Then seek within. Here knowledge can be found. Know though that the wisdom to use it or not is not here, only within.
With that, the figure fades away. The cavern lightens somewhat, revealing a short passage to a small boat with another robed figure waiting at it's stern, looking for all the world like Charon on the River Styx.
Full Version: Blood of the People
As they leave the estate, Nix listens as his comrades as they continue their matrix searches. The spike in abductions of children in the same age range can't be ignored and neither can the tactics of the Crying Masks in regards to the missing spirits. The fact that the barrier was not disrupted either speaks to simply being single-natured as the threshold was crossed or to meta-magic....
Aiden's ideas make sense, I just can't believe we really are big time.. silently looking at his three companions, How would the three of us face a coven of blood mages..? berry.. berry.. quiet-we He snickers thinking back the century old cartoon... I think I will hold out for a little more proof...
His thoughts wander to his ex-wife and losing her. Another mystery I'll never get.. What went wrong there? It lasts only a few moments before he refocuses on the task at hand... This one I can save...
Watching the others slip into their VR induced comas, Nix decides to use the travel time for the same. As he sits back into his seat, he launches himself into the PCC Grid. The Native-American iconary takes him back to years past....
"Look Chummer, this is the way its done. Don't step in my soup." Wrinkle said, flipping down the vid screen on his deck. The man was newly arrived to Denver, but a seasoned decker so Nix just let it slide.
Even though he was half-Anglo, he knew little of that part of his heritage. He was glad he wasn't less than half. When he was young, the more white the beatings you took from the older kids... and the longer to heal from them. It was strange to now be working with them.
He was interested in the matrix and Wrinkle's vid screen game him a view of things he could never experience. He envied the man's datajack and deck, but knew the price to be paid to his magic to taint his essence.
Wrinkle never awoke from the crash. To this day he's probably still in the east wing of St Mary's Hospital in Aurora. As he floated down the electron byways he always thought back to Wrinkle.....
His destination ahead, he landed outside the coffee shop and stepped in. He picked up a copy of today's paper and took a seat. Nix liked the sculptured reality of this place. The attention to detail... The smell of roasting coffee beans... The cute barista whose figure was not too perfect... The memorabilia from famous coffee houses of the past... Now, what's going on today....
Aiden's ideas make sense, I just can't believe we really are big time.. silently looking at his three companions, How would the three of us face a coven of blood mages..? berry.. berry.. quiet-we He snickers thinking back the century old cartoon... I think I will hold out for a little more proof...
His thoughts wander to his ex-wife and losing her. Another mystery I'll never get.. What went wrong there? It lasts only a few moments before he refocuses on the task at hand... This one I can save...
Watching the others slip into their VR induced comas, Nix decides to use the travel time for the same. As he sits back into his seat, he launches himself into the PCC Grid. The Native-American iconary takes him back to years past....
"Look Chummer, this is the way its done. Don't step in my soup." Wrinkle said, flipping down the vid screen on his deck. The man was newly arrived to Denver, but a seasoned decker so Nix just let it slide.
Even though he was half-Anglo, he knew little of that part of his heritage. He was glad he wasn't less than half. When he was young, the more white the beatings you took from the older kids... and the longer to heal from them. It was strange to now be working with them.
He was interested in the matrix and Wrinkle's vid screen game him a view of things he could never experience. He envied the man's datajack and deck, but knew the price to be paid to his magic to taint his essence.
Wrinkle never awoke from the crash. To this day he's probably still in the east wing of St Mary's Hospital in Aurora. As he floated down the electron byways he always thought back to Wrinkle.....
His destination ahead, he landed outside the coffee shop and stepped in. He picked up a copy of today's paper and took a seat. Nix liked the sculptured reality of this place. The attention to detail... The smell of roasting coffee beans... The cute barista whose figure was not too perfect... The memorabilia from famous coffee houses of the past... Now, what's going on today....
Caliph - Thursday, April12th - 1030 - On the road, The Van
I drive down the road while the assorted members of my vehicle all crash out. Even though I know that they're all playing in la-la-land, trying to get info, it's annoying if only because I can't do the same. Pull into a moderately seedy looking motel in downtown Provo and text them all a message:
<<@All (Caliph) - Wake up kiddos, we're home.>>.
I'll let them negotiate for rooms; I'm used to living a bit more downscale than they are.
I drive down the road while the assorted members of my vehicle all crash out. Even though I know that they're all playing in la-la-land, trying to get info, it's annoying if only because I can't do the same. Pull into a moderately seedy looking motel in downtown Provo and text them all a message:
<<@All (Caliph) - Wake up kiddos, we're home.>>.
I'll let them negotiate for rooms; I'm used to living a bit more downscale than they are.
If sweat could appear on his virtual brow, Eyes would be virtually wiping it off about now. Glad that he didn't have to deal with Black IC this morning, not that he would have the skills to do so, Eyes crosses the distance to the boat from hell and lowers himself into it, preparing himself for whatever crazy topography they were going to throw at him next.
Keep your cool Aiden, this is just a computer program, there is nothing to worry about at the moment, nothing can actually hurt you in here.
Receiving Caliph's text as he sits, he writes out a quick reply and sends it out.
{@Caliph [Eyes]: Can't really log out at the moment. You can leave me there if you want, just make sure you lock up so I don't awaken with a ghoul in my face or anything.}
Keep your cool Aiden, this is just a computer program, there is nothing to worry about at the moment, nothing can actually hurt you in here.
Receiving Caliph's text as he sits, he writes out a quick reply and sends it out.
{@Caliph [Eyes]: Can't really log out at the moment. You can leave me there if you want, just make sure you lock up so I don't awaken with a ghoul in my face or anything.}
Caliph - Thursday, April12th - 1038 - TravelInn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo, The Van
<<@Eyes (Caliph) - Negative. If you're going to be providing some overwatch for me, I'll bring you in the van when I get on site. The defenses on the van can cover you, and that way you'll be closer if the s**t goes down.>>
<<@Eyes (Caliph) - Negative. If you're going to be providing some overwatch for me, I'll bring you in the van when I get on site. The defenses on the van can cover you, and that way you'll be closer if the s**t goes down.>>
As the boat starts off down the river, Eyes sends out another quick message to Caliph.
{@Caliph[Eyes]: I am in a VR only node right now, give me sometime and I will come into the hotel. Or you can text me whenever you need me for your sweep of the area around Dances place.}
{@Caliph[Eyes]: I am in a VR only node right now, give me sometime and I will come into the hotel. Or you can text me whenever you need me for your sweep of the area around Dances place.}
Nix - Thursday, April 12th - 10:38 - Caliph's Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
As the message flashed in, injecting itself as an ad into Nix' newspaper he sighed. He was still working though the local news, getting caught up. He took care to preserve the ambiance of the shop for the other patrons. He left a few nuyen for a time, folded up the newpaper setting it on the table near the door and nodded to the barista on the way out. As soon as he crossed the threshold though, he disappeared from the street reappearing in his com's node before jacking out.
"I need to go to this address." Nix says to Caliph, sending the address as an ARO looking like a sticky note.
As the message flashed in, injecting itself as an ad into Nix' newspaper he sighed. He was still working though the local news, getting caught up. He took care to preserve the ambiance of the shop for the other patrons. He left a few nuyen for a time, folded up the newpaper setting it on the table near the door and nodded to the barista on the way out. As soon as he crossed the threshold though, he disappeared from the street reappearing in his com's node before jacking out.
