Re: The Laboratory, A Lost Lich and a Tragic Tale IC Thread 43

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Common Room]

Anja's Post:

'Don't be so sure. A lot of Mundies are rather pissed off with the state of affairs...'

Anja's Post:

A soft laugh to this.

[Basement]

Anja's Post:

Nicole nodded to this, then decided to bind the prisoner's legs with the tape, so their chance of being able to run away were near nil.

[Don't want huge cap ship if it means the stock of smaller ships dwindle due to lack of maintenance or replacements. That battlewagon gonna 'fly the flag' at the smaller outposts, pull all the convoy duties and all the boring-but-needed missions by itself? Is Victoria, Gernsback etc going to defend themselves with fighters with no crews and empty garrison quarters 'cos you stripped them to crew your boondoggle? Hows the current stock of capital ships going to fare over time when they can't be repaired 'cos your white elephant has taken the whole slated Primium production for the decade? I'd hate to think about the amount of Tass it would cost to simply bring the ship back from the dead in conventional terms (let alone Scientific additions). And just thinking 'need bigger ship' as the solution is exactly the kind of thinking which led to the WW1 naval race. There are *many* ways to destroy a ship without lining up in battle lines to duke it out like some kind of aerial Jutland. At least that's what a senior member of the Fleet *could* argue.]

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Common Room]

'Don't be so sure. A lot of Mundies are rather pissed off with the state of affairs...'

"That is true but if they suddenly had to process the fact that just about everything that go bump in the night in stories are true I bet they be willing to trade in freedom for security."
Chris said with a frown.

A soft laugh to this.

The young Etherite gave you a bit of a frown at that.

[Basement]

Nicole nodded to this, then decided to bind the prisoner's legs with the tape, so their chance of being able to run away were near nil.

The Nephandus gave you a sour look and made some obscene gestures in your direction with his hips as well as he could though this did make him groan in pain from his wounds, clearly thinking his insult would upset you. You got his legs secured though and found two daggers he had strapped to his ankles in the process, one was practical, a simple weapon while the other looked like it might be silver with a fancy handle shaped as a dragon with ruby eyes.

[Steelhaven Basement]

Colin frowned, "Hm, that was unexpected. Well, I should ask Adley, then..."

"Yeah he was the one who found the lich. Hum now that we have both a boy lich and a girl lich could they like make baby liches if they wanted to?"
Bianca mushed and Miles sigh.
"I doubt that is how it works Miss Rozzo and also I would not make such speculations anywhere where Lady Crexia might hear you the woman might take offense and you do not want that."

He nodded, "Ah, Mr. Tasselwell? Highly functional drunk, decent pilot? Hum, but I meant if Mr. Flavian is the head of the group from his own Chantry, not the leader of all our external reinforcements..."

"No not Mr Tasselwell the one I am talking about is someone named Axel ehm...Albright or something like that...he said he was in the British military at the same time you where and met you during joint missions of the ehm...eh...RAF I think he said an the infantry or something."
The young Verbena said and she scratched her head.
"Or something like that."
You do remember Axel a medic who you had met a few times during joint missions, you did not know the man was a mage though.
"But yeah Flavian is the leader of the group from Golden Rose Sir that is correct. Mr Albright is from another Chantry."

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Fight in the Basement]

"Well I did try with what you had given me but knowing her name and her appearance will be more to aim for though I might still not get anything with that either but I can certainly try...first I have to get Anna and Yu Die out of here though and I will get back to it."
Your uncle replied he still looked guilty he had not helped out with the fight though.

"There in the ritual rooms over there." he said pointing them out.

"You can take our guest to one of the unused smaller ritual rooms Mr Yager."
Jeffry said and he then spoke in Latin to the lich.
"Sodalis this young man will take you somewhere more quiet, he do not speak Latin but please go with him."

Serge nodded and slowly approached the man, giving him a friendly smile and gesturing signaling for him to follow Serge to one of the smaller ritual rooms. He pulled out his phone as they walked and typed a couple things into it, showing the lich the screen which had google translate on it. On the screen was the following phrase translated into latin, "Thank you for the help earlier. I apologize for the noise. It is not usually this hectic here.'

"Yeah well only to bad they got burned before they impaled you."
The Nephandus grumbled.
"That would have been even cooler."

Serge simply chuckled, not really being able to disagree with the man.

"We are not going to harm the young man Mr Yager we are however going to make sure he can not harm Steelhaven."
Jeffry said calmly.
"What the fuck can I possibly do against an entire Chantry I am a bloody apprentice!"
Thomas protested.
"Who are here of his own free will!"
He added with a frustrated sigh.

The chief's reasoning was sound and after hearing that Thomas was invited under 'false pretenses' there was a little he could say or do without knowing more. He gave Thomas an apologetic look and continued his task of escorting the Lich to the ritual room and letting his cabalamate handle Thomas.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Fight in the Basement]

"There in the ritual rooms over there." he said pointing them out.

"Thanks."
Ryan said before he went over to the large ritual room to get the girls.

Serge nodded and slowly approached the man, giving him a friendly smile and gesturing signaling for him to follow Serge to one of the smaller ritual rooms. He pulled out his phone as they walked and typed a couple things into it, showing the lich the screen which had google translate on it. On the screen was the following phrase translated into latin, "Thank you for the help earlier. I apologize for the noise. It is not usually this hectic here.'

The lich gave you a very confused look as he looked at your phone he did not seam to fully grasp what that is and he said something in a language you did not understand, if Adley where paying attention he said.
"The boy's little brick glows."
Jeffry allowed a small smile though he mostly focused on keeping his aim on Thomas.
"Sodalis our young friend thanks you for your aid and apologize that it is so noisy and he want you to go with him to somewhere more quiet."
After that line in Latin the confused looking lich gave you a simple nod of acknowledgement and he let you lead him towards one of the smaller ritual rooms.

The chief's reasoning was sound and after hearing that Thomas was invited under 'false pretenses' there was a little he could say or do without knowing more. He gave Thomas an apologetic look and continued his task of escorting the Lich to the ritual room and letting his cabalamate handle Thomas.

