Into The Strange: The Eschatology Code

[Nina]

The 737 bumped up and down as it passed through some turbulence most of the passengers didn't even notice, but the four passengers , two men and two woman sitting In coach rows 17 and 18 did. They had been in quiet discussion since take off two hours before and each was hyper-alert.

 

Today begun like any other day at the estate campus in Seattle. Total Chaos. Cell phones went off and Agents were summoned and sent off to god knows where. And then there were these four. Agent Shane Curtis, Agent Percival Hutchinson, newly promoted Agent Alexandra Scire, and an unknown factor Ms. Juno Reyes who was handed her badge by Lead Investigator Keaton as she entered the briefing room. Called in By Senior Agent Katherine Manners, one of the founding members of the Estate, each of the young agents had arrived ready to go anywhere and do anything called upon because they are Estate agents and they have the badges to prove it. The Estate is a secret organization that monitors activity on Earth that originates in alternate recursions and, generally speaking, puts a stop to it for Earth’s safety. Each of these Special Agents have been touched by the Strange and have abilities regular people wouldn’t understand. Those abilities are what make them the perfect agents for the Estate.

 

Manners had made a fast Mission briefing passed out gear and cyphers handed them coach-class tickets from Seattle, Washington, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The mission: to investigate a man called Father Foss of the All Souls Church of Deliverance (located in Sioux Falls).

 

Father Foss had began counting down to the “End of Days” a few weeks ago. Of course, crackpot evangelists do that all the time, but in this case, local televised news reports showed Father Foss pulling off several tricks that bamboozled the local media. A few reporters went so far as to call the tricks actual miracles.

 

 

Three Hours earlier at the Estate

 

Kate Manners let the three agents and Keaton's new “protege” settle in for the brief. She wasn't happy not in the least. Of the four only Curtis and Hutchinson had any real field experience and this could prove dangerous.

 

She looked at Alexandra and it took all her effort not to dismiss her from the mission immediately, but she thought to herself, no this is what she wants and who am I kidding she risen to every challenge so far, its time I let her grow up.

 

Then she looked at the newest member of the Estate. Juno Reyes a cop who had an encounter and now Keaton wants to make her his deputy. On paper she looked good excellent record, good recommendations, but she had no Estate Training, We dont even know if shes really touched or if her encounter with Cumberland was just pure luck,  she had only been here today because of Keaton trying to recruit her. If Keaton hadn't of had to go to Palo Alto for the damned emergency there I would never have signed off on this. She stepped up to the wall and Flipped the light swich allowing the Presentation to begin. On the screen was the image of a man.

 

The picture shows a thin, tall, older man with blond hair, smiling into the camera. The caption under the picture reads Father Nick Foss.

 

 

“This is Father Nick Foss, leader of the All Souls Church Of Deliverance in Sioux Falls. We Think he has a quantum Computer...” As she continues new images flip onto the screen.

 

 

“As you are all aware we destroy quantum computers and discourage further research whenever we find some scientist trying to make one, because using the computer can strip the Earth of its anonymity and summon a planetovore from the Strange” Manners looks at Reyes to see if she's following, then continues.

.

“ We recently learned that the group calling itself the September Project utilized next-generation quantum computing to create what they are calling the War Code program. The Project promised specially fabricated war glasses that would supposedly give wearers the abilities of supersoldiers. They began shopping the War Code program around to various military contractors as soon as the program was complete. To little success.”

 

Kate turns the lights back on and faces her team while leaning against the nearby table

 

“ They have been Unable to locate buyers in the military-industrial complex and they seem to have changed tactics. We dont know the connection yet but we believe that the Project has delivered the quantum computer and the war glasses to Father Foss, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.”

 

She folds her arms under her breasts and gives a heavy sigh.

 

“However the quantum computer and the associated war glasses accomplish their “magic,” it’s bending the law of Standard Physics here on Earth—so much that everything is on the line. Active war glasses could destabilize Earth, leaving the planet wide open to the creatures that live in the Strange.”

She gives each of the young agents that serious look.

 

“ The mission is to locate and destroy the computer and all war glasses that you can find. You know who we are dealing with on this so be careful I want all of you coming back.” She spies the questioning look on Juno's face “Ms. ... Agent Reyes, the others will explain about Project September on the way to the airport.”

 

She straightens up and steps to the side gesturing to the table.

 

“Curtis you will be lead agent on this. Here is your gear and cyphers, your flight leaves at 10:30,” She hands Curtis the tickets,” and the car to the airport in fifteen minutes. Any questions?”

 

 

 

 

GAME INFORMATION

This Adventure is based on a published adventure. If you have read the published version rest assured there will be deviations.

Gear- Credentials for Federal Marshals, A small (tablet sized) scanner which will allow the detection of Quantum wave forms in a short range area (20yrds). Firearms if you need them.

Cyphers. Following cyphers are available each of you may take up to Three even if you already have cyphers on your sheet (these cyphers are treated with a field which cause them to resist interaction for up to 48 hrs). Each character may only take one of each type though.

Strength Enhancer level 6

Armor reenforcer lvl 5

Temp Shield lvl5

Stim lvl 5

electrical Grenade lvl 6

Curative lvl6

Sniper Module lvl 6

DarkSight lvl5

Force Screen Projector lvl6

Meditation Aid lvl5

Phase Changer Lvl6

Corrosive Grenade lvl 6

Disguise Module lvl 6

Lift lvl 5

Information on Project September known to your agents

SEPTEMBER PROJECT

A standard Internet search describes the September Project as a research group developing the next generation of quantum computers. A lot of glitzy web marketing makes a convincing case for the benefits such machines would provide.

The group’s desire to create a true quantum computer is real—not because they want to solve anyone’s problems, but because the group’s secret founder—a man named Jason Cole (known as the Betrayer in Ardeyn)—wants to claim both Ardeyn and Earth for himself.

The ultimate narcissist, Cole has attained planetovore-style aspirations. Only a few elite September Project agents know Cole’s ultimate goals, and even they believe that they’ll be spared when Cole finally succeeds.

The September Project has a research facility in Palo Alto, California, a city known for its computer talent. Thanks to the efforts of the Estate (efforts that consist of bribes, hiring away talent, destruction of prototypes, arson, and so on), the research never really got off the ground, and the September Project eventually earned the reputation as something of a joke in the computer industry.

Agent Hutchinson has been undercover within this organization until recently. This is not known to other agents.

Any other information you may have read about the September Project that is not listed here is not know to your characters of course.

PLANETOVORES

Creatures live in the Chaosphere. The worst of these are called planetovores.

They thrive on the fact that no rules bind them within the Strange. We call these creatures planetovores because a) the Estate has good evidence that one tried to consume our planet when Earth first discovered the Chaosphere;

Planetovores can’t normally reach areas where natural laws restrict the environment, such as on Earth. But bridges up to Earth can be made, either accidentally or purposefully. Finding or constructing such a bridge seems to be the main goal of all planetovores and their intermediaries. Preventing that from happening, by

whatever means necessary, is the Estate’s primary mission.

If there arer any questions for me as ST post in OOC thread

your first in character posts should be from the Briefing setting.

