[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 08:00am]
[Background count -5]

Present: Aren, Alyena, Bjeorn, Mandala, Marduk

The "Dritte geheimnisvolle Wiederaufnahmen-Gruppe (Third Occult Recovery Squad)"' is sitting around a table in their planning and meeting area deep within the fortress. The Third Occult Recovery group consists of yourselves and 3 SS members who are along to "facilitate" any problems you might encounter. In the middle of the table is a golden bird cage. Inside the cage is a blackbird: plain feathers and yellow beak. Even though you have found the bird of hope you have visited the very gates of hell itself, and you are hurting inside. Three days ago you were in Aushwitz, and you suspect the memory of that place will be with you for a long time. It was there that you rescued Marduk who was slated for the showers as a Russian Jew. Like the rest of you Marduk is currently wearing a Nazi uniform, and he has just been enlisted in Dritte geheimnisvolle Wiederaufnahmen-Gruppe.

For a moment the bird senses your sorrow, its black and yellow eye peers at you, and for a few moments it sings. you are lost in the beauty of the song for a few moments. Your hearts are uplifted and filled with the realisation that anything is possible, and even this truely brutal regime can be overcome. You come to your senses as the bird is being taken away by a handful of SS goons. Replacing the bird on the table is a missive from Adolf Hitler himself

Dritte geheimnisvolle Wiederaufnahmen-Gruppe

I am pleased with you. You are heros of the Reich. Your discovery will bring this horrible war to a swift final conclusion. The final solution will soon cover the globe.

I wish to personally meet with each and every one of you and congratualate you. For this honour you will receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisermen Kreuzes (The order of the knights cross of the iron cross), and I beleive that when we win this war your leader will be given the order of the grand cross of the iron cross as he will be one of our 12 greatest war heros.

Please attend my 12:30 briefing

Der Führer und Reichskanzler

illegible signature

You are left alone in the room with a sense of loss, and yet you are not bereft of hope.

An hour later the door opens SS-Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer himself walks into the room, accompanied by your friend and companion Frauline Petra Klien. His clothes look travel worn. You are somewhat surprised that he is alone. In his hands he holds a briefcase.

"Please sit" his hands wave you down. "I do not have long, I must return to the front in " he looks at his watch "10 minutes. Major General von Hemming has said that I can trust you. I am placing my life in your hands so please be worthy of that trust. These are desparate times, and desparate times call for desparate measures. We are ruled by a madman, and now that madman has the means to win this war. I want you to think what will happen if this man triumphs. " This was not the conversation you were expecting from an Colonel of the SS. "You must recover the bird. It is imperative that Hitler doesn't use it to find the grail. Hitler has placed the bird in his strongroom - room 27a. " Kurt throws a map of the Wolfsschanze with a room circled. "Only he know how to get in there. He keeps the key in his briefcase. His briefcase looks identical to this." SS-Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer raised the briefcase.

"Today he is going to honour you. I want you to swap his briefcase for this briefcase". He opens the briefcase and removes a few letters. You are somewhat surprised to see large blocks of the new experimental C3 explosive complete with clockwork timing device. "In his briefcase there is the key to the strongroom."

"I cannot coerce you to into doing this task. I leave it your consciences. Von Trescow will be at that meeting. If you have any questions please ask Fraulein Klein" he leaves the room.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 08:40am]
[Background count -5]

Times such as this, inaction between 'scenes' of his life, were often Mandala's favourite times to meditate. He could refresh his mental and spiritual vigour with only a few moments of centered oblivion. Not this time, though. He fidgeted in the pseudo-military finery he wore, proper and fitting for a propagandist of his stature.

The memory of the bird's song lingered, and he could not throw from his mind competing, parallel memories of his actions in the last few years. Artistry! Bah. How often during the millennia had he allowed that word to supersede morality and judgment? Just so these last years, promoting Eisenstein in Russia, Riefenstahl here, and that worm Dawson in the United States. All talented artists, to be sure, but their work has led to so much misery and deceit. When did I lose sight of the Self so much, that I could betray it for such powerful, damaging work?