"I need to go to this address." Nix says to Caliph, sending the address as an ARO looking like a sticky note.
MagPye - Thursday, April 12th - 10:38 - Caliph's Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
MagPye will look up from his data searches at where they are parked at.
Caliph this the address of the house which we have paid for. Sends Caliph the address of the safe house Virgina was able to arrange for them.
Looks around the parking lot.
What the south backside of a north bound mule is this Gadje playing. He may be able to live in such, but I would not let my dog or son of dog live in such conditions. His Van smells of moldy unclean underwear on a hot day.
He waits to see how soon Caliph pulls out of the parking lot.
MagPye will look up from his data searches at where they are parked at.
Caliph this the address of the house which we have paid for. Sends Caliph the address of the safe house Virgina was able to arrange for them.
Looks around the parking lot.
What the south backside of a north bound mule is this Gadje playing. He may be able to live in such, but I would not let my dog or son of dog live in such conditions. His Van smells of moldy unclean underwear on a hot day.
He waits to see how soon Caliph pulls out of the parking lot.
Dance's-On-Clouds home is located in West Valley
Eunoch, U Answer, is based in south Salt Lake, 15-20 minutes to the north
The residence provided by Virginia is listed as in Provo/Orem are, 25 minutes south.
Eunoch, U Answer, is based in south Salt Lake, 15-20 minutes to the north
The residence provided by Virginia is listed as in Provo/Orem are, 25 minutes south.
Caliph - Thursday, April12th - 1038 - TravelInn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo, The Van
"Oops! Shit. Thought we were still talkin' about hotel options. How many of yall are going to the safehouse, and who's going wherever else?"
Continue down the road to the safehouse.
"Oops! Shit. Thought we were still talkin' about hotel options. How many of yall are going to the safehouse, and who's going wherever else?"
Continue down the road to the safehouse.
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 1040 - Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo, The Van
MagPye will get a smile across his face.
Really when did the conversation of hotels take place, the only one, I recall was the house that Virgina arranged for us at a rate?
I will be going to the house to drop my things, and refresh myself. I believe that Nix wishes to go a place where he can get some summoning supplies.
Does anyone have a decker that we can use for more intensive data searches?
And it so how are the deckers rates for services?
<<<@Virgina [MagPye] Can you recommend a decker of very good skills? For now I just need a means to contact the decker and a cross check from your self. If need be I can tip part of our hand to gain such. I can try to handle the negotiations with the decker. My Thanks Lady.>>>>
MagPye looks at Nix.
We need to discuss the spending of the new yen on summoning supplies and other expenses.
MagPye will wait for the responses.
MagPye will get a smile across his face.
Really when did the conversation of hotels take place, the only one, I recall was the house that Virgina arranged for us at a rate?
I will be going to the house to drop my things, and refresh myself. I believe that Nix wishes to go a place where he can get some summoning supplies.
Does anyone have a decker that we can use for more intensive data searches?
And it so how are the deckers rates for services?
<<<@Virgina [MagPye] Can you recommend a decker of very good skills? For now I just need a means to contact the decker and a cross check from your self. If need be I can tip part of our hand to gain such. I can try to handle the negotiations with the decker. My Thanks Lady.>>>>
MagPye looks at Nix.
We need to discuss the spending of the new yen on summoning supplies and other expenses.
MagPye will wait for the responses.
Virginia's response comes quickly.
<<<<<Magpye[Virginia] Here's a Link to a drop box for a decker I use from time to time. He goes by "Hackman". He isn't local, but that may be more use to you than not. He is familiar with the PCC topography and system sculptures. He's not the greatest, but he's more than competent, and his rates are good. Tell him I sent you.>>>>>>
<<<<<Magpye[Virginia] Here's a Link to a drop box for a decker I use from time to time. He goes by "Hackman". He isn't local, but that may be more use to you than not. He is familiar with the PCC topography and system sculptures. He's not the greatest, but he's more than competent, and his rates are good. Tell him I sent you.>>>>>>
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 1042 - Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo, The Van
MagPye will look at the information Virgina has sent him.
<<< @Hackman's drop box [MagPye] I have need of one with such skills that you have, Virgina(link to her commlink) gave me your name. I await your contact to discuss the matter. MagPye.>>>>
Again a smile comes across his face.
MagPye will look at the information Virgina has sent him.
<<< @Hackman's drop box [MagPye] I have need of one with such skills that you have, Virgina(link to her commlink) gave me your name. I await your contact to discuss the matter. MagPye.>>>>
Again a smile comes across his face.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 10:42 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
Nix listens to the conversation and waits for an opportunity to reply. "There was conversation to the point that we didn't expect to need the safe house for an entire month and the fact that we may be traveling all over the PCC. I vote against a safe house and just use motels as required."
He tries to remain patient with his team mates as they work through the details before separating. "Since I plan on going straight to work, I would like to be taken straight to the library address. I will still be working while you all are showering and relaxing."
Thinking the conversation about expenses was done, "What do we need to discuss about the expenses? Do you have additional reservations about the current plan? Let me state the plans as I believe them to be: (1) We are paying for access to a sizable hermetic library. (2) I have summoning supplies to bind an air elemental. (3) We are going to purchase enough supplies for two more air elementals. (4) When that is complete, I will perform a ritual to try and locate the boy using all the spirits to aid me. If I have things calculated properly I will be done tomorrow afternoon. For better or worse. Aiden and Caliph are returning to the area around the house to search for clues. Thought I heard one of them say it would be for about a day. Not sure what you are doing in that time frame... What's up with the decker? What will they be searching for?"
Nix was used to having a plan and knowing as much in advance as possible. Hopefully Aiden would continue to be as successful as he had so far. Nix' luck summoning so far was not bolstering on doing anything other than looking real bad to the team.
Nix listens to the conversation and waits for an opportunity to reply. "There was conversation to the point that we didn't expect to need the safe house for an entire month and the fact that we may be traveling all over the PCC. I vote against a safe house and just use motels as required."
He tries to remain patient with his team mates as they work through the details before separating. "Since I plan on going straight to work, I would like to be taken straight to the library address. I will still be working while you all are showering and relaxing."
Thinking the conversation about expenses was done, "What do we need to discuss about the expenses? Do you have additional reservations about the current plan? Let me state the plans as I believe them to be: (1) We are paying for access to a sizable hermetic library. (2) I have summoning supplies to bind an air elemental. (3) We are going to purchase enough supplies for two more air elementals. (4) When that is complete, I will perform a ritual to try and locate the boy using all the spirits to aid me. If I have things calculated properly I will be done tomorrow afternoon. For better or worse. Aiden and Caliph are returning to the area around the house to search for clues. Thought I heard one of them say it would be for about a day. Not sure what you are doing in that time frame... What's up with the decker? What will they be searching for?"
Nix was used to having a plan and knowing as much in advance as possible. Hopefully Aiden would continue to be as successful as he had so far. Nix' luck summoning so far was not bolstering on doing anything other than looking real bad to the team.
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 10:42 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
MagPye will smile again.
But again we may not be traveling all over the PCC. I feel it is too early to determine that. Since this is not a democracy a vote is superficial.
I am going to work as we speak, so I am not showering and relaxing.
We had need of the services of a Decker to investigate certain areas we are not able to.
