Umbrae Europae [IC] (part 3) - Mist of Nycthemeron, A third installment of the Umbrae Europae Campaing (started elsewhere) Options

[Jack_Spade]

Rex replied on the private channel:
<<Don't worry, I'm getting to that>>

[Romain Pelisse]

"I suspected you might be the runners with run into in the SOX and I guess this is confirming it. Let's talk about what to with the book. I realize that some people still think, nowadays, that burning books is the sometime the right answers. Beside the bad, historical precedent, the facts is that books, especially the one from Elivas Levy, are just containing powerful and often forgotten spells or rituals. Those are not nefarious per say. But you may not want them in the wrong ends. Destroying the book - or in this case the books, because we both know the one you have is but a lead to the famous Nuctéméron, may seem like the safest thing to do. But is it? What if some dreadful threat from the deepest of realm of the astral plane reaches Earth and our best way to stop it was inside the book? So no, we had no nefarious plan about the books, but to grab them and secure them, to ensure they would not be misused."

Rex and Waywalker noticed that the priest just used the past tensed. Was not the Order of Sylvestrine still searching the book?

"As for the worrisome third party, this strange man, or should I say, creature, that you refers as the Fey Professor. Yes, I happen to utterly agree he seems to have its own, alien, agenda and there is concern to have about him. We had to work with him in our operation in SOX because he had intel on the book location but also he appears to have... powerful friends, let's call'em that, within the ranks of the French Catholic Church. This cooperation, as you seen, as not went the way we would like it to go, and we requested to discontinue our alliance with this ... dangerous being. The result what we excepted. Higher power within the Church have decided to handle this affair themselves and have therefore told the Order to stand down. As for a few days ago, we are no longer your nemesis. Corporate executives would probably say that we've been re-tasked."

The priest pauses for an instant before carrying on.

"And I'm afraid, it's not good news for you. First of all, you have always managed to respect the life of our employee and try to 'keep the glove on', as they say. As we have, as much as possible. I'm afraid your new opposition will not play that fair. And they are definitely going to keep the Professor around and maybe even do his bidding. Indeed, the forces within the Church that will carry out our previous mentions are rather... "Black" ones, if you catch my drift..."

[Jack_Spade]

<<I see. Well, that makes it at least easier to talk to you some more - provided you tell the truth of course.
But since you no longer have a horse in this race directly: How did you actually know about the Village in the Fog? It took us no small amount of trouble to locate the fragments leading us there - and you somehow already had an expedition team ready to go there.>>

Rex asked, trying to keep the tone light.

[Haywire]

#167

While Rex talked, Waywalker tried to connect the dots with a search in the Matrix: To:Rex:"I'll see if I find out who are they referencing..."

[ Spoiler ]

agent teamwork (deck): 12d6t5 4
Matrix search: 20d6t5 6

[Romain Pelisse]

As the priest made some allusion, Waywalker starts firing his matrix search interface and searching in some runner's forum and online datasource, hoping to find a clue at the man was alluding. The answer quickly to him. Runner from France and Europe have been discussing conspiracy theories about it for almost a decade. The FCC is suspected to have become thoroughly infiltrated by the Black Lodge. Of course, as always, it is more than difficult to prove but many in the shadows took that for a fact.

The priest replied almost immediately to Rex's question:

"Well... We had suspicions for a while already that Eliphas book might indeed be in this lost village. With the Mist having swallowed it, we deem not necessary to do anything about it. When we got tipped by the Draco Foundation that you, I guess, had broke into their house in Camargue, we worried that you may have found a clue or something to the book that had been overlooked. So we deploy some mercs around the border, nearby the village, just to see if you were coming here, indeed. Of course, with bureaucrats involved on the Council of Brittany side, it took us for more longer than we wished to be able to deploy them. And they, anyway, failed to stop you."