Thomas sigh and gave you a bit of a look but he did not do much else he just looked scared and angry. You got to one of the small ritual rooms, it smelled slightly of candle wax. The lich hurried inside nodded and said something in Latin again that you did not understand.

[Adley]

[Steelhaven - Basement]

"There's too much going on. It's overwhelming him." he told his cabalmate, after recognizing the man's plight. "Perhaps he can wait in a quiet room while we sort all of this out? Clear his head for a bit. I would ask him myself but I'm guessing he's more likely to listen to you."

"He only speaks old Latin but I have my hands full at this moment..." Then the Cultists offered to help and he nodded thanks. Good, the poor man had gone through a lot already. Then as the knife moved again he went to intercept it, thinking it was somehow another's spell, picking it up with a handkerchief.

"Spell? Oh my device yes...I did that."
Thomas said.
"I have made these weightlessness spheres."
He said indicating the little metal ball in his hand.
"Did you see where the other one went they are expensive in parts?"

There is no other me, it is just me being in two places in the time and space haze."
Ryan said but he did pull the cuffs out and tossed them over to you.
"Here you go."
As you spoke you saw the Nephandus knife be slowly moved across the floor as if by some wind dragging it.

"I know this yet it gives me a headache." He took the cuffs and then eyed the knife with a frown.

"Spell? Oh my device yes...I did that."
Thomas said.
"I have made these weightlessness spheres."
He said indicating the little metal ball in his hand.
"Did you see where the other one went they are expensive in parts?"

"We can see if we can find it after we secure the prisoner and clean up."

Thomas had put his gravity ball down, e was scared but he was not stupid and he did not want to get shot.
"Let me leave."
The kid said.
"I have done nothing to you. I am a Void Engineer we do not take part in the Pogrom we have no issue with the Traditions, I just want to go home to my Mentor."

"Can we...err..." Serge said, struggling to find a compromise

'No... just pointing out that the Fallen do not need you alive.' Nicole retorted. 'If you're a Scientist, you want the facts, no? Even when they're not nice ones? Or perhaps you'd prefer comforting lies, like small children do?' ending with a raised eyebrow.

"I can't," he said regretfully. "I will try to explain what I am able to though if I get a chance;  the situation is as bad as I said. I know you don't trust me, now, but I don't want to hurt you, or for you to be hurt. Let me use the cuffs, the serum is painful and has bad...side effects," he said, trying to use a term he'd understand. "Also, she has a point that your people are probably compromised in some way and as they know where you are and your habits, it would make you easy to find. And when they find you they may not let you go alive. I am sorry for misleading you," he added.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Steelhaven - Basement]

"He only speaks old Latin but I have my hands full at this moment..." Then the Cultists offered to help and he nodded thanks. Good, the poor man had gone through a lot already. Then as the knife moved again he went to intercept it, thinking it was somehow another's spell, picking it up with a handkerchief.

As you spoke you noticed the door to the second lab, the one in the corner sort of opening on it's own as if pushed by a gust of wind. You picked up the knife, there did not seam to be anything remarkable about it it was pretty sharp though and covered in the Nephandus' blood.

"I know this yet it gives me a headache." He took the cuffs and then eyed the knife with a frown.

"Yeah...sorry about that...it comes natural after a while, the understanding of it you know."
Ryan commented as he handed the cuffs over to you.

"We can see if we can find it after we secure the prisoner and clean up."

"Thanks...though I guess it will not do me much good anymore I doubt you will let me leave here alive."
Thomas said bitterly.

I can't," he said regretfully. "I will try to explain what I am able to though if I get a chance; the situation is as bad as I said. I know you don't trust me, now, but I don't want to hurt you, or for you to be hurt. Let me use the cuffs, the serum is painful and has bad...side effects," he said, trying to use a term he'd understand.

"I have no reason to trust you what so ever, for all I know all you said was just a rouse to get me here!"
The young Void Engineer said angrily.
"Yeah the cuffs are better that the serum...but I do not buy that you do not want to hurt me, you lured me here and now are taking me prisoner."
He sneered.

"Also, she has a point that your people are probably compromised in some way and as they know where you are and your habits, it would make you easy to find.

"Oh for your side could never be compromised at all...oh wait where we not just attacked by a fucking Fallen in the middle of a fucking Chantry I assume you guys have some sort of firewa...ehm wards so that he got in here somehow!"
Thomas retorted angrily.

And when they find you they may not let you go alive. I am sorry for misleading you," he added.

"Oh for it is so much worse if someone else kill me than if you guys do it, let us get honest here Traditionalist, you are never going to let me go alive, even if you are not directly hostile you know that if you release me after this danger you claim we are facing is over, I will tell every Technocrat I know to never ever trust the Traditions that you guys are just as bad as the Iterators and the Progenitors say you are and you can not have that, so just stop fucking lying you have no intention to ever let me go!"
The kid said fearfully with anger in his eyes.
"But you can forget getting anything out of me, I do not know what you fucking want me for but whatever it is I will not cooperate with you ever!"

[Adley]

[Steelhaven - Basement]

As you spoke you noticed the door to the second lab, the one in the corner sort of opening on it's own as if pushed by a gust of wind. You picked up the knife, there did not seam to be anything remarkable about it it was pretty sharp though and covered in the Nephandus' blood.

He was not particularly happy about it being full of blood but he wanted it away from the others, though he was careful in handling it and securing it.

"Oh for your side could never be compromised at all...oh wait where we not just attacked by a fucking Fallen in the middle of a fucking Chantry I assume you guys have some sort of firewa...ehm wards so that he got in here somehow!"
Thomas retorted angrily.

"They assumed a disguise, and I am not saying this didn't happen or there isn't problems. I am saying that the Fallen would assume you were with your friends rather than here and so would look there. Which is likely to be true."

"I have no reason to trust you what so ever, for all I know all you said was just a rouse to get me here!"
The young Void Engineer said angrily.
"Yeah the cuffs are better that the serum...but I do not buy that you do not want to hurt me, you lured me here and now are taking me prisoner."
He sneered.

"I'm going to use these then, instead. If I wanted to hurt you I could have, and I don't want to..."

