[Day: Sunday, Oct. 6th. Time: 8:00 p.m.] [Quick recap: You beat up one Denzel Harrisburg and stole his wallet and a briefcase full of money and love. And by love, I mean a big black 8-ball like thing with a red groove down the center. God knows what it is, but Himmel probably wanted it, as well as the ladies of Covenant (or maybe they wanted the money).] (Or maybe they just wanted the tongue action.) [Denzel is currently in custody somewhere off camera. The black orb thing is with you guys! The money... um... I don't think so Khalil. Anyhow, the money's somewhere off camera too. You're all gathered/ing at the office. That wasn't quick at all, was it?] [Oh well, session start.] * Ashley is there! He's sipping from a can of diet uncola and generally looking pretty. How nice. * Togo is sitting at his desk, cleaning out the barrel of his shotgun, with the now de-trapped briefcase containing the orb on the desk on front of him. * Alys is sitting in the corner, once again playing solitaire with her cards. It's a very small game, because she only carries around about a third of the deck, but oh well. She seems very involved in it. * Herman opens the door and comes walking in, looking fairly awake! And punky, as always. "Hey." * Herman spots the crumpled letter from yesterday on the floor and snatches it. * Lukas carries the Ten today, looking somewhat exasperated. "Yeah. Hey. Woo." He closes his eyes. "For a makeshift organization, this is the most regular deal I've ever seen." Reopens his eyes. "Except for the not telling us anything." It's like the military, but with better food. Never did like the bloody military. * Herman finds a chair and has a seat on it backwards, as usual. At this point, it starts backwards. * Ashley makes a face. "Far too dirty and inelegant." * Ten sits on Lukas's arm. She's got the same blond hair and snowflake wings from yesterday, but today's outfit is a dark blue dress embroidered with more snowflakes, and a matching bonnet. Too bad it's not actually snowing outside. * Khalil comes walking in with a physics text book slung under his armpit. He gives a quick nod of acknowledgement before he plunks down near the desk across from Togo and opens it up. Can't argue with that. But it was a family tradition, and it grew on me. * Herman snorts at the comment about family traditions and looks at the letter in his hand. He skims the words for a bit before he shoves it into his jacket. * Ashley is actually wearing a polo shirt and slacks, with a light silk scarf around his neck. Oh, and since we're all here, before I forget... the big guy is being shipped back to the States as we speak for interrogation. Hopefully they'll be able to get something useful outta him. Also got our research guys looking into the orb, but they say it's gonna take a while, because, and I quote, "There are too many fucking magic orbs out there." * Lukas rolls his eyes. So you are certain it is magic? Oh, well, spectacular. I'm sure we can expect results in a few millenia. * Alys seems to have finished her game and is twirling one of her many small curls around a finger while looking at the cards suspiciously. Nope. But I wouldn't be surprised. It could be scientific, could it not? Millennia? Nah. But give it a week or two, and hopefully we'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with. * Khalil rubs his forehead as he opens up the book midway. "Quite honestly, it could be anything..." * Lukas smirks thinly. "Could always ask the ladies." * Ashley looks to Alys. "You'd have better luck with more cards, love. Can't work well if you're missing some, can it?" I guess. I can't tell whether I won or not. Wanna take a look? * Togo glances over at Lukas. "While they're shooting at us, or afterwards?" * Lukas shrugs. "Both." * Ashley blinks. "If you really must ask, the answer is probably that you've lost." Why limit yourself? It's just, I can't stand the minor arcana. They don't look as nice and there's too many numbers. Yeah, probably. *shrug* I've heard worse ideas. ( Hey! I resemble that remark.) (What remark? :P) * Alys sighs and sweeps the cards into one stack, then pockets them. "So! A magical thingie! Have we tried poking it yet?" * Ashley pauses for a moment. "I've not dealt with a deck of tarot cards in ages." He pulls one out from behind his ear and ruffles through it. "They are rather boring, aren't they?" [Togo's PDA beeps. Go Go Power Rangers!] * Alys smiles at Ashley happily. "Sometimes. But I get good readings once in a while. And they're pretty." * Togo pulls out his PDA, and checks it. * Lukas chuckles. "If you want to poke it, I'd like a five minute head start." His eyes flick to the cards and then to Togo. * Herman shakes his head. "I don't think that orb's magic." * Ashley shuffles the deck into nothingness. So what is it? *beat* Besides an orb. I know it's an