Re: The Mirror Man, Nicolai's Plans and The Grimoire IC Thread 11

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

The woman looked at you, her eyes where somewhere on the olive spectrum but it was hard to tell if they where brown or greenish, she was no great beauty, her hair was shoulder length and practical, her nose was narrow and her lips thin, she wore expensive tailored clothes, a knee length black dress and a colorful silk scarf under a long, gray coat. The blonde woman hesitates for just a moment as she considered if she would have the time to shoot you before you could pull the trigger, then she seamed to come to the conclusion that no that was unlikely and she dropped her gun to the floor.
"Run Elias."
She said to her companion, and the dark skinned man hesitated and then he ran, it was clear though he did not want to leave the blonde woman behind.

Rosario looks at you and ready her crossbow as if she was asking if she should take a shot at the running man. Adjan pulled his own weapon and you saw Qeb's hands, small enough to remind you of Beatrice's little firsts shape sigils as he got ready to fight if he had to.

[Warpmind]

Colin smiled thinly giving Rosario a brief nod, "Stay right there, Elias. Running with a narrow through the knee is difficult in any case. Even worse through the lung."
He looked down at the woman, "So, tell me, miss... Are you two of Abigail's group?"

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Elias continued running and he was fast, very fast, vulgarly fast, Rosario leaned out of the car and took aim, despite the dark skinned man's speed her shot was good and she hit him right in the knee. Elias was sent to the ground as his blond friend gasp, and yet the fleeing man had been knocked of his feet by it's sheer force of the arrow it did not penetrate his skin, nor did it seam like his bones had been broken by the tumble he took when he suddenly lost his footing at that speed, Rosario cursed in a rather ladylike manner and fired of another shot at the man to keep him down as he was struggling back up to his feet, she hit him in the shoulder and knocked him of his feet again but again he did not seam to be injured.

"Who the blazes are this Abigail you speak of Sir?"
The blond woman said glaring at you.
"Stop this, stop trying to injure my partner...please..."
She sounded rather desperate.

[Warpmind]

Colin arched an eyebrow, "Not Nephandi, then? Who... are you?"
He nodded to Alex, "Quick, get Elias over here and see to his injury... if we just made an embarrassing mistake, healing him is the least we can do to make amends."
He held his gun leveled at her, but loosened his grip on the trigger ever so slightly.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Alex nodded he hurried out of the car and rushed over to Elias who where getting to his feet, Adjan hesitated then he rushed after Alex, it was best not to leave anyone on their own with these two strangers.
"My name is Primrose Lillian...of the Syndicate, he is Elias Jefferson of the Progenitors, we are with the Technocratic Union...and from how that Arab boy is holding his hands he is a Hermetic that makes you part of the Traditions am I right?"
The blond woman asked.
"No we are not Nephandi, but we have detected increased activity among the Fallen and got strong readings for corrupted willworking in this area and came to check it out, we mean you no harm Sir...not this time."

[Warpmind]

Colin frowned for a moment, then flicked the gun's safety back on and pocketed the pistol again, "Ah, in that case... a truce is in order, for the interim. I'm sorry about the confrontation, but I expect you would have done pretty much the same in our situation? I, er, don't suppose your colleague has a dose of his faction's regenerative serum with him?"
He sighed, "You are right, there was a Nephandi attack here - we obliterated the group of attackers. Unfortunately, they apparently have a second strike force on standby; that group could arrive at any moment. Er, one moment..."
He fished out his phone and called Adley, "Ah, we're right outside, and we found a small... complication. Two agents, not hostile. Bring them inside for a debrief, or come out and chat?"

[Adley]

"I will do that." Jones said then he sigh. "I am sorry for being difficult Sir, it is just that my House have very strict routines when it comes to how we handle mail, that is to ensure everyone's safety. "I will take this straight to Chief Joakaim and ask him to put it in a safe place until it can be delivered.

"That might be true but that is also why it is making this the most -unsafe- option!" he said, his frustration eking out of his voice. He had yet to give him the box, his hand wrapped around it was starting to sweat. He knew what was in there. "If they know the routine, and they do, they can use the routine, and they already did and we know the system is compromised, then why continue to do exactly what they're expecting at every following step? Surely there must be some contingency for this sort of event."

