Three Pillars: Second Chance

Okay, shall we begin. Let's start in the cozy vacation town of Eagle Lake. Jamey?

yes.

I believe that we were going for lunch somewhere.

... having just cleaned up the taint in the factory.

George takes you to some fine grub. Runs has the habit of eating noisly with his hands, but that is ignored as it *is* seafood.

George clumsily flirts with Demeter.

the only clue we have other than the cigarette butts is the receipt from the video store.

Runs also leaves all of the veggies on the plate.

Logan eats. A lot. Some wonder if he has part of Eater-of-Seafood in hm.

<logan's stomach growls> mmmm... lobster...

<crunch, smack>

Soon, lunch is over, and the call to duty returns.

What is the plan, Runs-when-drinks-prune-juice?

heh!

Yes... gonna go to Blockbuster, and bribe the clerk to give up the info.

(to george) You know someone at the video store?

"Well, we got friends in common... Andrew Jackson, maybe Ben Franklin."

and hey, eh, let's rent call of the wild... always makes me cry...

Wonderful.

You'll have to catch up with him about your mutual friends.

(said with a completely straight face)

"Uh. Yeah. That's the plan, there, Chief."

What shall runs do, and who goes where?

Shall we go there, then?

We go.

hey eh, i'm in if we can uh rent some vids, eh

All going to Blockbuster?

I was going to wait outside with most of the people while he talks with his friend.

Yeah. I'm going in and bribing the clerk.

<logan will go in and look at all the jack london and nanook vids, sniffing them cautiously>

After a short drive, you pull up to the town's Blockbuster. It has the garish yellow and blue theme all of the stores do. A bum sits out front, pathetically begging for change. The windows cannot be seen through.

Is the bum white?

Hard to tell, underneath the grime, but no one you know grows that much facial hair.

He gets change, then.

A couple bucks worth.

He mutters something incomprehensible.

Not all my quarters. I still want to play pinball.

George goes in... how old does the clerk look?

As you enter the store, you notice that business is light. A young female clerk appears to taking to a slightly older customer. Both look bored.

How old does the clerk look? That determines the amount of the bribe. George will wait till they're done.

<logan wanders away somewhere... ooc: while teddy restarts his freaking computer!>

They seem to be talking up a storm. Perhaps they are friends. The clerk looks college aged. Her friend looks older and more ragged. Her eyes have several bags and are probably bloodshot.

George wanders the store, stops, taps his foot anxiously, waiting.

After a moment, the clerk roles her eyes. "May I help you?'

Is the older person gone?

No, she's leaning right next, looking at you.

Okay, George fakes a thick Native American accent...

"Hello, Missy. In the sweat lodge last week, I received a vision from the Great Spirit."

Runs seems to be sniffing the air, as if there is a faint odor...

Only Demeter and Matt's wolf notice, as they are the only one's outside.

"So I came to your town. I went to the waterfront, an ancient sacred place to my people..."

The clerk is rolling her eyes bigger. She slumps a little.

"And again, the Great Spirit called to me. He guided me to an empty box, and it was marked "Blockbuster.""

"This is the place. Can I help you?"

"It had the name of Anna and the King on the cover. I wish to return it to the paleface that had traded for it."

"My Chief and the Elders of my tribe have given me some of the white man's money to barter with, but I foolishly spent most on tobacco and beads."

The girl looks confused. "Are you saying one of our Anna's is missing? You can return it here and we'll take care of it, sir."

"No, only the cover is missing, Missy. I'd hate to make a pretty girl like you take so much trouble over a dumb Indian like me."

"It had, within it, this piece of paper, the purpose of which is strange."

George tentatively hands her the paper.

Er... receipt.

She looks at you strangely again and turns towards the computer beside her. After typing a few keys, she says, "We aren't missing any Anna's. None of them seem damaged."

Runs: its midday during the week. Everyone is at work.

George cranes his neck to see the screen, placing his palm flat on the counter, letting three 20's show.

"Are you sure, Missy... I'd hate to see an honest white man hurt because of my stupidity."

The girl takes up the reciept. Her eyes widen for a moment and then narrow. "Hey, what type of game are you playing at?"

George straightens up... "Sorry for the act, Ma'am."

George flips his wallet open for a second.

The screen is confusing. It has a bunch of numbers and titles of movies.

"Joseph Raintree, tribal police."

