Re: Marcy's Blade, Molly's Fate and Massasa IC Thread 10

[Warpmind]

Colin put his cutlery down on the empty plate, "Right, then... That was delicious. Now, I'll just take this down to the mess hall again, and have that word with Chief Joakim, and then we see if we can join the trip to the post office?"

He got up, picked up his plate and teacup, and headed for the door, phone slipping back into a pocket.

[Adley]

"Ah I leave it to you then, old Hermetics are your job Adley." Freddy said and gave a smile.

"Just the old ones?" He sobered a bit. "You're not wrong about the timing, don't let me forget please."

"I will stay here and wait for Adjan and watch over Liv then." She said. "You know where to find me."

"Thank you," he said to her.

Colin put his cutlery down on the empty plate, "Right, then... That was delicious. Now, I'll just take this down to the mess hall again, and have that word with Chief Joakim, and then we see if we can join the trip to the post office?"

He got up, picked up his plate and teacup, and headed for the door, phone slipping back into a pocket.

"I can take the plates," he said, adding his own. "Finding the chief is more important," he offered, stacking his own onto it.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin put his cutlery down on the empty plate, "Right, then... That was delicious. Now, I'll just take this down to the mess hall again, and have that word with Chief Joakim, and then we see if we can join the trip to the post office?"

"If you are heading down to the kitchen Mr Wainwright could I trouble you for a glass of water while you are at it?"
Francesca said.
"I do not want to leave Liv in case she wakes up, I do not want her to wake up in a strange place alone."

He got up, picked up his plate and teacup, and headed for the door, phone slipping back into a pocket.

You get to the door outside the corridor was mostly empty, a old nun in black and white was airing out linen at the window in the end of the hallway, no one else where in this hallway right now.

"Just the old ones?" He sobered a bit. "You're not wrong about the timing, don't let me forget please."

Freddy grinned.
"I can take the young and nubile ones."
She joked.
"Honestly though you do know your own Tradition the best, and I will not let you forget about the timing."
The Virtual Adept said before she headed out the door.

[Warpmind]

Colin stopped for a moment, then nodded to Adley and put the plate and cup back on the tray, "Alright, you get the glass of water for Liv, too, then?"

He briefly arched an eyebrow at the nun - you don't see many of those nowadays; most orders have dropped the habit - and headed down to Joakim's office, knocking on the door.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

"Well two glasses of water then if you do not mind Adley, one for the girl, but really I could use something to drink myself as well if it is not to much trouble?"
Francesca asked politely.
"Though it is not necessary to bring it back before you are heading back up here anyway, I do not want to take up any of the precious little time we have with such a small thing."

The nun gave you a polite nod as you left the room and then continued with her task of airing out bed linen. You get to Joakim's office and knock on the door, the old hedge wizard soon answers and opens the door.
"What can I do for you Mr Wainwright?"
He asked.
"Come in."

[Warpmind]

Colin sighed, "I forgot to drop by with a piece of information last time I came by, I'm afraid..."
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, "It was rather a side note in the information we gleaned earlier - and I'm afraid it rather slipped my mind. There's an abandoned post office the Mercere use as a base... It has been compromised by the Fallen. Miss Aydoǧan had overheard miss Jerkins on the phone; and she caught that there was apparently some infiltration there. I understand there's a Mercere present who is a bit concerned with the situation, and that you're sending him home with an escort? I think that escort will need some expansion."
He frowned, "Oh, yes, and the cachobon of miss Jerkins' - the pommel stone works as a key to tell her, um, 'children' that the bearer is her. It will shelter one person from what I understand to be a substantial share of the guards at her Labyrinth. It's not much, but it could come in handy for anyone trying to breach that place. Those 'children' of hers are magic-eating, formless tentacled horrors, and I don't know if they can be destroyed outright..."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin sighed, "I forgot to drop by with a piece of information last time I came by, I'm afraid..."
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, "It was rather a side note in the information we gleaned earlier - and I'm afraid it rather slipped my mind.

"Ah well that is not a problem, there where allot of information to give, so what did you forget to tell me Mr Wainwright?"
The old hedge wizard asked as he indicated a chair for Colin to sit in as he took his seat behind his desk.

There's an abandoned post office the Mercere use as a base... It has been compromised by the Fallen. Miss Aydoǧan had overheard miss Jerkins on the phone; and she caught that there was apparently some infiltration there.

"Yes they took over an old post office, contracted the Verditius magi to craft it into a giant portal for them."
Joakim said then he swore.
"Damn it, are you sure, if the Mercere are in trouble that is...quite troublesome..."
The Security Chief swore.

I understand there's a Mercere present who is a bit concerned with the situation, and that you're sending him home with an escort? I think that escort will need some expansion."

"My my are not you well informed...yes a Mercere resident of Morningstar was concerned that he have not been able to reach the Post Office and one of the other messengers there who was supposed to meet him to deliver some mail he was taking on the next leg of the route did not show up. Hum...yes I am sending him with an escort the man can not use magick, if there are trouble I want him safe but if what you say is correct my good man then yes indeed increasing that escort might be a good idea."

He frowned, "Oh, yes, and the cachobon of miss Jerkins' - the pommel stone works as a key to tell her, um, 'children' that the bearer is her. It will shelter one person from what I understand to be a substantial share of the guards at her Labyrinth. It's not much, but it could come in handy for anyone trying to breach that place. Those 'children' of hers are magic-eating, formless tentacled horrors, and I don't know if they can be destroyed outright..."

"More of the creatures like the one I sent a team to destroy at the plaza apartment building? Damnation that is the last thing we need."
The old hedge wizard said then he sigh.
"Did the prisoner tell you about the cabochon? Do you think she was speaking the truth? Why would she do us any favors?"
The man asked, he sounded a bit skeptical.

