[Day: Tuesday, October 2. Time: 8:00 p.m.] (Yay! We can have a halloween episode. Except they don't really do that in England, do they?) (I think they do) (All Hallow's Eve is pretty universal.) [You are all at the new office! It consists of a desk, some chairs, a coffee machine, a water cooler (but no water) a Concordat2000 PC (which is still running Doors '58), some writing materials and a phone. The door of the place is wood with a hazy window on which words should go, but evidently it's up to you to name the place. There's also a Kirby effigy etched into the door, and a Kirby plushie on the desk.] [If you want booze, Miranda's bar is downstairs. If you want food, the Chinese shop is next door.] [Session Start!] * Alys is wearing a bunch of rubber bands on her arm, safety pins all along the hem of her shirt, and paperclips in her ear piercings. She looks kind of like a walking office supply store. She's also poking the Kirby plushie with a pen. * Khalil just sits down, idly STARING at the crazy woman, hands folded over his knee. He squirms a bit as if he's uncomfortable, still in full robe. [The Kirby plushie pronounces, "Hiiiiii!"] Hi! * Alys continues poking it. * Ashley is lounging in a chair, in another smartly-matching coordinated fall outfit, this time in navy blues and whites. He looks like a sailor, if you were perhaps drunk as one. He is, however, devouring a carton of pork lo mein, with remarkable manners considering how fast he's doing it. He looks over at the plushie as it speaks, and then at Alys. You are having entirely too much fun with that thing. The punk resurgence look went out in twenty-aught-twelve, love. It's squishy. And it talks. How could I not have fun with it? [Kirby pronounces "Hiiiiiii!" each time he's poked.] Yes, but I find it quite annoying. Quite annoying indeed. I was working today. I lose things if I don't wear them. Oh, sorry. * Alys picks up the Kirby and starts tossing it into the air and catching it. Although, I must say that your tactics the other day...were...quite... * Ashley points at her with his chopsticks. "You could start a comeback, though, if you went a little more low-key first." He resumes digging in. * Khalil slowly stops mid-sentence as his eyes follow the bouncing Kirby. * Togo is sitting behind the desk, one leg up on the corner of the desk, seemingly staring out into space. * Alys beams happily at the sort-of compliment. "Thanks!" * Khalil sighs and leans back. He puts up a book in front of his face. It's a college English textbook. * Lukas is currently 'playing with the computer'. Wherever it's sitting. Since, you know. Tech guy. He has set the doll on the nearest surface around it. The doll can once again describe its own outfit. [The computer is a few years old. It's not the greatest thing Lukas has seen, that's for sure. Oh! But it does have old NES games.] (We all have old NES games. Ten has the full library in her head. *cough*) (But does it have Kirby's Mobile Assault?) ( Pfft. Anyone can play video games in their head. ) (Is it networked?) * Ten is seated next to the computer right where Lukas set it down facing the screen. It's in a different frilly black dress than the one it had yesterday - this one has dark blue trim and ribbons. Same wings though. ( It is ) (Ten is so a loligoth.) (Affirmative.) ( Brett, we had really better not be fighting Pedobear at any point. ) (Wireless?) ( Pedobear. 4chan Lolicon fan mascot. ) ( Nope! 256k modem. ) (... right.) * Herman opens the door and walks right in, letting it shut behind him. The pipe dangles loosely from his right hand, and he glances around. His outfit's similar fare to yesterday, studded leather jacket, spiked dyed hair, and all. I think I saw a movie that started out like this. And then Kirby ate Manhattan! * Togo glances over at Herman as he walks in. "Volt got you the message about the salary, then?" Started out like...? * Ashley glances over at Herman, then back to his food. * Lukas mutters, "Well, it'll, uh, work." Yeah, thanks. * Khalil stops again and eyes the door. "I thought we were going to be short quite a few people." * Alys nods at Khalil. "A bunch of people are sitting around, and then, BOOM! Kirby attacks!" * Herman eyes Ashley, then goes to one of the chairs, turns it backwards, and has a seat on it. "So, what's up?" * Khalil eyes Alys. "I do not wish for Kirby to attack." ( Few people do, man. ) * Togo turns to Khalil. "Couldn't reach you, but apparently our backers