[Dresden Files] Sacramento Occult IC

[IonDragon]

This is the IC thread for Sacramento Occult (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154866) with the players found here. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8742622&postcount=115)

OOC:Be warned, I'm not fully familiar with your characters yet, so I'm going to draw heavily from the sources I have available. Durring the brainstorming stage of this adventure, I had plenty of big picture ideas, but very few here and now ideas. As such, the first story arc may drop hints heavily as to where I'm headed. Hard to say if it will or not at this stage. I am also planning on keeping this first adventure reletively short, but I'm not all that experienced in PBP so it may end up being longer than expected. Who knows? Finally, I'm going to take a liberty or two with your characters in order to set things up. In my experience this is quite common, but if I state something that is out of line with you feel free to let me know and we'll find a common ground.

The FATE points thing is going to be a little bit more difficult over PBP. Bacially, I'm going to put @YourNameWhat aspect I am compelling in that post. If you post below telling me you do not want that aspect compelled, I will go back and edit my response. To avoid confusion, please post IF THAT IS OK OR NOT. People not being compelled: Please don't post based on that compulsion unless it has
A) Been 24 hours
B) They have given the OK

The basics and combat:In out of combat/social settings, I can go back and forth as needed, and posting requirements are lax. I would like about 2 posts/day per player, but there will be days I don't post that often, and I don't expect anything of you that I don't expect of me.

Once the combat system is entered (surprise rounds, rolled init... Or rather the equivalent. I don't know yet), I have a more strict policy. If an action is required of you (for example, it's your turn, or a ready action you've announced is triggered), players have 24 hours from the posted notice. After that, they are automatically listed as 'delay action' or 'decline to trigger', or similar. This way, when they become available, they can take action, but they don't hold up action overly much.

Players who have an intent to interrupt (such as an immediate action) can do it one of two ways. They can announce a prior intent to take the immediate action under xxx condition. If this is the case, notice will be made, and they'll get 24 hours, just like any other time when an action depends on them. Alternately, for those players that check more frequently, they can post the immediate/interrupting action whenever it would be legal to take.

In addition, players can post their turns in advance (say it's player 1's initiative, and you act after him. You post an action, spoilered with something to the effect of "actions in advance". If something changes to make your action a less than wise course, or not able to be applied (your target dies, your movement path that was safe now meanders through 7 threatened squares), I will post notice, and you'll have 24 hours to change it before the actions are actually final.

In cases where you have to be away from the game for a period of time (weekend at grandma's or what have you), you may place your character in the control of any of your fellow players, or another temporary designated proxy. In such case, your character is in their hands.

--Copy pasted from a post by PhoenixRivers RE: The Black Flight D&D 3.5. The same principles will be followed, but I don't know the specifics quite yet on phrasing and combat

@Shirley:Compelling THE HIGH PRIESTESS, for Cassandra's Tears.
It's Tuesday. Most people don't like Tuesdays because little of note usually happens on Tuesdays. However, for you it is a good day. You recently worked together to destroy some form of Demon that appeared to be composed of Ham that was plaguing a local meat shop. That was about a week ago though, and things are settled down. This Tuesday, you are sitting in an uncomfortable plastic seat at IHOP enjoying a well earned late breakfast with the rest of the group when suddenly Shirley begins to seize.
Her eyes roll back in her head, and she jerks right out of her seat and onto the floor. After several moments her breathing slows and she opens her eyes. There is the smallest trickle of blood coming from the corner of her right eye and she is smiling.

@Shirley (Only if you chose to accept the compel) You saw water, and a boat, or a ship of some kind. You saw a chest or box being lowered onto the deck. Ami was there, and you were about to open it when the vision ended. Inside was something you wanted. No, inside was something you needed. Add the global aspect of THE CLOSED CHEST

[RdMarquis]

I'll accept the compel.
"Ugh. Ow." Funny how premonitions, dreams and whatnot always seemed to end right before the good part. Still, it was something to tell her friends.

Shirley rose on wobbling knees and held up a hand to the other restaurant patrons she knew would be gawking. Falling over in a public place set off a certain chain of events, and things were rapidly approaching the "oh my gosh, call a doctor" stage.

"It's okay. I'm okay, I just have a medical condition."

The student slumped in her seat and pushed aside the half eaten meal. "Okay" aside, she didn't feel like finishing what the guy in charge of menus had chosen to call a "2 by 2 by 2". Shirley wiped the blood from her face with a sleeve, then launched into an impression of the villain from Casino Royale.

