Those of you who are just coming into the story of Triangle Ascension may be put off by the large amount of information to be found on these web pages. These files are intended to be a short summary of the action up to this point, and will be updated every week or two.
Alex Bander, Euthanetos
Cab, Dreamspeaker
Glen Johnson, Akashic Brother
Kasee, Orphan
Reuben Cabot, Dreamspeaker
Sara Langley, Orphan
Saturday 6/19/98, 11:37pm
In Sara's room the sleeping form wakes and stretches. She wanders out
of her room. Cab is still comatose on the couch with tubes. 'God, what
a trip... If I can wake up after that, you can. Wake up Cab.' Cab
doesn't respond. She feels hungry and makes some noise in the kitchen
cooking spaghetti. There's a note on the refrigerator "Had to go.
Don't know when I'll be back. Sorry I can't tell more. Reuben."
Rachel walks into the kitchen in a robe with Kasee close behind. 'Hi Rachel. Hi Kasee. I'm grabbing a snack, want some?' Kasee stammers something about she must be feeling better now. Rachel looks over "Sara?"
'No, I'm not Sara'
"You're not Sara?"
'No, Sara's the wimp who can't talk, remember?'
Glenn pipes in, asking where she came from. The bedroom. Rachel asks if she was in the closet.
'No. You should know. I assume you put me to bed. Last I remember was the park.'
"But that was Sara..."
'Same difference.'
Spaghetti is dished out to all assembled. Kasee checks her out with Life (it's Sara's pattern) and Rachel with Prime (same). "It's not that split Avatar thing," Rachel muses. 'Why do you call it split? I'm just someone else. Crystal sent me to help Sara deal with some stuff.'
Kasee practically twitches and wants to know how she knows Crystal. She said she saw Crystal, and so did Cab. Glenn wants to know who Crystal is.
K "She started the Universe."
G "Didn't you do that?"
K "Yes, but she was there first. There were four..."
Transcript of following scene.
Continuation of transcript.
After wandering around in the woods for a while, the party finally arrives at the cave. It's still lit up like before, and the party enters to look for Maufa. Maufa receives them and offers them tea, and they explain their plight to her. She says that she goes to the Shadowlands once a year, but it is difficult during this season. Regardless, she will help them. She asks if they have anything of Balthazaar's, and they mention the carribeaner, which she says she can use. She says that one of her sister's will take them all back to the Chantry, and they all set off towards the road. When they reach the road, a station wagon is there, with a very thin, pale nun (in full habit) driving. Maufa and the nun whisper to each other on the trip back to the Chantry.
Cab is still unconscious, Reuben is still absent from the Chantry, Sara wakes up.
Maufa and the group are driven by Maufa's sister, the nun, to the house. Kasee, Rachel, Glenn, and Alex have had no sleep since they woke up Wednesday morning.
The party arrives at the Chantry and go inside. Maufa and the nun whisper, and the nun drives away. Rachel wanders in to wake Sara/Amathyst up, to warn her they have a visitor. Rachel returns to the livingroom and says that Sara will be out soon. Kasee asks if she's sure it's Sara? Cool. Kasee goes downstairs to rummage through Cab's things. The retrieves the carribeaner from Lord Balthazar, and the sword/dagger set from the garou at the cairn opening. Kasee wanders up and hands Maufa the beaner. Maufa suggests sleeping, it would work better at night. Kasee volunteers downstairs to sleep. Rachel gets Sara up to date, we'll be taking a trip to the Land of the Dead. Everyone goes to sleep.
When Kasee wakes up again she meditates for quintessence, and successfully doesn't blow up again. Letting some Paradox free Kasee notices that everything her hands touch is randomly teleported within a 5 foot sphere. Rachel talks to Alex about what people would remember of the trial date if the papers got lost, specifically her church congregation. They probably remember quite well and are curious what is going on. Glenn asks Kasee about Maufa. Alex wants to know, exactly why are we going? Rachel calls her church, tells them the charges were dropped and they should be getting the bail deposit back after awhile. She also asks the pastor for a leave of absence to accompany a friend on a trip. It's unusual, but she's been on temporary leave anyway, so OK, but when will she be back? Two weeks or so.
Glenn asks Kasee if she'd had pomegranite there. Kasee had, actually. Glenn assumes that's why she has to go back.
Rachel tries to have a conversation with her Avatar. They're still not really on good speaking terms. Rachel pleads that at least they're doing something now, would she please look at Cab's Avatar? Rachel's Avatar give in and reports that Cab's Avatar is deeply sleeping, probably because she's comatose. Rachel said Cab changed so much everyone was worried about her, if she'd come out of it, if her Avatar was damaged. Rachel's Avatar can't tell if it was damaged, it's sleeping so deeply she almost couldn't find it. Rachel said a powerful force pulled a glowing thing out of Cab, and another thing fled out of Cab, and by the way we're going to the Land of the Dead. Rachel's Avatar is not in favor of the trip, but mass destruction is worse, and would Rachel please tell her all about it when she gets home...
Glenn asks if the group would be talking to Balthazar, or visiting the Shadowlands. Maufa thinks they could probably just talk. A seance will need to be performed. Kasee hasn't done one before, so she volunteers to help. Maufa begins preparations in mid-afternoon over a spot in the livingroom but moves downstairs to the practice area as soon as she hears about it. The practice mat is rolled up out of the way so the concrete floor can be used for the seance. Alex also helps. Sara supervises. Alex checks to see if Maufa is properly shielding against ghosts. The large chalk circle is definately death magic, similar but not really Euthanatos magic, and some of the symbols are upside down from what Alex is used to. Maufa uses some of her blood, it's very pale. She salts the center of the circle, and takes a long time drawing the symbols. When Maufa cuts herself to bleed on the circle, she slices open across her wrist, and the blood is rapidly distibuted. It's fairly spectacular looking. The circle turns a dull red, very eery looking.
At sunset Maufa goes out alone into the woods. She returns half an hour later with a muddy white bunny rabbit. During this lull Alex calls his mentor at work at the hospital in Chapel Hill. She's very busy and only has a moment. Some of Alex's friends saw signs of trouble in the Shadowlands, has she heard of any, does she have any advice? She notes rumors of the Shadowlands falling apart, but they'd been static and this might be a good thing. The elders say this is normal. It would bring Oblivion closer to the surface, she'd recommend not going, and to be chary of using death magic there as it is very strong. He's calling a shade, someone a friend brought in is using symbols upside down, and has she heard of the Sluagh. She warns him to beware of symbols retrograde. She has heard of Sluagh, they're faeries, their paths have crossed before. She wants the story when it's over, it matters, it all matters. Maufa washes the bunny in the kitchen sink. When it begins to get agitated she looks at it, and it goes limp.
Maufa calls people to the basement and asks them to circle up holding hands. The circle is unnerving to look at, they symbols almost move. Kasee admires it. Rachel decides the church would NOT approve, and sits out in her room. Maufa takes a place in the center by the salt. She holds the bunny, strokes the bunny, happy bunny. Around its neck is a brass choker chain, it would look vicious if it weren't so pretty. Kasee thinks the bunny is going to be just fine, it would make a great pet. Sara tries to hold Kasee's hand and teleports sideways, thump. Taking her place again, she holds Kasee's shoulder and doesn't teleport again. The group sits inside the circle and Maufa begins to chant. Chanting continues for hours. Alex swoons after a few hours, the energy that is being channelled overcomes him. He remains conscious, but feels incredibly nautious and in general pretty crummy. The circle glows and burns. The salt burns a bright orange. The chanting is in a very choppy language. Lord Balthazar's face begins to appear in a corner. Kasee and Sara are both carrying quintessence, and both lose most of it, sucked right out by the ceremony. Maufa reaches out with a short staff to hook the beaner. Energy flares from Sara and Kasee. Sara undergoes a personality change into Amethyst. Without looking Maufa hurls the beaner into the corner, hitting Balthazar's face squarely. It flares and disappears with the face. In almost the same smooth motion Maufa yanks the chain and decapitates the bunny. The pull continues and hurls the chain into the opposite corner where darkness has begun to gather. The chain impales into the wall and shadows congeal around it. A face begins to form. Maufa takes out sharp knives and slices her forearms lenghtwise. An incredible amount of blood flows out, coating the circle and all within it. The face says "I am Miklan. I have come. You are mine." as it resolves further.
The light from the circle goes out. The salt goes out. It is VERY dark. Maufa continues chanting in her odd language. Alex has never heard of Miklan before. Via correspondence Alex looks around the room, but cannot see the face in the corner. Kasee tries to see the spirit, it feels similar to slipping through the shroud, she thinks they're inside a spirit and the shadowlands are coming.
Maufa stops chanting. Everyone feels a crushing weight on their chest, growing worse.
Rachel in her room can no longer see her book, the light has gone out. She tries to light a candle, but can't see the match light. And it's very quiet. Rachel calls out. She hears herself, but no responses. Outside on the cement nobody hears Rachel. Alex asks Maufa what she has done. She doesn't respond. Nobody can see her. Kasee announces that they're in a spirit.