"Oh for it is so much worse if someone else kill me than if you guys do it, let us get honest here Traditionalist, you are never going to let me go alive, even if you are not directly hostile you know that if you release me after this danger you claim w e are facing is over, I will tell every Technocrat I know to never ever trust the Traditions that you guys are just as bad as the Iterators and the Progenitors say you are and you can not have that, so just stop fucking lying you have no intention to ever let me go!"
The kid said fearfully with anger in his eyes.
"But you can forget getting anything out of me, I do not know what you fucking want me for but whatever it is I will not cooperate with you ever!"

"You can do that, and you'd have every right to be angry and distrustful. But I was truthful that if we wanted you dead you would be, already. And I don't want you dead now, either or hurt." He sighed. "There is a lot going on that you were kept from knowing. I think, if I am able to tell you, that you have a right to know about what is going on." He looked like wanted to say something else, but couldn't.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Steelhaven - Basement]

He was not particularly happy about it being full of blood but he wanted it away from the others, though he was careful in handling it and securing it.

You got the knife secured.

"They assumed a disguise, and I am not saying this didn't happen or there isn't problems. I am saying that the Fallen would assume you were with your friends rather than here and so would look there. Which is likely to be true."

"Disguise or no you had an infiltrator and yes while they might not immediately guess I am here all it takes in one more infiltrator and they will know, so no I do not feel much more safe here."
Thomas muttered angrily.

"I'm going to use these then, instead. If I wanted to hurt you I could have, and I don't want to..."

The young Void Engineer sigh as he dumped his bag down onto the floor.
"Fine it is not like I have much choice since I do not want to get shot, how do you want me to hold my hands?"
He asked bitterly.

"You can do that, and you'd have every right to be angry and distrustful. But I was truthful that if we wanted you dead you would be, already. And I don't want you dead now, either or hurt." He sighed.

"Yeah obviously you don't want me dead right now or your friend here or is he your boss? Would have just shot me on the spot, you want something from me, so what is it, information? Biological material? You said that enemy of yours is well is...that I am his clone, you are keeping me alive for something but I doubt that will last once I am no longer useful."
The kid retorted angrily.

"There is a lot going on that you were kept from knowing. I think, if I am able to tell you, that you have a right to know about what is going on." He looked like wanted to say something else, but couldn't.

"I do not see him knowing about our enemies will harm us in either way mea filius."
Jeffry said with a sigh.
"But I am not so sure he will believe what you tell him you are right though he have a right to know who he is."
Your Mentor continued and Thomas glared at him and then back at you.
"Tell me what?"
He demanded.
"You have already claimed I am a clone of this Nephandus dude, if that is even true, what more is there?"

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Common Room]

Anja's Post:

'Quite right. "Yes, secret masters, we'll go back into our pens you made for us for we're too weak and stupid to protect ourselves!". Think a collective "fuck all of you" is more likely than that.'

[Basement]

Adley's Post:

Nicole removed the blades, dumping them on the floor. Then she frisked the prisoner, removing anything else from him.

Adley's Post:

'Actually meant that Union brass ain't the most... speedy of groups. They'll want to have meetings, evidence, Powerpoints... which would need us to explain the situation and provide a ton of evidence so they don't think it's all some "superstitionist plot". Assuming that we can even find somebody who has both the clout and the ability to listen.' Nicole replied without looking up, dealing with the prisoner. 'Way too slow. To the point of it being too late.'

Anja's Post:

'I'd be more worried about your debrief. You think the Internal Security people will trust you after your "release"?' Nicole said, not looking at the Technocrat.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Common Room]

Quite right. "Yes, secret masters, we'll go back into our pens you made for us for we're too weak and stupid to protect ourselves!". Think a collective "fuck all of you" is more likely than that.'

And yet quietly going back into their pens are exactly what people have been doing after 9/11 with every decrease in personal freedom being accepted with the promise of increased security, sure some protested yes, but hardly enough to matter."
Chris said simply.

[Basement]

Nicole removed the blades, dumping them on the floor. Then she frisked the prisoner, removing anything else from him.

You found a beat up old phone, car keys, a wallet, more knives, eight more knives of various sizes to be exact, an old fashioned Ipod shuffle, ear buds and several little bags of herbs.

Actually meant that Union brass ain't the most... speedy of groups. They'll want to have meetings, evidence, Powerpoints... which would need us to explain the situation and provide a ton of evidence so they don't think it's all some "superstitionist plot". Assuming that we can even find somebody who has both the clout and the ability to listen.' Nicole replied without looking up, dealing with the prisoner. 'Way too slow. To the point of it being too late.'

"Well ehm...the bureaucracy can get a bit bogged down at times I guess."
Thomas admitted.
"But that do not mean they are more likely to have under cover Nephandi, the Technocratic Union just likes to do things the right way."
The boy protested which made Jeffry grumble and the temperature in the hallway rose just a little bit.

'I'd be more worried about your debrief. You think the Internal Security people will trust you after your "release"?' Nicole said, not looking at the Technocrat.

"I ehm...well I...don't know the Void Engineers might and they might protect me from the standard procedures if someone have become compromised, we do look after our own."
Thomas muttered but he looked rather uneasy at the question.

[Warpmind]

[Steelhaven Basement]

"Yeah he was the one who found the lich. Hum now that we have both a boy lich and a girl lich could they like make baby liches if they wanted to?"
Bianca mushed and Miles sigh.
"I doubt that is how it works Miss Rozzo and also I would not make such speculations anywhere where Lady Crexia might hear you the woman might take offense and you do not want that."

Colin shook his head, "I'm not so sure Lady Crexia would take offense at that - but it might hit a sore spot; keep in mind liches are undead, which means, well..."
He gestured toward his stomach region, "The relevant organs no longer function. Oh, they might be superficially fully functional, but that's all. Hum, on another note, I could explain the lichdom ritual for you, in general terms, at a later time. It's... complicated and demanding, to say the least."