"This receipt was found in the home of one George Ravenhair, deadbeat dad."

"I'm trying to track down his whereabouts, so his little boy can get some alimony and maybe go to school again."

"The children mock him for his ripped pants and for crying so much out of hunger."

The girl crosses her arm and looks at her friend very birefly. "I don't know who you are, but you better get out of here before I call my manager."

"Are you forgetting little William?"

"Call your manager, go ahead! I'd like to see his opinion on Native Americans!"

She glares at you while she picks up the phone.

Aw hell.

The other girl is looking at both of you questioning.

You'd think I'd get some luck.... damn.

OOC: george never gets lucky...

George shakes his head sadly.

"Well, Ma'am, I'll be back. Until then little William will have to starve..."

She puts down the phone, looking at you defiantly.

"Freezing in his tattered clothes..."

"Enduring abuse..."

You see the manager coming out of a side office.

"I'll go tell him that I can't find Daddy because of one white woman who stole his land in the first place.."

"Mr Manager, may I speak with you in your office, please?"

"Detective Logan, would you come here please?"

The manager looks at you quizzickly. "May I ask why, sir?"

huh <logan looks up from a vid> uh, yeah... sure, eh...

<walks over by george>

The manager looks over you two. He seems skeptical.

"Yes sir, this is official Micmac business we need to discuss, and I'd like to do it away from the hostile, racist glares of the staff."

"Micmac?"

"The Micmac tribe of Native Americans? The Indians that owned this land before the white man came and drove us out!"

"I should call the SCLU."

Er... ACLU...

The manager shakes his head. "Can I see some identification, please?"

George flips the wallet open, showing his bus pass. then flips it closed.

"Listen, if you're going to continue this, I'll have to file an injunction with the state and the ACLU..."

Logan: While George is brow betting the manager, you notice that the two girls are whispering to each other behind their backs.

Manager: "I'm afraid that does not looks like an official badge of office to me sir. If you have a formal compliant, please use you suggestion box."

"Very well, I'll be back."

George leaves, frustrated.

"Stupid fucking white men..."

Oops, guess Logan missed by clue...

Okay, George storms out of the store. Runs is standing in the street in full warrior gear.

Looks creepy.

Or comical.

Runs was asking george if he got the information.

May I see the receipt?

The clerk has it.

OOC: well, shit.

was there a name on the receipt?

or just an account number?

No. It has date, movie name, part of a credit card number and that was about it.

ah. right.

Jamey: The taint is hard to pinpoint. Its small, faint.

(to george) Could you get the receipt back?

"No, probably not."

That is... unfortunate.

was your friend's friend not there?

"Yeah, I agree. They weren't willing to budge an inch."

"Nope. Everyone like Andrew, and I had two of his brothers!"

"Ah, well. White men are too dumb to know the value of their own damn money."

Runs blinks a bit in confusion...

"Then we will need to try another way of finding the one who is causing the problems.

hey, uh... eh, there you guys... you know, i think them girls back at the store, uh, knew something, eh...

"Which girls?"

"Knew what?"

them vid store girls, eh... they was whispering uh behind your back there, george...

"What were they whispering?"

"Why didn't you talk to them?"

Runs turns toward the store and heads toward the girls...

prolly something about you, eh? or bout that receipt thingie

"Oh no."

As you are talking, the door opens, and the other girl steps out. She looks a bit surprised at seeing you still in the lot. She then walks quickly to her car.

George goes and sits in his jeep.

thass her there! <to the girl> eh miss!

"Excuse me" (to the girl)

<louder> hey, miss EH!

Demeter checks out the license number while they're all yelling.

The girl looks at you, and walks fumbles with her keys. She is obviously put out by Run's appearance.

"Stupid fucking white men," he mutters.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I was hoping that you might be able to help us."

<logan runs up to her, all dumblike> eh! you hard of hearing, eh? my uncle was like that...

She gets the key in the door. "I don't talk to freaks." Looking at Logan. "Get away from me!"

George shakes his head sadly.

"I'm sorry. I don't understand." Runs looks hurt and confused...

<doesn't budge an inch, holds door closed>

"Hey, Lady D... would you be upset if a couple of monsters trashed this town?"

"Hey, get your hand off my door or I'll scream!"

"Logan, please be polite to the young woman."

"I don't live here."

"If she is not willing to speak with us, then it is her loss."

