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

[Bastard]

Karma drives past the love nest, looking for any idling or occupied vehicles that may be Big J's ride. After making the pass she should have a good idea where to park without being spotted returning by the occupant.

[pbangarth]

Blue chuckles. <<< Yeah, Yeah. Strong like bull. Smart like streetcar. Thanks, sweetie. I'll keep it in mind. Maybe sometime we can work together to have the second part of that description disappear.

<<< I'm kind of interested in any people you know who might be in the market for a few young paranormals that dropped into my lap. I believe they are the kind I spoke to you about earlier. I'd like to unload them before the slithery little things get too hungry. >>>

While talking to Mary Margaret, Blue makes a mental note to summon another spirit the first chance he gets.

[Koekepan]

There's a long silence from Mary Margaret, while Karmakaze's car scoots along the highway in the direction of Jeremy Huang's mistressmattress. Karmakaze's 'link tells her:

<<<RENRAKU BACKS OUT OF URBAN RENEWAL PLANS>>>

<<<CRYSTAMINIMISM MUSIC TRENDING UP>>>

While the headlines drift by with the traffic lights, Mary Margaret responds with: <<<Blue, how many people know that you have those things? And do you know for a fact what they are?>>>

[pbangarth]

As an aside to Karmakaze, Blue comments, """ Mary Margaret seems very worried that we have these things in our possession. """ Flipping the audio so Karmakaze can hear clearly, he replies to Mary Margaret. In the end, you have to trust somebody, don't you?

<<< They fit the generic description I got from the breeders, and they came into my possession after I foiled an attempt by PoliDemos to sabotage the Petsonal facility and make it look like these things got out from there. As far as who knows, Petsonal knows because I told them, in their answering service. Whether PoliDemos knows is harder to determine because their agent on the scene decided to enter the facility, and promptly met some barghests. Whether she was able to message back to HQ, I don't know. If they do know, then I suspect the alleged powerful entity behind them and pulling their strings would surely also know.

<<< So, yeah, I want to get rid of these things as soon as possible. Anything you can tell me to speed that process would be much appreciated. And, no, I'm not going to just dump them in the sewer system. Infesting Seattle with these things would be doing what the saboteur wanted in the first place, and be a very bad thing. Earlier you sounded reticent to fill me in on a detail or two. My life and that of my partner here might well depend on us knowing what can be known. So, sweetie, got anything for me? >>>

A random thought enters Blue's mind. +++ I wonder if those things consider the comatose body beside them to be food? +++

[Koekepan]

Mary Margaret's response is terse.

<<<Great. So now the whole world basically knows that you have hands on minimal dracoforms.>>>

[pbangarth]

With a grin on his face that comes thorough in his voice, Blue responds, <<< Right! So what's the fastest, bestest way to get hands off?

<<< Gotta admit, M&M, I have a charmed life. Within a week I've gotten a triple A hunting for me, a local gang boss out for my head, and some Illuminati type of secret org and its local thugs pissed off and hungry for my goodies here. I MUST be special! >>>

He looks over at Karmakaze , holds his hands up and wide, and mouths ' Sorry. '

[Koekepan]

While the car rumbles along the road, Mary Margaret is silent a while, as if digesting Blue's response, or waiting for some addition. Eventually she says:

<<<Special or not, if this comes to a head you may find that the rest of your life will be brief, but full of excitement. If I were you, I would be thinking hard about why your clients got away with it this long.>>>

[pbangarth]

Blue is getting just a little bit irritated. <<< M&M, I know there are forces at play here that are so far beyond my ken, I have little hope of graduating to the level of pawn. Forces that could shoot someone in broad daylight on Fifth Avenue and get away with it. You are not the only one to tell me so. I appreciate your concern, and know that it comes from a good heart. What I need now, though, is practical advice to use in the next day of my perhaps soon to be cut short life.