[Warpmind]

Colin nodded, "I believe the claim to be accurate, yes. It seems the post office has been breached. It seems to me as though it is only that office, though, and not the Mercere as a whole... But if it was for a portal there, I don't suppose they needed anything more than that one location."
He smiled, "Well informed... Miss Adlebloom spotted the chap with red in his hair, and overheard something about communication problems and an escort - the extrapolation was a simple thing."
He cleared his throat, "As for the prisoner... I believe she told me the truth about the blade, yes. She's proud, and dedicated... but I don't think she is the outright deceptive sort. If there's something she doesn't want to reveal, she'll stay silent rather than try to mislead or redirect. And... she told me out of gratitude, I suppose. I treated her kindly and sincerely, like a human being. That goes a long way, when your future prospects are... bleak."
He smiled, "In her own way, she wished me well; that when my time goes, I go out in a blaze of glory, rather than whimpering in a corner. The onyx gem will protect only the bearer - and only from her children - so as she put it, that won't tip the scales significantly. Especially considering that they'll likely have numerous other defenses, equally unpleasant."
He cleared his throat, "I, ah, also asked the guard to arrange for some ointment for her fingers, possibly some better straps to tie them. The threads were digging into her skin, and that sort of unpleasantness would serve no-one."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin nodded, "I believe the claim to be accurate, yes.

"Hum...that is not good news...we will have to find out more about this, we need the Mercere to be able to do their job and to know messages sent with them are secure, there is a reason why one of the first targets of the Order of Reason where the Mercere Covenants and way stations."
Joakim said he looked quite concerned.

It seems the post office has been breached. It seems to me as though it is only that office, though, and not the Mercere as a whole... But if it was for a portal there, I don't suppose they needed anything more than that one location."

"Let us hope that the Mercere elsewhere are safe, and that this is an attack rather than an infiltration the last thing we need is for the Traditions to loose faith in the Red Caps."
The old hedge wizard said then he sigh.
"Yes the portal might be a target true, but if so would not a competent Virtual Adept be an easier mark than a whole Chantry, even if only a few of them have actual magick at their disposal?"

He smiled, "Well informed... Miss Adlebloom spotted the chap with red in his hair, and overheard something about communication problems and an escort - the extrapolation was a simple thing."

The Security Chief just nodded at this, the explanation did make sense.

He cleared his throat, "As for the prisoner... I believe she told me the truth about the blade, yes. She's proud, and dedicated... but I don't think she is the outright deceptive sort. If there's something she doesn't want to reveal, she'll stay silent rather than try to mislead or redirect. And... she told me out of gratitude, I suppose. I treated her kindly and sincerely, like a human being. That goes a long way, when your future prospects are... bleak."

"Well yes she do not have much to look forward to in her very short future."
Joakim said then he nodded.
"Very well but would you mind if I had the young member of House Verditius we have living here at Morningstar have a look at the cabochon, just to make sure it is safe?"

He smiled, "In her own way, she wished me well; that when my time goes, I go out in a blaze of glory, rather than whimpering in a corner. The onyx gem will protect only the bearer - and only from her children - so as she put it, that won't tip the scales significantly. Especially considering that they'll likely have numerous other defenses, equally unpleasant."

"The Fallen specialize in unpleasant so yes I suspect so and no it would not tip the scales much. I am inclined to believe the cabochon was a gift for your kindness towards her, but I still want to check it out to be sure...as for her well wishes..."
The Flambeau gave a bit of a smile.
"That is a honorable wish, it is better to go in in a blaze of glory if you are first going out at all."

He cleared his throat, "I, ah, also asked the guard to arrange for some ointment for her fingers, possibly some better straps to tie them. The threads were digging into her skin, and that sort of unpleasantness would serve no-one."

"Yes I should have taken care of that earlier, it slipped my mind, I do try to keep prisoners as humanely as possible, there is no use in lowering ourselves to the Nephandi's level now is there, I will check that it is done and make sure we get some better bindings for her hands."
He said and nodded.

[Warpmind]

Colin pondered for a moment, "A lone Virtual Adept might be simpler to attack directly - but the Nephandi seem to work more by cat's paws and guile before bringing down the hammer. A Chantry might be easier for the Fallen to infiltrate, to ripen for an unexpected takeover than a single Mage's personal defenses. Plus, the Mercere Chantry's portal is a single portal, but I'm guessing it would be a lot simpler to redirect its exit point than, say, that of a Virtual Adept with a half-dozen highly personalized portals..."
He shook his head, "Go right ahead; have it analyzed to your heart's content... It will, in any case, serve as an excellent litmus test for her truthfulness towards me. Plus, I suspect it will come in handier here than in Boston, and seeing as I don't think we'll have much to gain from a hasty intrusion into Abigail's Labyrinth before we head home, well..."
He nodded, then grimaced, "If I can't find a way around it, it looks like I will be blasted into oblivion in the brain of a Nephandi Battlecruiser after assassinating its Handler... You don't get a much bigger blaze of glory than that, though I should yet prefer to find a way to dodge the proverbial bullet... Well, I've got some twenty years to come up wit hsomething..."

[Adley]

Freddy grinned. "I can take the young and nubile ones." She joked. "Honestly though you do know your own Tradition the best, and I will not let you forget about the timing." The Virtual Adept said before she headed out the door.

"Some girls have all the fun," he said, shaking his head. "Well, if there's not time for that we might have to think of a plan B in a hurry, so thank you."

Colin stopped for a moment, then nodded to Adley and put the plate and cup back on the tray, "Alright, you get the glass of water for Liv, too, then?"

