Veterans of the Psychic Wars (pre-dawn Tues. 4/3/07)

[Detritus]

OK, I'm going to go ahead and move on to the next thread. We need one PC to check out what's going on with the dagger. If you want the split to be different than has been previously proposed, that is to say, if you want more than one PC to check out the dagger, now is the time and this is the place to iron that out.

Once everything has been sorted out, Gwynnis asks Rebekka to cloak you all (the PCs and Muaziz, but not Dee Dee) with her Obfuscate, and then you'll all head out of the ward. Camille et al. will be taken within the ward, and the Sheriff will watch over you on the outside. If there are any objections to this part of the plan, we're at the time and place to deal with that as well. Whoever checks out the dagger will be able to move as normal, whoever does the more general scouting will be lying flat and unable to move during the proceedings.

[Kalzazz]

We should go somewhere with couches or such then if going to be spending lots of time not moving

[Detritus]

We should go somewhere with couches or such then if going to be spending lots of time not moving
That's almost certainly going to be vetoed, at least moving to another room would be. The point is to make it look like all that's happening is that the others are being called inside, for the benefit of anyone who might be watching. However, I will say there's enough furniture in the corners of the room available for four Kindred to be seated in while motionless.

Also, it looks like Jack will be the one tracking the dagger specifically, this go around.

[Detritus]

Once Jack indicates his willingness to track the dagger-bearer, Gwynnis gives final instructions. Everyone besides Jack will be using Psychic Projection. These people may seat themselves in either corner of the room which is visible to someone standing where the opening in the ward has been cut and re-sealed. All those using Psychic Projection will leave their physical bodies in more or less torporous state.

((You will be able to move at 200 times your normal move rate while on the astral plane, and if you encounter other astrally projected creatures, you can engage them in combat as normal, save that you can only spend Fatigue on disciplines.))

Jack will be using a variation of Eagle's Sight (basically the ability to take a bird's-eye view of a region, up to an altitude of 250 feet) that is centered on the dagger instead of his body. Mental recitation of the dagger's name (Carnwennan) and concentrating on your wish to view it will take your second sight there. Jack won't go unconscious during this, but he may want to be seated, or at least remain still, with his eyes closed to prevent distraction from local sights.

Once instructions are completed, Rebekka lowers her veil, and you seem to Vanish from the Mind's Eye of all the others. Still wearing the Justicar's outer form, Sarah gives her head a little shake as if still surprised to know that the Prince has that ability as part of her arsenal.

"The veil will protect you against detection even by others in astral form, unless you come upon one already capable enough to pierce it as in the material world. The ones you seek may be similarly hidden. May the blessing of Caine be upon you, and aid you in finding our foes," the Prince says, and then directs the Sheriff to gather the others. When Dee Dee leaves, she takes enough time in rounding up the others to permit you free exit from the ward, and then closes the opening from the outside.

As you move to seat yourselves while remaining in the Sheriff's sight, you hear an invitation from the Justicar to partake of her strength as needed to assist your efforts, and a subtle potency seems to suffuse your being.

===============

((Give yourselves whatever relative positioning you wish before going astral, and you'll be in the same relative positions once on the astral plane. You will NOT see each other, or even yourselves, at first while under Rebekka's Cloak, but it will also keep you hidden from any nearby watchers. EXCEPTION -- François will see everyone under Rebekka's Cloak, both materially and astrally, because his effective Auspex level is 6 (since he's 7th generation, and Gwynnis has at least Auspex 6), where Rebekka "only" has Obfuscate 5.

If you'd rather all be visible to each other from the beginning, we can retcon that in. Basically Rebekka doesn't do the Cloak the Gathering as described above.

Psychic Projection costs 10 Fatigue. In case it was not clear from the last paragraph above the equal signs, some fairly hefty Potence just got raised on your behalf, and Gwynnis will spot those of her linked to her the cost of entry into the astral plane.))

[Detritus]

When Jack concentrates on Carnwennan, he finds his Second Sight in a room in the Intensive Care Unit of some hospital. There are patients in both beds, but no others are apparent in the room.

[SD Anderson]

Jack takes a seat then closes his eyes.

Carnwennan Carnwennan Carnwennan Carnwennan Let's see what can be seen.

[Detritus]

Jack takes a seat then closes his eyes.

Carnwennan Carnwennan Carnwennan Carnwennan Let's see what can be seen.

When Jack concentrates on Carnwennan, he finds his Second Sight in a room in the Intensive Care Unit of some hospital. There are patients in both beds, but no others are apparent in the room.
We crossed tracks in the ether, as these posts went up within a minute of each other.

When Jack opens his eyes, he finds himself in a room in the ICU of some hospital. Both beds in the room are occupied, but there isn't anyone else in the room.

[SD Anderson]

We crossed tracks in the ether, as these posts went up within a minute of each other.

When Jack opens his eyes, he finds himself in a room in the ICU of some hospital. Both beds in the room are occupied, but there isn't anyone else in the room.


He'll try turning his head around.

[Detritus]

He'll try turning his head around.
You can do a visual sweep of the room, but no one else turns up. You do realize that your vantage point seems to be between the two beds, nearer to the bed closer to the room's door. The equipment monitoring that patient's vital signs might be indicating a drop in blood pressure.

[Brother Brian]

Francois moves to a divan in a corner and, after adjusting his firearms, lays down on it.

Closing his eyes, he allows his perceptions to slip into the astral plane.

[SD Anderson]

You can do a visual sweep of the room, but no one else turns up. You do realize that your vantage point seems to be between the two beds, nearer to the bed closer to the room's door. The equipment monitoring that patient's vital signs might be indicating a drop in blood pressure.

Is it possible to see the knife itself?

[Detritus]

Is it possible to see the knife itself?
Presently, no. However, Rebekka's last words to everyone before they left the ward come unbidden into your mind.

[Detritus]

Francois moves to a divan in a corner and, after adjusting his firearms, lays down on it.

Closing his eyes, he allows his perceptions to slip into the astral plane.
You're the first one into the astral plane. You watch Jocelin, Leo, and Muaziz astrally project themselves in short order. Dee Dee stands guard beside the dome ward, which everyone sees. François is the only one to see any other Kindred, but none for now besides those who are astrally projecting themselves from the parlor you're all starting at.

EDIT -- I should have also mentioned, the dome ward as just as opaque from the outside in psychic projection mode as it was from either side in physical form.

[SD Anderson]

Then we try it the hard way... Jack thinks.

"If they wiped the blood from the knife, this is screwed." he says mostly to himself. To anyone else here. "The knife is currently in a lousy position to see from. It appears to be in a some emergency ward."

"Vitae is supposed to be a power. See if that helps.'

Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan

(ooc: If this were the WW rules i'd burn a willpower point to get at least one success.)

[Detritus]

Then we try it the hard way... Jack thinks.

"If they wiped the blood from the knife, this is screwed." he says mostly to himself. To anyone else here. "The knife is currently in a lousy position to see from. It appears to be in a some emergency ward."

"Vitae is supposed to be a power. See if that helps.'

Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan

(ooc: If this were the WW rules i'd burn a willpower point to get at least one success.)
"Try reading auras," is the response you get.

Jack's foray hasn't cost any Fatigue as of yet, so there's still some available for him from the common pool if he wants to do as suggested. ((OOC -- It will trigger a Quick Contest between the Auspex roll and the Obfuscate roll.))

[SD Anderson]

(Are there any auras there to read? The scene dexribed is basically furniture.)

[Kalzazz]

((So, the goal is to flit about the astral and look for nearby enemies?))

[Detritus]

(Are there any auras there to read? The scene dexribed is basically furniture.)
There aren't any apparent at the moment, but Jack certainly would recall that the blood-spitter wasn't detectable by normal vision in prior encounters. While he is employing an Auspex effect to get second sight, presently that sight is otherwise not enhanced.

((So, the goal is to flit about the astral and look for nearby enemies?))
Correct. Similar caveats apply for the moment that everyone astrally projected has merely normal vision active right now.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin first tries to see if she can do a cool ghost like float through a wall

[SD Anderson]

There aren't any apparent at the moment, but Jack certainly would recall that the blood-spitter wasn't detectable by normal vision in prior encounters. While he is employing an Auspex effect to get second sight, presently that sight is otherwise not enhanced.


Correct. Similar caveats apply for the moment that everyone astrally projected has merely normal vision active right now.

So the options are to either sit around and hope something significant eventually occurs or try and push things. If the blade is not in contact with the spit woman, and we are in an ICU, it's likely the blade had to be surgically separated from her. If she's still in the same room as it, that's likely to be very temporary. Someone may take the knife or it may be left in a drawer. Drawer looks too likely.

He will make the effort. Even if it can't be seen, it is presumably in direct contact with the blade and Jack is also in direct contact with the blade as well. Let's see if Transitivity applies.

Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan

[Brother Brian]

I'm going to start by ramping up my senses with auspex, (reading auras), and then start a consistantly growing spiral around the building, moving up and down to catch all the floors. Once the building is clear, I'll move outside.

[Detritus]

So the options are to either sit around and hope something significant eventually occurs or try and push things. If the blade is not in contact with the spit woman, and we are in an ICU, it's likely the blade had to be surgically separated from her. If she's still in the same room as it, that's likely to be very temporary. Someone may take the knife or it may be left in a drawer. Drawer looks too likely.