"Weeping blood comes merely from a derangement of the tear duct. Nothing sinister." She giggled. "Seriously though," Shirley whispered. "I have something to tell you..."

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

Ami slowly unfroze, having been half out of her seat from Shirley's episode until everybody's eyes turning in their direction stopped her. She wilted back down into her seat as Shirley stood up under her own power and sat back down.

Ami blinked in confusion as Shirley's reference went straight over her head, glancing down at the remains of a demolished stack of strawberry-banana pancakes. "So your, um, condition again?" Ami said a little nervously as her eyes flicked toward any other customers who was still paying the group any attention. "You sure you're okay? What with the..." Ami waved a finger at her own eyes.

[RdMarquis]

"Now that you mention it, my head does hurt a little." She massaged her temples. "But that's probably because I banged my head on the floor."

And usually, chronic seizures would be serious. In a mundane person, such a condition carried the risk of severe brain damage. But Shirley wasn't mundane, doctors couldn't find any problem with her (though that didn't stop her primary care physician from prescribing half a dozen types of pills for her to not try).

It had been years since her first vision, and overall, Shirley had begun to take her condition in stride. "I'm okay. Really." No one seemed to be listening, although a few old ladies were looking in her direction and muttering among themselves.

She frowned, remembering her vision. "Ami, are you looking for something?"

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

Ami frowned as well, eyes flicking back toward the pancakes. She stuffed down another mouthful, chewed thoughtfully, and swallowed. "I don't think I'm looking for something. Wait." she said, eyes widening. "Is this one of those things were I'm going to end up needing to find something to make me guess it, right? I didn't drop my keys again, did I?"

[Codac]

Richard was quite startled when Shirley started to seize. Sure he knew of Cassandra's Tears but had never actually witnessed it. After realizing what was happening he looked around the diner to see how the other patrons were reacting. Most of them just went back to there meals after seeing that she was fine.

Richard then went back to eating his pancakes and listening to the conversation.

[RdMarquis]

"Maybe. I dunno." Shirley sat back and folded her arms.

"In that premonition I just had," Her voice lowered to a whisper. "you were at the docks. There was a chest being on board someone's boat and you were about to open it."

She smiled. "Are you a treasure hunter, or something?"

[Archaicwonder]

Dane had frozen when Shirley started seizing. He wasn't really comfortable surrounded by this many people, and something out of the ordinary happening only made him tense his shoulders and face more. His eyes became squinted slits and his lips screwed up in a grimace.

When the conversation moved to treasure hunting he turned his face back to Shirley and cleared his expression.

"I thought Treasure Hunting was something out of a movie, people still do that?" he asked quietly to Richard.

[Codac]

"Yeah, people still do it mostly underwater salvaging ships." Richard replies softly not wanting to interrupt the others' conversation.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

"I don't ever really, um, intentionally hunt things." Ami said nervously, unhappy to be the center of attention. "So, should I not be going near the docks anytime soon then?"

[RdMarquis]

The girl toyed with one of the laces on her hooded sweater and tried to think. "...No. I don't think so." She said finally. "At least, I didn't see anything bad happen to you after you opened the chest."

Shirley steepled her fingers. "I mean, it could be construed as a warning, but so could many of my visions." She turned toward the others. "Do you think it's worth looking into?"

[Archaicwonder]

Dane turned his blue eyes away from Ami and toward Shirley.

"I'd say that we ought to look into it, we wouldn't want someone to get hurt."

[RdMarquis]

"So, where do you think this dock is? I live in Davis most of the time, so I really don't have an idea of where you would put a boat."

She paused for a moment. "Or rather, hide a boat. I had the feeling that whatever this thing is, it's important to whoever put it in a chest."

[Codac]

"Did you see what kind of boat it was." Richard asked trying think of the places the boat could be.

[RdMarquis]

"Sorry." Shirley shook her head. "I couldn't tell you much about what it looked like. It had a deck and it floated on water." She laughed. "Something like a crane was lowering our mystery box onto that deck."

[Aagon]

James had not exactly been excited about breakfast at IHOP, but Ami had talked him into it. Still, he was glad he was here now. Things had been boring since the demon and he had far too much time on his hand to wonder if his master had any plans for him. James wondered briefly if they were risking creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, or if they would change her vision by going to find the box...but really James had thought about this before without a satisfactory answer. He shook himself out of his reverie.

"There's still some shipping along the waterways. I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to find out where there are cranes for loading and unloading boats."