1. The reasons or reason, why Las Vegas does not appear to have a spike in child abductions.
2. To use the matrix to check out the actions and where abouts of the Ex wife.
3. To calculate the total number of abductions for the PCC, and calculate in to formats.
4. To locate any data trail the Mr. Two Feathers may have left.
I feel that Dances on Clouds did not scrimp, on ANYTHING when the magical trace or search for his son was conducted. His resources are vastly greater than ours at this time. More elementals of greater power were used then you are going to be able to use. And he still got nothing. This is not a isolated abduction, it is a systematic abduction of children across the region, that is still ongoing. Their defenses magical and mundane, have not slacked off in three weeks.
As for Caliph and Eyes going out and attempting to find or locate any trail signs, that opens up another issue. Dances on Clouds defenses were easily by passed. If those two are able to locate something, there is a strong chance that they may encounter some force or forces left behind to deal with such back trailers. I do not think that Caliph and his machine gun mounted Truck and a solo Talent will have much of a chance against such force or forces. I understand that they feel they can deal with anything, but that is the same attitude that Dances of Clouds had, look where it got him.
What am I going to be doing in the meantime, I will be doing several things.
1. Getting a feel for the area and Dances on Clouds, Mr. Two Feathers, and the local investigative team.
2. Getting any data or news on any abductions from any sources that may be available locally.
3. Networking with some sources that may have data or information on Blood Mages and their Spirits.
This is a negotiation we each seek different things, but in the end we each get something but not every thing we seek, that is the purpose of a compromise in a negotiation.
MagPye will again continue to smile.
MagPye will smile again.
But again we may not be traveling all over the PCC. I feel it is too early to determine that. Since this is not a democracy a vote is superficial.
I am going to work as we speak, so I am not showering and relaxing.
We had need of the services of a Decker to investigate certain areas we are not able to.
1. The reasons or reason, why Las Vegas does not appear to have a spike in child abductions.
2. To use the matrix to check out the actions and where abouts of the Ex wife.
3. To calculate the total number of abductions for the PCC, and calculate in to formats.
4. To locate any data trail the Mr. Two Feathers may have left.
I feel that Dances on Clouds did not scrimp, on ANYTHING when the magical trace or search for his son was conducted. His resources are vastly greater than ours at this time. More elementals of greater power were used then you are going to be able to use. And he still got nothing. This is not a isolated abduction, it is a systematic abduction of children across the region, that is still ongoing. Their defenses magical and mundane, have not slacked off in three weeks.
As for Caliph and Eyes going out and attempting to find or locate any trail signs, that opens up another issue. Dances on Clouds defenses were easily by passed. If those two are able to locate something, there is a strong chance that they may encounter some force or forces left behind to deal with such back trailers. I do not think that Caliph and his machine gun mounted Truck and a solo Talent will have much of a chance against such force or forces. I understand that they feel they can deal with anything, but that is the same attitude that Dances of Clouds had, look where it got him.
What am I going to be doing in the meantime, I will be doing several things.
1. Getting a feel for the area and Dances on Clouds, Mr. Two Feathers, and the local investigative team.
2. Getting any data or news on any abductions from any sources that may be available locally.
3. Networking with some sources that may have data or information on Blood Mages and their Spirits.
This is a negotiation we each seek different things, but in the end we each get something but not every thing we seek, that is the purpose of a compromise in a negotiation.
[ Spoiler ]
MagPye will again continue to smile.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 10:44 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
Magpye had a way of manipulating people. Nix'd worked with the man quite a while and seen him get under their skin and into their minds. Talk and move just right, the inflection in his voice, the right words and at just the right time. "Hogwash. Don't try to play me."
Nix remained calm. He knew his teammate meant well. He said those things he believed to be true. He'd never win a polite conversation with Magpye, that was what he did... "Listen I could believe that those are frelling marsh mellows floating across the sky. That don't make it so... You have no idea what Clouds did or didn't do... and just 'cause you can sweet talk the Johnsons out of their 'yen don't make your decisions law here... so this is more of a democracy than you'd like." His voice raised a little and the sarcasm was unmistakable.
"This is what I do. I am very proficient at ritual magic. Clouds may only dabble in it and that is what I think. We have the resources to accomplish each of the goals we desire. I suggest we do just that." He leaned back in the seat, looking at the others for commentary.
Magpye had a way of manipulating people. Nix'd worked with the man quite a while and seen him get under their skin and into their minds. Talk and move just right, the inflection in his voice, the right words and at just the right time. "Hogwash. Don't try to play me."
Nix remained calm. He knew his teammate meant well. He said those things he believed to be true. He'd never win a polite conversation with Magpye, that was what he did... "Listen I could believe that those are frelling marsh mellows floating across the sky. That don't make it so... You have no idea what Clouds did or didn't do... and just 'cause you can sweet talk the Johnsons out of their 'yen don't make your decisions law here... so this is more of a democracy than you'd like." His voice raised a little and the sarcasm was unmistakable.
"This is what I do. I am very proficient at ritual magic. Clouds may only dabble in it and that is what I think. We have the resources to accomplish each of the goals we desire. I suggest we do just that." He leaned back in the seat, looking at the others for commentary.
[ Spoiler ]
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 10:45 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
<<< @ Virgina [MagPye] Virgina, a question while we were there did not get asked, I am hoping you can provide the answer without intruding upon Mr. Dances On Clouds. Who performed the ritual casting to locate Mr. Dances On Clouds son? How proficient are they? How many resources or spirits or elementals did they combine in the ritual and if so what intensity or force were the additional spirits or elementals? What intensity was the lodge where the ritual was conducted? My thanks My Lady.>>>
<<< @ Virgina [MagPye] Virgina, a question while we were there did not get asked, I am hoping you can provide the answer without intruding upon Mr. Dances On Clouds. Who performed the ritual casting to locate Mr. Dances On Clouds son? How proficient are they? How many resources or spirits or elementals did they combine in the ritual and if so what intensity or force were the additional spirits or elementals? What intensity was the lodge where the ritual was conducted? My thanks My Lady.>>>
<<<<Magpye[Virginia] Will have to get back to you on that. Do not have information. Will contact you soon.>>>>
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 10:47 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
I have sent a message to Virgina asking about how skilled and how great the resources that were used to attempt to locate his son. She is getting back to me, she does not have that information, but I feel she will get it to me. That will tell us if the attempt by Nix, has any chance of location Dances On Clouds son. That information we did not ask at the time we had Mr. Dances on Clouds present.
Does anyone have any ideas on the rates Decker charge?
Until we get a more detailed picture of what we will be trying to go up against, we need a place to stay, that one does not share with vermin.
I have sent a message to Virgina asking about how skilled and how great the resources that were used to attempt to locate his son. She is getting back to me, she does not have that information, but I feel she will get it to me. That will tell us if the attempt by Nix, has any chance of location Dances On Clouds son. That information we did not ask at the time we had Mr. Dances on Clouds present.
Does anyone have any ideas on the rates Decker charge?
Until we get a more detailed picture of what we will be trying to go up against, we need a place to stay, that one does not share with vermin.
Caliph - Thursday, April12th - 10:47 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
Caliph's commlink beeps at an incoming message.
<<<<Caliph[Raul] Got what you need with a little added bonus cabrone. Chica goes by Sparrow has her crew landing in two days, out near the salt falts. Will be staying for about a week. Here's her comm number. She's smuggling in porn sims for all the bad little mormons. There's you're added bonus. She might be happy to get some honest crime done.>>>>
Caliph's commlink beeps at an incoming message.