Rachel tentatively comes out of her room. Once she has left her room everyone can hear each other, but everything sounds distant. Rachel asks if they've tried breaking the circle. No, and Maufa is gone. Rachel asks them to break the circle.
Kasee calls out "Hi Mister Spirit. Are you here to eat us?" Out of Kasee's mouth comes Kasee's voice, but it's not Kasee's words. "I have come."
Alex "Why?"
"To end it all."
Glenn "But I'm not done with it yet!"
Amethyst "Why do you want to end it all?"
The crushing weight releases.
Alex "For what purpose will you end it all?"
Amethyst "Kasee?"
Rachel "Is it gone?"
The spirit has released Kasee's mouth back to herself. She feels the spirit still there, but it's not paying as much attention.
"That was weird"
Glenn "That wasn't who you wanted, was it?"
"I think it would be Grand Maw, but she was usually female."
Alex "Anybody have a light?"
Rachel tries again to light her candle, successfully this time. The light switch doesn't work. If Kasee was posessed then the circle was obviously not protection, but Maufa isn't here to question. Kasee goes upstairs to check on Cab. The feeling remains with her of the spirit presence. Rachel follows. Cab is still on the couch, condition unchanged. The rest of the house is also without power. Kasee expands her awareness to compensate. In the basement the brass chain is still in the corner. Amethyst notes that in trying to talk to one spirit, they let through another one that they're afraid of.
Kasee tries again "Mister Spirit? Are you still here?" No response, but the feeling remains the same.
Back in the basement Alex says he was warned to not use Death Magic on a spirit, it brings out the worst in them. Glenn wonders what its worse side would be like.
"Hey Mister Spirit? What are you doing? Why are you here?" Rachel and Kasee look out the window. There are the normal trees, but interspersed among them are blasted trees, like from the Shadowlands. In the sky where the moon would be is a black sucking vortex. Everywhere there is an overlaying grayness of thunderous clouds. "Ooops."
Alex looks around with Entropy. Entropy is RAMPANT. Kasee goes outside. There is a cold, dry wind blowing. Alex goes to the chain still embedded in the wall, sticking straight out. His hand is shredded as he grasps the chain and tries to pull it from the wall, the chain is apparently edged.
Kasee notices Shadowland bleedover everywhere. She uses correspondence to look at Pullen Park. In Pullen Park the Great Tree still stands, there's the Belltower, and there's Balthazar's place. Very disoriented people mill in the streets. "Hey guys, I found Balthazar! He's in Pullen Park."
As the group assembles again upstairs Rachel suggests heading to Pullen Park. As people mull this over, Rachel looks around in Prime to see if there is a trail, or some indication that the Chantry is the point source, didn't see anything. Glenn asks what should be done if the spirits become hostile. Kasee mentions special weapons were used last time, they had spirits bound in them or something. Reuben didn't have any. Kasee has Glenn take "her sword" since she can't use it with the Paradox flaw, and he can use one.
Trying to get to Pullen Park, Rachel refuses to let Kasee ride with her on the motorcycle, even when Kasee swears she won't even think of trying to hold her. Annoyed, Kasee teleports straight to Pullen Park. Amethyst "KASEE!!!! I guess we ought to rescue her."
Glenn "What if we don't rescue her?"
Amethyst "I suppose we should go see about the void. I take no responsability for this, I didn't do it." Amethyst pulls out road maps to find a route to Pullen Park. Rachel discovers that her motorcycle doesn't start. Glenn and Amethyst also discover their cars won't start. Only Reuben's car will start (remember where he got it from?).
Kasee wanders around Pullen Park. Space is warped in weird ways to make room for the Shadowlands houses. She feels the spirit still there. Sighting Balthazar's house, she runs over to it. Kasee knocks loudly on the door, "Balthazar!" Jeeves answers the door. Kasee announces that Balthazar called her and is invited in. As Balthazar enters the room a huge 3 story wave from the West is seen rapidly moving towards them. It looks like a rounded distortion. Kasee asks what it is, but Balthazar doesn't know. The wave looks like it is blowing through buildings; most living people ignore it, most dead people are knocked down, some dead people are pushed along in front of the wave and some evaporate. A white film goes over the crest of the wave and is sucked into the void.
Kasee "This doesn't look good for you B. Why'd you call?"
Balthazar "Mostly for that. (points toward the sucking void) But now we have a new thing."
Kasee starts listing places they might hide from the wave, it seems to be affecting things from the Shadowlands and she doesn't want anything to happen to Balthazar. Jeeves rushes in and grabs Balthazar. He suggests Kasee gets out of the wave's way, it is taking souls, most living don't miss them. Jeeves rushes Balthazar out, as much as Jeeves can rush.
Kasee casts a fast and dirty teleport with great effort to return to the Chantry. Cab is alone on the couch, nobody else is home. Kasee peers out the window, but can't see the wave. She notices her watch isn't working.
Reuben's car full of Amethyst, Rachel, Alex, and Glenn arrives at Pullen Park. There are many people and many wraiths wandering around. Many of the wraiths look tattered. Most of the living look panicked, and some looting has begun. On Hillsborough there is particularly garish house, with a hot air balloon overhead. Being curious about the house, the balloon, and suspecting this might be Balthazar's place from Kasee's short description the group heads over for a closer look. Rachel knocks on the door. There is no answer. Rachel enters, over the objections of everyone else. Rachel begins to climb the stairs up, wanting to talk to the balloonists. Glenn gives in to his curiosity and begins to explore the house. Alex and Amethyst hang out, waiting for Balthazar.
Kasee explores the empty house. Nothing electrical works. In the basement there is no sign of Maufa, but the circle remains. Kasee is bored. She returns to the first floor, and occupies herself grabbing silverware and watching it teleport away. After what she thinks is 15 minutes Kasee assumes the wave has passed Pullen Park and teleports back there.
Amethyst is standing outside the front door of Balthazar's house, slamming on the decor and architecture with enthusiasm. A gang of 5 burly students charges the house, evidently intent on spreading the looting. Kasee sprints over to the house, yells "Get inside and lock the door!" and tries to drag Amethyst in with her. However, Kasee is still best buddies with Paradox and Amethyst is teleported sideways off the stairs in. The landing was jarring, but Amethyst is okay and scrambles up the stairs and into the house. Kasee slams her back against the door. Amethyst helps hold the door closed and frantically scrabbles for the lock. Alex adds his weight. Kasee yells for Glenn and Rachel as they begin to give way to the frats. Alex decides that if they can't keep the frats in maybe if the resistance suddenly goes away they'll fall inside and be easy to deal with, so he pushes Kasee and Amethyst away from the door. The frats come in, but don't stumble or fall. They glare at the party and demand that the party leave "their" house.
Kasee grabs one of the frats, hoping to teleport him toward the door. Unfortunately, he teleports right over Kasee's head, and falls on her. Alex steps back and handles the gun he has at the small of his back, but doesn't draw it. Amethyst steps back toward the all-concealing shadows. Kasee is grappled, but tries to worm a hand free to grab her captor again. Two frats bolt to the inside of the house, one is wrestling with Kasee, and the last two glare at Alex and Amethyst and demand they leave. Amethyst leaves, Alex begins to saunter out, and Kasee teleports the frat and herself 5 feet up. Guess who lands on the bottom. The frat slugs Kasee, picks her up, and throws her at the doorway. Kasee is kicked out the door and the door is slammed shut.
Glenn, currently exploring the second floor, notices a frat come running by. Glenn trips the frat, dumping him over the stairwell bannister. The frat is somewhat broken, but he'll live. Glenn goes to see what's going on, and runs into the other frat that dashed inside.
Glenn "What are you doing here?"
Frat "Get out!"
Glenn "Do you own this house?"
Frat "Do now!"
Glenn "You're not dead yet, you can't own this house."
The frat grabs a large candlestick and swings at Glenn. Predictable results happen, but this frat isn't as broken as the last one. Glenn heads down to see what's up.
Outside Amethyst looks for windows she can go through to get back inside. Kasee remembers stepping through walls in the Shadowlands, it was stepping sideways with Spirit. She tries this on Balthazar's door with results she didn't want. (She botched and a Correspondence Paradox Spirit - Shukrat Akhbar - comes running) (Rob loves his Book of Madness) A man appears out of the door. You can see into his face, you can see reflection in reflection in reflection like mirrors. He grabs Kasee, and they both vanish.
Kasee sees herself like she's looking in a mirror. She sees lots of selves lined up in front of her. She's nose to nose with herself. When she turns, she's there too. And it's kind of tight. "Hi." It echoes very loudly out of all Kasee mouths, and there's lots of her. They all mirror everything she says and does. She can't move to the side, she can only turn. She looks around with correspondence; there's lots of room, there's also lots of her. This has, however, bled off all her Paradox. She wants to teleport to The Tree in Pullen Park, but she's very wiped out, and can't muster the effort.
The party has just started coping with the seance run by Maufa, the appearance of a sucking black void where the moon was, the posession and then disappearance of Kasee, and the truly tasteless design and decor of Lord Balthazar.
