Session Three


The session was dated a week after the last one, in campaign time. Burdock was on a university field trip to Amsterdam (cue many comments about "I know what _he's_ doing there"), Dandelion had moved with her cafe to London, Francis was assisting with a legal case in Winchester and thus not around, while Zebediah was attending to an armoury exhibit elsewhere in the country.

At the beginning of play, Case and Nathaniel (who have now decided they share an apartment) were hanging out in Case's dojo with Martin, who was in one of his favourite student hosts. Tony was researching in the local library for a forthcoming edition of "Watchdog", and Bernard was attending a meeting of the Concerned Parents Broadcast Discussion Group.

Lucas, in Heaven, was summoned by an enthusiastic reliever to Soldekai's study, where he was told that he was being assigned to Southampton to assist Nathaniel, a hard-working Malakite of Gabriel down there. As Southampton was a quiet and simple place (many cat-calls from players) it should be an easy first assignment. He was told to head down via the Tether of Jean that fed to the University there. Lucas whizzed off and did so, arriving in the computer room at the Hartley Library in the University, where he was greeted by Abdi-bezek the Seneschal. He explained his mission to Abdi-bezek, who played hold music for him while locating Nathaniel.

Martin got a phone call, which was Abdi-bezek asking if he knew where Nathaniel was. Martin told him to send Lucas over, Nathaniel was right there. Abdi-bezek passed this on to Lucas, together with a wallet, student identity cards, and the like. Lucas cheerfully headed out to Seek the Dojo, running across a drug deal on the way, "Hey, man, wanna score some speed?" but bypassing it in serene incomprehension. He arrived at the dojo, stroked Case's bike (outside) yearningly, knocked on the door and got let in. Nathaniel was horrified in that stoically cynical Malakite way, then took him out for a sweep of the local area for drug dealers.

At his meeting, Bernard got phoned by his temporal Meridian boss, who apologised for the lateness of the hour, but explained that there was a visiting American tv producer, one Terry Jackson, about to land at the airport, and could Bernard please meet him and show him to his hotel, and introduce him to Southampton a bit? Bernard agreed, made his excuses to the meeting, and headed for the airport.

Tony was working at the library when he saw three people heading his way: one thin man, one slight woman, one bulkier man with a twitch, all in good business suits. They introduced themselves to him as a Triad of Judgement (Ardon the Seraph, Jachin the Elohite, Thahash the Ofanite), using his angelic name, and expressed their expectation of his cooperation. He failed his resonance roll (doing the Mercurian thing on them.) He gave them details of some of the locals, and they decided to go and investigate the Malakim first, so they headed off to take a look at Case's dojo.

Bernard arrived at the airport, and met Terry Jackson, a man with an Armani suit and very good hair, and something long and thin in his bag. Also, a man who got conveniently passed through customs. Terry babbled about wanting to film exciting news and thrilling stuff, and referred to last week's events (those mysterious explosions, gunfire, dead bodies...) Bernard was squelching. He prodded Terry's bag, made a Per roll (CD 6) and got the impression it was a katana in there. Terry cheerfully went on to say he expected his staff to arrive tomorrow.

Bernard tried resonating him (on a CD 1) and asked him about where he was from, etc. Terry explained that he was just from California, that he was up and coming in the television business, that he'd moved there from general information passing, and that there were places his programmes were on round the clock, and that he was enthusiastic because he tried to lead and be inspiring.

The Triad and Tony arrived at Case's. Lucas and Nathaniel got back just before them, not having found any drug dealers, and made it inside first. After some dialogue at the door, the Triad were also let in, and started asking annoying questions and taking many many notes. Tony also took many many notes.

Case's phone rang. It was someone called Esek, apparently another Michaelite, who said he wanted to warn Case about the coming hyenas. ("I know.") and also that there was a Thief, a servitor of Valefor, in town, and that they needed to talk. Case said sure, after the Triad left, and Esek gave him a phone number before ringing off. Case then muttered to Nathaniel that there was a Thief around. Martin went off to take his student-host round, and the others all got more inquisitioning.

Bernard took Terry to a local pub, and forced the local cider on him. He then made an excuse that he was going to ring and check the accommodation with the hotel, and headed off to ring Abdi-bezek for information about Terry and missing katanas in California. Abdi-bezek said he'd look into it. Bernard also virtuously and truthfully checked the hotel reservations (all in order, at the Hilton) before going back, to find that Terry had somehow got his hands on 30-year-old malt whiskey. He decided to try and get Terry drunk, and bought Terry more of the same while drinking non-alcoholic stuff himself. No appreciable effect, alas. Terry tried to get information regarding last week's events, and during some mysterious rolling by the GM, Bernard found he trusted Terry enough to cough up a few details. ("The police think it was a gas main explosion. Or gang warfare.") Bernard also found himself agreeing to look out the files, and made a mental note to pull the most confused and contradictory ones he could find. Bernard made excuses again, went to the gents, and while in there phoned Martin and asked him to be on hand when they arrived at the hotel, so he could do the Kyriotate of Jean thing and try and figure out what was in Terry's bag. Martin agreed, and possessed a pigeon, heading for the hotel.