<<<<Caliph[Raul] Got what you need with a little added bonus cabrone. Chica goes by Sparrow has her crew landing in two days, out near the salt falts. Will be staying for about a week. Here's her comm number. She's smuggling in porn sims for all the bad little mormons. There's you're added bonus. She might be happy to get some honest crime done.>>>>
Caliph - Thursday, April12th - 10:47 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
Listening to the conversation in the back as I idle in the hotel parking lot. Nix and Magpye arguing about something or another; rituals, etc. Throwing in opinions about all sorts of crap.
After a while, I get fed up with it. "Listen, you two may argue for a living, but I have things to do while you sit around jaw-jacking. Dr. Moustache, if you don't like the accommodations, call yourself a cab. Handle your decker stuff or whatever. Nix, you handle your ritual stuff. Eyes is zonked out, but he'll be traveling overwatch on me. Yall got one minute to figure out where you are staying, what you're doing, and whether or not you want to request a ride from me. Otherwise, I'm driving out to where I need to go and locking yall in the van."
Listening to the conversation in the back as I idle in the hotel parking lot. Nix and Magpye arguing about something or another; rituals, etc. Throwing in opinions about all sorts of crap.
After a while, I get fed up with it. "Listen, you two may argue for a living, but I have things to do while you sit around jaw-jacking. Dr. Moustache, if you don't like the accommodations, call yourself a cab. Handle your decker stuff or whatever. Nix, you handle your ritual stuff. Eyes is zonked out, but he'll be traveling overwatch on me. Yall got one minute to figure out where you are staying, what you're doing, and whether or not you want to request a ride from me. Otherwise, I'm driving out to where I need to go and locking yall in the van."
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 10:47:45 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
MagPye will groom his mustache while Caliph says his peace.
I request that you take me to the safe house provided and paid for by us. My thanks for your patience.
MagPye will turn and smile at Nix. OK you trumped up little toad, did you really think that raising your voice and using emotion would rattle one of my skills. Ah the Gadje have fallen so far, since the beginning.
Does anyone know if some magical alignment or astrological event is in the near future?
MagPye will groom his mustache while Caliph says his peace.
I request that you take me to the safe house provided and paid for by us. My thanks for your patience.
MagPye will turn and smile at Nix. OK you trumped up little toad, did you really think that raising your voice and using emotion would rattle one of my skills. Ah the Gadje have fallen so far, since the beginning.
Does anyone know if some magical alignment or astrological event is in the near future?
Caliph - Thursday, April12th - 10:48 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
"Like I just said, smartass, request denied. I don't have time to ferry everyone around, and you wanna go in the opposite direction. If this place don't fit your sense of style, call a cab. I'm gonna drop Nix off to get his ritual stuff, and he can get a ride back from there. Otherwise, work from the car.
Give Magpye about 15 seconds to make a decision, and then pull out of the driveway and go back on the road, heading to drop Nix off at his shop and then go down to Dances-On-Clouds neighborhood to do my search.
"Like I just said, smartass, request denied. I don't have time to ferry everyone around, and you wanna go in the opposite direction. If this place don't fit your sense of style, call a cab. I'm gonna drop Nix off to get his ritual stuff, and he can get a ride back from there. Otherwise, work from the car.
Give Magpye about 15 seconds to make a decision, and then pull out of the driveway and go back on the road, heading to drop Nix off at his shop and then go down to Dances-On-Clouds neighborhood to do my search.
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 10:48 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
MagPye will smile and get out of the van, along with his bags.May your shower in a can turn even more rancid than your appearance.
He will then use his commlink to signal a cab to his location. He will walk over to the office and wait there, he will open his jacket.
MagPye will smile and get out of the van, along with his bags.May your shower in a can turn even more rancid than your appearance.
He will then use his commlink to signal a cab to his location. He will walk over to the office and wait there, he will open his jacket.
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 10:48 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
His jacket is open. The autocab pulls up within ten minutes, which is good since the natives have taken to giving him some dirty looks.
The door to the autocab opens, and a voice from the front speaks out with a New York accent Where to mac?
His jacket is open. The autocab pulls up within ten minutes, which is good since the natives have taken to giving him some dirty looks.
The door to the autocab opens, and a voice from the front speaks out with a New York accent Where to mac?
[b]Caliph - Thursday, April12th - 10:48 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo[b]
Start the vehicle again, and pull out on the road to drop Nix off. "Gents, I can't stand arguing about this sort of stuff. If you know what you need to do, do it and stay out of what the other folks need to do." Turn the radio to some nice bollywood jams, like mama used to play, to cover the awkwardness that inevitably follows throwing someone out.
Start the vehicle again, and pull out on the road to drop Nix off. "Gents, I can't stand arguing about this sort of stuff. If you know what you need to do, do it and stay out of what the other folks need to do." Turn the radio to some nice bollywood jams, like mama used to play, to cover the awkwardness that inevitably follows throwing someone out.
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 10:48 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
As the situation escalates out of control, Nix considers for the briefest moment getting the specifics on blood magic from Aiden and performing some himself... No, no... I'm one of the good guys... he thinks with a sigh.
As Magpye exits the van, Nix imagines his thoughts. Unhappy thought at not getting his way, despite the calm cool exterior and smiles. I could stun-bolt him and put him in back in the van... Nah.. Let him go cool off. We'll catch up later.
As the van pulls away, Nix sits back in the seat. These things took more energy out of him than a stand up fight and left him aggravated. The situation is complex and the funds are going fast. Looking to Caliph, ..and next time I bring my bike.
He nods as Caliph. "As in any gamble, we live with the consequences whether we win big or lose the farm..." He selects music of his own and sits back for the rest of the ride.
As the situation escalates out of control, Nix considers for the briefest moment getting the specifics on blood magic from Aiden and performing some himself... No, no... I'm one of the good guys... he thinks with a sigh.
As Magpye exits the van, Nix imagines his thoughts. Unhappy thought at not getting his way, despite the calm cool exterior and smiles. I could stun-bolt him and put him in back in the van... Nah.. Let him go cool off. We'll catch up later.
As the van pulls away, Nix sits back in the seat. These things took more energy out of him than a stand up fight and left him aggravated. The situation is complex and the funds are going fast. Looking to Caliph, ..and next time I bring my bike.
He nods as Caliph. "As in any gamble, we live with the consequences whether we win big or lose the farm..." He selects music of his own and sits back for the rest of the ride.
MagPye - Thursday, April12th - 10:48 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown ProvoMagPye will smile.
I would like to go to this address, please. Sends him the address via AR or will give them verbally to him.
He will see if the passenger door is open, if so he will enter. If not he will await to see how long before the door is unlocked.
I would like to go to this address, please. Sends him the address via AR or will give them verbally to him.
He will see if the passenger door is open, if so he will enter. If not he will await to see how long before the door is unlocked.
As Aiden took his seat, his last message off and away into the ether towards Caliph, he nods to Charon, and the voyage down the River Styx commences. The flat, smoky colors and washed out visuals slowly give way to acidic coloring schemes and shadowed corners, sometimes occupied by another persona or a black shadowed ghost IC. The river wound slowly around in on itself, the nine passes around Hades and the center of the library before letting off on a creaky bone planked dock with its own skeletal guardians. The IC lay heavy in this place, the dark underside of Magik Net, where the forbidden lore and topics of interest are kept. And Aiden was searching for one of the worst of them, the practice of blood magic.
The section devoted to blood magic is thick with musty tomes and dripping chalices, icons denoting old, dark, and dangerous lore. If they really were headed up against a cabal of blood mages, they were going to need every scrap of information they could get they're hands on.