"No not Mr Tasselwell the one I am talking about is someone named Axel ehm...Albright or something like that...he said he was in the British military at the same time you where and met you during joint missions of the ehm...eh...RAF I think he said an the infantry or something."
The young Verbena said and she scratched her head.
"Or something like that."
You do remember Axel a medic who you had met a few times during joint missions, you did not know the man was a mage though.
"But yeah Flavian is the leader of the group from Golden Rose Sir that is correct. Mr Albright is from another Chantry."

His eyes lit up, "Albright? Bloody hell, when did he Awaken... no matter, yes, he's a competent medic; I flew him out to a couple of rescues. Good man, quick worker, very steady under pressure. I'd best have a chat with him, then..."
He shook his head, "Well, one thing at a time, let's get Freddy up to the infirmary so I can get vaccinated, and then I can safely leave her in trusted hands... Need to see the Chief, too."

((OOC: And in fairness, that argument would be quite appropriate for fighting the idea. But in either case, I believe my original scenario proposed an enthusiastic and wealthy Etherite to get the old girl out, possibly with supplemental funding from the Fleet - and that does put parts of the economic question into a very different light; if the Fleet only needs to provide, say, the drydock for the ship, while the anime afficionado fronts the materials for the rebuild, and what with all the viable automation, you might get away with as much as a 90% reduction in crew, and very little need for Awakened, or even Linear staffing. Well, except for the complement of seven small craft pilots and command staff. The problem with relying on lighter craft to swarm and destroy capital ships is that unlike at sea, a Nephandi battlecruiser won't sink if killed, unless it actually explodes, it can still slam into the middle of Concordia, and nobody wants that. Nephandi don't count in that regard. Something the size of the Yamato could, as pointed out earlier, interpose itself an shrug off the impact to save the city. It is a niche scenario, but honestly, I'd rather have preparation for that scenario and not need it, than the other way around. In "peacetime", the ship could always be rented out to people wanting to reenact their favorite Star Blazers scenes and such to offset operational costs. ))

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Steelhaven - Basement]

The lich gave you a very confused look as he looked at your phone he did not seam to fully grasp what that is and he said something in a language you did not understand, if Adley where paying attention he said.
"The boy's little brick glows."
Jeffry allowed a small smile though he mostly focused on keeping his aim on Thomas.
"Sodalis our young friend thanks you for your aid and apologize that it is so noisy and he want you to go with him to somewhere more quiet."
After that line in Latin the confused looking lich gave you a simple nod of acknowledgement and he let you lead him towards one of the smaller ritual rooms.

"It was worth a shot." Serge said to himself, chuckling a little as he lead the Lich to the ritual rooms. As he did so, he pulled out his notepad and began writing something down, taking intermittent glances at his phone to ensure he was writing it correctly.

Thomas sigh and gave you a bit of a look but he did not do much else he just looked scared and angry. You got to one of the small ritual rooms, it smelled slightly of candle wax. The lich hurried inside nodded and said something in Latin again that you did not understand.

When they entered the room, Serge took a deep breath in and began to daydream, assuming the persona he had adopted in the library. A great wizard with many notable achievement, one of which was the ability to understand latin.

Once the spell was finished he handed a page from his to the lich, figuring the lich would be better acquainted with the written word. On it google translated latin which roughly said, "I hope this is adequate. Let me know if you need anything else. I've cast a spell that will allow me to understand you properly."

(OOC: Mind 3 effect to understand latin.

Arete Roll: 2, 2, 6, 4 )

[Adley]

[Steelhaven - Basement]

"Disguise or no you had an infiltrator and yes while they might not immediately guess I am here all it takes in one more infiltrator and they will know, so no I do not feel much more safe here." Thomas muttered angrily.

"This one is not getting away and we will find out how he got in."

The young Void Engineer sigh as he dumped his bag down onto the floor. "Fine it is not like I have much choice since I do not want to get shot, how do you want me to hold my hands?" He asked bitterly.

He told him to put them behind his back and secured his hands and wrists so he wouldn't easily be able to get out of them even if he was flexible - Jace had been sneaky as this one seemed naive but he didn't put past the man to make his clone's body have advantages. He also recovered the bag and patted him down for anything else on him, especially since he was likely to try to escape now. It felt like arresting one of his own students.

"Yeah obviously you don't want me dead right now or your friend here or is he your boss? Would have just shot me on the spot, you want something from me, so what is it, information? Biological material? You said that enemy of yours is well is...that I am his clone, you are keeping me alive for something but I doubt that will last once I am no longer useful."
The kid retorted angrily.

"We don't want them using you for their purposes, like I told you before."

Actually meant that Union brass ain't the most... speedy of groups. They'll want to have meetings, evidence, Powerpoints... which would need us to explain the situation and provide a ton of evidence so they don't think it's all some "superstitionist plot". Assuming that we can even find somebody who has both the clout and the ability to listen.' Nicole replied without looking up, dealing with the prisoner. 'Way too slow. To the point of it being too late.'

"Well ehm...the bureaucracy can get a bit bogged down at times I guess."
Thomas admitted.
"But that do not mean they are more likely to have under cover Nephandi, the Technocratic Union just likes to do things the right way."
The boy protested which made Jeffry grumble and the temperature in the hallway rose just a little bit.

"It is a way that is more predictable, though as well which makes them easier to figure out their next moves. I'm not saying we're infallible obviously. And there are and were Nephandi."

Thomas glared at him and then back at you.
"Tell me what?"
He demanded.
"You have already claimed I am a clone of this Nephandus dude, if that is even true, what more is there?"

"I will tell you when this infiltrator is not in earshot, when I get a moment." By this point he was starting to sense a pattern with something going on with his voice and he frowned to himself.

'I'd be more worried about your debrief. You think the Internal Security people will trust you after your "release"?' Nicole said, not looking at the Technocrat.