Kasee has been grabbed by a man with a mirrored face, you look in at reflections of him, like a house of mirrors. They disappeared from Pullen Park, Raleigh, and Kasee reappeared somewhere else...
Kasee looks around and finds herself surrounded by herself. She is facing a mirror image of herself, with many more behind. When she turns, they turn, and there are more beside and behind her. She is, in fact, almost stepping on her own foot, because it's very crowded here. Kasee looks around in Correspondence and sees that there is actually a lot of room, it's just that there are also an awful lot of her. "Hi!" Kasee blinks her eyes in surprise and holds her ears as all of the Kasees mimic her every sound and move. And there are an awful lot of Kasees. She tries to put a hand down, and steps into her neighbor's hand to try for a better view, but overbalances as she steps into her own hand.
Thinking thoughts of home, or anywhere but here, Kasee wonders about teleporting to Pullen Park, but just feels too wiped. Craining her neck again, she sees in the distance a clear area. Gathering her strength, she focuses on that clear spot, and teleports to it. All the Kasees teleport and vanish.
As infinite Kasees try to fit into a single focused spot a bright light is emitted at that spot. A new Universe is born. (It's now the third time she's started a Universe, the thought of the Cult of Kasee frightens the players.) However, the old Universe so many of her were in is not so happy. In fact, it is destroyed, along with all its inhabitants. To see what happens when a Universe with lots of Paradox Spirits is destroyed and a new Universe with none is created, ask Rob, read the Book of Madness, or wait for future episodes... (Rob says this will fit in well with the plot.)
And, of course, only Kasee knows for sure that all of that happened, none of the rest of us have a clue... And only Alex knows she was grabbed and vanished... If he was looking that way at the time...
Back in Pullen Park, over at Balthazar's house, the saga continues.
Glenn evicts the remaining frats from the lobby of Balthazar's house. Hearing the noise, Amethyst wanders back over to the front door. After Glenn, Alex, and Rachel are safely inside, and Kasee nowhere to be found, the door is locked again. The group wonders again exactly why they came, and why they are still here when Kasee no longer is. Amethyst is in favor of going home. Glenn wants to stay, he hasn't seen all of the neat house yet. Rachel wanders around to look for a signalling device to talk to the ballooners. Alex looks for a library, and Amethyst decides to accompany Glenn and make sure he doesn't find anything too interesting.
Suddenly Amethyst's head whips up and she blurts out "Crystal!!! Stop doing that!!" Having regained the attention of the party, they ask what just happened. "Crystal keeps talking in my head. I wish she'd stop that! She could just materialize, or talk to somebody else's head. She said something about 'several billion down and three more to go'. Grrrrmph!" Alex returns to his library search as Rachel tries to sit Amethyst down and calm her down, and Glenn goes to find something for a soothing tea. Amethyst remains loud and irate. When Glenn returns with the tea she dumps it out. "Well, I guess you didn't want the whisky that was in there also," notes a bemused Glenn. "Whisky! Why didn't you tell me?! Where's the bottle?!!!?" Rachel returns to the top of the house to watch the balloonists.
Alex finds a very large library sorted by book color and size. He searches for books on the Shadowlands or the Dead. This takes a while. Eventually he finds a book "A Wraith's First Guide to The Shadowlands", it's a pop-up book.
(opens the cover)
'You're dead. That's OK. We're all dead. It's not so bad.'
(turns the page)
'This is Stygia. You live in Stygia. We like Stygia.'
(turns the page)
'These are Spectres. They're bad.'
(turns the page)
(fails a dodge, rolls soak)
Rachel yells down through the stairwell that the balloon is coming down. The balloon lands in the garage. Rachel, Glenn, and Amethyst gather anxiously. It is Lord Balthazar and Jeeves. Introductions are made to Balthazar. "I'm Rachel. We're friends of Kasee." "I'm Amethyst. I'm not Kasee's friend." "Well, companions then," amends Rachel. "I'm Glenn. She gets into a lot of trouble, doesn't she?" (meaning Kasee) Glenn asks if he remembers being in their basement, very dark, lots of chanting. "Someone called. I answered the phone. Someone hit me on the head. You wouldn't happen to know who?" "Yes," Glenn replies. Only Jeeves keeps a straight face as Balthazar continues to look at Glenn expectantly, eyebrows swiveling frantically. "She calls herself Maufa." "Do you have her true name, or any personal effects? I'd pay well..." Amethyst mentions the chain in the wall, but cautions that Alex cut his hand trying to pull it out. Balthazar counts heads and notices Alex is missing. Amethyst says he went to the library. Balthazar looks worried, and eventually admits that they should go find Alex.
A cross between a raptor and a worm is eating Alex's face in the library.
Balthazar crosses to Alex. A tube runs from the critter to the book. Balthazar runs his hands down the tube, like he's playing it. He strokes the tube, and the critter, and calms them into the book. He reaches out, takes the book, closes the book, and sets it down. Alex sits down. "This is the carnivorous book section. You shouldn't be here." Glenn asks what happens to things that get eaten. "Into print. It's publish or perish."
People leave the library and sit somewhere more comfy. Balthazar offers drinks all around, hemlock tea to Amethyst. Rachel asks why he was calling Kasee. The Shadowlands are dying, and Balthazar remains curious how the group avoided the wave. Wave? What wave? Oblivion. Many people were knocked down, some were vaporized, Balthazar hates it when that happens. Alex asks who was vaporized. The dead ones. Does that normally happen? Not while Balthazar's been here.
Rachel says the Shadowlands seem to have merged with the Lands of the Living, but Balthazar is convinced they must all be dead. You'd be surprised how many, and who, show up and don't know they're dead. Does Balthazar has ways of checking? Decapitation works, if you didn't go anywhere after your head rolling you were dead, if you moved and reappeared, you weren't dead then. Also making them into bricks, he only makes dead people into bricks. Glenn wonders if he's tried living yet, or if it only works on dead people. Balthazar gets an intent, curious, speculative expression on his face. Rachel brings the discussion back to Balthazar calling Kasee. Apparently, Jeeves thought it would be a good idea, Balthazar doesn't know why, usually it works better that way. Jeeves is called for.
Jeeves says they called because the Shadowlands are dying and taking everyone with it, changing the status quo. He doesn't know what will happen afterward, but suspects it must be bad. Kasee was called because she was part of a powerful band of mages that surely must be able to help. He and Balthazar narrowly escaped the wave by going over it in the hot air balloon. In its wake they saw the destruction of many undead souls. The living appeared only mildly impacted, but they decided not to risk the wave. It effected even the buildings, although living buildings remained unaffected. Jeeves is not familiar with the current group of mages, and asks how they are acquainted with the other group. They're acquainted with Kasee. There's only one active member of the old band remaining, and he's gone. (And if there were One...)
Alex wants to go see somebody. Balthazar feels the more who can help, the better. The group leaves, and drives to Chapel Hill to see Alex's mentor Sarah at the hospital where she works. On route 40 they get a lot of looks, they're the only car working. Worrying that someone might try to reposess the car, the group leaves 40 and takes 54. There are scenes of widespread looting already here also.
By the time the Hospital is reached, it's 6:30 am Friday 6/26. Alex asks that people remain to guard the car, and Glenn accompanies Alex in. After wandering a bit the Head Nurse is found, and says Sarah is in room 14. In room 14 Sarah lies in bed hooked to fluids, unconscious. Alex and Glenn try to assess her condition. Alex check the chart, Sara was admitted at 12:58am after being found unconscious; life signs are stable and she was placed on fluids. Glenn finds that he needs extra effort to use Life to check on things. Sarah is stable and very, very, very unconscious. There is no physical trauma which would have caused this. Checking for a mind, she has one but it's very disconnected, like a coma. Alex wonders if she lost her soul to the wave. He also wonders if people can still die now that the Lands of the Dead are merged.
Glenn and Alex go to the ER area to see if people still die. Soon a multiple gunshot wound victim is admitted, and rushed to emergency surgery. The mages watch through the door. Frantic activity around the victim is observed. Suddenly the people back away from the operating table. All but two people rush madly toward the doors. Alex and Glenn wisely step away from the door, and avoid being trampled. Glenn slips inside after the rush and Alex remains at the door. One of the remaining two people begins swinging wildly at Glenn, who dodges. Glenn asks why he's being attacked. The man stops cold, does a doubletake, "You're not one of... You've got to help!"
Eeery screams are heard. Shadows move and coalesce in corners. Alex wants to leave, but Glenn stays. The man goes after the shadows, but passes through them. Out of the shadows comes a very sketchy looking creature with long arms and long claws. Alex leaves and tries to watch through the door, but can't see and reenters. One shadow creature grabs for the victim's body, a 15 or 16 year old black male. An afterimage is seen being pulled from the boy's body by the shadow. The big orderly attacks the shadow, grabs, and screams. Another shadow coalesces and grabs the other orderly, who screams. Another shadow heads for Alex and Glenn. Alex makes it out the door, and Glenn dives out of the way towards the door. The big orderly turns as a third arm sprouts from him, out of his chest, and rips.