If there was no adaptation from the routine allowed under cases of extreme need then the system would be fragile, just the right touch from the inside to push it and he could see how far the Nephandi could make them fall - one tight and strict enough to strange themselves with but it had also held the Traditions together this long. The longer he held the box, the closer he was to the grimoire, the more he felt there was only one person he wanted to entrust this box to for any length of time - Narim. That man had not lost anything he'd ever given to him or himself and he always brought things home where they were supposed to be.

You phone ping again this time with the message from Colin..

"Are the bits of the Twin Lights of Morning secured? We are incoming; Adjan, myself, and three Morningstars in a green van."

He picked his phone out and looked at the message, giving another annoyed sound. Much as he was glad his cabalmate was on his way he was more than irritated that he was carelessly throwing about names blatantly. He typed back a simple hurry be careful since he did not have time to tell them much else and then looked outside of the vault for Jerome.

He fished out his phone and called Adley, "Ah, we're right outside, and we found a small... complication. Two agents, not hostile. Bring them inside for a debrief, or come out and chat?"

"Fucksake," he said, sounding harassed. "There are two Technocrats outside," he told the others. "Ours are outside sitting on them, says they are not hostile...but that might be just because they got caught with their pants down...dammit..." He typed back do not bring them in here. need to leave clear way to the cars

// Is there anything that Adley would know about this that would make it legal to extricate this bit of mail from the system, at least temporarily?

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin:

Colin frowned for a moment, then flicked the gun's safety back on and pocketed the pistol again, "Ah, in that case... a truce is in order, for the interim. I'm sorry about the confrontation, but I expect you would have done pretty much the same in our situation? I, er, don't suppose your colleague has a dose of his faction's regenerative serum with him?"

"Very well Sir, a truce for now then."
Primrose said and nodded.
"Yes we would have done the same, so no hard feelings about that. I suspect Elias have some of his serums on him at least exactly which ones I do not know though."

He sighed, "You are right, there was a Nephandi attack here - we obliterated the group of attackers. Unfortunately, they apparently have a second strike force on standby; that group could arrive at any moment. Er, one moment..."

"I see, well the Fallen have been more active lately, I have been trying to track them but they seam to be all over the place."
The Technocrat said, she glanced at Adjan and Alex as they brought Elias over to them, the tall, dark man seamed surprisingly unhurt he had a few superficial scratches and scrapes but the arrows had not been able to penetrate his skin properly and he seamed to be fine.
"Are they Fallen?"
He asked his partner and she shook her head.
"No they are Traditionalists, they say they are here for the same thing we are, tracking the Fallen."
Primrose said.
"Are you alright Elias?"
She asked and he nodded before he glanced over at Colin and the others, he looked apprehensive and alert but not directly hostile just yet.

Adley:

"That might be true but that is also why it is making this the most -unsafe- option!" he said, his frustration eking out of his voice. He had yet to give him the box, his hand wrapped around it was starting to sweat. He knew what was in there. "If they know the routine, and they do, they can use the routine, and they already did and we know the system is compromised, then why continue to do exactly what they're expecting at every following step? Surely there must be some contingency for this sort of event."

"I agree it is dangerous and that our enemies will expect us to continue trying to deliver the package, and yet we have to deliver the mail, there is a fail safe, our deal with several Chantries to provide us with an escort if we need it to get something dangerous delivered. Now like I said I will speak with Lydia once we get to Morningstar and she can bring the matter before our Primus, but that is the only thing I can do, there are very few other options. My House have an excellent track record when it comes to getting our deliveries done though and we will manage this time as well."
Jones said proudly then he sigh.
"What do you suggest then Sodalis? That we do with the package until it can be delivered?"
The young Mercere said glanced at you.
"I do not mean to be difficult but we put our honor in getting what we are entrusted with delivered where it is supposed to go.

"There are two Technocrats outside," he told the others. "Ours are outside sitting on them, says they are not hostile...but that might be just because they got caught with their pants down...dammit..."

"Well that is the last thing we need."
Jacob said as he came out of the wash room his task completed.
"One more factor to deal with, my suggested is to knock them out and just leave them, we do not need to deal with the Union right now, we have more than enough with the bloody Nephandi."