"I ehm...well I...don't know the Void Engineers might and they might protect me from the standard procedures if someone have become compromised, we do look after our own." Thomas muttered

If anything his anger at them now would probably be a saving grace for him when he returned, he supposed. Perhaps he would avoid whatever was in store for those that were tempted, though he wondered if a bit more tempting might have gotten him to consider defecting for real. He waited for the others to contain the Nephandus, keeping an eye on Thomas as well. Now that the immediate threats were contained he could feel exhaustion creeping in again.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Steelhaven Basement]

Colin shook his head, "I'm not so sure Lady Crexia would take offense at that - but it might hit a sore spot; keep in mind liches are undead, which means, well..."
He gestured toward his stomach region, "The relevant organs no longer function. Oh, they might be superficially fully functional, but that's all. Hum, on another note, I could explain the lichdom ritual for you, in general terms, at a later time. It's... complicated and demanding, to say the least."

"So liches can't have babies? I guess that make sense if they are actually dead."
Bianca muttered.
"I would love to learn more about them, they are kind of freaky."

His eyes lit up, "Albright? Bloody hell, when did he Awaken... no matter, yes, he's a competent medic; I flew him out to a couple of rescues. Good man, quick worker, very steady under pressure. I'd best have a chat with him, then..."

"Yeah Mr Albright seam like a pretty okey dude, and he is an Adept so he have to have been a mage for a while right?"
The hedge witch commented.
"I don't know where he is right now though only that he asked about you Sir."

He shook his head, "Well, one thing at a time, let's get Freddy up to the infirmary so I can get vaccinated, and then I can safely leave her in trusted hands... Need to see the Chief, too."

"Dr Lee said that all was ready for her."
Bianca said then she frowned.
"More vaccines?"
She asked suspiciously as she helped Devon get the stretcher into place so you and the Etherite could lift Freddy onto it. Freddy for her part slept like a baby.

[Steelhaven - Basement]

"It was worth a shot." Serge said to himself, chuckling a little as he lead the Lich to the ritual rooms. As he did so, he pulled out his notepad and began writing something down, taking intermittent glances at his phone to ensure he was writing it correctly.

The lich went with you, he seamed glad to get out of the crowded corridor.

When they entered the room, Serge took a deep breath in and began to daydream, assuming the persona he had adopted in the library. A great wizard with many notable achievement, one of which was the ability to understand latin.

Once the spell was finished he handed a page from his to the lich, figuring the lich would be better acquainted with the written word. On it google translated latin which roughly said, "I hope this is adequate. Let me know if you need anything else. I've cast a spell that will allow me to understand you properly."

The lich took the note and read it then he nodded.
"I want to go home...I have my routine at home, I do not sleep but I make a cup of tea in the morning and then I work at creating new spells..."
And he proceeded to give a long list of his entire day, clearly this was a very static creature and the disruption to his routine had deeply upset him. It was hard to understand him, you understood modern Latin due to your spell but this creature spoke an older form, it was possible to follow his words but not easy. As the upset lich spoke you noticed all the puncture marks and blue bruises up his arms and realized that the blue steins on his robes was his blood, someone had badly treated the lich whatever had happened to him he was clearly traumatized.
"And two times a week Crexia come for tea that we do not drink. In the evening I teach classes then I study at night because I do not sleep, then in the morning I make a cup of tea that I do not drink using my little copper kettle...I miss my routine...I miss my little copper kettle, I miss my home."
The undead mage finished the long account of his daily routine.

"This one is not getting away and we will find out how he got in."

"Yeah well he was still here and do you really think you will get anything out of the creep?"
Thomas muttered.

He told him to put them behind his back and secured his hands and wrists so he wouldn't easily be able to get out of them even if he was flexible - Jace had been sneaky as this one seemed naive but he didn't put past the man to make his clone's body have advantages. He also recovered the bag and patted him down for anything else on him, especially since he was likely to try to escape now. It felt like arresting one of his own students.

The kid did as he was told, the problem was that he was a bit plump so to be sure he could not get out of the cuffs if given time you had to put them rather tightly around his wrists and bind his hands together so he could not pull one hand out at the time, this was clearly uncomfortable and Thomas winced but he tried to hide it out of stubborn pride. On the young Void Engineer's person you found his phone,wallet containing ten dollars and change, his student card, library card and credit card, a set of keys on a little space ship key chain, a napkin with a phone number on it, half a pack of gum and the shopping list for his interrupted dinner as well as a missing button from his blue jacket.

We don't want them using you for their purposes, like I told you before."

"Then you could have left me with my Mentor. I would have been safe there."
Thomas replied angrily.

"It is a way that is more predictable, though as well which makes them easier to figure out their next moves. I'm not saying we're infallible obviously. And there are and were Nephandi."

"Well we fight against the Nephandi as well, it is not like we like them."
The kid retorted.

"I will tell you when this infiltrator is not in earshot, when I get a moment." By this point he was starting to sense a pattern with something going on with his voice and he frowned to himself.

"Take him to the hobby room and make him as comfortable as possible, if you secured his fingers so he can not try to twist out of the cuffs make sure to secure him in a way so there are no strain put on his hands. I do not want to kid harmed he might not believe it but the plan is to release him once the Nephandi are dealt with."
Jeffry said as he lowered his weapon. Thomas looked at you sullenly. You noticed that as you had been speaking with the kid now all the doors in the corridor was open and Thomas' gravity ball came rolling down the broken floor as if pushed by unseen hands.

If anything his anger at them now would probably be a saving grace for him when he returned, he supposed. Perhaps he would avoid whatever was in store for those that were tempted, though he wondered if a bit more tempting might have gotten him to consider defecting for real. He waited for the others to contain the Nephandus, keeping an eye on Thomas as well. Now that the immediate threats were contained he could feel exhaustion creeping in again.

Thomas did not try anything, he looked around nervously, tried his bounds and immediately regretted it and winced.
"So ehm...what is going to happen to that old lich?"
He asked.
"Will he be helped back to wherever he belong and what is it that is wrong with him?"

[Warpmind]

[Garage]

"So liches can't have babies? I guess that make sense if they are actually dead."
Bianca muttered.
"I would love to learn more about them, they are kind of freaky."

Colin smiled thinly, "Immortality, but at a dreadful cost..."

"Yeah Mr Albright seam like a pretty okey dude, and he is an Adept so he have to have been a mage for a while right?"
The hedge witch commented.
"I don't know where he is right now though only that he asked about you Sir."

