William: Okay: kats is going to be working on her final project for a while -- she said she can't spare the Saturdays for the remainder of the semester, i.e. until sometime in May. This leaves Ed, Bruce, and Maurice. Fearless is still a possibility, and UL wants back in, maybe with a different character. William: Ars, however, does not seem to be on line tonight, so that leaves us waiting for Nem. Maurice nods. *** Nemesis (nemesis@184.77.252.64.snet.net) has joined channel #gurps William: Summoning Successful! Maurice: Speak of the devil. Nemesis: Did someone roll an infernal intervention? Maurice: Not I... William: Actually, all our scheduled players are here. Let me ask kats something and I'll be ready to go. UpLink: How did a Summons mke it past me? Must be losing it William: UL: listen, about your character. UpLink: Yeah? UpLink: What character? William: That's the question at hand. You know, this being IN, if we leave BA the way he is (last seen getting an Infernal Intervention on an act of deception), he has definite problems in store. UpLink: Ah. So I should continue using him? William: I would suggest that, yes. UpLink: 'k *** UpLink is now known as BA William: At the moment, he's back in Philly and is on the outs with the main body of the group. However, I can take care of the first part. The second part is up to you. BA: 'k BA: Or we can leave him in Philly until you guys get back there BA: Frisco William: We'll be globe-hopping for a while, hopefully. BA: ah William: I'll come up with something. At any rate, let's carry on with the game. *** William is now known as WillGM WillGM: Last we gamed, you had interrogated the Thief and picked up information on the spot where his compatriots were headed with the Skull of Patmos, which Liriel is interested in retrieving: it will be at St. Brigit's, later tonight. Frizz is out of the picture momentarily, having struck a deal with the Thief to get his information. WillGM: It's around 7:30, after sunset, in Golden Gate Park. Currently with you are Nicole, Ed, Bruce, and Liriel. WillGM: Ellis and Fearless are on their way to you. WillGM: ------------------------ Game Start ----------------------- *** Nemesis is now known as Bruce WillGM: "What now?" WillGM: (Maurice: you're in San Francisco's Mission District on foot, having just finished a dinner after a day of sightseeing in the area's historic churches, and headed back to a local hostel.) Maurice: *nod* Bruce shrugs. "Well, we've got little to go on other than a place. Our best bet would probably be to just stake the place out and hope someone suspicious turns up." Edward drives. "Should we contact Faith's people to let them know we've a clue?" WillGM: "They... might be interested... I do not know. However, Phillip's main concern will be the well-being of his Tether, and I am uncertain what resources he may have to call on." His brows crease. "And military backup may not be the best option." Maurice smiles somewhat contentedly as he walks, holding a toothpick in his mouth and keeping his hands in the pockets of the tan army jacket. Edward nods, acceding the point. WillGM: "Military? Is there going to be a fight?" WillGM: "...I hope not. Indeed I hope to avoid one if possible. But we will be coming into close contact with several demons." Edward twitches. Bruce: "Mm. Who knows what sort of backup the contact is going to bring." WillGM: Nicole bites her lip, and looks out the window. Edward: "None would be nice. I didn't pack." WillGM: "In fact, Phillip -- or Hallaren -- might be able to rectify that. If you think it would be wise. I have heard that the presence of a gun can make violence more likely, though the Truth of this seems yet opaque to me." WillGM: "You would almost certainly be more qualified to run the risk-benefit analysis." Edward: "Also a good point. 'sides, last time I went up against a demon when I had a gun it wasn't all that much use." Bruce: "Guess we can glare at 'em really hard." WillGM: "If this is going to be a possibility, I'm going to be very in the way. Maybe I should wait somewhere safer until this is over." WillGM: "That sounds wise. Your home?" WillGM: "That's a little farther than I was thinking, but... yeah. If I can get there." Bruce: "You could hang out in the car. We could use another pair of eyes. S'up to you." WillGM: "I guess I could do that for now, yeah. Keep your cellphone on vibrate, I'll call if I see anything." WillGM: Bruce: kats will be out until May, most likely. Bruce: Ah. WillGM: You approach the address you were given for St. Brigit's. It seems that alerting the staff will be a moot point: the church is dark, and the sign on the front lawn says that the church is closed for assessments. WillGM: (Site description coming up:) WillGM: St. Brigit's sits on the corner of an intersection -- view it, right now, on the far left corner. The main body of the church is aligned along the forward/back road, with a door at one end and another at the side of the nave further along the road. It is a wide church, with two square towers at the closer end, one of them a bell tower, with an outside balcony running between them. Windows run along the side you can see. WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 12 11. WillGM: Actually... WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 8 12. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 11. WillGM: Okay. WillGM: The only person visible at the moment is walking down the street towards you, on foot, with a backpack. WillGM: (The rest of the area around you is residential.) WillGM: Maurice, that's you. Showtime. Bruce: "Looks like nobody's home. Good." Edward: "Hang on - aren't churches supposed to be open 24/7?" Maurice keeps walking quietly and chewing on his toothpick, though raising the figurative eyebrow at the newcomers. WillGM: You are approaching the church from the other direction. There is a parking lot on this side of the church, with three cars in it. One of them has two men exiting. He passes close to the sidewalk to enter a door at the back of the church. To you shock, you recognize him -- but last time you saw him, it was at the end of a very weird day, in Bosnia, across the barrel of a gun. Maurice blinks. WillGM: Also, your guidebook said St. Brigit's was closed by the Church two years ago, due to some problems in the parish. Which probably means he shouldn't be entering the place. Bruce: "Sure, when they can afford to." Maurice: . o O (Curiouser and curiouser... *HIM* not only at a Christian church, but one that's closed...) WillGM: Ed: what do you do with the car? Edward: Park it where it looks like it won't be stolen before we return Maurice tries to creep closer to the parking lot and door to see if he can hear what's going on. WillGM: Okay, there's a spot next to a couple of other cars less then a block away on the cross street, in front of a convenience store. You park there. WillGM: Maurice: both men went inside the church. Coming closer to the door, you see that it is ajar. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 11. WillGM: And the knob is broken. Edward OOCly beats Will in the noggin for that. WillGM: ? Edward: the door that's not a door WillGM: O_o WillGM: Sorry? Bruce: I presume that we can see Maurice skulking around the joint? WillGM: ... oh. When is a door not a door? When it's a jar. No pun was intended. It really is slightly open. WillGM: Bruce: yeah. You see him do a doubletake and head toward the back of the church, where he rounds the corner and leaves your sight. Maurice pauses for a moment. . o O (Do I really want to illegally enter a chur... ah, to hell with it.) He briefly checks to see that the stiletto in his left jacket sleeve is in place before trying to ease open the door. Bruce: "Hello... we've got a pedestrian that's taken an interest in the church." Edward: "That looks suspicious... Do we check it out?" WillGM: Maurice: darkness and voices. By the lights on the street outside, you see a dim hallway. The voices must be coming from around at least one bend. Bruce turns off the ringer on his cellphone and repockets it. "Yeah, it couldn't hurt... I hope." Maurice pauses in the hallway and listens carefully, waiting for his eyes to adjust moreso. WillGM: Ellis drives up behind you and parks in the nearest spot with Fearless. After a moment's discussion, he stays with Nicole. Fearless joins you two and Liriel. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 8. WillGM: Maurice: you hear snippets of conversation. Apparently, a group is waiting for "him" to arrive. WillGM: Another pair of voices informs them that "he" was intercepted, and won't be coming. Maurice starts carefully working his way down the hallway to get into a better place to listen from. . o O (Drug deal, maybe? In a church though... how disgusting...) WillGM: There starts up a conversation as to why he was coming anyway. No one seems to remember inviting him in the first place. That takes a few minutes to come up. Bruce fuels up his courage with a swig from his flask before getting out of the car. "Alright. Let's go." WillGM: Fearless checks his piece, and mutters, "Damn... half-empty..." before reholstering it. Maurice: No, half-full! Edward flashes a quick grin at Fearless. "I'd prefer to call it half full..." Edward: Out. Of. My. HEAD. WillGM: Heeheehee. WillGM: Liriel looks at the church. "Very well." He starts toward it. Edward then sneaks toward the door with a level of stealth that's second to none. Closer, in fact - none whatsoever. Bruce: "Well, at least one of us is packin'." Bruce jogs across the street to the church grounds in the manner of all people who have grown comfortable behind a desk over the years. WillGM: The front door appears locked. However, through the stained glass windows at the front you definitely can see lights moving. WillGM: 4 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (4 3d6) and gets 10 13 11 10. WillGM: Ed: you hear footsteps on the balcony above WillGM: After a moment, so does Liriel, who looks up. Edward taps Bruce's shoulder, then points up when he has his attention. WillGM: Fearless bends down to examine the locks on the front door more closely. Bruce looks up, then taps Fearless on the shoulder in turn, and presses back against the door, keeping his eyes skyward. WillGM: Fearless and Liriel watch what Bruce does and emulate him. Edward does likewise WillGM: Fearless taps Bruce on the shoulder, opens his jacket to show his gun, and points up, raising his eyebrows questioningly. Bruce shakes his head, and presses his index finger to his lips. Shh. WillGM: The footsteps approach the bell tower and go inside. WillGM: Maurice: someone says, "Hang on. I thought I heard something." You hear someone ascend steps, a pause, and then a door opens. "Nothing out front. I'll stay up here for now, though." WillGM: 4 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (4 3d6) and gets 8 14 12 13. Bruce points Fearless at the lock, and makes little gesticulations with his hands. Got your picks? WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 13. Maurice blinks and slips the knife into his hand at the first sentence but doesn't make any other noise. Quietly lets out a breath and thinks about working his way closer. WillGM: Bruce: Fearless stares at you blankly for a moment, then understands what you're trying to say. He shakes his head no. Bruce nods, and pulling a small roll out of the inner pocket of his coat, he mouths "Cover me," and hunkering down he goes to work on the lock with his own tools. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 13. WillGM: 1d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6) and gets 5. Maurice: . o O (Well, this is crazy... if I had *any* sense I'd have left this alone but... well, really since when have I had sense?) WillGM: Bruce: It's an old, heavy lock -- not elegant, but hard to jimmy with delicate modern tools. It takes you a few tries, but you manage to crank it open. WillGM: Maurice: The voices turn to business. Now things get really weird. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 13. Bruce pauses for a few breaths, waiting to see if anyone heard the lock-work. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 14. WillGM: Bruce: you hear nothing that excites your alarm. WillGM: Maurice: It's hard to say what they're talking about. There's "John," and "Essence," and "Geas," and a skull, and prophecies, and it sounds really bizarre. Bruce nudges Fearless to draw his piece, and carefully opens the door, crouching aside to let him pass. Maurice blinks and tries to figure that out. . o O (Okay, definitely drugs. Nothing else it could be like that.) WillGM: Fearless does so, and quickly moves in the door, pointing. Edward sneaks in after Fearless Maurice decides to try to get a peek around the corner into the church WillGM: Liriel looks up at the balcony one last time, and comes in. Bruce follows after the other three, closing the door carefully. WillGM: You are in a room somewhat set off from the main area containing the pews. Between you and this area is a large shelf for votive candles, now empty. It is also apparently the only thing blocking you from the view of several beings talking up near the altar, whose voices you can