approved a salary. they'll arrainge to get it to you." * Alys stops tossing Kirby around. "Salary? Really?" ( What you didn't realize was the e-mail had a typo. The backers are actually arranging a salad for you. ) * Khalil turns to Togo. "Really?" He has a thin smile on his face. "That is most excellent. I feared that my tuition would never be paid.." Yup. Not huge, from what I understand, but it'll be something. I'm giving up mine for use for general supplies and such, since I live pretty cheap. But yes. The Qu'ran teaches, above all else, humility in life as in death. * Ashley snorts quietly, but quickly disguises it as a cough on his food. ( And humility a-plenty ye shall have in this game! ) * Lukas leaves the computer sit and looks to Ten before tapping her on the forehead lightly. "Guess they found their brains since yesterday." Tuition? Whatcha goin' for? * Herman taps the pipe against his knee. I had not considered that as of yet. I am but a 1st year student. A...I am afraid I do not know the term. They. Did. * Togo glances over at the doll, then shrugs. "Long as we're all here, and don't have a job at the moment... something we didn't get a chance to do yesterday." I had considered being someone who translates other languages for the government however. * Alys smiles at Ten, then looks at Lukas. "She's so pretty. Did you make her or buy her?" * Khalil then looks at Togo. * Herman looks at Togo, too. If we're gonna be doin' this... s'gonna take some time for us to figure out how to do the team thing. But a start'd be having some idea of what we all can do. * Khalil pales a little and shifts uncomfortably in his seat, his head dropping just a slight. * Ashley finishes his Chinese, and then tosses the carton into the trashcan, with a perfect arc. He licks his lips, and leans back in his chair again, smiling. * Lukas says, to Alys, "Little of column A." He leans back in the chair he dragged over. So... what can you folks do? *pauses* Also, if there's anyone that's likely to try and kill you while we're around, I'd like to know. If you pissed off a ninja clan and undead ninjas with laser swords attack you every thrid Wednesday, s'something we all should know. * Herman says, dryly, "I hit things with a pipe." Pause. "It's an iron pipe." Mmm, ninjas. * Ashley tosses another glance at Herman. * Herman grins at Ashley. Okay. Big strong guy with a pipe. Supernatural strong, or just big guy strong? * Herman keeps hold of the back of the chair and leans back his way, stretching his arms. "Nah. Not inhumanly strong. I'm actually a wizard." And a musician, which I think is the most important part. Whadyou play? Guitar. * Togo leans forward in his chair. "Okay, now we're getting somewhere. Wizard. Blow stuff up magic, or some other kind? * Lukas looks to Herman with a faint smirk. * Herman shrugs. "Bit of both. I got a few tricks." * Khalil just watches Herman as he speaks. Just barely glancing up. Okay. Good to know... don't suppose you do healing, by any chance? Oh, sure. * Togo reaches into his coat, and tosses a candy bar to Herman. "Hoo ah. Have a Badass Bar." * Herman snatches it with his left hand. He flips the candy in his hand, looking at it. ( It's a chocolate bar. Slogan is 'a taste as deep and rich as the blackness in your soul'. ) * Lukas looks over at Togo slightly disbelievingly, then turns to Herman and says with that slight smirk, "Surprise after surprise. Next, you're gonna tell us you've got a pet dragon." * Herman lets out a faint huh, then shrugs to himself and tears open the chocolate bar. "Nah, I left 'im behind when I moved out of the castle." Is it any good? * Herman has a bite! * Herman chews, then swallows. "Little bitter. 's good." He has another. (Herman has a bitter twisted soul) * Ashley studies his nails carefully. (Maybe!) [Togo's PDA rings. It actually plays a Power Rangers ringtone, but you kids are too young to remember that.] * Togo pulls out his PDA, and runs his fingers across it a few times. "Alys, you wanna go next?" Sure! I have weights on chains, and I bop things with them. I can use spirit wards, but I can't make them. I've tried, they.... come out badly. And I can do tarot readings with the major arcana, but they're not very accurate. (You should try using the minor Arcana too. ;p) (Yeah, might help with the accuracy.) ( The major arcana are prettier!) * Togo nods. "I know some guys who do wards locally, so I can help you out with that." Really? Thanks! The guy I usually