[IonDragon]

@Shirley
The chest was smallish and made of metal bound wood. It looked like it had been down there for a long time.

The waitress who brings the check (an older white woman with her graying hair in braids) makes it a point to express deep concern for Shirley's well being, which completely vanishes the moment she is confirmed to be quite alright.

EDIT: That link wasn't supposed to be there. Just goes to show you shouldn't post when you can't see what you're doing.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

Ami holds up her hand, two fingers extended to indicate that she was covering the cost of her and Jame's pancakes. When she gets the bill, she pulls out a small pile of one-dollar bills and assorted change and starts counting out what she owes.

[Aagon]

James winced internally when Ami started counting out her money. He hadn't actually meant to force her to pay for his breakfast, but it was too late now. Instead he smiled and said "Thanks - I'll get you next time."

[Codac]

Richard looks at the check then pulls out his wallet and puts the money plus tip on the table. Rubbing the back of his neck he stands up.

"Meet you outside I need a smoke." he address his companions then walks out off the building. When he gets outside he pulls out his pack of cigarettes lights one and takes a drag sighing.

[RdMarquis]

"So, where are these waterways?"

Shirley was still staring into space. "And more importantly, how do you think we would find this boat? I think the chest has been hidden for a while." She stood up to leave.

Sorry this took so long. Today was the first day of summer classes, and it took me all day to get books and everything.

[Archaicwonder]

Dane reaches into a pocket in his cargos and puls out a couple bills. He gets up to follow everyone, while checking the immediate area out. He grabs a few napkins and wipes at some syrup he spilled on himself, then follows Richard.

"I don't need to smoke, but I feel lousy if I don't get my second hand pack a day..."

[IonDragon]

@AmiSOMETHING IS AFTER ME
It can never be just one thing. Stepping through the foyer, Ami takes out her phone just before it starts to emit static. Not ringing, just choking out static.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

(taking the compel)

Ami stared puzzledly at her cell phone. The thing didn't work. Hadn't work for years; it had burned out when Ami's powers started showing up, but she'd always kept it around for the therapeutic clicking noises it'd make if she really needed to make it look like her attention was elsewhere. She gave it an experimental twirl around it's antennae to make sure it wasn't about to burst into flames, then cautiously flicked it open in her hand.

[IonDragon]

The screen is off, and it is not showing any signs of being active, yet static continues to spew from the speaker.

EDIT: Don't forget to take your FATE point.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

"Has this happened to anybody else?" Ami said, looking toward James and Shirley. "This should be gutted, I blew it out ages ago."

[IonDragon]

As she exits the second set of doors, leaving the building completely the static stops. The phone quite normal once more.

[RdMarquis]

"Uh, no." Shirley shakes her head. "Not outside of a scary video game."

She suddenly felt worried. "That cell phone isn't on, is it?" The student turned around and looked back inside the restaurant.

"Does anyone want to go back inside and look around? Maybe see if a monster leaps out at us?" Shirley laughed weakly.

[Aagon]

James was far more startled by Ami's phone ringing than he had been by blood running out of his friend's eye. He stared at the phone for a long moment. "That shouldn't be possible, that phone should have been fried long ago." He paused. "Let me take a look." He reached out and took the phone and studied it carefully.

Lore check: 4d3-8)

[Aagon]

Lore check: [roll0]

[IonDragon]

Hexed electronics don't work. It's worth noting that the phone was not ringing, but merely emitting static, at ring tone volume.

[Aagon]

James shook his head in frustration. "Nothing weird going on that I can tell," he said. "But if someone were to use it to send a message or track you down and that sound was the result, I wouldn't necessarily be able to tell." He started to hand the phone back, but paused. He glanced over at the other guys standing off to the side for their cigarette then back at Shirley and Ami. "Wait here a second." James slides on his motorcycle jacket then takes the phone inside the second set of the doors, ready to step back out if it starts making noise again.

[IonDragon]

And James stands awkwardly holding a broken phone wrapped in a jacket in the entryway to IHOP.

[Aagon]

James stepped back to the rest of the group. "That wasn't awkward. At all," he said as he handed the phone back to Ami.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

"No, not awkward at all." Ami said dryly as she took her cell phone back, gave it another suspicious once over, shrugged, and dropped it into a pocket.

"Although, I don't think I want to stand around here much longer." She said, glancing about. "What's today's plan?"

[RdMarquis]

"Let's go on a treasure hunt." Shirley said, with mock excitement.