Glenn draws the sword he got from Kasee. There appear to be three shadows at any given moment. The third shadow goes after the soul of the big impaled orderly. Glenn wades in to save him. Connecting with the sword, he now has the creature's complete attention.
Alex runs out to the car to get the preacher, Rachel. She must be able to help. Amethyst had fallen asleep in the car. Alex tells Rachel that wraiths are here, Glenn's taking the direct route to remove them, maybe you could do something? Amethyst stays to guard the car, and returns to sleep after locking herself in.
A second shadow is now interested in Glenn, and is in position to attack his rear. Glenn retreats back at an angle so that he will fight the second wraith, who dodges. The first shadow on the big orderly misses Glenn.
The other orderly bites the dust. Glenn is hit by a shadow, it is _very_ cold. All three shadows are now free to deal with Glenn, who maneuvers again to face only one, and connects solidly. Glenn is hit shortly after by another shadow. There is a large black blast. The orderly bodies vaporize. Glenn and the spectres are knocked back, and the room seems lighter. One last wail from the shadows and a final scream from the orderlies linger and fade.
Out in the car, Alex, Amethyst, and Rachel hear these final screams. Alex and Rachel go pelting into the ER, while Amethyst goes back to sleep.
Glenn sits down in the OR to heal himself. Rachel asks what happened, and Alex asks if he's OK. "They left. I'm mostly OK. The orderlies are gone, but they weren't too happy, the shadow things took them." A discussion on death, the shadowlands, oblivion, and the recycling of souls follow as Glenn continues to catch his breath. The body of the gunshot victim that started this whole ruckus is still there on the table. Glenn says all you have to do is detatch the soul. Alex and Rachel discuss fighting Spectres. Rachel knows the basics of exorcisms, but nothing specific, and guesses she could do one. Alex wants to know how to protect himself. He also suggests leaving the hospital.
Glenn goes to the supply area and bandages his gashes; they look like they're from a V shaped blade. Glenn's contacts are too far away to reach easily, but Alex does know somebody else he might ask. He's not very enthusiastic about it, old Billy has gotten far comfier with death and its point of view than any semi-sane mage would. He's described as creepy feeling, twisted, having gone very far down roads most people shouldn't know exist. He works at the Vet School in Raleigh, and other places. Rachel leads the way to make sure Amethyst and the car are still OK. Amethyst wakes up, and the car is fine.
It is now 7:30 am Friday 6/26/98.
The group returns to the Chantry to try for some sleep. They haven't actually pulled an all nighter, they had slept during the day Thursday in preparation for the seance.
At the Chantry Amethyst goes to bed. Alex, Glenn, and Rachel go look downstairs, to see if their rooms are safe to use. There's a blast patten in the basement walls, like the wall buckled and twisted with some bricks turned in the wall. The matt is dust, all ritual traces are gone at the circle, and all wall hangings (including practice weapons) are dust. It doesn't feel like an Entropy or decay thing, more like someone twisted it. The chain is still sticking out of the wall. Alex and Glenn go to sleep while Rachel spends 3 hours doing a purification ritual.
Most people wake up around 5pm, but Rachel is still asleep. And, of course, so is Cab. When Glenn awakens he wonders if Life magics are harder here also, or were merely harder at the hospital. Yep, same effect in place here at the Chantry. Cab is still stable in her coma, but has slipped away a little more. It would be bad for her to die now, here in the Chantry, more Spectres would probably come. Glenn cleans up Cab, hooks up a new bag, and wonders where that useless Life Master went to.
Alex and Glenn leave a note for Rachel, and leave to see old Billy at NC State's Vet School. Sara goes to study in the library after a bite to eat. There is still no power, and therefore no tap water, but there is a pond in the back.
Alex and Glenn find old Billy vivisecting a rat. He thinks it's the End of The World. Alex says nobody's soul would be recycled then. Glenn asks what the world would be recycled as. Pop Tarts. All flavors. Where did you think they came from? There are more worlds than this one...
Billy puts the rat's heart back in place and sews it up. It wakes up and begins to wander off. Billy casually reaches out and breaks its neck. "The rat thought it got a second chance. Nobody does." Alex mentions shadows he saw come out of a guy that died which attacked them. Billy asks for a description. Glenn shows his gashes and says they were very cold. Billy says, just give them a few days... He pulls up his shirt to display scars like the marks Glenn has. Just what, exactly does he mean by give them a few days? Just give them a few days, Billy repeats as he grins. He likes the idea of the End. He'd like to see how many he can help out the door before he locks up. Alex asks how to fight. Billy suggests special weapons, or you could talk to them nicely. Glenn mentions they didn't say much. Billy says they just talk kind of high, just let it in. They don't say many things. Die? No, by then death is far behind... Alex wishes Billy luck shutting down shop later, and Alex and Glenn leave. Billy tells them to stop by any time for a chat...
"Just what exactly did he mean about 'Just wait a few days' ?!?" Alex doesn't know, can't Glenn heal himself? Glenn has done as much as he can for now, the rest will take time. Alex suggests cautery. Glenn would rather wait a few days and see it it's really needed, it just causes more damage. And, by the way, don't let the Spectre song in Alex says. Glenn reassures Alex he hadn't even considered it, the Spectres would then be waaay too close...
End of gaming session...
Alex and Glenn leave old Billy at the NCSU Vet School and head back to the Chantry.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the group an extremely disheveled and shell-shocked Reuben steps out of the small metal door at the base of the belltower. He looks around, and things are definately not right.
At the Chantry Glenn finds pliers and tries to pull the chain out of the basement wall. He is unsuccessful. As Rachel examines the chain in Prime, Glenn begins chipping at the surrounding wall with a hammer and chisel. The chain's pattern is writhing, there are no spells hung on it, and it doesn't seem to be magic in itself. As more of the chain becomes free it begins to writhe like a snake, causing Glenn to wonder if it is a shapechanged snake.
Rachel releases a small amount of Paradox, with the usual results, apparently the merge with the Shadowlands does not affect that. Glenn says he's taking the chain to Balthazar, as it whips around to try to bite Alex. Rachel delves into the storage area and holds out a small board, which the chain happily embeds itself in. A dark patch forms where the chain is, spreading. As the smell of burning wood begins to waft flames ignite on the board. Glenn releases the board, and stamps out the fire. Glenn gets the chain embedded in a brick, and it obligingly stiffens like it was in the wall.
Rachel, Alex, Glenn, and Sarah all pile into Reuben's car and head for Balthazar's house. Following directions from Alex the party successfully find an alternate route. Apparently if they had retraced the original route some off roading would have been needed.
Reuben looks around confusedly. Seeing what looks like Balthazar's house, Reuben wanders over and knocks on the door, to be admitted by Jeeves. Balthazar joins him in the parlour, very glad to see him, although nobody had bothered Balthazar since the first night (last night). When Reuben asks why Balthazar's house is here, Balthazar wonders why Reuben's city is here, his house has always been here. Reuben professes ignorance, he's been off the plane, but it looks like a crossover is in effect. Reuben also wonders when it is, he has no idea how long he's been gone. It's October 14, 4236. Balthazar had assumed Reuben was working on the crossover, the other mages were; they are supposed to get back in touch. Reuben almost gets to borrow Balthazar's phone, but Jeeves reminds Balthazar that Reuben isn't dead yet, and can't use the phone. So Reuben and Balthazar have no way to get in touch with the other mages. Reuben thanks Balthazar, it's been a typical experience, and heads back outside. Walking to the Belltower Mart Reuben gets the eery feeling he's being watched. Being cautious he tries to shift himself to be stronger, but Life magics apparently require much greater effort now. (Janet "It's magical constipation!") Finding that the store payphone is not working, and having no idea where his watcher is, Reuben returns to Balthazar's house. Jeeves leads him to a guest room for the night.
Still following Alex's directions for clear roads, Reuben's car ends up on Route 1 passing Jordan Lake. The group drives closer to the nuclear power plant to get a better look at a very unusual sight, a still framed mushroom explosion cloud hanging over a very bright glow. Alex takes a look with Entropy, but finds none. There is an incredible lack of progression toward disorder. Sarah looks with Forces. There are many patterns, HUGE patterns, all frozen. Rachel looks with Prime. There are a large number of spells hanging, at least one in full effect. She says there are containment spells around the explosion, maybe they shouldn't be disturbed. However, maybe the group should get a closer look, anyone who can do spells like that can probably help the current predicament with the Shadowlands. Since they're still a few miles from ground zero, the group drives closer.
As the road runs near the lake a shimmering wall surrounding the explosion comes right up to the lake. A person is suspended in midair, like he was diving into the lake. He is a big man dressed in black, and his arms cover his head like he was desperately diving toward the lake. He is just inside the wall, his forearm perhaps a foot from the boundary.
The group pulls off the road and examines the wall. Alex tosses a pebble at the wall, it hits the wall and begins to slow, growing slower until it hangs in midair. Glenn looks for rope in the trunk. Sarah reaches in toward the man. It feels like ever thickening jello, growing very cold. She can feel it closing in on her arm. Rachel sees Sarah reaching in, grab's Sarah's other arm, and pulls. Sarah pulls him along the arc of his dive toward the lake. As his body crosses the wall, the man's fall resumes normal speed and dumps him in the lake. Rachel fishes the guy out, getting her robes all wet.