He will make the effort. Even if it can't be seen, it is presumably in direct contact with the blade and Jack is also in direct contact with the blade as well. Let's see if Transitivity applies.

Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan Source of the blood tainting Carnwennan
((I'm assuming you haven't activated any Auspex yet.))

Your vantage point shifts, at walking speed, until you're near the other bed in the room. The vitals for this patient seem to be steady at first, but after several seconds the blood pressure starts to drop slowly.

[Detritus]

I'm going to start by ramping up my senses with auspex, (reading auras), and then start a consistantly growing spiral around the building, moving up and down to catch all the floors. Once the building is clear, I'll move outside.
Almost as soon as you start your spiral, you see two auras, located about a foot directly above the top of the ward. One is a pale light blue, with perhaps shade of violet mixed in, indicating someone almost perfectly calm with a hint of the excitement of expectation/anticipation included. The other is mostly a swirl of blue and green, still pale, but in deeper/darker shades than in the first aura, indicating someone who is concentrating hard but also wary about whatever is about to come. Neither of the auras' owners are visible to you at the moment.

[SD Anderson]

((I'm assuming you haven't activated any Auspex yet.))

Your vantage point shifts, at walking speed, until you're near the other bed in the room. The vitals for this patient seem to be steady at first, but after several seconds the blood pressure starts to drop slowly.

Who's the patient? Anyone recognizable?

[SD Anderson]

((I'm assuming you haven't activated any Auspex yet.))



I'm not sure why you'd make that assumption. In post #16, Jack was looking for auras and didn't find any. Have to use Auspex to see Auras, I believe.

[Detritus]

I'm not sure why you'd make that assumption. In post #16, Jack was looking for auras and didn't find any. Have to use Auspex to see Auras, I believe.
I make that assumption because the wording in Post 16 is ambiguous. It can be read as, "I'm turning on Auspex," but it can also be read as, "Why should bother turning on Auspex?" Given a certain amount of in-character friction between Jack and Gwynnis (which is fine, that's not a problem), it wasn't crystal clear to me that you were intending on following her advice, and I mistook your intent.

==================

Now, with Aura Reading active, this is what you see:

Both patients have rapidly swirling colors in their auras, indicating dreaming. Maybe there's a hint more orange than any other color, which would indicate fear.

There is a third aura, paler than the other two, which is green with flecks of brown and black veins that is between the two beds. It's concentration tinged with bitterness, and the veins indicate a diabolist as well.

[SD Anderson]

I make that assumption because the wording in Post 16 is ambiguous. It can be read as, "I'm turning on Auspex," but it can also be read as, "Why should bother turning on Auspex?" Given a certain amount of in-character friction between Jack and Gwynnis (which is fine, that's not a problem), it wasn't crystal clear to me that you were intending on following her advice, and I mistook your intent.

==================

Now, with Aura Reading active, this is what you see:

Both patients have rapidly swirling colors in their auras, indicating dreaming. Maybe there's a hint more orange than any other color, which would indicate fear.

There is a third aura, paler than the other two, which is green with flecks of brown and black veins that is between the two beds. It's concentration tinged with bitterness, and the veins indicate a diabolist as well.

"We have 3 count 'em Three auras. Can't see who is producing them. Two strong, one pale. The strong ones are a bit orange and swirling, dreamish. The pale one is both bitter and a diabolist." Jack says aloud.

"Would Drake be a light diabolist or a neon sign type diabolist?

[Brother Brian]

Almost as soon as you start your spiral, you see two auras, located about a foot directly above the top of the ward. One is a pale light blue, with perhaps shade of violet mixed in, indicating someone almost perfectly calm with a hint of the excitement of expectation/anticipation included. The other is mostly a swirl of blue and green, still pale, but in deeper/darker shades than in the first aura, indicating someone who is concentrating hard but also wary about whatever is about to come. Neither of the auras' owners are visible to you at the moment.

I move closer to try to try and ID them. "Gwynnis", Francois thinks, "I've got two unknowns at the top of the ward. I'm moving in to to identify. Leo, Muaziz, Jocelin, be ready if this goes tits up."

[Detritus]

"We have 3 count 'em Three auras. Can't see who is producing them. Two strong, one pale. The strong ones are a bit orange and swirling, dreamish. The pale one is both bitter and a diabolist." Jack says aloud.

"Would Drake be a light diabolist or a neon sign type diabolist?
((Note, two of the auras are coming from the patients lying abed.))

"Kindred auras are always more pale than those of mortals," comes the reply.

I move closer to try to try and ID them. "Gwynnis", Francois thinks, "I've got two unknowns at the top of the ward. I'm moving in to to identify. Leo, Muaziz, Jocelin, be ready if this goes tits up."
"Acknowledged," replies the Justicar.

For both of you: "Now that you've acquired an aura, try enhancing your mundane senses."

================

Once you've enhanced senses, this is what you see:

Jack: Sees this woman (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=234146&postcount=29).

François: Sees her (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=55192&postcount=12), and the him that is the first entry in this post (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=54781&postcount=11) (i.e., not Sarah). The woman is stunningly beautiful, and the man is a trifle paunchy. The man is the one who has the aura full of concentration.

For the moment, François seems not to have been spotted. (Jack is going to be surpassingly difficult to spot, since it's just his second sight there, instead of an astral projection.)

[Kalzazz]

((Was I able to flit through a wall?))

[Detritus]

((Was I able to flit through a wall?))
Yes. I missed that post earlier. You don't see anything that's happening in the parlor for the moment, but we can say you floated into the kitchen.

[SD Anderson]

Once you've enhanced senses, this is what you see:

Jack: Sees this woman (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showpost.php?p=234146&postcount=29).




"The diablerist looks to ve a middle eastern woman, quite possibly our Assamite acquaintance."

Jack will move about try and get details about the mortals, find a window if one is there to be found and look outside, see if there are landmarks.

[Detritus]

"The diablerist looks to ve a middle eastern woman, quite possibly our Assamite acquaintance."

Jack will move about try and get details about the mortals, find a window if one is there to be found and look outside, see if there are landmarks.
Jack is able to project his second sight anywhere in the hemisphere above the dagger (which isn't visible on the woman's person, but since you were drawn there, it has to be on her somewhere...) out to a radius of 250 feet.

The patients are:

Bed nearer to door - Larry Haynes, 46, admitted for internal injuries stemming from a car accident.

Bed further from door - Ted Landreaux, 62, admitted after suffering a heart attack.

Larry is black, and Ted is white.

If you project your sight upwards, eventually you get above the roof, and you can see a ginormous bubble-looking thing a block away. A bit of looking around reveals that you're at the New Orleans VA Medical Center.

[SD Anderson]

The view will shrink down and Jack will try to find things like a room number, floor etc.

"She's in the VA hospital, presumably as a patient. There are to mortal men in the same room with her. One had a heart attack, the other apparently crashed in a car."

[Detritus]

The view will shrink down and Jack will try to find things like a room number, floor etc.

"She's in the VA hospital, presumably as a patient. There are to mortal men in the same room with her. One had a heart attack, the other apparently crashed in a car."
The men are in Room 405. However, the woman is no longer in the room when you return.

[SD Anderson]

The men are in Room 405. However, the woman is no longer in the room when you return.

"She was moved out of Room 405."

Jack will check the bed she was in forany charts not yet taken with her.

[Detritus]

"She was moved out of Room 405."

Jack will check the bed she was in forany charts not yet taken with her.
((Note, she was never in a bed, my apologies if that wasn't clear. The woman was near the far bed when you first made visual contact with her. There are two beds in #405, and the two men named earlier are in them. Thus, there are no charts associated with the woman in #405.))

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin will go back toward Francois hearing his mental message

[SD Anderson]

((Note, she was never in a bed, my apologies if that wasn't clear. The woman was near the far bed when you first made visual contact with her. There are two beds in #405, and the two men named earlier are in them. Thus, there are no charts associated with the woman in #405.))


Jack changes focus point moving down to the main exit. If our vamp takes any other exits, we're screwed but he doesn't know the hospital's configuations and if there is a quick exit to the parking garage that she takes, I can't see any way credible way for Jack to follow her.

(ooc: given the range limit of this power, I think Jack's best hope is that she walks out front and takes a cab. At least it's number can be gotten (by hopsital security cameras if it's too far from max range for Jack to make that out) and thus trace her movements.)

[Detritus]

Jack changes focus point moving down to the main exit. If our vamp takes any other exits, we're screwed but he doesn't know the hospital's configuations and if there is a quick exit to the parking garage that she takes, I can't see any way credible way for Jack to follow her.

(ooc: given the range limit of this power, I think Jack's best hope is that she walks out front and takes a cab. At least it's number can be gotten (by hopsital security cameras if it's too far from max range for Jack to make that out) and thus trace her movements.)
OK, you can do this, but don't see her emerge from the main entrance. However, Jack has just successfully tested IQ, and realizes he can always simply re-orient himself on the dagger itself.

((OOC -- The limited range is how far you can move from the dagger. But if the dagger moves too far afield, just re-acquire it.))