"Seriously though, I think we should have a look at those waterways." She tried thinking of the words to voice the odd feeling she had. "Call it a case of gut instinct, but whatever those people were hiding, it was important. To us, I mean."

[Archaicwonder]

Dane perked up a little at the mention of treasure hunting. He looked from face to face trying to get a vague feeling of the group consensus. Not sure of what that was, he decided to jump

"I'm up for a little Marco Polo action. Let's see what we find and perhaps we'll even land a score without much effort." He smiled with his words.

[Codac]

Richard contemplated lighting another cigarette then decided against it. after checking the time on his phone looked to the rest of the group.

"I agree we might as well go check it out. Who knows we might get lucky."

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

"I-I guess a peek wouldn't hurt." Ami said unoptimistically. Not sure if I'm opening any boxes, though.

[Aagon]

James looked at Ami for a minute after she gave her assent. "Any ideas on where to start? Would take a while to drive along all the riverways in the area." James turned to Shirley "You said a crane right? One of those big cranes that would be hard to come by? We should make some calls, find the shipping areas and maybe any excavations that are going on. Or rental companies..."

[RdMarquis]

"That might work. Do you know anybody?"

Shirley ducked into a phone booth and flipped through the book, checking for places that rented construction equipment. She remembered something from a police procedural as she underlined a few numbers.

"Do you know which docks get the most traffic? You'd probably be more likely to find heavy machinery there."

[roll0]

+2 from my Scholarship skill. This roll is for finding construction companies.

[Codac]

"I know some people that might be able to help." Richard said pulling his phone back out. After scrolling threw the numbers he decides on a couple and starts calling.

[roll0] +3 rolling contacts

[Aagon]

"You, uh, might want to get some space before trying to use that." James told Richard as he pulled out a small notebook from one of the pockets on his cargo pants and thumbed through it thoughtfully. "I have a couple calls I could make too, to see if there's anything special going on on our side of things once you've finished your calls Shirley."

4d3-8+2 Contacts check - to see if there's any project along the waterways that may affect something historically significant.

[Aagon]

[roll0] +2 Contacts Check to see if there's any project along the waterways that may affect something historically significant.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

Amelia took a quick hurried hop-and-a-step away from Richard as he pulled out his potentially vulnerable technology. Once she was what she considered a safe distance, Ami folded her arms and tapped a finger against the side of her head in a classive 'fishing for random info' pose.


Scholarship, answers trapping. "What does Ami know about the waterworks, or the shipyards?"

[roll0] +3

[IonDragon]

Okay! Was busy today, going out to dinner with a couple friends then maybe hanging out with them. I'll either get an update tonight by 10 or tomorrow around noonish.

[IonDragon]

@Shirley:
Finding Construction Companies does not require a roll. They are in the book. There's a list of about 50. There are probably more. If you'd like more specific information, I'll need a more specific question.

@Ami Nakamura:
I will give you that there are definitely waterfront cranes in a couple areas that are used for loading and unloading cargo from ships.

"You can ask the GM, 'What do I know about this subject?' often, there will be no need to roll.

@Richard:
Who, at least in general, are you trying to contact and for what result?

@James:
Working on your question as well. The difficulty for success is increased significantly for you however because this is not a field you usually work on as your question is phrased, and your contacts are mostly in another city. The difficulty is increased by +2 for each one. I'll get you some more information on how you can remedy this by spending additional time developing contacts in the area.

Don't fret, you high skill in contacts is not wasted simply because you're new in town. It will take you an additional 2 steps in time to complete you investigating which will award you with contacts in the Construction Industry of Sacramento. This will mitigate future penalties for similar rolls. It will also take several hours and incur some sort of penalty. It's not 100% clear on if it mitigated both being from out of town and not having contacts in the Construction industry so I'll go with it eliminates not having contacts in that field here, and after you get 3 of either one it will apply more broadly. For example, contacts in Construction in 2 other cities and you will no longer have problems in new cities or 2 different kinds of contacts in Sacramento and you will no longer have the out of towner penalty.

@All:
Skill checks are a gamble in this game, not a staple. If you choose to make a skill check you have decent odds that something... unintended is going to happen.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

"I can think of a few places that would have cranes." Ami said, her face still scrunched up into recall mode. "I think the highway...uh, the one that goes over the river."

"Not much of a place to really stop and talk about it though." Ami added, "Unless somebody can snap a picture of the place."