He shrugged, "Sounds quite probable. Then again, I've only recently managed to get more than a single Initiate ranking, myself, and I've only made Adept as an early promotion, after nearly 25 years. Everyone progresses at their own pace."

"Dr Lee said that all was ready for her."
Bianca said then she frowned.
"More vaccines?"
She asked suspiciously as she helped Devon get the stretcher into place so you and the Etherite could lift Freddy onto it. Freddy for her part slept like a baby.

He grimaced, "Yes, a special one... Bloody Wallace Jace made a gas that will eject someone's Avatar temporarily; most unpleasant, or so I'm told. Master Haagen devised a vaccine against it - an ingested shot that allegedly tastes horrible - and so if I want to keep my Avatar in place when going places the gas might be deployed, I had best have that vaccine first..."
He gently lifted Freddy out of the car and accepted Devon's help distributing her on the stretcher, then looked down at her for a few moments, "You know, Mr. Rembrandt - the husband of my umbral flight instructor - used a very convenient spell to get Freddy from the Westchapel infirmary down to the car. He levitated her, steadily and evenly... Pity I don't quite know how to pull that off, myself..."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Garage]

Colin smiled thinly, "Immortality, but at a dreadful cost..."

"Yeah I would not want to not be alive you know, I wonder why Lady Crexia and this boy lich did it."
Bianca muttered.

He shrugged, "Sounds quite probable. Then again, I've only recently managed to get more than a single Initiate ranking, myself, and I've only made Adept as an early promotion, after nearly 25 years. Everyone progresses at their own pace."

"Yeah I guess so Sir, I mean Master Sharaya is only in his early thirties and he is a Master of the Art."
The hedge witch said then she sigh and looked down.
"And some of us never managed to Awaken even with a powerful teacher guiding us."

He grimaced, "Yes, a special one... Bloody Wallace Jace made a gas that will eject someone's Avatar temporarily; most unpleasant, or so I'm told. Master Haagen devised a vaccine against it - an ingested shot that allegedly tastes horrible - and so if I want to keep my Avatar in place when going places the gas might be deployed, I had best have that vaccine first..."

"I guess that if you can swallow it then it is not so bad Sir."
Bianca muttered.
"Well fuck no...ehm sorry about swearing, I drank the swill and trust me I would must rather have an injection."
Devon exclaimed with a grimace.
"The only thing I have had that where worse where really sickly sweet cough syrup."
Bianca did not really look to convinced about this though.
"Well I guess you don't want your magick bits and bobs pushed out of you Sir."
She muttered and Mia gave a humfh.
"Magick bits and bobs...I will have you know...ehm...well I guess she is right that is actually what I am...allot of bits and bobs...never mind then."
The Avatar commented.

He gently lifted Freddy out of the car and accepted Devon's help distributing her on the stretcher, then looked down at her for a few moments, "You know, Mr. Rembrandt - the husband of my umbral flight instructor - used a very convenient spell to get Freddy from the Westchapel infirmary down to the car. He levitated her, steadily and evenly... Pity I don't quite know how to pull that off, myself..."

"Yeah that would have been useful Mr Wainwright."
Devon said as he handed you a blanket from the car to put over Freddy so she would not get cold.
"We should get going then, do you have your end Sir?"

[Warpmind]

[Garage]

"Yeah I would not want to not be alive you know, I wonder why Lady Crexia and this boy lich did it."
Bianca muttered.

Colin shrugged, "Far be it from me to speculate on the why, but it does seem that lichdom does offer some appealing aspects, such as an essentially indestructible, unaging body. It is a sort of immortality, though on the other hand, you rather get stuck at the time of, well, death... I can see why some might opt to do so, but it is certainly not for me. I mean, it would be an effective way to circumvent a nasty degenerative disease, for example."

"Yeah I guess so Sir, I mean Master Sharaya is only in his early thirties and he is a Master of the Art."
The hedge witch said then she sigh and looked down.
"And some of us never managed to Awaken even with a powerful teacher guiding us."

He smiled thinly, "Quite. Well, not to worry, I know of Linear Magi who can effortlessly give Awakened Magi a run for their money. Just look at Mr. Danbrock, for example - there are relatively few Magi in this chantry who can overcome him."

"I guess that if you can swallow it then it is not so bad Sir."
Bianca muttered.
"Well fuck no...ehm sorry about swearing, I drank the swill and trust me I would must rather have an injection."
Devon exclaimed with a grimace.
"The only thing I have had that where worse where really sickly sweet cough syrup."
Bianca did not really look to convinced about this though.
"Well I guess you don't want your magick bits and bobs pushed out of you Sir."
She muttered and Mia gave a humfh.
"Magick bits and bobs...I will have you know...ehm...well I guess she is right that is actually what I am...allot of bits and bobs...never mind then."
The Avatar commented.

He chuckled softly, "I think perhaps you hit a little too close to the mark there, Miss Rozzo... My Avatar is a little upset, in the 'it's true, but you didn't have to go an say it' sense... Hum, perhaps I should suggest a further refinement and compression of the vaccine to Master Haagen for, er, next time - those gel-filled capsules instead of a liquid we have to taste?"

"Yeah that would have been useful Mr Wainwright."
Devon said as he handed you a blanket from the car to put over Freddy so she would not get cold.
"We should get going then, do you have your end Sir?"

He flicked the blanket out over Freddy, hoping there wasn't anything too dirty on it, and covered her as best he could before getting a good grip on the stretcher, "Right, I've got it... What do you say, Mr. Miles, age before beauty?"

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Garage]

Colin shrugged, "Far be it from me to speculate on the why, but it does seem that lichdom does offer some appealing aspects, such as an essentially indestructible, unaging body. It is a sort of immortality, though on the other hand, you rather get stuck at the time of, well, death... I can see why some might opt to do so, but it is certainly not for me. I mean, it would be an effective way to circumvent a nasty degenerative disease, for example."

"I think I would prefer to die than to forever stay in some between life and death stage, but to each their own I guess."
Bianca said with a frown.
"But as I almost died today I have gained a new appreciation for the desire to stay alive."
She added with a sigh.