Despite the apparent clutter and ruin of the section, the search was quite quick although not as fulfilling as he hoped. Many of the things he had already read on Blood Magic he found reiterated, but he did get a couple of nice insights onto the specific practices and metamagics they practiced. The descriptions of each and every one of them was gruesome and gut wrenching and yet Aiden continued to devour the knowledge. Owl would not let his personal feelings on the matter detract him from learning something new. Downloading each of the files he found into the quick storage on his link, Aiden quickly made his way back to Charon and the boat, preferring to get out of the UnderNet quickly though smartly, knowing enough that it would be severely impolite for him to simply log out while sitting in the node, to let his persona fade away without walking out. So he took the boat back and slid back up the rabbit hole and logged as soon as he exitted the node, sitting right back up in his meat body, cracking his neck and stretching his arms.
Looking around the van, feeling the anger and heavy tension in the air, Aiden lets out a low sigh as he stretches. "So, what'd I miss? And...where is MagPye? Went to get a soyburrito or something? Cause if he did, I hope he brings an extra, I am starved." Aiden slides back into his seat, yawning lightly as he laces his fingers behind his head.
The section devoted to blood magic is thick with musty tomes and dripping chalices, icons denoting old, dark, and dangerous lore. If they really were headed up against a cabal of blood mages, they were going to need every scrap of information they could get they're hands on.
Despite the apparent clutter and ruin of the section, the search was quite quick although not as fulfilling as he hoped. Many of the things he had already read on Blood Magic he found reiterated, but he did get a couple of nice insights onto the specific practices and metamagics they practiced. The descriptions of each and every one of them was gruesome and gut wrenching and yet Aiden continued to devour the knowledge. Owl would not let his personal feelings on the matter detract him from learning something new. Downloading each of the files he found into the quick storage on his link, Aiden quickly made his way back to Charon and the boat, preferring to get out of the UnderNet quickly though smartly, knowing enough that it would be severely impolite for him to simply log out while sitting in the node, to let his persona fade away without walking out. So he took the boat back and slid back up the rabbit hole and logged as soon as he exitted the node, sitting right back up in his meat body, cracking his neck and stretching his arms.
Looking around the van, feeling the anger and heavy tension in the air, Aiden lets out a low sigh as he stretches. "So, what'd I miss? And...where is MagPye? Went to get a soyburrito or something? Cause if he did, I hope he brings an extra, I am starved." Aiden slides back into his seat, yawning lightly as he laces his fingers behind his head.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 10:50 - The Van, Travel Inn Parking Lot, Downtown Provo
"You missed a disagreement about strategies and use of the expense fund. Magpye is not convinced of our need for elemental support, nor of the decision to attempt ritual sorcery. He then decided to insult Calphi's fine vehicle, so he's walking. "
He paused for moment, not happy about the angst on their team. Magpye was the newest member of the team, but he filled a definite void. "He had made some good points, but not in the way he thought. Aiden, I would like to have you on have when I perform the ritual tomorrow in case the defenders decide to trace back the ritual instead of simply attacking the spell on the other end..."
"You missed a disagreement about strategies and use of the expense fund. Magpye is not convinced of our need for elemental support, nor of the decision to attempt ritual sorcery. He then decided to insult Calphi's fine vehicle, so he's walking. "
He paused for moment, not happy about the angst on their team. Magpye was the newest member of the team, but he filled a definite void. "He had made some good points, but not in the way he thought. Aiden, I would like to have you on have when I perform the ritual tomorrow in case the defenders decide to trace back the ritual instead of simply attacking the spell on the other end..."
Aiden nodded in apporval of Nix's need for some backup on the ritual casting. "Yeah sure, no problem man. I'll be there to watch your back, and give you some support if you need it. Today I am out there with Caliph while you deal with the bindings, and then tomorrow we can do this ritual thing. Then after that I have an appointment with the metaplanes, I have a feeling I can find something of some use out there." A smile spreads across his face as he mentions the metaplanes, a longing-ness in his eyes for the realm of the spirits.
"Oh, I also found some more info on the 'trix on blood magic and rituals, here is a copy if you want to browse it as well"{@Team[Blood Magic Research.attachment]}
"Well, we can't let the loss of MagPye disrupt our job. So, we are dropping you off at the talismonger's place right? And then back to Johnsons? Sounds good by me. If you don't mind though, I am going to take a light nap on the way there, the late night and flight and meetings are wearing on me a tad and I want to be on par for the searching today."
"Oh, I also found some more info on the 'trix on blood magic and rituals, here is a copy if you want to browse it as well"{@Team[Blood Magic Research.attachment]}
"Well, we can't let the loss of MagPye disrupt our job. So, we are dropping you off at the talismonger's place right? And then back to Johnsons? Sounds good by me. If you don't mind though, I am going to take a light nap on the way there, the late night and flight and meetings are wearing on me a tad and I want to be on par for the searching today."
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 10:52 - On the road
Drive down by the place Nix was looking for, a ways down the road. Register the scenery and the area; if the kidnappers are local and magic nuts they may catch rumors of out of towners hanging out at the local - yuk yuk yuk - haunts...
But aside from the fit-for-the-lobotomized pun, I plan to sit outside this thing while Nix gets his business arranged and wait for the green light. Need to know where he's going and link up times, so we can get together after we've learned what we need to from our independent missions...
Drive down by the place Nix was looking for, a ways down the road. Register the scenery and the area; if the kidnappers are local and magic nuts they may catch rumors of out of towners hanging out at the local - yuk yuk yuk - haunts...
But aside from the fit-for-the-lobotomized pun, I plan to sit outside this thing while Nix gets his business arranged and wait for the green light. Need to know where he's going and link up times, so we can get together after we've learned what we need to from our independent missions...
Eunoch, U Answer, is a respectable little store front. The building looks like it was once the local State Liquor Store. They were the only places that had bars on the windows in Salt Lake City along side a decent security system.
The unsettling part is the looks on everyone's faces in Salt Lake proper. They all look... happy. And a bit curious about your small group and big van. Curiosity isn't good.
The unsettling part is the looks on everyone's faces in Salt Lake proper. They all look... happy. And a bit curious about your small group and big van. Curiosity isn't good.
Caliph - Thursday, April12th - 10:48 - Eunoch, U Answer
Pull up across the street from the magic shop and let Nix out, then drive down the street a little ways so I can get an eye on the place. As Nix gets out, I say "Yo, give me a heads-up as to how long you're gonna be in there, and where you're headed off to afterwards; once you figger that out. I'll give you a call when I'm on station and leave the SATCOM on the van running to repeat to me in case you got an oh-shit situation; but aside from that I'll be mostly running near-blackout comms."
Wait around in my spot up the street - fake like I'm trying to fix a jammed up winch cable and take an opportunity to top off my thermos with a little more coffee and moonshine.
Pull up across the street from the magic shop and let Nix out, then drive down the street a little ways so I can get an eye on the place. As Nix gets out, I say "Yo, give me a heads-up as to how long you're gonna be in there, and where you're headed off to afterwards; once you figger that out. I'll give you a call when I'm on station and leave the SATCOM on the van running to repeat to me in case you got an oh-shit situation; but aside from that I'll be mostly running near-blackout comms."
Wait around in my spot up the street - fake like I'm trying to fix a jammed up winch cable and take an opportunity to top off my thermos with a little more coffee and moonshine.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 10:49 - Eunoch, U Answer
Before getting out Nix replies to Caliph, "Will do." Nix looks down at his clothes. The semi-tribal look he established with his fashion spell earlier should still be valid for this next interaction. With his mixed heritage and hermetic tradition, full-tribal might be viewed as a poser and no tribal would definitely tag him as an outsider.
