text:
Herman Mercury, patient 1
The details are fuzzy. You remember something… stepping out of your BMW into the parking garage… not much reason to drive it anymore, but your lawyer had advised you to appear as normal as possible when going to court. Suddenly something. A sense of dread. A shifting of air. Body armor up, every muscle wound tight and ready to spring. Ten long seconds of searching… then suddenly a gut instinct to dodge, followed without hesitation… yet a sharp pain in your arm. It's some kind of feather dart, emptied of its contents. Fighting yourself to find your assailant as your limbs grow heavier… heavier… until you're unbearably slow. You lean against and slide down some unknown car, unable to do much except stare straight ahead. Your vision darkens. A woman approaches, her steps utterly silent, and leans to look you right in the face.
"I should thank you. You made my job so much easier," Jan says with a small smile. "Now… it's time to wake up."
Fade to black.
Voices. Light. Silhouettes.
"… you may find your son unresponsive so far. His mental breakdown caused by his… obsession with success, you could say… after he failed again and again to join the minor league team caused him to withdraw entirely — to escape into a fantasy world, where it seems he believes he's the son of the Greek god Hermes." It's a man's voice. Familiar. Clinical. Measured.
"Dr. Panaretos… Can you… make him better? Will he be able to come home again?" It's your mother, no small amount of concern in her tone.
"I'm confident, by exploring the symbolism in his fantasy world, I can help him come to terms with reality again."
You feel your hand warmed by two. "When you get back, Harry, I'm gonna cook you your favorite, you hear? And sweet tea, a cup of sugar per half-gallon, just like you like it." A pause. "Come back to me, sweetheart."
Part of you feels like you should say something, but it's as if you cannot build up the will to so much as grunt.
More blurs… day in, day out… white rooms, white clothes… people shuffling around… receiving your pills in your little white cup…
Fade out…
And then… a room. A couch. A man sitting confidently across from you. Words half-remembered spill from your mouth describing your fantasy.
"I see. So, in your myth, you are the son of the god of athletes, peerlessly fast, strong, durable, and are able to turn yourself into gold. Gold: a very common symbol of wealth, presence, even fame or royalty. Something you desired very much, according to your mother — to get out of your trailer park. And this desire, this spark, if you will, manifested into literal electricity. And your sword, very clearly your drive to succeed. Nike, the prize to win, the ultimate victor. This Angela of yours, your sister you say — I'm quite certain she is a part of you partitioned off, the insecure part of you that you feel held you back, the nervous, excitable computer geek who, despite great talent and persistence, was never able to truly achieve greatness… and yet she never seems to die, despite being assaulted by the dangers of your mind. Finally… the suicide. Hayden. I suspect she represents your career. Bled out despite how many times you tried to save it, despite the fact that you were completely unwilling to give up on it even though the universe seemed against you. The fact that she died tells me that you feel ready to accept reality again. Perhaps that's why you opened up to me. Please, go on…"
Blurs… lying strapped on a bed… machines… lying on the couch again with the man looking you over once more.
"Very good, Harry, you've made a lot of progress. I'd like to try some hypnosis therapy. Let's get a handle on this fantasy world together…. Listen to the sound of my voice. Your biggest obstacle right now is your insecurity."
Fade in…
Suddenly you're running. The countryside is a blur. The wind is whirling past you, proving as little resistance as you remember. You're searching for your goal. Your insecurity. There is no bigger obstacle than your insecurity. Without that, you can live your life again.
And there she is. Angela, standing there, her back facing to you. She's a little taller than you remember, and a lot more solid. Her blonde hair is down but for a single raven's feather woven in it. A newsboy cap sits on her head. She seems to have abandoned the geeky t-shirts in favor of a car coat, and a cigarette rests nestled between two fingers, smoke drifting lazily up. You slow, noticing that she's facing a makeshift wooden cross stuck in the ground.
She turns. She's older now, with a scar slashed diagonally across her chin and another following the contour of her left temple to her cheekbone. "Just… five more minutes, Sofia, I need —" she begins. But then she sees you and falls silent, utterly astonished, as if seeing a ghost. "/Harry/?"
You hear Dr. Panaretos' voice echoing in your head. "Your drive to succeed is far greater than your insecurities, Harry. You must use that drive to overcome that obstacle." With that, you realize that your sword, Ignis, is in your hands.
(( Roll Resist, diff 13. You may flare Legend, but you may not invoke any Virtues. ))
Oh yeah, Legend flare. Fuck hitting Angela even in my head.
13 precisely.
Angela eyes you warily, glancing briefly at the sword. But you can't bring yourself to do it. It looks like your insecurity is greater than your drive to succeed. Your sword falls from your fingers and clatters to the ground.
(( You may talk freely to Angela now, if you choose. ))
He looks around, trying to gather where he is, what's going on.
This place looks familiar… Woodside. Where the Scion kids camp used to be. Yes, you're sure of it. Except there's no building here. No… on closer look you see ruins of what once was the camp, long since overgrown.
"Gods, Harry, is that you?" asks Angela, still eyeing you warily. "I mean, are you… you?"
"Angela…what…what the fuck happened? Is this real? Panaretos had me…"
Angela steps forward, looking at you as if unable to believe her eyes. She approaches, reaching out tentatively to rest her hands on your shoulders as if afraid you were a mirage. When you prove not to be, she speaks.
"You've been… gone for about ten years, Harry." She hesitates. "The world kind of… ended."
Suddenly, Panaretos's voice echoes in your head. "Herman, I can't help you unless you're receptive." You hear a sigh. "Another time, perhaps." The sound of snapping fingers jars through your consciousness. You fade again… and back to the white room… your roommate scrubs vigorously at his skin, mumbling something… despite that you manage to fall asleep.
Victor Cordero, patient 2
The details are fuzzy. You remember something… hopping off the bike, stepping into the trees… suddenly something. A sharp pain in the neck. Fighting through branches and leaves as your limbs grew heavier… heavier… until you could walk no more. A face leaning over you. A voice.
"Victor, Victor, Victor," Jan says with a smile. "It's time to wake up."
Fade to black.
"… your grandson is suffering extreme grief from the loss of his wife… ah, Lisa, you said? … and his unborn child. He has resorted to complete withdrawal — escape in a fantasy world."
"I don't understand… look, Dr. Panaretos, will he be able to come home again?"
"I'm confident I can help him come to terms with reality again."
More blurs… day in, day out… white rooms, white clothes… people shuffling around… receiving medication…
A hand rubbing your hand. Your grandmother's voice. "Come back to me, niño. I miss you."
And then… words come from your mouth but you only half remember them. All you remember is his voice. Dr. Panaretos.
"Interesting. So in your myth, you're unstoppable? I see. Strong enough to protect Lisa no matter what. Powerful allies. Yes… ice, frost, represents utter control over yourself and the world around you. Fascinating you should use her maiden name, though. Perhaps to allow you to live a sort of macho wish-fulfillment lifestyle that you couldn't as a married man. Yes, bedding the goddess of love and beauty herself and yet your wife forgives you and eagerly awaits your return… Hm. Go on…"
Blurs… lying strapped on a bed… machines… lying on the sparse matress in the sparse room, your roommate pounding his head against the wall repeatedly… fade out…
"If you don't mind, Victor, I'd like to try some hypnosis therapy. Let's get a handle on this fantasy world together. Listen to the sound of my voice. Picture her… Lisa Simon, as she is in your mind… breathe in, breathe out…"
Suddenly you're under the water. Swimming. It's as easy as you remember it. You breathe it in your lungs.
And there she is. Her image is distorted as you draw closer to the surface, but she's there. With someone else… a child. Hardly even a toddler. No, two children. One standing on untried feet just a few paces from her, his hand resting on Cyril's leg. He's got a messy mop of black hair. Another is sitting beside her, his golden-brown hair pristine.
"Go on, Ruben. Mommy's here." She squats and reaches out for him, encouragingly. "Come on, baby."
It takes him a moment, but he takes a tentative step forward, and then another. His legs wobble, but he persists, his hand slipping from Cyril.
"Interesting. Go ahead and talk to her, Victor." Panaretos' voice echoes in your mind.
Victor watches with amazement as the one she called Ruben walks for the first time, a smile adorning his face. But a Doctor tells him this isn't real. That the last 10 years are a made up fantasy. Well Victor is Victor, no matter what world is truly real. Victor breaches the water and whistles to Cyril not loudly enough were a mortal could here but enough his keen companion could and nods his head to him forming a circle with his finger toward Lisa and his children. If this was a dream He couldnt risk getting lost again, but if it wasnt He had to make sure they were protected. Victor would whisper I love you all before diving back under the ocean before Lisa had a chance to see his face.
Cyril's eyes snap to him as Victor whistles, completely alarmed. He hesitates, staring at Victor in utter surprise, clearly unsure how to proceed. Ruben takes a couple more wobbly steps forward. Lisa's brow furrows.
"Is something wrong, Cyril?"
As you turn to leave, you hear Dr. Panaretos' voice.
"Victor, I understand how much this hurts. But I need you find that inner strength and reach out to Lisa. Embrace her. Tell her you need to regain control of your life."
Your blood cools in a very familiar manner.
(( Roll resist. ))
(legend to reroll)
(( Congrats. Pose your successful resistance. ))
Victor chuckles a bit. "No matter who my father is, whether it is Hector Ramon Cordero, or fucking Poseidon God of the Sea's his fucking self. I…Victor Leon Cordero take orders from noone." With that Victor begins to swim to the deepest darkest depths of the ocean.
"Victor, I can't help you unless you're receptive." You hear a sigh. "Another time perhaps." The sound of snapping fingers jars through your consciousness. You fade again… and back to the white room… your roommate pounds his head against the wall… despite that you manage to fall asleep.
Sanura Menmatre, patient 3
The details are fuzzy. You remember something… stepping out of the car, making your way down the path to the camp to pay a visit to Brendan… suddenly something. A sense of dread. A sharp shifting of air. Ten long seconds of searching… then a sharp pain in the neck. Fighting yourself to find your assailant as your limbs grow heavier… heavier… until you collapse. A rifle butt slamming into Crook, sending him flying into a tree trunk and collapsing, limp, on the ground. A woman's face leaning over you. A voice.
"Hello, my love." Jan spits the last word with as much venom as sarcasm. "It's time to wake up."
Fade to black.
A voice.
"… Patient 3, Sanura Menmatre. Lost her job and subsequent court cases due to being suspected of stealing an artifact from her museum. Suffered a mental breakdown, withdrew entirely into a fantasy world featuring vivid hallucinations. Powers. Her cat — Crook — still alive, and able to talk. Mention of a boy — Brendan. After life has settled for her here, I will attempt to interview Ms. Menmatre for more details about this world of hers. Interpreting the symbolism therein, I am confident I can help her come to terms with reality again."
More blurs… day in, day out… white rooms, white clothes… people shuffling around… receiving medication…
A clock ticking steadily. Peaceful. A man in a chair, sitting confident.
And then… the words come from your mouth but you only half remember them. All your remember clearly is his — Dr. Panaretos — voice, punctuated by the ticking clock.
"Fascinating. So in your myth you are cool, calm, and confident regardless of any situation. That makes sense when paired up with the cat symbolism. Yes, you identify strongly with cats. Your cat, being a sacred guardian; the ancient goddess Bastet being your mother… absentee yet always watching. Your ideal mother, compared to the one in life who, as I have here on your file, was a pathological perfectionist. Held you to extremely high standards, and struck you when you fell short. Yes, this Brendan boy must represent that part of yourself which was abused, the part you protect with more cat symbolism. And the whip! A very common symbol for punishment. That must represent the abuse, but /you/ wield it, which implies control over your trauma. This vampire creature, too… that must be your stress. Saps your energy, your creativity. But you defeated it. That explains why you are opening up to me. Finally, this Abel fellow. A mortal fellow who barely speaks a word. There's still a glimmer of the normal in your myth. Yes, I feel like you are well on your way to getting better, Sanura. Please, go on."
Blurs… lying strapped on a bed… machines… lying on the couch in the very professionally decorated room, the clock ticking ticking ticking…
"If you don't mind, Sanura, I'd like to try some hypnosis therapy. Let's get a handle on this fantasy world together. Listen to the sound of my voice. Seek your core, the most vulnerable part of you."
Suddenly you're in a passageway. Smooth, earthen walls like adobe yet not of the same material. Definitely crafted by someone. Judging by the starlight in the windows that you pass and the darkness in these passageways, it's night time.