[RdMarquis]

"Ooh, boy." Shirley sighs as she finds the listings for construction companies. "Looks like I found what I was looking for, and then some."

She shows the group over 40 listed companies. "Anyone know which ones do rentals?" Shirley tried to remember herself.

[Aagon]

"No idea," James replied absently as he finished looking through his notebook. He shook is head in frustration. "It's going to take me a while to get anything useful. Unless anyone has a suggestion for what to do right now, it seems like there's a lot of leg work to do before we find this place. Shirley was there anything special about the chest itself or was it just a storage box? Any inscriptions or marks that could identify what was inside?"

[Archaicwonder]

Dane looked from one person to the next, going over what they were accomplishing out here in the open mentally.

"The docks are too big to stumble onto something accidently. We would either need more to go on, or a guide of some kind. Why don't we clear off, look for info, and meet up in a few hours somewhere more...private," he looks around at the spaces and cars too near them, "and then continue from there?"

[RdMarquis]

Shirley considered what he said for a few minutes, then nodded slowly. "Okay. Where do you suggest we meet?" Would it be too much to hope that my silent partner knows anything about this? She thought.

She turns back to James. "It looked like a normal chest. Metal around wood, not too big."

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

"I don't really know much about the shipyards." Ami said, idly twisting a strand of hair between her fingers. "Guess that means its time to do some reading up on things, so I guess that's where I'll spend the time."

[IonDragon]

@Shirley: Several of them do rentals. Among the big names are "Big 4 Rents", "Allstar Rents", and "United Rentals". There are others in the yellow pages as well.

@James: Are you going to proceed with your Contacts check, and if so are you going to invest the additional time to develop new contacts?

@Dane: You could meet at a local bar, library, Wal-Mart, someone's house. As I understand it James has an entire house at his disposal.

@Shirley: As soon as he asks the question you remember one symbol. Blazing clearly in your mind, it was etched into the lock. It looks like calligraphy of some sort, possibly Oriental in origin. (OOC: I may not have given you enough information to start)

@All:
Is the plan then to split up and conduct some research/do some legwork? If so, post your destinations and the desired amount of time you would like to spend. Length of time is entirely up to you. If you find something before the amount of time you're willing to spend is up, I'll let you know what you find and after how long. Basically, it's a question of how far do you want to fast-forward at this juncture.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

OOC:

Ami's going to head to Central Library and start digging through the microfilm collections to try and unearth any records of old shipwrecks either involving historical artifacts, or any sort of 'treasure' that might have been rumored to be aboard. Edit: Also, mysterious shipwrecks in waters near Sacramento

For time spent? Depends on how long other people seem to be needing on their respective searches, as unless she finds something groundbreaking she'd show up at the designated meeting time.

[Archaicwonder]

Dane looks at everyone making decisions about how best to help the group, he begins, "Let's plan this then. We can get in touch with each other after what, 4 hours maybe, and meet somewhere closer to the docks. Isn't there a new coffee shop over there? It'll be better for meeting and we'll have more information to go on by then. If we don't have anything we can plan the next move going on what we know then about what we don't know."
Dane grinned a little, his eyes sparkling with some inner joke.

[RdMarquis]

Shirley is heading back to school to do some research. A couple of professors might be able to identify the lock. She makes a note of possible rental companies and the engraving.

After making some calls to the various companies, she will wander around the quad for a little while. Shirley doesn't know where Grayson lives and frankly, his home might not be in the mortal realm. He just seems to show up, and that is close to where they first met.

[Aagon]

James decides to summon a local spirit he knows to get some information. He'll put in some prep work and research to get ready for the spell.

[IonDragon]

@Ami Nakamura:You find what you're looking for. Oh do you ever. The River King was being towed up river on her final journey after the Queen took her engines through the Panama Canal, to the central states when she sunk for the last time. Eye witness reports say "It was as if the water just opened up and swallowed the boat whole." It was carrying a few passengers at the time. You find a manifest. I made your roll off site for expedience, i hope you don't mind.

@Dane:Yes, that's a great meeting place. It's a "La Bou" which is a popular chain in Sacramento, it does not have a clear line to the cranes, but they can be seen above the buildings and across the river from outside the establishment.

@Shirley:How would you like to spend your time? It's about 30 minuets round trip to the college campus then to the coffee shop, so you have about 3:30 with which to work. It is relevant to how successful you may be. Also helpful would be which checks you would like to make and for what desired result. I'm guessing Contacts for your former professors and Investigation? for the rental companies? To find out... if any of them does salvage?