Logan: Now that you are close, you can smell the odor or recreational drugs on her.

"Cuz it's gonna happen."

she shrugs. "Figures."

"So, Demeter... you gay like the other Furies or what?"

Runs inhales deeply.

brb

seems to sniff the air a bit.

"Nope... thought I told you that. I like boys."

"My sister likes girls. It's a fair deal."

"That's good, that's good. Wanna know I'm not wasting my time, you know?"

"Cause obviously if I like dick, I'm going to like you?"

George grins. "Sure, once the white woman gets the red man, she can't get enough."

He breaks out laughing.

She smiles. "I've never heard that before."

George and Demeter, sitting in a tree... ;0

Runs: The taint is whafting off this one. Very faint. As you sniff, you can see her inhale. "HELPP!!!"

Hey! I'm Kinfolk... it's my sacred duty.

Dina, the morning passed strangely. The students gave you strange looks when you asked about school. Georege was confused by you as well.

justin - just closing your eyes and thinking of gaia?

better than doing math...

Hell no! These Garou chicks is hot!

Sacred does not always mean boring...

Kittemer seems only slightly mollified by your report. He outright laughs at your computer request: "You think we'll get a connection out here? YOu really are mad."

However, the low part of your days was your meditation afterwords. Nothing happened. No one came. You were all alone.

Sara: You spent the morning thinking of your "conversation" with the obviously magically gifted Dina. Something strange about that one. You haven't spent much time on the book yet. It looks promising, bu tis suprisingly difficult, event un warded.

So, what you two up to?

I vote for passionate lesbian sex!

Hah.

yeah, that'd be interesting.

Ha

Word.

The guide would as well, if he were asked...

Damnit. lost Teddy again.

crapola

that sucks.

he seems to have a really shitty connection.

I never notice until after I type three paragraphs... bisatch.

that is the cost of really getting into your game.

So, we going to wait for him or not?

So, Sara, what you doing?

No, not right now. I copied what he needs to know.

So Matt, whats the haps?

OK, I was going to take a break from the book and wander over to Kittemmer's. Ask him where he dug up Dina . . .

You wander through the camp. The dig is starting to get busy. As you wander, you notice a strange older gentleman looking at the dig from across the field. You shake your head and move on.

Anybody I've noticed before? How's strange.

Doesn't look familiar.

(Not that I'm intending to stop)

Strange as he seems out of place. An anachronism, almost.

Clothes weird, or just an air?

Clothes are a little odd. Old clothes. Heavy layers, even though it is summer. And old formality. Adds to his air.

You are at Kittemer's tent.

<knocking or whatever> "Hello, Dr. Kittemer? Are you in?"

Kittemer: "Yes? Oh, Ms. Brin. Come in."

Kittemer. "What can I do for you?"

<entering> "Hi, how's the work going?"

"I was wondering if they've found anything furthur about the break-in"

Kittemer: "The sesmic analysis is back. It appears that there are a few corridors connecting to the site. We'll have to dig."

Kittemer rubs the bridge of his nose. "Sorry, no news. Nothing is missing. Nothing at all."

"Oh well. That's good news about the corridors though. Might shed more light on the body"

"When are you going to start digging?"

Kittemer: "It will take a few days for all the equipment to get here."

Kittemer takes a sip of some water. "How is the analysis of the book?"

"I'm making progress, it was a cipher, but I believe I've cracked it."

Kittemer: "Very good then."

Kittemer: "Is there anything else?"

:I actually had another question. After all the ruckus last night, I was wondering where you brought Miss O'Shire in from."

Kittemer rubs the bridge of his nose again. "Dear God, the woman is trouble." He falls back into his seat. "My papers said that we were supposed to get an nurse or some such from Bristol. Some Brenda Star. Dina matched her appearance; we assume that there was a mix-up somewhere in the paper work. Lovely woman." The last is exhaperated.

"Yeah, I don't think she made a very good impression with the police last night, or vice-versa to be fair."

Kittemer waves his hand dismissively. "As long as she keeps out of trouble and does her job, thats all I care."

"Well, hopefully we don't have any more trouble to keep out of."

"Well, I'd like to hear when you start the new digging, if that's not too much trouble. "

"I'll let you know if I find anything relevent in the book."

Kittemer: I'll let you know.