[SalmonMax]

Juno rubbed her mouth to keep the little scowl from showing in the brief moment it took her to wipe it off her face. The Estate was pretty amazing; the trouble was they all seemed to know it. And it was too damn early in her career to be back on the ass-end of the totem pole. But here she was. At least no one had called her 'junior' yet.

 

"Yeah, questions. What's our cover story, for one. I'm guessing we don't kick in the door and announce we're the Men in Black, hand over your 3D glasses and get down on the floor? Any intel on what these things look like? The glasses and box? Do we have anyone on the inside, or are we working blind? I mean, seriously, what's a cut-rate preacher want with super-soldier glasses? What's he doing with them? What can they do?"

[Nina]

Kate looks at Juno and nods her head. "All good questions agent Reyes, Juno, we are pushing this mission ahead on the fast track because there is some evidence from another ongoing investigation that the Betrayer may have been alerted to us. I dont have time to go into the details of who the betrayer is or a lot of other things that you would know if you had undergone proper field training." She looks at all of them a serious look one her face of worry and concern. "If i could I would be leading this but i cant we are stretched very thin and there are some incredible dangerous things happening in the Strange right now. There is no cover story in place we have supplied you with ATF credentials which should get you thru any basic check up. I dont care how you get the glasses and stop what ever it is Foss is upto It doesnt matter we know the glasses use quantum computing if we dont stop him the world dies its as simple as that."

 

She picks up a tablet off the table and hands it to Juno "The detailed information on the Warglasses such as it is has already been down loaded to your tablets and laptops. My best guess as to what Foss is upto is that through his preaching and brandishing of arms he hopes to provoke an incident like the branch devidians in WacoTx back in the ninties. By employing "soldiers" wearing and utilizing the glasses we think a quantum bridge may come into existence allowing a planetevore to come thru." Again she gives that serious look. "Thats what you have to prevent."

 

Game Info

http://i1330.photobucket.com/albums/w568/ninablain/_57_zps55f9ea48.jpg

Checking your devices will show a folder marked warglasses This is what the glasses look like with out the text

Information is gleaned from the sales pitch which claims that the glasses will enhance a soldier abilities and performance as well as allowing unparalleled battlefield communication.

[Curtis Shane]

A frown slowly developed at the beginning of the briefing, and continued to twitch more behind Curtis' face. Did he just get appointed leader? On a mission with at least one new person - two if you were strictly speaking of fieldwork, because Alexandra Scire presumably had at least a decent grasp of what the Estate dealt with - and of course, the world on the line.

 

Well, granted, the world kinda was whenever it came to that brand of quantum computing and technology, groups like the September Project or the Karum tried to bring about. But this was 'screw this up and we're dead' in your face. Not exactly a pleasant thing for a field agent with more research and intellectual skills on his end.

 

Of course, complaining was meaningless and pointless, so Curtis finally joined the conversation. Granted, he could rattle off a list of immediate ideas that came to his mind as to Foss' motivations, but satisfying Reyes' understanding should be saved for later. They'd have too much time to kill on the flight.

 

"How strong exactly is this cult of his estimated to be, and do we think the September Project is involved at all on scene with him?"

 

Current Cyphers

Manipulation Beam (Level 8)

Vanisher (Level 7)

Temporary Shield (Level 5)

Force Screen Projector (Level 6)

Curative (Level 6)

[z011]

If anyone should be being called 'junior', it was Agent Scire. Despite her sleek professional clothing, the brunette looked like she should be gossiping about boys and planning her prom dress, not looking to take on a possibly deadly, world-saving mission for the Estate. Her demeanor was all business though as she fiddled with her pocket watch and glanced over the scant file they'd been given in the briefing.

 

She chewed her lip thoughtfully and asked, "Is Foss running your fairly standard wacko cult? If so, perhaps I could go in as a new recruit and scout the lay of the land before the rest of you show up. ATF badges are going to get a huge amount of suspicion and us-vs-them thrown at us right from the start, and most cults lap up the teenage girl runaway routine. It might give us an edge on finding the glasses and the computer before Foss tries to force a Waco showdown."

[Nina]

Kate glances at her watch then strides to the door pushing it open and holding it for everyone. "OK lets get you loaded I will give you what more i can think of on the way."

As the team gathers up their gear and files out Kate leading them to the main entrance continues. "Foss wasn't even on our radar until we scanned a police report this morning. The report got tagged in our system because of the War Glasses seem one of his parishioners was arrested on assault charges yesterday and the Glasses were in the mans possession. Local police didn't know what they were and the uploaded an image to try to identify them, nothing in the report indicates that the glasses are suspected as an instrument in the assault so we think it was just a curious cop wondering what they were. The parishioner was bailed out almost immediately however. Closer look at some of the media coverage from the last couple of weeks and we spotted some of his people wearing what we now think are war glasses."

 

The group arrives at the front of the hall to find a Black Navigator waiting for them . Kate turns to face the group once more. "The church has been around for about eight years and really hasn't been into anything as far as we can determine until this recent spat of end of the world predictions. It seems as if Foss in the last couple of weeks has been going out of his way to draw media attention and upping the direness of his predictions pretty much everyday. Currently while the feds may be aware of Foss there isn't any indication that they have opened  any official investigation and there have been no media worthy event involving firearm, we determined that an ATF cover would actually be less suspicious than any other due to the nature of the church being a fringe group. And while there is no official investigation by the feds we have to assume that the OSR is at least if not more so, aware of Foss and the Glasses.We do not want the OSR to get a hold of this tech." She pauses as if wondering how far she should go in informing them. "As for direct Project involvement since the majority of the Project member are oblivious as to the true nature of their work or who they work for, we suspect that any involvement at the church will be by hired security seeded with in the church. They may be the ones utilizing the War glasses.  We also believe that at this time the Betrayer's attentions are elsewhere, Agent Keaton is following up a .... lead in Palo Alto and as soon as your off I'm translating to OZ where there is a very dangerous incident underway. I wish there was more I could tell you, I wish I didn't have to send you but today Your the front line We cant allow those glasses to remain at play. As of this moment we are in fix the problem clean up the mess later mode."

 

She steps up to each of her team that she is sending into harms way and give them a warm handshake except Alexandra who she gives a long hug too. "Be careful and good luck, and get it done."

[Nina]

Two and a half hours later the plane is at altitude and begins its slow descent to its landing. In thirty more minutes The Estate agents will be on the ground and they still don't really know what is awaiting them. As the plane banks into its descent, Alexandra glances out the window to watch the wing bend and shake as it is buffeted by the wind, but its not the wing that causes her eyes to widen.

 

 

A man-sized creature stands on the wing of the plane, looking at her. Despite the vapor trails streaming from it, it’s apparently untroubled by the fact that it’s outside on the wing of a commercial jet flying at cruising altitude. The creature’s face is a horrid parody of a human’s and its body is covered in tight-curled, dark fur. It locks eyes with Alexandra, cocks its head and smiles a toothy grin at the young woman, then bends to tear at the composite material of the wing with its long claws.