He could not free himself from the cycle of scenes from their movies... clever, innovative and thoroughly infected. Yet... the bird's song lingered, too, and a memory surfaced... Six Girls Roll into Weekend, a 3-D groundbreaker. He smiled despite his mood.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:05am]
[Background count -5]

"Fraulein Klein, Norbert Schantz, Reichskünstler is at your service. I am of a mind to abbreviate the Thousand Years by a few."

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:10am]
[Background count -5]

Marduk felt uncomfortable in the uniform of the people who had just recently slaughtered so many of his chosen companions. To add insult to injury, he had been forced to shave his beard, to more realistically pass. "Mad men come and go, Brigadefuher." Still he walks forward and takes the case. "But that anyone would give that mad man the keys to the Holy Grail." He looks at the others around him, men and women who are.. for all purposes closer to him than family. "I am deeply dissapointed."

With that he sits down and sets about examining the briefcase.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:10am]
[Background count -5]

Ryl, or temporarily Fraulien Klien, looked around at the others

"There is much work to be done and things to decide..."

[Flashback - Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:05am]
[Background count -5]

I have to remember to drop the formalities here. I've been among those stuffed shirts too long.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:10am]
[Background count -5]

Alyena looks at the people around her. She can almost feel the thoughts swirling and resolve forming within them all.

"So, given where we have been and what we have seen, do we have any doubts as to what must be done?"

She gestures towards the briefcase that Marduk is examining.

"We have a crude, if no doubt effective, means to accomplish this. The question is how best to proceed. I can, with time and much effort, summon a small spirit to do my bidding. Even in this time of low magic it should be able to TK the case and swap it. A small diversion may be necessary. We will most likely be searched but mortal minds are easily 'persuaded' to see only what we wish. The effort will, however, be great at this time"

She looks around and quirks an eyebrow, inviting comments.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:10am]
[Background count -5]

After looking over the bomb for a while, Marduk nods. "This bomb should work." He seals it back up, and pushes it away from him slightly. "You are the ones so enamored with this Third Reich. How does one get near your precious Fuhrer to swap the satchels?"

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:10am]
[Background count -5: Force 5, lose Aura Masking]

Mandala is irked by Marduk's comment, but decides to answer mentally. "One moment, let us confer privately." Code for get ready for the mindnet spell.

He concentrates and draws mana through the muddied astral plane, but his first attempt fails, and muddles his mind a tiny bit as well. "This environment is difficult. Wait a moment."

He draws power again, fighting to concentrate through the swirling clouds of the astral plane. This time he gets through to all of his teammates at once, and a mental link is established.

~~Let us maintain our sensitive discussions in this medium, if we can. Marduk, you know he is not 'ours'. Surely our efforts on your behalf make that clear. Now we plan to help all those brutalized by this monster. We all have skills few others in this world have. We can do this, and end the reign of terror.~~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:10am]
[Background count -5]

Ryl frowned...

~~I have been able to get on the inner counsels of these monsters but do not think for one minute that I support their goals, like Mandala, I thought you knew us better than that...I will help as I can, what information do you require to get close to him?~~

That last is tinged with all the disgust for this regime that she can reasonably muster...and that's a great deal...

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:10am]
[Background count -5]

Marduk shrugs a bit, and does look a bit uncomfortable. ~~~You saw Auschwitz, and you did not live there like I did. You have not spent the last five years watching your friends and adopted families be rounded up and murdered. If I did not think it was impossible, I would think these monsters to all be controlled by a Horror. ~~~

Marduk seems to have had a rough few years. He's always been more attached to the Russian/Balkans than the others. Always gravitating back to the area that once was Barsaive. It is perhaps that attachment that is clouding his judgement. His soul is tarnished by the things he has seen and survived.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 09:10am]
[Background count -5: Force 5, lose Aura Masking]

Mandala stands to get attention from the rest. ~~Since there are no detractions voiced, it would appear we are all willing. So now, how do we do it?