"Thanks." <heads back out of the tent>

Is the anachronistic guy still around?

there is no teddy, only Zuul...

If you go outside, you don't see him around anymore. However, you notice the French Guide coming up.

Madamoiselle, may I help you?

"Nothing comes to mind. Is there anything wrong?"

Non, madamoiselle. I just wanted to make sure you were not needing assistance.

"No, not really. Actually, did you notice a fellow watching from over there?" <points to the field> "Dresses somewhat strangely."

There was an older gentleman asking about you.

"Is he a friend of yours, madamoiselle?"

You see the Mother Superior and the old man coming up. They seem to be looking for you.

wait for them to get here

The nun points at Sara.

"Yes?"

"This is Ms. Brin. Ms Brin, this is Mr. Szyminski."

The guide just leans back and makes himself inobtrusive.

<holding out her hand> "Mr. Szyminski."

You get a closer look at him. He's older, probably at least 70. His hair and bushy beard are sheet white. He looks at you with his slate grey eyes. His grip is firm, surprisingly. "Ah, Ms. Brin. I have been looking for you." His English is very thick. Definetly Polish.

"Well, you've found me. How might I be of help?"

Szyminski folds his hat under his arm. "I have been hearing that you have found something here. A book, yes? I was wondering if you knew of the stories that speak of this place, and of that book. I can offer what help I can to tell you."

<a little surprised> "No, I hadn't heard of any stories. The Mother Superior was under the impression that nothing was known about the book and the remains."

"but yes, any help you could give would be greatly appreciated."

The old man looks at the nun, then back to you. "It was before her time here. During the War."

The nun is listening, and looking less disapproving than normal.

"Which War? The body seems quite old . . ."

The old man coughs some. He smiles wanly. "I speak of World War 2, I think you call it." He coughs again. "Please, could we sit?"

"Oh, certainly, let's head back to the Abbey"

(is there a sitting room or anything?)

Where are you taking him.

Its is an abbey. I'm sure the Mother can find something.

Yeah, the mother takes them somewhere comfortable.

You find a place where you can all sit. The guide assists the old man.

WHOA! Teddy!

Teddy's back (for a while. ;)

And no Jamey?

Damnit!

nope- should be for good now- on my family computer

what a mess.

Get you back, loose Jamey.

Jamey's part is done for the time being... continue Sara's corruption.

just took me forever to download netmeeting and get everything set up- i'm using netscape 3.0 right now!!!

Maybe they are the same person. OOOooooooooo.

spoooooky...

Don't know which is wose...

hey!

what'd i miss?

Teddy, what did you get befor eyou died?

<j/k>

logan was at the car trying to stop the girl leaving

i wrote a bunch of stuff, and thern it booted me

this is getting a bit tiresome...

Well, we are in France now. here is you bit.

Dina, the morning passed strangely. The students gave you strange looks when you asked about school. Georege was confused by you as well.

Kittemer seems only slightly mollified by your report. He outright laughs at your computer request: "You think we'll get a connection out here? YOu really are mad."

However, the low part of your days was your meditation afterwords. Nothing happened. No one came. You were all alone.

hey look- jamey's back too!

Jamey: I know.

Dina: As you come out of the meditational, you notice the Mother, Sara and the French Guide leading some old man to a sitting room.

Well, there goes Teddy again!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

shit.

Its all you fault, itsn't it Justin!

we need a better solution to this internet game thing.

Teddy's got a curse on him.

Well... yes.

we could set up an IRC channel somewhere...

We did IRC before. It was just as bad.

And spammed to.

sucky

Anway, we'll figure something out. Or not.

Meanwhile....

Sara: You think you see Dina, but they she just drops out of site. You get to a sitting room.

She drops out of sight with an unnerving ringiing noise.

The guide leads Mr. Szyminski to a site.

seat.

I mean.

site? :)

the site of a seat?

I love typos.

Don't we all. Anyway...

"Well Mr. Szyminski, is this comfortable enough? Is there anything we can get you?"

He looks up. "Yes, some water please."

"I look at the guide."

I mean <I look at the guide>

"I explode." err... <I explode...>

"Could you . . ."

huh?

jk

The guide returns with some water. The old man thanks him.

After a sip, he turns to you. "My story begins some time ago. It was the summer of 1940. The world was a different place...."

Oui, madamoiselle. Your water.

