IC: Reclaiming the Void Options

[JxJxA]

"I spoke a name aloud in ignorance in a place unfamiliar to me. I will not say it again, if only to keep from being doubly damned," Uetz says. His heart sinks a bit when he recognizes the name and the glyph. He had only sought to let his friends know what the glyph said, not form a bargain.

He addresses the Dweller once again.

"I came here to free my sister. The loss I feel is the loss of her presence. Before I stepped into this breach, I could at least hear her voice. Now, I hear nothing. Like all those who find themselves lacking in times of trouble I have desired power, but should I sacrifice my soul for it? No, I will not. If I were to make such a choice, surely I would lose her forever. Perhaps power is not mine to hold alone. I am Nahualli, bound to my spirit twin. She is my Courage, and I am her Compassion. She soars above the heavens, and I walk upon the ground. She is Quauhtli, and I am Uetzcayotl. Separate, we are two halves in search of the other. Together, we are Quetzalcoatl.

"If pain is the price I must pay for my past ignorance, then I accept it and will walk that path. However, I would ask that these others be spared. They were not present when I gave voice to the name."

[Redjack]

Nearly another half hour passes as the search frames scour the matrix and filter the data streaming back in. The Crater Lake details are both alarming and reassuring. If I was going to put a super powerful artifact anywhere, that sure seems as likely a spot as any. He pulls the data into a report for the team, for when they return.

Moving on to the task of preparations, he evaluates the additional data as it comes in, stewing over the results, a thousand possible scenarios playing out in his head. Finally, he sits up. Road trip time.

His coffee cup long since taken by the 7526 Series Clean-O-Bot™, he pauses to look at the blood stained kitchen floor before turning and briskly walking out the front door, his gear bag slung over his shoulder. The van purrs to life before he reaches it. He slides in... and realizes there is still the majority of a corpse inside. That would go well with a speeding ticket...

He backs the van out of the driveway and pulls down the street, using his command program to override the rather lacking pilot program. His first stop is a car wash several miles from the team home. He selects a stall based upon criteria of reduced visibility. He takes a moment to hack the security camera, edit the feed so that it does not appear a change occurred, checks the van's external camera's to select a moment when no one is looking towards the van, then activates spoof chip and the chameleon coating, selecting an off-white, nondescript delivery van appearance. He then pulls out the other side and proceeds down the road, creating a back door and editing the security logs before exiting the car wash security system. Next stop: Some place to dump this body.

[BishopMcQ]

Questers

"Your past and future are nothing to me. I stand upon the Threshold and allow those who are worthy to pass. The message has been passed, you may choose to step past the threshold into this place, or return unfinished."

The infant's body and head fold back into the spider's body. A massive red slash is there across the back of the black spider. The mirror fades away beneath your feet. Soon the creature's massive form has collapsed into a dessicated husk.

[Saytr]

where the hell are we and what is it exactly we have to do here how the hell does this thing know my name Brock checks out the other two standing like they arent even worried about the oncoming horde of sick evil looking forms Brock would have never dreamed possible. Listening to who serves who and Uetz's Response lHe starts to get worried they might have come in error. Brock listens to the dewllers speak his name not giving his full name. Looking at his reflection he stares from each reflection to see if there are any differences then he looks from the mirror to the dweller then to the horde of deadly looking nasties surround the plan they are standing on waiting for the other two for any guidance He continues grip his hammer ever tightly.

[JxJxA]

Uetz nods in understanding, and watches the scene play out. When all appears to have settled, he turns back to his companions.

"I apologize that I could not have warned you about what has come to pass. I had no knowledge that the creature had reason to claim me as my own. As the Dweller said, you are both free to turn back, and I will not blame you if you choose to end your journey here. I, however, must continue on. If I can free my sister I must do so, no matter the dangers that face me.

"Indeed," he adds, "it might be best that I see this through to discover the extent of this claim."

He walks to the portal and waits to see what the others will do.

Hueltiuh, I come for you. I shall hold my love for you in the forefront of my mind, and use it as a guiding light as I wander this labyrinth of shadows...

[Buddha72]

"I will continue though I thank you for the graceful exit you provided should I have felt differently. Let us proceed and reclaim what you have lost."

Olethros moves to stand beside Uetz and waits to see Brock's response.

[Saytr]

Brock tightly grips him hammer again grunge and spits and steps forward smiles and starts to hum.

[JxJxA]

Uetz bows his head gratefully to both.

"Thank you, both of you. I am grateful for the companionship on this journey. May Yacatecuhtli guide us on our travels, and lead us back home."

With Quauhtli in his heart, and his new companions at his side, he steps through the portal with them to begin their quest into the unknown...

[Buddha72]

A quick nod to Brock and Olethros walks after Uetz.