[SD Anderson]

Step 2. Parking Structures at least in Hospitals I'm familiar with are single exit construction affairs. - Next time you're in Pasadena, check out St. Johns in Santa Monica if you have the opportunity. Larger ones serving several buildings often have multiple exits. Jack's hopeful the hospital here isn't that heavily trafficked and has one. He'll move his view to the traffic exit to see if she drives out.

If he sees her, noting outloud make, model color license number etc.

[Detritus]

Step 2. Parking Structures at least in Hospitals I'm familiar with are single exit construction affairs. - Next time you're in Pasadena, check out St. Johns in Santa Monica if you have the opportunity. Larger ones serving several buildings often have multiple exits. Jack's hopeful the hospital here isn't that heavily trafficked and has one. He'll move his view to the traffic exit to see if she drives out.

If he sees her, noting outloud make, model color license number etc.
As soon as you start to do this, Gwynnis breaks in:

"I am informed that an arms merchant named Al is presently admitted to the VA Hospital. In Room 411."

((It's only been a minute or so since you've found out which hospital you're at.))

EDIT -- In retrospect, this information, at least the hospital if not the room number, is probably something that would have come up before the ritual, but we'll say that the sheer gruesomeness of the ritual would have been enough to drive it out of the forefront of people's minds.

[SD Anderson]

"I hope you have someone watching him there. Call them, though it may be too late."

Jack refocuses on the knife and goes out the hall looking at numbers.

[Detritus]

"I hope you have someone watching him there. Call them, though it may be too late."

Jack refocuses on the knife and goes out the hall looking at numbers.
When you snap to the knife again, you see the woman sneaking behind a doctor headed into Room 411, of all places. Once inside, you see that Al is in the far bed, and that Sabine is standing at the foot of his bed. The other doctor starts talking with her about Al's condition, which is critical but stable for the moment.

The woman you're following goes to the near bed, also occupied, and begins staring intently at the patient lying upon it. After several seconds, his blood pressure begins to drop.

[Brother Brian]

Francois thinks to Gwinnis, "So, how exactly do I fight like this? Will my sword work? Sidearms? Or am I tooth and clawing it?"

[SD Anderson]

When you snap to the knife again, you see the woman sneaking behind a doctor headed into Room 411, of all places. Once inside, you see that Al is in the far bed, and that Sabine is standing at the foot of his bed. The other doctor starts talking with her about Al's condition, which is critical but stable for the moment.

The woman you're following goes to the near bed, also occupied, and begins staring intently at the patient lying upon it. After several seconds, his blood pressure begins to drop.

"I see Sabine standing by Al. The target woman is the same room as she is. She appears to be visiting the other patient in the room. she concentrates on him and his blood pressure started dropping. Somebody please call Sabine now."

Jack will focus auspex on the woman and her apparent victim is what she's doing showing up as something of note?

[Detritus]

Francois thinks to Gwinnis, "So, how exactly do I fight like this? Will my sword work? Sidearms? Or am I tooth and clawing it?"
"Tooth and claw are all that will be available to you."

((In the original source material, the astral body is naked, although I'll rule that you can essentially imagine illusory clothes to cover your nudity. That won't work for weapons and the like, though.))

"I see Sabine standing by Al. The target woman is the same room as she is. She appears to be visiting the other patient in the room. she concentrates on him and his blood pressure started dropping. Somebody please call Sabine now."

Jack will focus auspex on the woman and her apparent victim is what she's doing showing up as something of note?
"Rebekka says you are most likely witnessing Theft of Vitae, a way of feeding off of another without need for the physical contact normally associated with the act."

Just after Gwynnis finishes speaking, you hear the chime of Sabine's cell phone go off. As soon as she opens her phone, alarms start to go off for the other patient in 411; his BP has dropped to dangerously low levels.

[Detritus]

Current status of everyone:

Jack is watching (almost certainly) the Assamite you've previously encountered twice at the VA Hospital.

François has spotted two Kindred at the top of the dome ward. He doesn't know them by sight, but might have suspicions as to who they are based on prior conversations over the past couple of nights. Right now, neither Jocelin nor Leo has turned on any form of Enhanced Senses or Aura Reading, although they are both in astrally projected form.

Since there are a lot of possible permutations as to who turns on what when, from now on if you as the player haven't explicitly stated that you've turned on Power X, then it's not on for your PC.

[SD Anderson]

"Tooth and claw are all that will be available to you."

((In the original source material, the astral body is naked, although I'll rule that you can essentially imagine illusory clothes to cover your nudity. That won't work for weapons and the like, though.))


"Rebekka says you are most likely witnessing Theft of Vitae, a way of feeding off of another without need for the physical contact normally associated with the act."

Just after Gwynnis finishes speaking, you hear the chime of Sabine's cell phone go off. As soon as she opens her phone, alarms start to go off for the other patient in 411; his BP has dropped to dangerously low levels.

"The assassin has her distraction. Sabine has to stop her NOW!"

[Detritus]

"The assassin has her distraction. Sabine has to stop her NOW!"
"Is there anyone else in the room in a fit state?" asks Gwynnis.

Sabine checks her phone quickly, looks over to the other bed, and starts heading that way with the other doctor.

[SD Anderson]

"Sabine, there is a doctor and the Assamite.' Jack says. "And probably an emergency crew rushing in any second. Personally I'd empty my gun into her throw her through the window and get the hell out of there myself."

[Detritus]

"Sabine, there is a doctor and the Assamite.' Jack says. "And probably an emergency crew rushing in any second. Personally I'd empty my gun into her throw her through the window and get the hell out of there myself."
"No! We must divert her, not shoot her! Either direct your second sight into the gaze of the doctor and Possess him to help Sabine with the Assamite, or return to your body and Summon the Assamite to you. Choose quickly!"

An urgent burst of non-vocal communication hits you for an instant, and for the moment you understand how to carry out either plan, if you so choose.

"François, have everyone else ready to engage the others you've found, but wait until my mark to do so," directs the Justicar.

((Although there probably has been more time elapsed with Jack's actions as opposed to everyone else's, I'm going to say that the two groups are in sync timewise, such that François et al. can engage the bogeys above the ward at the same time as Jack makes carries out whichever plan he decides on.))

[SD Anderson]

Jack will summon the Assamite. She can't kill Al if she's here. He's also going to armor up after that.

[Detritus]

Jack will summon the Assamite. She can't kill Al if she's here. He's also going to armor up after that.
OK, you can do that, no problem. Everyone in the link with Gwynnis feels the tower of power Fatigue battery waver to nearly nothing when Jack makes the summons and armors up, but then over the course of three discrete bumps it gets kicked back up to about half of the peak strength you felt from it.

Once Jack is done with initiating the summons, Gwynnis announces that she's sending Anneke to the VA Hospital as reinforcements. As soon as Dee Dee is made aware of the need to open the ward again, Gwynnis gives the "mark" signal for the astrally projected Kindred to engage the bogeys at the top of the ward.

[Brother Brian]

Upon recieving the mark signal, Francois leaps into action. The pudgy man is his target, and Francois moves to sink his fangs into the man's astral throat.

[Detritus]

Upon recieving the mark signal, Francois leaps into action. The pudgy man is his target, and Francois moves to sink his fangs into the man's astral throat.
You're able to take the man from behind and bite the side of his neck. He lets out a snarling yell and then reaches his hands behind him. The woman looks startled for a moment, turns her head to look at the man, and then quickly looks around, just barely managing to dodge a three-yard gout of flame issuing from Muaziz's hands.

((It might be useful for those PCs who would recognize some of the key players by sight to get involved with things here.))

[Kalzazz]

((Good idea. Try to turn Auspex on then))

[Detritus]

((Good idea. Try to turn Auspex on then))
OK, when you do that, you visually acquire your companions for the first time in astral form. You also see that François is grappling with Lucian, and that Muaziz just tried to torch Samantha.

[SD Anderson]

OK, you can do that, no problem. Everyone in the link with Gwynnis feels the tower of power Fatigue battery waver to nearly nothing when Jack makes the summons and armors up, but then over the course of three discrete bumps it gets kicked back up to about half of the peak strength you felt from it.

Once Jack is done with initiating the summons, Gwynnis announces that she's sending Anneke to the VA Hospital as reinforcements. As soon as Dee Dee is made aware of the need to open the ward again, Gwynnis gives the "mark" signal for the astrally projected Kindred to engage the bogeys at the top of the ward.


I have this definition of magical summoning 5that would put the assamite somewhere in Jack's immediate vicinity and presumably a combat.

Is she somewhere else?

[Detritus]

I have this definition of magical summoning 5that would put the assamite somewhere in Jack's immediate vicinity and presumably a combat.

Is she somewhere else?
She's still at the hospital. She has to physically move to your body's location, as quickly as she can. It's not a *POOF* effect, but the Presence 4 power.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin seeing Samantha thinks shed really like to use Potence now

[Detritus]

Jocelin seeing Samantha thinks shed really like to use Potence now
What level would you like to activate?

[SD Anderson]

She's still at the hospital. She has to physically move to your body's location, as quickly as she can. It's not a *POOF* effect, but the Presence 4 power.

Jack refocuses on the dagger and heads towards 411. She on her way out of that room?

[Kalzazz]

((As much as Gwynnis will let me))

[Detritus]

Jack refocuses on the dagger and heads towards 411. She on her way out of that room?
She is. Would you like to peek inside room 411 as well?