And then… a little boy, no older than six years old. Tan skin, dusty brown hair. Curled up underneath a sleeping bag, beside another which is empty. His chest rising and falling with his even breaths.
"That's it," you hear in your mind. "That's your core, your vulnerable self. You must embrace it. Take it into your arms."
"Sanura?" you hear. It's a young man's voice behind you, somehow familiar. You turn to see this young man — tall, broad, his red hair long, a red trimmed goatee on his chin — looking at you, his expression astonished and perhaps a little scared as if he's seeing a ghost. "Gods, is that really you?"
Dr. Panaretos' voice echoes in your head. "Ahhh… interesting. Your abused self has matured into a warrior. The guardian of your innermost self. Go ahead, Sanura, reach out to your core."
You turn back to the sleeping boy and stoop to pick him up.
"Sanura, what are you doing? Sanura!" After you don't respond, a hand clasps your shoulder. "No, I won't let you — "
"You are in control, Sanura," says the voice. "Let your guard down. Push him aside."
Something within feels distinctly wrong.
(( Roll Resist please ))
(( You may flare legend but you may not invoke any Virtues ))
[alrighty so that'd be uh pff 11]
(( Failed. Diff was 13 :( ))
You want to get better. You want to get back to your life as it was. You are in control, your mother no longer has a hold over you, and your guarded self needs to stand down.
"You've done well, Brendan," you find yourself saying, "but I don't need you anymore."
With that, you summon your invisible shield and wrap it around yourself and the child. Brendan flies back through several earthen walls, sending rubble every which way and kicking up a cloud of dirt. A commotion begins to rise, but you are unconcerned. You are in control. No one can enter your unseen shield without your permission.
You turn back to the boy. He's awake now, tense, staring up at you. His eyes, so much like yours. Your core. As you gaze at each other, he slowly relaxes.
"Come here," you say. "It's okay."
He does, and you gather him up in your arms, heading down the passageway. You feel your shield holding up under heavy blows, but it matters little. You navigate the earthen halls easily and exit, coming up out of the network of halls and rooms into the surface under the full night sky, your barrier left behind.
A shadow steps in front of you, a caracal-shaped shadow with golden eyes.
Hieroglyphs glow in the dark. I am sorry.
With that, the shadow leaps at you, knocking you down with incredible force. You feel your limbs go numb. You think you may have dropped your core. Darkness closes in.
Just before it overtakes you entirely, you hear Dr. Panaretos say, "You've made a lot of progress, Sanura, but you have more defenses than anticipated. We'll have to try again another time."
You fade again… and back to the white room with the sparse mattress… your roommate rocks and mumbles to herself… despite that you manage to fall asleep.
Malif, patient 4
The details are fuzzy. You remember something… the Tower. The Devil. It was as if you could draw nothing else from your deck. It inspired a sense of dread. And then… a hunt, a game of fox and rabbit. Trickery and deceit, running and hiding. But the hunter was patient. A sting, a feather dart in your neck, and the familiar feeling of sluggishness coursing through your veins, weighing your limbs, your head, your eyelids. The hunter approaches, her steps utterly silent, grabs your hair, and turns your head up.
"You were quite a challenge, you wascally wabbit," Jan says with a predator's grin. "Now… it's time to wake up."
Fade to black.
The heavy clash and rumble of thunder snaps you awake. You find yourself in a strange scene: kneeling on a stone floor before a fearsome bestial visage — mixtures of goat and human, with bat wings. The Devil. He sits on a pedestal, to which are chained three men and three woman, all nude and sporting small horns and tails. Shadow covers their features, although some of them seem distinctly familiar. They are loosely chained, with collars they could easily slip their heads through. But they appear to have no desire to.
Before them is a calm pool of water.
Around the Devil, are statues of figures you can see and recognize:
Harry, hanging off the edge of a cliff, a flower just out of his grasp and his bindle held low, nearly forgotten. The Fool, reversed.
Sanura, seated in a flowing, flower-print dress, bearing a scepter and a crown of stars. The Empress.
Victor, standing beneath a canopy, wearing moon-shaped pauldrons, with a dark and light sphinx seated beneath him. He appears tilted at a precarious angle. The Chariot, on the verge of reversal.
You find yourself garbed in flowing robes, a double-ended candle in your left hand and the infinity symbol clattering on the ground before you. You are missing your usual tools: the cup, the sword, the pentacle, the wand… The Magician, reversed.
The Devil turns his burning eyes on you. Lightning flashes, nearly blinding you. The tower you realize you're in shakes violently as if it were struck, sending ripples through the water. The tower's inhabitants appear unfazed.
(( Roll Per + Awareness ))
12 plus any effects from knacks for situation.
In the flash, the chamber you're in is illuminated. In the brief glimpse you see among the men and women chained to the Devil's pedestal some familiar faces. Jan. Alejandra. Toshi. The others you don't recognize, nor can you get a good look at their faces. You see a flash of something around the Devil's neck, as well, but it's quickly concealed by shadow.
In the corner of your eye you also see a little white rabbit, an ankh gently held between its teeth. It's standing on the sill of the lone window — the lone exit — in this chamber. The Devil appears not to have noticed.
Once the tower settles, the Devil speaks.
"Come forth."
His voice is cool, measured, almost soothing. You find yourself obeying his command. The pool calms once more, beckoning your gaze.
"Look within, Magician. Tell me what you see."
(( Roll Resist, diff 16 ))
(( You may flare Legend, but you may not invoke any Virtues ))
Hell yes I will.
14 hits
(( You can spend a Legend to reroll, if you like. ))
The Devil's words slide off of your consciousness as you notice the rabbit twitching its nose at you before turning and hopping out of the window.
(( If you like, you may look into the pool anyway, or follow the rabbit. Either way, you're free to act. ))
Its Neo time.
As you follow the rabbit, lightning strikes behind you, shaking the tower more violently than ever and dislodging you from it. You find yourself falling, falling, falling… and then landing on the ground with nary an impact. You are surrounded by high desert at night, with stormy clouds above. The lightning casts a harsh shadow, highlighting the fissures and cracks in the earth, the tall cacti reaching to the sky, spines alert. Rubble from the tower surrounds it.
The white rabbit hops forward.
You look and see five figures gazing back at you, all very much alive:
A distinctly Slavic-looking woman, wearing a horned headdress and a scarf draped over her hair. You've never seen her before, but she is unmistakably the High Priestess.
Angela, bowed under the weight of ten swords thrust into her back. A red cloth is draped from her waist down. The Ten of Swords.
Sofia, now a fully-fledged adult, upright in a noble posture, with a cape over her shoulders, a staff in her right hand, a sunflower in her left, and a crown on her head. The Queen of Wands.
Lance, fully-armored and astride a brown steed, flanking one side of the group as a whole, also bearing a staff. The Knight of Wands.
Brendan, grown tall and solid and also wearing a suit of armor, flanking the other side of the group upon his white steed, holding before him a golden cup. The Knight of Cups.
Though they are currently at a distance, they are all approaching the tower. Soon they will reach it.
Lighting strikes once more, thunder deafens you, and your vision goes black.
Through your ears ringing, you hear the Devil's voice…
"Malif Haddad, patient 4. Suffers from schizophrenia. No apparent family or next of kin. Starting the Clozaril dosage at 12.5mg once daily…"
Fade out.
Floating in a void of sensation, barely even able to feel where your limbs are in comparison to the rest of your self. That's what sleeping on medication always feels like. Except… there's something off. How would you know? Usually there seems to be no time between sleeping and awaking to the psych ward for another dull day of recovery. Are you truly sleeping?
Harry feels a hand patting his face.
"Hey, c'mon, it's time to wake up!" says a voice. Her tone and inflection are very familiar. But they belong to a girl of 8, not to a woman of 18.
And yet, she's the first thing Harry sees, highlighted by red lighting. Old burn scars on the right side of her face. Black hair. Big, gray eyes. Long lashes. She offers Harry a bright smile.
"Welcome back!"
And then the liquid in his lungs demands to be coughed up.
Harry breathes in as hard as he can through his nose, and begins to cough and wretch up the liquid…
"Huh…wha? Sophie?"
"When the hell did you turn into Dukes of Hazzard She-hulk?!"
Harry would find that he's garbed in little else than what looks and feels like very plain, scuba-material swim trunks. He's sitting on the center platform of a room, from which stems five rectangular holes. Within is a thick, dark liquid.
Among Sofia's other notable adornments are her right arm—which appears made entirely of marble—and an Aztec-styled tattoo ringing her left thigh (similar to this except more Aztec-y).
Sofia sheepishly rubs the back of her neck. "Uh… puberty, I guess." She moves on to the next sensory deprivation chamber and reaches in with her marble arm, easilly pulling out Sanura. "Mind getting Malif or Victor for me?" she asks of Harry.
She pats Sanura's face in a similar manner as she did to Harry. "Wake up, come on. There's not a whole lot of tiiiiime."
Harry stands, and looks at himself. "Ugh, Micheal Phelps I am not." He snaps his fingers, and his red-and-yellow combat gear appears around him, as his body cleans itself, his hair untussles, and he is perfect once more.
Harry would note that Sofia's not the only one who's aged 10 years.
Harry heads to release Malif, watching how Sophia's doing it, and setting his compatriot on his feet.
Sanura sits up with a snort and then starts coughing up that delightful brew they'd been stewing in. Her eyes widen and she grabs Sofia to her after a moment of wtf. "Oh My Gods" squeeze.
As Malif adjusts, he takes in the room. "Fuck. We've been Dollhouse'd. Those "therapy" sessions were brainwashed kill-runs, weren't they…"
"Thank God I didn't stab Angela!"
He looks at Sophia. "How long has it been since Sochi?"
Harry moves as he talks, steadying Malif, before moving to Victor's cell. He stops, his face hardening.
Sofia offers a grin to Sanura. "Gods, yes. Plural. Hold that thought." She glances at Harry in slight puzzlement. "Therapy sess —" as he continues on, she raises an eyebrow. Yeah, good thing he didn't stab Angela. Uncle Harry or not, Sofia would've punched him right in the face. "Uh… About ten and a half years."
Malif rubs his eyes and looks around the place, frowning, and leaning against Harry for support. "What therapy sessions? What are you talking about?"
Sanura frowns darkly and rubs her eyes and tries to set herself to rights. She let's the others talk it out but clearly is listening intently to the conversation.
"Son of a bitch." He stares into the container. "Panaretos. He, they, the Order…they got us. Somehow. They were sending me into scenarios, couched in psychobabble…defeat your insecurities, push past your fear of authority…all in terms of executing people. I think it broke down when they sent me after Angela. I couldn't kill my own sister, even in my head. Or what I thought was in my head."
"This, right now, is the first semi-clear thought I've had since. I can only imagine the level of drugs and power they were using to keep me pliable."
"I shudder to imagine the strength of such drugs that could affect YOU, my brawny friend."
Sofia's bright face darkens a little. "Yeah. That was quite a cocktail of stuff they had you guys on. Titan blood and insane doses of sedatives. Angie says it should clear out of your system within the next 24 hours. But you'll probably feel woozy for a while."
(( Important to note: -4 to all actions that require coordination, for example attacking, DV, so on ))
(( You cannot access your Virtues ))
"Forget me, look at Victor's ass, sleeping like a baby. I would bet dollars to donuts he's the reason we got caught. I never did get an explanation as to why he was wrestling monsters on the roof of the arena in Sochi…but fuck it. He's too deadly to leave with the enemy, and I want to hear his explanation before I kick him in his neck for fucking this all up for us." Harry pops the lid, and drags out fishboy.
(( Also important to note, none of you have your Relics ))
Groaning slightly before getting to her feet. "The play by play can wait till we're safe.. where's the exit.. let's get the hell out of here."
"Wake up, sharkbait, we're the fuck out of here."
Frowning she passes her fingers through her hair. "Wait.. ok what ever hyped up storage closet they're keeping our things in.. and then we get the hell out.."
Malif checks his pockets, frowning even more when he discovers he lacks any. "OH great, where's our things? "
Harry looks at his feet. "Yeah, these shoes aren't my winged sandals. We need to get our shit."
"Uncle Harry, I don't think he meant —" and then Harry pulls out Victor. Well, looks like they were about to find out. So she addresses the next pressing question.