About that time you felt Allasor and his brother become uneasy and then you heard their feelings turned into words by your own mind.
"One such as us is here but it is decaying and destructive, do you want is to stop it?"
Allasor said.
"It is small an unimpressive, and yet it do not belong here..."

(OOC: You can make a Intelligence plus Mage Lore diff 8 roll if you want to see if Adley can come up with any solutions.)

[Warpmind]

Colin gave Elias a quick nod, and a wave with his free hand to show that he was not in a fighting mood right now, "There was one infestation here, we're expecting a second... Please, call me John Steed."
Turning back to Adley on the phone again, he spoke softly, "We have a truce with them for now; they came to check out the Fallen. We'll wait outside; want us to bring the other cars closer to the building, rather than leave them in the other lot?"

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin gave Elias a quick nod, and a wave with his free hand to show that he was not in a fighting mood right now, "There was one infestation here, we're expecting a second... Please, call me John Steed."

Elias raised an eyebrow at the name you gave then he nodded.
"Very well Mr Steed."
He said then he looks towards the Post Office.
"The increased activity of the Fallen lately is quite worrisome, another infestation you say? That is not good."

(OOC: I think Adley sent a text to Colin I do not thin he actually called him)

[Warpmind]

((OOC: Colin called Adley. I'd assumed Adley didn't just hang up the phone and text back. ))

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

(OOC: Oh oops me that misunderstood then sorry.)

[Adley]

// oh whups my bad I thought Colin texted him - though depending on the phone/carrier you don't have to hang up to text a reply back so maybe not a big deal xD I'll give the dice roll when I get off in a couple, busy work day : )

[Tane Karyak]

Friday:

They're mages. You know how difficult it's to change what one belives. But they're leaving a lot of people behind that has come to us, that means they're trying to made it up for all the people they've screwed. I mean... i don't think they're evil, they're too tied up in what they belive...

Something you have to know about Shapeshifters or Fera as they call themselves is that every breed has a purpose. Coawa's people, the wereshark, were the first to appear, as fish where the first to appear in the world, and they have the mission of surviving. That's why he wanted to breed with you, to grow their numbers. Not every spawn with him will become a Fera, most will be normal, or even half-bloods. Henrietta's beyonce was a healer, he tended the wounds of anything alive for the good of the world itself. Werewolves are the warriors, thet's why they're so vioent, and the others... well, i know just that.

Saturday:

Ok, i'll come on monday with her. Can i ask for a contact number?

[Adley]

:...but that is the only thing I can do, there are very few other options. My House have an excellent track record when it comes to getting our deliveries done though and we will manage this time as well..."What do you suggest then Sodalis? That we do with the package until it can be delivered?"

"Your diligence is not in question." There wasn't time to have an argument either, that much he knew. And, though often enough not much good came out of experimentation on bits of people, especially ones with particularly unique characteristics and histories, there may yet have been a good reason to send this bit of Heylel that he was not aware of; but if his Seeking and those flashes of memories had shown him anything it was that this was extremely important. That it was related to the grimoire and the Nephandi could not be allowed to have that hint to it; it was supposed, at some point, to be with him. Or so that voice had said. He needed time to unravel it before it fell into hands that would misuse it. All he could recall of the Seat of Life was that they were Verbena if he recalled and that they had not been sure which way she might vote on Beatrice's situation.

"Well that is the last thing we need." Jacob said as he came out of the wash room his task completed. "One more factor to deal with, my suggested is to knock them out and just leave them..."

Turning back to Adley on the phone again, he spoke softly, "We have a truce with them for now; they came to check out the Fallen. We'll wait outside; want us to bring the other cars closer to the building, rather than leave them in the other lot?"

"We need to get rid of them and get out of here now," he said to Colin. "Need it to be clear..." He suddenly paused as he felt the elementals becoming restless.

"One such as us is here but it is decaying and destructive, do you want is to stop it?" Allasor said. "It is small an unimpressive, and yet it do not belong here..."

'Where is it positioned? he asked, frowning. To the others he said, "I think our time is up, there's an entropy spirit that should not be here close by, we need to get ready to leave. Now. It might have felt the portal effect or its spying to check up on things, or something else." Between this thing and the Technocrats Adley wanted to clear the hell out of the place before it became a deathtrap or another warzone.