get them from doesn't really like me. * Togo hrms. "Cursed mask at the British Museum. We're supposed to... eliminate the curse. Somehow." * Herman keeps chewing on the chocolate. He turns his gaze out the window. * Khalil raises his head slightly. "Then how exactly do you get them?" * Lukas arches an eyebrow at Alys, then picks up his bag and scoops up Ten before moving his chair over to near Herman, and away from the electronic piece of crap. Cursed how? * Alys grins at Khalil. "I bug him until he sells them to me anyway." I suppose...that works. * Khalil glances at Lukas and Ashley from under his bangs, wondering if they were going to finish intros or go immediately to mission mode. Dunno. Our backers aren't big on useful details. First mission they gave me was to eliminate some zombies being raised by a necromancer. Didn't bother mentioning that the necromancer had raised an entire freaking graveyard. * Herman taps the ground with his heel and glances at Lukas. He offers badass chocolate. Was it a pet graveyard? That information is...most certainly pertinent, yes. Well, it's kinda important, isn't it? If the mask's possessed, sure, no problem. If it's something else, I dunno. We should perhaps talk on the way? Wouldn't do to be more than fashionably late. * Lukas puts his hand up. "Gotta watch my figure." Slight smirk as he pats Ten on the head. Human. Coupla hundred people. Only the second time in my life I completely ran outta ammo. *stands up* By the end, I had to beat the necromacer unconcious with a shovel. I...am not certain if that is a good idea... Only one way to find out. *nods at Ashley* Yeah. We'll continue this as we head over. * Herman shrugs and goes back to chewing on chocolate. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-3) and gets 8. (How far away is this museum?) * Khalil closes his eyes, contemplating for a moment, then opens them, rising slowly. "If we must..." (Kill one of the dices.) * Herman stands. "Sure. It's in walking distance?" * Ashley stands up and stretches. ( It's not too far away. We'll say a 20 minute walk ) 20 minute walk. Gives us a chance to continue this. * Khalil nods uncertainly. * Lukas mms and stands slowly, picking up his bag and carrying Ten up with him. "Guess that means I'm coming along, if only to tell you again that I break into electrical things, as opposed to taking care of curses." * Ashley unwraps his sweater from around his waist and slips into it. (Warmth +1!) * Herman snickers. "Never know, right?" Perhaps there is a security system there. * Alys watches Ashley put his sweater on, then puts the Kirby back down. "I can smack the thing a lot. I'm good at hitting things." * Togo heads for the door. "Well, I was about to ask Volt what he does, but that answers that." *turns to Khalil* "Hopefully, we shouldn't have to break in." Well...that is my specialty. At least one of them. Always useful. *opens the door; gestures for the others to head out* * Ashley walks out, smiling and looking attentive. * Lukas rolls his eyes and says with a slightly amused smirk, "Yeah. Those 21st century curses. Ancient Masks and Modern Technology combine for maximum cursing potential." Was there not rumors of a cursed online first person shooter a while ago? So what else you do, Khalil? I... 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-3) and gets 11. * Khalil eyes Ashley, then Togo, then tips his head down. "I would...have prefered to go last..but since you requested..." * Herman snickers. "Damn right." He walks out. * Lukas follows Herman out. "I was just kidding. Mostly." But...we probably should not depart just yet if you wish me to show. No need to show. Quick description'll do. * Herman has stepped out the door, but he glances back at the others. * Khalil stops just behind the doorway. Is the hall fairly inconspicuous? Little passerbys? [There's nobody in the hall. Of course, you do have to pass through Miranda's bar on the way out.] * Khalil shakes his head as he undoes his robe. "No. This is something best shown." * Ashley raises an eyebrow. ( He's got the Penis of Astounding! RUN! ) (Gonna tear off your head and use it as a soccer ball.) ( ;_; ) (This is England! It's a football!) * Khalil opens up his robe. Underneath it, he has a white shirt and jeans. Fairly western garb. And sneakers. And a, uh, lion's tail that swishes about his ankles near the back of his robes as if it has a mind of its own. (You're right. Too much time in