hear quite clearly except for the distance. WillGM: Maurice: you round another turn and see that you are in a hallway for what is, if memory serves, the choir. There is a door leading out to an area behind the altar, and you are in full view of the back of someone standing there, talking with several others. WillGM: At the moment, you seem to be in darkness well back in the hall, as far as you can tell. Maurice is going to *very* carefully stay there, then... breathing shallowly and as quietly as he can. Bruce hunkers down behind the candle-shelf to gather his thoughts. WillGM: Those of you in the front hear what are apparently negotiations going on for handing over the Skull. There are apparently humans present, and the Thieves -- boasting somewhat about their skill -- are attempting to increase their price, which apparently was originally agreed to be several prophecies regarding juicy targets. WillGM: They are pointing out that they have their own Soldiers, and demanding that the receiver and his two "pet humans" agree to Geases for future services in return for handing over the actual item. Bruce frowns, thinking that they really should have brought more guns. WillGM: Or -- as one of them seems to be suffering a bit of pain -- for handing it over and then not immediately stealing it back (at which point the speaker relaxes). *** Arsenal (arsenal@216-164-27-11.c3-0.drf-ubr1.atw-drf.pa.cable.rcn.com) has joined channel #gurps Maurice hmms. Can I tell about how many speakers there are in the church? WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 13. Bruce hazards a brief look around the side of the candle-shelf. WillGM: Maurice: Other than the fact that there's more than one speaker, it's hard to say. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 10. Maurice: *nod* WillGM: Bruce: two people behind the altar. One of them is leaning on a box on the altar itself. Two more in front of the altar, one on the steps, one back over near the pews. Each of them are facing the others. The only lights are flashlights carried by the two down in front. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 9. WillGM: A third beam of light is waving around from above you, over the stairwell to your right. Bruce ducks back. He points at his eyes, then holds up six fingers... six that he can see out front. He also points toward the stairwell. WillGM: The negotiating parties agree to an earnest. Two prophecies now, one for each side, then they'll continue. The group grows quiet. WillGM: Maurice, you see the person you're staring at uncover something and move away. What you see appears to be a sealed glass box containing a preserved human arm encased in metal, and the top part of someone's skull, given the same treatment. Maurice: . o ( ... what the hell?) *** Arsenal is now known as Fearless WillGM: A commanding voice which has not spoken before says, "We go first. Rhett, ask for a prophecy concerning the Judas Grail." WillGM: "Yes sir." Quiet again. WillGM: Liriel tenses. Fearless listens intently from his hiding place... Maurice moves closer to the figures, figuring that they're likely to be paying attention to something other than their surroundings. Bruce lays a hand gently on Liriel's arm, inclining his head a bit to listen better. WillGM: Liriel turns to you, and in a voice remarkably quiet for its comprehensibility, says, "We cannot let them find such a thing!" WillGM: (You = Bruce) WillGM: (Does anyone do anything if a couple of minutes pass soundlessly?) Edward turns to Liriel. "Suggestions?" Edward: (whispered, of course) Bruce: Will: Yeah. Bruce's player is trying to decide how stupid to be. ;) Maurice: Will: Overcome by the weirdness, creeping forwards. Perhaps farther than would be prudent, but probably not enough to be outright a bad idea. Fearless: well, the player is still trying to get up to speed, considering it's been a few sessions since he's been involved. WillGM: Liriel bites his lip, then shakes his head. He taps his ear. WillGM: 3 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3 3d6) and gets 13 10 9. Fearless moves slightly to see the speakers and their case a little better while trying to stay hidden WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 16. Bruce says, as quietly as possible, "We're probably badly outgunned here. The most we can hope to do is interrupt whatever they're doing and hopefully not die in the process." Fearless: *ow* WillGM: Lemme think... WillGM: Ed and Bruce (and Liriel) hear the characteristic note of a point of Essence being spent. A voice rings out, holding everyone electrically for a moment. "The three staves and two cups yield the ace, which turns and turns again. Chains are broken ere the door is opened, but the unbound must bind or flee. Darkest dreams are faced and made flesh. The seeker will find what he places." WillGM: At the same time, Fearless trips and falls in full view of the ones behind the altar. Fearless: Hi! Edward resists the urge to facepalm. WillGM: However, at this very moment they are riveted on the speaker, who is apparently kneeling and facing something. Fearless moves back as best he can Maurice: Can I hear the thump? WillGM: You manage it before the strange recitation is concluded. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 12. Bruce notices that he has stopped breathing, and rectifies the situation. WillGM: Maurice: nope. Trench coat on carpet isn't that loud. Maurice: Hoky. Got good hearing but... WillGM: One sec.. Maurice just hopes *HE* doesn't get spotted. WillGM: Oh, so you do. My bad, forget to add in acute hearing. So yeah, on 12 you do. You spot someone fall out from behind a screen near the back of the church, then scramble back behind it. Bruce fiddles in his pocket for his badge. WillGM: The speaker stops and breathes hard. Fearless fingers his pistol, hopes he doesn't need to use it Maurice *BLINKS*, in a manner that would be audible if this were a cartoon. . o O (What the... looks like I'm not the only curious one.) WillGM: "Okay, ours," says another speaker. "Ask the thing where we can find Lilia's pendant." WillGM: "Shut up," says the previous speaker. "Give a minute." There is a snort of derision, but the demand is not immediately repeated. Maurice plays with his stiletto in one hand, thinking. Bruce flips the billfold containing his badge open, and sits there, holding it in his lap for a moment, looking as though he's trying to talk himself into something. Fearless runs the one through his head... .oO(Tarot references. Three wands and two cups... definte suits. Three 'soldiers' and two mundanes? The ace of cups is a cup running over... the grail Liriel is seeking? Chains broken... that's gotta be the devil card reference. Can't quite place the others.) WillGM: "Get a move on," someone says. "We don't have all night. They get two prophecies and payment in Essence, and that's it. Ilia's pendant and what else?" WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 11. WillGM: There is a pause. "A likely place for a Tether for our boss," says someone. WillGM: "Both of those. Get them done, we'll be out of here." WillGM: "You think." WillGM: Quiet reigns again. WillGM: Someone comes closer to the back door and speaks quietly. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 12. WillGM: Maurice, you can make it out. "You sure we can trust this thing? It's like getting information straight from the Tyrant." WillGM: "Think of it as a security hole. You have to know how to sneak through it by interpreting the clues correctly. But it does seem to always be right, if you do. You have to avoid the traps it lays. See?" WillGM: 4 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (4 3d6) and gets 12 17 11 9. WillGM: Those of you at the front are too far away to hear anything other than, maybe, someone whispering unintelligibly. Fearless: can we see lips moving? WillGM: Fearless: You'd need to be somewhere you could see them. Edward: Of a skull bound in iron? Fearless: hmm... WillGM: Whoever's talking near Maurice, I presume. Bruce looks from face to face of the assembled good guys, giving them a look that says "Does anyone have /any/ ideas?" Maurice: . o O (This all just bugs me. I wonder.) Fearless shrugs, patting his pocket nervously. Edward shoots brandon lee with his face Edward: (it's a blank) Maurice: Can I see the speakers who're close to me? Maurice: Er, who just moved by the back door WillGM: Maurice: One of the two is the one who has his back to you. The other must be to his side. Maurice: How far away? Bruce nods, and takes a deep breath, and starts to stand up. Fearless reaches into his trench pocket, and pulls out his pistol... just in case... WillGM: About 4 feet from the door. You're about six feet back in the hallway. Maurice: Okay. Maurice puts the stiletto away and draws his larger knife from the hidden pocket in his backpack while moving towards the doorway. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 14. Bruce: . o O (I must be bloody insane.) WillGM: You do so apparently quietly. Edward looks at Bruce. .oO(I'm hope I'm going to live to regret this.) Maurice: Right now seeing how close I can get to the guy with the back turned... unless I see Bruce standing. WillGM: A second prophecy is spoken. This one is in a language none of you understand, a harsh and gutteral tongue -- but Liriel winces and covers his ears! Fearless: .oO(Your play, big guy) WillGM: Two of the people in the church laugh quietly. "Some security hole," one says. Fearless *winces*, remembering the four phrases in that same tongue that're embedded in his memory. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 5. Edward: so... close. WillGM: Fearless: you catch one of the four among the sounds! Fearless: I was just about to ask that... ;) WillGM: You have no idea what it means... but it's in there. WillGM: "*Score*," says someone. Fearless: *softly* "Fuuuck me." Bruce: Time for some Stupid. Bruce moves into the sanctuary far less quietly, holding his badge aloft such that it can be seen plainly, his other hand held at his hip beneath his coat where one would assume one could find a holstered firearm that is, in fact, not really there. "Police!" he shouts. "Let's see some hands!" Edward tenses but remains hidden just in case Bruce needs plan B. WillGM: The two behind the altar look up. "Shit!" says one. He waves his arm in front of the glass box... WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 12. Maurice assumes he sees Bruce, tries to come up behind the closest person... before putting one hand on the person's face and putting his knife against his throat. WillGM: 2 Essence are spent, and it disappears! Bruce: . o O (Damn!) WillGM: You at the front see someone dash out of the back of the church. Apparently taking one of the men behind the altar completely by surprise, he manages to get a knife on that guy's throat. (Moves quietly, it seems.) Maurice: *on* not *through*. ;) Edward decides this is a good time to act while they're gawking and puts ont of the ones with his back to him in an armlock. WillGM: This leaves the new guy with a knife at the throat of one of them, the guy at the altar with ... the box, maybe? One guy kneeling in front of the altar, looking at you in surprise, and another turned to stare at you. WillGM: stare, even WillGM: Ed: you're across a whole church full of pews from them. Maurice: Oh, is it the raghead I have the knife against, or someone else? Fearless steps out from behind the screen, gun drawn, and points it directly at the guy at the altar. "Don't move!" Edward: Then I'll sneak around the back of the pews for now. WillGM: Maurice: you check his face... it's the guy you remember. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 11. Bruce: "HANDS! You! Drop the knife!" WillGM: Okay. You try to stick to the shadows at the walls of the church, out of people's lights. Fearless: Fearless looks enough like an undercover cop that he can act the part to back up Bruce. ;) WillGM: The guy at the altar looks at the guy in the back with Maurice at his throat, who turns to Maurice. "You heard the pig. Drop the knife." Maurice says, quietly but well enough to carry "I don't know what's going on here, but you... I figure you have some explaining," he says to the person. Fearless: "You! At the altar! Hands where we can see them!" WillGM: The second guy, on the steps, catches Fearless. "Mr. Ferrifous! Why, I had no idea I'd see you here." WillGM: The guy at the altar puts his hands up, and smirks. Fearless: I recognize the guy on the steps? WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 8. Fearless: "I'm full of surprises." WillGM: Never seen him before in your life. Though his manner tugs something. WillGM: The guy who had been kneeling in front of the altar, facing the Skull, backs away with his hands high up. WillGM: Liriel comes out from behind the screen, and looks at the scene. Fearless: "Exavenos, I presume. Kronos let you free?" Fearless keeps his pistol trained on the guy at the altar, though... stepping towards him. WillGM: "*Sweet!