"Certainly," he agreed and put his hand out to take the tray.

"Well two glasses of water then if you do not mind Adley, one for the girl, but really I could use something to drink myself as well if it is not to much trouble?" Francesca asked politely. "Though it is not necessary to bring it back before you are heading back up here anyway, I do not want to take up any of the precious little time we have with such a small thing."

"Yes. But just in case I get tied up then here is the number for the Deaconess's aide. Of course it would be better to handle such matters ourselves but if you need anything else while we're busy, then you have someone to call on." He gave her the number and took the tray and cups, heading down to the kitchen for the washing up at a brisk pace.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin pondered for a moment, "A lone Virtual Adept might be simpler to attack directly - but the Nephandi seem to work more by cat's paws and guile before bringing down the hammer. A Chantry might be easier for the Fallen to infiltrate, to ripen for an unexpected takeover than a single Mage's personal defenses.

"You may be right, let us just hope they have not gotten any of the Redcaps on their side, we need to be able to trust them, after the Union starter monitoring phone conversations the messengers of the Order have been more important than ever."
Jeffry said and sigh.
"Well I guess we will know more once we have investigated the matter further."

Plus, the Mercere Chantry's portal is a single portal, but I'm guessing it would be a lot simpler to redirect its exit point than, say, that of a Virtual Adept with a half-dozen highly personalized portals..."

"The portal can be redirected, with the right arcane connections and coordinates it can take someone anywhere on Earth, though off course that costs in Quintessence and the talisman itself might break from Paradox. The Mercere have always been good with handling artifacts, often they have no magick themselves but do expect each and everyone one to have magickal items that they know how to use and exploit almost as well as an Verditus can do it."

He shook his head, "Go right ahead; have it analyzed to your heart's content... It will, in any case, serve as an excellent litmus test for her truthfulness towards me. Plus, I suspect it will come in handier here than in Boston, and seeing as I don't think we'll have much to gain from a hasty intrusion into Abigail's Labyrinth before we head home, well..."

The old hedge wizard nodded.
"Thank you Mr Wainwright, I do prefer to be sure when it comes to such things, I guess thinking about safety first comes with my job, or perhaps it comes with age, there is a reason why I have survived this long."
He said with a bit of a smile.

He nodded, then grimaced, "If I can't find a way around it, it looks like I will be blasted into oblivion in the brain of a Nephandi Battlecruiser after assassinating its Handler... You don't get a much bigger blaze of glory than that, though I should yet prefer to find a way to dodge the proverbial bullet... Well, I've got some twenty years to come up wit hsomething..."

"Hum...visions of the future Mr Wainwright?"
Joakim asked then he nodded.
"Well knowing when one is likely to die can be a burden, I would prefer not to know such things but rather live my life knowing I could die tomorrow or live another few hundred years, no one know know for sure. In either case though dying taking out a Nephandi battle cruiser is a good way to die, not even Flambeau the Founder could have asked for better."
He added with a bit of a smile.
"Living well and going out with a big bang taking one's enemies down as one go, there are far worse fates than that."

"Some girls have all the fun," he said, shaking his head. "Well, if there's not time for that we might have to think of a plan B in a hurry, so thank you."

Freddy grinned a bit.
"Well yes though not to much fun...Colin is still the one I have my eyes on the most."
She said with a giggle then she turned serious.
"Yes a plan B...hum...perhaps it would be possible to use the arcane connection or link between the missing Enforcer and Bee?"

"Yes. But just in case I get tied up then here is the number for the Deaconess's aide. Of course it would be better to handle such matters ourselves but if you need anything else while we're busy, then you have someone to call on." He gave her the number and took the tray and cups, heading down to the kitchen for the washing up at a brisk pace.

"Thank you...and I do not want to be to any bother."
Francesca said and took the note with the number and put it in her teddy bear purse.
"I do not foresee needing much. Liv will probably sleep through the night the little dear is exhausted, seeing that fight and getting rescued can be a bit much for a child, but if she wakes up she is a joy to deal with, though there are some language barrier, I only know a little bit of Latin, but unlike her father she is sweet and polite."
The Euthanatos said and smiled.

You get down to the cafeteria, the kitchen are behind the counter in the back of the room, a man in his mid fifties who was still good looking despite the gray in his short, well kept hair sat reading a newspaper and enjoying a cup of coffee in the back of the room, and a very pretty girl, perhaps in her early twenties with very long blond hair and wearing a dress with flower print sat cutting paper dolls out of a sheet of cardboard, there was clear from her expression and look in her eye that she was mentally handicapped, but while she might be challenged there was a kindness in those big blue eyes of hers and she looked up and gave Adley a big smile before she went back to her work of very carefully cutting the detailed dolls and clothing out of the cardboard her face the very image of concentration. Other than those there where no one in the cafeteria itself but at the counter that separated it from the kitchens you see the girl with the rainbow hair stand and wash the counter and everywhere else where food had been placed carefully, she looked up at you came in.
"Do you want me to take those for you Sir?"
She asked and nodded towards the tray with the dirty plates.