Back at the dojo, Nathaniel tried resonating Ardon, and got a (11 CD5). He picked up that while Ardon was totally devoted to Judgement, he was convinced that he knew how to do it better than Dominic.

Nathaniel : "So, is this visit official?"
Ardon : "We're on the business of Judgement."
Nathaniel : "Just because you know best, doesn't mean you do."
Ardon : (raises eyebrows)

The Triad left, and there was much annoyed muttering. Including by Tony, as they'd given him a lift and he was now carless. And at Tony, by the other characters. Nathaniel passed on his suspicions of Ardon. Tony scribbled more, and called a cab, heading back home to look up thefts and stuff on the Internet..

Bernard and Terry arrived at the hotel. Martin was already there, in a pigeon, watching from the roof. He possessed Terry's bag as Bernard pulled it out of the car boot to hand it to Terry, and found that (in addition to the alcohol and silk underwear and gold cufflinks and fun stuff) there was indeed an antique katana inside, of good quality, with something odd about it. He tried to possess the katana, but failed, and went back to the pigeon. Terry headed into the hotel, signed in, sent his bag up to his room, and went to the bar. Martin possessed one of the receptionists briefly to find out his room number. Bernard phoned Abdi-bezek again, and got told that Terry did indeed have many tv credits, and also was into drink and women, but no, the Tether did not currently have spare staff to watch him.

The people at the dojo headed home, Case giving Lucas a ride on the back of his bike. (Yes, Michael gave him a new bike since last session, Michael being very understanding about one's motorbike getting destroyed in all-out fights with Calabim.) When home, Case phoned Esek back, and told him about events. Esek explained that there was indeed a Thief in town, as far as he knew, probably looking for something particular: all the description they had was leather jacket, long hair and motorbike. Esek asked if Case had any dirt on the Dominicans, hinting he'd be glad to pass it on. Case did indeed pass on the tidbit about Ardon, which Esek noted down and said he'd pass on where it could do damage, then rang off. Case headed out to investigate biker bars with Lucas and Nathaniel.

Bernard went back to his office, and looked out the most innocent and confusing reports he could find for Terry. Martin headed for Case's flat, catching up with the others before they left. They discussed the Thief question, wondering if Terry might be the Thief, or if the planned Theft was of his katana. But Terry probably wasn't the Thief, they decided, as he had an Armani suit. Nathaniel and Lucas phoned Bernard, and went off to help him investigate things, while Martin and Case went to scout biker bars.

Tony, meanwhile, put on his female vessel and provocative clothing, and went out to look for injustice. He heard a Symphonic noise, and went to investigate. He caught sight of a group of half a dozen men, and ducked out of the way. Listening, he caught phrases like, "find proper subject..." "Yes, my lord..." He pulled out his cellphone, and told Bernard all about this. Bernard told Tony about Terry, and said he'd be right over. Tony ended the phone call, and saw the men coming his way, and failed an attempt to hide in the shadows. The group of men offered to take Tony along with them to a pub, and Tony winsomely agreed. After a short while, he realised there wasn't any pub along that way, and tried to make a break for it, but got grabbed. He fast-talked the group into letting him walk rather than having them cosh him.

Nathaniel and Lucas caught up with Bernard, who passed along the Tony situation, and they headed off to where Tony was when he called.

Martin found a new host, a biker-type, and he and Case hung around in a pub.

Tony resonated the man holding him, and found out the guy had a high opinion of himself. He resonated the group, and rolled a 111. In a flash of divine inspiration, he realised that the group was an evil cult led by a Shedite, who was currently possessing one particular man in it, and that Tony himself was slated to be a sacrifice. He also realised they were heading towards an old ruined church nearby. The guy holding him tried to convince him it was really the setting for a new nightclub. Tony wriggled free, while on the drive leading towards the church, and did a Song of Ethereal Form as he ran, going invisible. The men ran around looking for him.

Bernard heard the Symphonic noise, pointed his car thataway, and arrived to find the men running round looking for Tony. Tony, still invisible, yelled out which one the Shedite was. Bernard hit him with an Ethereal Song of Light, and left him dazzled and staggering. Lucas sprinted for him. Nathaniel advanced, sword drawn, and hands on fire. One of the men tried to drag the Shedite-host towards the graveyard at the back. Bernard shot at the Shedite-host (using a silencer), and unfortunately hit the man dragging him, who went down. Lucas did a flying tackle and got the host's ankle. Nathaniel hit one of the people in his way with the flat of his sword, in the ribs, and downed him. Tony invisibly kneed the man who'd grabbed him earlier.

