<@Brett> [Day: Monday, March 1st. Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Northern Granbia.] <@Brett> [Having caught up with Montana, you learned that Cathanza was handed off to a pyromaniac working for Sebastian. He's taken her on a chopper, and you're heading north, following them. So far you seem to be nearing the border to Romania.] <@Brett> [Start] (Following in the air, or on the ground?) <@Brett> ( On the ground. ) <@Brett> ( In a van! ) * Sonia is in charge of following a flying pyromaniac in a van! Thankfully, she stole a wheel to replace the one they blew up earlier. (And we just blew through a checkpoint.) <@Brett> ( That too! ) <@Brett> [Alysha's in shotgun, typing on her computer. "Romania, huh? Hmmm..."] * Montana is still in the stealth suit - well, he's usually in the stealth suit, but his stealth suit is showing. The mask is down, his hat is on, and he's sitting on the driver's side, looking out the window. "Looks like it, Ma'am." <@Brett> ( Hey Montana, you're stealth suit's showing. ) (EEK!~) <@Brett> ["Hmm... Lots of supernatural activity in this country. Always is." She grins. "The good news is I think I can get someone to help us with the rescue mission."] * Gordo 's settled down in the middle of the van now that Alysha's stolen the seat he jumped out of. "Problem with helecopters is we can't just check the map for the airport he's going to. Fortunatly he's following the road." <@Brett> [Alysha nods. "And if it's a helicopter, it means he probably isn't going too far."] * Shiho leans forward to talk to Alysha. "And who's that?" <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "An old friend from a long time ago. You wouldn't believe the story if I told you. But he owes me a lot. He'll help us."] You're goin' to a lot of lengths to help out someone you barely met. * Nigel nods to Alysha. "The level of supernatural activity is fascinating, really. I've always wanted to do research around here. Too bad I don't have a good opportunity when people aren't, you know... trying to kill us." * Sonia replies, lowly, "Should try a different line'a work." <@Brett> [Alysha nods at Montana. "Yeah. But.... I feel like... I dunno. Like it's important."] * Gordo turns to Nigel. "So, for those of us who were playing hooky during supernatural activity lessons, what're we probably going to get?" * Montana tips his hat a touch to Alysha. "Your call, ma'am. But I gotta ask you to *try* not to get killed." <@Brett> [She grins. "That's what I hired you for."] ... To ask you to try not to get killed? * Nigel shrugs. "Well it is Romania, so Vampires, of course. Legends don't just come out of no where. Also, Necromancers and, as a result, zombies, and then if we manage to draw the really unlucky card... Dragons. Should be fun." You know... he doesn't seem entirely sarcastic there.] (Also why do I play a game the day after running one! nix the ]) (Haha, you should see Brett in SMT.) <@Brett> ( :X ) ... Have the movies been lieing to me, or is the only thing on that list I can hurt with normal bullest the bloody dragon? You can usually shoot a Necromancer... Or at least try. <@Brett> [Alysha snickers.] (Zombies aren't special enough to be capitalized in Nigel's estimation.) Dragons. Sure. I'll take my chances then. I've yet to meet something that didn't die when I cut its head off. * Nigel nods. "That is true of most things... Not everything, but it is a good place to start."] (Damnit! I did it again!) (YOU DID IT) * Gordo taps the side of his riffle's case. "Taking a man's head off with one of these is a few more years on the ranges than I've had." Doesn't sound so hard. <@Brett> [Alysha blinks a few times at her computer. "Ugh. Remember that Anubis statue from Milan?"] * Sonia looks in the rear view mirror, glasses on. "I mean, I did it a few weeks back." Try aiming for the head. S'a good start. * Gordo nods. <@Brett> ["Well it turns out there was another one in Cairo. Only it was stolen last night."] * Nigel perks up and looks over at Alysha. "Oh?"] (DAMNIT) * Montana sighs. "God dammit. What's the point of having a priceless artifact if there are duplicates everywhere?" (Just assume that all my actions end in ]) (/me takes away Dre's right brackets) Somebody wants the whole collection? <@Brett> ["That or there was just another one that serves the same purpose."] * Sonia shrugs slightly, then tilts her head. "Yeah, the tracker's stopped. We're about 35 miles out." (s/35 miles/56 klicks) <@Brett> [Alysha looks at Sonia, then types into her computer. "There's an old research station not far from there. That must be where they went."] Are there only two? <@Brett> ["Statues of Anubis? There's hundreds. Statues of Anubis with magical properties? I have no idea."] There a number he liked or anything? <@Brett> [Alysha shrugs.] Any other similar thefts recently? <@Brett> ["Not that I can see."] Ahm, you have anything on the station? <@Brett> [Says Alysha. "For now, we should focus on the rescue. Meaning