[Warpmind]

Colin nodded, "I'm fairly certain our little party will volunteer to assist - unless the vampires' home turf becomes too urgent a priority. I rather doubt that, seeing as we still try to figure out what we might do to them if and when we get there. Turning the node on their roof into a bonfire visible to Milwaukee is a trifle on the inadvisable side, even if it is feasible. Likely, it would anger the Union, the vampires, the Nephandi, the Traditions... possibly the werewolves, perhaps not the weresharks... though I'm not so certain about the last two..."
He pondered, "Anywhere on Earth... I don't suppose it would be possible to use it to yank two people from captivity, if we only approximately know where they are, and don't have a specific link to the individuals in question?"
He shook his head, "It gives me an idea, but I'll need to let it simmer for a bit, I think."
He grinned, "I don't know if you are familiar with the Society for Creative Anachronism, but I usually attend their fairs, in the guise of a silversmith. It usually gets me the opportunity for some custom work at slightly extortionate prices - but the clients never complain when they can watch a unique piece of jewelry being handmade... In any case, there's something some of the older fighters there like tossing around; 'Fight me if you wish, but remember that I am old, and that I am old for a reason.' No old, bold heroes, I suppose."
He smiled thinly, "The thing is, while certain elements of the vision have come to pass, verifying its likelihood of being an authentic prophecy, it ends as the St. Victoria's Blade and the Heart of Horizon open fire on the unshielded polyp in question... I should rather hope I can figure out a way to avoid the conflagration - getting blown up once is more than enough for several lifetimes - and bring the Handler's body back to solid ground. After all, that future Handler would be the reincarnation of a dear friend in the present... But, twenty years is plenty of time and no time at all... I might come up with something by then."
He frowned, "Wait, that might be it... a hop in time... It wouldn't need to be a long hop, either; just a matter of minutes... I need to study chronomancy a bit further..."
He shook his head, "Sorry, bit of a tangent; not an urgent concern - I'm going around too many stable temporal loops already; no need to add to it just yet."

[Adley]

"Well yes though not to much fun...Colin is still the one I have my eyes on the most." She said with a giggle then she turned serious. "Yes a plan B...hum...perhaps it would be possible to use the arcane connection or link between the missing Enforcer and Bee?"

"I think it could be possible, though we'll need to be careful obviously."

"Thank you...and I do not want to be to any bother." Francesca said and took the note with the number and put it in her teddy bear purse. "I do not foresee needing much. Liv will probably sleep through the night the little dear is exhausted, seeing that fight and getting rescued can be a bit much for a child, but if she wakes up she is a joy to deal with, though there are some language barrier, I only know a little bit of Latin, but unlike her father she is sweet and polite."

"She seems to be so, yes. Very well, I shall see you both as I can," he said, and headed to the cafeteria. He smiled back to the young woman cutting cardboard, her smile was infectious and he found it easy to smile back to her. He peered into the kitchen and saw the person attending to the kitchen duties and nodded to her. "Yes, thank you Mrs?"

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin:

Colin nodded, "I'm fairly certain our little party will volunteer to assist - unless the vampires' home turf becomes too urgent a priority. I rather doubt that, seeing as we still try to figure out what we might do to them if and when we get there. Turning the node on their roof into a bonfire visible to Milwaukee is a trifle on the inadvisable side, even if it is feasible. Likely, it would anger the Union, the vampires, the Nephandi, the Traditions... possibly the werewolves, perhaps not the weresharks... though I'm not so certain about the last two..."

"I would be glad for the help Mr Wainwright, we are expecting a man from Gary, he is one of our senior Quaesitor James Aleister Min's assistants when it comes to keeping the peace in the Tribunal so he is a man one can count on, I am sending him back with Jerome Lucas, the Mercere you asked about to check the Post Office out, if you and your party would like to join that investigation I am sure Mr Lucas and Mr Devereux will be glad for the help."
The Security Chief said.
"Now as for the Node, you would likely also piss of the Quaesitors and other Enforcers if you make such a display Mr Wainwright so I can not say it is advisable to do so."

He pondered, "Anywhere on Earth... I don't suppose it would be possible to use it to yank two people from captivity, if we only approximately know where they are, and don't have a specific link to the individuals in question?"

"I am no expert on this particular talisman Mr Wainwright but I seriously doubt it, usually teleportation require rather specific coordinates and a strong familiarity with where one is going, that os a strong arcane connection, the conditions you describe is doubtful to work."

He shook his head, "It gives me an idea, but I'll need to let it simmer for a bit, I think."

Joakim nodded at that but said nothing.

He grinned, "I don't know if you are familiar with the Society for Creative Anachronism, but I usually attend their fairs, in the guise of a silversmith. It usually gets me the opportunity for some custom work at slightly extortionate prices - but the clients never complain when they can watch a unique piece of jewelry being handmade... In any case, there's something some of the older fighters there like tossing around; 'Fight me if you wish, but remember that I am old, and that I am old for a reason.' No old, bold heroes, I suppose."

"I am afraid I do not know the group you are referring to Mr Wainwright...but however there are old men that are bold, but one also have to be smart, knowledgeable and have a fair amount of luck."
The old Hermetic said and gave a bit of a smile.

He smiled thinly, "The thing is, while certain elements of the vision have come to pass, verifying its likelihood of being an authentic prophecy, it ends as the St. Victoria's Blade and the Heart of Horizon open fire on the unshielded polyp in question... I should rather hope I can figure out a way to avoid the conflagration - getting blown up once is more than enough for several lifetimes - and bring the Handler's body back to solid ground. After all, that future Handler would be the reincarnation of a dear friend in the present... But, twenty years is plenty of time and no time at all... I might come up with something by then."

"St. Victoria's Blade I have heard of, the other ship not so much..."
Joakim said and smiles.
"I do hope you manage to find a way to escape death though Mr Wainwright and I do not think that the future is set in stone, I think we make our own destinies. A reincarnation of a dear friend of your...the Fallen Verbena at your Chantry then? I have heard some rumors of some ugly business happening in Boston to the Lady Philippa's niece, a young widderslainte girl apprenticed to a prickly old Druid over there...if you excuse the term."
He said with a bit of an apologetic look on his face.