orb. * Awaymancer is now known as Segev Beats me, but it didn't feel magic. Yet, anyway. Yet? And no, we are not going to try poking it. * Herman shrugs. "Sure. Just about anything can be enchanted later." I don't know, and as long as we have it and they don't, we can afford to wait to find out. ... hmm. We're going to the library. ... The library? * Ashley says, in a dry a tone as he can manage, "Oh, rapture." Fun. * Alys stares blankly at Togo. "I spend all day with books, and you're telling me I need to go to the -library-?" Do you mind if I just go get a coffee or something? Books give me hives. * Ashley lifts his left hand, which proceeds to break out in hives. How prophetic. We're supposed to 'defeat' someone named Spriggan. *pauses* And 'investigate the presence' of someone named Rachel Rast. If it's not a magic library this is gonna get... well. (SPRIGGAN) In the library? ( I did that too. ) Any specific library? 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 1. Stanton National Library. So prolly not magic. Rachel. Sounds like a plan. Not sure if that's Covenant Rachel, but it's a good bet we're not checking up on the night cleaning lady. * Togo pauses, and smacks himself in the forehead. "Not a person named Spriggan. *A* spriggan. s'like a pixie, but instead of playing tricks, it's really really evil. * Khalil sighs and leans back. "It is a public place is it not? What could go on there?" * Lukas runs his hand back through his hair. "Good times. Why are we calling me for fire support again?" 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-2) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 6. * Khalil then just pauses. "I needed to ask." Though it usually doesn't start making with the evil without a reason, however warped or silly. Someone forgot to turn in an overdue library book? * Ashley pales. "Oh, bollocks." If it gets all evil on people who come in and move books to the wrong shelves, I have no sympathy. * Herman turns to Ashley, all attention. "What?" Fucked if I know. *turns to Ashley* Someone you know? * Khalil glances at Ashley expectantly. They're right bastards, is what. From my proverbial neck of the woods, so I can say that with some authority. Your neck of the woods seems to need some pruning around the jugular, if you shall forgive my saying so. * Ashley shrugs. "One can't do much about one's estranged relations, except tread carefully." No kidding. * Herman thinks about it, then shrugs. "Make sure you got some cold iron handy." If you're still interested when we're through, I can fill you in on the details. * Ashley shudders slightly. * Herman stands, idly tapping the pipe against his leg. He doesn't seem to have noticed Ashley's shudder. * Alys turns to Herman. "Why cold iron?" Look, I'll be outside for a bit. * Ashley gets up and hurries through the door. * Lukas chuckles. "I'm more a plastic and steel man, myself." He glances after Ashley, but only glancing. * Alys glances toward the exit. "What's with him?" Probably doesn't like cold iron. * Togo pulls out a section of cold-wrought iron fence from his trenchcoat. "Khalil can hit it with this." * Khalil just eyes Togo. "...I am frightened at the things you keep in there." An explanation, if it's not too much of a bother. Why cold iron? And why cold, for that matter? I suppose that means I'm changing before I go. * Herman shakes his head. "Not actually cold. It's just a way of treating it." * Lukas chuckles to himself. And fae can't stand touching it. You'll never see Ashley picking this up. * Herman gestures with his pipe. I take it you have had some dealings before? * Alys blinks. "Oh. Well, then." Kinda. If you're gonna bother with this shit, you'd might as well be ready for fae. * Togo grins at Khalil. "One can never be too prepared." * Khalil sighs resigned. "It is simply difficult to travel in public like that. Although, I suppose Ashley could cover if need be." * Ashley puts his head back in the door. "Are we done with all that?" (Forget, did the HQ have another room connected or is it just a one- room place?) ( It's a one room office. ) (And it's above a bar.) ( Not even a bathroom there; you have to go through the bar to use it. ) * Togo puts away the section of fence. "Yeah. Sorry." * Ashley twitches a little. "Thanks. If it wouldn't be bothersome, would you mind not talking about that again?" * Khalil looks around, shaking his head. "Not even a bathroom to change in?" It's not like you're changing your clothes, you know. It's not a big deal. * Khalil looks at Alys weirdly for a moment. Since she is generally Alys, this is not an unfounded response. Is it the girl thing? I can turn around. Not...exceptionally...oh fine.. * Alys turns around and stares at the wall. * Ashley comes in the room fully, with a wary eye at Herman. * Khalil goes into a corner of the room and starts