~~We have abilities for distraction, long-range sleight-of-hand, and impersonation. I can even get into The Fuhrer's briefcase myself if need be and pass the physical details of the pertinent key on to those of you with special memory skills.

~~How should we proceed?~~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:35am]
[Background count -5]

The hour of the meeting had finally arrived. You are just being escorted into the room. This far underground the room is cramped. In the middle of the room is a table with space for perhaps 10 people. Hitler is sitting at the head of the table, head bowed reading through some notes, his glasses in his hand. In the middle of the table is a map showing the battle lines. The smell of sweat and fear is strong.

Moving around the room are at least 12 people. 2 of them are attractive female secretaries, passing notes, writing down comments. The remainder are all top ranking officers who have broken into small groups, talking quietly among themselves.

You are directed to stand in a line by the door. "Please wait until Hitler addresses you. Remember not to speak unless you are spoken too"

[The Eastern Front, 20th July 1944. 7:10 AM]

General Henning von Tresckow sits in the officers' tent near the front, scrutinizing small markers by lamplight on a map of the area. The sound of bullets and artillery ring out in the distance. As usual for him, he is not wearing a uniform. His mind is not focused on the map; he is too anxious. Within the hour, a vehicle would arrive to transport him to the meeting with the Führer at midday. He would be there to observe the work of Colonel von Stauffenburg at the key moment of Operation Walküre. He had tried so hard to eliminate that man before, only for everything to end in failure - once, twice, three times. Hans Oster's group was dead, and the burden of seeing the coup attempt through successfully lay on his shoulders now.

There is a sound of footsteps at the door. "General von Tresckow, may I speak with you for a moment?" It is his friend Major Erich von Hemnel, who is stopping in this part of the Front for a few days. von Tresckow nods silently, and von Hemnel steps inside after looking behind him for eavesdroppers. "Is everything ready?"

"Yes, everything is ready. von Stauffenburg has been thoroughly briefed on the plan, and will do the best he can to make sure the briefcase is in place. The briefcase itself is prepared, and the explosives should detonate this time. He will leave the room shortly before the explosion, and will then convince the gatekeeper to let him out. I will be there to help him if need be. Once he's in Berlin, we can let the Reserve Army clamp down on the Nazi leadership and begin setting up the new government. This coup must work. But..."

He pauses, lost in thought. "In all likelihood, everything will go wrong. But even so, it is still necessary. Everyday, we are assassinating nearly 16,000 additional victims. A dear old friend of mine nearly just joined them himself. We must make this happen. Everywhere stillness, yet in this abeyance: seeds of change and new beginnings near."

Erich smiles. "Rilke's first Sonnet to Orpheus, is that right? How appropriate. I love that about you, Henning, that you are so well-versed in Rilke's poetry even as the world is falling down around us. I can't imagine what the Front would be like without the few men like you." He pauses. "I... I want to wish you good fortune for today, Henning."

von Tresckow chuckles a bit. "Is that all?"

"Well, no, that is not quite what I meant. Germany needs this plan to succeed; we both know that. For the future of the German people, this must be done. And because it must be done, may God smile upon your efforts this day, Henning - may God grant success to your efforts, and let you return to the front safely. That is what I meant."

Fearghas stares at Erich for a moment silently, a look of gratitude on his face. He smiles, and does a salute to the man before him. Erich returns the salute proudly as he says, "Es lebe unser heiliges Deutschland!" ("Long live our sacred Germany!")

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:00am]

Of course, while he will certainly be present at the meeting, Colonel von Stauffenburg is not the one who will be planting the bomb for the assassination. Fearghas has learned from his previous failures to assassinate the Fuhrer, both on his own and through agents. The fact that Hitler is searching for the Holy Grail and the Bird of Hope is enormously disturbing to the immortal elf - the Nazi Party is perhaps the worst choice for a mundane holder of magical power in this age since Cleopatra, and it is wholly impermissible to Fearghas to allow such a morally monstrous state to have access to that kind of magic. So instead of a human this time, it shall be Fearghas and his family who shall oversee Hitler's assassination, because the stakes are high for them all.