He frowned, "Wait, that might be it... a hop in time... It wouldn't need to be a long hop, either; just a matter of minutes... I need to study chronomancy a bit further..."
He shook his head, "Sorry, bit of a tangent; not an urgent concern - I'm going around too many stable temporal loops already; no need to add to it just yet."

"That is quite alright Mr Wainwright though if you plan on a career time traveling you better get used to the feeling of Paradox backlashes and Quiets, reality are not to fond of such antics from Awakened mages."

Adley:

"I think it could be possible, though we'll need to be careful obviously."

"Yes and not to mention delicate, poor Beatrice to much magick done on her right now might scare her and she needs to rest."
Francesca said and sigh.
"And we do not want anyone to piggy back that arcane connection back to her."

"She seems to be so, yes. Very well, I shall see you both as I can," he said, and headed to the cafeteria.

"Very well I will see you then take care."
Francesca said as you left.

He smiled back to the young woman cutting cardboard, her smile was infectious and he found it easy to smile back to her. He peered into the kitchen and saw the person attending to the kitchen duties and nodded to her. "Yes, thank you Mrs?"

"Dorothea Muren Sir, I am apprenticed to Mirri the chef here at Morningstar...yeah I know, I know an Orphan taking apprentices but it is what it is. Anyway everyone just calls me Dottie."
The woman washing the counter said as she reached out for the tray.
"Just leave it here I will get the dishes cleaned with the rest."
She offered.

[Adley]

"Yes and not to mention delicate, poor Beatrice to much magick done on her right now might scare her and she needs to rest." Francesca said and sigh. "And we do not want anyone to piggy back that arcane connection back to her."

"Quite right," he said, then there was a flicker of something in his eyes as the start of an idea ran briefly through the back of his mind.

"Dorothea Muren Sir, I am apprenticed to Mirri the chef here at Morningstar...yeah I know, I know an Orphan taking apprentices but it is what it is. Anyway everyone just calls me Dottie."

"Thank you Mrs Muren, or Dottie as you prefer. It would be the height of rudeness for me to naysay your chef, as I have enjoyed her skills immensely just recently. Any apprentice of hers will be well-considered, I imagine," he said with a small smile. He held out the tray for her to take. "Thank you for seeing to these duties. Clean-up is an important one, even if not well loved by most. If you'll excuse me," he said, with a nod to her as he turned to head to the Deaconess's office, with measured haste.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

"Quite right," he said, then there was a flicker of something in his eyes as the start of an idea ran briefly through the back of his mind.

Francesca nodded, she said nothing as she did not want to disturb what you where thinking.

"Thank you Mrs Muren, or Dottie as you prefer. It would be the height of rudeness for me to naysay your chef, as I have enjoyed her skills immensely just recently. Any apprentice of hers will be well-considered, I imagine," he said with a small smile. He held out the tray for her to take.

"Thank you Sir, Mirri is a good Mentor, and while her methods might not fit in any given Tradition she is a good mage as well as chef, I will tell her your kind words of her food, that will please her."
Dottie said and took the tray.
"And yes I prefer Dottie."

"Thank you for seeing to these duties. Clean-up is an important one, even if not well loved by most. If you'll excuse me,"

"Well it is one of the things that needs to be done in a kitchen. Usually I have two hedge wizards that work in the kitchen in exchange for the opportunities a Chantry give to assist me, but this is their night off so here I am."
The young Orphan said and smiled.
"Well do not let me keep you, have a nice evening Sir."

he said, with a nod to her as he turned to head to the Deaconess's office, with measured haste.

Outside of Deaconess Rose's office you see Freddy on her way down the stairs with the tall, handsome Mercere she had been sent to find, the man looked quite worried though that took away nothing from the beauty of his face or the confidence of his step, he knew he could turn the head of most of the women in a room and quite a few men as well.
"Adley I found him."
Freddy called out to you sounding pleased with herself.
"This is Jerome Lucas, should I bring him to the Chief's office or did you want to talk with him?"
She asked. Jerome looks at you and gave you a polite nod in greeting and extended his hand once he had gotten down the last few steps of the stairs.
"Hello."
He simply said.
"Miss Adlebloom told me your group wanted to talk with me."

[Warpmind]

Colin grinned, "The SCA... It is a Sleeper organization. Essentially, they like playing dress-up as though it were the middle ages, and dine on such medieval staples as roasted turkey legs. Very strong on the anachronisms. But, the ones who dress up in armour to duel one another are some of the finest swordsmen in the world. Granted, the pool from which to pick is narrower every day, but they're at least keeping some of those old techniques alive."
He shook his head, "Of course you wouldn't have heard of the Heart... It's not finished yet. Which makes it all the more peculiar that I drew a very good picture of it and presented to the genius behind it; she recognized it on the spot. She'll be a beauty when she's ready, though; sleek, powerful, the first, and likely only battleship to be powered by a phylactery."
He frowned, "Yes, that business was nasty. The girl still lives, and she's on her way to recovery, but I'm rather afraid to think what might have happened had not I been the one to hold her, instead of Master Nassa. I wouldn't precisely call him prickly - especially not in his presence - but he rather does conjure up the image of a stubborn, old juniper on the stormy Scottish coast. Now that is a man who is old for a reason."
He blinked, "Wait, Lady Arden is Beatrice's aunt? That's something that didn't come up when we met..."
He shook it off, "In any case, I have little desire to do extensive time travel for myself... Though, it might be beneficial to be able to get a few extra hours of sleep in-between the battles. A little hop forward through a conflagration might be mostly pardonable, though..."

[Adley]

"Adley I found him." Freddy called out to you sounding pleased with herself. "This is Jerome Lucas, should I bring him to the Chief's office or did you want to talk with him?"