The old man begins his tale. In 1940, Hitler's germany overtook France (the two French persons do not look to happy at this part of the tale). The abbey was abandoned then.

<Sara listens>

It was told that a group of Nazi's who also knew something of the occult, had heard tales of a great secret being buried beneath the mountains above Avignion. The region was famous in occult cirlces. After all, its was said the legendary Comte de St. Germaine was born nearby.

The old man says there were three of them. They were looking for something that would help them in two ways. First, they wanted to give themselves vast wordly power. Second, it was said that Hitler had a secret obession for such things and would reward the soliders well if they found anything.

After several weeks searching and terrorizing the citzenry of the area, the three soliders came upon the abandoned abbey. It had not been restored then, and was in disarray. No one had set foot there for perhaps 200 years.

When seeing the abbey, one of the Nazi's, a proported practitioner of the dark arts, said "I feel it. The taint of darkness lies heavily on this place." Supposedly, something of great power awaited them.

"What stopped them from finding it?"

Only one man returned from whatever they found. He was a blubbering wreck, half his face almost melting off. When asked what stopped them, all he could say was <<something in German.>>. In english, "The Twisted Monk, the twisted monk."

Later, he said that one of them had found a book. After opnening it, it struck the man blind. That is when the "Twisted Monk" came after them. His descriptions where never lucid. After a week, he committed suicide. The nightmares were too much.

The old man coughs a few times. "Excuse me."

"That, of course meaning the corpse I found. But the evidence suggests he was long dead by the time of World War 2"

The man smiles wanly again and holds out his hands concilitory. "That is the tale as I have heard it. Perhaps it is not fully factual; most tales are not. But there is probably a kernel of truth within."

"Hmmmm. Where did you hear it?"

"My dearly departed wife was a forced laborer in Germany. She worked with a nurse who clamined to have tended the twisted solider before his death."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Again, the smile. "That is fine. It was long time ago."

Well, now Jamey's gone again...

"Where did you hear of the present investigation?"

(My Lord)

ggrrrrrr.......

Old Man: "Some of the papers said that there was a dig going on. My son, who heard the story from his mother, let me know. He lives in Avingon."

Jamey was dropped a couple times a few sessions back. But never this bad.

We'll continue. We'll deal.

Anyway.

okay, as I was saying . . .

"Do you know where there might be any records of this group of Nazis. I guess that would probably be a bit much to expect all considered . . ."

The old man shakes his head. "I am sorry. I do not know if they exists anywhere, anymore."

"Yeah, I wasn't hopeful. Do you know how the Nazi's found out about this place?"

"I believe they just stumbled upon it. The were looking, and it was found."

"Part of some grand design to acquire Occult artifacts . . ."

"yes"

"and only one of the three came back. I wonder where the other two ended up . . ."

The old man shrugs.

<tyring to be nice ...> "Well this has been very interesting, But I'm not sure that it leads us very far in the modern investigation."

The old man begins to stand. "I have told you everythng I know. If there is nothing else, I will be going to retire now."

<rising as well> "I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. Is there any way we might reach you later on if something turns up?"

The old man nods as he shrugs into his coat. "I will be staying with this nice turnip farmer nearby. He seemed very friendly. I love turnips, you see."

YES!!!

<Sara's insides turn sour.>

"Well, thank you very much" <shakes his hand>

As the old man begins to leave, Dina bursts in. She is carrying some sort of paper. "Damn'it all! Summ'ns sold our story!"... seque.....

autoseq

heehee

Damon and Ivy? Ready?

ready.

I'm here. I'm not queer.

The nun who was at the door looks at Damon. "I'm sorry, but no one by that name is here."

"Ah... are you certain. Cassandra. She's" [Damon describes her in detail]

I'd like to do a mind effect on myself, to retrieve her name.

I've got a 6 and a 7.

Ivy: You think hard. Common, Xavier has great memory doesn't he. White. Woggle. ... err.. Wys!

"Cassandra Wys."

"Not White, Wys."

(Even I can retrieve her name, a simple browser click away :^)

She shakes her head. "I'm sorry. No one by his description is here."

"No Wyses?"

She calls back again. After a moment, she turns back. "Sorry."

Ivy looks pensive.

"Are you certain? She could be staying under a false name."

She shakes her head again. "I'm sorry again. There is no one here under that name or description. Now, if there is nothing else..."

"There's nothing else."