america.) Whoa. * Khalil 's head turns to the side slightly as he shows off. He doesn't seem too happy about the whole affair. * Herman blinks. "Nice tail." Thank you. That's really, really cool. * Ashley eyes the tail with an appraising eye. "Fantastic! Have you considered dying it? Or perhaps braiding beads in?" * Lukas sorts turns in place, since Herman stopped him with his not walking. He stares tailward. "... Uh. Yeah..." * Togo tilts his head at Khalil, and taps his shades once or twice. "Not what I was expecting. Do anything besides look cool?" * Khalil starts tying his robe and sighing. "I am from a small mountain village within Saudi Arabia. I am cursed with griffin blood." * Herman nods. Griffin... that's a lion and some kinda bird mixed, right? Yes. Lion with the head and wings of an eagle, yeah. * Lukas pats the doll idly and gets an absent look on his face. An amazing conversationalist, once you get past the annoying habit of it wanting to hurt you rather severely. And no, I have not considered braiding beads in it. * Herman looks to Ashley. "You run into griffins much?" I will not hurt anyone severely unless it is necessary to my job, I assure you. Gotcha. *starts down the hallway* "Ashley?" (Ha, just realized. Nobody but Lukas knows my name. Whoo!) (Yep.) * Herman goes back to walkin'. As for your question, simply keep me away from pepper and I should be fine. * Khalil walks along after the rest of the group. * Ashley wavers his hand in a 'so-so' motion. "From time to time." * Alys follows. As for what I do, it's rather simple. No pepper. Duly noted. ( Also, for the record, because I forgot to mention it, Togo looks to be in his late 20s or early 30s ) * Lukas blinks, then walks too with head-shaking and muttering. * Ashley holds up a playing card, which subsequently turns into an elephant, a scale model of Kuala Lumpur, and a small TV set. In that order. "Illusion." * Herman rolls his eyes. I suppose that would be rather convenient. * Ashley grins. ( Pie is convenient, too! ) * Lukas rubs his eyes. "Convenient. Yeah." * Togo nods. "Illusions. Along with a hacker and someone who can do a little B&E. Not bad at all." [You pass through Miranda's bar. She's there! There's a bunch of customers too, although the place is hardly packed.] * Herman idly waves to Miranda on his way out. (ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROX FOR PRESIDENT!) * Togo does a quick half-salute towards their landlord. * Ashley grins at Miranda and waves. [Miranda waves back for about a half-second. She's busy serving customers.] * Herman pushes his way outside and starts walking towards the museum. * Khalil walks museum-ward! You have not yet told us about yourself. * Lukas mms and, once they make it outside, says in a grumbling voice, "Please tell me that B&E isn't going to be part of this gig normally." * Alys follows some more! * Togo waits until they're out of the bar, and starts toward the museum. "As for me... I'm ex-Army Rangers, I've been doing the monster-hunting thing for a while now, and I carry around a lot of guns and things that go boom." * Ten raises her right arm as soon as Lukas steps outside. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-3) and gets 10. I've also got connections to most of the major occultists around here, along with some official connections that should make things go a bit easier. 2d8-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Khalil (2d8-5) and gets 2. * Lukas frowns and says, loudly, "Fuck. Listen, I'm going to take my bike there. I'll have a little more data for you then." ... okay. First thing I learned in the Army was not to cramp the intel guys. * Herman glances at Lukas. "... Yeah, all right." * Lukas smirks, then stops walking by a motorcycle.. A nice black motorcycle which apparently looks like a webpage. http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=21097 ... well, actually, first thing I learned in the Army was the proper way to address my drill sergeant. But the first USEFUL thing... * Ashley shrugs and waves at Lukas. * Herman taps the end of his pipe against the tip of his boot as he walks. ( Nifty ) * Lukas puts the doll in an attached box in the back, with the arm still sticking up. "Appreciate the sentiment. I'll see you all in a bit." * Alys stares at the motorcycle. "Very, very pretty. Wow." * Khalil just watches Lukas go. His robe twitches with his tail. * Lukas nods at Alys then puts on his helmet and starts up the motorcycle. And zooms off! Zoom. And off. * Herman keeps walkin'. So yeah. I shoot stuff. And occasionally blow it up. Not much else to it, really. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-3) and gets 4. I think I'm in love. That bike is one of the prettiest things I have ever seen. * Alys glances at Ashley. 's pretty, yeah. I do admit that it would have been impressive if I had rode. It is a fine piece of machinery. A little outdated, though, at least as far as fashion goes. Who cares? A classic's a classic. s'a helluva bike. Kid has taste. Yes, although it is strange to dress up a doll so much.. We've all got quirks. * Ashley smirks. "The doll's got better taste than he does." Good intel's worth its weight in gold. If he can get us solid info, he can dress the same as the doll for all I care. * Ashley rubs his chin. "That might not be a bad idea, you know?" I...do not wish to picture a man dressing the same as that doll. You obviously haven't studied Victorian-era fashion. * Ashley grins. Why not? It's not like it hurts anyone. It'd be kind of cute, him and the doll having matching outfits. Be kind of impractical for fighting the undead and the damned, though. Yeah, it'd probably get torn up. Oh well. * Herman moves the pipe so it's on his shoulder. "Like he's actually fightin' them anyway." Could always get flanked. What if a sneaky thing creeps up on him? And ruins his outfit! ... reminds me. Of? 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-3) and gets 2. * Togo rubs his nose. "Just wanted to emphasize the point. Things have been getting really, really nasty around here in terms of supernatural activity these past few months. Goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway... be careful when we get in there." * Herman shrugs. * Khalil shakes his head. "It is an affront to Allah though for a man to dress as a woman." Yeah, and I bet Allah set down dress codes. * Khalil glances over at Herman oddly. * Herman looks at Khalil. "I mean, does the doll even fit your Allah's dress code?" If he's not Muslim, does it still matter? * Ashley waves his hands. "Morality is dreadfully boring, anyhow. Also not polite conversation." Fuck all if I'm tryin' ta be polite. I was just wondering. * Ashley looks stern. "Politeness is what moves society, sir." Then he winks. "That and a good shag now and then." * Khalil nods. "I have been fairly open-minded since coming into your culture, I must admit. Yet there are some that...still bother me, I am afraid." * Khalil winces at Ashley's glib tongue. * Alys looks down to hide a smile. I have heard that term once... * Herman snickers at Ashley's statement. "I'll agree with ya on the shag part." [You finally get there! You find Lukas on the sidewalk some distance away from the museum, staring at his laptop.] * Khalil sighs and walks forward, ahead of the sinners. * Herman walks along. You know he's somehow sinning on the way! He waves to Lukas. "Hey, Volt!" (No wonder HESO dropped out of England if it's a Catholic organization. ;P) Hi Volt! Waiting long? * Togo strides up to Lukas. "Hey Volt. Anything useful?" * Lukas looks up and says, "Not long enough." He gestures at his laptop. "Floorplans. And something about it being a witch-doctor's mask from the Congo." (It's a shiny laptop.) * Ashley makes a face. "Houdoun. Ew, this is going to be nasty." * Ten sits next to Lukas on his bag and loots pretty, but not as pretty as Ashley. * Alys looks at the laptop and sighs happily over the fact that Lukas has so many pretty things. * Lukas points at a thing that looks much like http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/visit/plans.html Room 25 on the lower floor is apparently where they're keepinig it. ( The African exhibit room. Who'da thunk? ) * Ashley peers at the shiny. * Herman doesn't look at the laptop, because goodness knows everyone else is. "Any idea what the curse is?" What is this mask doing? * Lukas shrugs. "Shamanism. Used to protect his village, suppoedly." Glance to Khalil. (Did we GET anything on what the 'curse' was doing?) (Or are there 0 victims yet?) (I didn't) [There are 0 victims. But the exhibit is also 'temporarily unavailable'.] * Lukas mms and looks over to Ten for a second, then back up to everyone. "Nobody's dead yet, but the exhibit's closed. So... take what you want from that." * Khalil points. "There are stairs directly by the exhibit. But we do not know how...sentient this curse is." Looks like there's only one way to find out. * Togo pulls something that kind of looks like a wallet from his trench coat, and looks towards the building. "Whenever you're all ready." * Alys unclips her chains and walks toward the museum entrance. I may try to scout ahead if you wish. But since a mask lacks eyes, fooling its senses probably hardly matters. * Herman shifts the pipe off of his shoulder and heads for the entrance, too. "Hard to say." ( sight checks! ) * Lukas closes his laptop and frowns as he slips the laptop into his bag and picking up the doll and putting it in such that her body and head and wings poke out. 2d8-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-6) and gets 1. 