He smiled thinly, "Quite. Well, not to worry, I know of Linear Magi who can effortlessly give Awakened Magi a run for their money. Just look at Mr. Danbrock, for example - there are relatively few Magi in this chantry who can overcome him."

"Well that is true, but I think I still disappointed Amadeus when he had to send me to The Hag for training as he could not teach a hedge wizard himself."
The young Verbena replied and she kicked at something on the floor and looked rather sad over the whole thing.
"I guess it is what it is."

He chuckled softly, "I think perhaps you hit a little too close to the mark there, Miss Rozzo... My Avatar is a little upset, in the 'it's true, but you didn't have to go an say it' sense...

"Ehm...sorry."
Bianca said and Mia sipped her tea.
"Apology accepted."
The soul graciously applied.

Hum, perhaps I should suggest a further refinement and compression of the vaccine to Master Haagen for, er, next time - those gel-filled capsules instead of a liquid we have to taste?"

"That would make things allot better."
Miles grumbled.
"For now it is served in little glass bottles with cork stoppers and it really taste foul."

He flicked the blanket out over Freddy, hoping there wasn't anything too dirty on it, and covered her as best he could before getting a good grip on the stretcher, "Right, I've got it... What do you say, Mr. Miles, age before beauty?"

"Very well, I will take up the rear then...that being said it seams Miss Adlebloom find you handsome enough."
Miles said with a chuckle.
"I lived a few years with The Hag as my only company so my idea of what looks pretty have sort of sifted."
Bianca muttered.
"Ok I will stay close by in case a healer is needed then guys."

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Common Room]

Anja' Post:

'That's different. Known threat, leaders open and chosen by something kinda resembling democracy. A bit. Nobody likes to be manipulated, and the Union have been doing that for over a century.'

[Basement]

Anja's Post:

'And in this case, the "right way" would have got you killed. Don't say there ain't shit apples in both baskets.' Nicole replied. 'Who needs this many fucking knives?' tossing another from the prisoner's pocket and onto the floor.

Anja's Post:

'Only if they'd understood the threat and been willing to piss off their superiors if needed; what if the Fallen called in a favour from... erm, like a base commander who then ordered them to hand you over?' Nicole retorted getting off the floor with a grunt. 'Then we're at the "Union moves too slow" problem again.'

[Said Etherite would have to be very wealthy in Nodes, Tass and other resources too; for it could be said that an EtherYamato is the equivalent of perhaps a 300 - 400 point Wonder. And the amount of Etherites they'd have to pull off other jobs to work on the ship would be pretty disruptive to all the other projects too]

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Common Room]

'That's different. Known threat, leaders open and chosen by something kinda resembling democracy. A bit. Nobody likes to be manipulated, and the Union have been doing that for over a century.'

"Well we have also done that not revealing ourselves to the sleepers, and then I have a feeling they would rather choose the devil they know, who promise them security over a group that hangs with guys who can manifest fire from their fingertips."
Chris replied.

[Basement]

And in this case, the "right way" would have got you killed. Don't say there ain't shit apples in both baskets.' Nicole replied. 'Who needs this many fucking knives?' tossing another from the prisoner's pocket and onto the floor.

"Yeah that makes no sense lady, sure there are shit apples in both baskets however there is no less hard for one of you creeps to sell me out than it is for someone from my faction, it is harder in fact as I am a member of the Union while you guys owe me no loyalty."
Thomas replied sourly.
"He is probably a Verbena, they like knives."
Bruce grunted. The Nephandus glared at you as you took away his blades and he clearly wanted to insult you if he could.

Only if they'd understood the threat and been willing to piss off their superiors if needed; what if the Fallen called in a favour from... erm, like a base commander who then ordered them to hand you over?'

"And what if the Nephandi called in a favor from one of your Chantry leaders...ehm...eh Deacons? And he or she ordered you to hand me over? I am no safer here lady."
The Void Engineer retorted.

Nicole retorted getting off the floor with a grunt. 'Then we're at the "Union moves too slow" problem again.'

Bruce held down his hand to offer to help you up.
"The Traditions do not move any faster as you guys can never agree on squat!"
Thomas retorted.
"So while we might have a bureaucracy you guys are nine groups with hardly anything in common trying to play nice while disagreeing on everything, not really that much more fucking effective lady."

[Nicole Bouchard]

[Common Room]

Anja's Post:

'Heh. Personally... I think they'll reject both.'

[Basement]

Anja's Post:

'The right way would have had you killed 'cos by the time all the meetings and regs would have been done the Fallen would have already have hit you.' Nicole replied, waving away the proffered assistance.

Anja's Post:

'True. But if I remember right, that's his call-' nodding towards the Chief '-and doubt he'd hand you over to anyone, for the every point they might be being manipulated or traitor.'

Anja's Post:

Nicole looked at Thomas for a moment, then burst out laughing. 'You sank my battleship, man. But, in this case we've been working on this all day, am familiar with the one of the main players of this show and we all agree that it's gotta be stopped.'

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Common Room]

'Heh. Personally... I think they'll reject both.'

"Wonderful, torches and pitchforks for everyone."
Chris muttered sarcastically.

[Basement]

'The right way would have had you killed 'cos by the time all the meetings and regs would have been done the Fallen would have already have hit you.' Nicole replied, waving away the proffered assistance.

Bruce simply nodded and stepped away. Thomas glared at you.
"And by the time the Traditionalists are done arguing I will be snatched from a Chantry."
He grumbled.

True. But if I remember right, that's his call-' nodding towards the Chief '-and doubt he'd hand you over to anyone, for the every point they might be being manipulated or traitor.'

"Indeed my Chantrymate here is correct Mr Griffith, it is my call and I am not planning to hand you over to anyone, you will remain in our protective custody until this danger is over, then you will be released back to your own on neutral ground or anywhere else that you please, within reason."
Jeffry replied firmly the young Technocrat glared at him but he did not comment.

Nicole looked at Thomas for a moment, then burst out laughing. 'You sank my battleship, man. But, in this case we've been working on this all day, am familiar with the one of the main players of this show and we all agree that it's gotta be stopped.'