[BishopMcQ]

Questers

Stepping off the platform, a chill bites through the air. Something of the threshold kept the true nature of this place at bay. The cold makes your breath a thick mist as you walk. Before you, the horde pours forth gathering in a rough semi-circle to block your way to the tower. Tens of thousands of monstrous creations slither, crawl, and ooze their way across the landscape.

Above you, a night sky you've never seen before. The broad spectral arms of gaseous nebulae glow in green and purple, and three moons light the ground. Amid the shadows of the night, dark forms cut through the air, circling above you like carrion birds.

Continuing on, the wind cuts through your clothing. On the winter gale you hear a voice, raspy and rough. None but those loyal to the Ruined King may pass. Swear your fealty by name or pay a tribute in blood.

[JxJxA]

Uetz steps forward, his love for his sister granting strength to his resolve.

"We are wanderers, drawn here only by my ignorant recitation of your Lord's name. I have come to free my sister, to whom your Lord has no claim. The others are my companions. I cannot swear fealty, as I have already given my oath to Quetzalcoatl-the Feathered Serpent. Tell me of your tribute of blood, and I shall consider it. If it is acceptable, I shall pay it threefold: once for myself, and twice more for my companions."

[BishopMcQ]

Questers

Seconds pass, stretching out the uncomfortable silence. You can hear the sounds of the horde moving, and the creatures cawing above you. There appears to be no response from Uetz's negotiation with the wind.

[Buddha72]

Olethros walks closer to Uetz his voice pitched low so as not to carry far on the wind.

"Careful, you do not know the price in blood being asked. You could find yourself drained dry and left a husk here - failing on the first step. Nobility is good to see in Man but do not be so quick to extinguish it here and now. We came of our own free will - allow us to face this with you as we asked to. Do not diminish our roles or you may not succeed. When we crossed the threshold the course was set, shaped by all three of us and our willingness to aid you. The challenges will reflect that and you may not be able to progress with just you paying the cost. This place is a reflection of where we were and the deeper pockets beyond. Remember that and you will find your way."

He pauses to give his word time to be heard and be felt before speaking again, this time louder and with the intention for his voice to be heard by all.

"If this demesne is indeed one to the Ruined King then we are trespassers without a bond to allow us passage. We can offer blood, our own or some other source as toll or tribute though I find myself without much recourse than spilling my own. Your own people also have a tradition of sacrifice and blood so this may be a reflection of your history or magic. I admit I only have a passing understanding of Aztlan's religion and their strictures."

[Saytr]

Brock stood silent the entire time as uetz and Ollie, at the mention of blood being a toll to pay stood beside them both and held out his non swinging arm letting his left palm rest on the hammers handle "take what you must for my passage."

[Redjack]

The van, changed enough for the basics, Papa grimaces at his challenges before him. I need to work on some licenses, but for now perhaps accruing some would be the best option. As the van pulls out onto the I-10, Papa calls one of his few trusted friends.

<<@Jill Martinez [Dextor] Jill, I know its been a few weeks since I called; sorry, I've been pretty busy. Anyway past the small talk, looking for some vehicle licensing for my new van...>>

[BishopMcQ]

Papa

The connections sits idle for a few seconds. Soon the AROs shift slightly and you sense that you have Jill's full attention.

<<@Dextor [Jill] I've been following your feeds, looks...interesting. If that was really a metaplane, you'll have to tell me more about it later. What are the specs on the van? Make, model, VIN, the works. Is this paperwork going to the top of my pile or under it?>>

Traffic is light on I-10 and you can actually drive at a steady twenty miles per hour, rather than the constant stop and go.

Questers

A distant roll of thunder washes across the plain. Above you, one of the creatures begins a lazy circle lowering to the ground. The head of the creature is eyeless, with dozens of eyes across the bony segments of its scabrous batlike wings. With a human torso, obviously female, and taloned legs, it resembles a nightmare fueled vision of a harpy. In its arms is a broad bowl with straps made from ligament and sinew.

Resting in the bowl is a shard of obsidian, wrapped in more sinew to resemble a dagger.

"Fill it."

[Redjack]

<<@Jill [Dextor] The trip was legit. The next run will be as intense, though considerably more mundane.>>

He considers Jill for a moment; The things that made them more than acquaintances. The things that made them friends.

<<@Jill [Dextor] UCLA was legit too..>>

They lived on the same block. But it was his parent's death the year after her's that bonded them.

<<@Jill [Dextor] I need a good license and several throw aways.>>

They never made a romantic connection. He was a freshman when she was senior; he dropped out of school shortly there after. Some days he wondered if they would.

<<@Jill [Dextor] You still able to help me with something like that?>>

The ties that bind, they had kept in touch. He always wondered what vices she spent her side-yen on, but a part of him didn't want to know. Part of him just wanted her to be that sassy older girl from down the street. That girl that understood one of the pivotal points in his life because she lived one just like it. But today she is none of those. Today she is a a contact, a connection, a resource selling a service. Keep telling yourself that. It makes it easier.