Satisfied with his look, he proceeds in. My Ute is pretty rusty.. Been too many years since I was in the nations....
Before getting out Nix replies to Caliph, "Will do." Nix looks down at his clothes. The semi-tribal look he established with his fashion spell earlier should still be valid for this next interaction. With his mixed heritage and hermetic tradition, full-tribal might be viewed as a poser and no tribal would definitely tag him as an outsider.
Satisfied with his look, he proceeds in. My Ute is pretty rusty.. Been too many years since I was in the nations....
Walking in, Nix can't help but be a bit suprised by the small shop's setup. Certainly not something one would expect intribal lands. The small shop has that "new book smell" to it. The carpet is a thin tan color, the shelves a deep blue. All around are christian religious icons, pitcures of LDS leaders and catholic saints. Between the icons are hermetic texts and paraphenelia. Paints, chalks, even chisels for ritual cirles fill one glass case. In another all manner of astrological charts are rolled in scroll cases, with an AR viewing option. Everything here cost a tree it's life apparently.
From behind the counter, a human woman in her early thirties neams as Nix enters. Her dark hair is tied back in a loose tail, highlighting her white on white robes. She has an eager smile suggesting that it's bee na very slow day.
[b]Good[/b[ morning Patron! How may I help you the blessed morning!?
From behind the counter, a human woman in her early thirties neams as Nix enters. Her dark hair is tied back in a loose tail, highlighting her white on white robes. She has an eager smile suggesting that it's bee na very slow day.
[b]Good[/b[ morning Patron! How may I help you the blessed morning!?
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 10:50 - Eunoch, U Answer
Seeing the sickening sweetness oozing from what was either a zealot or a used-car saleswoman in a former-life, Nix put on his best casual smile and tried to play the part... fearing the pain that was coming.
"Wonderful day sister. Simply wonderful." He glances at the racks as he continues towards the counter, envious of the paper supplies. "I have a small list of items I am shopping for." In AR he assembles a list and then broadcasts to her, "Would you have the things on this list?" When he reaches the counter he adds, "I'm assuming Virginia contacted you about my pending arrival?"
OOC: Supplies for binding two F3 Air Elementals and a circle. I am specifying a circle rated at F6 or above.
Seeing the sickening sweetness oozing from what was either a zealot or a used-car saleswoman in a former-life, Nix put on his best casual smile and tried to play the part... fearing the pain that was coming.
"Wonderful day sister. Simply wonderful." He glances at the racks as he continues towards the counter, envious of the paper supplies. "I have a small list of items I am shopping for." In AR he assembles a list and then broadcasts to her, "Would you have the things on this list?" When he reaches the counter he adds, "I'm assuming Virginia contacted you about my pending arrival?"
OOC: Supplies for binding two F3 Air Elementals and a circle. I am specifying a circle rated at F6 or above.
Of course. I have a number of incenses available for your use, and the required diagrams prepared. I must say, I expected someone much ruder. Virginia usually sends very ... stuffy .. people to me. The circle is ready below when you are. It's prepared at a 7 on the Kano scale, so it should suit your needs.
She indicates a door near the counter, ostensibly leading down to the basement.
She indicates a door near the counter, ostensibly leading down to the basement.
Nix allows a small smile to escape his lips. He liked to be unexpected and definitely drew no small measure of satisfaction that Virginia would probably more than a little perplexed when the tale of this meeting is told.
He couldn't resist a little jab though, "Seven? Excellent. Yes.... and let me say you are also much more pleasant than I expected as well. Virginia seemed so... out of sorts. You on the other hand are so relaxed and organized..."
After passing her, he allows his smile to momentarily widen before beginning to focus on the next task.
<<@All [Nix] I'm about to go on coms black out during my work. I will check coms between each ceremony. Here's hoping there's a cot down here.>>
He couldn't resist a little jab though, "Seven? Excellent. Yes.... and let me say you are also much more pleasant than I expected as well. Virginia seemed so... out of sorts. You on the other hand are so relaxed and organized..."
After passing her, he allows his smile to momentarily widen before beginning to focus on the next task.
<<@All [Nix] I'm about to go on coms black out during my work. I will check coms between each ceremony. Here's hoping there's a cot down here.>>
The stairs descend a good twelve feet into the ocncrete basement. The ritual circle is indeed well prepared below. The basement is all bare concrete, with the ritual circle dominating the center. The circle is painted in with white paints, using silvers and golds as highlights. Astrological charts and religious symbols adorn the otherwise bare walls, giving it the look of a teenage warlock's room. The symbols here however are more than Christian. A number of anhks are present as well, as well as a number of less immediately less recognizable Egyptian symbols of power.
There are a number of materials in prepared containers, as well as extra paints and chalks of numerous colors. Hermetic texts fill a book shelf on one side of the room, with a few more esotric volumes filling a second. Finishing off the room nicely is a small but comfortable looking cot.
There are a number of materials in prepared containers, as well as extra paints and chalks of numerous colors. Hermetic texts fill a book shelf on one side of the room, with a few more esotric volumes filling a second. Finishing off the room nicely is a small but comfortable looking cot.
Get the message from Nix, saying that he's getting to work. Good enough. I decide that all is well with my car, get back in, and start driving out of town... continue the same direction I was going before I hang off a detour and meander backwards. Might as well give the spectators what they expect, rather than something suspicious like popping a U-turn in a parking lot.
I brief Eyes up a little on my plan as I drive back towards the client's house. "Aight, I'm gonna park the van in a sheltered spot and get out and footpad it around Dances-On-Clouds housing area. I'll be moving pretty slow, since I'm not trying to advertise. I'm looking for easily concealed hide spots, places where they could have walked the child out of there on the ground. While I'm doing that, can you do a more thorough astral sweep of the far area and recommend any spots for physical inspection? I'm not sure if there's anything more elegant you can do than the same kind of thing you did in the kid's room, but that's your bailiwick. In my case, if the far search doesn't reveal anything then during the night I'll take a walk through the residence area.
You know where the food and stuff is in this thing, make yourself comfortable. Satellite link uses this passcode, if you need to get in touch with me, otherwise I'm on comms blackout except for burst transmissions to and from the security system."
I brief Eyes up a little on my plan as I drive back towards the client's house. "Aight, I'm gonna park the van in a sheltered spot and get out and footpad it around Dances-On-Clouds housing area. I'll be moving pretty slow, since I'm not trying to advertise. I'm looking for easily concealed hide spots, places where they could have walked the child out of there on the ground. While I'm doing that, can you do a more thorough astral sweep of the far area and recommend any spots for physical inspection? I'm not sure if there's anything more elegant you can do than the same kind of thing you did in the kid's room, but that's your bailiwick. In my case, if the far search doesn't reveal anything then during the night I'll take a walk through the residence area.
You know where the food and stuff is in this thing, make yourself comfortable. Satellite link uses this passcode, if you need to get in touch with me, otherwise I'm on comms blackout except for burst transmissions to and from the security system."
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 11:00 - Eunoch, U Answer
The supplies secured, the circle checked and adjusted, Nix summons a small elemental and begins the binding ritual.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 14:05 - Eunoch, U Answer
The first spirit bound Nix sits back happy with the relative ease, but not happy with the low number of services. After a few minutes rest he quickly sets about the second summoning.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 17:50 - Eunoch, U Answer
The second binding complete, he once again sets to the task of binding the elemental. In the end, his success equals his first attempt. When he is completed this time however, he decides to take a short break.