to undo his robe before forcing himself to sneeze. * Lukas shakes his head and looks to Togo. "Look, Togo, if the orb's not magic, I might as well take a look at it. Maybe it's a stupidly shaped key." * Herman shrugs at Ashley. "Sorry, man." He sounds like he kind of means it. Why must it be an orb? Why not a globe? Or a sphere? Can I turn back around yet? No. But unless this 'spriggan' thing's got a bloodstream, you're way beyond me. * Ashley sits back down. "Quite all right, really," he says, sounding like he's trying to mean it and failing hard. * Khalil pours out some pepper into his palm and sneezes, the last coming out as only a bird can sneeze. He sprouts his feathers and beak without much fanfare. * Khalil is now known as Griff_Khalil Well, we want you there for lock picking and security system stuff, if nothing else. ... It's a library. Granted. It may be a locked library. I heard a sneeze. Was it a griffin sneeze? Am I done? The wall is boring. * Lukas rolls his eyes and throws his arm over at Khalil, gesture-like. "We're not talking Fort Knox. Khalil wanted to prove something last time, well, he did it. You don't need me for that." * Griff_Khalil turns around. "And I cannot much handle lock picks in this form." * Togo shrugs. "Come because you're prolly the smartest guy here, and a good brain is always useful to have around?" * Herman looks at Lukas and says, dryly, "You're the group cheerleader. Ashley can get you and the doll matching pompoms." Easily. Manchester colours? Sure, why not? Or Arsenal? * Griff_Khalil eyes Lukas oddly and then shows off his talons. "...yes. Do you really believe I can open a lock holding picks with these?" * Lukas rolls his eyes at Togo, then smirks. "Yeah, she'd probably like that. Christ." He stands up and looks to Khalil. "Yeah, sure, why not?" * Lukas rolls his neck slightly. "Special gloves. Look into 'em." Believe me, I have tried. It is far from the same. * Alys turns around anyway so she can watch the conversation. * Togo stands up, and slips the briefcase into his trenchcoat. "If you want, you can check out the orb thingee afterwards." The hell do you fit that under there, Togo? * Ashley stands up, and dusts off his slacks. Magic trenchcoat. Thought I went over this already. He has an awesome coat with blue bunny rabbits. Probably wasn't here for it. We goin'? 2d8-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8-4) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 5. * Ashley wiggles his fingers, and Khalil looks normal once again! * Togo stands up. "We goin'." * Lukas looks a bit annoyed, but says, "Yeah," anyway. * Griff_Khalil looks down at his hands and takes a deep breath. "Yes. * Alys hops once so that her curls bounce. "Library. Evil stuff. Let's go." * Togo heads out the door! * Herman starts to walk out, commenting, "The library probably is the evil." Certainly. All those ... books. * Alys follows after Herman. "Very true." Thus far, I would not be surprised with anything. * Ashley follows after Alys, not Herman. Well... I would be. But I would attempt to feign non-surprise to the best of my ability. * Griff_Khalil then walks. * Lukas follows, carrying Ten with him. [And of you go! Some Time Later, you arrive at the Stanton National Library, a four-story tall, old building. It's locked, and a sign on the glass door explains clearly that the library is closed.] [The lights are all off.] * Togo ponders. "Library... okay, so no flamethrowers." Damn. * Ashley looks up. "Blasted sprites." * Togo frowns. "That was actually supposed to be a joke. I don't carry a flamethrower." *pauses* "Note to self: more work needed on SoH." You should. Flamethrowers are very spiffy. Except in libraries, of course. Or bookstores. * Lukas holds Ten in his arms and stands there. Flamethrowers are great until someone hits your fuel tank. Then they aren't so much fun. * Herman shrugs. "Who needs a flamethrower? We going in?" * Togo turns to Lukas. "Volt, be our guest." I will not comment on their ridiculous lack of a doorbell. There should be laws for this kind of thing. Where is the convenience, I ask you? But, I'm not commenting. Yeah. Sure. A library is usually believed to be a quiet zone. Hence the lack of annoyances such as doorbells. * Ashley glances the building over carefully. He looks to be concentrating hard. * Lukas swings his backsatchel forward slightly so he can 1) put Ten in and 2) get out the tools. He still doesn't look all that pleased as he closes in on the door. "This is really just sad." * Herman looks at Alys. "Who'd answer the door?" * Ten goes in the bag. Um... the spriggan? And then we could fight it! And that would be that. Granted, it's not Fort Knox. [The door is indeed locked.] * Lukas taps the door idly, then goes for unlocking it. ( Unlocking roll +2! ) You do not want to be hoping to run into this thing, Alys. (... +2. Right.) ( It should be a breeze for Lukas, the Master of Unlocking Things. ) But we're going to anyway, right? It would be easier than looking for it and maybe getting surprised. (Yeah, Except his targets are 12 if you let him go on mind with BnE and 10 if not. c.c;) I believe I shall take that fence now. 