 

Game Info

When you boarded the flight Hutchinson spun the airport security and you all are on the flight as official Marshals despite having ATF credentials this mean you were able to retain your weapons and other items(cyphers)


The flight is largely under booked with several empty seats in the section of the plane the agents are in. They are seated on the left side of the plane on rows 17 and 18 at the wing. There are three seats in each row and two of the seats in row 18 are empty, across the aisle in the matching row there are only two passengers all told there are about 80 passengers in this section of the plane

 

Alexandra is seated on row 18 at the window Curtis is seated in the same row with Percy and Juno on row 17

The creature Alexandra sees on the wing IS a gremlin a native of Ardeyn and any one who has translated there will recognize it as such. in case mala doesn't respond promptly any one who makes a diff 3 intellect role will notice alaxandras shocked look and follow her gaze to see the gremlin.

 

I will follow this post as soon as everyone has posted a reaction to the appearance of the grimlin.

This is the beginning of an encounter so Initiatives will need to be rolled

 

FIRING A GUN ON THE PLANE this is something all of you know

A bullet that punctures the skin of an airplane only creates a small leak, for which the plane’s automated pressurization system can adjust. So even though punctures sound terrifying as air whistles out, a few holes have no effect on the condition of the plane. This means the you could fire your guns at the gremlin, although they should avoid firing directly through a window. Unlike firing through the fuselage, putting a bullet through a window is likely to blow out the window (and a chunk of wall with it); the PC needs to succeed on a difficulty 4 Intellect defense roll to avoid such an outcome. If the whole window goes, it will depressurize the plane.

 

 

 

 

[z011]

"Shit," Lexi cursed under her breath, grabbing at Curtis' arm to get his attention. She pointed out the window, wincing as the creature's claws scraped along the metal sheeting. "What do we do?" she asked in a hissed whisper, not wanting to panic any of the other passengers - and really not wanting to crash land. "It's going to shred the wing!"

 

Initiative

Malachite *rolls* 1d20: 13: 13

 

Mission Cyphers

Stim lvl5
Curative lvl6
Phase Changer lvl6

[Curtis Shane]

Curtis drew back his lips in a mixture of surprise, shock, concern and rapid thought. Actually, this posed several problems at once. However, the most pressing: stop it from ripping the wing to pieces and killing everyone on board. Preferably with a minimum of anyone ever noticing anything wrong.

 

Curtis remembered from a documentary on the American Revolution a rather memorable phrase. Lord Cornwallis, at the battle of Guildford Courthouse had 'a moment of ruthless inspiration.' He used point-blank grapeshot at Continental forces tangled with his own, and had won the battle, averting otherwise defeat.

 

Now more than two hundred years later, a descendant of those rebellious colonials had his own idea. "Stay still," Curtis sternly warned Alexandra, and quickly scrabbled into his carry-on bag. With a tiny clink, out came what looked like a keychain remote, the sort anyone might ordinarily use to unlock their car.

 

Curtis pointed it towards the gremlin out the window, and mashed the button, running the calculations in his head. The gremlin jerked up, and began to struggle as an invisible force yanked out from its clawhold and pulled it across past the front of the wing. Then it was suspended over the air, kept just far out enough...

 

Curtis relinquished control over the gremlin, and unable to react in time, basic high school physics equations took over. The plane's wing met the neck of the Ardeyn monster at a speed of 400 knots per hour. A neck which became a nasty, and fortunately quickly vanishing piece of roadkill, along with the rest of the corpse.

 

Alexandra Scire saw her former tutor slump back deeply into his seat wearily. "We have a little problem."

 

Just for good measure, he picked up two men, one rows ahead and the other behind them putting on glasses and rising. "Now ON the plane."

OOC

Initiative: Jeremy *rolls* 1d20: 20: 20

 

So yeah - I spent some time talking it over with Nina, and she allowed this usage of the Manipulation Beam to take the gremlin out in such a fashion.

 

Level 4 Task - Specialized Strange Knowledge = Level 2

Difficulty 6: Jeremy *rolls* 1d20: 6: 6

 

On the nose! GREMLEXECUTION!

 

Current Cyphers

Manipulation Beam (Level 8) [1/8 uses]

Vanisher (Level 7)

Temporary Shield (Level 5)

Force Screen Projector (Level 6)

Curative (Level 6)

[Ravenhurst ST]

As the gremlin slams into the edge of the wing the young blond haired man sitting in row thirteen window seat watchs it dispassionately. He glances at the napping couple next to him as he reaches into his jacket and produces a strange high tech pair of glasses which he immediately dons. Breathing deeply and shuddering  somewhat he stands and turns looking back at the Agents and behind them.

 

Six rows behind Scire and Shane a second man, bearded and dark, also stands shuddering as the War glasses suffuses him with mystical energy from the Strange.

 

Game Info

Initiative. Alexandra may keep her initiative or reroll.

Percy upon seeing the man standing several rows ahead of you you are instantly aware that the glasses he is wearing are Wrong, Strange Wrong, They are this mans flaw with out the glasses the Strange cannot intrude on this world.

The man in front is four rows ahead same aisle the man in behind six rows back opposite aisle. Neither appear armed except for the glasses

[SalmonMax]

Juno didn't like flying...her coping mechanism was to go to sleep. From the moment the engines spooled up to the jolt of landing, she'd just snooze the trip away, happy and secure in her own little somnolent world. No turbulence there. No crying babies. No stewardesses awkwardly making their way down cramped aisles jostling people and offering expired soda and nasty little snacks.

 

So when the ruckus started to wake her up, she was already not happy. Between Alexandra hissing and whispering, and Curtis bumping around doing something, Juno blinked her eyes groggily and looked around just in time to see a couple of people putting on crazy glasses and standing up; giving off a definite threatening vibe that she could feel from where she was sitting.

 

Groggy she might be, but you'd never know it looking at her as she popped out of her seat and cracked her knuckles.

 

"You guys? People. Are trying. To sleep over here!"

 

Rolls!

Note: I rolled my attack too, just so I wouldn't have to later, but I will post the attack description when her initiative comes up.

 

[salmonMax] 10:55 am: Initiative is just a straight up d20, yes?
[Jeremy] 10:55 am: Hold on, I should have made my init roll for Curtis
[Jeremy] 10:55 am: Yes
Jeremy *rolls* 1d20: 20: 20
[Jeremy] 10:55 am: HAH
SalmonMax *rolls* 1d20: 17: 17
[salmonMax] 10:55 am: ...also not bad.
[Jeremy] 10:55 am: Yep
[Asarasa] 10:55 am: Heya SMax
[salmonMax] 10:55 am: I shall roll her attack as well...
SalmonMax *rolls* 1d20: 17: 17
[salmonMax] 10:56 am: ...heee

[Ravenhurst ST]

Hutchinsin seeing Reyes rise touches her arm, "Careful those are the warglasses, I have a funny feeling about them but they are the weak link."

 

He turns to warn Shane and sees a second man with the glasses. "Shane behind us!"

 

Sensing the reality bending power of the Strange he leaps from his seat and rushes down the aisle throwing himself at the bearded man who is raising his arm fingers out stretched pointing at the window across from him...