There is another reason for Fearghas's choice to personally assist in the assassination. He received word some time ago that the Blood Traitor is intimately involved with that monstrous man. It has filled him with an animated inner fury that this world has not seen from him since the Blood Traitor formed the Blood Wood of old. It is utterly inexcusable that that manipulative whore Alachia is supporting this Nazi Party; it is something that Fearghas will not brook. It does not matter how many humans he must cut through to fight against Alachia's plans with the Nazis; he will bring them to a halt.

The jeep comes to a stop beyond the gates of the Wolf's Den, and he disembarks lightly from the vehicle. Without a second thought, Henning von Tresckow heads into the corridors of the bunker, towards the designated place for the 12:30 meeting.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:35pm]
[Background count -5]

All societies afford some level of leeway for artists. For years Norbert has been masterful in his abuse of that leeway. He clucks his tongue and rolls his eyes, then breaks ranks to fuss with the cameras' sight lines and focus. His mannerisms and sartorial flair would have branded him as homosexual, and therefore a danger to the Reich, but half the general staff hates him for his liaisons with their wives. Were it not for his favoured position with the propaganda ministry, he would already have been shot.

He places his ostentation for a moment as far from the Fuhrer's briefcase as possible, chastising a cameraman who incredulously wonders how this nincompoop could have been chosen for honour from the Fuhrer. Of course he knows how to aim a camera!

~~ I don't know how long I can maintain attention on myself, but I believe an opportunity presents itself now. I would keep an eye on that spirit. Damn the bitch for her caution.~~

"See? Everyone can see me here, so from here you should be able to see everyone else. Why does the camera not do so?"

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:40am]
[Background count -5]

Hitler's briefing room suddenly goes deathly quiet. Hitler has finished reading his brief, and is slowly taking off his glasses. "Where is the Dritte geheimnisvolle Wiederaufnahmen-Gruppe?" he says to the aide standing just behind him. "They are here, mein Führer" the aide gestures towards the front of the room where you are.

Hitler takes his glasses off. If possible the room goes even quieter and the smell of fear increases. Such a little gesture, yet he uses it to maintain dominance over a group of otherwise strong people. He looks at you under his fringe: the eyes looking bloodshot. There is a little tic in the side of his right eye. Slowly a smile forms on his face, and it is transformed. The sense of fear and trepidation in the room vanishes, replaced with relief. You are impressed at how well this little man dominates the room.

"Today is great day. It is a beginning of our total victory, and marks the reversal of your recent failures" The sense of fear is back, as Hitler waves his hand around the room gesturing at his support staff. "These people are a fine example to you all."

Hitler stands, and starts to move towards you. All eyes in the room are on him, as he approaches your line up.

He moves down the line shaking each of you by the hand. The intensity with which he stares you in the eye as he shakes your hand is unnerving. The touch of his hand is electrifying. Despite yourselves, despite everything you know that this madman has done, you are moved by the moment, and uplifted. For a few seconds your hatred for him is replaced by respect and the desire to please him. As veterans of many magical conflicts though, you gather your wits together. This was a charm as powerful as the spells of your ancient past, but you cannot detect a trace of magic. This is a very dangerous man, should he command you to do something you are not sure that you could resist.

As Hitler moves down the line, the aide follows and hands you a medal.

Hitler moves back to his seat and begins to speak...

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:42am]
[Background count -5]

Hitler begins to speak. His voice is mesmerising, his enthusiasm for his cause for the thousand year Reich is contagious. After an introduction in which he explains how well the war is going, and how his glorious armies are driving back the invaders, he moves to discussing the bird of hope.