The big man gruffly declines to fill in details about the explosion, but comments that these things (nuclear plants) are notoriously dangerous and can't be trusted. In fact, they should leave the area immediately; he doesn't mention, but he's seen the freeze effect lose ground to the explosion. The group continues to question him as they give him a ride away from the blast area. Rachel is particularly outspoken, announcing that she belongs to the Celestial Chorus and asking which Tradition he follows, because they are looking for a specialist. His name is David, and he admits to knowing the one who hung the freeze spell, although he's gone now. David might be of help as a specialist, but when Rachel points out the window at the black sucking void his jaw drops in surprise, evidently he's not that type of specialist. David, Rachel, and Sara (via her writing board) continue to chat during the remainder of the drive to Balthazar's house. Rachel inquires if David's had dealings with the Technocracy, and if he's gotten any of them. He has, with great satisfaction.
At Balthazar's house Jeeves once more admits the group to the parlour to await Lord Balthazar. Balthazar greets them and mentions one of their group has shown up. Kasee? Nope. Reuben? Nope. Balthazar sends Jeeves to fetch the other guest, who is indeed Reuben. Rachel and David aquire towels from Jeeves.
Lord Balthazar begins setting up candles and drawings on a round table in another room, centered around the chain in the brick. Alex warns him that it bites, and asks if he knows what it is. They're about to find out. The group is seated around the table:
| Balthazar | ||||
| Rachel | Alex | |||
| David | Sarah | |||
| Reuben | Glen | |||
| Jeeves | ||||
Lord Balthazar begins a deep screetching chant, like nails on a blackboard, keening. The candles flicker and dim. The chanting continues. A tingle runs through people in the circle, their arms and chests feeling the power. The chain begins to undulate. Suddenly the brick shatters. The chain falls to the table, the end with the small ring seeming to look around, and fixing itself toward Balthazar. Behind Balthazar shadows move, and Maufa's shape forms. She looks around, and slowly smiles. She is standing, and her hands slowly undulate, matching the movement of the chain. Alex asks her what happened, how did she make the shroud disappear? Maufa answers that she doesn't know what happened. She is at home, afraid, the group should come over. Glenn asks why she threw the carribeaner at Lord Balthazar, and what is the other entity. She was trying to cement him into reality, she doesn't know anything about the other entity. When asked about the vortex she suggests going closer. It is in the sky, but they're mages after all. Glenn remarks that should make the group too smart to do that. Alex asks why her hands mirror the movement of the chain. Maufa denies that they do, and she says she cannot see anyone, only hear them; who is there? Did they find Lord Balthazar? Glenn acknowledges that the group has found Lord Balthazar but does not mention who is in the group. After replying that her sister is well Maufa asks how the quest is going, the quest to find out about the vortex and help Lord Balthazar, whom she has not met before. Alex thinks Maufa is responsible for everything, and Maufa asks if Balthazar is. Glenn thinks it was the other entity which wanted to eat everything that caused the vortex, where would Maufa suggest going for information? She suggests going to the source. Alex replies "That's why we went to you," as he tries to determine her truthfulness with Entropy, failing. Glenn asks where the source is. In the sky, of course.
The chain suddenly launches itself at Lord Balthazar. Rachel, holding Balthazar's hand for the circle, slams her weight against him, throwing him slightly to the side. The chain misses Balthazar and embeds itself in Maufa's chest. Maufa screams an eery high gasping whisper as her image disolves, taking the chain with it. Rachel blushes and apologizes to Lord Balthazar, but Balthazar thanks her profusely.
Alex believes the image was not Maufa, it was the other entity. Glenn thinks it was her, and she's not very nice. Balthazar states that he summoned the owner of the chain. Glenn asks for a telescope to view the sucking void. Alex reminds everyone that after Maufa threw the carribeaner at Lord Balthazar she threw the chain and summoned Miklan. Lord Balthazar heads to the library to research Miklan. He grabs a book off the shelf and drops it, opening it to a picture of swirling darkness which resembles the swirling darkness from Maufa's ceremony. The printed language of the book is unknown. Balthazar peers at the picture, "Looks like Mictlantecuhtli. The text is Aztec." Miklan is the God of Death/Destruction/Total Anihilation, he kind of sweeps up at the end. Glen wonders if he caused the vortex. Balthazar says that from the stories he might cause just about anything. His enemies are all things Good, nothing specific, it's a short book. It's a book about Death and Destruction throughout the ages. Alex asks what to do if a spectre shows up, and Glen asks if his injury was from a spectre. Balthazar doesn't know, he's avoided spectres quite successfull and never seen any. He suggests running and screaming. Reuben examines Glen's injury. It look similar to wasting diseases. It is still badly active and has already weakened the patterns. "Oh, no." "What?" "I can't do anything about it right now..." (he'd need Quintessence anyway, it's an aggravated injury). Alex looks at the injury with Entropy, it's got very heavy entropic activity.
Glen tucks his shirt back in and looks through the telescope. It's pointed at a very interesting scene in a women's dorm across the street. He readjusts it so he can see the vortex. The view is much the same as from regular viewing down here. There are flying things exiting the vortex, and it isn't sucking clouds or trees. "Balthazar, what's that?"
'The telescope was just set there...'
"The black winged things."
'Oh.' Balthazar looks. 'Oh, my, that can't be good.'
The group returns to the library, where Balthazar pulls out another book. As it falls it drops open to a page with similar winged creatures. This passage is in Arabic script, and Balthazar can't read it, he only speaks 24 languages. Of course Jeeves can't read it either, he only speaks 17 languages.
Sarah writes on her board, asking Reuben if she should ask Crystal what's going on. Reuben is surprised to hear about Crystal again. Sarah says Crystal keeps passing on hints, like "The Void is awake."
Alex wants a book on spectres in English. Balthazar says he doesn't have much in English. He has a book in German, but it's very bad, and he has no books in Sanskrit, they weren't interested in spectres. Alex tells Balthazar he saw a man die, and things came out of him and attacked Glenn, were they spectres? Balthazar replies that yes, eventually Death causes a person to become insubstantial.
Jeeves finds a guest room for everyone for the rest of the night. Rachel requests another shot of the excellent alcohol Balthazar passed out, and Jeeves hands her a bottle dated 1546. Everyone sleeps, and wakes the next morning.
Sarah, not Amathyst, wakes up and shows up for breakfast with everyone.
There is a large white halo 5 or 6 times the diameter of the sun surrounding the sun, but not connected to the vortex. It's very bright, and it's very noticeable where the halo ends, like a ball around the sun.
Glenn hunts through the library for books in English, starting at a corner and working his way around. Alex watches Glenn with great amusement.
The group gathers and brainstorms. Resulting solved enigmas are:
Sarah "Crystal, why did you create the vortex?"
Crystal "I didn't create the vortex."
Sarah "Didn't you make it open?"
Crystal "Yeah, but it's been around forever. How did you know?"
Sarah "The others did something and found out."
Crystal "Well, it wasn't completely intentional. But you've got to admit it's working really well."
Amathyst "Working?"
Crystal "Getting rid of mages and potential mages. You know, several billion down and three more to go."
Amathyst "Why do you want to kill them?"
Crystal "They're servants of the Wyld, Honey."
Amathyst "Aren't there five here?"
Crystal "There were only three... Heey! Where'd you pick them up?"
Amathyst "One from a nuclear power plant, and the other wandered back from where the last week took months. So why do you need all the Wyld to go away?"
Crystal "How else can I win?"
Amathyst "Against who?"
Crystal "Are you with me or against me?"
Amathyst "If I don't know what's going on, I can't help you win. Who are you playing agains? Can you tell me the rules? Please?"
Crystal "My sisters. It's the only way I can win. If everything is left of Order."
Amathyst "Does Miklan have a part in your game?"
Crystal "Who?"
Amathyst "What about the flying things coming out of the void? Are those your pieces?"
Crystal "Probably agents of Morgan. We'll deal with them later. I figure if I can take Merrie out, it'll be only me and Morgan. I can take her."
Amathyst "If you win does all the magic go away?"
Crystal "Well, yeah. Isn't that better?"
Amathyst "Yes, but will the world still be here?"
Crystal "Yes, otherwise Morgan wins. Merrie's mostly winning as long as it's still going. She bet she can keep it going for a whole Universe, all the way out and back and Merrie wins. If I can freeze it I win. If Morgan can destroy it she wins. Merrie's mostly been just creating stuff."
Amathyst "And Morgan's been destroying!"
Crystal "Yeah, just destroying stuff."
Amathyst "So probably that God of death thing is Morgan's."
Crystal "Well, yeah."
Amathyst "Do you know why the shroud thingy is gone?"