 

 

game info

Percy's initiative is 10 and he is trained in initiative so he acts before his opponent

[SalmonMax]

Juno nods without taking her eyes off the aggressor at the front of the cabin. When Hutch makes his move, she's just a hair behind him, rushing in the other direction with uncanny speed. She doesn't bother trying to fight through the crowded economy-class seats to get to her target; instead jumping up and vaulting through the narrow space over the headrests but below the carryon compartments overhead...twisting sideways to fit as she flew. In midair she managed to fling herself around so that she was leading with her feet and slammed into the warglasses man, knocking him back against the curved window and stunning him for the moment she needed to surge back to her feet.

 

As she came up she drove the heel of her hand at his chin, forcing him to stay on the defensive, twisting away and grabbing her wrist with hideous strength. For a bare second they were stuck that way, each countering the other with faces only inches apart. Then Juno grinned and leaned forward as if to plant a smooch on him...but instead she bit down on the edge of the war glasses, and violently yanked backwards.

 

"No!" he shouted, but his instincts failed him...and he tried without thinking to thrust her away. Juno was indeed sent stumbling back out into the center aisle, with the war glasses dangling from her teeth, retriever-style.

 

She dropped them onto the floor, lifted her right foot, and slammed her heel down onto the black, space-age plastic of the glasses.

 

"Oops," she said smugly. "Hope those were insured."

[Curtis Shane]

Things happened quickly. Reyes had downed one of them and their glasses to boot, but the second was tussling with Hutchinson. And Curtis was having trouble reacting. Seriously - he hated action like this. That and the forethought as to the passengers and crew observing cut short the hand that was trying to aim and point the manipulation key-chain cypher.

 

OOC

Another use of the Manipulation Beam to snag the glasses off the bearded guy.

 

Level 4 task, Target 12: Jeremy *rolls* 1d20: 9: 9

 

Current Cyphers

Manipulation Beam (Level 8) [2/8 uses]

Vanisher (Level 7)

Temporary Shield (Level 5)

Force Screen Projector (Level 6)

Curative (Level 6)

[z011]

What idiot starts a brawl on a plane? Lexi complained silently to herself. There's nowhere to go!

 

She popped up out of her chair like the proverbial groundhog, but there was little farther she could go with Shane next to her. She scanned the cabin quickly, looking for any possible third or fourth warglass-wearing enemy lurking among the still-seated passengers. The last thing they needed on top of what was already going on was to get ambushed mid-fight, and if there was someone watching them, a handler sent with the warrior minions or whatnot, that would be good to know as well. Unconsciously her body shifted to a "ready" stance, all coiled energy and tense muscles.

 

Mechanics

Level 2 Intelligence check, difficulty 6

 

Malachite *rolls* 1d20: 12: 12

 

[Ravenhurst ST]

In a moment the cabin of the gently descending plane goes from a serene quiet environment to an eruption of action as Juno and Hutch launch preventive attacks on the two suspected cultists. Juno's amazing hurtle over the intervening seat rows a marvel to observe as she spins in mid air slamming the cultist in the chest with her feet and landing perfectly in a stance unrivaled outside of a Hollywood action movies. With ease she had snatched the warglasses with her teeth as the man was thrown backwards becoming entangled with the couple sitting in the row with him.

 

She dropped them onto the floor, lifted her right foot, and slammed her heel down onto the black, space-age plastic of the glasses.

 

"Oops," she said smugly. "Hope those were insured."

 

As her heel smashes down  sparks fly from the destroyed glasses.

 

Meanwhile Hutch has sprinted down the aisle dodging the drink cart and flight attendant just in time the grab the bearded cultists arm disrupting a “spell”, which pours its energy in an unintended direction, straight up through the fuselage!

 

Outside the plane above where Hutch and the Bearded cultist are wrestling a bewildered Gremlin appears and before it can even orient itself meets an untimely death as the planes vertical stabilizer slams into it causing it to burst like a gore filled water balloon.

 

Back inside Curtis is desperately trying to grab the warglasses with his manipulation beam but the two struggling men make targeting difficult at best then the beam is completely blocked as the bearded cultist lifts Hutch and hurls him down the length of the plane directly at Juno! Curtis instinctively leans back as Hutch flys by him and looking back at the cultist sees that the man is now making some sort of Familiar gesture, eyes wide Curtis recognizes what can only be the Unseen Daggers of Death, a sorcerers spell form Ardeyn!

 

Lexi still in her seat as the action begins suddenly recalls a lesson Kate taught her, Often the obvious danger conceals a greater danger. As the rest of her team engages the “obvious” threats she stands and quickly scans the cabin looking for any signs of hidden attackers. When Curtis flinches back her attention is drawn to the hurtling Hutch and what he is flying toward, Juno. About to shout warning, Lexi spy's the still sparking glasses at Juno's feet, and a tiny Strange vortex spinning unseen by anyone else, and from the vortex a voice calling her. A voice she knows all too well. A voice which chills her blood and sends waves of terror through her mind!

 

 

 

Game Info

Lexi needs to defend with intellect, you may use your Ardeyn bonuses for this defense. Target Level is 4

Curtis if Lexi Fails her defense you will need to make and intellect defense at level 2. go ahead and make the roll. Dont worry about the cultist you will get to act again before his next turn.

Juno you are about to be hit by missile Hutch. You need to make a level 4 defense. If you make a might you can catch hutch reducing damage both of you take to 2 pts before armor. If you make a speed defense you can dodge Hutch but he will slam into the seats taking full damage of 5 pts. If you miss your defense roll he will slam into you doing 4 pts damage before armor and you will be knocked down.


post the defense rolls for me in the new combat thread. you can describe how you defend if you wish and i will incorporate it into the end of turn post.

once defense rolls are made i will make a end of turn post.

[Ravenhurst ST]

Juno tenses and braces herself to catch the flailing Hutch who was moving much faster than she had estimated and with way more force than believable. He slams into her and both of them fall to the aisle floor. As they struggle to untangle themselves they both see the blond cultist attempting to extricate himself from similar circumstances.

 

The planes passengers at first stunned by the sudden outbreak of violence in the cabin are beginning to panic.

 

 

 

GM INTRUSION

For Juno If you except receive one xp for yourself and one for another player of your choice.

in the collision of Juno and Hutch a firearm has fallen to the floor and is now between you and the cultist. He sees it too.

 

 

Game info

all of you have initiative

Lexi has Transformed as if she has Translated from Ardeyn through an Inapposite Gate thus you have full Ardyen Capabilities for the moment.

Curtis having Translated to Ardeyn in the past now has full awarness of the identity of Lexi as The Seeker as well as the fact that you did not know this a few moments ago.

[Curtis Shane]

The influx of information was very inopportune to Curtis, trying to get free of the chairs. And the increasing layers of complexity from the vortex hurtled into the mind. There was an Incarnation of Lore, one of the Maker's chosen, and her daughter was the Seeker. Gremlins from Ardeyn, sorcerous spells being prepared. The shaking impact and change on his internal sense of understanding made everything go in slow motion.