<<< I want to unload the little buggers and so far the only people I know who have said they would take them are the good folks at Petsonal, who suggested days ago a paltry sum for the creatures, should I ever come across them. If that is all I can get, I'll take it. I just hoped to find a competitor willing to pay extra for a scoop. If you can't offer me a connection, I understand. So, what I have is a bunch of little paranormals in a box along with a great big, normal looking egg. Got any ideas? >>>

[Koekepan]

Mary Margaret is silent again for another minute. Then she responds with:

<<<Blue. Listen to me. Dracoforms. Did you get that part? Draco, as in dragon. Got it? You have your hands on a bunch of things telling actual dragons to take a personal and direct interest in you. Did you understand that? Big fragging lizards with an appetite for meat who think that metahuman society is their sandbox. You want practical advice? Who do you know that deals with dragons? Nobody? Probably you think so, but you're wrong. Why does Petsonal Petsonalities get away with their business? Why do they get to deal with dracoforms? Because somewhere, somehow, they're under the wing of a dragon. Maybe multiple dragons. I don't know, and I never want to find out. Who else has them? Polidemos? Wanna bet something scaly is running their show, or breathing down their neck? You're probably safer dumping those things down an incineration chute than you are hanging onto them. And before you ask, I don't want them.>>>

She sounds quite nervous, and rather irritable over the 'link.

[pbangarth]

Blue looks over at Karmakaze to see her reaction to what Mary Margaret is telling them. He doesn't see any bravado.

<<< M&M, as usual, your bouncy bubbly persona makes room for some hard and clear advice. I appreciate it. My partner and I have to consider our next moves, but rest assured I don't want to play in the big pool. Not yet, anyway. Talk to you soon. A treat will be yours once I can get my hands on it. >>> He disconnects and scraps the burner in the usual way. That leaves three from the last purchase.

""" Well, Karmakaze, it looks as if we are in the middle of a game we aren't equipped to play. Maybe we can live long enough to dump the kids back in Petsonal's lap in the morning. You wanna do that, or just dispose of them? My preference would be for keeping the damn things alive and selling them back to Petsonal. >>>

[Bastard]

"""I know they say never deal with a dragon, but I don't think there is much to lose. Do you? I mean we found something that if they are interested, will they offer us more than Pets, or they take it from us, or what if we gift it?

"""Let's dump the jackwagon out of the trunk, then I can put a call out to my fixer."""

Karma heads for a safe, but lightly surveilled area of town.

[pbangarth]

""" Yeah, it might be better to deal with the box of little problems first, before they become one big one. We did pass by Jeremy's love nest a moment ago. Did you notice anything like a guard outside or anything? """

[Koekepan]

Jeremy's lovenest did have a vehicle parked outside, populated by a couple of individuals. What they were doing there is anybody's guess. They might have been random, or his ride, or his guards.

From here, the best bet is the fringe of the warehouse district. Not very far, not closely surveilled but safe enough because it's fairly busy at all hours. From the sloping terrain overlooking Puget Sound, one can see the lights of freighters moving slowly around the cranes and docks.

[Bastard]

"""Yeah, I wanted to do a scan of the area. Look for mode of entry and egress. Let's dump this idiot and head back, quickly. I think this Jeremy issue is a pressing issue. Dealing with him will give us time for other capital ventures. Like selling snakes."""

Karmakaze heads for the nearby warehouse district while they talk.

[pbangarth]

While Karmakaze finds a suitable place to lay Jimmy to rest, so to speak, Blue summons a city spirit to increase their numbers.

[ Spoiler ]

I screwed up my browser and lost the roll's link. I can't look back at my roll history, either. Hmm. Well, Koekepan, you will see I got a roll with 4 successes just before the Drain resistance roll.

Drain 4(M): CHA 4 + Owl 2 = 6 dice: 3 successes

Leaves 1 box of stun damage.

Heal Drain: 12 dice, target 3 : 4 successes
60/4 = 12 minutes per box, so 12 minutes to heal stun.

The summoning works, but Blue is a little drained from the experience. <<< I got us another spirit to help, but I'm a little fuzzy from the exertion. I'll need 10 minutes or so to clear my head before we face opposition. >>>

[Koekepan]

The warehouse district's fringes are mostly what one would expect, coming from the business end. Large corporate structures, of an industrial nature. Trucking facilities and loading areas. Blue collar housing and hotels for the shipping industry. Machine shops and repair facilities. People looking for less licit amusements gravitate to areas a little further from the main run of rumbling trucks and rail cars.

