjoying all of its imagined taste.

"You should see my world. It's...well I'll be honest it's kind of a mess. It started off as a mystical forest full of adventure and then it just sort've expanded from there. It's full of things that I've imagined and drawn. Weapons, characters, items, buildings, settings. If I've thought about it, it likely exists somewhere in that world." Serge said with remembering his own mental world and wanting to go back and explore it.

"That is pretty cool actually...but if this is just a fantasy why do it feel so real? The cookies even taste sweet and I can feel the crunsh when I bite into them."
Bernard said and he took another cookie and took a bite out of it.
"Your inner words sound really fun, do everyone have worlds like this in their heads?"
He asked sounding confused.

"You just have to imagine yourself going back. Remember the real world and let lose all of your fears and inhibitions that are weighing you down. Only then can you go back." Serge said simply as he held out his open hand. "If you want I can help guide you back to the real world. Just grab my hand. Keep in mind, this will only work if your truly willing to go back. I won't force your consciousness to go anywhere it doesn't went to go."

"I...am sorry, I do not like to be touched."
Bernard said uneasywhen you reached out your hand to him.
"I would like to give it a try...I am willing to try to go back, but I can not give up my fears and leave them behind, I just can't do that."
The wounded man muttered.
"But I am willing to try to go back."

[Nicole] (On the road in Boston at 5 30 in the afternoon.)

'At very least he'll distract a few Mirrorshades in attempting to trace him.' Nicole replied. 'Now to lose any remaining tails. Do you know any way to change the colour of a car for a bit?'

"Well there is that at least. Though I honestly hope the guy makes it."
Thorn said then he sigh and shook his head.
"No unfortunatly I do not know how to do that...but I could make it less likely for someone to be able to find us, they will overlook us, it is not invisibility as such but more that we will just be background noise, I can try that."
The Verbena healer offered.
"I would think changing the color of material things should be more your thing given your Tradition Miss Bouchard."
He commented.

[Adley] (Steelhaven at 5 30 in the afternoon.)

"Sorry everyone. Maybe we can all have a meal together, maybe breakfast or lunch, soon though, that would be nice. My concept of time is a bit off right now though so what might be breakfast for you might be dinner for me, though but you get what I mean," he said wryly.

"It is okey Adley and a meal together would be good we could all get to know one another."
Adley said and Mrs Danbrock said.
"That sounds loved Mr Roth Hicks breakfast tomorrow it is then."
Mr Danbrock nodded his agreement at that.

"Alright. Let me walk you to your room and help you get settled a bit, okay?" he offered, but didn't push him if he wanted to say a few more things to his parents before he left, or vice versa. "See if you'll need anything and if I can get it for you."

Kyle and his parents said their goodbyes and then your brother nodded.
"Ok Master Morgan said it was the last room on the second floor, room 221."
He said and he smiled a little.
"Thank you, that would be nice."
Your young brother said as he came with you.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Tane] (Labyrinth Master Dupre's strike team, 3: 30 in the afternoon.)

If we stay to reach the heart... it will have enough time to drag us further into the umbra. WHat should we do? ASked Tane, trying to bring it to him,, like a magnet based on him.

"The deeper Umbral layers are dangerous, but it might be worth the risk. I do not know if you can survive those layers though for we can not help you out there, we can walk the byways ourselves but passangers are not the easiest, we should not die out here, but if you can survive the Deep Umbra then the core of this foul Umbrood should not be guarded, not if all the corrupted mages have left."
Dino said and frowned.
"So it is up to you if you want to risk it or not."
He added. The core of the ship did not move, despite your efforts it stayed where it was, though you felt something...watching you and your efforts disaprovingly, something very old and powerful.

[Warpmind]

[Chicago Umbral Port, 6:30 PM]

"Most of the time, just about anything can be healed, the only thing that makes healing difficult is if it like with you Anna when an injury have set, or when Paradox or other magick resistant forcces have caused the injury, and even then it can be healed it is just allot more dificult, so should you get seriously ill child, a solution will be found."
Udella said and Anna seamed to settle down with that.
"I guess you are both right."
She said and smiled.

Colin smiled, "When we get to Boston, there's a doctor I want you to see - a psychiatrist, who will help you get started on the path of healing. She won't use any invasive procedures, she's an excellent healer of the mind, and she just graduated an apprentice of her own, in fact - a dashing young chap named Serge."

"I would love to meet Miss Alexander but only if she feels up to it, considering that I am a Quesitor I do not want to frighten her, and you might be right, I guess there is allot of the process of Falling we do not yet know."
Udella said and nodded.

He nodded, "Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that there is not a lot we actually do know about Falling... Plus, Lady Dalisse ex Diedne already knew as a blatantly obvious fact that Falling is reversible - not that she herself is Fallen, but it is an interesting factoid coming from a woman who's been stuck with the Nephandi since the Schism War..."