"Oh, don't worry, Brendan and Lance have got that covered, and then some. We'll be meeting up with them on the way out."
Victor's eyes open slowly his vision rapidly changing from normal to thermal and ultraviolet. The sudden sensation makes him jump out of the chamber he was being held in. Victor spits out the liquid and takes in a deep breath then looks around the room questionably…. "No…No no no….not again not again…ORDERLY!!! The visions are back…This time they are right here with me." Victor looks to the group. "Stay away from me….LEAVE ME ALONE!."
"They're gathering our things? Alright. Everyone, shake it off, it's juggernaut time. Vic, you got your feet under you—I guess not."
Harry slaps the piss out of him.
Grins "Great, seems like you kids are on it!" Her expression turning to Vic.. "Hey.. it's alright.. we're real " winces "Not what I'd have done Harry" she mutters softly.
"Wake up, fishboy, this is reality."
Sofia jumps up at this and starts toward Harry and Victor.
Malif sighs and shakes his head. "First Tunante, now this…. that lad's got a fragile mind, it seems. "
Victor lets out a low growl his fist clinch and send a punch barreling toward Harry.
Harry ducks to the side a little, letting the punch sail past. (DV 30, -26 with the drugs) "Good, you're acknowledging I'm real enough to hit. Now listen to me."
Sanura will freak out later.. for now keeping everyone safe and escaping are priority. "Gods be damned Victor, Harry .. Stop that dumb shit right the fuck now or I swear to the gods I'll have Sofia put you both back under for another ten years till you can act like children of Gods.
"Youve been under titan blood sedation and psychotherapy for ten years or so to convince you we're not demigods. They've probably been using you as a weapon, same as me. Snap out of it, fishboy, we're getting busted out."
"LIES!!!" Victor backs himself into the far side of the wall. "No this is what Doc was saying everytime you all show up I get lost in the dream. I have to face the Fact that Lisa is dead. That our child is dead…And its all my fault cause I fell asleep at the wheel."
Harry rubs his face. "Goddamnit. I don't have time for this. Someone put him to sleep, I'll carry him."
Sofia easily separates Harry and Victor. "Okay, I never thought I'd be the gentler hand, but here we go." She turns to Victor. "Lisa's alive, Vic, and back at home. And both your boys are very healthy, last time I checked."
Malif leans back against a wall as his support-Harry is attacked. "This nonsense again? I guess some things never change. They'll never get along."
Sofia sends Malif a pointed look. "Not helping!"
Harry shrugs. "I'm an athlete, not a psychiatrist. And anyone else smacking him might as well be tickling with a feather."
Victor looks to the now older Sophia with hesitation. "Alive? both….But Doc said..She was dead…with one child….The beach?" Victors eyes narrow He had never seen this older looking munchkin in his dreams if she knew the answer maybe she was telling the truth. "There was beach….Lisa was there two boys different colored hair she named one of them, the one who was walking for the first time. What were the colors of their hair, what was the name?"
Malif shrugs at Sofia. He doesn't know anything about Vic's family to really help here, and brute mental force was too difficult against the bruiser.
Sofia turns back to Victor. "Galen, blond. He'll be 10 next month. Then Ruben, black hair, who'll be 10 in November." She pauses, considering. "Cyril's been watching over them, just like you told him to."
Sighs as she watches Sofia's attempt at reason has more help and smiles a little then quirks a brow.. not twins.. eh she'd ask later. "Please.. can we go now?" a tight smile given as she looks for the door outta here.
Malif walks over towards Sanura, al ittle wobbly on his feet, but not wanting to get between the hotheads. "How are you feeling, neice?"
"I can scout ahead, slip through walls and doors, if I have to. You guys get him straightened out." Harry clicks on his plexiglass mask.
Chuckles a little dryly. "Damp and annoyed.. that's all I'm going to.. allow for the moment" she nods firmly and then glances to Harry. "wait up.. the kids have a plan and they've gotten this far.."
Victor stands slowly as he faces sofia. "Ruben…..That's what she said. Mommy's here Ruben…" Victor looks at his hands then flips them over to look at his palms and notices the tattoo, the one he got before he met Athena in Greece. Lisa's face on his wrist normally covered with his guantlet. Victor looks to the wall and lands a solid punch against it.
He nods, his face concealed behind the smooth curve of dark red plastic. "Alright…"
"There's our Juggernaut."
Sanura looks.. shocked that Harry is actually listening to her for once but nods slightly and smiles "Alright Sofia.. where to sweetie?"
Sofia steps back to let him punch the wall. Not so much as a dent. Apparently the people who designed this room knew who they were designing it for.
"Hopefully getting him worked up cooks through the drugs faster."
Victor looks at his hand then at the wall…"I broke my hand the last time I did that…But not so much as a bruise….But I felt it…I hit it.." Victor Looks to the group. "Paneteros is mine, no ifs ands or buts about it. I kill him…He kept me from my kids for 10 years. He dies by my hand." Victor rotates his shoulders and nods to Sofia. "Lets go."
"I think we all owe him agony. But right now, we evac. Sophia's head of this mission, till we get our feet back under us."
Malif sighs. "We wanted to stop that guy, and now here we are, 10 years of him running free and messing with everyone. What is the world coming to?"
She nods to Victor grimly, turns back to Sanura, holds up a marble finger, and says, "One sec." She then goes to the intercom on the wall and presses a button. "Angie, they're awake."
"Roger that, Sofia." Angela's voice echoes throughout the whole room through the PA system.
The nearby blast door unseals and begins to open. Outside is the same red lighting, but this time an alarm can be heard blaring. On the nearby wall in big block letters is the number 47.
The door before them begins closing once more.
"Angie, you were supposed to disable that!" Sofia calls out.
"I did! Gah, motherfucking —" says Angela. "Look, head to the security tunnels, QUICK. I'll patch back into the security system."
Sofia looks back to the group. "Let's go!" She ushers them through the blast doors.
Sanura nods her head and would follow as quickly as she's able in er current condition.
"I've got the cleanup position, Victor, you're more bulletproof, you lead the team behind Sophia. Go!"
Malif quickly stumbles his way through the door, fairly clumsily.
Victor's body becomes a dark obsidian color (body armor) as he begins to run out the room keeping pace next to Sofia.
Harry's padded anti-ballistic cloth costume becomes very functional, as it adapts to his own power. (Body Armor/Impenetrable)
Once everyone is out, he takes the rear, alert for danger and attempts to flank or corner them.
(1 for Tailor Made, 1 for Body Armor)
Sanura is so not dealing with the deep embarrassment of being near to starkers at the moment. Just.. not .. the .. time.
Sofia runs down the hallway to the right. The sound of gunfire and shouting can be heard, puncuated by growling, yipping, and wet tearing noises. She turns corner after corner with ease, clearly knowing where she's headed. Sure enough, soon there's lettering that says "Security Tunnels" and an arrow. One more corner… and then there's a legion of flak-vested gunmen, their backs facing the group. They're yelling and firing… but are quickly taken down by a swarm of bouda, which turn on the group. (( JB everyone ))
As Victor stomps barefoot through the halls his body begins to manifest his usual shirtless attire black cargo pants with icicle print at the bottom and black motorcycle boots.
botch XD
9, rather low roll. I'll let Syps take the lead for once and not blow Legend to leap to the front, since being in the back ain't gonna help me much.
(( Still start on Tick 6 ))
(( Tick 0, Sofia ))
Sofia stomps her foot, sending a shockwave forth to the first five bouda in the group. (( Knockback Wave, rolling attack ))
(( 19 overflow + 1 hit + 12 dice = 32 raw dice, knocks them back 11 yards rounded up ))
The first five bouda fly off a good 33 feet down the hall and fall to the ground, prone.
(( Tick 1, Victor! ))
Victor's hands begin to radiate a permafrost aura (Frost 3 1L+1W) And leaps down the hall toward the closest two Bouda and reaches out to grab both of them by the one of their legs with each hand.
(15 against the first one 17 against the second)
(( 11 overflow, 13 overflow respectively ))
Rolling in that order
25L on the first 22 on the second
Victor lifts both creatures into the air and begins to slam them repeatedly into the ground like sledgehammers until all he has left are the nubs of the legs he was holding on to. Victor lets go of the nubs and turns to the group. "That felt good."
(( Bouda 5 and 6 down, 8 remaining ))
"I'll bet. So the gunmen are on our side for once?"
Sanura looks like she might be sick..
"Nope!" chirps Sofia. "We released the Titanspawn from their cages to distract them. That means we should HURRY."
"Gotcha, A and B battle, let's C our way out."
(( Ticks 2, 3, 4, no one… Tick 5, Sofia again ))
Victor lets out a low growl as he turns to Harry. "I want to see this place burn to the ground."
"Fine by me, but let's get out from inside it first."
Sofia grabs one of the bouda easily, eliciting from it a yelp, and smashes it into another that's charging towards the group. Both are bloodily pulverized. Sofia drops her living—err, dead—weapon to the ground.
"Shit!" she yelps as she realizes she got blood and gore on her clothes. "Ugh, not again! Good thing the salvagers are due back with my clothes by now. Hopefully they'll actually FIT this time."
(( Bouda 7 and 8 down, 6 to go ))
(( Tick 6: Harry, Sanura, Malif, Bouda 1-5, 9-10 ))
"I'll teach you how to keep clean in battle later."
(( Bouda 1-5 are getting up from Prone and moving to the group… puts them at -1 DV ))
Harry slides up between the tanks and the softies, ready to intercept any attacks coming their way. (I do have Selfless Speed now.)
(( So I take it that'll be a Guard action? ))
(Let's say yes.)
Harry takes his place behind Victor and Sophia. "I've got the defensive line. Go nuts, you two."
(( Sanura, Bouda 9-10, Malif, in that order ))
Sanura's brows furrow slightly as she regards the creatures. Near nude or not she's still got a way about her and with breath taken she strides forward and were she feline her hackles would rise as she hisses at the creatures. "Sit you filthy beasts, and desist this futile battle." [Hard Sell] Her gaze moving over everyone "all of you stop this we only want out" she glares at the closest of the creatures and fearlessly she snags it by the front of the throat. "Let us pass" she orders looking the creature dead in the eyes and sneers menacingly for so tiny and frail a female. The expression on her face is in no way frail though or forgiving.
[saying stunt for sheer ballsyness]
((I'll vote yes!))
(( Before you roll… ))
(( Fatebonds: +7 to dice Command; +4 dice to Manipulation. ))
[so +11 die? o.o]
(( Ayup ))
Tablet mode, slow refresh
As one, the remaining bouda shift to either side of the hallway and their rumps thump to the ground.
Sofia stares at Sanura. "Hoooooly shit."
"Nice. Let's get moving, quicklike."
Malif grins widely. "Now THATS my neice, alright! Let's get out of here."
Releasing her hold on the Bouda she points to them all. "Stay.. and in fact.. anyone following us that tries to stop us.. bite their asses" she orders before glancing to Sofia, her expression softening "Lead the way Sweetie"
Victor groans…"No fair."
"Yes ma'am!" says Sofia quickly. She leads the group to the vaultlike door to the security tunnel. With one hand she easily turns the gigantic wheel far enough for the massive door to open, revealing the narrow tunnel beyond, illuminated by various colored floor lighting. She motions everyone through.
Harry ushers Sanura and Malif past, taking the rear position again.
Victor proceeds through the open doorway
Malif hustles along, regaining his balance after his stumble.
Sanura tosses her hair and walks her sassy ass on along.
Sofia closes the door behind them. "Follow the green lights. Leads to the bottom floor. That's where our exit is."
Angie's voice can again be heard via PA. "Sofia, Brendan, Lance, you guys might want to double-time it. I just unlocked 682's cell. It won't be long before they notice and begin the Keter security protocol. Uh, just so you know, that entails deadly neurotoxins. Lots of them."
"Roger that!" calls Sofia. "C'mon everyone, let's move it!"
Sanura picks up the pace, partly because of the threat and partly because she's eager to see Brendan hug him and appologize.. even if it was just in her head!
"Okay, let's get the fuck out of here please?"
Victor turns to Harry. "Harry Grab Malif and Sanura Time to be the fuck out…your style." Victor attempts to grab Sofia. "I think we should go…Quickly." Victor's right hand turns to solid ice (Ullers stride Lightning sprinter unless harry goes faster then he will keep up And hes gonna ice man slide this bitch while spatial attunement to find the exit)
"Don't wiggle." Harry snags the two of them and before they can protest, is right behind Victor.