*" says the guy kneeling on the steps. Bruce tries not to look worried that Fearless has been made and the situation appears to be disintigrating. "I said, DROP THE KNIFE, DAMMIT!" WillGM: "Aren't you going to do what he says?" asks the guy Maurice is holding, apparently quite calm for having a knife at his throat. Maurice makes no move to remove his knife from the person's throat. He carries the look of someone who's done his share of looking down a barrel of a gun and says calmly to Bruce, "I'd like some explanation. I've seen this man before." WillGM: "It's true, actually," he says to Bruce. "It's really a small mudball, isn't it?" Maurice: . o O (Okay. This is fun. It's been at least a couple days since someone had a gun on me... heh heh.) Bruce: "I don't care if he's your goddamn mother!" Bruce says, pocketing his badge. "Let him go and put down the knife before something stupid happens!" Fearless walks around the guy kneeling at the altar. Is the Skull still there, or no? WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 13. WillGM: Fearless: Not that you can see. WillGM: However, the kneeling guy whispers, "I owe you." Maurice mentally shrugs and backs a step away from the man, lowering the knife at the same time. "You should be glad that I'm the only one who spotted your friend before." Fearless: how many at the altar? one or two? WillGM: The guy standing behind the altar is starting to get a little twitchy. Edward: *wince* oh crap. Please don't let that have been... WillGM: ? Edward: nevermind Fearless: one in front and one behind the altar? Bruce: "Alright, all of you up there where I can see you. Move!" WillGM: Fearless: Two standing behind the altar -- three, with Maurice -- and one kneeling in front, around whom you just searched. The guy Maurice doesn't have the knife on has his hands up, and is the one that waved his arm in front of the box. Fearless: "You heard 'im. Stand up." WillGM: The kneeling guy stands up, as Fearless and Bruce ask. Fearless: "Bruce, I'll keep an eye on the other two. We should frisk Mr. Nervous Waving Hands, though." Fearless motions with his gun for the formerly kneeling guy to move next to the others. Maurice shrugs slightly and casually sets his knife on the ground before straightening up and standing in a normal position. WillGM: Liriel gets near Bruce. "Swipe. A frisk won't find it. It only lasts a few minutes, though." Fearless: "Interesting technique." Bruce: "We'll just have to hold out until it wears off, then." Bruce moves over to Mister Twitchy, and searches him for weapons. Fearless nods. "You, on the stairs. Over here are well." WillGM: As you're walking down the aisle of pews, Mister Twitchy sets off at a dead run for the door of the choir's entrance opposite the one Maurice came in. Fearless turns, and fires at his legs Fearless: you wanna roll it, or should I? WillGM: Me. I need to look up a called shot, anyway. Bruce: And here's where it falls apart. :) Fearless: yep... Fearless: I'd prolly assign a -2 penalty to a called shot, modified by vision, and a -2 for a moving target Edward: In the direction I was sneaking through, or the other one? WillGM: GURPS has specific penalties for specific parts. Legs is -2. Fearless: *nod* WillGM: So you need to roll under 11 to hit. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 14. Fearless: damn, shot goes wild Fearless fires again WillGM: The shot hits the wall, and flakes off some of the paint from a fresco. Maurice: "Merde!" WillGM: Ed: At this point, you were about twenty feet from the altar dais. Maurice: Uh, is Bruce holding a gun on me? Maurice: Still, that is? WillGM: This is the door on your side, about fifteen feet further back. Edward: And how distant from the one running? Bruce: I never was. :) Fearless: I'm the only one armed... Bruce isn't packing. ;) Bruce: I was bluffing. Edward: Can I intercept if I run fast? Maurice: Ah. WillGM: Dunno. Wanna try? Edward: Yes. WillGM: You set off after him. Edward: Hmm. How up on Essence am I? Fearless: before or after my second shot? Bruce: I was hoping one of the goons was packing to remedy that. ;) WillGM: Ed: 4 units. WillGM: Lemme think. Edward: Blow two on the running, then. WillGM: Fearless: you just have time to get off a second shot. Still legs? Fearless: yes WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 10. Fearless: 2d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Fearless (2d6) and gets 10. Fearless: 10 damage.. ow WillGM: "Aaah!" WillGM: He hits the opposite wall of the hallway, hard. Maurice is going to pick his damn knife back up. ;) Edward takes the guy in an arm lock just to be sure. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 7. Fearless: "Make sure he's not a bleeder, Ed." Edward even manages to keep the blood from getting on his clothes. WillGM: Ed: keep your Essence, too. Fearless declared his shot first, and you passed a Will roll to hold off. Edward: 'k Bruce sees Maurice going for his knife, and hastens his pace up the aisle, hoping to intercept. Fearless turns back to the others. "Uh-uh-uh." *gunwave* WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 9 11. Maurice waits a few beats to see if there's going to be any other sorts of violence going on, still in a crouch. WillGM: Bruce: you approach Maurice. He has time to pick up the knife -- whether he does is his decision. Fearless: "Now. Let's have some names." WillGM: "Well, I see you fellows are busy right now," says the one on the far side of the steps. "Don't shoot an innocent man..." A raucous chord of Disturbance sounds, and Ed and Bruce see what momentarily looks like a Kyriotate, but then resolves to a Balseraph, climb out of the fellow. It waves a wing mockingly, and flies out of a church wall. Maurice fingers the hilt and, assuming there's not any more violence going on for the moment, sets it back down before straightening up. WillGM: The man he leaves behind shakes his head confusedly, looks around, and says, "Oh shit." Fearless: remind me, Exavenos was what type of demon? WillGM: Balseraph. Of Fate, with the Kyriotate resonance. Edward: Fate-bal. Kyrio. WillGM: At this point, everyone hears steps hastily running down a stairwell at the front of the church. Someone hustles out the front door. Fearless: "Did we miss anyone?" Edward: "Evidently." Maurice looks right at Bruce, hard. "You'll pardon me for being somewhat cautious," he says... slight French accent and fairly casual. WillGM: Of course, Maurice and Fearless simply see the guy look confused. Bruce kicks the knife out of reach when he reaches it. "Front door. Let 'em go.. I think we got what we need." Fearless: "Ed, what just happened?" Edward: "Xav was posessing that guy." WillGM: "No!" cries Liriel, and adds to the Disturbance in the church by going celestial himself. The