we should go here." She pulls up a map and points at an unmarked location not far from where you are now, "And I can see about soliciting some help."] * Sonia looks over out of the corner of her eye, then says, "Alright, fine. What is it?" <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "A castle!"] <@Brett> ( I'm willing to FF when you are :o ) (Yeppers!) (Sure) (Sounds good) <@Brett> [Zoom! Come nightfall, you find yourselves nearing an old castle on the top of a small hill in the middle of nowhere.] <@Brett> [Alysha grins as the van pulls up. "I haven't seen him in more than ten years. But I'm sure he remembers me. I'm hard to forget."] Well, you would have been a child, as well. And how. How's he owe you from back then? <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Isaved his life, of course."] There's a tale here. When you were -nine-? * Nigel raises an eyebrow. "There must be, because in my experience with you, miss... you need saving pretty much all the bloody time... no offense." <@Brett> [Alysha smiles at Shiho. "You might say I've lived an active life."] <@Brett> ( brb! ) * Shiho nods at what Nigel said. * Sonia continues driving up to the castle. Thankfully, it's only a small hill! <@Brett> ( Back ) <@Brett> [You arrive at the castle. It's surrounded by a stone wall, with a closed wire-frame gate. Even as you approach, a butler is walking towards you, slowly, as he's an old man with a limp in one leg. He's bald, but has a thick white mustache.] * Montana glances around, checking security by force of habit. * Gordo forces himself to not stand at parade rest. <@Brett> [When he gets up to the gate, he says something in Romanian. Alysha responds, and he says in English, "This castle is not for tourists. It is private property. Please leave."] * Sonia slows to a stop, waiting for Alysha to work some sort of magic. <@Brett> [To which Alysha replies, "We're here to see the Count."] <@Brett> [And he says, "The Count sees no one."] <@Brett> [And she says, "He'll see me. Tell him Alysha Johnson is here."] <@Brett> [And he grumbles and heads to the castle.] <@Brett> [Alysha sits back, grinning confidentally, and he returns shortly, albeit slowly.] * Shiho turns to Nigel and whispers, "We're not coming to see Dracula, are we? I wouldn't put it past her." <@Brett> [He unlocks the gate, gesturing for you to drive in with a "Harumph."] * Gordo glances at Nigel and Shiho. * Montana does, too. * Sonia drives in slowly. "Royalty, huh. You're sure connected." <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Connections drive the world."] <@Brett> [You pull up to the castle's front gates, which swing open with a creak as the van stops. Alysha hops out, grinning.] * Nigel looks mildly confused and uncomfortable. "That is nearly impossible. He's not due to be resurrected for another hundred years... However, -a vampire- is entirely possible... perhaps likely." (s/100/40) * Gordo eyes Alysha. "You... accidentally stopped somebody else from killing him, didn't you." (rather, s/hundred/forty since I spelled it) <@Brett> [Alysha grins at Gordo. "You could say that. C'mon!" She starts towards the castle.] * Gordo mouthes "She's bonkes" to Monty and then follows. * Montana gives Gordo a nod and walks after. * Shiho keeps close to Alysha as they walk to the castle. <@Brett> [You head into the castle. It seems like a nice enough place, if a bit dark. Right through the gate is a large ante-chamber, and no sooner do you enter that a voice echos, in English but with a thick accent, "Who? Who enters the Castle of the Count?"] * Sonia looks a little confused at everyone talking as if this makes sense, and then gets out, stretching and rubbing her bare arms. * Sonia does follow in. <@Brett> [Alysha puts a hand on her hip and yells, "You know who. I told your butler. It's Alysha Johnson and her private security force."] * Montana mutters to Sonia, "What happened to the days when vampires didn't exist? Can we have them back?" <@Brett> [And then there's a puff of smoke, and you're confronted by a man! Sorta. He wears dark clothes and a cape, and has dark hair, long hooked nose, a gaotee, pointed ears, and a wide mouth with two sharp fangs.] <@Brett> [He's also four feet tall and purple-skinned. "So it is! I count one, one Alysha Johnson! Ah, ah, ah!"] (... facepalms...) * Nigel turns to Montana and raises an eyebrow. "You mean the days when you were unaware of the existence of vampires and therefore more prone to being attacked by them?" <@Brett> [Then he peers at Nigel. "And one! One mercenary! Ah, ah, ah!" Then Montana. "Two! Two mercenaries! Ah, ah, ah!" And so on and so forth.] ... How about the days when I was in a cosey wee village and they wern't? * Sonia looks over at Montana and Nigel, before saying, "I see a purple dwarf." * Montana looks at the man... thing... and then says, "Yup." A goth purple dwarf. <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Really, you guys thought I knew a vampire?" She gestures at him. "This is the Count. He's a Tsukumogami I saved twelve years ago."] A who in the what now? <@Brett> [Alysha grins at Nigel. "Explain?"] 