He looked around at Freddy and then the Mercere, his eyebrows raising slightly as he caught sight of him again before catching himself out and adopting his best game face. Hell, he was still very attractive...maybe more so than he thought at first (or not at first since there was still the lingering feeling of it being decades before). It was one thing when one got used to seeing everyone in your own chantry. Attractive or not, you got used to seeing them every day. There was no novelty factor to catch him off guard. But there was much more important things to worry about, such as why he looked upset and the post office's possible infiltration. He looked back to Freddy, "I think it would be prudent for Mr Lucas to meet up with the Chief."

She asked. Jerome looks at you and gave you a polite nod in greeting and extended his hand once he had gotten down the last few steps of the stairs. "Hello." He simply said. "Miss Adlebloom told me your group wanted to talk with me."

"Yes, hello." He looked at the man's hand and then reached out with his own to give it a shake. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr Lucas. Mr Roth Hicks, bani Flambeau. There is something my group wishes to speak with you about, though in quieter quarters. I will meet you at your security chief's office shortly if you don't mind? There is something I want to check on first but my cabalmate is there and he can help explain the matter," he replied.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin:

Colin grinned, "The SCA... It is a Sleeper organization. Essentially, they like playing dress-up as though it were the middle ages, and dine on such medieval staples as roasted turkey legs. Very strong on the anachronisms. But, the ones who dress up in armour to duel one another are some of the finest swordsmen in the world. Granted, the pool from which to pick is narrower every day, but they're at least keeping some of those old techniques alive."

"Well that certainly do sound like an interesting hobby. For me while I have fought with swords, I find a gun more effective these days."
Joakim said but he did add a bit of a smile.

He shook his head, "Of course you wouldn't have heard of the Heart... It's not finished yet. Which makes it all the more peculiar that I drew a very good picture of it and presented to the genius behind it; she recognized it on the spot. She'll be a beauty when she's ready, though; sleek, powerful, the first, and likely only battleship to be powered by a phylactery."

"Hum...the ship is a phylactery you say? Meaning the ship in effect is an Avatar, that is quite...interesting, one of the main problems with Umbra ships is getting them to carry enough Quintessence to fuel propulsion, shields, weapons, well everything, but an Avatar would have an endless supply right from the Pool itself...but creating such a thing? A marvel indeed."

He frowned, "Yes, that business was nasty. The girl still lives, and she's on her way to recovery, but I'm rather afraid to think what might have happened had not I been the one to hold her, instead of Master Nassa. I wouldn't precisely call him prickly - especially not in his presence - but he rather does conjure up the image of a stubborn, old juniper on the stormy Scottish coast. Now that is a man who is old for a reason."

"I am glad to hear the young woman will recover, I might not be to pleased over widderslaintes but if she have committed no crime save being born then punishing her seams somehow wrong."
Joakim said then he sigh.
"Well I think most mentors would be dangerous if the lives or more of their apprentices where on the line, I know I would go far to protect Thomas."
He muttered.

He blinked, "Wait, Lady Arden is Beatrice's aunt? That's something that didn't come up when we met..."

"Yes...or is it cousin...let me see if I remember this lineage correctly, Lady Arden's mentor is Reim the Wanderer or that is what they call her, they say she is one of those that originally escaped with the trait...ehm the Primus of Diedne Llewellyn, I do not know if that is true but there have been tales of her for a very long time, This Miss Beatrice...Alexander was it? Are apprenticed to Amadeus Nazza who was the last apprentice of oh what was the name...Geralius Halden I think his name was, who was apprenticed to Reim as well so yes it is aunt, grand aunt."
The old Flambeau said.
"I find keeping track of old and powerful magickal lineages can be useful at times."
He added as an explanation as to why he knew this.
"Beside the descendants of Diedne are not to fond of my House so keeping a bit of an eye on them can be prudent."

He shook it off, "In any case, I have little desire to do extensive time travel for myself... Though, it might be beneficial to be able to get a few extra hours of sleep in-between the battles. A little hop forward through a conflagration might be mostly pardonable, though..."

"Extending or shortening time generally are not a paradox magnet, but time travel is, that do not mean it have never been done Mr Wainwright, but I am told it is quite difficult, though I am no expert on it myself, and one have to be willing to pay the cost in Paradox, at least if one are Awakened."
He said with a bit of a wry smile.

Adley:

He looked back to Freddy, "I think it would be prudent for Mr Lucas to meet up with the Chief."

"Sure, I will head over there then and ask Mr Lucas to come along and then you can meet us there when you have spoken with Deaconesse Rose?"
Freddy asked then looked at the Mercere to see if that was ok with him and Jerome nodded.

"Yes, hello." He looked at the man's hand and then reached out with his own to give it a shake. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr Lucas. Mr Roth Hicks, bani Flambeau.

Jerome smiles, he had perfect teeth and warm brown eyes that light up as he smiled, you could be pretty sure he was used to get his way when he would just but smile.
"Jerome Lucas bani Mercere."
He said in greeting.
"It is nice to make your acquaintance Mr Roth Hicks, your group is from Boston right? I heard about you. My Mentor live in that city, Laisa Tarmen, perhaps you have met her."
He said and smiled again.

There is something my group wishes to speak with you about, though in quieter quarters. I will meet you at your security chief's office shortly if you don't mind? There is something I want to check on first but my cabalmate is there and he can help explain the matter," he replied.

"Very well, a man is coming from Gary, when he arrives I will be going back with him for there are things I need to check out, but until he is here I have time, I will see you at Joakim's office shortly then Mr Roth Hicks."
Jerome said politely before he nodded and went with Freddy to Joakim's door just bit further down the hall. Freddy knocked on the door.