 

Silent save for the thumped of his heart. And one thought running through Agent Shane's head:

 

When this is over, I AM going to debrief the hell out of Alexandra and Manners.

 

And then a new pulse of Strange energy flushed over him. Curtis quickly tried to focus. Maintain his condition against the change. With effort, he drove it off.

 

OOC

Lv 4 Intellect defense: Jeremy *rolls* 1d20: 18: 18

[z011]

Lexi's eyes narrowed, anger outstripping fear at least for the moment. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and fitted it to ornate bow now in her hands. Breath in, aim, breathe out, release. The cadence was familiar now, nestled in memories she only sometimes had, and the arrow flew true. Metal and glass shattered as the arrowhead imbedded itself in the floor beneath the ruined warglasses.

 

"They serve the Betrayer!" she shouted over the din of the panicking passengers, her voice ringing with an authority and experience out of place with her youthful appearance. "Destroy the glasses first, then we shall deal with these blighted fools!"

 

Translated Appearance (outfit and equipment)

 

Mechanics

Level 1 to hit glasses, Longbow is medium so adds a level for her. TN is 6.

Malachite *rolls* 1d20: 19: 19

Hit with a minor effect, that's 7 damage!

[SalmonMax]

Juno and Hutchinson see the gun at the same time as the cultist, and all three scramble for the weapon in a mad flurry of scraping and slapping hands. In the confusion it's not possible to tell who's finger was on the trigger when it fired. And it was sheer luck that no one was in the path of the bullet...it missed not only the three squabbling warriors, but the passengers as well.

 

But there the luck ended.

 

The bullet struck one of the windows of the aircraft on its way out, punching a finger-sized hole in the plastic cover, and through the glass just outside it. Immediately a brisk breeze struck up in the passenger cabin, as air started getting drawn to the egress suddenly introduced to this tightly pressurized cannister. A hissing howling noise wound up as well. And cracks started to spiderweb out from the bullet hole. Like anything crystalline, it was quite strong, but only while its structure was intact. Even a small crack or hole destroyed those self-supporting lattices, and the whole thing started to fail.

 

And once it failed, the volume of air escaping would become large enough that it could do more damage, evacuating the passenger compartment at least, and possibly ripping out a chunk of fuselage in the process.

 

Juno uttered a curse and rolled away, leaving Hutch and the erstwhile glasses-guy to fight over the gun while she grabbed at something in her fannypack.

 

(OOC - This sequence is the result of die rolls made in chat with Nina, hence no rolls posted here )

[Ravenhurst ST]

Aware of the sudden attention from the bearded cultist Lexi spins to bring her bow to bear just as the flare of the familiar magical energy sears across the distance separating them. She attempts to twist aside but the close spaced seats and low ceiling only allow her a partial dodge of the bolts which slam into her burning her armor and the flesh beneath.

 

As soon as the spell releases the bearded man is on the move as he dashes into the aisle toward Curtis and Lexi he rips the tray from the seat in front of him to use as a weapon.

 

Tamping down the pain The Seeker spins back lining up her bow and the window across the aisle gives way with a howling roar.....

 

 

Game Info

Lexi takes 4 damage before armor.

 

Also at the beginning of the next round the strange energy wave responsible for lexi's transformation is gone with the destruction of the broken glasses there for Lexi is now lexi again but this time lexi can remember every thing. and all of you remember the transformation even if it was for only a few seconds. Curtis also remembers the information and history he previously did not.

the window which was shot gives way at the very end of the turn. max has a cypher he may be able to use to plug the hole allow him to post first then  we will continue with turn three after those results are in since his success or failure will directly impact your posts.

Cultist number one is completely neutralized. number two is still active and is moving into the aisle immediately following his spell, he is carrying a seat tray ripped from the back of the seat in front of him

[SalmonMax]

Trusting her teammate to keep the now-normal antagonist off her back, Juno produced, of all things, a camera from her pack. An old style 35mm point and shoot FILM camera. As the window cracked and was suddenly exploded out of the plane, Juno quickly adjusted the focus and aimed the camera at the breach.

 

"This better work," she said, and snapped a photograph.

 

There was a flash of light, but it wasn't quite the same as a normal camera flash. The light seemed slower and more...fluid, for want of a better word. It sluiced over seats and splashed up to the hole in the side of the plane, and then seemed to solidify there. A wall of retina-searing light that should have done nothing useful. But the howl of escaping air stopped, and the damaged portion of the hull stopped deteriorating. Whatever force she'd summoned had plugged that leak for now. How long it would last was anyone's guess.

 

Juno then barked out at the passengers in her best 'policeman' voice, "Everyone remain in your god damn seats! We have the situation..." She turned to face the last bad guy standing and lowered the now-defunct camera. "...under control."

[Curtis Shane]

Curtis didn't have the time to take more note of the broken window than the immediate sensory impact, since he had a war-glasses wearing man coming for him. Fortunately, Curtis had learned how to use his revisions to ensure he had some combat-ready abilities at all times.

 

Within the bounds of standard physics, a lot could happen with a quantum nudge. Curtis stepped forward and threw a steady punch. The size and build difference was enough to make his tactic seem questionable.

 

But in this case, it was a quantum shockwave that Curtis triggered. To onlookers, his strike landed with more power than it appeared, smashing the tray and sending the hitman staggering back - and his glasses flew off.

 

Curtis snagged them out of mid-air and folded them up. The Estate would probably want to hold onto one for further study, and he certainly intended to do some while on the mission.

 

OOC

Using Exception on the #2. Edge covers the expenditure.

 

Level 4 task, Target 12: Jeremy *rolls* 1d20: 18: 18

With the damage bonus, that's a total of 6 damage - trading 5 away to both remove the war glasses, and 1 damage to Bad Guy #2.

 

Might: 8/8

Speed: 10/10

Intellect: 18/18

 

Current Cyphers

Manipulation Beam (Level 8) [2/8 uses]

Vanisher (Level 7)

Temporary Shield (Level 5)

Force Screen Projector (Level 6)

Curative (Level 6)

[Ravenhurst ST]

As the last cultist fell the members of the Estate team switched gears from action to damage control quickly quelling the panic among the passengers which hadn't really had time to explode. Things had happened so fast That Hutch was easily able to spin a tale of Homegrown terrorism. He got the flight attendants to move the passengers to the other sections of the plane and within short order only the two cuffed and unconscious Cultist and the team were still in the damaged section.

 

Hutch went forward to the cockpit to explain how things were to the flight crew.

 

Juno was standing at the Damaged Window holding the Old style Camera and shaking her head wondering what in the hell had she gotten herself into. Curtis and Lexi had made a quick walk through of the rest of the plane flashing their badges and making sure there were no more surprises, once back in their section they looked at each other questions in their eyes.

 

the plane continued towards its landing.

 

 

Game Info

Action Ended

.The plane will land in about twenty minutes you are all fairly certain that there are no more cultists on the plane. you have two captive cultists and one pair of Glasses which are still functional.

Hutch is forward so only Curtis, lexi, and juno are back in the damaged section. Hutch will return about 5 minutes before the plane lands. Proceed with post for the remainder of the flight.