"I never leave my home without it."
Rodger said and he patted one of his pockets.
"If there are trouble at the Umbra port I will help you out as best I can my good man but let us hope we can avoid such unplesantness."

He nodded, "If we make it to the car unmolested, we should be good."

"There are always air spirits of various kinds flying around Chicago, they should not bother us."
Rodger said as he piloted the ship. You saw no other large spirits on the scanner though there where a few entities here and there none of them moved closer to the shuttle or seamed to pay it any heed.

He smiled wryly, "Yes, the Windy City... it doesn't seem anyone's taken notice of us at all."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Colin] (Chicago Umbral Port at 6 30 in the afternoon.)

Colin smiled, "When we get to Boston, there's a doctor I want you to see - a psychiatrist, who will help you get started on the path of healing. She won't use any invasive procedures, she's an excellent healer of the mind, and she just graduated an apprentice of her own, in fact - a dashing young chap named Serge."

Anna looked a little nervous.
"Will she do anything I don't allow her to? Will she hurt me? I am not sure I like doctors."
The young mage protested.
"You really think this doctor can help me?"

He nodded, "Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that there is not a lot we actually do know about Falling... Plus, Lady Dalisse ex Diedne already knew as a blatantly obvious fact that Falling is reversible - not that she herself is Fallen, but it is an interesting factoid coming from a woman who's been stuck with the Nephandi since the Schism War..."

"It seams there are many good reasons to want to have a conversation with the Lady Dalisse...and I hope she is right that some way to reverse the Fall can be found, it would be a great victory in the War."
Udella said and nodded.
"And yes you are right, there is very little we know about Falling, perhaps due to our rather agressive policy against every Fallen mage that we meet."

He nodded, "If we make it to the car unmolested, we should be good."

"Ah the goal of ever so many nights out drinking."
Rodger said and grinned.

He smiled wryly, "Yes, the Windy City... it doesn't seem anyone's taken notice of us at all."

The Etherite nodded as he guided the ship along the the Umbral paths.
"Did you get Miss Wellspring back home safely by the way Mr Wainwright?"
He asked.
"What a plesant youung woman."

[Warpmind]

[Chicago Umbral Port, 6:30 PM]

Anna looked a little nervous.
"Will she do anything I don't allow her to? Will she hurt me? I am not sure I like doctors."
The young mage protested.
"You really think this doctor can help me?"

Colin smiled, "She'll help you expand your comfort zone, but she won't break it. She's not the regular sort of doctor, but one who specializes in healing the mind; no needles, no restraints, nothing you won't consent to. I think she'll be able to help you quite a lot. Not to mention another girl you'll meet in some six weeks' time... but we'll get to that when it happens."

"It seams there are many good reasons to want to have a conversation with the Lady Dalisse...and I hope she is right that some way to reverse the Fall can be found, it would be a great victory in the War."
Udella said and nodded.
"And yes you are right, there is very little we know about Falling, perhaps due to our rather agressive policy against every Fallen mage that we meet."

He grinned, "When we get to Steelhaven, after meeting with Master Tolle, I'll show you a piece of Anna's ephemera from the future - a beautiful, pure dragon scale. It's an excellent piece of proof for Anna's upcoming trial."

"Ah the goal of ever so many nights out drinking."
Rodger said and grinned.

He arched an eyebrow, "Perhaps not the best philosophy for the designated driver, and i should prefer to make it all the way to bed unmolested, as such..."

The Etherite nodded as he guided the ship along the the Umbral paths.
"Did you get Miss Wellspring back home safely by the way Mr Wainwright?"
He asked.
"What a plesant youung woman."

He smiled, "Only so far as to reunite her with her wife at Morningstar - the two made their own way home to Lavender from there. And yes, they are both quite pleasant young women, even as their relationship is a little outside the norm."

[Nicole Bouchard]

Anja's Post:

'Yeah... it's called paint.' Nicole replied. 'And removed all my gear from here for the raid, I did. Do what you can; don't put it past the Mirrorshades to call an APB on us.' driving back out of the parking lot.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Colin] (Chicago Umbral Port at 6 30 in the afternoon.)

Colin smiled, "She'll help you expand your comfort zone, but she won't break it. She's not the regular sort of doctor, but one who specializes in healing the mind; no needles, no restraints, nothing you won't consent to. I think she'll be able to help you quite a lot. Not to mention another girl you'll meet in some six weeks' time... but we'll get to that when it happens."

"I have read about psycologists I am willing to give it a try as long as she do not force me to do anything."
Anna agreed hesitently.
"There are things...it might...be good to talk to someone about."
She muttered and plucked at her sweather.

He grinned, "When we get to Steelhaven, after meeting with Master Tolle, I'll show you a piece of Anna's ephemera from the future - a beautiful, pure dragon scale. It's an excellent piece of proof for Anna's upcoming trial."