((As much as Gwynnis will let me))
You can't her use Potence, but you can use her Fatigue to power your Potence, up to Potence 5 if you only care about it lasting for the next 10 minutes.

[Kalzazz]

Potence 5 it is

[SD Anderson]

She is. Would you like to peek inside room 411 as well?




Can't hurt. What's the situation there?

[Brother Brian]

Would Potence (Physical Strength) work in an astral world? My body isn't actually with me....

[Detritus]

Would Potence (Physical Strength) work in an astral world? My body isn't actually with me....
It works against other astral bodies, who seem physical to each other. That's how I'll rule it, at least.

In Room 411 - The other doctor looks like he's lying unconscious on the floor. Sabine is dealing with a couple of med techs and/or nurse types, you'd guess maybe covering up memories (?).

Outside the ward, while Lucian and François grapple, Samantha begins to move straight upwards, vanishing through the ceiling of the parlor in the blink of an eye.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin tries to chase after Samantha

[Brother Brian]

Ripping astral flesh from his bite on the pudgy man, Francois snarls "Muaziz, go with Jocelyn, I've got this."

And burns fatigue for level 4 celerity. (Gwinnis')

[Detritus]

OK, here's the status summary that I've gleaned from a review of the thread:

Jack is presently using his second sight to check out what's happening in Room 411 of the VA Hospital after Summoning the Assamite to his physical location. Powers active = Fortitude 5, Summoning (Presence 4), and the first two Auspex powers (Enhanced Senses, Aura Reading), in addition to the second sight ability.

François is engaged in a grapple with Lucian. He's currently biting his opponent. Powers activated are Psychic Projection (Auspex 5), Enhanced Senses and Aura Reading, and he's just activated Celerity 4.

Jocelin is chasing after Samantha, who has begun some sort of retreat by flying straight up from the dome ward. She's also in astral form, has Enhanced Senses/Aura Reading up, and has just activated Potence 5.

I need to know what Leo is doing before we go any further.

[Huxley]

Leo will activate Auspex 2 and Potence 4.

After seeing Samantha, rationality is thrown to the wind. He throws himself into the chase desiring only to see her destruction.

[Detritus]

Results:

François manages to bite Lucian. He snarls and twists in François's grasp when he yells instructions to Muaziz, and manages to make contact with François's shoulder in a fiery touch. François takes 6 aggravated damage.

Muaziz sees the flaming touch occur, hesitates for a split second, and then circles around and makes a similar touch attack on Lucian's back before engaging in pursuit of Samantha with Jocelin and Leo.

Jocelin and Leo see Samantha heading upwards with her feet pointing up, so she's looking downwards at you. A malevolent smile creases her lips as she crooks a finger at you. Despite going as fast as you can, she seems to be easily outdistancing you.

((Notes about Psychic Projection -- Your astral body can move at up to 200 x Move, and this is affected by Celerity. It's fairly obvious that Samantha has some amount of Celerity active.

You can also only go HT x 1000 miles from your physical body. There's a silvery cord that runs between your astral body and your physical body, and it will snap if you go beyond the range given above. That won't come into play for several hours of movement at top speed, though. However, the cord is also possibly subject to attack, although you know that a mere physical attack won't damage a silver cord.))

[Huxley]

Leo think: Francois, I have need of Celerity

[Detritus]

Leo think: Francois, I have need of Celerity
You can't use his. You can use the Justicar's Celerity, however, up to level 5.

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin would like to use Celerity, enough to outspeed Samantha

[SD Anderson]

since Jack's expecting company to arrive, he'll get up, deal with the double vison of normal and enhanced sights and get some blood to tank up with (I'm assuming the justicar has some in reserve).

[Detritus]

since Jack's expecting company to arrive, he'll get up, deal with the double vison of normal and enhanced sights and get some blood to tank up with (I'm assuming the justicar has some in reserve).
She does, at least on her person. Are you intending to ingest vitae that's coming directly out of her veins, though? That's one-third of the way to being blood bonded to Gwynnis if you do.

If you just want some more blood, Rebekka is the one to talk to.

[SD Anderson]

She does, at least on her person. Are you intending to ingest vitae that's coming directly out of her veins, though? That's one-third of the way to being blood bonded to Gwynnis if you do.

If you just want some more blood, Rebekka is the one to talk to.

Not

In

The

Slightest.

[Detritus]

Not

In

The

Slightest.
But, but... she'll be your friend. :sagrin:

OK, what's going on as of right now:

François is grappling with Lucian, with his Celerity just activated.

Jocelin and Leo are turning on the afterburners to chase Samantha. She has a 1,000 yard lead on both of you. Jocelin is making up 100 yards/sec. Leo is still falling behind even after an application of Celerity 5. He does notice the silver cords for Samantha and Lucian are headed slightly South of due East.

Jack will have just enough time to gas up on some of Prince Rebekka's Private Reserve, Franzia vintage, before the Assamite shows up. She approaches as the hawk flies, and will be on the scene pretty soon.

[Huxley]

Leo will then veer off to find where the body of Samantha is located.

[Detritus]

As a general note, the three different strands in this thread have sort of splintered onto their own time scale, so I'll slip into narrative time for a bit in the approaching Assamite and pursuit of Samantha scenes.

I also screwed up the math in the Samantha chase scene. She has an 1800-yard lead on Jocelin, BUT Jocelin is also making up 200 yards per second on Samantha. So Jocelin would catch up in 9 seconds. If nothing occurs to hinder pursuit, that is, although I can't possibly imagine what. :satanlook:

Leo will then veer off to find where the body of Samantha is located.
It takes you a few seconds to follow Samantha's cord, which is constantly turning upwards as Jocelin chases her, to her physical location. When you do find it, you see it ends in an abandoned warehouse on the coastline of the city, about four miles east of the house you're in.

Entering the warehouse, you see that there's a ward that's somewhat similar to the ward where the ritual with Gwynnis and Meerlinda took place, but this ward is transparent. Samantha and Lucian's physical bodies lie in repose, as does Heather's body. Anvil and Rake/Rochette are also within the ward. Bianca and another man you don't recognize are outside the ward, evidently standing guard. The unfamiliar man is tall and well-muscled, and his heritage looks to be a mixture of African, Hispanic, maybe Caribbean Hispanic for that portion.

Three silver cords extend outward from the ward, all headed almost due west. As you look closer, you see that all three bodies have a slightly ruddy tinge to their complexions, although the astral forms of the two you saw did not exhibit this tinge.

================

As for Jocelin, as she closes on Samantha, you see an orange glow form in her right hand. After a few seconds, she begins to rear back her right arm. What do you do? With Combat Reflexes in play, you know that two possibilities are to slow down pursuit or swerve out of the way. Other things may be possible; ask if any come to mind.

[Detritus]

Does Jack want to receive the inbound Kindred in the parlor where the ward and the supine forms of the four astrally projected Kindred are? Dee Dee is also there, and Sarah could be pressed into service. Possibly Rebekka as well.

If you don't what the initial confrontation to take place in the parlor, then where shall it take place? You can basically pick anywhere in or near the house.

[Kalzazz]

Can I call up Fortitude without using to much time?

Regardless of whether or not I can call up Fortitude the response is the same, full tilt charge and just accept the hit

edit: Prayer is also involved in this

[Detritus]

Can I call up Fortitude without using to much time?

Regardless of whether or not I can call up Fortitude the response is the same, full tilt charge and just accept the hit

edit: Prayer is also involved in this
Yes, by means of expenditure of 12 Fatigue from the fatigue battery, you can bring up Fortitude 5 (DR 10) that lasts for an hour. And, for this time, you make your Courage roll, but that might not always be the case.

Samantha's aim is true, in that she successfully deduced where she needed to throw to put the fireball in your path, and you basically charge headlong into it. You don't take any damage, but the fireball explodes concussively, and you feel your cord vibrate. You're stunned for an instant but manage to take up pursuit again in a split second. Samantha's lead has widened a bit.

((Mechanically, the Explosive Fireball set your silver cord to twanging, which is a stunning effect. But since you have Celerity 5 up, I'm also ruling that you have three chances per turn to snap out of any stunning, and you managed to do it on your first try. So you lost 1/3 of a turn of movement immediately after the explosion. You were within 800 yards of Samantha right before getting hit, and now you're 1300 yards away from her.))

[SD Anderson]

(OOC: What's this place like? Windows? Ground Floor, basement, Penhouse, sprinkler system on the ceiling etc?)

[Detritus]

(OOC: What's this place like? Windows? Ground Floor, basement, Penhouse, sprinkler system on the ceiling etc?)
No basement, no separate penthouse as such. I'm going to say no sprinkler system, either. Here's an approximate floor plan (there's more text below the image, too), and it's just a matter of what kind of a room you want:

http://www.baharris.org/historicpolandspring/MansionHouse/MH_FloorPlan_1890.jpg

The way I had the scene set up in my mind, you're all in the room on the first floor labeled "office," except that that room is actually a parlor, and simply rectangular in shape. The room in the middle bottom labeled "parlor" is actually an entryway, and the room on the right bottom labeled "parlor" is the office. There's only one stairway leading to the porch, not two, and it is centered on the parlor/entryway.