Thomas gave a hint of a smile at that then he sigh.
"But I came along willingly, I could have helped there is no need to tie me up and stuff me in a cell or what did you say...hobby room."
He protested.
"I am sorry Mr Griffith, I can not afford to take any chances, but you have my word you will not be mistreated."
Jeffry replied.
"And what when I do not cooperate or answer any questions?"
"Then so be it, we have no reason to force anything from you and thanks to my Chantrymate here and her team other than the restraints I do not foresee anything uncomfortable befalling you while you are our...guest."
"Some guest..."
"You can be angry young man you have every right to be, but it will not change things, let my apprentice know if there is anything you need."
Jeffry said and he nodded towards Adley.

[Warpmind]

[Garage]

"I think I would prefer to die than to forever stay in some between life and death stage, but to each their own I guess."
Bianca said with a frown.
"But as I almost died today I have gained a new appreciation for the desire to stay alive."
She added with a sigh.

Colin nodded, "The price of lichdom, though... to sever all connections, both to everyone you've ever known, and everything you are part of, and then chance that you've made all the proper preparations before killing yourself... It's a high-risk venture, and while the reward is accordingly, It's not worth it to everyone."

"Ehm...sorry."
Bianca said and Mia sipped her tea.
"Apology accepted."
The soul graciously applied.

He grinned, "She accepts the apology."

"That would make things allot better."
Miles grumbled.
"For now it is served in little glass bottles with cork stoppers and it really taste foul."

He nodded, "So I have been warned... Not the kind of shot I would normally associate with a vaccine, but what can we do?"

"Very well, I will take up the rear then...that being said it seams Miss Adlebloom find you handsome enough."
Miles said with a chuckle.
"I lived a few years with The Hag as my only company so my idea of what looks pretty have sort of sifted."
Bianca muttered.
"Ok I will stay close by in case a healer is needed then guys."

He grinned, "Yes, well, she may be biased, I suspect she loves me... And thank you, Miss Rozzo, I don't believe we will need it, but if one intruder has slipped by, you never know..."

((OOC: True enough, unless the Etherite in question is a major Primium mogul in his own right, it's probably going to be unfeasible. Then again, if he's one of the Society's primary suppliers of the stuff, he might be granted a little extra leeway.))

[Jeremy Silverstein]

[Steelhaven - Basement]

The lich took the note and read it then he nodded.
"I want to go home...I have my routine at home, I do not sleep but I make a cup of tea in the morning and then I work at creating new spells..."
And he proceeded to give a long list of his entire day, clearly this was a very static creature and the disruption to his routine had deeply upset him. It was hard to understand him, you understood modern Latin due to your spell but this creature spoke an older form, it was possible to follow his words but not easy. As the upset lich spoke you noticed all the puncture marks and blue bruises up his arms and realized that the blue steins on his robes was his blood, someone had badly treated the lich whatever had happened to him he was clearly traumatized.
"And two times a week Crexia come for tea that we do not drink. In the evening I teach classes then I study at night because I do not sleep, then in the morning I make a cup of tea that I do not drink using my little copper kettle...I miss my routine...I miss my little copper kettle, I miss my home."
The undead mage finished the long account of his daily routine.

Serge listened attentively to the lich recount his daily schedule feeling oddly similar to a grandson hearing his grandfather's stories. His eyes wondered as his mind struggled to translate the words he heard and as he noticed the wounds on the luchs body, a sadness filled him that Serge didn't let show on his face.

When the lich was done, Serge wrote his reply on another piece of paper. His spell let him comprehend all languages, but it wasn't refined enough to let him speak them.

The top of the note had a little drawing of the lich brewing tea in a floating copper kettle with magical flames he conjured from his hands, clearly Serge's interpretation of how the lich made tea.

Underneath the picture the note said in latin, "It sounds like a lovely routine. Hopefully we will be able to return you to it soon. Lady Crexia may still be at this chantry. If you want, I can go check and tell her of your arrival. Perhaps you two can talk over tea like in the past."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

[Garage]

Colin nodded, "The price of lichdom, though... to sever all connections, both to everyone you've ever known, and everything you are part of, and then chance that you've made all the proper preparations before killing yourself... It's a high-risk venture, and while the reward is accordingly, It's not worth it to everyone."

"That sounds like it really sucks, can liches have new relations though? After they have done the lichdom ritual or do they have to live alone forever?"
Bianca asked.
"Would it have been worth it to you Sir?"

He grinned, "She accepts the apology."

"She do...ehm good so you talk to her then like another person? What is that like?"
The hedge witch asked.

He nodded, "So I have been warned... Not the kind of shot I would normally associate with a vaccine, but what can we do?"

"Yeah well Master Haagen is an alchemist after all, what he makes is bound to be a little odd."
Devon said which again made Mia go humph! She did not approve of how he spoke about alchemy.

He grinned, "Yes, well, she may be biased, I suspect she loves me... And thank you, Miss Rozzo, I don't believe we will need it, but if one intruder has slipped by, you never know..."

"It is very clear from how Miss Adlebloom looks at you that she loves you Mr Wainwright."
Bianca said with a giggle.
"Yeah no problem I am here to help."
She commented as Devon nodded that he was ready to help carry Freddy upstairs.

[Steelhaven - Basement]

When the lich was done, Serge wrote his reply on another piece of paper. His spell let him comprehend all languages, but it wasn't refined enough to let him speak them.

The top of the note had a little drawing of the lich brewing tea in a floating copper kettle with magical flames he conjured from his hands, clearly Serge's interpretation of how the lich made tea.

Underneath the picture the note said in latin, "It sounds like a lovely routine. Hopefully we will be able to return you to it soon. Lady Crexia may still be at this chantry. If you want, I can go check and tell her of your arrival. Perhaps you two can talk over tea like in the past."

"Yes it is a good routine and I do not like change."
The lich said as he read your note he smiled just a little at your drawing then he looked up when he read that Crexia was here.
"You know Crexia...yes tell Crexia I am here please she always helps me...she can help me home."
He looked a little more hopeful as he begged.
"I want to go home..."

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