Sofia briefly forestalls Victor with her marble hand. "Whoa there, Grabby McGee. I know you're all business and stuff, but a little politeness goes a long way." Shortly thereafter she grips Victor's forearm. "Ready!"
(( Perfect Partner, she'll be able to hang on and keep her feet as Vic skates ))
Sanura thusly grabbed growls under her breath and is stiff as a bloody board.
"Clear me a path, you two, before reinforcements show up. I can catch bullets with my hands, not my buttcheeks."
Victor just shakes his head. "You still act like a child. " a sheet of Ice spreads forth from his hand as he hops on it propelling himself with slight twitches in his feet and hips. Victor also makes sure Sofia is able to punch through anything that may impeed our path
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize advising politeness and consent was immature," Sofia retorts as they slide down the path of ice. "Since I respect my elders and all that jazz, I'll be sure to take your advice, be grumpy all the time, and kill everything ever whenever I get mad so I can fit your mold of maturity." She snorts.
"Sophia, smash now, be right later."
"No you still act like a child in the fact that your standing on my feet like your dancing with daddy. I'm just an asshole you know that"
Sanura blinks and then calls out "You tell him, Honey" snickering and glancing to Harry "and you… you just watch what you're holding" grumping a little herself.
"If I was planning to feel you up, I'd take you to a movie first, Sanura. This isn't exactly the moment?"
"Oh." Sofia glances down at their feet, adjusting the problem. "Sorry."
Sure enough, on the way Sofia and Victor smash through a bunch of gunmen, sending them scattering like bowling pins, clearing the way for the rest of the group.
Rolling her eyes "just so you can't say you weren't warned" She sort of curls up and tries to keep her head covered from any stray armor or debre.
Once there's room to maneuver, Harry's behind them, zipping past along the ice sheet. "Keep moving!"
Malif remains silent, just hoping everyone can get out of this, and not miss a turn by being distracted by having a conversation along the way.
Finally, with Sofia pointing out the correct paths, they reach the vault door. She throws it open, revealing the hall beyond, with the number 66 painted in block lettering on the wall.
That is, until Lance charges forward spear brought to bear, and stabs a basilisk right through the mouth, pinning it to the wall. Somehow he managed to pull a Kirk and lost himself his shirt, revealing a very elaborate wing tattoo on his back and arms. Not long thereafter, Brendan charges forth in his full-grown glory, neatly decapitating the basilisk with his sword and sending blood spraying all over the 66 on the wall. Both are wearing what appears to be standard uniform for the people in this facility (except sans button-up shirt in Lance's case). Brendan's sleeves have been torn off, revealing his bracers (now looking well-worn) and a tattoo on his left shoulder.
Lance removes his spear from the basilisk's mouth. He turns to Brendan and grins. "So, what was it you were saying about not needing my help?"
Brendan rolls his eyes. "Eat a dick, Lance," he says, his tone that of a good-natured joke.
Victor looks to the two his favorite students all grown up. "Now now boys, Save some for me."
Harry sets down his compatriots. "Sophia, how far are we from fair escape?"
Lance turns to Victor and his grin broadens. "Don't worry, there's plenty more."
Sanura covers her mouth with one hand and sniffles slightly before clearing her throat. "Ok.. less talky more escapey.." said from her place as apparent baggage.
Sofia glances down the hall. "Not far. Just need to get to central security from here, where Angie and Dovile are waiting for us. We've made pretty good time."
"Very good, Now how about we finish the escape route and we post up outside and I show you boys how killing Titanspawn is really done."
Malif sighs. "Its encouraging to have so many warriors surrounding me, but I'll feel much better when we're back to ….wherever home is now."
"Guys…good to see you. I hear you have our relics?"
Brendan turns as Lance addresses the group, his eyes falling on Sanura. He spares her a look-over before saying, "You heard correctly." He moves down the hall to grab the nearby fallen duffelbag. He unzips it and begins handing familiar Relics to their respective owners. Only Ignis is nowhere to be found.
"Can we proceed to the gift giving after we escape the deadly nerotoxin?"
Harry laces up the winged sandals of Hermes, watching as they turn into the Air Mercury crosstrainers he is known for. "I'm set. Make the call Sophie, not sure my "I know where this road goes" trick works on hallways and foot tunnels."
Sofia looks around. "We should be okay for now, I haven't heard any —"
"Welp. There it is." She turns to the rest of the group. "We have 60 seconds before they release the deadly neurotoxins. Now let's get the HELL outta here."
"Go, we've got the back!" says Brendan. Lance nods.
Harry nods. "Sofia, Victor, grab a dance partner. I'll take the lead this time."
Malif slips on his pendant, and then stuffs the rest of the items into the pockets of a stage magician's costume that shimmers into being onto him, now that he needs pockets.
And with his Relic shoes firmly in place, he takes off ahead.
"LOOK FOR CENTRAL SECURITY!" Sofia calls after Harry. She then turns to Sanura. "Care to dance?" she asks.
"See this is the shit im talking about." as Victor finishes strapping his Guantlet Victor grabs Malif and takes off on his ice again still clicking away finding the exit. Surpassing Harry as he travels towards the outside world.
Harry calls down the lightning, to accelerate to x4 effort, and look for security terminals, stations, control systems…
(I'll spend for both, gas is an issue. Fast as Thought.)
Smiles to Sofia "indeed madame" grabbing the offered hand and presumably making a break for it or being hauled like a sack of potatoes.. which ever
What Harry finds is five basilisks just down the hall from central security. Angela's within, her back to the door, her head bowed as she concentrates intently on all the variety of screens, each with code scrolling down them Matrix-style at impossible speeds. Another woman is there, covering her back, bearing a sniper rifle with a scope that's subtly engraved with Cyrillic lettering. (( JB, everyone ))
(Opening Gambit)
(( Okay, Opening Gambit Tick goes to Harry! ))
A blur of dark red and bright yellow comes racing up the corridor…
Five basilisks…can't be more than five tons apiece. Harry grabs one, and swings it at a second one, before they can even react.
(( From Tick 0, you guys have 55 ticks before the place is flooded with Deadly Neurotoxins ))
(Rolling Dex+Brawl to grab one, at -4 for multitasking. Still -4 for drugs too?)
(( Yes, -4 for drugs. However, hang tight, checkign Fatebonds ))
(( +7 dice Dex, -2 sucs Brawl ))
(( Roll away ))
(( Botch, care to reroll? ))
(Damn right)
(( Another Legend down. Reroll away! ))
(Much better. 10 hits, against what I expect is a surprised target?)
(( Yes, target is surprised. 10 overflow. Roll damage first at +3 dice to Strength, then roll to hit the other basilisk with a -4 multitasking penalty ))
Harry moves like a bullet train into the scene, grabbing one of the huge beasts by the tail, and swinging it like a baseball bat to crash into another of the surprised monsters!
((I vote yes!))
(12 damage on grab)
(( Soaked ))
I hate to be a debbie downer but I dont think its stunt worthy You have done so much better stunts
(( It is piercing damage! ))
(( So 1 Lethal ))
(Okay. So, Dex+Melee on basilisk #2, mulitask, drug…)
(Dex and Melee fatemods?)
(( Dex: 7 dice; Melee: 3 dice ))
(( Bonuses ))
17 to hit!
(( 17 overflow + 1 for hit + 3 dice for Strength Fatebond + normal attack ))
(Rolling 26+7)
(20 damage.)
(( Calling the basilisk a Bashing weapon ))
(( 4B damage to Basilisk 2 ))
(( Tick 0, Victor's turn, and we begin the 55 tick countdown ))
Victor slides in on his self made ice the vapors steaming off as it evaporates when he passes as he slides he attempts to pick up the basilisk by the snout (clinch and going for a multi but want to make sure I grab the closest one to victor that isnt being taken care of by Harry calling for a stunt for second part but lets see if I grab)
22 for the clinch grab
(( full overflow, they're surprised ))
5+2(relic)4(frost 3)4(fatebonds)+2 autos(fatebonds)
"Heh, hey Vic. Swordfight?"
(i think i can do better im going to reroll)
24 Lethal damage to the creature in my hand
(( 11 Lethal dealt ))
(( Ain't dead yet ))
Victor crushes the Creatures skull as much as he can with one hand (second attack) he then tosses the creature into the air jumps off his ice slide back flips into the air and attempts to soccer kick the creature into another basilisk that has yet to be engaged. (basically a thrown attack just flaring it want to use jack of all trades for my thrown ability and call for a stunt on this one)
((I vote yes!))
(Works for me.)
[I dunno seems much like Vic's usual fair, but still flashy so ok]
(I'll take the Legend recharge…22/25)
((12 against one of the other surprised basalisk im assuming full overflow again?))
(( Yep ))
12(over)9(strength with fatebonds)+2 autos
26 damage from the throw
(( That's 10 Bashing dealt to Basilisk 4 ))
Victor finishes his flip and lands on a newly created patch of ice.
(( Okay, Tick 1, Malif and Sofia ))
(( No basilisks down yet ))
"Nice, can you clean up while I help Angie?"
Malif grabs collapsible scepter out of his pocket, and holds it before his eyes. Not to use as a weapon, but as a focus. He concentrates on the weave of Fate surrounding us all, bending it to his will, calling upon it to nudge chance in favour of his teammates, hoping for a quicker chance of escape.
(MAgic 2, Warp The Weft)
(Re-rolls and Defensive Do-Overs can be used twice by everyone instead of once)
Sofia dashes forward and gently sets Sanura down once they reach Central Security, flexing her marble hand as she dashes past. She slams her fist right into the unharmed basilisk's head. (( Disfiguring Attack. -4 for multi action, Dash and Attack; 17 overflow + 12 normal + 1 for hit + 11 autos for 22 Agg damage ))
(( 17 agg dealt ))
Sure enough, her fist goes THROUGH the basilisk's head. She pulls it off from around her hand and shakes off bits of brain.
(( Basilisk 5 is down ))
"Sophie's right. No time to waste showing off."
(( Tick 2, Dovile! ))
Dovile will aim at the closest one to Angela. For all three ticks, unless you freak me out.
(( So you'll go again on Tick 5 ))
(( Tick 3, Lance and Brendan! ))
Lance and Brendan share a glance and nod. Lance charges forward and Brendan pulls up in front of Sanura, his sword out before him defensively and his eyes quickly darting over the basilisk in calculation. "Lance, eyes first!" (( 3L, Art of War ))
(( Gets a pool of 13 dice to distribute ))
(( Lol, Lance can only use 1 dice ))
Lance narrows his eyes and brings his spear up and around, going for the eyes as Brendan suggests. (( 20 + 1 ))
(( 7 autos ))
Beams proudly at Brendan's quick thinking and inwardly goes daww cause he put himself kinda on guard duty there.
(( 15 overflow + 1 to hit + 1 more dice from Brendan + 9 normal + 7 autos ))
(( 22 Lethal ))
(( 9 Lethal to Basilisk 4, and it is DOWN ))
Sanura gives a little whoop.
(( Tick 4, Angela ))
Angela disengages from her computer-y trance and quickly disconnects her beat-up old external harddrive and shoves it in her messenger back. She turns to the group. A raven's feather is woven in her hair, and a newsboy cap sits on her head. She, too, is disguised as Brendan and Lance are, but her sleeves have long since been rolled up, revealing a raven's feather tattoo on her left forearm. Two old scars run along her face—one across her chin, one down her left temple. "Got everything! Can't put off the security protocols anymore. We've got about five seconds! Let's go!" She stands guard by the hole in the ground. (( Guard action, now 5 Ticks until doomsday ))
"Everyone who can't hold their breath for a week, run!"
(( Tick 5, Harry and Dovile ))
Harry's not playing anymore. He drops the beast, drops a foot on the back of it's neck, grabs it by the eyesockets, and tears it's fucking head off.
(Agg clinch, fierce blow)
(( There's no way it's overcoming the clinch ))
(Blowing 5 Legend for agg…)
(No longer multitasking, so…16 dice.
13 to clinch
-diff for fierce
(( Full overflow ))
Yeah. Strength fate?
(( +3 dice ))
20dice+7 +/-?
17 agg
To pull it's skull right out of it's head.
Harry wrenches, ripping the thing's head into a gory mess. "I SAID RUN!"
