Three Pillars: Second Chance

Session 20

Darkness and Light

The Flaming One

Its late into the night. The morgue sits behind you, crouching in the darkness.

The Flaming One

Damon had plans.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"I have more allies to recruit.""

Penny Gronbeck

"Where?"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"I'm going to need shock troops..." Damon begins thinking...

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Aha!" his face brightens. "But that hinges on that. Damn. Well, fortune favors the bold."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"First things first. I made a threat. I need to follow up on that."

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy rolls her eyes. "Tell me when you want to make sense."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon turns to her, his green eyes alight. "I'm making perfect sense. Believe me. All will be clear."

Penny Gronbeck

"It still sounds like I'm only hearing half the conversation."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

I would like to go to the nearest park.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Muttering and fiddling with my box.

The Flaming One

Sam: "Squak.. he *killed* the other half.. squak!"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Precario! Please tell Queen Spider that I require an audience with her at her earliest convenience."

The Flaming One

The slip stream slips.

Penny Gronbeck

to Sam: "So is he the good twin, or the evil twin?"

The Flaming One

Sam: "He wears black, has a skewed outlook on reality, and is sickly? You've read the comics. What do you think? Squak!"

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy shrugs. "You always said I needed more friends....."

The Flaming One

There is a sickly park a few blocks down from the morgue. Its a down business park, with a few neglected treess.

The Flaming One

Sam: "Squak. With friends like these... "

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Good. That is where I summon the stormcrow.

The Flaming One

Downtown is still not a happy place. Diff 8.

Penny Gronbeck

"That's what he says about you, you know."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Spend WP.

The Flaming One

Sam: "Squak! Squak! Some people! Harumph!" An crow harumphing is an interesting sound...

Justin Robinson-Prickett

5 successes

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Come to daddy.

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy smiles. "I don't listen to him, either."

The Flaming One

Damon: The box is strong with this one. You know this creatures pattern almost as well as you know yourself... you feel it is nearby. You have gotten its attention and you know it will not refuse.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon steels himself for the inevitable conflict.

The Flaming One

Damon: There is a rustle in the trees that only you can hear. You turn to see the marvelous blue-black bird sitting in a perch, looking at you icily.

The Flaming One

Ivy: Sam begins to say something and then jumps and in a panicked rush tries to hide in or behind your jacket.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"I told you I would summon you again."

Penny Gronbeck

I let Sam hide inside the jacket.

The Flaming One

The bird just looks. It is a distant look; perhaps it came of its own will?

The Flaming One

Ivy: It would be amusing, but its a little uncomfortable.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"I have proven myself to you, as I said I would. Now I demand your aid."

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy will wrestle him into a manageable hiding place.

The Flaming One

The bird begins preening something out of its claws. Its dark and wet. You get the feeling that it wonders *what* you proved.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"My strength. My resolve. If it is not enough, I'll be forced to prove my strength to you here and now."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Yes, Damon is attempting to bully the preceptor...

The Flaming One

Still preening, the bird cocks an eye in your direction. You get the feeling that it wonders if that was what you really meant.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon continues his glare, staying still, ready for a fight. "You protected me from a group of brain-dead hicks, yet you seem frightened to embark on a real challenge."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"I wonder why that is."

The Flaming One

The bird stops its preening, dropping.. whatever it is. It lands with a sickly *slurp.* It looks at you again, a bit more intently. YOu believe that this is a sign that it thinks you are either amusing or interesting.

Penny Gronbeck

can I see/hear what's going on?

The Flaming One

No. Your sporadic Spirit-ness has faded for now. Damon is talking to the air near a tree---the air Sam is very conspiciously avoiding.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"I wish to crush technogenesis and the evil that it brings to this place. Once you agree to help me, I shall go to Queen Spider, and enlist her aid."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Ivy's seen Damon talk to nothing more than she's seen him talk to something :)

Penny Gronbeck

Okay. Ivy will stand turned away from the tree to make dealing with Sam easier.