[Jack_Spade]

<<I see. Well, that's certainly a relief.
Seeing that you have the well being of the whole world in mind and considering that we have so far no unsurmountable ethical differences between ourselves, I'd like to offer you a bargain:
You help us to find the second book before the Fey and the... what, the Black Lodge? Seriously? Sorry, I meant to say, before the clearly corrupt part of the aforementioned organisation get their hands on it.

In return we won't hand over the book to our employer before giving you a chance to talk to him and maybe come to an equitable arrangement. After the introduction you'll at least have a chance to regain the book instead of it vanishing within the Black Pyramide.

What do you say?>>

Rex would have begun to sweat if his body had allowed it. Instead he prayed like hell to all the Kami, that his estimation of the man was right...

[ Spoiler ]

Judge Intentions:
Judge Intentions: 21d6t5 6
to tailor my argument to his personality
Negotiations: 13d6t5 5

[Haywire]

#168

To:Rex:" Well, at least we do not have to deal with a double crosser. If you want to sweeten the deal, we could offer our services for one job with only the expenses covered, showing our good faith."

[Romain Pelisse]

The priest could not retain his surprise!

"Shadowrunners with a conscience? Well, I guess may have lived long enough to actually see a miracle with my own eyes. And that makes it even more difficult for me to have to decline your offer. The aforementioned organization has a lot of reach within the Church and even our order."

The priest pauses a looked, sadden, to his silent partner. The troll did budge, but both Waywalker and Rex could that in his eyes a recollection of a very painful memory. The priest carries on:

"We don't have the same luxury you do of being anonymous. We are SINners, our life is on record and they have access to your brother, our sister, our niece and nephew, and so on... And it has been made very clear, even if veiled, that we need to drop this... Or else. To be perfectly honest, I've probably shared more than I should with you, tonight. And we've both took a great risk by doing so. Sadly, we cannot offer your more than this information - and our prayers. Given what you told us, we are definitely hoping you will prevails, but sadly, in regards of helping secure this victory, our hands are tied."

Rex could see, through the drone sensor, how much the priest was conflicted. Part of him wanted to help the runners, but, despite his stoic behavior, he was clearly terrified. The irony of seeing the embodiment of a modern version of the Inquisition being paralyzed by "the fear of God" was not lost on the mage...

As if he could hear Waywalker's suggestion, the Priest, apparently swayed a bit by Rex arguments, added:

"That being said, if we cannot really interfere, we might be able to use some of our 'off the book' resources to provided you some assistance. It will need to remains as discreet as possible, but we could toss either some cash or material your way."

[Haywire]

#169

To:Rex:"I really hoped they could be our allies, but I can't say I was not expecting this. However, is still a help and better than nothing. What do you think should be our next move?"

[Jack_Spade]

Rex sent to Waywalker:
<<We still need to get info on the whereabouts of the book and that quickly. I'll try to smooth things over a bit.>>

To the priest he said:

<<We aren't exactly strapped for cash, but it wouldn't hurt either. What we need more than anything else are reliable secondary sources to help us find the book. Since you aren't allowed to tell us any secrets or give us information on the book itself, maybe you tell us - just in general terms - where in the first book I'd have to look for clues. I'm sure you have access to a comprehensive number of pages where there isn't anything of value inside.
It certainly can't be against your orders to tell me where I won't find any useful information...>>

[Romain Pelisse]

The priest made an other pause and had, again, a silent discussion with his partner. Then, to the runner surprise, it was the troll who replied. The large man had a very deep and strong voice. And he spoke in a very calm and thorough manner.

"The question of 'where in the book' is already a bad start. It's not going to be that easy. Occultism has been, through the age, about hiding fundamental Truth using secret and mystical analogy. We don't think a chapter or even several of the book, will lead you to the Nuctéméron. A thorough analysis of its content, cover to cover, may shed some light and where and how Elivas Levy managed to get it hands on the original book."