@James: I'll edit the results in later because... hoo boy is summoning more complicated than a skill check.

[IonDragon]

Use the Farie Trapping Spell on page 297 (you have the requisite materials).

You'd really think there would be more on the subject given how often it's useful...

Please RP this out, depending on the interaction rolls may be necessary.You now have a small Hearthfire quasi-elemental bound in a circle. You have spoken with him several times before, and he has not bargained for more than a few logs of good, seasoned hardwood. He smolders in the circle, waiting for you to speak, popping and crackling occasionally.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

Ami looks around to make sure nobody is looking at her (if anybody else is even frequenting the microfilm section), pumps her arm and scoots in her seat in an enthusiastic but discrete victory dance, and starts copying down what she has found, and what is in the manifest.

[RdMarquis]

@Shirley:How would you like to spend your time? It's about 30 minuets round trip to the college campus then to the coffee shop, so you have about 3:30 with which to work. It is relevant to how successful you may be. Also helpful would be which checks you would like to make and for what desired result. I'm guessing Contacts for your former professors and Investigation? for the rental companies? To find out... if any of them does salvage?

That's about right, but if possible, I'd like to find out if any equipment has been rented for use on the Sacramento docks, too.

[Aagon]

"Hello again Fandir," James said, shortening his name to something pronounceable in regular conversation. "I would bargain with you for knowledge."

James caught himself dropping into the older more formal style of speaking - again. He couldn't stop himself when dealing with anything supernatural, even when he didn't need to. Still, no harm in being polite.

"Is that acceptable?"

[IonDragon]

@Shirley:
Go ahead and make your rolls.

@James: Fanir wreathes himself in flames and hurls himself at the circle full force. He hits hard enough for you to wonder if maybe you should have put a little bit more time into preparing. He seems to have gotten stronger since you first found him. He does not break through, though even if he did you should have been able to banish him easily enough with the type ABC fire extinguisher on the work bench behind you.

Forgive me, the formalities must be observed, after all, he says in a voice that sounds as inviting as a crackling fire on a cold winter day can. What knowledge do you seek? He asks as he settles into the shape of a merrily burning Durraflame log with two dark splotches that are presumable his eyes. If such a thing could be called 'he'. His voice did have a distinct male tone to it.

[Aagon]

"Of course," James replied smoothly, hoping that the sweat he felt dripping down his forehead was not actually there. Fanir always made him a little nervous. He reached into his pocket and took out the symbol that Shirley had drawn. "Do you recognize this?"

[IonDragon]

Bring that a little closer would you young mage? He stretches up and leans closer for a look. I seem to recall... No! He swells, rising to an amazing height considering he started off no larger than 1/4 meter. He wreathes himself in a towering inferno of spinning flames, a living tornado of heat. He rears up to at least a meter and a half and lashes out repeatedly against the structure of the containment spell. The wind is contained, as is most of the heat, but you can still feel warmth radiating from the cement floor. If he got out in here... he could cause serious damage to James' library.

You don't know with what you are dealing mortal child! comes the voice of the hearthfire elemental over the roar of the wind in the circle. Some secrets are locked away for a reason! Send me back! Send me back NOW! as he pounds away at the circle, sending half visible sparks from the impact skittering across the spell-construct.

Please make an opposed Conviction roll. You may bring in the level of your workshop. [roll0]

[Aagon]

James Baker

"Not..until... you tell me...what I need to know," James replied with effort as he concentrated on maintaining the circle.

[roll0] According to what we talked about, James' workshop wouldn't have an aspect yet, it'd just be functional at average. However, I'm pretty sure that he's supposed to get a bonus from the ward itself but I can't find where that's laid out.

[Aagon]

Used the wrong dice on the roll... [roll0]

[Aagon]

Corrected again [roll0]

[IonDragon]

This text is required for a post. [roll0]

[RdMarquis]

Shirley took an hour and a half to wander around the campus. The student was looking for a professor who could tell her anything about the symbol she had copied down.

Her second stop was her apartment. After a call to her mom, Shirley began working through a list of construction companies. She tossed the cell phone on her desk halfway through and slumped in her seat. She spoke to the wall, but her comment was directed at Greyson. "You know, I wouldn't need to go to all this trouble if you dropped the enigmatic act for a few minutes and gave me some answers."

Contacts:[roll0]

Investigation:[roll1]

Wow, that was bad. I'd like to spend a fate point to invoke the aspect "Death".