// Were Jerome and Magda back yet when Adley looked out in my previous post?
Int+Trad/OoH lore: 6, 5, 7, 8 - one success

[Warpmind]

Colin frowned, then nodded firmly, "Very well, Adley - I'll see if we can get things ready to roll fast, then. Hm... How long do you need to clear the building?"
He hung up with a serious expression, and looked at Qeb and Rosario, "Right, evac time. Can you two clear the cars I mentioned, if possible get them over to the post office? Hotwire if necessary, but at least make sure there're no obstructions around them?"
Turning to Alex, he added, "And get us closer to the office, as well."
Turning back to the Technocrats, "Er, yes, I'm sorry, but orders are orders - it seems I have to ask you to leave. Again, sorry about the leg, though you seem a hardier sort than most, sir."
He pondered, "However, you might yet help us strike a harsh blow to the Fallen... We're expecting a secondary strike team of six once they realize they lost the building. If we can get clear before they arrive, I expect you should see another spike in corrupted magic on the premises - emerging from the Umbra, that sort of thing... I don't suppose you have the option of calling in an airstrike on short notice?"

((OOC: Consider the box demolished and the warranty voided with extreme prejudice? ))

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Tane:

Friday:

They're mages. You know how difficult it's to change what one belives. But they're leaving a lot of people behind that has come to us, that means they're trying to made it up for all the people they've screwed. I mean... i don't think they're evil, they're too tied up in what they belive...

"Evil is a pointless word, it is completely relative to the ideas and morality of the person you are talking with."
Henrietta said and looked angry.
"No the Union think they are doing the right thing by exterminating us all, they think it is the only way that humanity can be kept safe, but in their narrow mindedness they are the ones doing the harm."
She muttered as she peeled potatoes with a vengeance.
"And they have to be taken down."

Something you have to know about Shapeshifters or Fera as they call themselves is that every breed has a purpose. Coawa's people, the wereshark, were the first to appear, as fish where the first to appear in the world, and they have the mission of surviving. That's why he wanted to breed with you, to grow their numbers. Not every spawn with him will become a Fera, most will be normal, or even half-bloods.

Lily blushed when you spoke about breeding. Coawa glanced at you and nodded.
"My spawn with any of these women would not be fera, unlike the others we can not get Rokea offspring to human mothers or fathers but my offspring with a human would become a Kadugo who in turn can have Rokea offspring. I am much more likely to spawn one such as myself with a shark but I want to spawn with a mage to produce a Kadugo with magickal powers, someone powerful and fit for survival."
He explained which did not make Lily blush less but Henrietta grinned a little.
"It is not a bad plan."
She said.
"Not from the point of view of survival."

Henrietta's beyonce was a healer, he tended the wounds of anything alive for the good of the world itself. Werewolves are the warriors, thet's why they're so vioent, and the others... well, i know just that.

Henrietta looked sad and nodded. Alessa looks at you for a moment.
"The Weaver have a daughter, Queen Ananasa, my kind where born to serve her and in that keep the world stable, we are here to steady the world and keep it in existence."
She said and smiled proudly, Coawa gave her a bit of a glare at how close she was to the Weaver but said nothing.

Saturday:

Ok, i'll come on monday with her. Can i ask for a contact number?

Dorothy nodded she scribbled down two numbers on a piece of paper she found in her pocked.
"Very well Mr Karyak and thank you, this is the Chantry's landline and my personal number."
She said and handed you the note.

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Adley:

"Your diligence is not in question."

"I know you are not saying that my House is not diligent the problem is that if we do not deliver the packages we have been given what would we be then?"
The Mercere asked softly.

Where is it positioned? he asked, frowning.

"Right outside of the wall of power that keeps others out, it is looking in at us."
One of the Umbroods said sounding uneasy.
"It is just looking for now, but it should not be here."
The other chimed in.

To the others he said, "I think our time is up, there's an entropy spirit that should not be here close by, we need to get ready to leave. Now. It might have felt the portal effect or its spying to check up on things, or something else." Between this thing and the Technocrats Adley wanted to clear the hell out of the place before it became a deathtrap or another warzone.