Case and Martin heard the noise, and turned up. Case drop-kicked the Shedite-host, knocking it out, and the Shedite left it, being spotted by Nathaniel, who waited till it entered another host, and then kicked the new host and burned it somehow. A man with straggly long hair and a leather jacket poked his head out of the church, looking panicked. Case decided this might be the Thief, and gave chase, followed by Lucas. They ran into the church after him, and caught up partway down the aisle: Case tackled him, Lucas kicked him in the head, and Case straight-armed him, breaking his neck. No Symphonic disturbance from this. (Just from everything else going on outside.) Case searched the body, while Lucas ran right out again, finding two knives, two guns, some miscellaneous jewellery, and a small carved crystal globe. He looked into the crystal, and found himself sinking into it.

Outside, Nathaniel had pretty much killed the latest Shedite-host. The Shedite tried to possess Nathaniel, but failed. It was seen by Nathaniel, Tony, and Bernard: Tony and Bernard fired Celestial Light songs at it. Nathaniel ripped at it with flaming hands: it attempted to invoke Saminga, but failed. It then made a break, in Celestial form, for the graveyard: Nathaniel pursued, also taking Celestial form. Tony alerted the police on his cellphone, then suggested the others move the car and bike. Martin possessed the car and moved it, while Lucas happily drove Case's bike round the corner and out of the way. The Shedite reached the graveyard, and as Nathaniel finally tore it into shreds, it invoked Saminga again, and Saminga answered. The GM used many adjectives to describe the billowing cloud of foulness wafting forth from every grave in the cemetary, bearing the hideous stench of death, and the yammering voice that demanded, "WHO HAS SUMMONED ME?"

With all deliberate speed, Nathaniel summoned Gabriel, who appeared as a branching flame that spread and divided till she was a great mass of fire that swept down upon Saminga. There were yet more adjectives, and everything nearby, including the church, began to catch fire. Martin and Lucas ran into the church to look for Case, and found him unconscious there, clutching the crystal. Martin carried him out in a fireman's lift as the burning timbers began to fall. Nathaniel stayed to watch, as everyone else made tracks, Lucas happily taking Case's bike ("Er, I went out to Portsmouth to see how far the Symphonic disturbance spread...") and everyone else in Bernard's car. Nathaniel saw Gabriel defeat Saminga, and Saminga vanish. He went into the heart of the fire to find Gabriel there in a female form of flame, and knelt before her. She commended him for summoning her, kissed his brow, and left. Nathaniel retired to watch events, taking human form again. He and the others saw the arrival of police, fire brigade, news crew with Terry Jackson, and bystanders.

Meanwhile, Case found himself in a corridor with paintings. The edges of the corridor seemed solid enough when he looked at them, but when he looked away they had an unfinished look, like something in a dream. The paintings all were angels at the first look, but when he looked again, they seemed to be demons.

Beautiful Mercurian with a great air of love and affection -> Beautiful Impudite, but with the love gone from his face.
Humorous Mercurian -> Impudite with an air of one snickering at another's misfortunes.
Brave proud Seraph with beautiful sword that was a work of art -> Proud Balseraph, still carrying sword.
Woman seated by tower -> Same woman, but the whole picture seemed unsettling and somehow terrifying.
Ofanite in flames -> Insane Calabite in flames.
Cherub carrying book -> Fiery-eyed man with chess-set.
Blond man in white robes, before crystal cathedral -> Precisely the same man, but the cathedral had a great crack running through it.

Case came to the end of the corridor, and listened at the door. He heard an occasional hammering, and went through. He found a man working on a small piece of iron-work at a forge. The man was dark, wiry, clearly an experienced smith of some sort. He said, "You aren't the usual one." He explained that his name was Faber, and that he was visited, "by him, then her, then others." Case described the Triad, and he said the Seraph could have been one of the others. Case went through the door on the other side of the room.

Beyond was a room with a scale model of the universe. Case managed to focus it down to the church (still old and ruined) and to the university. Everything was frozen, caught in stasis or entropy, nothing moving. There were no other doors. He tried going back to Faber's room, but instead found a room with a mirror and another door with a sign above it. Through the mirror, he could see what looked like himself, unconscious in the back of Bernard's car. The sign above the door kept on changing, but replied to his comments. It said that outside the door was, "Bad. Very bad." It also said that it was itself "limited". When asked who made it, it said, "The Creator." When asked how to get out, it said, "Yourself or another way." Case tried to project himself into the mirror, and woke up in his body.

Nathaniel and Tony both tried to get close to Terry and resonate him, but both failed their resonance rolls. Bernard went to the power station to recharge. Case went back to the dojo, considered ascending but found he couldn't take the crystal with him. Lucas eventually returned Case's bike, and hung around. Tony worked on a report. Martin dropped his biker-host, found another, and hung around to watch Terry.

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