Colin you hear a knock on the door and Joakim go to investigate, you see Freddy stand outside accompanied with a tall, extremely handsome black man with long dark hair worn in a multitude of thin braids with red yarn braided in. His face was finely sculpted and his eyes where dark and expressive, the white shirt and blue jeans he wore did nothing to hide the musculature of his body and was probably chosen for that purpose, a man that looked like him knew that his appearance was a weapon just as much as a gun and he knew how to use it. Freddy smiles to you as the Chief let her and the Mercere in.
Hi Colin, let me introduce the man I was looking for, Jerome Lucas."
She said. Jerome smiles to you and hold out his hand in greeting.
"Hello, Jerome Lucas Hermes bani Mercere...Gifted...sort of..."
He offered formally and smiled.

[Warpmind]

Colin smiled, "Of course a gun is more effective. But this is for show, yet they employ actual combat techniques, as opposed to stage fighting. It's quite impressive to watch two medieval juggernauts go at one another with three feet of steel... Obviously, there are waivers of responsibility to sign; while they pull their blows, accidents can happen."
He grinned, "Always a wise thing, to keep tabs on powerful people, friend and foe alike. And besides, I think Master Nassa might be softening his views on one or two Flambeau these days, in any case... Not that he would let you hear him say anything nice about the House, of course, but the clouds seem a little less stormy recently."
He pondered, "Old lineages... I don't suppose you have anything, by the sheerest of coincidence, on an old Welsh bloodline? Specifically, that of Morganna Le Fay? Presumably, she had a less... French name at the time..."
He chuckled, "Well, if it's a question between exploding in a five-mile fleshy pustule and getting a bit of paradox, I think the latter will be preferable."

He arched an eyebrow at Freddy as the two newcomers arrived, "Really, now, luv? I go to speak with the Security Chief, and you run off to find a pretty face?"
He winked, and nodded to the Mercere, shaking his hand, "Well met, Mr. Lucas. I'm Colin Wainwright, of Chantry Steelhaven Hall. I understand there's some trouble with your post office. I don't know how much you know, but... well, it seems the place has been infiltrated and taken by the Fallen."

[Adley]

"Sure, I will head over there then and ask Mr Lucas to come along and then you can meet us there when you have spoken with Deaconesse Rose?" Freddy asked then looked at the Mercere to see if that was ok with him and Jerome nodded.

"Good, thank you."

"Jerome Lucas bani Mercere." He said in greeting. "It is nice to make your acquaintance Mr Roth Hicks, your group is from Boston right? I heard about you. My Mentor live in that city, Laisa Tarmen, perhaps you have met her."

"Ah, Mrs Tarmen is your mentor? Yes, I have met her. She is a good woman."

"Very well, a man is coming from Gary, when he arrives I will be going back with him for there are things I need to check out, but until he is here I have time, I will see you at Joakim's office shortly then Mr Roth Hicks." Jerome said politely before he nodded and went with Freddy to Joakim's door just bit further down the hall. Freddy knocked on the door.

He nodded to them both. "Good then, if you'll excuse me," he said in turn and hurried off to the Deaconess' office and knocked on the door.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin:

Colin smiled, "Of course a gun is more effective. But this is for show, yet they employ actual combat techniques, as opposed to stage fighting. It's quite impressive to watch two medieval juggernauts go at one another with three feet of steel... Obviously, there are waivers of responsibility to sign; while they pull their blows, accidents can happen."

"I have killed and seen men killed with three feet of steel Mr Wainwright and I see little use in training with weaponry unless one are planning to actually use it. I keep my old skills sharp, sometimes a mundane weapon is faster than magic, at least for a second degree like me, but just for show? No that is not my thing but like I said I am sure it is a nice pastime for those who enjoy it."

He grinned, "Always a wise thing, to keep tabs on powerful people, friend and foe alike. And besides, I think Master Nassa might be softening his views on one or two Flambeau these days, in any case... Not that he would let you hear him say anything nice about the House, of course, but the clouds seem a little less stormy recently."

"I have seen the man at a Grand Tribunal once and once or twice on Horizon but I have never actually spoken with him so I only know him by reputation, nothing more, but it is good he is less hostile, we do not need to hang onto a war that happened a thousand years ago"

He pondered, "Old lineages... I don't suppose you have anything, by the sheerest of coincidence, on an old Welsh bloodline? Specifically, that of Morganna Le Fay? Presumably, she had a less... French name at the time..."

"Hum...I know there are some Verbena lineages, mostly among the Gardeners that comes from that region, I do not have specifics though the Gardeners do keep an archive of all the lineages, both by initiation and by blood that have been initiated into the Verbena and several of the groups that Lady Nightshade collected to form the Tradition in the early Renaissance, your best bet is to contact them and see what information they will give you, or have someone contact from for you, I am sorry to say and I mean no offense but the Gardeners of the Tree are notorious for not liking Orphans, though not all of them will discriminate, Lady Arden generally are rather progressive for example, that faction are highly conservative and traditional for good and bad."

He chuckled, "Well, if it's a question between exploding in a five-mile fleshy pustule and getting a bit of paradox, I think the latter will be preferable."

"Yes well I would tend to agree with that choice Mr Wainwright, if I got Paradox that is."
Joakim said with a bit of a wry grin.

He arched an eyebrow at Freddy as the two newcomers arrived, "Really, now, luv? I go to speak with the Security Chief, and you run off to find a pretty face?"
He winked,

"Something I have to do to entertain myself love."
Freddy said then she gave you a warm smile.
"I prefer your face though."
She said and there was no hint of joking in her eyes, just a warm fondness as her eyes lingered on you for a moment before she stepped out of the way so Jerome could greet you and say hello.

and nodded to the Mercere, shaking his hand, "Well met, Mr. Lucas. I'm Colin Wainwright, of Chantry Steelhaven Hall. I understand there's some trouble with your post office.