[Bastard]

Karma finds a place where there aren't any cameras or prying eyes and stops the car.

"""You want to wake him up after we dump him?""" she asked Blue.

They get out and walk around to the back of the vehicle.

"""You ready to handle the snakes if they got free? I got gel rounds ready for the jackass."""

She carefully pops the trunk with the heavy pistol switched to semi in her other hand. The trunk lid slowly opens...

[pbangarth]

Blue replies as he gets out of the vehicle. """ I can handle them one at a time. Pain in the hoop there are so many of the little buggers. My spirit can help too, I think. """

[Koekepan]

The serpents have in fact distributed themselves over the back of the vehicle. They appear to like exploring crevices, slithering under seats and behind frames. They also find the clothing of unconscious thugs to be congenial. One in particular has latched its tiny claws into his clothing, and is licking at the traces of blood. For some reason in the road trip they decided that snuggling up to the egg-like thing wasn't a high priority.

[pbangarth]

With a mixture of frustration and humour in his voice, Blue comments on the current situation.

""" Well this won't do! They'll be crawling all over the place and exiting every little hole in your vehicle. How about you hold the box and keep them in once I place them, and I'll use a spell I have to pick them out of everywhere I find them. My spirit can seek them out and tell me where the ones I can't see are in the vehicle. """

[Bastard]

Karma does as directed, trusting in the shaman's spell to prevent the little bastards from biting, scratching or any other devious things to her. That was definitely better than handling the dragonettes herself.

"""Okay, lets do what must be done."""

[Koekepan]

Fortunately, a couple of people rearranging the back of a car don't look out of place here, even if they are a vastly mismatched dwarf and elf.

The egg-like thing tips sideways in the box while Blue hands it to Karmakaze, and exposes a couple of knobs and buttons. Apparently these are for heat, and something called oscillation.

[pbangarth]

"""Well, shit! I should have done a better job assensing the egg. Sorry, Karmakaze. It's a machine to keep the little serpents happy in their cardboard home. Snakes like warm places, and this egg can do the trick. The things probably sought out areas in your car with engine and transmission heat. Maybe crank up the heat a bit on the dial. As for 'oscillations', I don't know. Heartbeat? maybe set it to about once a second?

"""I'll crank up the Magic Fingers spell. """

[ Spoiler ]

I am assuming it took us enough time to find a good spot for the one point of stun damage from Drain to wear off. Adjust accordingly, Koekepan, if I am wrong. Oh. for this spell it doesn't matter, a target of 6 is the same as a target 7.

F3 Magic Fingers spell. Target is 6, so will need many dice to have a good chance at the max of 3 successes. Will drop the spell defense momentarily. Will have one spell pool left over, but can't use that by itself for spell defense.

Spellcasting 6 + Spell pool 6 + Owl 2 = 14 dice: 2 successes Well, pretty much as expected, so Strength and Quickness are 2.

Drain target 3(M), WIL 12 + Owl 2 = 14 dice: 9 successes/ 6 if stun still in effect No Drain.

What the hell, let's see if his Biology 1 or Biotech 1 helps him fine tune his understanding of this 'oscillation' thing.

1d6, open: 2 Meh.

Blue Starts collecting snakelets, with his spirit as a spotter as much as possible.

[Koekepan]

It doesn't take all that long to hunt down and collect the minute serpents. The toughest one to extract had crawled into a heating vent, but Magic Fingers does a good job of dragging it out, despite it hissing like a tiny kettle. In ten minutes, they all seem to be back in the box. However, the bloodied passenger shows signs of stirring.

[pbangarth]

Blue responds to Karmakaze's earlier question. """ Looks like he's waking up on his own, without our help. Is there any way we can seal the box to keep the snakes inside? """

With the Magic Fingers still in effect, Blue manhandles the man's limp body out of the trunk and leans Jimmy up against the nearest vertical thing. Once that is done, he drops the spell and reinstates spell defense on himself and Karmakaze.

spoiler]
One point each from Spellcasting and spell pool.

[/spoiler]

That done, he finally examines the city spirit to get a sense of its appearance and demeanour.