He heads out of the little shop and down the street to a stuffer-shack. Amazing how every stuffer-shack in the world looks like every other. He shakes his head as he heads to the freezer. The clerk is chatting up some girl about half his age. Grabbing a few sandwiches and a power-drink, he pays and heads back to the shop.
Once he has eaten and rested a little, he begins with the third elemental.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 22:00 - Eunoch, U Answer
Feisty little breeder... As Nix felt the final elemental slipping from his grasp, he poured everything of himself into the last of the ritual. Something happened that gained the respect of the elemental and secured a number of services.
Tired from the long day and the final, grueling, failed attempt, Nix drags himself over to the cot. He decides to update the team before allowing sleep to overtake him.
<<@All [Nix] The binding is complete, but I am exhausted. Tomorrow morning we can work the ritual.>>
The supplies secured, the circle checked and adjusted, Nix summons a small elemental and begins the binding ritual.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 14:05 - Eunoch, U Answer
The first spirit bound Nix sits back happy with the relative ease, but not happy with the low number of services. After a few minutes rest he quickly sets about the second summoning.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 17:50 - Eunoch, U Answer
The second binding complete, he once again sets to the task of binding the elemental. In the end, his success equals his first attempt. When he is completed this time however, he decides to take a short break.
He heads out of the little shop and down the street to a stuffer-shack. Amazing how every stuffer-shack in the world looks like every other. He shakes his head as he heads to the freezer. The clerk is chatting up some girl about half his age. Grabbing a few sandwiches and a power-drink, he pays and heads back to the shop.
Once he has eaten and rested a little, he begins with the third elemental.
Nix - Thursday, April12th - 22:00 - Eunoch, U Answer
Feisty little breeder... As Nix felt the final elemental slipping from his grasp, he poured everything of himself into the last of the ritual. Something happened that gained the respect of the elemental and secured a number of services.
Tired from the long day and the final, grueling, failed attempt, Nix drags himself over to the cot. He decides to update the team before allowing sleep to overtake him.
<<@All [Nix] The binding is complete, but I am exhausted. Tomorrow morning we can work the ritual.>>
Aiden listens carefully to Caliph's plans, noting the well, as well as the satellite's commcode. When Caliph parks and starts his search, Aiden drops back into a comfortable position, following him out in the astral, manifesting for a moment to let the man know that he is around. With that done, he begins his sweep of the area, searching for areas of astral disturbance, high concentrations of violent or fearful emotion. Even though his spirit moves thousands of times faster than his meat ever could, this process is still taking him quite a bit of time and he returns to his body ever 3-4 hours for a break before heading out again.
[ Spoiler ]
Pull the van off the road about 5 miles from the Johnson's housing area and take a service road for about two miles. Pull off in a little hollow and idle the car while I check the terrain around it, then back around a bit towards a tree and throw up my camo tarp off the side. To the idle observer driving by, who bothers to notice it, it'll look like a hunter's RV tucked into a shady spot, with a little camo awning built next to it for a barbecue or something. From the air or anyone driving at speed, they'll never see it.
When I'm done with that, I take my 2-day pack and tuck the AK-97 with the sound suppressor attached into it. Change into my chameleon suit in the back of the van, but color it to look like a comfy 1-piece tan flight suit during the day. Put the gloves and the face mask in the cargo pocket.
Say cheers to eyes, and start trudging away. Go for the high ground first, making like a hiker walking through the hills. Not a chance in hell there ain't hikers around here. Start walking just below the crest line so I'm not skylined, and start looking for spots where I can see Johnson's house specifically. Whenever I find a nice spot, zoom in and check to see how many windows I can see, how much of the yard and stuff. It's a couple miles away, but with the high ground and the zoom on my cybereyes it's easy to get a view. On the spots where I have a good view of the Johnson's house, I look downhill and start marking how many concealed avenues of approach they have to the house, and potential for closer hide spots to investigate. Recon them later when it starts getting dark.
About every two hours I take a break, take my boots off, take a swig from my thermos, think about smoking a cigarette and nix the idea. Quick burst transmission to the van, updating my general area and requesting a summary from the security system of activity around it. Eat a snack (usually just chomping down some of the local foliage), relax my toes for a couple minutes, then get back to it.
The circuit around the housing area is about 13 miles, in this kind of terrain and with the intermittent breaks it takes me about 8 hours, just when it's beginning to get properly dark. When it begins to get dark, I plan to start the closer circuit. I've been running the olfactory scanner the whole time and dumping the data into the cyberarm to begin establishing a baseline. Every time I notice some feces, spoor, or new plants I get a sample of them. Same thing with the RF scanner - it's sniffing like a madman and dumping a picture of the freq spectrum into my arm constantly. Especially looking for things that are burst transmitting, like me. Might be able to find something anomalous when we get closer - hopefully something more than the neighborhood kids' drinking spots, that is.
When I'm done with that, I take my 2-day pack and tuck the AK-97 with the sound suppressor attached into it. Change into my chameleon suit in the back of the van, but color it to look like a comfy 1-piece tan flight suit during the day. Put the gloves and the face mask in the cargo pocket.
Say cheers to eyes, and start trudging away. Go for the high ground first, making like a hiker walking through the hills. Not a chance in hell there ain't hikers around here. Start walking just below the crest line so I'm not skylined, and start looking for spots where I can see Johnson's house specifically. Whenever I find a nice spot, zoom in and check to see how many windows I can see, how much of the yard and stuff. It's a couple miles away, but with the high ground and the zoom on my cybereyes it's easy to get a view. On the spots where I have a good view of the Johnson's house, I look downhill and start marking how many concealed avenues of approach they have to the house, and potential for closer hide spots to investigate. Recon them later when it starts getting dark.
About every two hours I take a break, take my boots off, take a swig from my thermos, think about smoking a cigarette and nix the idea. Quick burst transmission to the van, updating my general area and requesting a summary from the security system of activity around it. Eat a snack (usually just chomping down some of the local foliage), relax my toes for a couple minutes, then get back to it.
The circuit around the housing area is about 13 miles, in this kind of terrain and with the intermittent breaks it takes me about 8 hours, just when it's beginning to get properly dark. When it begins to get dark, I plan to start the closer circuit. I've been running the olfactory scanner the whole time and dumping the data into the cyberarm to begin establishing a baseline. Every time I notice some feces, spoor, or new plants I get a sample of them. Same thing with the RF scanner - it's sniffing like a madman and dumping a picture of the freq spectrum into my arm constantly. Especially looking for things that are burst transmitting, like me. Might be able to find something anomalous when we get closer - hopefully something more than the neighborhood kids' drinking spots, that is.
[ Spoiler ]
The Johnson's house faces to the south, which is the only direction to get enough elevation to be able to see the house it's self. There are 5 windows that are visible. The son's room was on the east side, and therefore not within you LOS from there.
By now you have quite a bit of raw data from sensor systems to go through, but nothing that particularily stands out. The only transmissions that are out of the norm with the suburban setting could well be attributed to Eagle security, as it's a heavily encrypted line. No burst transmitions are picked up.
By now you have quite a bit of raw data from sensor systems to go through, but nothing that particularily stands out. The only transmissions that are out of the norm with the suburban setting could well be attributed to Eagle security, as it's a heavily encrypted line. No burst transmitions are picked up.