Crystal "No, but it's not so bad. Luckily the vortex will wipe out all the Shadowlands. I should stop it before it destroys the Earth. Or, I could let it wipe out this world and save the other ones. As long as I keep some other part around. I mean, we've already lost one shard realm this week. I've gotta go. You could come along! What I want you to do, is you should proably shut down the vortex 'cause it's probably too much."
Amathyst "Should I push the others through? Or do I need them to close it?"
Crystal "Bonus! I like you!"
Amathyst "How do we close it?"
Crystal "You'll have to figure that out yourself."
Amathyst "Don't you know?"
Crystal "Of course I know! I'm a major power of the universe! I gotta go now."
Amathyst "OK, I'll talk to you later."
Amathyst says "Crystal doesn't know how to close the vortex." Reuben is surprised "Sarah just said something!" Rachel responds "Same body, different people..."
End of the episode, Saturday 6/27/98 in Lord Balthazar's house, temporarily coinciding with Hillsborough Street, Raleigh...
Saturday evening, June 27, 1998 by normal calendars; October 15, 4236 if you believe the very dead Lord Balthazar.
The lands of the Dead and the lands of the Living have merged in at least the Triangle area. If you look around there is an odd juxtaposition of buildings and residents from both realms. High in the sky is a sucking black vortex. Dangerous looking black winged things fly out of the vortex, as souls are sucked into it. There is a large white corona around the sun. In Raleigh by NC State is a particularly garish looking house, with as many architectural styles as there are colors. Inside is a small group of confused mages who may be the last hope for Living, Dead, and the rest of Earth...
And you can blame Rob Napier for it...
The gathering of Rachel, Alex, Glenn, Reuben, and David see Sarah stare off into space (as there is a conversation in her head with Crystal). Amathyst says "Crystal said it's always been there, but it hasn't always been open." There is a rousing discussion about whether it would be better to plug the vortex, disconnect the vortex, or overload the vortex.
Alex tries another look at the vortex with Entropy. It is a massive entropic effect, very pure, and it is devouring everything near it. The vortex gains negative power as it devours, becoming strongly more negative. This is very odd, as most spell effects don't grow in strength, and most fade out with time. The vortex has no maker's mark, but Alex sees a small bright light at the center.
Amathyst "Crystal said the things coming out of it were Morgan's."
Reuben (with an odd glint in his eye) "Do we have a mind mage?"
Amathyst "Sarah. If I understand it Morgan favors entropy, so maybe that's how she does it. I don't know. I don't understand."
Glenn "So there's a person behind that thing? Can you talk to her?"
Amathyst "Morgan?"
Rachel "So, maybe if we all call out at once... One... Two... Three... Morgan? Kasee isn't here so somebody has to do something stupid."
Amathyst "Morgan doesn't talk to me, and she's a bitch. She just told me to shut up, and she was very rude."
Reuben "Do we have anyone experienced in powers of the mind? You see this really nifty tattoo? Could you look at it and see if there's an entity? Trust me..."
Alex and Rachel discuss reversing polarity of various things and flows. Perhaps the vortex would get smaller if it fed off weaker flows? Like antimatter? A Prime Master would really be helpful...
Glenn fixes his gaze on Reuben's tattoo, searching for a mind. He sees a crystalline structure, that's not usual. "There's something there. It looks like a big quartz crystal." "Try talking to it." Glenn sends out greetings. He sees a mind effect come out of his head. It ripples along the crystal. It's so beautiful. So beautiful. So beautiful.
"Glenn, are you having any luck? Glenn? Glenn?"
Reuben moves his arm behind him, hiding the tattoo on his wrist. Glenn keeps his eyes glued to the tattoo, swinging his head around to follow Reuben's wrist. Amathyst gets annoyed, disbelieving the idiocy and wanting the "magic" to stop. Nobody notices anything.
David acquires the now vacant telescope and examines the vortex with Forces. All forces going near the vortex are sucked in with a rotational pull, and devoured. Rachel sings a song as she takes a turn at the telescope after David, looking at the vortex with Prime. Actually, it's not quite singing, but Rachel is quite loud and exuberant about it.
Glenn continues to swivel and track Reuben's wrist, seriously weirding out Reuben. "Glenn! Wake up!" yells Amathyst, wanting more than anything else for him to stop this nonsense. (Rob is impressed by the effort.) A blinding white flash erupts from Amathyst. The mind effect collapses. Cracks form in the walls and floor of Lord Balthazar's house, and a window shatters.
Glenn "What happened to the floor?"
Alex "What did you do?"
Sarah shrugs.
Rachel looks aghast, "Sarah?" Sarah nods. "Do you know what just happened?" Sarah shrugs again. David ambles over to Rachel "Ma'am, does that happen often?" "Every few hours." Sarah darts around the room, looking for something. A smile lights her face as she picks up her writing board *Amathyst wanted him to wake up* Glenn looks back over to Reuben.
"It's a very nice crystal. It didn't say hello back."
Alex "It's a tattoo, not a crystal."
Glenn "It all depends on how you look at it."
Rachel "So you saw a crystal."
As people examine the extent of the damage it becomes evident that nothing structural happened. Jeeves enters the room and quickly surveys the damage, wearing a look only a disapproving Butler can. He wonders who caused the damage. Glenn asks Jeeves if he can see souls hidden in things, like that tattoo. Jeeves replies that it's not a wraith, sir. He asks if there isn't a mage place better suited to the current activities? Sarah and Reuben look at each other and chat. If the Chantry is still usable, no power is just fine. David mentions that he hates to impose, but the group appears to be the only ones with any knowledge of the vortex. The group departs, much to Jeeves' relief.
It is now even quieter en route on roads that last night. There is no critter background noise. There are some barrel fires, and some dumpster fires, but it's eery. There are few people seen, and those few skulk furtively. Once at the Chantry, Reuben stands on the porch and gazes around, seeking signs of life with Life. There are life patterns, but they look like they've melted somewhat, and they're sloppy and pooling on the bottom. Inside Cab is still alive, but her life signs are lower and more irregular; very faint. David asks if the group needs a hand, like running water. Reuben says not to worry. David nods and starts chewing on a cigar stub.
Alex goes outside to do some experimenting with Entropy. He's still not sure exactly how bad is "doing Entropy magic in the Shadowlands is Bad" and wants to find out. He checks the local entropy level and settles himself for random chance testing with dice. After successfully manipulating dice rolls for a while Alex checks the local entropy level again. It has noticeably risen, and a nearby tree has an entropy spike. The spike rips open into a black hole. Alex tries an order effect on the hole, causing it to close somewhat. Shadowy fingers emerge from the hole. A shadowy creature like Alex saw in the hospital pulls itself out of the hole, screaming. Alex attempts order to throw the creature into stasis, but fails. (dodge, roll soak)
The creature grows two large (huge) V shaped blades out of its hands, and strikes Alex hard. It hurts like hell, like being stabbed with a nitrogen icicle, and Alex lets loose a gut wrenching scream of agony. (for anyone who doesn't know, liquid nitrogen is incredibly cold and is used to flash freeze things)
Alex, fighting for his life, has an epiphany, and suddenly knows a little Spirit magic, and strikes back with ordered Entropy at the spectre. The spectre slashes at Alex again, embedding the blades in his torso, holding him close.
Alex knows that he can't survive much longer without help, and knows that a mage can throw all of himself into one final spell, increasing his potency with the last of his life energy. However, Alex also hasn't been able to use Spirit to contain or dispel the spectre, and even one last final spell would not be sufficient to do so, he's still a Spirit novice...
Alex tries another desperate measure, forcing every erg of power he has into ramming order down the spectre's throat. Alex's spell is spectacular, but he looses consciousness from the strain, not knowing if he succeeded in ending the spectre.
The air rings with agonizing screams and keening wails. Nobody in the Chantry has any idea what is screaming, but it can't be good, and everyone bolts outside seeking the source.
Glenn comes tearing into the back forest, and sees Alex's body splayed on the ground. Over the body are five shadowy creatures fighting over Alex for dinner. Glenn risks a Life spell to detect if Alex is still with us, Alex is very very faintly alive. The creatures fight for keeps, one staking Alex's leg and trying to drag it closer to feed, but getting slashed by another creature.
The rest of the group arrives, and stands horrified and stunned. They stare into the darkness, watching the creatures and whispering "How the hell do we fight that?" and "I have no clue." David suddenly raises his fist in frustration and lets loose a fireball at the spectres. The spectres ignore the fireball and continue fighting. The tree behind the spectres does not ignore the fireball, and bursts into flames, lighting the battle scene. David next tries to shift Alex's body away from the spectres, pulling it with shifted gravity.
Reuben tries to pull Quintessence to be able to attack the spectres or heal Alex, but fails. Rachel uses her Prime skills and "rubs the bones" of a spectre, grabbing its pattern and shaking violently. The spectre now gives Rachel its full attention, sprouting a V blade out of its chest and shooting it at her. As the blade passes Glenn he attempts to use the garou sword to hack it, but misses. Fortunately the V blade misses Rachel. (Rob and Beth pass notes)
Reuben again attempts to grab local Quintessence, and fails. David manages to move Alex's body out from under the spectres. The spectre fighting Rachel notices Glenn and shoots a blade at him, Glenn dodges. Glenn attacks the spectre as it comes closer.