Penny Gronbeck

Yeah, she's ignoring him, mostly.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Of course, she recognizes his posture as his "fight" posture.

The Flaming One

The bird scratches at the tree. It is a sign of irritation or discomfort. Perhaps it does not care for the Queen? It then pecks at something on the tree. It is a bit of dead wood. You have the feeling it wonders what a battle on Technogenesis will accomplish.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"They are meddling with the shadowlands, and I believe they are powerful agents of corruption. Their destruction should do much for the stability of this area."

The Flaming One

The bird scratches at the branch, displacing several leaves. As they fall, you get the impression that it wonders whether stablity is what is needed. Who will fill the vacuum. And why care about one little area?

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Whatever fills the vaccum must be better than technogenesis. I grow weary of parlay. Perhaps I overestimated you. I thought you an agent of action. I thought you brave and powerful. Perhaps I was wrong."

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy wonders if the shit is going to hit the fan.

The Flaming One

The bird suddenly takes flight, flying directly at you. It then just stops a few inches from your face. It just floats there.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon remains motionless.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Staring into its beady eyes.

The Flaming One

The bird takes a claw at scratches at the air. A dark rent appears, as if it is bleeding...

The Flaming One

The bird look directly into your eyes. For the first time, you think it is actually "talking" to you. "Action is when necessitated. True power sees that. You think too much with your 'fists' still. Even though it may be justified."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Perhaps. I am young, and there are times when I require guidance. But I am powerful, and I cannot be ignored. Stay with me then. Guide me. You remind me of my uncle." For the first time Damon looks unsure.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Then he pulls it together and looks into the bird's eyes again. "Teach me. You did not protect me for nothing."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

There is a pause. "Please."

The Flaming One

Damon: The bird points its ichor encrusted claw at your eyes again. "You see more than you think." It appears to be thinking.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon blinks. "That's the first time I've heard that."

The Flaming One

Damon: The bird looks at you closely."You fight a subtle enemy. It calls for sublty in return. Anyone can bring brash force."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon frowns. "Perhaps, but I'm not used to that. I though by gathering a storm, we could take them by force. What do you suggest?"

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy is getting bored.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Can Damon have diplomacy head?

Penny Gronbeck

no.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Doesn't hurt to ask.

Penny Gronbeck

he could ask her.

The Flaming One

he bird looks at you for a moment. "Bait" Then looks at Ivy. "Switch." He looks at you a moment. "Consider your enemies and what they are."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Mmm... probably a bad time. Curses!

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Bait and switch? Wait for them when they go bodysnatching..."

Penny Gronbeck

if he were really talented, he could eat her out while being diplomatic.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"That is a better idea. Counter force with guile."

The Flaming One

The bird just nods.

The Flaming One

Bird: "Call a trap they cannot refuse."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Very well. What is the animosity between you and Queen Spider?"

The Flaming One

The bird looks at you for a moment. "Hers is the way of stagnation."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Perhaps. All is balance, and there is time for everything under heaven. My point is that I believe technogenesis to be her enemy as well as ours."

The Flaming One

The bird does not respond. "You have my advise. I do not dictate. Only suggest. Do with it what you will."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon holds out his hand. "Do I have your allegiance then?"

The Flaming One

The bird touchs its ichor covered beak to yours. "We have an understanding."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"That is good enough for now."

The Flaming One

The bird takes flight into the night.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon turns to Ivy, his eyes almost glowing.

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy has spaced out.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

He goes to her, holds her face in his hands and kisses her deeply, with vitality she hasn't seen.

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy drops Sam and kisses back.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

[private]That which touches us...

The Flaming One

Sam: "Squackmphp! Hey!"

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy ignores Sam.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

When they part, "I love you more than I can express."

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy smiles. "I love you too."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"I have another I wish to speak with. Soon."

Penny Gronbeck

"You're going to tell me what's going on, right?"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon blinks. "I'm sorry. I completely forgot."

Penny Gronbeck

"You can make it up to me later."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"The Stormcrow, an agent of the primordial has proposed an excellent plan against technogenesis. A trap."