The reply of the troll was severe but his facial expression remained neutral. The priest carried on:

"To add to his answer, I'll say we have very solid Intel on the Nuctéméron. A few rumors mentioned that he might have been hidden, away from Earth, in the beginning of the century, when Mana was rushed back on the planet by the Great Ghost Dance. Those rumors generally agree on saying that the book you have may have the right ritual or spell to get access to whatever Plane the book now may be. But this mostly hypothesis. We were never able to confirm or substantiate any of those rumors. They only thing they have going for time is that we heard them from different sources over the years - which does not mean that much to be honest..."

[Haywire]

#170

After hearing the priest's explanation, Waywalker was scratching his virtual head. It felt almost like scratching the real one.
To: Rex: "So, if I understood correctly, the book is in another plane? And the spell to get here is in the book of Levy? Man, I'm gonna need something for an headache. How do you cope with this mojo?"

[Jack_Spade]

Rex replied to Waywalker:
<<Mostly by just accepting it and not thinking to hard about it. It's in any case a very solid way to hide it. After all, you already did take your drone over to a different plane. Do you have anything else you want to ask them?>>

The the priest and his companion he said: <<Thank you for the tipp. I'm not the greatest ritualist but I think I can do that. We won't keep you any longer. Keep the burner phone. Once we have the book we'll call you and honor our aggreement.>>

[Haywire]

#171

To:Rex:" I don't think messing with the Black Lodge is a good idea. Our best shot is to find the book before them and then vanishing in the shadows. I also feel that we should inform our Mr. Johnson of the new scenario, so that he can keep his head low.
The thing to do, in my opinion, is to go back to Paris."

[Jack_Spade]

<<Agreed.>> Rex crept back to the waiting Waywalker and sent a last fairwell to the Priest:
<<Well, vaya con dios if you excuse my Spanish. We'll be in touch.>>

Once Rex was back in the car, he returned to the book but halted when he had an idea: <<This is going pretty slowly - maybe you could help me with the translation and also set an agent on pattern recognition to find any hidden cyphers or diagrams within the pages.>>

[Romain Pelisse]

After a long night of drive, using old, half forgotten roads to get back to Paris, Waywalker and Rex finally arrived in the surroundings of Paris. Just a few kilometers away from their safe house. Despite being the very early morning, city appeared to be already waking up. Workers were leaving their shabby flats already looking exhausted, and creatures of the night, such as drug dealer and some other unsavory characters appeared to on their way home.

As any good Shadowrunner, Waywalker, despite being tired, did not forget to be paranoid. So he of course did a scan of the safe house surroundings, using the sensors array of his vehicle to ensure there no "unwanted guests" nearby...

[ Spoiler ]

@Waywalker can you roll me a Sensor Test? Don't forget your CR boost the limit and adds itself to the dice pool.

[Haywire]

#172

Waywalker was still thinking about their encounter with the priests.
"Should we warn our Mr. Johnson that the Black Lodge is involved? What do you think, Rex?"
While waiting for his partner's answer, he scanned their surroundings.
"There isn't such a thing as too much paranoia..."

[ Spoiler ]

Sensor perception: 21d6t5 8

[Jack_Spade]

<<Definitely. If nothing else we can negotiate for a raise due to the increased danger.>>
Rex nodded at his partner's vigilance
<<Can't be careful enough. I'd hate to leave this place just when I got used to the background count>>

[Romain Pelisse]

The problem with paranoia is that sometimes, it makes it quite difficult to know if a threat is real or a figment of one's imagination. Looking at the result of his scans, Waywalker was faced with the same puzzle. If the immediate surroundings nearby their safe house, rather deep in the woods, appeared free of any suspicious echoes - except for the expected wildlife - "eco-larm" as Rex called it, there was something... unexpected.

The part of the suburbs where Waywalker generally parks his vehicle is generally deserted and void of any other cars or van. Well, to be honest of any other cars or van modern enough to have some kind of electronic signature. Most of the few vehicles he sees there are fixed up old things from the late 2050's. But today, there was one van, parked a few hundred meters of the path to their safe house. Given the electronic signature, if Waywalker had to give a guess, he would say something looking like an Ares Roadmaster from the beginning of the decade.