Amathyst tried to make the magic go away, her results were not visible, and she hides behind a tree, shivering.
Rachel sings songs from Carmen as she practices her Prime Arts and "rubs the bones" of another spectre, whacking it with her enchanted extending baton.
The fighting spectres are very busy, one spectre is being eaten by two others (making three), one fights Glenn (making four), and one watches Rachel (making five). Reuben rends the spectre attacking Glenn, weakly. Amathyst once more tries antimagic, once more having a small non visible affect and cries out to Crystal for help. The two spectres eating another finish eating, and notice that Alex's body has moved. David picks up Alex and runs. Glenn dodges and slices. Rachel whacks with her baton.
David notices that the body he carries is no longer breathing. Glenn slices. Rachel whacks one very solidly. David puts down Alex's body and begins CPR. Reuben focuses himself carefully to rend another spectre, but fails. Amathyst decides she must have been mistaken, she can't do antimagic.
End of the gaming session, late at night Saturday 6/27/98
Yes, it's still Saturday night 6/27/98. We're getting our butts kicked behind our own Chantry by a group of four spectres. Tonight's party is:
David is trying to perform CPR on Alex's body. Glenn and Rachel are fighting a spectre apiece. Amathyst is hiding behind a tree, frantically wishing all this magical hoo-ha would just stop. Reuben tries various tactics against the spectres, but due to the difficulty and lack of quintessence gets little result. The other two spectres have turned to look for Alex and see Alex and David.
Reuben screams "Run!" and grabs Alex to hoist for carrying. David helps Reuben hoist Alex and they begin running. Amathyst slinks backwards into the woods. Rachel and Glenn turn and run, but in different directions.
Two spectres appear out of trees in front of David, Alex, and Reuben, who come to a screetching halt. The spectres lower their arms, and V spikes pop out. "One in six." Click. From a tree to the left a man steps out holding a revolver to his head. Neither David nor Reuben recognize the man, who pulls the trigger. "One in five." Click. The spectres turn to face the man. "One in four." the man says as he pulls the trigger again. Click. "Do you really want me?" the man says to the spectres, "One in three." Click. Black holes form behind the spectres, who back into them and vanish. The man spins the revolver chamber, points it at the sky, and pulls the trigger. "One in six." Click. "One in five." Ka-Blam!
The man lowers his revolver and loads all chambers. Reuben tries to strike up a conversation, "Hello. Thanks." Apparently the guy is a man of few words, "Down" he says gesturing for David and Reuben to lower Alex. "No one gets out of here as easy as dying." Standing over Alex the man draws a line on his arm and bleeds all over Alex. Alex begins coughing. The guy holds his arm and stops bleeding on Alex.
Glenn runs up, breathless. "Where are the spectres?" "Two just left," mentions David, staring at the man. "Then we still have two to go," and Glenn looks but sees no more spectre nihls (the black holes). Reuben invites the man to come along to the Chantry. David asks Reuben if the man is another of his, but Reuben denies ever seeing the man before.
Saturday evening 6/6/98, an Adult Entertainment bar...
Men come and go, smoke wafts throughout the room, and the smell of alcohol pervades the air. On a runway stage a woman gyrates in ways that, if anyone watching her cared to notice, are not always anatomically possible. She is slim, muscular, and wearing nothing but her birthday suit, a thong, a lilly tattoo, a belly button ring, a nipple ring, and some cash. She has acquired a few men who cannot take their eyes off her sleek black hair, honey brown eyes, and smooth tan skin. Opening her eyes wide and inhaling deeply she performs a truly phenomenal act of contortionism and vanishes in a flash and cloud of smoke, leaving the space/time continuum to a roar of applause. Satin discovers that she has failed to safely integrate Correspondance into her act for higher tips, and finds herself alone in a forest that seems to go on forever, still dancing. This is a great place for dancing. It feels incredible, like dancing in jello that closes behind her motions. And she cannot stop dancing. This must be a Paradox Realm, she's heard of them from the gypsies. With great effort Satin tries to stop dancing. Over a long period of time her dancing begins to slow. The trees begin to sway. As Satin's dancing slows, the trees move faster, dancing. As she gets close to stopping the trees are moving incredibly fast; the realm begins to tear itself apart.
Satin appears in a dark, bloodstained basement. The power has been disconnected. There is sounds of steps upstairs. It is three weeks later than she disappeared in the club, 6/27/98... Satin tries to extend her senses with Correspondance and look upstairs, but gives herself a migraine and yelps.
Rachel wanders down the stairs followed by Glenn. They begin searching the basement. "Hello?" Satin is reassured to hear a woman's voice, lets down her hair like Lady Godiva, and wanders out of the closet she was hiding in. Rachel greets her. Satin explains that she's an exotic dancer, had a small problem during a show and ended up in a Paradox Realm. And now she's here. And yes she knows she's stark naked. Rachel asks Glenn to turn around or head upstairs as she leads Satin to her room. Rachel donates a long silk shirt, but Satin declines a bra. Rachel and Satin chat briefly, until they exchange traditions... With somewhat less warmth Rachel fills Satin in on the current predicament of the world as mages know it.
Glenn wanders up from the basement to the main floor and announces "Rachel is dressing a naked woman in the basement." Glenn joins David in watching William after checking Cab's vitals. William is staring at Cab.
Amathyst tries to get some information out of William, but is ignored. Glenn talks to William. William, looking at Cab, sees In-Between, not alive or dead, not here or there. He doesn't know if spectres come for everyone that dies now, and doesn't know what causes them to appear. He's here because the spectres are, he has an alarm system.
The ladies come up from the basement, Satin reaching up to braid her hair and cheerfully flashing the world. David appreciates the view. Amathyst grills her and demands to know if she's another bloody mage infesting her house? Satin asks who the Bitch is. Things go downhill from there. Rachel lets some Paradox loose, and gets a dull red glowing tattoo all over, very visible on face and hands, in Death Magic runes. Glenn plays 20 questions with Satin about how she got here. Amathyst tries a temper tantrum about not taking this in her house. Glenn points out that it's not her house. Amathyst says it's the same body, right down to the fingerprints. Glenn doubts that EEG's would be the same... Amathyst doesn't take that well either. Glenn asks William about the vortex. William suggests controlling it, but you'd have to get closer. David asks about the creatures coming from the vortex. Enchanted weapons, big magics,and fear should get them.
Satin pronounces the whole group boring, says we should party, and begins dancing. David appreciates the show again. Rachel points out that the vortex has been sucking souls and that several of the group are mostly dead. Satin accepts the rationale, but keeps dancing.
It's now about 10:00 pm
Rachel notes that we have no big Adepts for big magics, except Reuben in Prime and Life. William says the group now has the most powerful mages left on Earth, it'll have to do, if they're willing to face the vortex. The group admits they would, if need be. That will also have to do. For off Earth mages we'd have to ask our friend Reuben. The party breaks up, and everyone wanders downstairs to beds, except Cab, Alex, and Reuben. Amathyst sulks and sacks out in her computer room.
Reuben meditates for quintessence by Alex on Sarah's bed for a few hours. Coming out of trance, he turns to begin healing Alex, but Alex is gone. He looks down the hall, no Alex. Reuben gets up to try to find Alex...
KA - BLAM ! ! ! !
Sarah wakes up and runs into the living room at the noise. William is standing in the livingroom with a gun pointed at Cab. A large gaping hole is now leaking blook, brains, and fluid all over the couch and floor. Reuben enters the livingroom, takes in the view, and launches himself at William. "You SON OF A _BITCH_!!!!" Reuben hits William with a flying tackle and the men grapple for the gun.
Glenn dashes into the livingroom in time to hear a screetching whine begin, like nails on a chalkboard. "I'd advise you to stop that. There are spectres coming." The men ignore Glenn, who checks on Cab, who is indeed dead as a doornail. Sarah is still staring in shock. Glenn tries again "Guys! Spectres first, kill each other later!" Neither stops struggling, so Glenn tries to kick the gun away.
Rachel appears, stark naked but clutching her asp baton and looking like she means business with it. She positions herself in front of the forming spectre nihl, to bash whatever tries to come through. David arrives, and hunts in his pockets for chalk or a pen. Sarah comes out of her shock to offer her writing board, but David declines as too small.
Reuben suddenly finds himself with a gun aimed at his nose. "The spectres aren't here yet. You (at Rachel) get dressed. We're going through the portal to close the vortex. We leave in 10 minutes." William aims steadily at a glaring Reuben. At Reuben's prompts William explains that Cab had to die to open the portal, and Alex is outside looking for spectres.
Glenn goes outside to look for Alex, bringing him in apparently dazed and magically assisted, there is no physical way for him to be walking around with his injuries. Rachel goes to get dressed, get the remainder of her armory, and wake up Satin. Sarah walks around the glaring Reuben and William, puts a hand to the portal, and is sucked in. Next go David, Rachel, and Satin. Reuben never takes his eyes off William as he backs to the portal and disappears. Glenn shrugs at William and goes through the portal.