[z011]

Lexi stalked around the cabin, checking that the prisoners were secure, the seal on the broken window was holding, and generally just trying to burn off extra energy while she reconciled the deluge of memories of her life in Ardeyn. They came in waves through her mind as one memory would invariable trip upon another; as they settled in and became a part of her again her presence changed. While her looks did not change, the weight of the years behind her balanced her youthful appearance, giving her a gravitas she had lacked before. 

 

She listened to the others interrogate the cultists, noting the Ardeyn words peppered into their responses. She frowned and nodded to Curtis, "This Father Foss...either he knowingly serves the Betrayer or he believes the Betrayer is some part of his belief system. Either way, he is far more dangerous than we originally thought. If the Betrayer can use him to act in this world..." She shook her head, running her hands through her hair and closing her eyes for a moment. "Regardless, we obviously do not have the element of surprise anymore. We should be prepared for quite violent resistance from Foss' followers."

[Curtis Shane]

Curtis sat in one of the seats a row or two ahead from the captured cultists. His frowning expression was not pleased to say the least. "An apocalyptic nut either in appearance or for real. His 'flock' are brainwashed fanatics, and either he had access to a leak, which I doubt. Or else... some manner of Strange precognitive abilities..."

 

Which was what the cultists had been implying, at any rate. Curtis pinched the bridge of his nose. "At this point, I'm not seeing much more option beyond storm tactics and brute force - but that would be risky, given what I'm already picking up on the glasses just by looking them over."

 

The subject in question rested in his lap. Curtis had quickly become cautious with handling the glasses after he realized with concern that they were still on, if in a standby mode. There was no power-off control, which probably was intentional. Pressure sensors and retinal scanners completed the essence of the put-on, empowered simplicity.

 

He'd never seen anything like this, at least in its fusion. "This isn't just super-science, there's magic too. I'd need more time then we have left in flight and a workspace to go through them - but I can't help but worry about how much time we do have."

[SalmonMax]

Magic. The word made Juno frown, but she didn't denounce it right away. Not after what she'd seen already. It did leave her with some objections though.

 

"I thought magic didn't work here," she pointed out. "Anyway, if you ask me it's a lot more likely that Foss has someone in the Estate than he has some magic way of knowing exactly when we were coming and which plane we were on. I mean look..." she held out her boarding pass. "They bought their tickets almost exactly the same time we did. If Foss can see the future, why not buy them in advance? What this looks like to me is that he was getting info from someone. Someone who didn't know which flight we'd be on until we were on it. We got the tickets, they let him know immediately, and he clicked on 'buy' on Expedia."

 

She glanced at the two cultists.

 

"Which means we have to shake our itinerary up. Go off the track and see if he can adjust. That'll give us a hint about who's on his side."

[Curtis Shane]

The objections reminded Curtis of another element of difficulties: namely, that he was stuck as responsible for a rookie at this critical mission. "First off," he explained with all the patience he could muster, "those laws aren't ironclad. There are always loopholes." Which was why cyphers existed on Earth, but that something so basic as those would be a new concept...

 

"Second - and more importantly, you didn't see the gremlin trying to rip up the wing. It's not from here, and would have a very limited amount of time before being rendered dead. The timing of its appearance is precise beyond measure. It would in fact, require a paranormal means of knowing exactly when and where to work in the first place."

[SalmonMax]

Juno rubbed her chin. It was something she sometimes did to keep her hands busy so they wouldn't get her into trouble by suddenly flying unbidden to impact with the teeth of nearby smarmy assholes. A coping mechanism that had been necessary on the LAPD, and unfortunately seemed would be equally necessary working for the Estate.

 

"Could these two have done that?" she asked slowly. Speaking slowly was another thing she did. It helped stop a flood of profanity. "Or maybe someone else, using these glasses of theirs remotely? They're here, now, so there'd be no 'paranormal means of knowing' involved."

[Ravenhurst ST]

GM Intrusion

Lexi hearing this conversation between Curtis and Juno You will recall The Commanding voice you heard when Juno shattered the Glasses. A voice you now know as well as your own mothers....Lotan!

[z011]

Lexi nodded to Juno, "It is the Betrayer. He was once the Incarnation of War in Ardeyn, but he betrayed and murdered the Maker and several of the other Incarnations. He is using this Father Foss and his followers and no matter what he is planning, it will be evil and spiteful." She sighed, her eyes distant as she stared intently at the floor in front of her. "He might even be searching for me specifically, though this seems a bit elaborate and tangential for that."

 

She stood up and began pacing again, too restless to sit still. "Either way, this is more dangerous and more important than we anticipated. He cannot be allowed to gain power on Earth. He will imperil this world as he imperils Ardeyn and he might discover some way to destroy both worlds. If the warglasses allow his followers to partake of his power and invoke it on Earth or anything near that...." she ran her fingertips over her gun, her lips set in a grim line. Her voice dropped to low growl, "Then we must destroy every pair of them, even if it means killing to do so."

[Ravenhurst ST]

At that moment Hutchinson entered the compartment, he stopped senseing the tension. Taking in the looks Reyes and Shane were giving each other and the agitated state Scire was displaying he moved up to the little group.

 

“Is everything alright here?” Reyes cut her glance back to the spinner and nodded, “Every thing is just fine.”

 

“Ok, then, I just got off the phone with Manners. I explained whats happened and that we have these two,” he gesture to the cuffed and still dazed prisiners, “in custody. She sending a security team to pick them up. I'll be staying at the airport with them and heading back to the campus. Somethings come up with one of my...other missions.” He glances out the window a frown momentarily passes before he continues.

 

“There's been a development and Manners is changing your orders.” He hands a neatly written note to Curtis, it shows the name, address, and a room number of a motel in Suix Falls.

 

“Some one did a very extensive search on our Father Foss last night, this morning actually, The Ip led back to this Motel.”

 

Juno perked up at this news. “ There's media all over the place I would think there is a lot of research being done on the guy. Whats so important bout this one?”

 

Hutch turns and looks to Reyes, masking his annoyance at being interrupted. “The search on Foss isn't what alerted them, whoever it was was also doing a search on Jason Cole and,” a pointed look to Shane, “Lotan.”

 

The Planes announcements system rings and the attendant announces that final approach will be getting underway and that everyone is to take their seats and buckle in, furthermore everyone is to remain seated after the plane lands until cleared for deplaning.

 

Lexi and Juno check the prisoners then the team take their seats. “Manners wants you to investigate this see if it turns anything up before heading to the church. She also wants you to check in with her before you do anything at the church.” He sighs heavily.” She says this is no longer and action mission but purely a recon on site and that you are to take no further actions that will put personnel at risk. Her words. Any way as soon as the plane lands we are taking these guys off and to the airports detention room. There will be a car waiting for you. I hate leaving you guys short handed like this But orders.” he lifts his hands in a shrug.

 

The team ponders their new instructions as the plane makes its landing and Leaving Hutcinson to make the explanations and cover for them, Shane, Reyes, and Scire enter the dark blue Suv waiting for them and drive into the snowy city.