2d6+11 <@Brett> ( No dice :o ) 1] * Dicesuke (PircBot@ip68-13-147-57.om.om.cox.net) has joined #mc5 2d6+11 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+11 for Nigel and gets a natural 6 for a result of 17. (Do I need to DR? I can if I need to) * Nigel shakes his head and chuckles. "It's an object that reached its one hundreth birthday and became animate... like... If your dolls when you were a child ACTUALLY started to talk to you." <@Brett> [Whilst that's going on, the Count makes his way to Sonia. "You have one, one purple eye! Two! Two purple eyes! Ah, Ah, Ah!"] * Sonia looks through her sunglasses at him, then says, "Good vision." <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "They were going to throw him out, but I rescued him."] ....And gave him a castle? <@Brett> [He nods at Alysha. "From one! One big fire! Ah, Ah, Ah!"] ... This's some kind of huge talking doll? I had nightmares about that sort of thing when I was a lad. <@Brett> ["Well, I helped him get here." She grins. "Not sure how he got ahold of the castle."] <@Brett> [The Count peers closely at Gordo. "How ... many nightmares?"] * Sonia looks down at the walking doll, then says, "So... there's a lot of old stuff, how does it start movin'?" * Gordo looks down at the Count. "I, ahm, not sure ...sir. I didn't count them." <@Brett> [He looks disappointed.] <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "He may not be a real vampire, but he's acquired a lot of powers. I think he can help use get into that research station and rescue Cathanza."] * Nigel looks to Sonia. "It's pretty much random chance. Some things come to life, some do not." Huh. <@Brett> [The Count makes his way to Shiho. "You have one, one weapon! Two! Two weapons! Three! Three weapons, if you count your body. And I do, because I'm the Count! Ah, ah, ah!"] * Shiho turns to Alysha and says firmly, "I like him." <@Brett> [Alysha grins.] He ain't exactly stealthy, so as long as he's not trying to sneak in it's fine with me. Well, if you say so ma'am. <@Brett> ["I was thinking he could draw away the guards," she says. "Then with them distracted, we could go in and rescue Cathanza."] * Nigel raises an eyebrow. "Couldn't anyone do that? Or is her particularly distracting for some reason?" * Montana nods and looks at the Count, trying to size him up, but that's essentially impossible. * Gordo looks at Nigel. "Do sukuwhatevers get some sort of 'don't get horribly shot by... ah" <@Brett> [The Count looks up at Montana. "You have one, one hat! Ah, ah, ah!"] And by 'we,' I assume you mean, 'everyone else while I stay safely at the castle where my bodyguards don't have to worry about my personal safety.' <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Sorry, Shiho. Not this time. I want to be there when we rescue her."] * Sonia says, over at Montana, "He's got this countin' thing down. You ever need a counter, call him up." <@Brett> [The Count nods at Sonia. "I have a telephone number! It has one, one digit! Two, two digits!" ... etc.] If you get hurt or die... well, I don't feel like airing out all the personal and professional turmoil it'll put me through. You should stay here. <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "But I won't die. I've got you guys to protect me."] * Gordo puts up at least a token resistance. "It's a lot easier when you arn't there to be shot at ma'am." Yeah, it'd be easier if you *let* us protect you by having you stay here. How about we set up a holocall or somethin' once we save her instead. <@Brett> [The Count says, "And you can stay here, too! My castle has one, one bedroom. Two! Two bedrooms! Three! Three bedrooms!" ...etc.] * Shiho mutters something about investments and chloroform. <@Brett> [Alysha pouts folding her arms. "Alright. Alright, fine."] * Montana grins. "And you got... how many bedrooms to choose from?" he asks the Count, who's probably still counting rooms. <@Brett> [That just gets him to start all over. "You can choose from one! One bedroom! Two! Two bedrooms!" ... etc.] * Nigel nods. "That would be best. At times, miss, I feel like you make our jobs difficult on purpose... like you wouldn't be getting your money out of us if we didn't have to try so hard to protect you." <@Brett> [Alysha smiles at Nigel. "I did warn you it wouldn't be an easy job."] That you did, that you did. <@Brett> ( Soooo... ) (So!) <@Brett> ( You guys wanna end here or keep going and end in an awkward place? ) (Everybody going to be here next week?) (I am!) (If Mecha's playing, I'm playing!) (And so is Dre, YEAH.) (I'll be here next week, but I can also keep going today if other people want to) (In that case I don't think it matters) <@Brett> ( So is that a keep going or not keep going? ) (I am not a huge fan of the awkward place.) <@Brett> ( K, then.... ) <@Brett> [We End Here Now.]