Penny Gronbeck

"Is that the thing that scares Sam?"

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy looks around for Sam.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Perhaps. It is a powerful spirit. I bargained with my life tonight."

The Flaming One

Sam is preening himself on the ground.

Penny Gronbeck

The men in Ivy's life are so prissy.....

Penny Gronbeck

"What did you get?"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"A fair-weather friend. No pun intended."

Penny Gronbeck

"You don't have to die, right?"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"No. Not yet."

Penny Gronbeck

"Good."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon smiles a bit and kisses her again

Penny Gronbeck

"I like you better alive."

The Flaming One

Sam struggles to get back on Ivy's shoulders. "Squak. So when do we break some heads!"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"The difference is academic."

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy kisses him. "No it's not."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"There will be a trap, Sam. Bait the evil with corpses, and then come to us."

The Flaming One

Sam: "Squak. Corpses? And what corpses would bring the head burrito?"

Penny Gronbeck

"Where are we getting corpses?"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"We aren't. All we need to do is make them think there are corpses, and for that I need Queen Spider's help."

The Flaming One

[private to Penny Gronbeck] You could "fake" it.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"What corpses... powerful corpses. Yes..."

Penny Gronbeck

[private]I know....

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Can you get home from here?"

Penny Gronbeck

[private]how easy is that, and how easy is it to come out of?

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy shrugs. "Sure."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"That is if Precario got me a meeting... where the hell is he?

The Flaming One

[private to Penny Gronbeck] Oh, its as easy as dying.... Coming out... well. You need 3 successes to do it, but you need twice your successes to get out (so if you roll 4, 8). And each roll takes time game time (>1 min).

Penny Gronbeck

[private]okay, prefer not to volunteer for that... don't want anyone making sure while I'm trying to come out of it.

The Flaming One

After a few moments, the stream slips back into reality (or the shadow of it, anyway).

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"There we go."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Did you get an audience for me?"

The Flaming One

Precario: "Query: Root domain inquires the purpose of audience. Willing to receive input for said response, with an option to continue."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Tell her it concerns technogenesis."

Penny Gronbeck

[private]on the other hand... would daredevil and spark of life both work in my favor when trying to come out of it?

The Flaming One

[private to Penny Gronbeck] Its both dangerous and stupid!

Penny Gronbeck

[private]and healing?

The Flaming One

[private to Penny Gronbeck] Hmmm.. the later part.

Penny Gronbeck

[private]well, yes... faking death doesn't really count as healing.

The Flaming One

Precario vanishes for a moment. You can see the sky is getting a bit lighter in the east.

The Flaming One

The stream returns. Its---modified. Its seems a bit brighter. If you look closely, you can tell it seems to be covered is slight silver strands. The bit speaks in a much larger voice than usual. "SPEAK."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Whoa... "My Queen, I wish to speak with you on a matter of great gravity."

The Flaming One

Precario/Queen is waiting.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Technogenesis is a threat to reality. Both the forces of order and chaos. It needs to be stopped."

The Flaming One

P/Q: "PROPOSAL?"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"I have called you for two reasons. The first is out of respect. I wished to notify you of my actions. The second is out of necessity. I find I need your aid."

The Flaming One

P/Q: "AID HAS BEEN GIVEN. WHAT IS REQUESTED NOW, ORGANIC?"

Penny Gronbeck

Ivy sprawls to watch the sunrise, if Sam isn't freaking out again.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Mmm... I can sense you are not understanding me, Inorganic. I need you to alter some computer records, make a few ambulances move about and place a news article in the papers."

The Flaming One

Sam seems to care less about a load mouthed bit.

Penny Gronbeck

that's good... things that scare Sam are disturbing.

The Flaming One

The bit contemplates for a second. P/Q: "YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED WITHOUT FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THIS FORM CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEEDS. IT IS IN THE BOUNDS OF ITS PARAMETERS. EVEN IF IT IS ON THE EXTREME SIDE OF THOSE PARAMETERS."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Very well."