Standing on the edge of the huge swirling vortex, the party regroups, with no William. There is no portal behind us. Looking up, we see the Earth. Reuben, Satin, and Sarah exchange introductions. Alex still looks very dazed, but says he is awake when Glenn talks to him. Alex says William told him some things, we need to reason with the "it" but he wasn't told how. Rachel looks around and calls out for Morgan. Reuben looks at the tattoo on his wrist, "You know, Billy, if you really wanted to give a hand..." Satin looks around and begins to dance, casting her mind in search of another mind, the one we're supposed to reason with. Abruptly she begins screaming and falls to the ground. Glenn slaps Satin, but she continues screaming. Rachel continues to call for Morgan, with no response. Reuben's tattoo doesn't reply either...
Sarah tries to open her mind, to replay the conversation Amathyst had with Crystal, but falls twitching to the ground as the mind she finds is not her own. Reuben checks the screaming Satin with Life, there is nothing physiologically wrong with her, only the affects of adrenaline on her system.
Glenn addresses thin air "I don't suppose anyone wants to talk?"
Sarah pops back into her own mind, and writes Amathyst on her board, underlining it. Satin collapses and returns to herself, "I went looking for a mind. I found a mind. I don't want to find it again." Nobody is sure if we need to go to the center of the vortex. Apparently we're standing on willpower, and we're not sure how far the support extends.
Glenn addresses the air again "If you eat everything, you'll be hungry later." Rachel joins him "For without the world, void has no meaning." Reuben adds "You know, Jung had an interesting discourse on that." Satin looks around some more. The vortex is made of darkness, except a small shiny point in the middle, like something reflecting. Satin points it out, and says we should go there. Glenn walks to the side a bit and looks back to see if distances are working normally, apparently so. Satin, Sarah, and Rachel begin to walk into the void, followed by Glenn. David, Alex, and Reuben don't believe walking into a big sucking vortex while standing on nothing is very wise, and stay put.
End of the Session...
Subjective time is 3:00am Sunday 6/28/98. The group has been awake all Saturday and was rudely awakened by gunshots in the Chantry living room while trying to sleep Saturday night.
Today's stars:
The women and Glenn are walking into the void, toward the bright thing. Alex looks less mechanical. He listens, hearing screaming, crying in many voices. Reuben begins to walk into the vortex. David catches up once Reuben starts to block his view of Satin. Alex ambles along.
As people walk they notice they have been walking down alot. Closer in the bright item is seen, it's a jewel, hanging whitely in the middle of the void high overhead. Rachel checks out the jewel with Prime, it has no major Prime of its own but there is a Prime trail from it into the vortex. The Prime and quintessence here is raw, the stuff of life. The vortex is still a Prime hoover. Satin discovers that there are no clear Correspondance points here.
The vortex actually rotates out, not in. Alex notices that the screaming is not coming from the critters, it's all around. Everyone else just hears a soft hissing.
Satin discovers that the jewel is not Matter. She checks to see if it has a mind, as does Glenn. Satin, luckily for her, does not succeed. Glenn, however, does. It's in his head, screaming. Screaming and crying, thousands and thousands of echoes of one voice over and over in wild thrashing. Glenn tries to send a Hello, but not very loud. He tries again, louder.
The screaming stops. There is silence. The rest of the group now notices the hissing by its absence. All the creatures turn and look at Glenn, thousands of eyes staring. Alex looks into the vortex and yells "Where did you go?" Alex begins to walk towards the jewel, walking upwards like on a glass staircase.
Everyone else looks at Glenn. "I just said Hello." The group follows Alex toward the jewel.
The jewel is ten feet in diameter. Light streams out of it, a bright white light. The gem itself appears multicolored. Alex asks people not to touch the gem, he doesn't want to piss it off just yet, and asks Glenn if he can tell what it is thinking. It feels curious, and Alex would like Glenn to patch him in. Satin steps down a stair to have room to dance, she'd like to see the Future, to see how we do. Sarah reaches out with Mind, asking "Who are you?"
All the creatures that were watching Glenn now watch Satin dance. Thousands of eyes. The staircase begins to undulate. Satin rides the staircase in her dance. Glenn balances himself on the stairs as Sarah stumbles and grabs on for dear life. Alex stumbles right down the stairs as Reuben, Rachel, and David fall off the stairs completely. Glenn notices that the stairs are trying to move with Satin's dance. Satin notices that she has the largest dance partner she's ever had.
Alex desperately searches for weaknesses, and finds one in the jewel.
Sarah feels the mind feeling, not thinking, and it's very curious and terribly confused.
Satin's dance is a fast paced belly dance. The stair motions become more complex. Satin makes her dance more complex to match it. Glenn begins an internal pure form of Do motions. Reuben pulls out his drum and adds rhythm. Rachel warms up her voice and adds harmonics. The stairs and assorted mage performers match each other's rhythm, and expand on it. The motions and harmonies become more and more complex, weaving an intricate show. Sarah tries to discover if the mind is enjoying the show.
Satin, Glenn, and Sarah feel the wild undulations of the stairwell begin to cause cracking. The cracks become visible, through which bright light shows. The stairwell shatters, throwing everyone on it. Glenn rolls and lands on his feet, but Sarah and Satin land badly, bruising Sarah and breaking Satin's bones.
A beam of bright light shoots from the jewel into the void, following the same path as the Prime line we had seen earlier. The group is left standing on the small flying black creatures, needing to step from one to another frequently as they become overburdened. Rob (God) says the beam is somewhere no one wants to go. Rachel and Glenn dart toward the beam. Rachel is slowed helping Satin climb up the creatures. Alex asks Glenn to let him go first, and Glenn obliges. David stands his ground and curses fluently and emphatically. Alex falls in his haste. David rips out an oath and a spell and redirects Alex's fall back up. A visible Force bolt pushes Alex into the beam. He vaporizes, his skin flayed and obliterated followed by the internal parts. Glenn reads the fates for *if we go to the beam and *if we don't go to the beam. All paths away are very status quo, whereas going in is completely uncertain. Satin lets loose Paradox, her shadow goes the wrong way. Satin dances, trying to read the future if she touches the beam, and trances.
Satin dreamily speaks:
"Out of Man, a Messiah
Out of Ice, a Machine
Out of Sky, a God
And the Cacaphony slays them all"
As she stops dancing Satin remembers what she said, but has no idea what it means. Sarah checks the mind's status. She sees the eye of a hurricane. The mind is a vast wasteland, flat, except for a pattern forming rapidly in the center. It's quiet and very big.
Reuben hears voices in his head. the voices of the oracles ring through his head. "STOP THIS. THE VOID MUST NEVER AWAKE. KILL IT." Reuben looks up "How?!" and looks around with Life, seeing it sucked into the walls of the vortex. "LIFE" "That doesn't make sense!" He ignores everyone, swiveling his head between the jewel and the center of the vortex. He looks around with life. The beam is pulling life from all patterns around it.
Satin asks who else wants to go. David says it's a bad idea. Satin climbs up to the beam, and touches it. Rachel watches with Prime as Satin vaporizes, and sees Satin's pattern dissipate into the beam. Rachel touches the beam, and likewise vaporizes.
Reuben "The oracles say we must stop this by killing it, using Life." (Rob runs a note over to Beth, who sees it coming and pleads 'No!')
Amathyst "Crystal, your logic leaves something to be desired."
Reuben "Crystal said something else?"
Amathyst "Crystal said it's just a black hole. We should close it. A
black hole this close to Earth would destroy it. Scientists will later
discover why. The mind needs to be controlled."
(Rob does another long note to Beth, who laughs and says Amathyst
doesn't comment) (Tom ponder's Reuben's dilemma on how to ritual a
blatant Life affect, probably an hour long ritual.) (Rob steals Steve
for a long conversation. They come back in laughing.)
Reuben casts an involved ritual in 2 parts:
Glenn meditates through most of this. Nobody sees Amathyst do anything. David prepares to catch an unconscious Reuben.
Three figures that Glenn identifies as Alex, Rachel, and Satin (still dancing) are in a triangle around the jewel with beams of light between them. Reuben succeeds in heart's blood and casts Life magic. Reuben feels a huge kick as he throws the energy. His body arches, his arms spread out, his eyes and mouth open wide and powerful light streams from him. The HUGE Life energy flows into the vortex. Space and Time collapse. Reuben feels an incredible amount of Life energy flowing through him. More, in fact, than can be accounted for in just the casting he has accomplished. As he blacks out, he realizes that Someone Else channeled power through him as well.
End of the gaming session
The players spend online time to try to script a way to save themselves from a very costly landing. Gravity is a harsh mistress.
Rob has been muttering about where he wants to take the game next. Apparently surviving the first part enlightens the falling mages, granting them an epiphany and 50 experience points.
Hopefully we'll have another game Sunday 6/21/98 after a great and sunburned weekend tubing down the New River in Blacksburg, VA.
Remember that the new Babylon 5 movie "Thirdspace" airs 7/19 and note that August may be very sparse on gaming due to Pennsic and more friend's weddings.