2d8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8) and gets 9. 2d8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2d8) and gets 8. 2d8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8) and gets 12. 2d8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Herman (2d8) and gets 11. 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Khalil (2d8-2) and gets 10. 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lukas (2d8-2) and gets 6. 2d8-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8-4) and gets 1. * Ashley takes three quick steps to his right all of a sudden. [Those who made it spot guards in the museum! Two of them. They're patrolling around that circle thing in the center and holding a conversation.] * Herman glances at Ashley when he does that. * Alys looks at Togo. "You said we -don't- have to break in, right?" * Togo heads for the nearest entrance where the guards can see him. "Hopefully not." * Khalil starts to walk forward anyhow. * Khalil then glances at Alys. "Hmm?" [The guards pass around the circle thing and aren't looking your way.] * Togo knocks on the door, and flips open the wallet thingee, revealing an odd- looking badge and some credentials. * Lukas mutters to himself as he stands there. This place should have a doorbell. It's a museum. Why'd it have a doorbell? [That gets them to come back! Or maybe the camera near the door does. Either way, they do come back and open the door, but only part way. "Yes? Who are you?"] To make our lives easier? This world is not geared solely towards your convenience, madam I can still wish. * Togo holds up the badge. "MI-5, gents. We got a tip regarding a mask your museum just put into its African exhibit being used to smuggle something into the country, and need to check it out immediately." [One of the guards looks skeptical. "A mask used to smuggle something? A little hard to do that, don't you think?" But the other looks fairly freaked. "You mean... THAT mask?" * Herman raises an eyebrow. He looks interested. * Khalil eyes the other guard at that statement too. Probably. *presses his badge up against the glass* Check my credentials if you need to. * Alys is ignoring the guards in favor of staring up at the building. * Ashley does his best to look impassive and mildly threatening. * Herman speaks up now, to the second guard: "There something wrong with the mask?" [The guard scrutinizes Togo's credentials. "I don't know about this...."] If it'll make you feel better, call up Captain Tony Rickman at Scotland Yard. He'll vouch for me. [He nods. "That mask is cursed. All who stare at it are bestowed with horrible nightmares!"] * Lukas gets a thin-lipped frown. ... This happen to you? So...the simple thing would be...not...to stare at it? [The first guard eyes the second. "It's just a mask, Arthur."] [The second guard shakes his head. "Oh no! Not me. But one of our collegues has been unable to come to work since, and I hear of similar cases among the tourists."] * Togo nods. "That would fit. Our information is that a vial of an extremely powerful experimental hallucinogen was hidden in the mask." If it's leaked, even in trace amounts... [The first sighs. He turns to Togo. "Alright. Come on in. But try not to damage it. Even if the mask is used in some kind of smuggling operation, it's already been verified as authentic."] * Ashley rolls his eyes. "Authentic." * Togo nods, puts his badge back in his coat, and waits for the guard to open the door. * Lukas looks over to Ashley. "What's wrong with authentic?" Way overrated, is what. You'd think so. [The guard opens the door!] Well, people with taste would. * Ashley sniffs. * Togo gives a quick salute to the guards, and heads in. * Herman nods to the guards and walks on in after the T-man. * Alys follows, some more! [Anyhow! End!]