Jerome and Magda where just coming back into the basement room, they where carrying three pet cages with something feathery inside though the exact number of chickens would be hard to see without taking the time to check the cages, the Mercere also had a large document folder under his arm.
"Should I open a portal to get everyone back to Morningstar then?"
Hans asked as he opened his computer to get ready.
"I do not think there is much more we can do here but what about our reinforcements waiting outside?"

(OOC: You know that it is legal by Hermetic law to confiscate an item from another mage, in extreme need if you later can prove before a Tribunal that there where either a crime connected to it or it was needed to keep the Order safe. Basically doing what could come of a court order but proactively but then you have to prove your actions where lawful later. At least this was legal is Ars so I will assume the Order have kept it.)

Colin:

He hung up with a serious expression, and looked at Qeb and Rosario, "Right, evac time. Can you two clear the cars I mentioned, if possible get them over to the post office? Hotwire if necessary, but at least make sure there're no obstructions around them?"

"I have no idea how to hotwire a car Mr Wainwright."
Rosario said and frowned.
"And would it not be better to drive them back to Morningstar?"

Turning to Alex, he added, "And get us closer to the office, as well."

"Very well."
Alex said and started the car just waiting for you to finish with the Union folks.

Turning back to the Technocrats, "Er, yes, I'm sorry, but orders are orders - it seems I have to ask you to leave. Again, sorry about the leg, though you seem a hardier sort than most, sir."

Primrose nodded.
"We have no problem leaving Mr Steed, I am grateful for you not killing us."
She said and Elias just gave a smile.
"Some prefer to use science to better themselves."
Was all he said.

He pondered, "However, you might yet help us strike a harsh blow to the Fallen... We're expecting a secondary strike team of six once they realize they lost the building. If we can get clear before they arrive, I expect you should see another spike in corrupted magic on the premises - emerging from the Umbra, that sort of thing... I don't suppose you have the option of calling in an airstrike on short notice?"

"Airstrike, no, a strike team of Hit-Marks perhaps."
Primrose said and considered.
"We would have to contact Control and I would advice you and your Traditionalist friends to be far away from here when we do. Yes we are enemies Mr Steed, but when the Nephandi are rearing their ugly heads, there is little point in taking out the enemies of the Fallen, that will only strengthen them."
The Syndicate operative said then she offered you her thin hand.
"Let us try not to meet again Mr Steed, for the next time I will put a bullet in your head."
Rosario kept her crossbow ready and the other mages to where tense as you spoke with the Technocrats.

(OOC: There are no more warranty on that portal no.)

[Adley]

// ooc - sorry to hold things up - does the confiscated item have to stay in the hands of the person who confiscated it until the tribunal?
ooc 2 - it's a good thing that Adley can't hear Colin telling the Technocrats all that nonsense or he would get an earful of angry Latin (only because Colin does not know Greek) xD Holy smokes...asking for a strike team on a chantry, Nephandi infested or not...

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

(OOC: Not a problem the game is not a race. I would say that it depends, the one who confiscate it is responsible for it until either the Tribunal happens or he or she gives it back to the owner, but he can put it in a safe or give it to someone else to protect but he will be responsible for it. Remember the Tribunal can be some time away, it is not a major thing so it will just be handled at a regular Tribunal one will not be called special to deal with it.)

(OOC 2: Well there might be a few words at a Tribunal about Colin's actions as well.)

[Warpmind]

Colin nodded to Rosario, "Yes, but if there are any passengers here to go by car, it would be impolite to leave without them. I'm not sure who has the keys, though."
He gave Primrose a roguish grin and shook her hand, "Please, ma'am, don't make promises you might not be able to keep. I'd rather not see which one of us is the quicker shot."
He gave her a more serious look, "We should be departing shortly. Please give us a few minutes before you call in; I expect it will take a few minutes to assemble your strike team."

When they had separated from the Technocrats, he called Adley again, "Okay, agents on the run, do we drive the cars away, and if so, who has the keys? Also, we may, er, want to vacate the place with haste; the Union might come to mop up the second Fallen team..."