This could be nothing. Just somebody parked around the corner. Or it could be something. Again, paranoia is not always helping...

[Jack_Spade]

After getting made aware of the Roadmaster, Rex told Waywalker:
<< I think I'll check out that car and our place through the astral, but first move the van somewhere safer, so I don't have to worry about you running off with my body.>>

Once that was done, Rex went limp and left his body. First he went to look around for spirits and watchers, making sure that the place wasn't magically observed right now and trying to not be seen himself.

[ Spoiler ]

Astral Perception: 15d6t5 7
Stealth: 15d6t5 5

[Romain Pelisse]

As soon as Waywalker parked the van, into an empty block, that the neighborhood has decided to refit into an improvising parking lot, Rex left his dog-shaped body and flew, in the astral, toward the suspicious van. Using the surroundings to hide his astral form, the mage got closer to his target, but halted half way through. There, in the middle of the street, a good twenty to thirty meter away from the van, there was a presence. An aura was hovering, a few meters above the ground, static. Rex did not need to manifest to be sure that this presence was only in the astral...

[Haywire]

#173

"That van looks menacing to me. I could be wrong, but a little paranoia never killed anyone..."
Waywalker insttructed his agents to do a quick Matrix sweep while he sent a spy drone to get more infos on the vehicle.

[ Spoiler ]

agent teamwork (Sekretar): 6d6t5 1
matrix perception (agent): 13d6t5 5
pilot drone: 14d6t5 4
perception (EW): 21d6t5 9

[Jack_Spade]

Rex considered ascanning the entity but didn't like to risk blowing his cover. What he needed now was an intermediate or a diplomat. So he called on the Night Court again, to send one of the sages to his aid.

[ Spoiler ]

Summoning Spirit of Man:
Summon F6 Spirit of Men: 22d6t5 11
Resist: 6d6t5 3
Resist: 21d6t5 6
No drain, 4 favors

Asking the spirit to assense the entity for me and if necessary use it's influence power.
Influence: 12d6t5 4

The grey bearded Kami appeared next to Rex' astral form and Rex greated him with a bow: "Thank you for receiving my plea, oh Wise One. I ask of you to take a closer look at the entity down the street and engage with it - if possible in conversation - to find out it's intentions. If need be, don't hessitate to suggest to it a course of action it can't refuse easily.

Meanwhile, I'll take a look inside somehwere else."

Rex moved away from the scene and screened by solid objects, moved close to the Roadmaster again, to take a look inside.

[Romain Pelisse]

Waywalker matrix results brought more question than answers. In the vicinity of the van, there was indeed a handful of icons running silent. This is generally suspicious, but none of those appears to be weapons or even a cyberdeck. Just a bunch of commlinks, recording devices, a camera - like one from a filming crew, not a security one, and on satlink...

While Rex's astral form got closer to the van, his Kami went on to his task to assense the mysterious aura spot by his master. Before Rex could reach the van, the Kami replied to him:

"Master of the arcan, I have done your bidding and seek out the true nature of what you saw, and I can tell you, an other Kami it is. It did not took kindly to my intrusion in what he says as his territory. I have avoided his wraith by leaving immediately. This kami is strong and might be a challenging opponent, even to you my master."

[ Spoiler ]

In game terms, it's a spirit of Man with Force above Rex's magic rating

Rex mentally nodded to his Kami and put its head through the van's weak astral presence. Inside, two shiny auras, both located in the back of the vehicle.

[Jack_Spade]

Rex acknowledged the Kami's message and approved it's pulling back. Instead he asked it: "Try to find it's summoner and tell me all you can learn about them."
Meanwhile, Rex was busy to learn what he could about the two auras in the Roadmaster.

[ Spoiler ]

Assensing the two people
Assensing : 11d6t5 3
Assensing : 11d6t5 5


Spirit trying to find the summoner:
Astral Trailing: 12d6t5 7
Astral Trailing: 11d6t5 6
unless the summoner is behind a barrier, that should give us the result within one or two hours