There are a couple of windows in the parlor you're in, looking out onto the porch, but they're also draped so as to hide anything that's going on in the parlor.

The room where Jack was temporarily bedridden was Room 20 on the third floor, but the windows were covered with heavy drapes.

[SD Anderson]

How exposed is the Piazza to the outside, and what sort of doors/windows are on the wall to the house?

[Detritus]

The porch is 3 yards deep and has a waist-high wooden wall around it. There are posts every so often.

One set of main doors, double doors that open inward. The office (presently labeled parlor, remember) has one large window, like a shop display window. The actual parlor has two smaller (regular-sized) windows.

[SD Anderson]

I was actually asking about the OTHER space labeled piazza, at the top of the first map. By the laundry room and Kitchen. Privacy might be useful here.

[Detritus]

I was actually asking about the OTHER space labeled piazza, at the top of the first map. By the laundry room and Kitchen. Privacy might be useful here.
Ah, that one's basically an enclosed back porch, except that it has something like a bug screen at window height that goes all the way around it, although it would be fairly difficult to see through it at night. Sound would carry some from there. There's one door in the center of the porch.

[SD Anderson]

Sound might be annoying, but it does have some benefits as is. Lucian presumably threw the silence spell on Jack at Drake's place can Gwynnis do something like that/

And aside from screen on the windows, is there glass behind the screens?

[Huxley]

Leo mentally pictures what he sees, trying to give the image to the others in the mental link.

I'm inferring that Heather is in Astral Form as well. I am going to try and track her down.

Leo follows the silver chord of Heather to try and find her. As he passes out of the Warehouse, he tries to mentally mark it by looking at its surroundings, so that he can point it out on a map afterwards.

[Brother Brian]

With my celerity active, I am going to rapidly rip away shreds of my prey's flesh.

[Detritus]

Sound might be annoying, but it does have some benefits as is. Lucian presumably threw the silence spell on Jack at Drake's place can Gwynnis do something like that?
Gwynnis can't silence an area like that. You also might know just enough about Assamites to realize that they have a reputation for being able to come upon their marks both silently and unseen.

((I can't remember if any Tremere remarked on Assamite abilities before this scene, but if you actually talk to Gwynnis about silencing the area, she'll inform you that that's a Quietus trick.))

And aside from screen on the windows, is there glass behind the screens?
Yeah, there's glass on the outside, screens on the inside.

If you meet on the back porch, do you want to bring anyone with you? If so, who?

==============

On François v. Lucian - You two tussle for several seconds. Lucian only manages to land one more blow on you, although it stings a little (4 aggravated damage, now Franços is at 10 agg. damage total). You manage to connect enough to make his astral form vaporize.

Leo - It'll take you a few seconds to get the location fixed well enough in your mind to point it out reliably on a map, and then you see that Heather's cord leads pretty much in the same direction as the other two. Just as you start to follow Heather's cord, Lucian's cord seems to vanish.

Jocelin - Her pursuit steadily closes, but you watch another orange point in of light brighten in Samantha's hand after a few more seconds, and she rears back and throws. Do you want to deal with this one the same way as before?

EDIT -- I should also say that Lucian vanishes and Leo starts heading back toward Meerlinda's ward at the same time as Jocelin will be dealing with the second fireball from Samantha.

[Brother Brian]

Francois looks back at his resting form. Does it appear that any of the damage his astral form has taken has tranferred to his physical form?

[Kalzazz]

Jocelin will try to shift her flight path just a smidge to miss this one if she thinks she can do so without slowing herself much, if she thinks the only way to dodge is radically evasive manuevers that will slow her a lot she'll just plow into it head on without trying to dodge

[Detritus]

Francois looks back at his resting form. Does it appear that any of the damage his astral form has taken has tranferred to his physical form?
You can't see through your physical clothing (the hits were to the body). However, a query to Gwynnis would reveal that you have suffered the damage, and it is aggravated. Being in astral form does serve as a minor buffer in that since you can't burn blood in astral form, when you take aggravated damage = 2 x HT in astral form then you get knocked into torpor. You think you might have managed this with Lucian.

Jocelin will try to shift her flight path just a smidge to miss this one if she thinks she can do so without slowing herself much, if she thinks the only way to dodge is radically evasive manuevers that will slow her a lot she'll just plow into it head on without trying to dodge
She can get her swerve on fairly easily with negligible disruption in her pursuit of Samantha. Something kind of tickles the back of Jocelin's mind as she starts to swerve.

((There is a missed Tactics roll by 1 in here, which combined with Combat Reflexes means that I'll rule that Jocelin has an instant where her Spidey Sense activates. You may either finish swerving or try to absorb another Fireball, but this time the Courage roll will be at -2 because of the split-second hesitation.))

[Kalzazz]

She'll try to take the hit, spidey sense tingling seems bad

[SD Anderson]

The porch is 3 yards deep and has a waist-high wooden wall around it. There are posts every so often.

One set of main doors, double doors that open inward. The office (presently labeled parlor, remember) has one large window, like a shop display window. The actual parlor has two smaller (regular-sized) windows.

OOC: Hey, I can take a hint that's been dropped repeatedly. ;)

IC: Jack'll ask Sarah and Rebecca if they want a piece of Assamite.

[Detritus]

Jocelin has to stop for an instant when her Courage doesn't quite measure up to running headlong into another explosive fireball. It fizzles out several hundred yards above her, but Samantha's lead, which was 500 yards when she threw her second fireball, has grown to 1,000 yards when Jocelin is able to resume full-speed pursuit.

François checks in on his body and has the damage clarification conversation in this time.

Leo, following Heather's cord, sees that it starts to rise quite rapidly as he heads back to the house. He'll spend this whole next segment following it.

Muaziz is still at least a thousand yards under Jocelin at this point but pursuing. She hasn't slowed down for either of Samantha's fireballs, of course.

Dee Dee opens the dome ward to retrieve Rebekka and Sarah, both of whom are willing to head to the back porch to receive the approaching Assamite.

================

Presumably Jocelin, Leo, and Jack are all going to continue what they're doing (although let me know if that's not the case). François has the option of continuing in astral form to help deal with Samantha and Heather or waking up to help with the Assamite. He'd be aware that both are possibilities at this point.

[Detritus]

I gave Jocelin a second chance at Tactics, and here's what she figures out: Since her silver cord is directly behind her as she moves straight up, if she swerves by only a yard or two, a fireball could miss her but slam into her cord, possibly severing it.

[SD Anderson]

After talking to the others, Jack gets some blood (six pints minimum) and pours it into a clean empty bucket which he places in the store room on the far side, by the door.

He also pops the screens off the windows, and if feasible, focuses sight on the Assamite.

[Detritus]

After talking to the others, Jack gets some blood (six pints minimum) and pours it into a clean empty bucket which he places in the store room on the far side, by the door.

He also pops the screens off the windows, and if feasible, focuses sight on the Assamite.
OK, that's doable.

I'm going to line up the confrontation with the Assamite clost to the next go around in astral space, although really the in-the-flesh battle shouldn't happen for another couple of minutes or so. It'll just be easier that way.

I think I just need to know what François's doing, then we'll move ahead. He can join what's happening on the back porch or help with who's left amongst the astrally projected foes.

[Brother Brian]

Reentering his body, Francois gasps as he realizes that the astral pain is also physical. He grimaces as he undergoes the metaphysical use of blood to heal the wounds that have appeared on his body.

After a moment, he stands, and as he moves towards the porch, he says "Blood, quickly" to anyone who will listen.

(I burned 5 blood to heal 3 agg.)

[Detritus]

OK, here's what's going to happen in the interim, while the Assamite approaches the house:

I'm going to retcon that the warehouse where Samantha et. al's bodies are is further east than I originally said, more like 10-12 miles from downtown. It'll take him more like 15-20 seconds to figure out where that warehouse is in relation to landmarks in/near downtown. Then he'll be following Heather's cord for a little bit thereafter.

After about 15-20 seconds of this pursuit, Leo sees Heather's cord stop moving upward, and she herself is facing away from him, and towards another silver cord, with an glowing ball of orange in her right hand, which is reared back and ready to throw. She's about a mile (1760 yards) away, which is about the limit of your enhanced vision. Your speed is 3,000 yards per second.

================

After Samantha's two explosive fireballs fail to break off Jocelin's pursuit, she switches to regular fireballs, which don't have the stunning quality, but they do just as much damage. She mixes in an occasional explosive fireball to keep you on your toes. The two of you end up maintaining around a 500-1000 yard separation for around a minute as you zoom upwards. You're a good 20-25 miles above the surface of the earth at the end of this minute, so you can see a significant portion of the Gulf Coast beneath you, as well as masses of light off to the east and west that might be Atlanta and Houston.

================

When François reaches the back porch, there's just enough time for a quick back-and-forth to plan what you'll do when the Assamite arrives. ((You're all filled up on Franzia-based vitae, incidentally, which has a slightly fruity flavor, but it doesn't have any intoxicating effect.))

Rebekka suggests that the highest priority is divesting the Assamite of all her blood. This will be possible if Rebekka and/or Sarah can lay hands on her, but it will most likely require that she be physically overpowered or otherwise restrained, and the Assamite will be dangerous so long as she has any vitae remaining. The alternative is to try for an immediate staking.

