Behind the Crown [IC], Behind the crown are shadows Options

[Bastard]

Karma watches the surroundings, while listening to the shaman tell his tale. It doesn't add up, but the megacorps never did to people with a conscience.

" " "I have one question: Is this investigation anyhow related to your previous job, or was this non-related side work? Also, did you start this contract before or after you left your previous employer?" " "

[pbangarth]

Blue answers without a thought. """ Unrelated to my previous job. This is a contract that came to me, after escaping Mitsuhama, through your ... predecessor to whom I had indicated the need to find another line of work. She said it doesn't take long for people with magical skills to find work, put out some feelers to her contacts, and proved her point. She was not interested in joining in this contract. Just as well, I guess. """

[Koekepan]

The couple makes their way up the jetty, staying on the HiFric layer until they get to the diner's waterfront balcony, and from there to the door. The waitress that served Karmakaze and Blue goes to greet them, and usher them to a seat.

In contrast with them, the truck disgorges five dudes with wrap-around sunglasses, cropped hair or ballcaps, and various other style cues suggesting the high-powered sporting life. One has a shirt that clearly depicts a salmon jumping a waterfall. And another salmon and ... it's actually projecting a video record (or rendered version). Fancy.

[pbangarth]

Blue stiffens a little. One finger of a hand on the table points toward the five trucker dudes, but doesn't obviously stare at them. """ Oh, drek. I don't like the look of those five. And I can't assense them until there isn't a window or wall between us. I could be paranoid, but they look a lot like the kind of crew who hunted me earlier. What's your sense? """

[Bastard]

Karma's Savalette is drawn upon the shaman's twitch, but the Ingram is drawn more calculated as her dinner date gives the situation report, but both weapons are still hidden below the table.

" " "I don't expect Mitsuhama to send a bunch of hillbillies after you, but I don't put it past them either. Or it could have something to do with your new contract. Or they could just be a bunch off hoops from Spokane or the Canada, on a fishing trip. Either way, give me cover, and I will lay down fire if need be. By the way, the name is Karmakaze."

[pbangarth]

""" Call me Blue. If it starts, I'll take the one with the video shirt first. If you trust me enough, open your mind, and I'll link us mentally. Can't be heard or hacked. Short range, though. No more than 6 meters. """

Should Karmakaze assent, Blue casts a Mindlink spell to connect the two.

[ Spoiler ]

Mindlink spell target 4 +2 (fucking daytime) = 6, dice Sorcery 5 + Spell Pool 4 = 9 : 3 successes link established
Drain resistance, target = 2 + 2(fucking daytime) = 4(S), WIL 12 + spell pool 3 = 15 dice: 9 successes no Drain

Ensuing combat rounds, should they occur, 3 spell pool assigned to spell defense for the two of us

+++ Catching this? +++

[Koekepan]

The five of them start wandering, apparently chatting, joking and laughing through the parking lot towards the door of the restaurant. They still look like a collection of dudes preparing to fuel up before a day's fishing, or tooling around Puget Sound like fools.

[ Spoiler ]

---OOC: Karmakaze, make a roll of 4 dice, target 5---
---OOC: Blue, make a roll of .... nothing. This isn't for you.---

[Bastard]

" " "Amazing," " " Karma is always intrigued by magic, and this is a spell or ability that she has never heard of. She is happy to be part of it, but is not sure how to do so. " " "I will try, but I don't know how." " "

[pbangarth]

+++ You don't have to speak. Just think it, and I will know it. Same the other direction. Images and emotions too. I learned it to help in noisy industrial environments, but it is useful in other ways, too. I will eventually learn it for longer range. If drek does hit the fan, though. I will have to drop it because it is an added drain on top of daylight for me. We can still talk to not appear out of place or weird. +++

Blue actively appreciates the food. """ Man, I have to finds the recipe for this chowder. Mighty good. Mmm, mmm. """

[Koekepan]

The dudes stroll in through the door, the silver-haired couple take a seat by the large windows facing the sound, and the chatty couple of salty guys stand up after checking the time on the big (real!) clock on the wall (with hands for the old-timers). A display off to one side changes from RISING to SLACK.

That leaden wall of rain outside has crept closer, and a few droplets are starting to patter on the windows facing the sound. A good time for coffee.

[Bastard]

Karmakaze has the Savalette out, but hidden below the table. It can easily fire around, the shaman, + + + What did he say his name was, Blue?+ + +

+ + + Yes! I can sense you,+ + + she hears Blue's response crystal clear, like his voice is coming in through an earpiece.

" " "So cool!" " " she half whispers in response. " " "Wait - You said something else," " " she says excitedly, " " "...but it was a jumble... Oh!, I got it, it is all so clear now." " " Karma says with a smile, and she almost loses her tactical awareness.

She snaps back to normalcy. Blue can see it in her eyes as they narrow and regain focus. Her smile quickly disappears.

+ + +These guys do part time work for Chin-Ho Huang. Maybe they are looking to go fishing, maybe they are looking for you. Us... Do you understand me?+ + + Karma takes her eyes off the five "fishermen" and looks at Blue for signs of acknowledgement.