mundanes simply see this man's body disappear. Ed and Bruce see him chase after Exavenos out the wall. Fearless: "So he hasn't earned a new body yet. Okay." Maurice carefully watches to see where his knife bounces off to. WillGM: Maurice: well back of the altar, about the middle of the church. Say, four yards away. Fearless: "The rest of you. Names." Maurice: Will: Just noting so I can get it later. Has personal significance to me, donchaknow. ;) Bruce produces a set of handcuffs, approaching Maurice. "No. I don't think I will. I don't know who you are, but we've got a job to do right now. Hands on your head." WillGM: The guy Maurice had the knife on says, "Eat me. As soon as it's remotely subtle to do so, I'm out of this body. And I don't think any of you can follow me." Fearless takes a chance, and repeats the one phrase in Helltongue that was spoken earlier. "What's it translate into?" WillGM: Ed: the box pops into existence between you and the guy you're holding. He attempts to break your lock to reach it. Maurice: "Fair enough. I want that knife back though. There's another in my left sleeve." He puts his hands on his head. WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 10 9. Maurice: "Oh, and I'm Maurice Dupre... do you need to see my passport?" Edward uses his push to throw him the other way, then goes for the box. WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 8 11. Bruce removes the knife from Maurice's sleeve, and then cuffs him. "Later. Right now you need to stay out of the way." WillGM: He seems to be both stronger and faster than you, at least for the moment. He reaches the box first. WillGM: He clutches it to his chest, and it disappears again. WillGM: (2 more notes... total currently, 25 notes of Disturbance.) Fearless: *wince* Edward takes his arm into a lock again. .oO(If I live through this, I'm taking up Aikido.) Fearless: that's a lot. Bruce leaves Maurice and hustles over to help Edward. Fearless: Will: I get a translation from the mook? WillGM: I'm thinking. Maurice raises an eyebrow at the scuffle. "You seem to be having some problems." WillGM: Fearless: Which guy were you speaking to? Bruce: Mr. Eat Me, I think. ;) Fearless: the one Maurice had the knife on at one point Fearless: yeah... Mr. Eat Me. WillGM: He turns to Fearless. "Why you want to know -- and what's it worth to you?" Bruce: Uhoh. Fearless: "I'm asking the questions, not you. What's the translation?" WillGM: "Fat chance, friend. I tell you what. You let me and my subordinate go on our merry way, and I'll tell you. That Seraph can even verify I'm telling the truth." WillGM: "If he comes back." *smirk* Fearless: "Like you said, fat chance." WillGM: He shrugs. "Suit yourself..." WillGM: He puts his hands on his head and stands there quietly. WillGM: Ed: the demon below you seems to be doing algebra. Bruce piles onto the demon Edward is restraining, helping to hold him until the box pops back into existance again. WillGM: (Muttering quietly: distance to Golden Gate, some sort of "amplitude" estimate, this sort of thing.) Fearless: "Bruce, Ed, I'd imagine this place is practically screaming with their... what's it called? Disturbance? There's been enough wierd shit going on, boxes disappearing, Xav and Larry up and vanishing... I figure we'll have a Divine Hit Squad en route soon." Edward smacks him in the back of the neck. Edward: Knock him out, prevent him from doing whatever he's planning to do. Bruce: "Yeah, it's giving me a fucking headache. I'm sure they'd be thrilled to meet these guys." WillGM: Oh, for damage. That's to the brainpan. Hmm, I figure you hardly need to aim when you're holding him... one sec, lemme look up damage. WillGM: 1d6-2 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6-2) and gets 1. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 15. WillGM: He mutters "Ow," and appears to lose his place in the calculation, but is still conscious. Edward sighs. Stubborn idiot. Smacks him again. WillGM: 1d6-2 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6-2) and gets 3. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 12. Maurice casually stands around. "Isn't that something like police brutality? Only, you're not police are you..." WillGM: "Ow! Allright, allright... here!" He produces the box and gives it to you. "You guys aren't supposed to torture, remember?" Edward: "You guys aren't even supposed to exist, remember?" WillGM: The Thief Fearless has his gun on turns to Fearless. "He's right, you know." WillGM: He waves his left hand in the air. "Hang on a second." WillGM: He reaches for Fearless' gun. Fearless pulls back. Fearless: "Don't." WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 13 12. WillGM: You step back just out of range of his grasp. He shrugs and puts his hand back on his head. Maurice: "Also, isn't someone going to have heard the gunshots?" Bruce snatches up the box and slides away from Edward and the demon. "Don't think of it as torture, think of it as creative application of pressure." WillGM: "Oh, gee. Gunshots in a city neighborhood at night. I'm sure the citizenry will just come *rushing* to investigate." Fearless: *to Mr. Eat Me* "If that was your actual body and not a possessed bystander, I'd make sure you'd be limping away." WillGM: He laughs. "This is my body, human. Don't presume about things of which you know nothing." WillGM: At this point the guy who had been standing on the steps (who Exavenos was possessing), having slowly worked his way about halfway down the church aisle, turns and makes a break for the front door. Fearless: "Good. That makes this a little easier for me." Fearless: "Name. Or alias, makes no difference to me." WillGM: "You're right, it doesn't. I'm carrying no identification. I could make up anything, it wouldn't matter." WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 14. Fearless: .oO(Note to self... ask Ed to talk to his Lightning buddies about a flashythingie.) WillGM: No one having hindered the guy, he successfully makes it out the front door. Bruce watches the host make a dash for it, but doesn't move to chase him down. "Guys, we should clear out of here. We've got what we came for." Bruce: "And it's gonna get extremely hot after that guy reaches a phone." WillGM: The formerly kneeling guy speaks up. "Does that mean I can go?" Fearless: "Right. But I don't want to refer to you as 'Mr. Eat Me' to my boss." Maurice clears his throat slightly in Bruce's direction. Edward looks at Bruce. WillGM: "I don't give a shit how you refer to me, mister." Fearless: *to ex-kneeler* "You'd best come with us, for now." *to Maurice* "You, too." Fearless: "Bruce, do yo think we should handcuff these demons?" Fearless: "Maybe to a stall in the ladies' room?" WillGM: Liriel comes back in and recorporealizes. Maurice and Fearless see him return to the same spot he left, frowning. Bruce: "Won't do any good. They'll dump their bodies as soon as they think they can get away with it." WillGM: "The offer to translate in exchange for our freedom is still good," says Mr. Eat Me. Fearless: "No deal." Maurice blinks and, in the first sign of any agitation in his voice, asks "And what is up with him?" he says about the reappearing person. WillGM: Liriel looks up and speaks quickly. "Whatever he's offering, don't take -- good." Fearless turns to Larry. "Unless you feel it necessary." WillGM: Liriel looks at Maurice. "This is all new to you, isn't it?" Fearless: "Elsewhere, Larry." Maurice: "People appearing and disappearing out of thin air? Yes, I would say so..." he's back to more of a deadpan tone. Bruce: "Leave the demons. Bring the.. well, I hope he's human." WillGM: Ex kneeling guy: "Me? Yes." WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 14. WillGM: "He speaks the truth." Fearless: "Both of you." *indicates ex-kneeler and Maurice* Bruce double-takes. "Make that both the humans, then." WillGM: "Do you know whether those two -- " he catches sight of Ed and Bruce over the shot one -- " oh, three, are?" Fearless: "This one..." *indicates Mr. Eat Me* "... is demonic. Not sure about the other two yet." WillGM: Liriel walks up to the stage and addresses Mr. Eat Me. "Say whether you're a demon or a human." WillGM: The object of his attention stays silent. Maurice mutters. "Demon..." WillGM: "Probably." Bruce sighs, tucking the box under one arm. "Dammit, this is getting complicated." He fishes out his cellphone, and dials up Ellis. WillGM: Liriel winds up and whacks him across the face. He cocks an ear. "Nonhuman, at any rate." Maurice snickers. "Demons. Merde, I'm handcuffed by lunatics..." Fearless: "No noise that time?" WillGM: "Correct." WillGM: The one Ed and Bruce is holding says, "Fuck this, I don't care if they do hear," and decorporealizes, to the bongity-bong of additional Disturbance. WillGM: The last one standing rolls his eyes. "I'm surrounded by amateurs." Fearless turns to Maurice. "Angels, demons... good enough labels, even if I still have doubts as to how accurate they are." Bruce: "Greg? Yeah, Bruce. Bring Fearless' car around the side of the church. We've got a few passengers that need a ride." Maurice shakes his head, smiling. "Well, I suppose you all will have some sort of explanation. Or will kill me and dump me in a ditch somewhere." WillGM: "Check. Listen, a couple of guys ran out of the church earlier but they didn't go for the car, so we didn't follow. They drove away from out back." Bruce winces as the Thief goes celestial, and shakes his head. "Forget about 'em. The situation is rapidly disintigrating. We just need to clear out." WillGM: "Coming around now." Fearless turns to the ex-kneeling guy. "What's your name, and how'd you end up mixed up with all this?" Bruce: "Right." Bruce hangs up and pockets the phone, and offers the box to Liriel. "Do you see any reason to bring along the demon? I mean, is there anything you can do to keep him detained?" WillGM: "I'll sweeten the deal. Let me go unharmed, and besides not wasting your time in a futile effort to keep me captive, I'll not only translate that phrase from Helltongue, I'll tell you how we generally contacted our buyer." Fearless: "Larry?" WillGM: "Why are you interested in this anyway?" WillGM: +*to Fearless* Fearless: "I'll explain it later." Bruce mutters a few unkind words about reporters. Fearless: "Away from prying ears." *nods to Mr. Eat Me* Fearless: or rather, in his direction WillGM: "Hmm. Well... a Thief is bad enough, but a Fate demon generally worse. Investigations into anything using Helltongue are generally unwise... but again, I *would* like to thwart any machinations of this Balseraph." He ponders momentarily, and addresses the Thief. "Translate the entire prophecy you were given about the Tether, and I will agree." WillGM: The Thief thinks, and shakes his head. "No deal. My offer stands." Bruce pointedly checks his watch. WillGM: "...It is your decision, Mr. Ferrifous." WillGM: Bruce: "Are you guys coming?" Fearless: "Just what I'd repeated earlier will do." WillGM: "Just that? Okay, deal." Fearless: Good thing Liriel wasn't there to hear Fearless spew fluent Helltongue. Fearless: or at least accurate Helltongue. WillGM: "You said 'the guardian of darkness awakens in sunlight.'" WillGM: "Now I can go?" Bruce: "Yeah. Keep the engine running." Fearless: "That was the deal, was it not?" WillGM: "Sweet. See ya." He turns to go. Fearless turns, and heads for the car. WillGM: "The contact information!" Bruce tuck the box under his arm, and pulls a keyring out of his pocket as he walks over to Maurice. "Alright, if I uncuff you, can I count on you not to do anything stupid?" WillGM: Mr. Eat Me laughs. "Sucker." He has reached the front door, and dashes out the back. Maurice nods. "Nothing stupid, no. I'm going to retrieve my knife though, okay?" Bruce releases the cuffs. "Okay. And you should probably come with us. You've probably got questions." Maurice: "That's putting it mildly." WillGM: Liriel growls. "I believe the phrase is, 'We have been held.'" Fearless walks out the door, and gets in the car, lighting up a cigarette and taking a long drag, lost in thought. Edward: "Had." Edward follows Fearless. WillGM: He absentmindedly thanks you. Maurice walks over to where his knife bounced off to and returns it to the sheath in his backpack before following the rest. WillGM: The human speaks up as he walks with you. "Oh, and my name isn't 'Liver, Chopped,' as you seem to have been thinking. You can call me Rhett Bookman." Fearless: "And how did you get mixed up with them?" WillGM: "I *was* with the buyer, so I think I can help out with what you just got suckered on. I'll have my own price, though." Fearless: "Uh-huh." Bruce returns the second knife to Maurice and ushers him out of the church. Fearless goes silent, lost in thought again. WillGM: You're all now out of the church. A car squeals its wheels and tears like a madman out of the church's back parking lot. WillGM: It's long gone in seconds. Maurice stows that one to the sheath sewn into the sleeve of his jacket as they walk. WillGM: Rhett leans on Fearless' rental car, does a doubletake at the girl sitting in the back. WillGM: Fearless, Ellis hands you the keys. Bruce jogs across the street to the second car, and climbing in the