The Flaming One

The silver streams fall off Precario like brusting ropes from a captured animal.

The Flaming One

*err...bursting...*

Justin Robinson-Prickett

I wait for the poor guy to recover.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Then I start barking orders.

The Flaming One

The bit recovers soon enough. "Request?"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Precario, I need several dead businessmen, Indians and a priest. Alter some records. I need a story about a car accident in the papers. And I need some ambulances going to and fro."

The Flaming One

Bit: "Clarification: Types of buisinessmen? Indians: Residents of the subcontinent of that name or the colloquiallism for Native Americans?"

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"All of these dead men must be from out of town."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Damon laughs, and it is the first vital sound from him all evening. "Feathers... sorry. Native Americans... of a local tribe. Not too local, though. As for the businessmen... I don't know... a stockbroker and an accountant. Make them gay lovers tragically killed in a car accident."

The Flaming One

Bit: "Processing.... ETA: Three hours."

Justin Robinson-Prickett

"Thank you. When you're finsihed, please get some rest. You've been working hard."

The Flaming One

The bit blitzes. And with that, and think we'll shift to France.

Justin Robinson-Prickett

Excellent

The Flaming One

Well, I said I'd do it w/o Teddy, and that's what I'm doing.

Jamey Minnis

Dina is rotting to death in jail!

Justin Robinson-Prickett

YAY!!!

Matthew Hammer

:^)

Penny Gronbeck

probably not quietly, either.

The Tainted Past

The Flaming One

France. A high society jail cell. Okay, not really.

The Flaming One

Dina and Sara are kept in separate cells. Sara is not a happy one. Dina's is much, much worse. YOu can occasionally hear her complaints echoing through the ill kept halls.

Matthew Hammer

I can imagine

Penny Gronbeck

damn... no lesbian prison sex.

The Flaming One

You have spent a night in this unfortunate pit. Your calls to see the Consulate have met with various levels of indifference. The French do indifference very well.

The Flaming One

Sometime the next day---hard to tell as the cell has not exterior windows, a guard approaches your cell. "Visitor."

Matthew Hammer

It'll be their head. The U.S. is very punctilious about treaties like that (as long as it is their citizens at least)

Matthew Hammer

Sara gets up to see who.

The Flaming One

The guard escorts you to their visiting room. As you are being brought to the table, you almost want to go back. Its Szyminski.

Matthew Hammer

Sara does not hide her unhappiness.

Matthew Hammer

"What are you doing here?"

The Flaming One

English, French, Polish or other?

Matthew Hammer

Polish.

Matthew Hammer

with contempt.

Matthew Hammer

(or just pissed-off ness)

The Flaming One

Szyminski responds in Polish as well. He seems fluent ;) "I am glad you survived. I wish you and your friends would have heeded my warnings."

The Flaming One

Matt?

Matthew Hammer

<typing>

Matthew Hammer

"Conveinent of you to leave then, after your vauge, but surprisingly on the ball, premonitions."

Matthew Hammer

[private]There wasn't any large gap of time for me.

The Flaming One

Szyminiski. "I did what I could to warn you. Would you have believed an old man's stories? You did not seem to before. I had no illusions you would the second time. It is unfortunate you had such an awakening."

Matthew Hammer

"Why did you disappear? You needn't have been at the site if you thought it was dangerous, but you packed up and ran instead."

The Flaming One

The old man does not seem angry. Just sad. "You have seen the danger, Dr. Brin. That is only the beginning. These things should not be disturbed. Sacred places should remain that way. You cannot know the consequences."

Matthew Hammer

"Then tell me."

The Flaming One

The old man looks to the sides. "I cannot. You will be released from here and will live a safe life. I cannot doom you the constant vigil I must take."

Matthew Hammer

"Who the heck are you?"

The Flaming One

Old Man. "I am Mr. Syzminski, Dr. Brin. Just an old man with many, many worries." He pauses for a moment. "Did... did you go... into the crypt?"

Matthew Hammer

<a little less stridant> "Why? What's in there?"