 

[Tuesday 2:45PM]

[Ravenhurst ST]

[Ardeyn, In The Strange]

 

In the Borderlands rising from the bleak shattered ground rose the incredible fortress of Meggedon. Resting on the edge of infinity as the Skerries drift amid the roiling Strange beyond the Termination Zone lit by the flashes of black lightning only one other place in all of Ardeyn is more foreboding.

 

Inside among the thousands toiling, most Humonculi, strode one with urgent purpose, a Clear, bearing an ornate tablet of wood and vellum he entered the great hall and the presence of his master.

 

“Great Lord,” the Clear sketches a bow and hold out the tablet, “From the machine a message of urgency from the informer.”

 

“What does it say?” The voice was that of a bored young man and it was in english.

 

Jason Cole/Betrayer stood still at a great balcony overlooking the turmoil of the Strange, his luminous eyes taking in every detail. He didnt turn merely waited for the Clear to speak.

 

“The informer reports that someone has … I am not sure I comprehend this but the words are, googled Lotan and the search originated near the Gate. Should I contact Foss and have him send his humoculi?”

 

“NO!” The Clear raised his head and flinched for the Betrayer/Jason Cole was mere inches from his face looking down upon him. Cole/Betrayer snatched the tablet with spiked and gauntleted hands, he scaned the writing seeing things the clear had not. When he spoke again the voice which issued forth was no longer human and did not speak English.

 

“Send for the Yent.”

 

 

[Earth, Tuesday 4:27AM]

 

How much more of this do you think he can take? She silently asked the figure in the mirror behind her, stealing a glance back at it. As much as necessary, came the expected reply, interface now please time is clicking.

 

She turned back to him, he looked so peaceful sleeping he wasn't dreaming, which was unusual, her brow furrowed and she stepped closer, she hoped he wasn't drunk. This close she could almost see the boy lying there, she smiled remembering how when it was storming bad and she was scared she didnt run to mom and dad, she went to him and crawled into bed and slept, him protecting her from the monsters...

 

Ian came awake as the bed gave a violent jolt, his baton in hand ready...he froze the light from the bathroom that he had turned off was on and at the foot of the, was her.

 

She was tall older with long hair and glasses, wearing a dark conservative dress and of all things goddamnit a lab coat. “Fuck! Why do you kee...)

 

“Shut up and listen there's no time. You searched for something you shouldn't even know about and they are coming for you. Get out of here but set your cameras your going to need proof. Don't try to fight them alone,” she points at the coat draped over the chair, “Even that thing won't save you. Set your cameras,” She points to four places within the room, “you have about ten minuts, then get out.”

 

He looks back but she isn't there.

 

[Tuesday 4:29AM]

 

 

[z-Ian]

“The fuck!” Despite his angry whine, Ian jumped into motion. He didn’t like Dr. Goth Barbie but only because she wouldn’t tell him everything he wanted to know. If she had explained why They had taken Meghan and why They kept taking him, Ian would trust her completely. If she could tell him why he felt such a keen sense of loss, he might even start to like her.

 

Even so, a warning was a warning, and she had given him the best equipment he’d ever owned. She’d given him ten minutes to prepare, which was gold. He hastily stuck up the small remote cameras, then dropped back onto the bed long enough to ensure the laptop was recording. Then he grabbed his coat, yesterday’s jeans, his boots, and his money. With his laptop tucked under his arm, he went down to the lobby, ducking into a recessed doorway long enough to avoid running around in his boxers. He pulled on his coat and moved on, tucking his baton up one sleeve.

 

In the lobby, he nodded at the front desk clerk as he ducked into the public bathroom. The Indian man gave him a bored look tinged with slight interest but knew how to mind his own business. He turned his attention back to the Indianistan or whatever movie he was watching behind the desk.

 

Grabbing an empty stall, Ian took a seat on the stool. Ian set his laptop on the floor with the lid cranked back so he could see the remote feeds from the camera. Thank God I set that up last night. He almost hadn’t but it had soothed the sting of failing to find any information about Cole or Lotan. Pulling on his shoes, he settled in to wait for the show.

[Ravenhurst ST]

[Tuesday 4:41:23AM]

 

The room was dark but the mini cams were as Ian had said state of the art, if only he knew. The cameras were recording full spectrum and easily imaged the thing that came out of the ceiling.

 

The angle wasn't quite right to catch the doorway, gate, mouth of hell or whatever it was that opened to allow them in. The first thing Ian saw on his screen was the four hands, each with two extremely long fingers or maybe they were talons, grasping the sides of the opening in the ceiling. Then the things body came out and dropped onto the floor and he saw it size and what it looked like and his blood froze in his veins. None of his nightmares, dreams, fantasies had prepared him for what was in his room no more than thirty yards away.

 

The thing was a snake like as it coiled onto the floor Ian could judge the size by its proximity to the bed. I must have been at least twenty feet maybe more. In classic Fantasy manner the top third of it length was humanoid with four arms and the head of the snake was not really snake like at all it was more in shape and form like the T-rex from that movie. But that's not what was so horrifying. What caused Ian to almost panic and bolt from the stall was what it was made of. While he could see flesh and other biological material at least ninety percent of what he was seeing was mechanical. It looked liked some freakish thing from a HR Geiger Painting and it was in his room.

 

The cameras cycled thru and showed that two more of the things had dropped into the room. They began moving over and around each other the movements so bizarre that watching it made Ian want to vomit. Their long fingers probing they searched the room thoroughly several time coming so close to the camera Ian thought for sure they would find them but if they did they paid them no notice. Eventually all three ended up at the door where they stopped and became perfectly still, as if waiting. Then suddenly as one the reached up to the ceiling and pulled themselves up and vanished.

 

[Tuesday 5:02AM]

 

 

GM INFO

The Sight of these things could trigger memories of RUK which are not good for you. Not that you have seen these particular things but the biomechanicle is similar enough to trigger a flashback.

[z-Ian]

His nose bled as the panic attack came. Ian shoved his computer away so he wouldn’t bleed on it, grabbing a fistful of the cheap single-ply toilet paper to press to his nose. His breath gasped in and out of his mouth, operating with a mind of its own. Ian couldn’t have stopped his gulping gasps anymore than he could have gone back to his room.

 

Those things had been aliens, coming to get him. They had found him and They hadn’t fucked around this time. He had his keys in his pocket; he could ditch the clothing left in the room and run screaming into the dark night.

 

He could. He wouldn’t. He’d learned long ago not to run blindly. Sometimes it led right into a trap but he knew one place it wouldn’t lead to: answers.  Also, he couldn’t replace those cameras, so he had to go and get them.

 

Ian reached up and grasped the amulet hanging around his neck. He never took it off, not during showers or sex. He’d always gotten questions about the unique filigree work around a blue-purple stone and he had a list of flippant replies ready. He wasn’t sure where it came from but in moments like this, it provided comfort. It felt like something he could use to call for help and the irrational desire to send a plea for aid rose. He pushed that away, not knowing who he would call. It was a stupid desire anyway and given that he’d woken up from his three-year abduction wearing it, any communication sent through it would likely call his former captors. Still, it was a physical reminder that They’d already taken him once and he’d survived it. Hell, he’d left with something of Theirs’.