[IonDragon]

@James Baker: You slam power into the circle, strengthening it with your steely resolve. Fanir falls back with a hiss and a crackle as violently as if he were doused with water. He recedes and smolders in the back of the circle. In a clearly beaten voice, Ask your question and be done with it!

@Shirley: In what way do you want to invoke that aspect, and can you explain how it applies a little more.

[RdMarquis]

OOC: I'd like to see if Grayson or anyone else who would lend a hand is around campus. The Death aspect represents the change and new beginning that took place when Shirley met him.

[Aagon]

James shuddered inwardly as the elemental subsided. Such things occasionally happened of course, but it was generally easy enough to contain them. Still, how much damage the fire could have wrought.... James studied the quasi-elemental for a moment wondering if there was a trick in his words. He started to remember the words his master had taught him, but quickly shut down the memory. He focused on Fanir again. "What do you know about this symbol and what it represents?"

[IonDragon]

@Shirley:So then, you're going to keep that roll of -3?

@James: Oh, no. This information doesn't come free. I know humans, and you can't keep me here forever. No, if you want to know this thing, wood will be insufficient. I want... His eyes light up, quite literally flaring in the darkness A favor.

[RdMarquis]

OOC: Uh, no. That was to offset the -3.

[IonDragon]

OOC:OK, that's why I made sure. Heh, gray for Greyson. Get it?

@Shirley: After your brief conversation with the wall, you decide to go on a short walk before your meeting with the bunch. As you walk by the park you see Greyson sitting in a park bench feeding pigeons.

Assuming you approach him: Stuck already?

[RdMarquis]

Shirley really was out of ideas. Her inquiries hadn't revealed much and she needed his help. But she couldn't help but blush a little when he summed up her situation in two words.

The student looked down at her feet. "Yes." How was she supposed to be a queen or whatever if she was tripped up by every single element of the supernatural she ran into? Shirley pulled the symbol out of her back pocket and showed it to him. "This was on a chest that was being lowered onto a boat. I'm having trouble tracking down the crane that was moving it, too, but this symbol is the real problem."

No one else was next to Grayson on the bench, but Shirley didn't feel comfortable enough to take a seat. "I've talked to teachers and librarians, but I haven't gotten any information."

[Aagon]

Uh-oh, James thought, thinking quickly. Doing favors for anything from the Nevernever could end badly - very badly. Or so he'd heard. He'd hoped to avoid personal experience for - well, forever. Still, the elemental clearly knew something. Stall.

"Without agreeing to anything - what did you have in mind?"

OOC:

What does James know about elementals and this one in particular? You seem to be playing him as kind of a cross between demons and faeries, though there is a lot of overlap there. I'm trying to assess if threatening him, being belligerent, etc would be likely to end the relationship, result in some sort of grudging admiration for being played or be forgotten entirely.

[IonDragon]

@Shirley: Oh, come now. You've been working for.. what? Three, four hours and you're already asking for a hint? I'll give you one, but you really need to learn to start using those below you before seeking assistance from others. He lets out a small sigh and leans back on the wooden bench, stretching his long legs out in front.

I hope you like stories. In 1981, a man by the name of Joseph Alvarez was taking a paddle boat up the Sacramento River. I'm not going to give you too much, but that should be enough to get you started. Now, if you will excuse me, he pinches the crease in his pants leg, I do have other matters that require my attention today.

--Pause here, I'll have to come back to this in a couple hours but I wanted to get something out--

@James: Oh, I don't know. I've been known to take an interest in a little of this, a little of that. You can almost hear him smiling, I can assure you, it won't be anything excessively dangerous to your person.

OOC:
Elemental are closely linked to their element. Earth, slow to act and hard to coerce. Water, ever changing, really hard to get to do what you want. Air, similar to water, but usually doesn't care about what's going on. Fire is hot headed and passionate. He's much more fae than demon, though of a much more volatile than your usual faerie. Likewise, he can be unpredictable. It will probably not end the relationship, though if you play him, he will either rage (but he will maintain the contract), or have a good laugh off of it. In either case, his response will be strong. There is also a chance that next time you speak with him it is completely forgotten.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

Back in Central Library, Ami gazed with satisfaction of her copy of the shipping manifest. She leaned back in her chair, her eyes focusing with determination as she tilted her nose up and rotated herself in the chair so that she could see the clock on the wall. With grave and delicate motions she placed the pen on the tip of her nose and gently released it, testing the balance. As it steadied, she grinned and fixed her gaze on the clock.