With her right hand, she takes a drink of coffee. She might need the extra boost of caffeine, and it is REAL coffee. Who knows when she will have another good cup of real coffee.

[pbangarth]

+++ Yes, Blue is my name now. I get the message. Who is this Chin-Ho Huang? +++

Blue sips his coffee. +++ That is so good. I could get hooked on that. +++ He keeps a surreptitious eye on the newcomers.

[Koekepan]

Blue feels something ...

[ Spoiler ]

Dispelling: 6d6t4 3

... and the mindlink vanishes. As if it were never there.

The five dudes are strolling in. The two in the back are stopping by the counter to slot a credstick. And the silver-haired couple are fiddling with menus.

[pbangarth]

""" On guard! Something just killed my link. The party has begun. I'm taking a look astrally. """

Blue opens his perception to the astral to see what if anything is there. He didn't notice either the five or the two doing anything, but maybe something will show in the astral plane.

[Koekepan]

There is nothing immediately obvious in terms of magical forces in the astral. No vast spirits nor anything similar. Perhaps if Blue were to settle down, take some time and do some careful analysis, he might see something? Who knows?

[pbangarth]

Nothing springs out at Blue. """ Hm. Don't see anything easy. I'll look deeper. """ He decides to assense slowly and carefully, checking out others in the environment.

[ Spoiler ]

- OOC - tell me how many rolls to make, please.

[Bastard]

Karmakaze nods at Blue, her right hand goes under the table and soon is filled with an Ingram Model 20t.

[Koekepan]

The five stroll in while Blue looks around, chatting and laughing to each other. They don't wait to be seated, or anything like that, but just come up towards the table where Blue and Karmakaze are seated. Blue is of course oblivious to the details of what they're doing, examining another world for the moment, but Karmakaze sees them reaching into pockets, and glimpses one withdrawing what looks like a magician cuffing tool from a fannypack.

[pbangarth]

Blue curses to himself as he scrambles to eliminate the fog of astral scenery by returning to physical perception. +++ Why the Hell didn't I summon a hearth spirit as soon as I entered the diner? 'Cause I'm careless, that's why. Damned if I'll make that mistake again, if I survive. +++

[Bastard]

The new wired reflexes has Karmakaze reacting faster than thinking, but she was already prepared, so it seems things are going as planned, as a three-round burst from each hand hits the would-be attacker square in the chest. She is already moving for cover, assuming Blue will be doing the same, while determining who is the next largest threat.

[Koekepan]

Karmakaze's guns bark with a short, hard BRRRAP-BRRAP, and mister Magecuffs folds up, right there - but even faster than his collapse, is her acceleration out of her seat to behind a waist-high booth partition. It's either wood, or a synthetic analogue, and so offers a lot more protection than the light clothing these goons are wearing.

Her sudden attack evidently catches them all by surprise, because they are still turning their heads to look at her when she's already darting off to one side. So far, none of them are doing anything sensible, when Blue has already cleared his vision - and he can see them nice and clearly now.

[pbangarth]

Blue pulls his head out of his ... back to the material plane and ducks left, behind another partition. Karmakaze doesn't need to show him twice. He hides his hands in pockets, both to make them harder to sleeve in 'cuffs, and to grab a hold of spell items, Influence in his left hand and Powerbolt in his right.

Glad to see 'cuff man downed by Karmakaze, he zeroes his sights on t-shirt boy. Maybe his fashion sense is offended, who knows?

[Koekepan]

The goon with the 'cuffs is going down like a sack of potatoes, and people are starting to respond. The folks behind the counter are looking up in startlement, the couple of grizzled nautical types are ducking, and the goons are showing signs of wanting to scatter. Apparently Karmakaze's opening position startled them out of their rhythm. The guy with the fancy shirt appears to be trying to hide himself behind a chair - or perhaps it's just a waystation on his headlong flight into the chilly embrace of the sound's waters. But none of them look as if they're ready to do anything more effective than sphincter release just yet.

[Bastard]

The man to the left spins to the ground hunched over, the wind and breakfast knocked out of him from the burst of gel rounds to the midsection. The man on the right is less injured, as the gel rounds splattered against an innocent chair, which was unfortunately heavily damaged.

+++Drek.+++

[Koekepan]

The three goons who are still on their feet come out of their early morning kidnapping glow with surprising speed, now that two of their buddies are on the way down and gunfire cracks the air. The one with the fancy shirt doesn't go far, but flips a table onto its side and ducks behind it. From his vantage point, Blue can see about half of him, but Fancy Shirt is out of Karmakaze's point of view.

The other two seem less inclined to toss table settings onto the floor. The one on Karmakaze's left ducks into a booth a mere two yards from Blue. Neither Blue nor Karmakaze can now see him. The remaining one slides hard right on the tiled floor, from Karmakaze's point of view, and behind a bit of partition. Both Blue and Karmakaze can see him looking out with an angry snarl, pulling twelve inches of knife from an ankle sheath. Apparently he's ready to go lethal.