[ Spoiler ]
When the sun drops below the horizon, during the half hour of twilight, I decide to take my dinner break. Sneak off the trail about a hundred meters and sit down for a spell. Dinner is actually a foul tasting ration bar and a generous portion from my backpack filter/bladder (which, of course, has a capful of whiskey in it, for flavor and to keep the bacteria out.). Burn the stickers off a couple prickly-pear cactus fruits and chomp them down for dessert (mostly to get the taste of that damn ration bar out of my mouth) - plus they'll prevent the rations from corking me up for a week. I'm fiending for a cigarette right now, but after all those precautions it would be dumb. Empty the water bladder and stick a wad of dip in, and pull a spit bottle out of my pocket.
Spend the idle time planning the quickest route through the various close avenues that I want to investigate. Gonna run each one both forward and back, alternating lowlight and thermo to get a good line on each. Same standard - dumping the olfactory and scanner data from each approach into it's own little file on the commlink. Pull the gloves and the hood from out of my bag and fire up the chameleon suit as I get closer.
I take the individual approaches slow, the way I would if I were intent on actually creeping into the complex myself. Most of them I'm expecting to find drinking and make-out spots, but even that might be useful. Olfactory scan the feces around there; do a quick once-over on all the trees people would probably piss on. Check the bottles, that kind of stuff.
I plan to get as close to the complex on each little jaunt as I can, but a complex like this probably at least has some bear alarms around. They probably won't be far enough out that it'll get in the way of me finding what I need to. Highest priority for the avenues to investigate are the ones near other services - the trunk power line leading to the neighborhood, drainage culverts, anything else where someone might be able to hack the neighborhood infrastructure network. Hit the olfcatory scanner hard over there, trying to get a baseline for the scents of fuel and lubricants that I might be able to use to tell maintenance vehicles from drones. If they staked this house out, it'll be on one of these, and somewhere on that route there will be something. Cigarette butt, drone oil spill, candy wrapper, paracritter shit; something.
Inshallah.
Spend the idle time planning the quickest route through the various close avenues that I want to investigate. Gonna run each one both forward and back, alternating lowlight and thermo to get a good line on each. Same standard - dumping the olfactory and scanner data from each approach into it's own little file on the commlink. Pull the gloves and the hood from out of my bag and fire up the chameleon suit as I get closer.
I take the individual approaches slow, the way I would if I were intent on actually creeping into the complex myself. Most of them I'm expecting to find drinking and make-out spots, but even that might be useful. Olfactory scan the feces around there; do a quick once-over on all the trees people would probably piss on. Check the bottles, that kind of stuff.
I plan to get as close to the complex on each little jaunt as I can, but a complex like this probably at least has some bear alarms around. They probably won't be far enough out that it'll get in the way of me finding what I need to. Highest priority for the avenues to investigate are the ones near other services - the trunk power line leading to the neighborhood, drainage culverts, anything else where someone might be able to hack the neighborhood infrastructure network. Hit the olfcatory scanner hard over there, trying to get a baseline for the scents of fuel and lubricants that I might be able to use to tell maintenance vehicles from drones. If they staked this house out, it'll be on one of these, and somewhere on that route there will be something. Cigarette butt, drone oil spill, candy wrapper, paracritter shit; something.
Inshallah.
After hours of tedious investigatio, it's clear to Caliph that the place has indeed been scouted before. Tire tracks in the good scouting spots, even an ammo casing or two, or ration bar wrappers, bottles of pis, and so on. Most of the waste looks to be quite old however. This is a corporate housing block, so there certianly would be others with interest here previously. As the kidnapping it's self was three weeks ago, there's little way to tell the difference.
On the close approaches, keep getting data of all the foreign objects on the approaches, add them to the baseline database. Most of the objects look old, some of 'em don't, we'll see. Mark the approaches on an overlay, especially the approaches that look more promising.
Get back off the last approach spot and take a break. 10 approach lanes, 50 minutes each, 8 & 1/3 hours. I'm a bit sore and tired, and my chameleon suit is going to need the mother-of-all washings; from the grit coating the boots and the mud all over my knees and elbows from when I crawled head-first through a couple drainage culverts.
Trek over to the far end of a hill crest, out of sight of the neighborhood, and take a break. The level of paranoia is a bit unnecessary, since no-one would see me anyway. Unlace my boots again and vent the frustration at not finding anything as convenient a body, or a skull-on-a-stick, or a big red X on the ground with buried treasure and a map to the bad-guys lair underneath. Assholes.
Stretch out the kinks and cramps, take a big swig from my thermos, and start running a quick analysis on the RF data I downloaded. Plot the location of all the security systems I found transmitting and overlay it over the area map. Overlay my routes, and look for holes on the map between the two overlays - the gaps in the coverage between me and the neighborhood security contractor. None particularly leap out at me. Grab the overlays and annotate them, with a list of recommendations for Eyes to astrally recon - the 'hole' places that I didn't get to, and the interesting spots on the approach routes, where someone had done something previously.
<< Eyes (Caliph) - WAKE UP! Yo, I need to you to ghostwalk over to the marked spots on this map and check them out for me. Spots marked in red I didn't cover; spots marked in green I did cover, and look potentially interesting. They may have used a ghost to cover their movements, maybe you can check for that?>>
Quick quality check while I'm resting. Focus on Johnson's house on the map; drill down on the satellite imagery and look at the nearby houses in a widening circle. Looking for things like doghouses, street lights; things that would make an approach difficult. Mark all the houses that look difficult in ever-widening circles around Johnson's house, and try to figure out how they would have come in, or more importantly, drug a possibly resisting kid out without making much noise.
Get back off the last approach spot and take a break. 10 approach lanes, 50 minutes each, 8 & 1/3 hours. I'm a bit sore and tired, and my chameleon suit is going to need the mother-of-all washings; from the grit coating the boots and the mud all over my knees and elbows from when I crawled head-first through a couple drainage culverts.
Trek over to the far end of a hill crest, out of sight of the neighborhood, and take a break. The level of paranoia is a bit unnecessary, since no-one would see me anyway. Unlace my boots again and vent the frustration at not finding anything as convenient a body, or a skull-on-a-stick, or a big red X on the ground with buried treasure and a map to the bad-guys lair underneath. Assholes.
Stretch out the kinks and cramps, take a big swig from my thermos, and start running a quick analysis on the RF data I downloaded. Plot the location of all the security systems I found transmitting and overlay it over the area map. Overlay my routes, and look for holes on the map between the two overlays - the gaps in the coverage between me and the neighborhood security contractor. None particularly leap out at me. Grab the overlays and annotate them, with a list of recommendations for Eyes to astrally recon - the 'hole' places that I didn't get to, and the interesting spots on the approach routes, where someone had done something previously.
<< Eyes (Caliph) - WAKE UP! Yo, I need to you to ghostwalk over to the marked spots on this map and check them out for me. Spots marked in red I didn't cover; spots marked in green I did cover, and look potentially interesting. They may have used a ghost to cover their movements, maybe you can check for that?>>
Quick quality check while I'm resting. Focus on Johnson's house on the map; drill down on the satellite imagery and look at the nearby houses in a widening circle. Looking for things like doghouses, street lights; things that would make an approach difficult. Mark all the houses that look difficult in ever-widening circles around Johnson's house, and try to figure out how they would have come in, or more importantly, drug a possibly resisting kid out without making much noise.
[ Spoiler ]
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