The Flaming One

Syziminski. "The book you found is only the guide---there is that in the crypt that would bring chaos much greater than what you have witnessed. It is also the only thing that may stop it."

Matthew Hammer

"So whatever is in the crypt is both the cause of the danger and the solution. And can only be handled by someone who knows what to do. And of course letting anyone else know anything would be just as dangerous. Elitist crap."

Matthew Hammer

"Did you steal my book too, to keep the dangerous information out of ignorant hands?"

The Flaming One

The old man clenches his teeth a bit. "Typical American ideology, Dr. Brin. But something things are best left unknown." He looks at you intently. "Did you take the book in the crypt then? Is it out of protection?" He looks a bit frightened. "Tell me... I must know!"

Matthew Hammer

"You first. Sorry if quid pro quo sticks in the craw of your old world ideology."

The Flaming One

The old man narrows his eyes a bit and straightens his posture. "I removed a gun from an unknowing child. Nothing more. And as it belong to me, it is not an issue."

The Flaming One

The old man narrows his eyes a bit and straightens his posture. "I removed gun from an unknowing child. Nothing more. And as it belong to me, it is not an issue."

Matthew Hammer

"Belongs to you? That would make you, what? at least five hundred years old? You've aged well."

Matthew Hammer

"Also interesting since the owner was laid to rest with the book."

The Flaming One

The old man does not seem amused. "An item's original owner is not necissarily its current owner. It is mine by responsibility. I did not ask you to defile and muddle about in this business."

Matthew Hammer

"Then maybe you, whoever you think you are, should have dealt with 'this business' before it was found, and before so many people died."

The Flaming One

The old man looks at you as calmly as he can. "I believe buried in a collapsed section of a inconsequential church in a remote, sparsely populated area was safe enough. I did not expect successful graverobbers." Under his breath, but you can barely hear it <<They should have been taken care of>>

Matthew Hammer

"Elitist and stuck in the past. Ever hear of modern archeology?"

"People discover artifacts from thousands of years ago. something from five hundred, buried under a few feet of dirt. You might as well leave it out with the rabble ."

The Flaming One

Szyminski stands, obviously unhappy. He presses a finger firmly into the plexiglass separating you two. "I have answered, Dr. Brin. Now tell me... where is the book!"

Matthew Hammer

"Hmmm. I'm not sure. How about you ask that woman who took the corpse's heart and went down the hole after it? Who is she, by the way?"

The Flaming One

The color drains from Szyminski's face. "Dear God, no." He grabs the side of the booth. "Tall, long black hair?"

Matthew Hammer

Sara's mouth contracts. "Maybe we have more to talk about?"

The Flaming One

Szyminski sinks into his chair. "Dr. Brin... Sara, listen carefully. If that was the woman I described, you are in more danger than I thought. You can be helped, but I need to know where the book is."

The Flaming One

[private to Matthew Hammer] The woman was blonde, and not that tall... but he doesn't know that...

Matthew Hammer

"Danger breeds in ignorance and secrecy. I think they both need to be cleared up. Frankly I don't know which direction the danger would be in here."

The Flaming One

You notice the guards are coming. Szyminiski notices it too. " I am not the danger. But if that book falls into the wrong hands, God help us all. Pray for our souls, Dr. Brin." The guards prepare to take you away.

Matthew Hammer

"I'd suggest you stay around this time. We can talk again."

The Flaming One

The guards take you back to your cell.

The Flaming One

K, Matt. Sleepy time?

Matthew Hammer

I want my damn consular advice!

The Flaming One

My advise... RUN!

Matthew Hammer

Huh?

The Flaming One

Dina's advice.. "Blow the damn froggies up, aye!"

Matthew Hammer

Too tired to run

Matthew Hammer

Yeah!

The Flaming One

That what you always do in the horror movies, right? Run?

Matthew Hammer

Yeah, but it never works

The Flaming One

How true.

The Flaming One

Okay, we'll end it there. Looks like end of story is going to be next time. Sorry I was late, all. :(

Even Death must die.