"A pure piece of her Avatar from the future...something like that would...oh my!"
Udella said and her eyes widened for a moment.
"It could be examined next to Anna's soul, it would be proof such a cleansing is possible...such a thing...you need to guard it with uttmost care, there are those who might not want such proof to come to light, and guard Anna as well for the same reason."
The old Ennforcer said she sounded rather shocked.

He arched an eyebrow, "Perhaps not the best philosophy for the designated driver, and i should prefer to make it all the way to bed unmolested, as such..."

"I can drive anything stark drunk, but yes getting all the way to bed unmolested is always a plus."
Rodger said and grined then he turned to glance at Anna.
"And you young lady do not do what I do okey, drinking and driving are bad...so I guess are drinking and piloting and Umbra ship."
The Umbral pilot said and Anna looked at bit at you then she she nodded.
"I will remember that Sir."
She replied.

He smiled, "Only so far as to reunite her with her wife at Morningstar - the two made their own way home to Lavender from there. And yes, they are both quite pleasant young women, even as their relationship is a little outside the norm."

"Ah yes that is good to hear and having an unconventional relationship do not bother me, as long as everyone involved are consenting adults then I see no problem with it."
Rodger said and he checked a gauge on the control panel.
"We should be seeing some signs of our path to Boston fairly soon."
The Etherite informed you.

[Nicole] (On the road in Boston at 5 30.)

'Yeah... it's called paint.' Nicole replied. 'And removed all my gear from here for the raid, I did. Do what you can; don't put it past the Mirrorshades to call an APB on us.' driving back out of the parking lot.

"Well unless you want to stop the car Miss Bauchard to paint it, then I think it is better to try my methods."
Thorn said and he raised an eyebrow at you before he found his lnife again and carved some simbols into his arm and then trouched one of the windows with his blood.
"It is done, but just to be sure we should probably take some roundabout way back to Steelhaven so we make sure not to lead anyone to our allies for yes the Union might have done as you say...fucking Technocrazy."
The Verbena healer grunted.

[Warpmind]

[Chicago Umbral Port, 6:30 PM]

"I have read about psycologists I am willing to give it a try as long as she do not force me to do anything."
Anna agreed hesitently.
"There are things...it might...be good to talk to someone about."
She muttered and plucked at her sweather.

Colin nodded, "That's what she does for us Magi - she offers an open ear and mind when some of us need to talk to someone. She won't force you to go through a metaphorical door, but she will hold out the key for you when you're ready to try."

"A pure piece of her Avatar from the future...something like that would...oh my!"
Udella said and her eyes widened for a moment.
"It could be examined next to Anna's soul, it would be proof such a cleansing is possible...such a thing...you need to guard it with uttmost care, there are those who might not want such proof to come to light, and guard Anna as well for the same reason."
The old Ennforcer said she sounded rather shocked.

He nodded, "Right now, it's in the care and custody of someone I trust implicitly. And I know, she is precious."

"I can drive anything stark drunk, but yes getting all the way to bed unmolested is always a plus."
Rodger said and grined then he turned to glance at Anna.
"And you young lady do not do what I do okey, drinking and driving are bad...so I guess are drinking and piloting and Umbra ship."
The Umbral pilot said and Anna looked at bit at you then she she nodded.
"I will remember that Sir."
She replied.

He glanced back at Anna and patted the dashboard gently, "Don't let this fine gent be too much of a role model - I may not be as experienced an Umbra pilot as he is, but I can certainly keep an eye on the old girl's dials to make sure he flies steady."

"Ah yes that is good to hear and having an unconventional relationship do not bother me, as long as everyone involved are consenting adults then I see no problem with it."
Rodger said and he checked a gauge on the control panel.
"We should be seeing some signs of our path to Boston fairly soon."
The Etherite informed you.

He nodded, "Wouldn't be surprised if we wound up flying in alongside a flock of spirits, like pigeons gathering in a park."

[Adley]

"It is okey Adley and a meal together would be good we could all get to know one another."
Adley said and Mrs Danbrock said.
"That sounds loved Mr Roth Hicks breakfast tomorrow it is then."
Mr Danbrock nodded his agreement at that.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do later on for that then. Warning though, I can't cook many things, or very well so hopefully we'll be able to get something or we'll be raiding the back of my cabinet for the last of the oatmeal and protein powder."

"Ok Master Morgan said it was the last room on the second floor, room 221."
He said and he smiled a little.
"Thank you, that would be nice."
Your young brother said as he came with you.

"I'm on the same floor," he said and gave the Danbrocks a nod before leaving with Kyle. He pointed out his room, which was on the opposite end and passed by Colin's room. "You have your key? Maybe I can get you a new phone from someone..." he pondered.


// if there's 21+ personal rooms on each floor I'll have to expand my map somehow, lol I think I could only fit 18 so the last on left is 18 or 11. I miss the old Sims where you could make huge builds, that was the biggest lot.

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