Jerome had a strong handshake but as you mentioned the post office he got a worried look in his eyes.
"You understand correctly Mr Wainwright, my contact that I am waiting for to get the letters I am delivering for the next leg of our network is late...and he is never late, first of all my House do try to be speedy in our deliveries and dependable but also we rescued James from the Technocracy, he was one of their Sleeper agents, against his will, you could set your clock by the man he would not be late unless something had happened and when I tried to contact the Post Office there is no reply...something is wrong, James being late and the Post Office not picking up the phone, there is no way that would happen unless something was amiss."
He said in a worried tone of voice.

I don't know how much you know, but... well, it seems the place has been infiltrated and taken by the Fallen."

"Fuck!...ehm sorry...are you sure?"
Jerome said and looked quite horrified.
"Ok that is it I am going over there!"
He said and begun to move towards the door.
"No you are not, I will not have you storm in alone and getting yourself killed Jerome."
Joakim said and the Mercere turned angrily.
"I am not helpless Joakim, I have my talismans."
The Security Chief sigh.
"I know you are not helpless my friend I never said you where, but we do not know the situation, it would be foolish even for one of our Archmagi to go in alone not knowing the situation, wait for Jack to get here, then go and find out what is happening, if the Nephandi have the Post Office will just leave Daniel without a Mentor, now settle down, I know we once shared House and you still have fire in your blood Sodales but this time you need to think before you leap."
Joakim advised and Jerome sigh.
"I know...I know but I just do not want to sit on my ass while my friends might be in trouble over there!"

Adley:

"Ah, Mrs Tarmen is your mentor? Yes, I have met her. She is a good woman."

"Yes she is and she is a good woman."
Jerome said fondly.
"My delivery routes do not usually go by Boston though so there is not that often I get to see her. I hope she is well. Her apprentice and mine keep in contact through letters though, I hear young Hank is taking collage classes now, his improvement is most encouraging. But I am taking up your time Mr Roth Hicks we will meet up at the Chief's office. However would you do me the favor of giving my Mentor and young brother my regards if you should happen to see them when you return to Boston."
The Mercere asked with another warm smile.

He nodded to them both. "Good then, if you'll excuse me," he said in turn and hurried off to the Deaconess' office and knocked on the door.

The door was opened by a fairly plain looking young woman, she had blond hair in long curls and wore a singlet under a long open shirt over a pair of blue jeans, she looked like she might be in her late teens or early twenties and there was nothing really noteworthy about her before she looked up at you and you can see that her eyes where hematites...actual hematites, just all black, metallic sheen stone.
"A visitor Mentor."
The girl said and she gave you a smile.
"Ah send him in Jennifer, I think that is enough of a lesson for today anyway, you may go and have the evening of dear."
Came Madeline Rose's voice from withing the office and the girl named Jennifer smiles.
"Thank you Mentor."
She said before she turned to you.
"Please come in Sir..."
Jennifer said and moved out of the way, her stone eyes following you for a moment before she went into the office to collect a few books, she curtsy to her mentor and then to you before she muttered.
"Good evening Mentor...and to you to Sir...if you excuse me."
She said sounding a bit shy before she hurried out of the office and closed the door behind her.

Madeline look at you and gave you a nod.
"What can I do for you Mr Roth Hicks? If you are here to collect the papers you wanted about Dylan, I have prepared copies of them."
She said and took a large brown envelope out of her desk and handed it to you.
"Also please excuse my apprentice, she is a hard working child, but she is shy around strangers."

[Adley]

"My delivery routes do not usually go by Boston though so there is not that often I get to see her. I hope she is well. Her apprentice and mine keep in contact through letters though, I hear young Hank is taking collage classes now, his improvement is most encouraging. But I am taking up your time Mr Roth Hicks we will meet up at the Chief's office. However would you do me the favor of giving my Mentor and young brother my regards if you should happen to see them when you return to Boston."

"I shall certainly do so, if I have the opportunity," he agreed. He hoped that his mentor was doing well enough despite what was going on, and Hank as well. Yes, this man was dangerous and distracting in a completely different way than the pain and the shards on the path of his Seeking. It struck him as he headed to the office that he hadn't even thought to associate the red in his hair with the redcaps, which should have been a give away if he had not been distracted and exhausted at the time.  It was a good cover, that mask he wore.

She said before she turned to you. "Please come in Sir..." Jennifer said and moved out of the way, her stone eyes following you for a moment before she went into the office to collect a few books, she curtsy to her mentor and then to you before she muttered. "Good evening Mentor...and to you to Sir...if you excuse me."

He stepped inside with a thank you and a nod to the young woman. She seemed uncomfortable, and he did not want to upset her with questions. So he simply closed the door as she departed.  This was a chantry with many interesting individuals, it seemed. He wondered if Dylan had been here, of course many of the people were bound to be different.

"What can I do for you Mr Roth Hicks? If you are here to collect the papers you wanted about Dylan, I have prepared copies of them." She said and took a large brown envelope out of her desk and handed it to you. "Also please excuse my apprentice, she is a hard working child, but she is shy around strangers."

"There is nothing to apologise for," he assured her. "I would like to see them yes," he began. "I have a question, related to that...I know you said that the labyrinth was raided. Was it destroyed, was the caul, do you happen to know?"

[Ashan101]

(OOC sorry been gone.. .more life and computer issues.. .trying to catch up now)

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