A small frown twitches across Dovile's face just before she fires on the basilisk nearest to Angela. Her eyes twitch left. Something is sneaking up on Brendan and his charge. She breathes out, depressing the trigger on her rifle instinctively.
((I'm flaring legend for autos. So 18 + 12 to hit… Bye aiming dice!))
(( You get 13 overflow ))
((And I'm going to activate Eagle eey too, for those seven autos? So 12 +13 and seven autos?))
(( +1 just for hitting ))
(( Dice, that is ))
The basilik slithers out of the shadows, rearing up to srike silently at Sanura's back. There's a crack, like short thunder, sounding off the metal walls and echoing down the hall. The basilisk falls backward, left eye gone.
Sanura gives a girlish yelp and turns in time to see the creature fall backwards and gives a shudder. "Oh goodness.."
(( Tick 6: Sanura, remaining basilisks, Victor, Malif, Sofia ))
Grimacing slightly at all the gore and her near death she pulls a face. Sanura takes in the scene and holds the star necklace in her hand, holding tight to the points and feeling them press into her skin. Her brow furrows faintly and she closes her eyes and directs her attention to the heavens, to the unseen stars that she know's lurk behind the bright sheild of the sun. [+4 dice to perc] Hands extending upwards she'd seem to pluck stars from thin air and grins brightly as she tosses the net like webbing over the closest creature. "Hey Vic, knock this thing out and drag it home like a good cave man would ya?" her tone teasing and entreating all at once. Her next action going to be bolting for the exit. Not waiting to see if he grabs it for her or not.
(( Per + Awareness first ))
(( Need at least 6 successes to use the Boon ))
(( Well there you go. ))
(( Wits + Occult ))
The basilisk finds itself bound up by some kind of really sticky substance. It hisses in distress.
The remaining basilisk looks around, has an expression on its reptillian face that basically says "FUCK THIS" and slithers away as fast as it can.
Victor looks at Sanura with a glare as she bolts out of here. What the hell is he a personal shopper. Victor reaches down grabs the creature and the webbing and Hops on his Ice slide and dips the fuck out.
(( Battle over, with 3 seconds to spare ))
Sofia takes a deep breath in, preparing for the worst, holds it, and motions for the others to head into the hole in the ground. Clearly she's going to stay behind to snatch up anyone lagging.
There's a convenient steep ramp downwards, allowing people to slide if they so choose.
Sure enough, when everyone but Harry and Dovile are through, a hissing noise fills the room. Sofia's eyes widen and she grabs them both and makes a mighty leap down the hole. As she passes, earth packs behind her, effectively closing off before the gases can escape into the long tunnel. (( Shaping ))
Dovile grunts her thanks.
Sanura grunts as she chafes her ass sliding in the dirt. "Fucking ow"
Lance whoops and jumps, barely able to contain his feeling of triumph. Brendan, on the other hand, turns to offer Sanura a hand up.
"Well, that was a dramatic escape. Do you think the camera crew got proper footage of it for the eventual movie ?"
Harry looks at Sophia, and hugs her. Then moves to Angela, discarding his helmet, which fades away to nothing once a foot or two from him…looking at her.
Sanura beams brightly and accepts the hand up and then tackles the lad in a super ultra hug of omg I'm so glad to see you!
Victor walks to lance and grabs him by the armor and brings him in close. "You've seen alot pertaining to me and Lisa. I just learned I've been gone for 10 years. Is it safe to assume you were a pal and looked after them for me? I now know Cyril got my message but I need to know Were you there for my family Lance? You're the one I counted on."
Sofia grins and gives Harry a good squeeze, easily lifting him off the ground and setting him back down again.
Angela takes her newsboy cap off and brushes a hand through her hair, sighing in relief. "I hope not. I disabled all the cameras." Then, she turns to Harry, offering him a half-smile. It's a lot dimmer a smile than Harry's used to… and it looks to have been that way for a long time now. "It's good to have you back."
Brendan grunts but stands his ground. Awkwardly, he returns Sanura's hug.
Lance's grin only broadens. He gives Victor a hearty pat. "Yeah, no worries, big guy. I made sure they were safe."
"Yeah, if you call taking Ruben on patrols SAFE," retorts Sofia. "And what about that time when he was, like, 3, and you were tossing him in the air and —"
"Oooookay." Lance's grin fades into an apologetic grimace to Victor. "He's totally fine now, I swear."
Malif looks around at everyone, and the much-older 'kids'. "I'm not quite sure why people keep doubting what is real or not. Am I the only one NOT having visions, for once? And how did so many years just vanish?"
Victor's eyes squint a little at what Sophia says and then chuckles. "Are they tough? Did uh….Is um…Will There be an issue if Lisa sees me again? Like..is there someone else?"
Sanura releases loosens her hold on Brendan and cups his cheek. "I .. I didn't really knock
Harry hugs Angela tight. "I am back. And it seems we've been gone far too long. We need to get somewhere safe, and you guys are going to have to fill us in."
Lance lets out a bray of laughter at Victor's concern. "Nope! But it wasn't for a lack of trying. I don't know HOW many times Coyote's tried to get into her pants." He shakes his head. "But it's been 10 years. We better get you back quick, huh?" He elbows Victor.
Sofia squints at Lance. "Uh, Lance, you're acting kinda weird."
Lance deflates. "Mierda. Yeah. You're right. Sorry."
Brendan averts his gaze. "Ah, we should get out of here." He sets the duffelbag down and begins handing out clothes to the as-yet-unclothed or semi-clothed.
Angela hugs Harry back, hard. "You said it," she says, her voice on the verge of breaking. As she pulls away she clears her throat and removes two handrolled cigarettes from behind her ear. She nods to Dovile. "Want one?" she asks the as-yet silent sniper.
Malif raises an eyebrow. "Coyote? My father's gotten out of that cage, then?"
Dovile is standing at the escape-end of the group, watching for trouble. She nods at Angela but says, "Not yet." her accent is distinctly eastern european.
"Huh?" Sofia looks up at Malif. Then she realizes that 10 years for her has been an instant for him. "Oh. More like the cage kinda just started… falling apart after a while. Like my arm." She holds her marble arm up. "Had to make a new one."
"Okay. When Doctor Fuckhead sent me after you…was that the summer camp, in ruins?"
Malif frowns. "That's odd, why would a thing made by a god just fall apart like that? That…. does not bode well…."
Victor nods to Lance and lets him go and nudges him back and in an attempted whisper. "When we get back. I may need you to baby sit for a day or two? If you know what I mean." Victor chuckles
Sanura's expression clouds and though she accepts the clothes and quickly puts them on she's just as quick to take Brendan's hand up the moment he's done passing out clothes. "Oh Sweetheart I didn't mean it, you have to know that. You're my best fella" she squeezes his hand and reaches up to brush his hair back a little even if it doesn't need it.
"Nope," Sofia agrees, holding back from whatever else she was going to add.
Angela puts one cig in her mouth and flicks her finger. A tiny flame comes up from her fingertip, which she uses to light the death stick. After taking a drag she starts moving forward out of the tunnel. "Yeah, it was."
Lance looks at Victor, a little puzzled. "Uh… sure." Then realization blooms over his expression and he says, "Oh. Uh." He rubs the back of his neck. "Yeah."
Brendan just looks at Sanura, then offers her a wan smile. "Thanks. Could've used that four years ago." He closes the duffelbag, shoulders it, and starts after Angela.
Victor smells the smoke and looks over to Angela pleedingly. "You got to hook me up. Im dying here."
She blinks a few times "four years ago" shaking her head slightly and rubbing her brow as she follows after the kids and examines the attire provided.
She turns back, in slight surprise. "Oh! Right, forgot." Angela hands him the extra cig. "Hope you don't mind—it's kind of lacking in tar and carcinogens. Just tobacco and rolling paper." She lights it for Victor as well once he accepts it.
Dovile will close up behind Angela and cover her as she goes up tunnel.
"Let's get moving, folks. Where's home nowadays?"
"Far from here," Angela says. "Sorry for being vague, but there could be some sleeper… commands or whatever in your head. I'd rather play it safe." She glances over her shoulder. "Along those lines, you guys don't mind if we blindfold you, right?"
Victor accepts and takes a deep puff. It wasnt his normal menthols but it would do for now. He may have to go on a scavenger hunt see what he can find. Victor begins to proceed following everyone to where ever it is they were going walking alongside Lance offering him to drag the basilisk while he enjoys the first ciggerette he has had in ten years.
Dovile grunts in amusement at Angela's 'Not far from here'.
"Sounds reasonable to me."
"Smart thinking…but we both know I know exactly where I am all the time. So a bit pointless in my case."
"Speaking of which…"
Angela smirks. "Can't get anything past you, can I?"
He focuses for a second.
"Not to be an ass…But it wouldnt matter if you did or not. I can see in thermal and ultraviolet electromagnetic and sonar. Blind folding me wouldnt do you any good."
Angela scratches her head a little sheepishly. "Yeah."
"No wonder it took you ten years to find our ass, we've been buried under a goddamned rock in the middle of fucking nowhere!"
Another "Yeah," from Angela.
Sanura frowns a little but sighs softly "it's still a good idea, just don't let me trip and land on my face ok" Smiles a little extends a hand to Brendan. "Give a lady your arm?" The placement of the base not really surprised.. if it had been in the middle of a big city or somethign she'd have been shocked.
"Son of a bitch."
Malif frowns as well. "Panaretos has really moved up in the world if he can be in charge of such a clearly expensive and massive facility like this, and hide it so well."
"We've also been busy trying to just, you know… survive," adds Angela, in more of a mumble than anything else. Not sullen, just, subdued.
"I don't blame you, but remember, the last memory I can count on, I was headed to court for that fucking trespassing, theft and assault case from the hospital."
He sighs…"Ten years. Goddamn."
"If what we experienced in our delusions was real…The world is fucked up isnt it. San fransisco is under water…And some of the destruction there was my doing. Which means Shits probably not just fucked up there is it….?"
Brendan glances at Sanura, does his own little bit of sheepishly rubbing his neck, and offers his arm. It's well-muscled and moves with confidence, definitely a far cry from the gangly, awkward little malnourished boy he was.
Angela nods. "Yeah, the ocean rose… about 60 meters worldwide. And then some."
"I think Panaretos was using me as a programmed assassin."
"Wonderful…Wheres my brother? my father shit any of the water gods, they could have prevented that."
Malif looks rather s hocked. "60 meters worldwide? That sounds like Titan doings…. is the war against them still going, or did we already lose it?"
She smiles and playfully gives his upper arm a squeeze followed by a wolf whistle. "Look at my little man, he's grown into a giant" teasing as she wraps one arm around his. "Let's get safe and go over all the details afterwards eh people?" raising her voice some and looking at the group. "Blind folds even if you've got handy tricks, anything to keep the kids even a little more safe"
"Coyote says that the Overworlds are kinda… empty," mentions Sofia. "And, well, he also says that if he gets too far from home, he starts losing a lot of his powers. His legends have faded."
Brendan looks up at the tunnel's ceiling, trying and failing to suppress the blush coming to his cheeks.
He nods. "Whatever it takes, but we need to get the hell out of Africa."
"Ima tell you right now…You all claim to know where my children are. I missed theirs births i missed their first words. I missed them grow up. Either take me there now, or kill me cause I refuse to miss another day. So…whats your choice?"
"We're going, Vic. Relax."
"Yeah, we'll catch up later," Angela says. She raises an eyebrow at Victor, but doesn't say anything.
Laughs softly and lays her head on his arm a moment "adorable" she smiles "ok blind fold up people let's go"
"Dad must be quite weak in Libya then, so I can only assume he's back home someplace. He helped me escape that drugged haze, though."
"They are the ones acting like we cant be trusted. Who's to say this isnt just another grand delusion. or that they are to be trusted. I just want to see my kids. So you can tell me to relax all you want but it aint gonna happen, cause I dont care one way or another if they trust me or if I can trust them cause right now my kids are all that matter."
"We can't be trusted, not completely. We've been brainraped by Panaretos and the Order."
"Like Hayden."
"Like you were by Tunante. Remember how well that went?"
Ok SO put on the fuckin' blindfold and we can get to your kids. For the love of all that's sacred stop talking and cover your bloody eyes"
Sure enough, the group proceeds through the tunnel, which shakes with whatever's going on back at the facility, carrying with it the sounds of the occasional crash or roar or screams. It's not long before the opening is clear, after a gentle slope upwards.