[Saytr]

Brock stood there and grabbed the rough knife and made a cut that bled freely filling bowl as he looked at uetz and Ollie," I guess this one way to pay taxes"

[Buddha72]

Olethros stepped forward and reached for the knife.

"Trust me, you would rather this than swear fealty. This wound has a chance of healing."

He cuts into his forearm and angles his arm so the blood flows into the bowl mixing with Brock's.

[BishopMcQ]

Papa

<<@Dextor [Jill] I should be able to handle that. Send me the specs, so I can run the background and get you an ETA.>>

<<@Dextor [Jill] And keep your head down. Cops may let some stuff slide, but there's been newsfeeds about Winternight and Surtr at UCLA. Stuff like that goes global damn quick.>>

A datapacket pops up in your vision. Scanning it, there are several news articles from local and international info-sites. All of them focus on the nascent investigation into a recent terrorist attack on UCLA campus. Details are sparse, but an international task force is en route to Los Angeles to investigate possible ties to Winternight, and the release of an aerosolized nano-weapon.

Questers

One by one, each of you bleed into the bowl. The dark reflections make it difficult to see the blood against the stone. The creature's myriad eyes stay focused on the bowl and lust washes over her face as the blood flows freely from your arms. Your vision blurs slightly and you grow light-headed from losing so much blood. A pungent musk of sex and death hangs in the air around the harpy, intermingling with the sweet, coppery smell of your heart's bounty.

With each new drop, one of the creatures in the horde vanishes. By the time each of you has bled out your share, an honor guard of twenty in the center is all that remains. One of them carries the standard of the King in Yellow, a human male with black and yellow warpaint across his face. A jaguar leans lazily against his legs.

In the air above you, several of the creatures are in a vicious fight with curved knives and talons. They appear to be more of the harpies, though obviously male.

[Saytr]

Brock leans on his hammer more so then before till his body gets used to losing so much blood. "wow that was not to fun" looking up to center himself he sees the fighting and hopes it doesnt come down now to the three of them fighitng any of them.

[JxJxA]

Pulling back the sleeve from his suit, Uetz drags the edge of the obsidian blade across the fleshy part of his arm.

"And with that, our toll is paid," he says softly as he watches the last few crimson drops fill the bowl to the brim.

[Redjack]

So that's what the hell we got hit with!
<<@Jill [Dextor] Thanks for the concern. Things have definitely gotten crazy. I'm hoping to keep a lower profile going forward. [Attachment: Vehicle Details]>>
Yea right... We're headed into the freaking, most heavily guarded areas of the Tir. Time to start thinking big time... and acting like it.

The first place to stop is stop assuming what I know. He spins up his search frames and tries to get some solid details on both Winternight and Surtr.
Time passing slowly as the van moves down the I-10, Papa keeps watch on the traffic as he goes. No sense getting caught off guard by gangers out for a little mischief.

His mind passing over the various readouts, he stops on speed. 32kph? I guess I shouldn't complain; it is the I-10 after all.
His thoughts turn back to search frames and new feeds though the security feeds from the van, the house and his own home are always present in the back of his mind. He considers perhaps that not only is he too connected, but with the attention co-processor sleep regulator WAY too connected... The thought is quickly shrugged off. Wouldn't have it any other way.

[Redjack]

Yet another round of search frames complete yielding more data to be added to the dossier for the team. Great. The BIGGEST freaking terrorist group on the planet. I think we just went triple platinum on the prime runner scale... So why do I feel like a little damn fish hiding from the shark?

He checks his bank balance. My budget must be the square root of their budget. Time to think outside the box... Now where can I steal a ride off the planet? That thought pattern lasts about 1.06725 seconds. About as long as it times for a PITO feed update to one of the top five feeds Papa subscribes to. Then a big smile comes across his face. If we take out a Windernight cell, my PITO feed will go crazy... and surely someone will want to add me that moves me up a rating point.

He occupies himself with a multitude of mundane things as the van slowly progresses eastward, down the I-10: reading social feeds, news alerts, product releases on several of his favorite games, some random trivia, grocery order for both houses, paying a few bills and pbp game updates. Pretty much everything except what he should be working on.

In El Monte, he gets on the I-10, switching to the I-605 North. During the change, he focuses his mind back to the job and the preparation gap. He pulls up a satellite view of the Hollywood Simsense facility. Time to scout the neighborhood. He's looking for several things: (1) Businesses nearby where he could park and observe the employee parking area of HSE. (2) Entry/exit route from the immediate area. (3) Loading/Unloading facilities (4) Delivery vehicle sizes onsite (vans, trucks, semi, all of the above) (5) Corporate housing nearby (6) Physical security to/from both the employee parking & the exit of the facility and the loading area & the facility exit.

[JxJxA]

"Before we continue, I would like to tend to our wounds. Is that acceptable?" Uetz asks the leader of the honor guard. He glances up at the sky, taking note of the battle being waged above them.