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin nodded to Rosario, "Yes, but if there are any passengers here to go by car, it would be impolite to leave without them. I'm not sure who has the keys, though."

"So the idea is to get the cars as close to the Post Office as possible so they are easy to get to when our men and women are going to leave?"
Rosario asked.
"I do suspect the ones with the keys are inside though."
The Cultist said and Qeb gave a bit of a smile.
"I should be able to get the cars started with magick."
He said and Rosario nodded.
"Very well then Qeb, you are with me."
She said but she did not seam like she wanted to leave you before the two Technocrats had left.

He gave Primrose a roguish grin and shook her hand, "Please, ma'am, don't make promises you might not be able to keep. I'd rather not see which one of us is the quicker shot."

"We will have to see Mr Steed...and perhaps there will be a reason for me to stay my hand if we meet again, or else we might have to see which one of us are quicker, though know I will take no pleasure in it."
The Syndicate operative said then she grinned.
"Especially if I loose."

He gave her a more serious look, "We should be departing shortly. Please give us a few minutes before you call in; I expect it will take a few minutes to assemble your strike team."

"Very well, you have five minutes Mr Steed out of respect for your group sparing me and my partner, then I will call it in."
Primrose said and smiles then she gave you a measured nod of her head and she and Elias wandered off towards a black car that stood parked a little ways down the road. Everyone in your party visibly relaxed as the Technocrats left.
"Well that could have gone worse Sir."
Qeb muttered before he and Rosario went to take care of the cars.

[Warpmind]

Colin smiled, "Precisely, get the cars close to the door, keep the engines ready, and take off, fast and furious."
He nodded to the Technocrats, "Likewise. Right, five minutes... We should be able to execute the evac by then."

He let out a breath of relief, "That could indeed have gone much worse... I hate killing people, especially when they aren't actively trying to kill me. Right, we have five minutes; let's be about it."

((OC: Yes, Colin's actions may well be addressed at a Tribunal. I'm fairly certain, as is Colin, that the 'There were Nephandi involved' defense will see him through even the demolition of a Chantry, especially considering there being no node, and the place being evacuated... Basically, the loss of a building in exchange for getting the Union to take down six powerful Fallen? A fair trade-off, I believe. ))

[Anja Rebekka Schultze]

Colin smiled, "Precisely, get the cars close to the door, keep the engines ready, and take off, fast and furious."

"Very well then."
Rosario said and Qeb nodded as the two started to move the cars, whatever the young Hermetic was doing it was working for he got the cars started so Rosario could drive them right up next to the Post Office building.

He nodded to the Technocrats, "Likewise. Right, five minutes... We should be able to execute the evac by then."

Primrose nodded.
"Very well, goodbye then Mr Steed, and make sure to be gone when the strike team get here or your group will be as much of a target as the Fallen."
She warned before she and her partner left.

He let out a breath of relief, "That could indeed have gone much worse... I hate killing people, especially when they aren't actively trying to kill me. Right, we have five minutes; let's be about it."

"Agreed, well let us get inside and help out, I plan to be gone before the Technocracy strike team get here."
Adjan said and sigh.
"You are aware by the way Colin you just had the Union call in a strike on a Traditionalist Chantry, I bet Chief Morgan would have a thing or two to say about that."
The Euthanatos said and raised and eyebrow.

(OOC: Yes if the Traditions find out Colin will have to explain himself, probably his actions will be seen as justified and given the circumstances and not enough of a cooperation with the Union to be punishable but I bet the Court would have some words for him. )

[Warpmind]

Colin grimaced, "Chief Morgan, probably Chief Joakim, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mercere who lived here will have a number of comments on the subject... I'm quite aware of, well, probably at least most of the concerns here, but it was still a simple calculation - the Chantry is being evacuated and abandoned as we speak, we know there will be a Fallen strike team coming in, and if we can get the Union to expend their people taking out half a dozen Nephandi, including one sadistic cannibal with a penchant for mind control, while we've safely scarpered, it might be worth the loss of a building. If there had been a Node present, that would have been an entirely different thing, but as it is... I'm still going to collect a few ice packs for the next meeting with the Chief..."

((OOC: Whoever said that 'words can never hurt me' never met an angry Hermetic, right? ))

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