"Relax. The blindfold thing was a joke," says Angela. "As long as you guys let Carmen gently poke around in your head, it'll turn out okay. If we didn't trust you, we wouldn't have woken you up."
"Quiet." Dovile says quietly as she slipes to the end of the tunnel and scans the area.
"And whos to say they werent either. We dont know." Victor looks to Malif. "Yea I remember how that went I whooped your ass then I killed Tunante Becoming the only true advanced being in our little group at the time. I didnt have to drink a little potion I earned my shit. So dont ever try and put me down again."
"Enough Vic."
Sanura heaves a great sigh and walks along with Brendan "So, do you have any little ones running around?" she questions with a smile, part of her can't help but be sad she wasn't there for him the way she wanted to be. Falling silent when Dovile speaks in that low tone"
Malif follows along quietly, alert for any trouble.
(( Per + Awareness, Dovile ))
((I'm rerolling that.))
Dovile pulls back to the enterance and nods to Angela. "I see nothing."
Angela lets out the smoke she'd been holding in her lungs while waiting for Dovile to finish her search. She then nods to the rest of the group. "Let's go."
Brendan clears his throat. "Ah, no. But… uh… Lance and Carmen have one on the way."
Once Angela leads the group out, she whistles sharply. The sound of flapping wings fills the air and soon enough five pegasi land on the ground. A dappled gray one prances forward with a snort, frolicking in a circle around the group before settling down before Angela and lowering its head. She pets the pegasus' nose, keeping her cigarette away from its face. "We're doubling up. Pick your ride now."
Sofia proceeds with sealing off the tunnel.
"I'll stick with you, Ang."
Malif approaches Sofia with a smile. "Mind if I join you , Squirt?"
Victor looks in the air and whistles….hoping….
"Not at all, Dr. Strange," she says with a smirk. With that she clicks her tongue, summoning a gigantic seal brown stallion. She'll offer to help Malif up, should he require it.
Dovile will approch the carmel colored Eous cautiously, muttering something to him.
Sanura smiles "Congrats Lance!" patting Brendans arm lightly. "all settled here I'd imagine?"
Malif is still feeling a little wobbly, and accepts the help.
Lance sends a half-smile Sanura's way. "Heh, thanks." He smoothly mounts a bluish-black stallion. "So, you riding with me or with the Ginger Man here?"
Brendan beckons a sooty-colored pegasus forward, reaching into his pocket and offering her a sugarcube.
Eous snorts and shakes his head briefly in response to Dovile.
Dovile sighs. "Any extra surgar?" She asks the group.
Victor sighs as his call went unanswered, he shakes his head. "Guess he didnt come….Or he thinks im dead so why bother…" He approaches Lance. "If there is a water way that leads there mind if you fly over it, let me swim?"
Brendan soundlessly offers Dovile some cubes.
She nods her thanks to him and tries to look like Susan.
"most welcome" she smiles to him and then glances and Brendan "I dunno, depends on if I'm wanted over here" She isn't sure how hurt he still is or if he's angry at her for the shove and so forth.
Lance thinks a moment. "Ah… that's NOT a good idea. We should stick together. The seas have gotten a LOT more dangerous since… well, you get the idea. The skies aren't much safer, but we know how to manage those better."
Brendan offers a bit of a chuckle. "Come on. I'll give you a boost," he says to Sanura.
Eous accepts the sugarcube offering, allowing Dovile on his back. But not before he flicks her with his tail.
Victor sighs. "My Partner doesnt show up and now The waters are too dangerous for a son of Poseidon to swim in. Shit just keeps getting better and better."
Angela offers Harry a hand up on her pegasus. "His name's Quicksilver," she says. "Thought you might appreciate that one."
Sanura smiles and with an assist from Brendan would mount up, ready to head out.
"Oh could you please shut up? You're rescued, and we're being taken so you can see your kids, and be happy for once in your miserable asshole existance."
"For fuck's sake."
"Can we at least wait until we get home to start bickering?" Sofia asks pointedly.
Malif just shakes his head sadly, but says nothing.
"You're a lot shorter than I remember," Brendan teases quietly as he helps Sanura up.
He looks at Angela. "Let's get going. Also, awesome pegasus name."
Sanura blinks and then wrinkles her nose as she reaches over once seated and ruffles his red hair. "Alright smart guy"
He settles in.
Angela pats Quicksilver's sides with her heels, spurring him into a walk, trot, canter, and finally gallop in which he spreads his wings and takes off into the air. Not far behind are Sofia and Brendan.
Victor looks to Harry… "Maybe if someone cared more about being a soldier than being a fucking superstar none of this would have happened. What the fuck have any of yall done? besides care for your own self rightous needs? I killed Tunante I saved San Fransisco from destruction by an Ocean Spirit I traveled to Hades and swam through a Titan. What have you done Harry Mercury?….Oh wait…You Played sports." Victor hops on to Lance's Pegasus. "Dont forget Harry I can hurt you…You cant hurt me."
Dovile get Euos to lift off shortly behind them, whispering complements to him as they go.
"Should have left him in the damned vat."
"Too bad we like Lisa too much," says Angela. "Ah well, hopefully she can talk some sense into him."
It's a grueling trip. These pegasi move about as fast as fighter jets, but without the requisite shielding. Although it seems like most of the wind is cut down by some unknown magical means, it's still an arduous 14 hours of nonstop flight peppered with some stormy turbulence and some circling around to avoid flocks of nasty-looking Titanspawn.
The ocean passes underneath, and then the familiar landscape of the United States, though it seems diminished somewhat. Most of the east coast is gone, along with the entirety of Florida and Louisiana. As you pass over it, much of California is flooded as well. (( Here choose +60 from the dropdown ))
"Son of a bitch…"
Victor Looks toward New York city horrified to see his entire home is underwater.
Sanura leans over a little to look down and her eyes widen. "Gods.." she whispers as she sits straight again and hides her face against Bredan's back, the arms around his middle for security give a faint squeeze.
Eventually, though, the pegasi begin to slow and then descend, somewhere on the west side of the gigantic lake that mid-California has become. As they circle around, there's a caw of utter happiness and delight. Cyril flies up beside Lance's pegasus, keeping apace with its slowed path. BrotherbrotherbrotherBROTHER!
Sanura smiles and glances over. "I'm even happy to see the big blue feather duster" her tone quiet.
"The hell is that?" He looks around. "Oh, Cyril."
Victor Chuckles and leaps off of Lances Pegasus arms stretched out letting out a whistle all to familiar to the almost 6ft long eagle with his 11ft wingspan
Cyril circles around and dives directly underneath Victor. Lance's pegasus snorts, clearly relieved at his lightened load.
"I've missed you old friend. Take me home." Victor pats Cyril on the neck and and leans in as if riding his bike.
"I bet you could be happier," says Brendan.
Cyril goes for another dive, this time straight for the ground, his wings tucked for maximum speed.
The rest of the group descends, finally landing on an open plain. Not far is what appears to be like some kind of building made entirely of earth, partially dug into the ground and partially raised up. There are more people here, going about their daily activities, though most have dropped what they were doing to greet those who have returned.
Dovile will dismount as fast as possible and scan the approching group for Susan.
She blinks a few times "Eh? How do you mean kiddo?" She goes wide eyed at the building and shakes her head. "Man this seems like a crazy dream.
Victor Hops off of Cyril at about 100ft above the ground and land creating a small dent in the earth. He scans the area looking for either of the boys he saw in his vision or the woman on his wrist.
Malif asks Sofia "Why is the sniper in such a hurry?"
Harry hops down, and goes to pet Quicksilver's head. "Well done, thank you."
Susan is the first to step forth, looking over everyone. Her brow is furrowed. "You should've waited for the Titan blood to leave their system before starting on a risky trip home. Thank goodness they didn't start going through withdrawal on the trip home."
"Tell Victor that," says Angela dismissively, hopping off Quicksilver.
Sofia slides easily off Tlanextli and helps Malif down. "Hm? Oh, she's not much of a rider. Eous belongs to Susan."
Before landing, Lance jumps to the ground and makes a beeline for Carmen. Without much ado, he dips her and kisses her heartily. "We won!"
Carmen, quickly recovering from her daze, looks him over. "And you're all in one piece. That's a nice change."
Sanura is barely off Epona when she finds Crook underfoot, rubbing her vigorously with his cheek.
Sure enough, Lisa is among those waiting, still wearing her glasses, which are now beat-up and thoroughly worn but apparently still functional. She'd gathered the two boys close as the group landed, holding their hands in each of her own. One blond, one black-haired.
Malif nods, and smiles to Sofia. "Thank you, milady!"
Harry focuses, wondering where he is.
Dovile will go to Susan. "Thank you. He was very nice. I did not scratch him at all."
A red-headed young woman approaches Angela. "I can't believe it. You're actually uninjured this time."
Susan sighs at Angela, but then offers Dovile a smile. "I can see that. Thank you for taking good care of him. I know how temperamental he can be."
"Yeah, well." Angela shrugs. "Some wood around here to knock on?"
"Not a word, Lance," Angela quickly adds.
Victor slowly walks towards Lisa and the boys. stopping about 10 feet away. The biggest smile creeps up on his face. "Hey there beautiful." His eyes drop to the boys and Victor drops to his knees. "Hey guys….My name's Victor….Do you know who I am?"
Carmen snorts.
"What?" Lance asks.
Sanura gives a happy squeak and kneels to wrap her arms around the caracal and give him ear rubs and pettings to beat the band. "You're alright?" she questions, looking over her feline friend worriedly. "I'm so sorry I left you alone, both of you" she looks up at Brendan with that and then returns her attention to her guardian she still felt she was supposed to take care of in return.
Dovile will smile back at her breifly. "Thank you." She says again. Then she bolts for the back porch.
"Wow, what have you folks been feeding Crook?"
Harry takes a moment, walking slowly for once in his life, taking it all in, when he realizes what's missing. "Sophie, where's Alej?"
Lisa watches Victor, her expression very clearly straining to remain calm. There's a lot passing over it now—ten years' worth of feelings, struggles, triumphs—but she's keeping it together pretty admirably, as she always has.
Ruben looks up at Victor, his expression scrutinizing but his demeanor fearless. "You're my dad," he says, matter of factly. Galen doesn't say anything, instead drawing closer to Lisa. His dad was a lot bigger and scarier-looking than he'd imagined him being.
Crook continues rubbing his face all over Sanura, wrapping his own paws around her, golden symbols popping over his head. You smell like Titanspawn. Must… make… you… smell… more… like me. Crook's statement is punctuated by more vigorous rubbing on Sanura.
"It's all right, considering the circumstances," Brendan says, a little humor in his voice. A tanned, brown-haired boy approaches, curiosity written all over his face. He steps behind Brendan, partially hiding behind him to watch his sacred guardian love on this stranger.
Sofia looks over at Harry. "He's… in Acopa."
"That's…not on Earth, is it."
Sofia shakes her head.
Harry just finds the closest place, and sits.
Smiles and then laughs at Crook. "Or I could get a bath?" she suggests though she doesn't stop him from marking her, it felt like kitty love. She spots the little boy and her brow furrows as he looks familiar. She gives him a soft smile. "Hallo there cutie"
Aida's among the crowd, but she's hanging back a fair distance, apparently content to just watch the scene for now.
He rubs his face with both gloved hands and takes a deep, pained breath.
Malif chuckles and grins as he reads the symbols over the cat's head. "I can hear him purring from over here!"
Upon hearing Sofia's news, he sighs. "I'm sorry to hear that he's no longer among us…. I'm not familiar with Acopa, though."
Sanura smiles at Uncle and then glances from the boy to Brendan.. "Adopted?" she questions her gaze finding Aida and she curls her fingers in a little wave.
Victor nods his head to Ruben then looks to Galen. Then back at him self he should have covered the scar…He looks to Ruben "Watch this." Victor's torso begins to manifest a black t-shirt and sports jacket. Victor smiles to Ruben then looks back at Galen. "Is this better buddy?" Is eyes dart back and forth. "Any possible way I might be able to get a hug from you guys?" Tears begin to well up in Victor's eyes. Victor looks up to Lisa a tear falling down his right cheek, and mouths the words they're beautiful. I love you.
Sofia sits beside Harry. "It's okay. He's okay. I think. I don't hear from him much."
Angela offers the red-headed girl a pat on the shoulder. "We've got enough food for a feast, right, Moe?"