"I salute you, members of the Dritte geheimnisvolle Wiederaufnahmen-Gruppe. You have gone to the ends of the earth to find the bird. I understand that the bird can be only found by one who has lost all hope, so I am surprised that you found it in our glorious father-land. Still it is by the skill and dedication of people such as yourselves...."

"The bird is a guide and a key all in one. It will take us on a journey, and that journey will end with those that take it acquiring the power of gods. "

"Starting tomorrow you will prepare yourselves. I know that you probably believe that occult matters are purely mythical. I can assure you that this is not the case. It will take some weeks to teach you the rudimentaries that you will need to know to assist me, and then the ritual itself will take some weeks" He begins to describe how you will help him with a ritual magic that will take weeks to perform. He opens his briefcase, opening it on the table, and spreads some large documents with massively complex magical runes and diagrams over the table. Placing the briefcase on the floor under the table, gesticulating with a pencil, he begins your education. With some effort you avoid rolling your eyes as he begins kindergarten level magical explanations. You see the spirit in the corner being drawn to the magical discussions.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:42am]
[Background count -5]

Marduk watches Hitler with fascination, someone has taught this man magic. He is quite familiar with the effects of enthralling performance, being able to do it himself, and yet, he is drawn into the Fuhrer's speech. Shaking off the effects, he looks around at the rapt faces around him, and does his best to appear fascinated, when in reality he is revolted.

Marduk steps forward as the explanation of magic begins, and quickly analyzes the information trying to figure out what the ritual really is, and who might have taught it to this meglomaniac. As he does so, he puts the black briefcase down underneath the opposite side of the table.

~~~MindLink
Mandala, my friend. I have placed the briefcase under the table. If you would be so kind as to execute the exchange.
Mindlink~~~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:42am]
[Background count -5]

The Fuhrer's mental control is amazing. No wonder so few have been able to resist him. Shaking off the effect, Mandala/Norbert surveys the camera equipment one more time, and scans the room. He moves to a location from which he can see the two briefcases, and seems to lose himself in analysis of the sight angles. In reality, he mentally lifts the fake briefcase to beside Hitler's, and brings his briefcase back to the fake location.

A slight bump between briefcases causes Mandala's heart to race. Well, his emotions to rise. He doesn't actually have a heart.

I hope The Fuhrer's power is still working on his minions. That was pretty clumsy.

~~
It's done, but I was clumsy. Be prepared.
~~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:42am]

Whilst Ryl, Fraulien Klien, waited at the side of the group she prepared herself to act at a moments notice, settling her breathing and almost literally blending into the background. She gathered the scraps of mana around herself as if to say do not notice me...

She tapped her pen lightly against her side activating the reservoir behind the ink cartridge to allow the drops of poison to mix. It wasn’t as effective as nightwatch extract but in this low mana age it would have to do, and a scratch would still be all it should take.

Given that He had a spirit watching over him and that Alachia may very well be nearby to protect her pet the bomb would be the more prudent and effective way to deal with this threat but it paid to be prepared...

~I am ready...~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:42pm]

~~
We have been lucky. Marduk, the briefcase is ready. Now, how do we get ourselves extricated from this unfortunate and unforeseen lesson in magic?
~~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:43am]
Background Count -5

General von Tresckow rises up from his seat at the table. "Mein Führer, if I may interrupt for just a moment? It appears to me that all this information on occult matters is, what's the word, bamboozling and confounding these heroes from the Dritte geheimnisvolle Wiederaufnahmen-Gruppe? No doubt it is quite a lot to process all at once."

He gestures at the would-be (and former, unbeknownst to the Führer) occult hunters. "It is also my understanding that none of these poor young men and women have even had a midday meal yet, such was the importance of this meeting to them. I believe there is a saying in Chinese that 'Mànduóluó, yīgè shā kēng dìtú yīng ānzhuāng liǎng láng zhèer de dōngbian*,' or 'The man who does not learn is dark, like one walking in the night.' It certainly looks like these heroes are having a bit of difficulty learning everything in this lesson. Might I suggest that we allow them a short lunch break, so that they can better process these occult details and return with refreshed minds?"







*"I believe there is a saying in Chinese that 'Mandala, a bunker map should be mounted two corridors east of here,'" Fearghas says, with the briefest of glances at the largely-ignored cameraman in the background. To leave as little chance of discovery as possible, the elf is careful to speak it in a dialect of Mandarin from several centuries ago.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:43am]
Background Count -5

~~
Clever boy! And so insouciant! Yet, not much chance of anyone here knowing you just told me about the bunker map mounted two corridors east of here.
~~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:43am]
Background Count -5


Marduk, being a short 'man' steps back into the crowd as Fearghas lays on his silver tongue. He does his best to appear as innocuous as possible, hoping everyone will forget about him being there, especially Hitler.