places the box on the seat and drives over into the church parking lot. Bruce: -t Edward gets into the car as well. Maurice gets into... one of the cars or the other. ;) WillGM: Which? It'll be important for later conversation. :^) Maurice: Heh. Maurice: Let's go with... Fearless's car? Fearless: "Rhett, you're with him." *indicates Bruce* "Larry, you and... he can ride with me and 'Cole." Fearless indicates Maurice. Maurice: Heh, that worked out nicely. ;) WillGM: Right. so, Fearless, Maurice, Nicole, and Rhett... and Liriel, Edward, Ellis, Bruce. Bruce: Swap Ellis and Rhett, I think. :) Fearless: I was putting Rhett with Ed, Ellis, and Bruce, and Liriel with me, Maurice, and Cole WillGM: Okay... Fearless, Maurice, Nicole, and Ellis... and Liriel, Edward, Rhett, Bruce. WillGM: At this point a group of cars that would not seem to have anything to do with each other if you weren't looking for them drive up to the church and slowly begin looking around. Fearless: "And there's our hit squad." Bruce: "Time to go away." Edward: "The cavalry, or the stormtroopers?" Fearless: "Not sure." WillGM: One pulls up next to your bunch. Liriel leans in the car and begins talking to the driver.= Edward: "Ah. Cavalry." Maurice waits, in the back seat. WillGM: He's apparently explaining things. The driver nods, flashes his headlights at the other cars, and one remains with a couple of guys going in the church to look around, while the others disperse again. WillGM: Those of you with sharp eyes notice a few quick hand signals being exchanged before most of them drve off. Bruce dry-swallows a pair of aspirin while he waits. Fearless: "Coach, Cole, do you want to explain what's going on, or should I?" Maurice leans back in the car. "Explanation would be nice... oh, I'm Maurice Dupre, by the way..." WillGM: Liriel turns to you. "That last Disturbance piled on made it loud enough to hear at Golden Gate. These are Hallaren's fellows. Phillip is probably worried, but doesn't have the resources to check this out... I've asked them to inform him as well." Fearless: "Johnny Ferrifous, Philadelphia Inquirer." He lets Ellis and Nicole introduce themselves. WillGM: Liriel turns to Maurice. He looks at you funnily for a second, then speaks. "Yes, you are. It is good to meet you, Mr. Dupre. I shall have to determine whether you are sufficiently involved in what went on here tonight to know more about it." He looks up. "In the meantime, I suggest we regroup to our local place of strength, yes?" Fearless: "Sounds good, Larry." Bruce: "Yeah. Golden." WillGM: "Yes." He gets in the car. Bruce: "I meant.. never mind." Bruce drives on. Fearless holds out his pack of cancersticks, and holds them out to Maurice. "Smoke?" Fearless pulls out behind Bruce while doing so. Fearless: Brand is Pall Mall, king size non-filter Maurice: "Haven't in a couple years..." He takes one of the aforementioned sticks with a bit of a smile. Fearless: aka the worst-tasting cigarettes on the market Maurice: And Maurice's formerly of the Foreign Legion. Foul tasting things aren't a new thing. Fearless: Fearless can almost taste them, they're that bad. ;) Maurice cracks the window out of politeness to everyone else. Fearless drives with his window all the way down. WillGM: "Who's this?" She addresses Fearless. Fearless: "Someone who decided to get involved while we were inside." WillGM: "We heard two gunshots. Is everyone okay?" Fearless: "We wounded a demon." Maurice shrugs slightly. "I saw someone I'd seen before in odd circumstances go in through the back entrance... and he being a raghead in a shut-down church was a bit suspicious." Fearless: "Leg shot." WillGM: Nicole stirs, but doesn't say anything. Fearless: "We've got some problems, though... Xav's back in the picture." WillGM: "Oh." "My." WillGM: Rhett sits quietly, looking a bit more comfortable. Fearless: "The good news is that he apparently doesn't have a body to call his own yet. The bad news is that his ability to pull a Jericho is quite active." Bruce: "So," Bruce says to Rhett as he drives. "What's your deal?" WillGM: "My freedom, untracked, in exchange for information." Edward: "Freedom to go back to being a slave to demons? Good thing you don't aim your sights high." Maurice raises an eyebrow at the "not having a body to call his own" and all the rest. WillGM: "I have no interest in serving demons. I am forced to, for the moment, but that will change soon -- in fact, your friend provided me the key. That demon's name will serve me well when next I challenge him." Edward doesn't bother suppressing a derisive snort. Fearless rings Ed. WillGM: "I didn't expect you to understand. That's fine." Edward: "Zucchini and lima beans." Edward: (that was answering the phone, btw) Bruce: "You expect us to believe you, though." Fearless: "Well, that's a better greeting than BA's. Could you pass the phone to Larry?" Edward: "Sure." Edward hands it to Liriel. "Fearless." WillGM: "You have a Seraph running around with you. I assumed he would verify anything I said." WillGM: "Yes, Mr. Ferrifous?" Maurice takes a drag on das cancerstick and waits to understand exactly what's going on. Fearless: "I feel I owe you an explanation over that translation. Now's as good a time as any." WillGM: "I appreciate it. Go ahead." Bruce: "Mm. We'll talk about it more when we get somewhere more... comfortable." Fearless: "A few months back, right after our previous run-in with Xav, some of the group at the Works found a copy of my Jersey Mafia articles in Xav's stuff. In the borders were phrases in the other side's language. As near as I can figure, the phrases had been enchanted." Fearless: "I've got four phrases in my head, and part of the prophecy tonight was one of those phrases." WillGM: "Mmm... highly unusual." Fearless: "I believe I could repeat all four phrases, plus the prophecy tonight, if we can find a translator." WillGM: "It may bear further study. But I am not particularly qualified. And to be frank, sir, I do not want to learn much regarding the translation of Helltongue. It is a dangerous study for angels." WillGM: Rhett laughs quietly. Fearless: "So I've been told. But the result of the translation, as opposed to the actual translating, may bear us a lead to what they're up to." WillGM: You approach the Park. WillGM: "I understand. There are many new pieces for us to assimilate tonight; let us see in what context and relations they may be put before we start drawing firm conclusions." Fearless: "Spoken like a reporter. Talk to you later, Larry." WillGM: "Yes." *click* Fearless: *click* WillGM: -------------------- Session End ----------------------