"Hope you're not sick of wolf," says Moe. "Because if so, you're about to be."
Angela smirks and gives Moe a sisterly hug before breaking free and looking over to Harry, her smile fading as she watches him.
The world was wrecked, Alejandro, dead. Angela and Sophia, spent ten years without him. "Wait…he's alive?"
At the request for a hug, Galen warms and steps forward without hesitation. Ruben looks back at his mom, who puts a hand over her mouth to try to push back all the feels. She nods at Ruben, who steps forward and awkwardly goes to hug Victor as well.
"He's okay? Well, that's good to hear, then. " He notices there don't seem to be a lot of people here, compared to the old camp. And no Naomi rushing out to greet Angela. And a raven's feather tattoo on her arm…. He catches Sofia's eye, and glances meaningfully at the raven feather tattoo, eyebrow raised in a question.
Sofia's busy reassuring Harry to notice Malif's subtle question.
"Yeah. I think so, at least. He's the only one still carrying the sun across the sky. All the other Teotl are gone, without a trace."
Lance straightens Carmen and says, "I missed you."
She smiles. Looks him over. Swallows. "Yeah. I'm really glad you're home."
"He ascended to full godhood?" Harry is bewildered. "This is so confusing. I need to know what's happened. Someone who can explain all this. We were not this fucked ten years ago."
"Uh, kinda," says Brendan. He nudges the little boy forward. "Rescued him, actually. Senbast, this is Sanura. Your… uh… big sister."
Senbast doesn't require much nudging, though, as his curiosity gets the better of him. "I remember you."
"Well… I don't think I could explain /everything/, because there's still a lot /I/ don't know. But maybe this could be dinner talk. Or something," suggests Sofia.
Aida offers a brief little wave back to Sanura.
"I am, for the first time in a very long time…completely lost."
Victor takes a boy in each arm and gives them the biggest hug without crushing them and stands giving each a kiss on the cheek. Victor cant contain himself anymore he begins to ball and wheep like a little girl. He aproaches Lisa and looks at her, with a smile and tears running down his face gives her a kiss. The guantlet he was wearing is now hiden and blended with his tailor made outfit. Victor looks at it then looks to Lisa, Victor props Ruben onto his shoulder. "Look at my wrist….I've never stopped thinking about you." She is tattooed in black and gray on his wrist.
"Is there still an Internet? A United States government?"
Lisa can't help herself either. After he kisses her—making her absolutely certain that he's real—the tears start to run down her cheeks as well. She looks at the tattoo and lets out a little laugh, tinged by a sob. "That's a little creepy," she teases, wiping a tear from her face. With that, she grabs Victor's face and gives him a right and proper kiss.
Sanura smiles and reaches out a hand towards Senbast. ".. I think I remember you as well" Her glance lowering to Crook.. "I tried to take him didn't I.. you stopped me?"
Harry sighs, trying to get his chaotic emotions in check. "Is there still an Internet? A United States government?"
Victor is trying to hold on to the kids while being mauled by Lisa
Senbast glances at Sanura's hand and back up at her before taking it. Crook sits slowly, offering his response in golden symbols. I am a sacred guardian. It was necessary. He seems a touch defensive, even though Sanura wasn't accusatory.
"Not really to the second," Sofia says, looking up at the sky. "I mean, everyone still acts like there is. But there are only a few cities left, and they're pretty much left to their own devices. Most communication goes through the Knights Templar. Which brings us to the first—Internet only exists in the cities. Outside, though…" Sofia shrugs.
Being that everyone's taken care of, Susan begins to lead Eous to the pasture. Lance and Carmen head off to the earthen building.
Angela slips her hand into her messenger bag, touching the hard drive for reassurance. They'd need a computer to access the information she'd downloaded. Part of her burned—she wanted, almost NEEDED to do it now, but the dream team had only just got back and neede to adjust. So she bites back her relentless compulsion… she needed a cigarette. Seeing that Sofia was catching Harry up, Angela steps towards Dovile and lights up another cig, wordlessly smoking beside her.
Dovile nods to Angela and continues her cleaning.
"Ouch…. so the majority of humanity is just…. gone? I'm glad its not ALL , but still…"
Sofia sighs. "Yeah, a lot of people were killed when Titanspawn flooded the world."
"How did it get this bad?" He looks bewildered, lost.
Gives Senbasts hand a soft squeeze and smiles to him gently. "Sorry about the .. other visit, I was .. misled" she murmurs. "I'm so glad to meet you, I was so eager for you to be born when mother was pregnant." smiling still as her eyes tear up a little. "I'd hoped to meet you sooner though"
Victor detaches from Lisa and turns to Sofia…"They flooded…But they were gone…I had a hard time finding the few I found 10 years ago. Said something to Athena but it wasnt a big thing. How could they have just vanished and then come out in force like that without the gods knowing?"
"I wish I knew," says Sofia, shrugging. "All I know is that Titanspawn flooded the world. And then the Knights Templar appeared. Scions. But they all claim to be just… gifted, I guess. 'Blessed by God.' And the other gods didn't say a word, didn't step in to change any minds or anything. But according to Coyote, they're just… gone."
Lisa, though she understands the importance of the discussion, is hesitant to be parted from Victor so soon despite herself. She slides closer, absentmindedly rubbing one of his arms as she considers this information for the billionth time.
Malif frowns. "Just gone? Did the Titans silence them or kidnap them or something?"
Sofia gives Malif a flat look. "If I knew, do you think I'd be sitting out here in the middle of nowhere just trying to get by?"
"That sounds like Panaretos' work."
"I'm sorry, who just got dragged out of a drug tank that was home for the last 10 years? Gimme some slack, squirt."
"But the Gods out of the picture…that makes no sense."
Smiles to Crook and hugs him "Thank you, you're the best guardian" she rubs behind one of his ears and looks to her little brother. "Can I have a hug?" she questions hesitantly. Almost as afraid of approaching this young fella as she'd been of mucking things up with Brendan years ago.
"So the end of the world just happens… And then a group of gifted people show up to save it…. And then somehow along that time frame the camp gets cut almost in half….. I'm assuming titanspawn…. Yet we were captured and kept hostage during this time. Sounds to me his was a huge plan that would have taken years to orchestrate ."
At this Crook seems less tense. His tail swishes on the ground.
Senbast simply regards her as she mentions his mother. He doesn't offer anything—no words, no expressions—as to his inner thoughts. At her request, though, he glances back at Brendan. Brendan nods in Sanura's direction. Then the boy gives his big sister a hug. He's better at it than Brendan ever was, that's for sure.
"But how the hell does…it makes no sense! Where's the messenger gods, the ones we saw on the monthly? Nike, Nibo? Not even a call, like "Hey, the Titans are attacking home base!"
Sofia nods at Victor. "Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm thinking. Except I'm gonna have to correct you on something: Titanspawn weren't responsible for all the… all the deaths at camp. It was Jan." She looks at Harry, offering a helpless shrug. "Dad's no better off. All he got was a 'Are you ready to meet your destiny?' and now he's dragging the sun around the world, fighting off Titanspawn left and right."
"Jan? Why would she be working for this guy, though? Who IS this Panaretos?"
Sanura looks up and Brendan a moment as she gives the lad a warm hug and presses her cheek lightly to his hair. "Oh hey you're good at hugs" she smiles lightly and releases him. "I'll have to come back for more" she clucks lightly under his chin and kisses Crook between the ears. She tilts her head to one side. "Alright we Egyptians showed you how it's done, now let's see what you've learned" she teases him with a gentle grin and opens her arms. "I expect a proper hug young man"
He rubs his temples. "We need answers. What set this off, what's been lost, what forces we're up against. As for Panaretos, he's with the Order. The same ones that kidnapped the kids, the same ones that caught us, the same ones that enslaved Hayden."
"And I expect, the ones behind these Knights Templar."
"Oh I know he's from the Order. But what IS he? Why does he even want all of this, anyway?"
"He's human, from all I can figure. He's a trained hypnotist, psychologist, it seems."
"He's a lot more than that, apparently."
"Who did Jan take?"
"Jan… Diva the one we let go…. I knew there was something wrong with that little bi…. " Victor puts down his boys . "Brat I knew she couldn't be trusted when we were attacked by those ninjas."
"She was trouble, but I had hoped we had at least forged a peace. Guess it was too much to hope for."
"Titanspawn dont just follow a child of gods for no reason. They obeyed her..They trusted her…They feared her….And now we know why."
Senbast offers Sanura a small smile of his own. Brendan, on the other hand, shifts uneasily. "I, uh…"
The boy offers Brendan the same nod to Sanura Brendan offered him. The young man chuckles and reluctantly steps to give Sanura a hug.
Sofia rubs her neck. "Well. I don't know. It sounds like the Knights Templar would be controlled by Panaretos like you were… but they're fighting against him just as sure as we are. And they… fought against you… when you were still being… all puppeted by him." She hesitates at this last sentence, rubbing a flesh finger over her marble arm. "Jan… killed Leanne, Denise, Liz, Mary-June, Dennis… Naomi… and she nearly killed the rest of us too. And later, she tracked us down again and killed Paige and… and finally Amanda." Sofia glances briefly in the general direction Angela's smoking.
Lisa fingers her scarf, the one crafted for her by Athena, her gaze off to the side as she considers further.
"Well, she's on the dead on sight list right up there with Panaretos."
Malif nods solemnly, glancing at Angela too. "That's horrible… who hunts children? And how does this Panaretos have such control over divine minds? We shouldn't be so easy as mortals…"
Sofia shrugs. "My guess? Also a Scion. Or even some kind of god. Loki maybe? Dunno."
"Or a Titanspawn himself? Or a Titan, even?"
"Wait fought by me….A group of 5…Wearing red crosses on their chests. I threw one through a hospital…" Victor looks as if he is trying to wade through his mind eyes closed. "Another was scared of me…I could see it in her eyes, She kicked me. The other 3 grabbed me…Thats all I remember."
Gives Brendan a warm hug, she was listening to the others but to her it was more important to renew her ties for the moment, to assure herself these people and creatures she cared about were real. She smiles as she releases the lad and nods towards the others. "I guess we better go lend an ear to the meeting, but I expect so many updates later" she warns.
"Okay. So…we need to find out what happened to our divine counterparts. Maybe I could figure out how to get us to Olympus?"
"I'd like to add… Coyote and I have discussed this for quite a while," says Lisa. "He and I suspect that the gods' disappearance is directly attributed to their diminished legends. There just hasn't been any talk of the gods anymore, no tales of their deeds. Coyote has mentioned his powers diminish the farther away he strays from this camp. It's all been about… just God."
Sofia gives Lisa a dubious look. "Yeah, I get that, but nobody just /stops/ talking about the gods."
Brendan clears his throat and nods, heading over to the meeting. Senbast silently follows behind.
"How the hell does that work? Right before I was taken, I was cornered into having to reveal my divinity to the
"No wonder they wanted us to vanish………"
"I'm not ruling out the possibilty that the knights are good guys. But it's way to much of a coincidence that they just show up. After all this happens..Expecially since we got captured. And they dont want to make any reference to being children of GODS but God. Until we have more information I think its safer for everyone if we keep away from them. No needless fights with them but no need to aide them either. At least not until we know their true purpose."
Sofia nods to Malif. "Yeah, that would be my guess too. And why they wanted us dead." At Victor's statement, Sofia hesitates. Then she nods intently, all businesslike. "Yeah. Right. Keep away from them. Solid plan."
Smiling a little she follows them and heaves a soft sigh. "The old myths are .. the work of culture now for the most part.. now that it is more about survival rather than a more intelectual era the old myths fall to the wayside to a 'God' that supposedly offers salvation and aid with prayer and a pleasant afterlife as well."
"Yeah, I'd have to agree, these Templars stink of duplicity. "
"Perhaps I should try to gather some information from them."
"Yea sports star…We claim our abilities come from Zues…and olympus and the like. And all of a sudden we are swept up. Then people just like us talking about THE GOD! No way thats a coincidence, we were taken to be kept quiet. Most likely Kept around cause of our gifts. If i was forced to fight them..Probably to make them look like heroes. To solidfy their claims."
"Okay. So, has anyone got a more immediate plan than waiting for one of us to figure out how to reach Olympus?"
"Besides "survive till tomorrow, and repeat"?"
The smell of cooking meat comes from the house. Clearly Moe's started on the feast.