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lukas (2d8-2) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 8. * Ashley shrugs and goes back to concentrating. [Lukas opens it. See? Worry wort.] (A bare make if BnE is on mind and I wasted 16 SP. ^_~) * Lukas jiggers the lock open and then stands, shoving the locks away. "Open seasame, or somesuch." He takes a step back away from the doors. (And that's fence. Although some British spelling may differ.) * Togo opens the door and heads in, drawing his revolver as he does. * Ashley steps well away from Khalil. * Griff_Khalil taps Togo on the shoulder and clears his throat. Hmm? The fence? [Inside, it's dark! Hard to see much.] Ah, right. Keep it away from Ashley. *hands the fence to Khalil* * Griff_Khalil takes the piece of fence and hefts it up on his shoulder. Rawr. * Togo leads the way, since darkness isn't really an issue for him. * Herman walks in. "Aw, fuck. No light again." (...now why do I totally picture Khalil as Joaquim from Shadow Hearts 2?) * Ashley peers in. "Does nobody have a bloody torch?" * Togo passes back three flashlights. * Griff_Khalil walks in as if the darkness isn't an issue for him either. * Ashley grabs one. "Ah, blessed lumens." He flicks it on. * Herman passes, raising one hand and saying a quick word in Latin. A sphere appears above it, glowing like the noonday sun. And I think torch falls under the same catagory as flamethrower in the 'not in the library' department. * Ashley pauses, then flicks it off. Might as well keep your hands free. * Alys walks in. "Yay for magic!" * Ashley shakes the flashlight "Torch, love. One of these." * Togo hrms. "So where in the Dewey decimal system is a spriggan?" * Alys turns to Ashley. "He's American, you have to forgive him some things." * Lukas taks one of them, because he's not doing anything with his hands. Doesn't mean he shouldn't learn. [The room is illuminated! It's pretty big, bigger than the second floor, which you can see ends in a balcony. On the first floor are staff desks and reading areas, as well as the fiction section.] * Herman walks farther in, looking around carefully. * Togo starts to wander through, looking around for anything small and flying or female/scantily clad/hostile. * Ashley looks around, and follows. ( Gimme hearing checks! ) 2d8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8) and gets a natural 12 for a result of 12. 2d8-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-6) and gets a natural 11 for a result of 5. 2d8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2d8) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 10. (I'd hope the first floor is bigger than the second floor, or we'd have a little collapse around us.) 2d8 2d8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 7. * Dicesuke throws the bones for Herman (2d8) and gets a natural 11 for a result of 11. 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lukas (2d8-2) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 6. 2d8-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8-6) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 4. [Whoever made it hears a scream from the second floor. Sounds female.] * Griff_Khalil maneuvers his way through the stacks, trying his best to make sure his wings don't bump into the books. It isn't easy. * Lukas says, a bit quietly, "Woman's screaming upstairs." * Togo looks up, points up, and heads speedily for the stairs. * Ashley blinks, and follows after a second. * Alys heard nothing, but follows Togo anyway. [Not anymore! A woman comes flying off the balcony, slamming into the far wall. She then slams into the wall above you, and then falls head first to the ground.] ... well, there goes that. Ouch. Holy fuck. [As you race for the stairs, you hear gunshots.] * Ashley frowns. "Spriggan are not fond of guns. Strange." * Togo stows his revolver and pulls out his shotgun. He whispers as he runs. "Lukas, if you don't wanna be in harm's way, check to see if that girl's alive." * Herman stares down at the woman, then starts dashing up. The light follows him. * Lukas looks over at the woman as well, to ID her if he can, before following everyone. * Griff_Khalil winces and heads for the stairs as well. Why not? * Ashley follows Herman, cause light is good. (This particular light kills vampires. It's awesome light!) [The woman doesn't look familiar, but she is wearing a yellow and black jumpsuit, and has a pistol and tonfa at her side.] (WOO AWESOME LIGHT!) (... Kill Rei?) ( Gimme sight checks, +3 ) 2d8+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8+3) and gets a natural 13 for a result of 16. ( And best of all, it's neither yummy nor pink, and doesn't come with a goddamn rat mascot. ) 2d8+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Herman (2d8+3) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 11. 