~~~
I believe good Fearghas has settled that matter for us. Hopefully Hitler will bite, we only have a few minutes left before the whole thing explodes.

~~~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:43am]
[Background count -5]

The members of the Dritte geheimnisvolle Wiederaufnahmen-Gruppe were all painfully aware of the existence of a bomb in the briefcase just next to Hitler's leg. Fuse technology was improving year by year and this fuse was based on acid eating its way down a tube. It was accurate to within a minute of the planned time. The first moment that the bomb could blow was getting painfully close.

Hitler glares at von Tresckow, and you see that the rumours of his instability are true. Slowly, his hand shacking, he takes off his glasses. "How dare you interrupt me. No one interrupts me, especially not now, not at this critical point. " Spittle starts to fly from his mouth, his eyes widen. It is a truely terrifying sight, especially considering the power at the disposal of this insane individual. Suddenly it is over, and Hitler resettles himself. "You have a....".

There is a knock on the door, but without waiting for an answer, the door opens. Your heart sinks as Alachia walks in.

"Ah my dear Eva, what is it". She looks at him "It is an urgent matter, mein Führer, it cannot wait".

Hitler pauses for a moment, all the time you are painfully aware of the time advancing. The fuse is not clockwork, but in your heads you can hear 'tick, tick, tick, tock'.

"Your words have merit vonTrescow, very well meeting dismissed".

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:43am]
[Background count -5]

Bjeorn hustles the others out of the room. Making sure that his large frame is between the others and the potential explosion. Nodding at the Queen, he cannot help but hope that she will be caught by the explosions. It is with some effort that he holds the laughter inside as the door closes behind him.

"I normally don't drink champagne" he says to the others, "but a bottle of bubbly may be called for soon". Cocking his head he waits for the sound of the blast.

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:43am]
[Background count -5]

~It is unfortunate that She is here...even in this age I'm sure her protective magics will shield her and possibly him from any attack...?~

[Wolfsschanze 20th July 1944. 12:43am]
[Background count -5]
The ground shakes slightly, there is a loud noise, so load you cannot describe it, and the door to Hitler's meeting room flys into this chamber, smashing into Bjeorn's back.

There is a stunned silence. Literaly for some of you, as the shock is so great as make you immobile.

After two seconds, there is the sound of an alarm, and you know that armed guards will be here shortly, asking questing, interrogating. If Hitler survived that blast it would be very bad to be founds in the Wolfsschanze. As experienced adventurers you utilise the chaos and make you way to the door, where you believe the Bird of Hope is to be found.

The rest of you watch as Marduk and Ambrose confer. Examining the woodcutting, they discover that the horror construct that is the door has a true name. That name is "Bjarngeir". Using old, nearly forgotton magics from the 4th age, they summon threads of magic that temporarily bind their patterns to the that of the door.

[Background count -3]
The door opens and you enter Hitler's private treasure area. It is neat and tidy. There is writing desk at the far end. Small works of art, curios and boxes rest upon them.

In the middle on a simple table is a golden bird cage, with a song bird inside it.

With the goal of this quest complete, you awaken back to the real world. "Bjangeir" is the key to the door