[Brother Brian]

"I didn't bring any stakes", Francois muses. "Jack, if you hit him low behind the knees, I'll take him high. Once grappled by us on the ground, the ladies can do their magic. Agreed?"

[Detritus]

"I didn't bring any stakes", Francois muses. "Jack, if you hit him low behind the knees, I'll take him high. Once grappled by us on the ground, the ladies can do their magic. Agreed?"
"Would your answer change if you did have a stake?" asks Rebekka, who produces one out of seemingly thin air after a small flourish with her right hand.

[Brother Brian]

"Would your answer change if you did have a stake?" asks Rebekka, who produces one out of seemingly thin air after a small flourish with her right hand.

Francois smiles. "Why, yes it would. For even if I miss his heart, this could still pin him to the floor." He turns to Jack.

"Same plan, you hit him low, from the rear. I'll tackle and try to stake him. Be ready to hold him to the ground if I miss and he attempts to roll before he's nailed to the floor."

[Huxley]

Leo is going to pummel through and attempt to grapple Heather.

[Detritus]

OK, I've worked out what will happen with Leo and Heather. Will write it up when I have a bit more time.

Francois smiles. "Why, yes it would. For even if I miss his heart, this could still pin him to the floor." He turns to Jack.

"Same plan, you hit him low, from the rear. I'll tackle and try to stake him. Be ready to hold him to the ground if I miss and he attempts to roll before he's nailed to the floor."
Jack is presently watching for the object of his summons right now. Is he going to want to bring his Protean abilities (specifically his shapechanging ability) into play here? If that is the case, he'll need some room to be able to operate effectively. The back porch is also three hexes in depth. One of the Tremere can stand in the doorway leading back into the house, and the other one can be next to François, if you want.

[SD Anderson]

"She probably killed Johnson the other day and i'm betting her gun has the same fiery rounds now. Getting her into a hand to hand battle and keeping that gun out of play looks to be our best course."

"She's an Assamite and likely is higly trained in hand to hand. To neutralize that, I propose we put her in a very uncomfortable environment. The plane those two windows occupy. I can harden my skin a lot. I'm betting I can ignore deep cuts from the glass and she wont. This should give us an advantage she can't overcome.

"If this works, I should be able to get her off the ground and run her neck along the glass line to behead her. There's a bucket of blood over in the corner. A beheaded kine will stay conscious for a few seconds after being decapped. She can go longer. The blood will let her stay among us and be questioned telepathically if the justicar wants."

Jack puts his gun aside and goes gorilla. And picks the pistol up. He tells the others.

[Detritus]

"She probably killed Johnson the other day and i'm betting her gun has the same fiery rounds now. Getting her into a hand to hand battle and keeping that gun out of play looks to be our best course."

"She's an Assamite and likely is higly trained in hand to hand. To neutralize that, I propose we put her in a very uncomfortable environment. The plane those two windows occupy. I can harden my skin a lot. I'm betting I can ignore deep cuts from the glass and she wont. This should give us an advantage she can't overcome.

"If this works, I should be able to get her off the ground and run her neck along the glass line to behead her. There's a bucket of blood over in the corner. A beheaded kine will stay conscious for a few seconds after being decapped. She can go longer. The blood will let her stay among us and be questioned telepathically if the justicar wants."

Jack puts his gun aside and goes gorilla. And picks the pistol up. He tells the others.
OK, this is a somewhat different course of action than that proposed by François. You'll have to straighten it out amongst yourselves.

More info on the lay of the land, if you're looking out away from the mansion on the back porch, then you're facing west (i.e., north points to the right on those floor plans). Rebekka knows, and will explain, that the way Summoning works is that the one summoned makes for the summoner in the fastest way possible. If the Assamite is flying, and we'll say that Jack would know that she is, then your inbound is most likely going to be approaching roughly from the southeast (since that's the direction to the VA Hospital), which is to say on the left side of the back porch, as it's rendered in the floor plan drawing.

You are free to array yourselves however you wish. The porch door is in the center of the westernmost side of the porch, the very top line in the drawing of the First Floor floor plan.

[Detritus]

Leo charges towards Heather, who brings her arm forward just before Leo makes contact. Her fireball moves forward, and then Leo's momentum carries Heather back into the path of the fireball. There is an concussive explosion, and Leo hears two distinct snapping sounds. Heather's form seems to dissolve, and Leo also notices that the cord she was aiming at is gone, too. There are two cords remaining besides Leo's, one that comes from the warehouse, and another that comes from the mansion.

Jocelin's pursuit of Samantha continues apace, when suddenly you begin to vibrate wildly. A tinny ring fills your ears for a moment, and then you start tumbling, tumbling, tumbling away from Samantha, who slowly fades from sight until she's completely gone from your vision. You lose all control of your body for a time, and pass out for a moment as you continue to spin away from New Orleans...

[Detritus]

((This voice-over comes just after those of you who are on the back porch finish arraying yourselves for the upcoming confrontation with the Assamite.))

"Talk to me," says Gwynnis. "I just lost one of you."

[SD Anderson]

[QUOTE]Francois smiles. "Why, yes it would. For even if I miss his heart, this could still pin him to the floor." He turns to Jack.

"Same plan, you hit him low, from the rear. I'll tackle and try to stake him. Be ready to hold him to the ground if I miss and he attempts to roll before he's nailed to the floor." [QUOTE]

"I don't think conventional methods of subdual will work well against her. Conventional tactics against an unconventional foe tend to go wrong. I'd be astounded if her training didn't cover fighting mutliple opponents in melee. Against four foes, she could be in some trouble. More if the four have extensively togetehr and have prepped routines and can figure out what the others are doing. Less if we have never worked together before and are making things up as we go along."

"I want her stopped. Ideally captive and questionable, but STOPPED no matter what. Consider. If she gets past us losing two Justicars here would not be fun."

"If theJusticar were elsewhere I'd seriously consider turning this place into a cinderbox to make sure we get her."

[SD Anderson]

((This voice-over comes just after those of you who are on the back porch finish arraying yourselves for the upcoming confrontation with the Assamite.))

"Talk to me," says Gwynnis. "I just lost one of you."

"Yo! sayetheses the Gorilla."

[Brother Brian]

Francois is about to reply to Jack when he hears Gwynnis's call.

"I am here, Lord Justicar", he thinks to her, "Francois Petit".

Turning to Jack, "It shall be as you say. However to prevent the glass from shattering on the attempt, you will have to strike at a near exact perpendicular angle. Should you fail in that, conventional tactics will have to suffice. Hold the Assassin as best you can, and I will attempt to drive a stake through her heart.

[Detritus]

"Might I suggest we array ourselves as follows?" says Rebekka. "Jack to the left of the porch's door, Sarah in the doorway behind him, and François and I will stand to the right of the porch's door. I would also encourage anyone capable of tracking the Assamite to do so until she arrives here."

[Huxley]

Leo thinks Leo present.

After quickly using the power of deduction, Leo charges at the one chord he sees, intending on destroying it. Will Jocelin be able to return to her body without help?

[Detritus]

Leo thinks Leo present.

After quickly using the power of deduction, Leo charges at the one chord he sees, intending on destroying it. Will Jocelin be able to return to her body without help?
The owner of that cord does some of her own quick thinking, and suddenly it disappears.

You catch up with Muaziz, who says, "I guess we should give one last check of the area, but I think there's nothing left to see here. I'll do some quick exploration if you want to report on what you saw. I'm afraid I didn't see much of anything, although I did receive a nasty jolt for a second."

((Leo can make his report while conducting a search, or step out of the astral plane, as he sees fit. It might be worth doubling back to the warehouse where you found the bodies at the very least.))

EDIT -- Gwynnis also breaks in with a question: "What happened out there?"

[Huxley]

They are all in a warehouse. Heather, Lucian, and Samantha were covered in what I infer to be blood, lying down. Some sort of magic was likely involved. They have a ward, similar to ours, but I could see them inside of theirs. There was also Anvil, Rake, Bianca, and another man I did not recognize.

Leo flies back to the warehouse to see if they're going to be sticking around.

EDIT: (Darn cross posting :D)



EDITGwynnis also breaks in with a question: "What happened out there?"

Joceline was lost from the link. I saw two chords, and on disappeared when you stated you had lost someone. After three of us had responded back, I figured it was Joceline's link that was lost. Did she go back, or is she still stuck in the Astral world?

[Detritus]

When you return to the warehouse, you see that Samantha has roused herself, but Lucian and Heather remain still. Samantha gestures, and the ward lowers, then gives orders to the others to help her with moving those who lie unmoving at her feet. There are a number of large crates near the northern wall of the warehouse, and what few windows there are in that section of the building are all boarded up.

Meanwhile, Gwynnis says, "Dee Dee reports that Jocelin has not returned. Once you have determined what the others you found are doing, please return to your body and we will discuss what happened."

[SD Anderson]

Jack Nods and takes the position suggested.

[Detritus]

Jack Nods and takes the position suggested.
((Assuming that François also will position himself as the Prince suggests, we'll say he's nearer to the window, and Rebekka behind him.))

"The summoning effect ends when the object of the summons is in your presence," Rebekka explains to Jack. "She will be free to leave once that occurs, and it would be best not to let her escape. Neither will be she constrained from other hostile action in the meantime."