"Well, Angie's got some intel straight from the facility you guys were in. I'd say that's a good start," offers Sofia. "She's the one with all the plans, really. I just try to make sure people stay alive."
"I'm toying with the idea of infiltrating their ranks, personally."
"How do we know Olympus still stands? If Athena didnt come when they were attacked…Then she must have had more then she could handle. She gave her word as a goddess to protect Lisa. I dont think that promise would have been broken that easy. Especially when at this camp she's believed in."
"Athena promised to protect you, Mommy?" Galen asks, curiously. Lisa nods.
"Shit…Adonis…"Victor turns to Lisa. "Did Athena come to you at all? Before any of this..Talking about a safe haven..Or a chariott anything?"
"Infil— No, I'm not gonna get into that. Jan's on all of us. We all made that particular bed for us to lie in.:
Sofia nods. "I'm with Harry on that one. There aren't many of us left. It's kind of risky to do some of that delicate work right now."
He sighs. "I'm going to need a few days to consult with Angela, catch up on the details of precisely how this went down, note for note. Then, we make a plan. Something solid for once. That ALL of us are going to be here for."
"Well, yes, Jan's on all of us. That's why I'd become someone else."
Lisa shakes her head, then furrows her brow. "I think she may have come to me recently, though. I'm not sure. It was a dream, and a very odd one, so I don't know how much credence to lend it."
"In the meantime, I need the best headshrinkers and mindbenders in camp briefed. More than one of us was mindfucked by Panaretos. We're going to need to be cleared by someone outside the five of us as free of spyware in the brainmeats."
"Yes, that's job one, I think."
"Tell me the dream..As much as you can remember. Every detail matters. Please."
"I'm not going to have another of us end up like Hayden."
"Or worse."
Victor looks to Harry confused before returning his gaze he whispers to himself "Who the hell is Hayden?"
"Oh, that's right, you missed that stretch. Hayden was the girl we rescued on the way out of LA, after Ja Cuze mindfucked us into leaving, and you decided not to come with. She was a tool of the Order trying to get free, and we set her up in my apartment. When we got back from Sochi, she was basically dead in my bathtub."
Victor nods…"Ok then…"
"By her own hand, as far as I could tell; I broke cover and about a dozen laws trying to save her. It was that court case I was headed to when I got tranq'ed and taken."
"The best headshrinkers… that's Carmen," Sofia points out, matter-of-factly. "She's good at all that." Then then falls silent as Harry discusses Hayden.
Victor also looks around remembering how he was taken. "Anyone know where my Bike went?"
"If Carmen can examine us all then, th at would be ideal."
"And this was right after Mike vanished too, so we had no magical healing, couldn't even tell if it was really her that did it."
"Speaking of Mike, has he been seen during all this?"
Lisa politely waits to be prompted again before she begins describing her dream. "Well, the thing is… I'm not certain it /was/ Athena. It looked more like some youthful woman warrior, wearing medieval French armor. Joan of Arc, perhaps. But she had the same eyes. She warned me that… 'the serpent lays waiting in the grass to strike.'" Lisa shakes her head. "Very odd."
Sofia shakes her head. "Not that I've known. If I were to guess… There were five chambers where you were, though, and only four were occupied. You might want to ask Mark when he gets back from the salvaging mission."
"Well, when Bishamon the Ghost Samurai, Lord Raptor, or whatever fucking Darkstalker he's calling himself lately shows the hell up, he's got alot to answer to."
"If hes alive that is."
Victor tries to wrap his head around what she said and Whistles for Cyril.
Cyril swoops down, landing nearby.
Dovile looked up from her mentanence, sucking in on her ciggarete. "Loud boy smokes." She said to Angela.
Victor would yell "HEY NEW GIRL…WITH THE RIFLE. MAY I HAVE A WORD WITH YOU?"
Harry watches Victor duck out, and smirks. "He's not the only one with alot to answer to."
Victor looks to Cyril and pets him on his neck as he waits for the sniper.
Angela smirks at Dovile as Victor fulfills her expectation of him.
Dovile shook her head at Angela. "Never mind." Then she turns her torso away from the house.
"Over here!" She's not near as loud as Victor, but her voice carries.
Sanura looks to Sofia and her hands clench lightly.. "Mark's still around? and.. the others?" wringing her hands a bit.
"Yeah, due back any day now. Last week, really." Sofia frowns. "I'd be worried, but my danger sense hasn't been tingling, so I think they may have just been held up for whatever reason."
"Oh, that reminds me," Sofia beckons the group toward her. "Let me Vigil Brand you guys. That way if Jan shows up again, I can kick her ass."
Dovile will return to her cleaning while they wait.
Harry nods. "Do your thing."
Victor looks to Lisa then down to his boys. " I'll be right back. I promise. Cyril with me." Victor walks over to where the voice was coming from. "As you probably know…I'm Victor resident jack ass most of the times. I need to know something. That weapon looks military, You seem pretty adept with it.. Hows your tracking skills? If lets say I could get you some waterlogged clothing or bones thats say 10 years old? Lisa says theres a snake in the grass and that the message was given to her by Athena. Im inclined to believe her. I dont know what that means. But..Im sure it either means we have a spy or were being watched, or worst they are waiting for us to act then counter act."
Sanura seems to relax a little and then wrinkles her nose lightly "Gah first you tote me around the Olympics like a sack of potatoes now you vigil brand me .. " winces and yet smiles. "Darn you and your massive butt kicking power." She teases.
Dovile will think for a moment, continuing with her cleaning, absently offering Victor the tubberware full of home-rolled ciggarrettes.
Victor gladly takes one and looks for a light.
Dovile nods towards Angela.
Victor looks toward Angela "Light?"
Eventually Dovile will look back up and shake her head. "Ten years, too long." She takes another drag on her cigg, taking it out of her mouth for a moment. "Way too long."
Sofia grins sheepishly. "Well, butt kicking isn't everything. With just a word or two you got a whole bunch of beasties to listen to you. Stopped a whole fight right there." She gently touches Sanura's brow, almost ceremoniously. There a brief sensation of a rock wall protectively closing around her, then it's gone.
Angela lights Victor's cigarette with a flick of her finger.
"Well damn…" Victor looks to Cyril then to the sniper. "Before I ask you do something absolutely crazy, Whats your name?
Dovile snorts, already back to her cleaning. She's actually starting on the second time through by now. "Dovile."
Sanura smiles and sighs lightly as she gives a stretch just to get rid of the sort of closed in feeling "Thank you Sweetie" she hugs Sofia tight. "Sorry your daddy got .. well a new job" she murmurs before leaning up and kissing her cheek and then releasing her.
Harry taps his forehead. "Do me next, kid."
"Well Dovile.. This is Cyril of course. He's my partner in crime. And what I propose is someone with your skill with a rifle hop up on his back Take a few laps around the enclosure see as far you can see just to be safe? How bout it?"
Sofia offers Sanura a bit of a smile. "I liked his old job better. At least I got to see him then. But I guess it was inevitable." She turns to Harry, doing much the same. He'd feel the similar fleeting sensation of that rock wall.
Cyril glances at Victor, even as Angela glances at Dovile.
"Seems like you were stronger than me or Vic back in Sochi…I can only imagine how powerful you are now…"
Dovile will look up from her gun again and give Cyrcil a good once-over.
"Cyril is… not fond of me."
Cyril caws. She's too quiet.
"We have… agreement about that."
Dovile takes another breath of smoke and puts the ciggarette back in her mouth, going back to her rifle.
Brendan uneasily rubs his arm. "Well, if I'm not needed, I'm going to get out of these… clothes and go… play the piano." Senbast looks up at Brendan, his expression brightening a little, though he doesn't quite smile. Brendan gives Senbast a little smirk and ruffles his hair.
I dont care if shes quiet, nor do I care if you dont get along. Cyril is one of the best hunters I know. And that shot you made was amazing. Im asking this as a favor for my boys. For Lisa. Im asking the both of you from time to time. Could you help keep an elevated watch. Ill head out use my other visions.." His obsidian orbs begin to flicker briefly as he shifts through his standard two variants. " To do what I can as well. But Im a brick wall If I see something thats out there I cant stop in time if it sees me too. You probably can.. So Im asking again….Please?"
Cyril grumbles a little, shifting his wings in uneasy acceptance.
Sanura looks between the lads and smiles. "You are so needed, can I come listen?" she asks looking at her little brother and then to Crook again. Once more rubbing between the felines ears. Real.. they were real.
Dovile shrugs. "If Cyril agrees."
"Good, see your friends already." Victor gives him a look and a low long whistle. And points his finger at Dovile before walking back to Lisa taking a huge puff of his cig. "Thanks again Dovile, we'll talk soon."
"Sure," says Brendan, clearly making an effort to be casual about it. "That is, if you don't mind the company," he asks of Senbast. The boy gives his head a little shake.
Dovile shakes her head and reasembles her gun. "Ruben's father alright." She snorts.
Smiles to them and follows along to the piano, where ever it might be.
Angela offers a single wry chuckle, blowing out some smoke.
Cyril sticks by Dovile, as commanded.
Victor stomps out his cig before returning to Lisa plasing his arm around her waist. he would whisper into her ear. "I asked Lance to take care of the boys for at least for the night. If of course you wanted to….reconnect."
Lisa had been, meanwhile, patiently answering all the questions Ruben and Galen had about him.
Harry stands, and goes to find a place to set his bunk, and get an undrugged night's sleep; he needed to recharge his batteries, and shake the sensation of intense paranoia creeping up on him.
Victor steps away from Lisa guaging her response.
She lifts her chin at his whisper, leaning into him a little before he steps away. "Yes. I would like that." Then she squares herself. "Maybe we should wait until we're somewhere safer." She looks him over. "I would like a chance to talk to you, though. Alone, if you'd prefer. I just… want to know how you're doing."
Dovile will finish her ciggarrette at her normal speed, nod to Angela, and turn to the over sized seagull hanging out on the covered porch with them. "If we go now, you leave me alone for a few days?"
Cyril grumbles. … I can't.
Victor smiles. Then he looks down at his boys and gets to a knee. "Hey…Galen, Ruben…Im sorry I havent been around for all your birthdays. But I promise that im going to make up for them all. That and all the missed Chrstimas' but in order to figure that out me and mommy have to talk in private. But cousin Lance said he would watch for tonight. So Can you both be big boys and go to Cousin Lance's room and do me a big favor…Jump on his bed and throw all his stuff around and if he says anything you tell him your daddy told you to. Ok?"
Dovile will grunt and lean back against the trelles. After a bit she'll grab another ciggarrette and grunt questioningly at Angela.
Ruben eyes him. "Okay, whatever." Galen, on the other hand, looks dubious. "Carmen'll get mad."
"Then you tell Carmen, That your daddy said to get over it. Just this once though. Tonight is anything goes night your both in charge.
"But Carmen's nice. I don't want to get her mad."
Ruben rolls his eyes.
"No," says Lisa, giving Victor The Look. "You need to rethink your strategy, because I'm not going along with it."
"I tried boys, you and Galen go behave and do what cousin Lance and Carmen tell you ok." Victor looks at Ruben discretely his face facing away from Lisa and scrunches his lips closes his eyes and barely shakes his head no. "Now go and behave ok."
Galen gives Victor a dubious look before starting off towards Lance and Carmen. Ruben gives one last look at his father, then his mom, before following.
Victor yells after them "Have fun you guys. Remember what /i/ I mean we told you…" if Ruben turns around he would give him a little wink.
Angela lights Dovile's cigarette. "You know… I hope it wasn't a huge mistake. Bringing them here, I mean."
Dovile will nod her thanks and take a drag.
"You worried?"
"Insanely." It sure doesn't look it, judging by the cool way Angela takes another drag. "I mean… we had a pretty stable life here, all things considered." She pauses, staring at the trellis. "And now it's all changing. Fast. Within moments of getting back. And I get the feeling that it won't stop changing. I just hope that we all come out of it okay."
Dovile sits for a while, watching Angela smoke and enjoying the tabbacco herself. After a while she shrugs. "Jo, jo. What else was there to have done?"
"That's the scary thing," admits Angela. "I don't know. I could've missed something big. Gods know I have in the past."
Dovile shrugged again, digging around in the can of snacks under the bench for something for Cyril. She sits back after a moment, offering the eagle a bit of dried fish. Then she gives Angela a weary smile. "You'll work it out."