2d8+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2d8+3) and gets a natural 14 for a result of 17. * Lukas sighs and follows, muttering, "I wonder if I can introduce them to the term, 'Hazard pay.'" 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 15 for a result of 12. 2d8+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8+3) and gets a natural 12 for a result of 15. 2d8+1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lukas (2d8+1) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 5. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8-3) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 5. [As you go up the stairs, you see two more women, slowly backing away and firing at something up there. A vine-like thing wraps around the foot of one and she screams as it drops her and drags her out of sight.] * Griff_Khalil glances at the women for a moment, but his eyes rove higher up the stairwell, following something. * Ashley looks around, focusing furiously. * Togo tries to follow the vine to figure out who/where the woman is being dragged to. * Lukas 's eyes flick stairward as well as he pulls his pistol. * Griff_Khalil mutters as low as he can manage to the group. "There are more that are headed upward. Shall we pursue?" [When you get to the second floor (finally), you see what they're firing at: An old guy? He's maybe three feet tall, with rather pointed ears, a long white beard and moustache, and a green wizard hat and robe. The woman who got caught by the vine is being dragged towards him.] ( And gimme init rolls. ) 2d8+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Herman (2d8+7) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 16. 2d8+13 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2d8+13) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 23. 2d8+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lukas (2d8+7) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 12. Oh.... drat. 2d8+14 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8+14) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 19. 2d8+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8+7) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 14. 2d8+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8+7) and gets a natural 11 for a result of 18. 2d8+14 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8+14) and gets a natural 3 for a result of 17. [Order: Alys, Togo, Ashley, Old guy, Khalil, Herman, Woman1, Ten, Woman2, Lukas] [Alys!] [And by the way, the second floor is mostly reading tables, with bookshelves at the sides.] (Great! I'll blow it all up!) * Alys takes out one of her stronger wards and throws it at the old short guy. 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2d8-2) and gets a natural 15 for a result of 13. [And it flies by him!] [Togo's turn] * Togo pumps his shotgun, sets himself, and fires a blast at the guy. "Let go of the woman!" 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 3. [Togo blasts him!.... Or so it seems. But just as he pulls the trigger, the old guy is about three feet away from where he was aiming.] [Ashley's turn!] 2d8-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8-4) and gets a natural 14 for a result of 10. * Ashley wiggles his fingers at the guy. [Ashley doesn't seem to do anything. The Spriggan (who's obviously the old guy), looks with clear white eyes at you all. "More intruders. You will perish." He then turns his gaze to the woman caught in the vine and draws a finger downward. An anvil appears. If this was a cheesey cartoon, it might be comical when it falls on her face. But in this case, it sort of makes a mess, and she stops struggling.] [He looks from her to the lot of you again, and floats out of himself. Two times.] [Khalil's turn] * Griff_Khalil looks to the old man, then up the stairs. He decides going up the stairs is more important and heads upwards to the next floor. Hey, that's what you get for not answering. (Wow, leave the lady to get squished by an anvil.) [Herman's turn! And Khalil and logger, join #MC3more] (She already GOT squished. :P Besides, they're probably the ones causing the trouble in the first place) (Wow, Kahlil's a bastard. ;P) (Totally.) (I'd follow, but I'm slow.) * Herman looks at them, briefly overwhelmed, then shakes his head. "Fuck it." He runs for the one on the left and tries to slam the pipe into him. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Herman (2d8-3) and gets a natural 3 for a result of 0. [Herman smacks him upside the head! He floats in a backwards sommersault through the air, cringing, and his doubles vanish.] [Ten's turn] * Ashley cringes, involuntarily. (Go Bane go!) (It hurts. Jason taught me that.) 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-3) and gets a natural 14 for a result of 11. [The anvil lifts itself and throws itself towards the spriggan, but lands on a couch instead. As a side note, you can now see what's under it, and... Ew. Try not to look at it.] * Dreout is now known as Dreamland [The remaining woman fires at him! But either she misses or he made her miss.] [Lukas' turn] (Is the staircase still clear to run?) ( Yeah ) * Lukas yells, "Khalil, you idiot, COLD IRON NEEDED HERE. Fuck!" He runs staircase-ward. [Alys's turn!] * Alys unclips her chains and runs at the spriggan to attack him. She looks a bit sick from seeing the woman's face get squished. 2 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2 2d8-2) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 0 7. [The sickness doesn't stop her from smacking him twice. But he's a resiliant old fogey.] [Togo's turn!] * Togo chambers another round into his shotgun, and fires. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 6. [Togo catches him with that, too, and he's starting to look pretty bloody. And angry.] [Ashley's turn] * Ashley looks between the staircase and the old guy, and decides to wing Many Many knives at it. 2d8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 6. [Ashley sticks him! He looks really mad now.] [Ashley sticks him twice, in fact!] [Which finishes him off >.>] [He falls down dead-like.] ( And I need to start making these things tougher ._. ) ( Still early in the game. Live'n learn. ) [The woman stares at him. "Is he dead?"] * Ashley walks up and collects his knives. He gives the spriggan a once-over. * Herman walks up, too, eyeing it. * Alys blinks. "That was quick." Nice swing, Herman. (Brett: We had the bane. If we didn't, I assume it would've still been beatable, but much harder.) It's dead. (Banes make things a lot easier. It's an ugly, ugly defect.) Or as dead as such things get. ( Well, yes and no. Even without the bane, you still do a ton of damage. :P ) (*I* don't. ;P) ( But he would have dodged better, yes. ) Looks like. Might as well make sure. (Be glad Khalil wasn't there. SS + Muscle-powered + Bane. x.x) Good. *turns the shotgun on the girl; chambers round* Covenant, right? Since we just saved you from a nasty death, I don't suppose you'd be kind enough to drop your weapons and tell us why you're here? * Herman brings up the pipe and calmly smashes the hopefully already dead old guy in the head with it. * Ashley cringes, and falls on his ass trying to scoot backwards. [She points her pistol at Togo. "Nope. Sorry."] A little warning next time? I'm not hitting *you*. ( Back into init o/~ ) [Khalil's turn] [And Herman bashes the downed guy. Ew.] Doesn't matter! I ... oh, BUGGER. What now? [Herman's turn!] [And Ten's at the same time woo.] * Herman is apparently satisfied with that as he looks up and sees that the lady pulled a gun on Togo. "Of all the bloody ways to be ungrateful," he says before he points his pipe at her and starts chanting in a guttural tongue. The floor begins to rumble slightly. [The woman makes a break for the stairs! Upwards.] [Lukas's turn] [Alys too.] [The woman stops halfway up the stairs, since Lukas is up there.] * Alys makes an exasperated noise and runs after the woman, swinging her chains at her. 2 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2 2d8-2) and gets a natural 16 for a result of 9 14. [Alys doesn't manage to hit her, however.] [Togo's turn] * Togo runs after her, notices Lukas' proximity, and swaps out his shotgun for his revolver (with NEURO-DISRUPTOR BULLETS (TM)) before firing. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 14 for a result of 11. [The bullet ricochets off the wall. "Ptang!"] [Ashley's turn] * Ashley waves his hand at the woman. 2d8-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8-4) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 6. [The woman stares in front of her with wide eyes before wheeling about and facing Alys.] [Herman can go while I sort out some other stuff] 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8-2) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 7. 2d8+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8+2) and gets a natural 15 for a result of 17. * Herman keeps chanting, the ground rumbling rather fiercely under the woman. Before long, healthy vines force their way out of it - yes, halfway up the staircase, which is where she is - and try to ensnare her. 2d8-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Herman (2d8-4) and gets a natural 11 for a result of 7. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8-3) and gets a natural 13 for a result of 10. [The vines wind around her legs and waist. She twists a bit, though stopping the vines from ensnaring her entirely, but only with great effort can she move at her normal pace.] [Ten's turn] 2d8+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8+6) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 16. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-3) and gets a natural 14 for a result of 11. [The woman can still maneuver decently well, and does so, taking a shot at Alys, who's right in front of her.] 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2d8-2) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 2. [Alys is able to duck in time to avoid getting shot in the head! Woo.] [And it's her turn! And Lukas's] 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lukas (2d8-3) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 3. [Oh, and Lukas shouts from above.] * Lukas shouts, from above, "We need people up here!" Trying! [Cutting to Togo] * Togo tries to run past the woman up the stairs to where Khalil/Lukas are, firing at her with his revolver as he passes. 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 5. [Togo shoots her, and she becomes too sluggish to move in the vines. "Ow! Hey, stop!"] [Ashley's turn] * Ashley stays anxiously downstairs, as the stairs are blocked. (Hold action) [Herman!] 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Lukas (2d8-2) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 8. 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8-2) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 2. * Herman dashes up the stairs, ignoring the complaining lady. The light goes with him. * Alys follows up after Herman. (I assume I can, uh, brush by her.) ( There's barely enough room. ) (Works for me!) 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Griff_Khalil (2d8-3) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 2. [It takes a round to get to the fourth floor, which is basically a hallway and a restricted room. In front of the door to the room are three women, one collapsed. The other two are fighting Lukas and Khalil, who just sent the gun of one of them flying.] [Ten's turn!] 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ten (2d8-3) and gets a natural 3 for a result of 0. [As though mirroring her partner, the other one's gun goes flying too.] [Alys's turn!] * Alys asks, "Do you guys just come out of the woodwork or something?" and attacks the woman Khalil just unarmed. 2 2d8-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Alys (2 2d8-2) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 4 5. [She answers with a cry as Alys hits her. Twice!] [Togo's turn] I think they raided some kind of modeling agency. *fires revolver at the one Alys just hit* 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 7. [She goes ridgid, then collapses to the floor.] (That's right, I had a held action. Might as well have used it.) [And then a certain Rachel emerges from the room. "You just don't know when to quit, do you? She tosses a ball of light in Togo's direction.] 2d8-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 13 for a result of 10. [The ball of light hits Togo in the chest and explodes in an inward spiral that seems to go through him, coming out his back. His body seems physically uninjured, but.... Good God that felt painful.] [I should note, Rachel is carrying three books under one arm. The top one reads "Harry Blackstone's Secret Arts."] [Ashley!] ( The other two are the latest two Harry Potter books. ) * Togo stumbles backwards, clutching his chest, and falls to one knee. * Ashley heads upstairs, past whatever obstacles there are! ( Harry Potter and the Knights Who Say 'Ni' and Harry Potter and That Guy from the "Ernest Goes..." Movies. ) ( Not 'Harry Potter and the Mid-Life Crisis?' ) * Ashley waves his hand at the remaining girl that is not Rachel. ( Nah, he's 60 by now ) 2d8-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ashley (2d8-4) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 6. [She screams and rolls on the floor, brushing herself and screaming "Get them off!" Rachel looks down at her disgustedly.] [And then she blinks as one of her books, the bottom one, flies out of her stack, humming and glowing.] * Ashley looks fairly disgusted himself. "Unoriginal, but drastic times..." * Herman watches the whole mess and the book, trying to identify the thing. [She stares at it. "Impossible. I didn't-" but she's cut off by another: "You want the contents of this book?" It's a very, VERY bloody looking Spriggan, crawling up the stairs behind Ashley.] [He mutters, waving an arm. "Then you shall have it.... In Spades..." The book opens and flips to a certain page, then shines brightly. When the shine stops, you're... elsewhere.] [Session End!]