Ivy shakes her head. "No, nothing. Thank you."

She closes the door.

"Damn. It is entirely possible that she isn't even there."

Ivy nods slowly. "So where is she? Or, why is she so hard to find? She knows where we are..."

"Perhaps there is something keeping her... but that doesn't explain the note."

"Or why she would be hiding."

"Or anything."

"It seems this search is a dead end, at least for now. Shall we check the names on the list?"

"Which list?"

"We should also see if one of them was the walking dead man in San Francisco."

"The list she left at the condo."

"Right. From a distance, though."

Damon smiles thinly. "Of course."

"What are we close to?"

"I don't know. It seems a number of things, but right now, we are only shadowboxing."

Ivy nods. "What are we overlooking?"

"The existance of a third party."

"What does Cassandra have to do with dead people?"

"I don't know. That was always my forte."

"So we just start down the list and hope for illumination?"

"It is a place to start... not the best place, but beggars can't be choosers, right?"

Ivy nods. "Right."

"Shall we?"

Sam squcks. "But choosers can be beggars!"

Whats the plan, deathwalking man?

Well, we're gonna check the names and addresses out. From a distance.

Where first? You'll have to get the list. And remember you have used up most of today looking for Cassandra. YOu have about 3 hrs before sunset.

What says we need to stop at sunset?

Hey, just letting you know.

We get the list, and check stuff out.

Are you just crusing by (by bus and foot) or will you check them out in more detail?

We'll stop, and scan the locals. Looking for the dead and Cassandra.

and hoping she's not one of the dead.

Home moment then.

While they're home, Ivy's going to call her mom and let her know she's okay.

Okay. There are four addresses. Two business, one personal address and one mourge.

We start with the closest.

You've already been there. Technogenesis Enterprises.

we'll skip that one, then.

Okay, the second closest...

That's the city morgue.

Yes! Damon is looking forward to this,

he would be.

The morgue is a depressive, stone cut building of two stories. There are vagrants all along the street, and a single squad car out front. There is a sign over the door that has several rocks through it: "C ty Mor ue".

We go in. Any dead folks?

Wraiths or otherwise.

The inside looks of the pale, sickly green favored in the sixties. There is a tired recpetionist near the front who blearily looks at you.

Is she dead?

or he...

Oh yeah... gender role moment!

Damon: To your senses, this place if full of the power of the dead. A lot of emotion fills this place. You can hear their whispers and thoughts in the distance, but there is none nearby. The clerk (an aging, overweight black woman) is "normal."

Ivy: This place is depressive. Not your scene.

Damon glaces around, an unwholesome smile growing on his face.

my boyfriend is so weird sometimes...

He shuts his eyes, listening to the whispers...

The clerk stifles a yawn. "Can I help you?"

Damon ignores her, concentrating on the more important denizens of this place.

"Got a bathroom I can use?"

Damon: They sing to you. They speak of their joys, their lost hope, the longings. But underneath is a darker current. They only want to free themselves. Everything. Blackness. To forget everything. Everthing unmade... it elates and frightens you.

The clerk points half heartedly down the hall.

Ivy starts in that direction.

I need to speak with them. Damon strides forward, his boots clicking hollowly on the linoleum.

Where are you walking, Damon?

Towards the whispering. The concentration of the dead.

Ivy: You see Damon heading down a different hall. It says main morgue. The clerk was not paying too much attention, so he's slipping by.

She'll follow him, trusting the clerk's inattentiveness to hide her.

she's seen enough horror films to know not to split up.

Damon: The whispers are becoming more distinct. Some notice your approach. They still are distant, but the feel you. Some call out to you. The cacophony of sounds is almost overwhelming. Their emotions wash over you. Fear. Longing. Love. Hate. Pure pathos....

Damon smiles wider, and begins to speak with them...

"My friends... who among you will speak for the group?" he whispers.

Ivy: As you get closer to Damon, goosebumps form on your arms. It gets quite cold.

great...

The whispers quiet for a moment. After a moment, one speaks. an echoing sound in your head. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I am Damon Rothchild. I am a friend. I am caretaker to one of your number already... I bear you no ill will."

Ivy: The dust underfoot stirs as if someone is writing in it. It says: "Who are you? What do you want.?"

<whispering> "can you hear me?"

Ivy: The dust stirs angrily. Damon: The whisper is suspicious. "Caretaker? The living do not look after the dead!"