Seconds after Rebekka finishes speaking, Jack and François watch as the Assamite rapidly approaches by air from the southeast. She doesn't seem to be bothering with Obfuscate, and as she nears the south side of the house, she slows enough to let fly one, two, three glowing orange spheres that impact and explode on the southern wall. Then a fourth hits the south face of the back porch, breaking the glass on that wall, before she lands near the front door, yet another glowing ball of orange growing in her right hand.

What now?

[Brother Brian]

Francois looks at Jack and says "That layout works as well as any."

[Detritus]

Jocelin was lost from the link. I saw two chords, and on disappeared when you stated you had lost someone. After three of us had responded back, I figured it was Joceline's link that was lost. Did she go back, or is she still stuck in the Astral world?
OK, we'll take this as Leo's report to Gwynnis.

When you and Muaziz return to your bodies, Gwynnis has you move Jocelin's body into the ward, after Dee Dee opens an entrance. The Justicar also orders her childe to stay and close the ward from the inside. You set Jocelin down near the center of the dome.

"Cutting the silver cord breaks the connection between the spirit form and the body of the flesh," explains Gwynnis. "The spirit leaves the astral plane, which is also known as the Near Umbra, and passes into the Deep Umbra. She must be retrieved, taken back into the Near Umbra, before she can make herself whole again."

"I have heard of... dangers that lurk in the Deep Umbra," says Muaziz. "Garou, and those that they battle in the spirit realm. Neither is particularly friendly to the Kindred."

"No, they are not." Gwynnis turns to Meerlinda. "You will have to alter the ward, Councilor, or drop it altogether. We must arm the girl as best we can for her journey through the Deep Umbra, and to do that the psychic veil must cease."

Meerlinda nods and moves to touch the ward, closing her eyes. After a few seconds, the ward becomes transparent, much as the one Leo saw in the warehouse. Just after this, a series of explosions wracks the southern wall of the house. Dee Dee makes to exit the ward.

"No, you must not leave," Gwynnis says to her. "I have need of my blade. We must trust that Rebekka and the others will know what to do on their own.

"A projection, and a message," Gwynnis says after turning again towards Meerlinda. The Councilor taps near her eyes, and the Justicar lowers her shades, exposing her gaping eye sockets. Meerlinda's eyes twitch a couple times, and then Gwynnis nods before replacing the sunglasses. You get the sense that a whole conversation has taken place in the seconds that have passed.

"The sword," she says to Dee Dee, and the Sheriff removes the blade and hands it hilt first to her Sire. Gwynnis takes the proffered hilt in her left hand, and then nicks her right forefinger with the blade. Meerlinda kneels to place the hilt of Jocelin's katana in her right hand.

"Will you raise her blade without touching it?" Gwynnis asks of Muaziz. The Tremere archon flicks her gaze to the Councilor, who gives her a "What are you waiting for?" look, after which the blade raises, with Jocelin's flaccid grip on the hilt intact.

Gwynnis goes to one knee, sword still in her left hand, and writes the word SOMERSET on one side of Jocelin's katana. Then on the other side of the blade she traces the words GLASTONBURY TOR. Meerlinda closes her eyes and touches the katana, and the vitae seeps into the blade, leaving nary a trace on the metallic surface.

With the katana still upright, Gwynnis crosses her blade with Jocelin's, and then grasps where they meet. You see the muscles in her forearm contract, and her vitae spills on both blades. Then the Justicar's sword begins to glow with an inner light, which grows until it extends beyond the one sword and begins to encompass the other. For an instant both blades shine bright as the Sun, and then the light is gone, and the Justicar's vitae has vanished with it.

"Give me room," Gwynnis says, motioning for everyone to clear some space around Jocelin and herself as she heals the wounds on her right hand. Meerlinda's gaze is fixed on the katana when Gwynnis takes a mighty two-handed swing that would surely put Tiger Woods to shame. The two blades meet, but Jocelin's katana only rises for an instant before something catches it, although the blade still spins, completing several rotations per second. Jocelin's arm drops to the ground while her katana continues to spin in midair, emitting a silvery chime as it rotates.

[Detritus]

((Now that Jocelin has taken possession of whatever version of her katana that's presently in the Deep Umbra, the narration continues.

I'll also take this time to remind those on the back porch that they have a flame-slinging assassin to deal with right now.))

Jocelin's limp arm seems to rise of its own accord, and she grasps the hilt of her katana as if she was watching the spinning blade intently. Then arm and sword lower gently atop her body.

"That is all we can do for her for now," says Gwynnis. "We'll have to trust that she has enough skill with the blade to see her through the perils that await her on her journey back to the Near Umbra."

"And what exactly does that entail?" Dee Dee asks.

"There are a limited number of locations where the transition from Deep Umbra to Near can be made by our kind. Somerset -- Glastonbury Tor -- is one such place, and I have some pull with a few of the locals there. Jocelin must make her way there in order to complete her passage back to the Near Umbra."

"And the sword?" Dee Dee asks softly.

"Caledfwlch will have to remain in my possession. I will have need of it." Gwynnis looks down at Jocelin and sighs, before continuing softly, "I put her out there, ultimately, and I shall do my part in retrieving her. I will make the journey to Somerset."

"Alone?" Dee Dee asks, disbelief tinging her question.

"I suspect not, but I'm afraid your place is in New Orleans, my daughter. As is Bonnie's. You should recall her here as soon as you can. Rebekka will have need of both of you, and Anneke as well, in the coming nights."

"And do you expect to be gone for more than one night?" asks Dee Dee.

"Nothing is ever certain in the astral plane, but it is a possibility." Gwynnis turns her head towards Meerlinda.

"You, Councilor, I believe New Orleans can afford to spare. If you would lend your perceptiveness, your wisdom, and your might, they would be boons during the coming journey." Meerlinda solemnly nods her head once.

"And you, Leo," Gwynnis says, turning to you. "If you wish, you may be party to the journey to Glastonbury Tor. I will not require you either to remain in New Orleans, or accompany me, but leave the choice to you."

[Detritus]

"And you, Leo," Gwynnis says, turning to you. "If you wish, you may be party to the journey to Glastonbury Tor. I will not require you either to remain in New Orleans, or accompany me, but leave the choice to you."
While Leo ponders his decision, the words on Jocelin's katana that Gwynnis wrote in her blood reappear, glowing a dull red. Then the blade emits a bright flash for a few seconds before growing dark again, and when the light ends, the words are no longer there, either.

"She's beginning to find her way, I think," says Gwynnis. "She might even reach the destination before those of us departing from New Orleans do. We should wait until after the Sun sets again here before leaving the city."

[Detritus]

As the orange ball grows in the Assamite's hand, Rebekka raises a hand and closes her fist, and the ball snuffs out.

"Douse the flames. All of the flames, we will handle the action here," the Prince orders Sarah, who turns to the burning window and produces streams of water from her outstretched fingers, palms pointed toward the porch's floor.

((And then it would be the boys' turns...))

[Huxley]

"I want to see Jocelin safely back", replies Leo.

[Brother Brian]

Francois burns fatigue to activate his maximum celerity (4), and hoping Jack recognizes the need to go to plan B, snarls at the assimite and lunges at her, to drive his stake through her heart.

[Detritus]

Francois burns fatigue to activate his maximum celerity (4), and hoping Jack recognizes the need to go to plan B, snarls at the assimite and lunges at her, to drive his stake through her heart.
I should note here that Jack has the option of activating the Justicar's Celerity, up to level 5, as neither she nor Leo is using it right now, and Jocelin and François are working off their own abilities.

[Detritus]

"I want to see Jocelin safely back", replies Leo.
Gwynnis smiles. "I'm glad you'll be coming along. I think it is the right choice." Her smile fades when she turns in the general direction of Samantha et al.'s hiding place.

"Will you please recall Samantha's last known whereabouts, as you remember them?" she asks of you. "We must have someone to watch the location as soon as possible," she says, indicating Dee Dee.

[SD Anderson]

I should note here that Jack has the option of activating the Justicar's Celerity, up to level 5, as neither she nor Leo is using it right now, and Jocelin and François are working off their own abilities.

Jack's player, who is having trouble keeping down lunch is conscious enough to type for a few moments at least.

Jack will Celerity up and put about 800 pounds of weight into gear slamming into her. "Hi there. I was personally attached to that gorilla costume you destoryed back at Drake's pad." Regardless of whether or not she catches the double meaning of that stateent, he's grappling her.

[Detritus]

Jack's player, who is having trouble keeping down lunch is conscious enough to type for a few moments at least.

Jack will Celerity up and put about 800 pounds of weight into gear slamming into her. "Hi there. I was personally attached to that gorilla costume you destoryed back at Drake's pad." Regardless of whether or not she catches the double meaning of that stateent, he's grappling her.
OK, we'll have this combat take the short form. You've pretty much got the drop on the Assamite, anyways, fireballs on her approach to the back porch notwithstanding, so that was where the battle was won.

The Assamite looks off-balance for just an instant when Rebekka snuffs out her fireball. Then Jack suddenly bounds forward and crashes the bulk of his form into the assassin just as her lips begin to part. They both crash to the ground, Jack on top in ape form. His meaty left arm lodges under the Assamite's chin, holding her jaw shut, and he leans on his right arm, which effortlessly pins her to the ground at the waist.