 

The panic attack slowly eased, as did the nosebleed. Ian was able to sit up and wipe his face, though his hands shook. In time, he was even able to stand up and gather his computer. He checked to make sure he didn’t have blood on his face. While it was clean, his bare chest under his coat had a smear of blood.  Grimacing, Ian cleaned it up before studying his appearance to see if he looked normal. The tired man with sleep-tousled blond curls and four days of stubble didn’t look normal, not without a shirt or socks.  â€œFuck it,” he growled, “I’ll fit right in at Denny’s.”

 

It was true; he kept his coat closed and the waitress didn’t blink as she showed him to a table. The six-block drive had been cold as balls, though, and Ian was thankful for the warmth as he sank into a corner seat. “I’ll have a cup of coffee,” he said, opening up the computer as the waitress gave him an irritated look. Once the mug came, Ian ignored it as he opened his journal and started to log the events of the night.

 

With the details of the night recorded, Ian pulled up the video and started to grab some stills. Working quickly, he headed out to the VPN he hosted on Alien-Hunter.org. The private area of the site was composed of his peers in the study of the strange and fucked-up. He started a thread in the WTF forum under his E.N. handle. Slapping up the pictures, he posted a quick request for any information.

 

That would take a few hours to generate anything, so Ian turned his attention back to Father Foss. Someone had caught him snooping; he hadn’t expected that a pastor would be able to trace him back quite so fast. Stupid, Ian, he told himself, resolving to do better in the future.  Clearly, he couldn’t do direct searches anymore and he had a long time until sunrise. Settling in, he started reading through the archives and databases of Alien-Hunter.org and waited until the sun was up and he would have enough courage to go back to his room.

[Ravenhurst ST]

Ian worked until about eight am he checked his website several times and was disappointed the only traffic he was generating was the idiot deniers who called him a nut and said his theories  were nothing but crackpot fantasies, however in the private section password protected and walled off from the main site, several of his peers and fellow researches had gathered and were heatedly discussing the pictures. The most predominate question was where did he get them?

 

At eight thirty he returned to the motel intending to grab his shit and checkout but instead he went in paid for another night then went to the room collected his belongings and all but one minicam. He wanted more proof if they came back, but he wasn't about to stay there. Leaving the motel room he placed the do not disturb sign on the door and returned to his car.

 

Twenty minutes later he was parked down the street a good hundred yards from The All Souls Church of Deliverance where he wouldn't be noticed and he could observe Them with his binoculars. After setting up his laptop in case the remote camera was tripped he settled back into the routine of surveillance. It was more of the same, the same media, the same people going in and out, the same everything. Father Foss made a brief appearance around lunch then disappeared back into the church. There were no snake monsters. By mid afternoon the events of the night and the boredom of surveillance took its toll on Ian and he drifted off to sleep.

 

[Tuesday Afternoon, 3:50PM]

 

GM INFO

The team arrived at the airport and was hurried through to the Suv. Hutch and the prisoners where left there. It will take about an hour to drive from the Airport to the motel address. which will have you arriving at the motel around 4 PM. this puts both the team and Ian at the same time if not place. Ian you will be asleep for the time being so dont post unless you want to post a dream

Motel is a single story affair with the rooms opening into an outside horseshoe parking area it was probably built in the 1950's its old but well kept. the room the isp was traced to was 17

 

[Curtis Shane]

The addition that Lotan was linked into this, and a NEW person was involved threw Curtis a bit more off-kilter in his admittedly patchwork hopes of planning. On the bright side, at least presumably there was time to look into this guy and to study the nature of these war glasses.

 

Also, he'd made clear to Agent Manners that he wanted a debriefing with her and Lexi after all this. Or he would have, had not Curtis been told Agent Manners was out of the country. Code for translated off somewhere.

 

When they arrived, Curtis quickly felt something utterly off. "Hold on." He cautioned Lexi and Reyes before the door. After a bit of physical and technological observation, he picked up on the camera. Slipping out his phone, he made a spirited wireless hack into the feed.

 

He set up a loop - but it was so hard to turn away. This was a quantum computing system like nothing he'd ever seen. Not terrestrial - with self-rewriting code.... add that to the list of things to study.

 

"Right... we can head in now." And what kind of person has their own motel room covered from the inside, laid the question?

 

It was empty. "Juno, Lexi, search this place. I've a moment of tracing to do." While the women handled that, Curtis sat down and unpacked his laptop to trail the wireless path of the camera. That led to a disappointingly ordinary laptop he could easily hack into.

 

And find their man's location.

 

Great, right on the church. But how could they contact Manners if she was away? Fine, Curtis decided - do a run-through on their quarry's contents and then figure out how to contact him elsewhere.

 

[Tuesday Afternoon, 3:55 PM]

 

OOC

Right, Nina says Curtis can feel the Strange presence of that camera, and find it.

Hacking the camera is Lv 6, but Nina also said both Curtis' Physics and Computer Science skills apply.

 

So the final Lv is 2 (Target 6): Jeremy *rolls* 1d20: 6: 6

 

Another Lv 2 to hack Ian's laptop - Computer Science means it's auto-pass.

 

Might: 8/8

Speed: 10/10

Intellect: 18/18

 

Current Cyphers

Manipulation Beam (Level 8) [2/8 uses]

Vanisher (Level 7)

Temporary Shield (Level 5)

Force Screen Projector (Level 6)

Curative (Level 6)

[z011]

As Curtis chased down his electronic lead and Juno inspected the room with the cool efficiency of a cop, Lexi closed her eyes and let her sense of the strange explore the room. After a moment she opened her eyes again and turned to one of the wall, specifically to the bland industrial painting on the wall. Every room in the hotel had the same painting on the wall, but this one was different - or more specifically the bit of wall just next to it was different. An eye, reptilian and camouflaged in the paint of the wall, blinked out at her. She ducked into the bathroom of the room, grabbing one of the off-white towels from the rack, and fished her pocket knife out as well. Back at the painting, she carefully pried the eye loose and wrapped it in the towel. The hole in the wall behind it glowed with eerie energy and began to close up, as if the wall were healing itself. She quickly dug out her cellphone and pulled up the recorder, catching the last bit of the closing on the device. 

 

She held up the eye on the towel to the others. "So, we're not the only ones looking for this man, it seems. Have either of you ever seen something like this before?"

[Ravenhurst ST]

Opening the folds of the towel Lexi displays the mottled green and white bubble of flesh with the snake like eye darting from one face to the next. If such a thing were possible the eye movements would convey a sense of fear. As the three team members gather and look at the strange thing, the edges of the thing begin to bubble and boil and slowly as if cell by cell disintegrate.

 

 

 

GM INTRUSION

For Curtis 2 xp to accept one xp to deny

As you watch the eye your anti virus software chimes. the alien code is invading your laptop and rewriting itself into your computers software! Level 8 attack on your computer to defeat Level 6 to determine what it is doing you can only choose one option to roll.