"Most, yes. I am not entirely of the living."

Ivy: The dust settles, but the hair is raising on the back of you neck. Damon: "Speak plain, son. Yopu may hear us, but we still don't take crap from the living."

Ivy breathes deeply, and concentrates on her spidey sense.

Damon's smile grows strained. "Very well. I didn't come to give you 'crap.' I'm looking for someone, named Cassandra... and strange concentrations of the living dead."

Ivy: The dust stops moving, but you can now see your breath when you breath. Damon seems oblivious.

Ivy looks back behind them.

Damon: There is a long pause. "I've not heardof anyone named 'Cassandra.'"

"How about people that walk and talk like the living but are not?"

Ivy: There is a tension in the air. Damon's skins is getting whiter as you look. Its almost unnatural. There is no sound but silence.

Damon: "Do not speak of them. The storms of the dead do not concern the living. Accidents, they are. Many of them lost. Some of them angry. Leave them be, I tell you."

"Storms of the dead? Are you in danger?"

Damon: "The underworld is aflame. Doesn't concern you. Something is disturbing the ways things are,. they say. It'll pass. They always do."

"It does concern me. And perhaps I can help. I can shelter you from the worst of it."

Ivy: Its getting cooler, if that is possible. You notice a cool touch an your forehead, and then it is gone.

What's going on? Remember, I can see them...

look with prime, see if it did anything to me.

Damon: There is a pause again. "What do you want, darkling? Your kind does not barter with the dead lightly.

"I do not barter. I offer assistance."

Ivy: You do not notice anything wrong with you. The lights are beginning to flicker, however, shadows dancing along the walls.

Damon: "Assistance? How? And for what?"

Damon produces the box. "Sebastian, my friend, took refuge in here when a storm hit in San Francisco. I am skilled in the arts of magick. I have means at my disposal."

Damon: The whispers are frightened by your comments. There is conversation beyond your hearing. YOu sense unrest.

Ivy: The lights are swinging now in a silent wind. You swear you felt something brushing by you.

"Very well... you may distrust me, but my offer stands. Perhaps I could perform some service on your behalf? Many of the Restless leave things undone."

Ivy concentrates on breathing. She is trying to stay calm.

Damon: Over the whispers, you hear the voice. "There is one thing you can do, for us. Bodies are being taken from this place. Some of the those bodies are... important to us. If you can find them, we may trust you. not all of us, perhaps. But I will."

"Very well... I would be pleased to help. Who, when and how?"

Ivy: There is a moment of fright when a door behind you opens suddenly. No one is there.

Damon: "There is a room behind you. The files will guide you."

Ivy gasps.

Damon nods. "Thank you... what may I call you?"

Damon: The whisper pauses. "I was... am called Earl."

"Earl. Very well. I'll get to work."

Damon turns and begins to head through the door...

When he notices Ivy.

"Ivy... is something wrong?"

Ivy: His voice. Its cold. Like the air.

Ivy exhales and looks at him. She's scared.

Damon steps closer, "Don't be frightened. We're in a place of the dead."

She closes her eyes and nods. She's still scared.

"They wish me to do something for them. It seems we have morgue-robbers, taking bodies. The files through there tell the story."

"If we do this, they will trust me enough to allow me to shield them from the coming storm."

Ivy breathes slowly. "okay."

Damon kisses her gently on the forehead. He seems more at peace than she has ever seen him. "I can protect you, my love."

"can we go home after this?"

Damon nods. "Sure. We've done enough. Let me look through the files."

Barring anything else, Damon's gonna look through the files.

She nods.

The room is filled with filing cabinets. There is a set of folders lying open on a table in the room.

Damon checks them out.

They document bodies in the morgue. But other files nearby never list them. However, another file lists pick-ups by Portland Health of "incidentals."

Aha! Cross reference.

those'd be our files.

I think we'll end it there tonight.

K...

yeah... I got work tomorrow.

Sometimes, you freak me out Damon. ;)

Why's that?

E-mail me learning curves, and I'll figure out the XP.

Actually, I think me doing freaky stuff near Damon freaks me out. :)

Okay.

Damon is fun...

Or at least Ivy.

people she can't see are touching her. that's scary.

:)

That's normal!

Okay. I'll se you all next week.

okay.

Later!

Later.

later.