François follows Jack's lead, leaping from about halfway up the porch's steps towards the grapplers. He directs the long stake towards the Assamite's chest, and imparts the momentum of his leap into his weapon, which strikes home an instant before he lands. He feels the stake easily pierce the Assamite's chest, and so forceful is its entry that its tip comes out her back and digs several inches into the ground.

You're both stunned for a moment at the ease with which you took down the assassin, but that feeling passes as soon as you hear Rebekka's footsteps descending the porch's steps.

"Well done," she says. "Very well done," and a grin appears on her face when she takes in Jacks new form. "I don't believe I've ever seen the like, at least not before meeting you," she says before the mirth leaves her expression.

"I will help Sarah put out fires. Please take our guest inside at your earliest convenience. We will deal with her once everyone has gathered under the ward."

[Detritus]

"I will help Sarah put out fires. Please take our guest inside at your earliest convenience. We will deal with her once everyone has gathered under the ward."
((I'll stipulate that Jack and François bring the Assamite to the ward at the same time as Leo finishes showing Dee Dee where he saw Samantha and the others. There's a choice for François and Jack after the quick dialog between Gwynnis and Rebekka ends.))

When Jack and François reach the ward, they see that everyone who remained at the mansion except for Rebekka and Sarah are inside it, and that Jocelin is lying on the floor near the dome's center. She holds her katana in her right hand, which rests atop her breastbone, and her blade lies over, and extends past, her left shoulder. Gwynnis is holding her sword instead of Dee Dee, although the Sheriff resumes possession when she sees you outside the ward. Rebekka and Sarah arrive through the front door of the house right as Dee Dee traces an opening into the ward.

"We have reaped immediate dividends for our efforts tonight," says Gwynnis once everyone is inside the closed ward, "but there was a casualty. Jocelin's silver cord was severed while she was astrally projected. We must retrieve her from the Deep Umbra."

"You will be able to find her?" asks Rebekka, her tone surprisingly insistent. Sarah looks at Jocelin's still form with concern, but does not say anything.

"Of that I have no doubt," comes the Justicar's reply, "but I am unsure of who else we might encounter in the finding. But, first things first. How long before we can divest her of her vitae?"

"Not long," says Rebekka, "but I must gather a few things unless we are to partake of her blood directly."

Gwynnis looks around at everyone under the ward, heedless of the absence of her eyes as she completes her circuit.

"I think not, at least not yet. There may be other uses for it. Perhaps during interrogation?"

"Maybe," replies Rebekka. "Will you help me gather what we need, Sarah?" Sarah follows Rebekka with another look for Jocelin, and the two of them exit through a new opening made by Dee Dee.

"While they are gone, we may discuss the matter of Jocelin's retrieval. I offer you both the same choice I gave to Leo," Gwynnis says to François and Jack, "to travel with me in spirit form to Glastonbury Tor, or to remain whole here in New Orleans. I shall require no particular choice, as there will be much to do both here and abroad in the time it will take to us to restore Jocelin's spirit to the Near Umbra."

[Brother Brian]

Francois mulls the choices for a moment, scratching at his chin as he does so.

"Who remains in New Orleans?" he asks. "For while I desire to assist my clan mate, we must be sure not to risk everything to do it."

[Detritus]

Francois mulls the choices for a moment, scratching at his chin as he does so.

"Who remains in New Orleans?" he asks. "For while I desire to assist my clan mate, we must be sure not to risk everything to do it."
"The Councilor and I will be going, as will Leo," replies Gwynnis. "None others besides you and Jack, if you desire to go, will accompany us."

[Brother Brian]

Francois nods. "Then as primogen of clan Brujah in the city, I am duty bound to go."

[SD Anderson]

Francois mulls the choices for a moment, scratching at his chin as he does so.

"Who remains in New Orleans?" he asks. "For while I desire to assist my clan mate, we must be sure not to risk everything to do it."

"Drake, Lucian and your good ol' buddy remain at large." Jack says. "Until and unless they're stopped they're going to be on a rampage. Help your clan mate Francois. I'll do what I can to keep this place safe."

[Detritus]

"That division is probably for the best," replies Gwynnis after hearing François and Jack's input. Something in her voice suggests that there might have been a twinkle in her eyes, had she any remaining.

"The next sunrise in England is the best time to approach Glastonbury Tor. That sets our departure for shortly after sunset in New Orleans. As I will soon be overspent, I wish to retire for the evening."

The Justicar opens her right hand, and as she closes it she grasps the hilt of a knife.

"The sword must remain on my person tomorrow, but the knife has served its purpose tonight." Gwynnis deftly turns the knife so that she holds it by the blade, and exchanges it for her sword. "If you find another suitable target, lose it as you did last time."

"The others are back," Dee Dee says when Rebekka and Sarah return, although they don't seem to have anything new on their persons. Meerlinda guides Gwynnis near to the ward, and the Justicar makes an opening this time.

"We thought it would be best to sequester our guest, and to do what needs to be done when she is isolated. Have you determined who will be going with you?"

"Yes, Leo and François will be going, and Jack will remain to help with those proximate threats still at large. Those of us heading to the astral plane will leave as soon as we all waken after the next sunset."

"Very good," replies Rebekka, and then the Assamite's staked body rises off the ground and floats out the hole in the ward. "Those of you who will be remaining in the city, would you please come with me?"

"The Councilor and I will be remaining within the confines of the ward," Gwynnis says to François and Leo once everyone else has left. "You are welcome to remain within as well, but I would ask that you decide quickly. I do not mean to open another portal in the ward before sunrise, once this last has been closed."

((OOC -- The Justicar turns into a pumpkin in about 20 minutes, when her multiple expenditures of Potence wear off. If there's stuff you need to be doing that lasts longer than that, you'll need to arrange for a stay in another room (or building), although I can't think of anything pressing that needs doing that lasts longer than that time frame.))

[Brother Brian]

"I will remain Milady, so as to not unduely delay our depature."

[Huxley]

Leo sits cross-legged on the floor. "I will wait as well"

[Detritus]

Leo sits cross-legged on the floor. "I will wait as well"
Gwynnis closes the portal in the ward after hearing that Leo has chosen to remain. Meerlinda then touches the ward, and after several seconds it becomes opaque once again. The Justicar and the Councilor sit down a few feet away from Jocelin.

"Pleasant dreams," says Gwynnis, and then she lies down and is out cold in a matter of seconds, her sword lying lengthwise atop her body. Meerlinda crosses her legs and closes her eyes, and then after several seconds her eyes open an instant before a smaller dome encloses the two elders by themselves. She leans until back and shoulders are braced against the curve of this smaller ward, and then she too is fast asleep.

((Leo and François are free to converse amongst themselves if there's anything left for them to discuss tonight, but I'll be starting up a new thread for them pretty soon. I'll leave this one stickied for a little while after the new one starts.))

[Detritus]

You're in a moderate-sized third-floor bedroom with the staked Assamite, Rebekka, Sarah, Dee Dee, and Muaziz. Rebekka had been on the phone with Camille for about a minute or so, with instructions to bring some of the vitae left with her for Crusher's feeding needs. Muaziz and Sarah have just finished draining the Assamite of her blood, which seems to fill a bucket by the Assamite's bed from out of nowhere, when Camille enters the bedroom.

"Is this wise, my Prince?" Camille asks in a plainly dubious tone. "Surely there is no need to supply her with blood before her interrogation."

"We will only provide her with enough to offset the effects of the passage of the nights," replies Rebekka. "While she sleeps. That is enough to serve our purposes." The Prince produces a small stoppered vial, removes the stop, and then a trickle of vitae from the supply Camille brought with her fountains into the vial. She hands the vial to Muaziz, who then leaves the room.

Camille spreads her hands in an "if you say so" sort of gesture. "Roman and Erich are with Mr. Johnson's Get and Thomas and Merill to help keep an eye on Crusher. Should we send over Yuri or Uma to give him one face from the home team to look at?" Rebekka shakes her head in negation.

"Not tonight. In fact, I think our Sheriff should pay him a call, and spend the night there, too. He'll have to settle for pretty, if unsympathetic, faces." A quick look between Rebekka and Camille reveals that the Prince had divined one of the reasons that Camille asked for Uma's transfer to Crusher detail.

"I'll go as soon as I arrange for the Justicar's aircraft to retrieve Bonnie." Dee Dee pauses for a moment, then says, "I still think we should Embrace Al, my Prince."

"It cannot be tonight, not after the attack there. I am sure that Anneke and Sabine will be able to stabilize the situation for one night. Sabine will have to keep an eye on the situation going forward.

"Bring Crusher to me first thing tomorrow night. All the Toreador should be there. And you, Camille. The Brujah will have to be kept away until after this audience."

"I've got to lose the dagger again, if the opportunity arises," says Dee Dee. "I have to keep an eye on Samantha and friends to manufacture that chance."

"You'll have to fit that in as you can for now. We can have Yuri be with Thomas and Merill when Crusher is done with his audience. We can plan what to do about Samantha, and Al, after that. Jack should be there for that meeting, and that suggests his place is here when Crusher appears, too."

Dee Dee nods and leaves the room without another word. Rebekka looks around inquiringly for anyone with something more to say...

[SD Anderson]

"So it does." Jack says.