This time she was sure she could beat 40 seconds.

[Aagon]

James laughed. "Please. No piece of knowledge like this is worth an open favor. Name a price or stop wasting my time. I have friends with other sources. Or I could always whistle up one of your brothers who might be more forthcoming."

[RdMarquis]

"I'm sorry, but I tried every resource I could think of. I'm only human." Shirley's eyes went wide as she realized what she had just said. "Er, that is, well, you know what I mean." It appeared that she would still need more time to get used to this whole "Fae" thing.

She took Grayson's hand. "Thank you so much. I'll try to do better next time." Shirley quickly took down what he had talked about. Then she headed back to the coffee shop with Joseph Alvarez's name in mind.

[IonDragon]

James laughed. "Please. No piece of knowledge like this is worth an open favor. Name a price or stop wasting my time. I have friends with other sources. Or I could always whistle up one of your brothers who might be more forthcoming."Very well, young one, I need you to change the mind of a specific person. In the most literal meaning.

"I'm sorry, but I tried every resource I could think of. I'm only human." Shirley's eyes went wide as she realized what she had just said. "Er, that is, well, you know what I mean." It appeared that she would still need more time to get used to this whole "Fae" thing.He says nothing, but raises one eyebrow inquisitively.

She took Grayson's hand. "Thank you so much. I'll try to do better next time." Shirley quickly took down what he had talked about. Then she headed back to the library to look up this Joseph Alvarez.
OOC:You may want to head to the rendezvous point instead, so you aren't late.

[RdMarquis]

OOC: Yeah, thanks. I'll change the post.

[Aagon]

"Change the mind of a specific person? As that's only breaking the third law of magic, I'm sure it'd be fine - after all, there are two more important ones." James paused and started walking around the room slowly, as if in thought.

"I'll tell you what. How about we do our normal deal with these logs and I throw in some extra next time around. In return, I do you the favor of not whistling up your elders and asking them about this symbol - and telling them all about who I heard about it from and who told me to ask them about it."

He stopped pacing and turned back to the fire and smiled broadly. "Which would, of course, be you as far as I can recall. Damn my fickle memory, it mixes things up so often."

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

Fifteen to twenty minutes after Shirley walked into the shop, Ami swept into the shop through the front door, hip-checking the door open as she swept in in a flurrying sweep of long skirt, long hair, and an armful of papers and pencils clutched to her chest. Steadying the stack of papers and reorienting herself, Ami spots wherever Shirley has taken a seat, hustling over and setting herself down across the table from her.

"Hey, how goes the search for this thing that I'll want?" Ami asked as she dug through her pockets and dump a half-handful of quarters, dimes, and nickels onto the table next to her stack of papers.

[RdMarquis]

Shirley had a considerably poorer showing for the time she spent on research. She slumped in her chair. "I wish I could give you some answers, but not much turned up except a name." The student decided to put off mentioning exactly where she learned about the man.

"Does Joseph Alvarez ring a bell? He was apparently seen paddling up the Sacramento River in 1981." Shirley also decided not to end that statement with "and he was never heard from again." Frankly, the phrase sounded weird enough, as if taking his boat out was Joe's sole accomplishment in life.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you any more about the symbol or the crane. So, what's with the pile of change?"

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

"Well, nobody ever picks up the change that's lying around." Ami said as she counted out a couple dollars worth, stacking it up and returning the rest to her pockets. "Solves a few of the problems of getting money for things to eat."

"And no, the name doesn't ring a bell." she added, shaking her head. "The boat part sounds interesting, give me a second." Ami flipped through a couple of the pages before pulling one out and sliding it across to Shirley. "A ship called the River Queen got eaten up by the river, it seems. There were some people on board, and I wrote down a copy of the ship's manifest that I found, too."

[RdMarquis]

This sounded interesting. A story about a doomed river voyage conjured up images of ghost ships crewed by the undead. Now how did Joseph Alvarez factor into this? Maybe he got spooked the first time and decided to go with a group for his second attempt.

It was fortunate that Ami had given her something to read. Otherwise, Shirley's might have told the other girl how bad the student felt for her. I hope she has a place to stay for the night. Maybe I should invite her over, or see if Mom has any room. All the while, she pretended to read Ami's notes.

OOC: You'll have to tell me what the paper says, I'm afraid.

[ninja_penguin]

OOC:

The papers Ami slides across is notes and handwritten copies of everything she's found from newspaper articles. Newpaper names, dates, and the relevant parts of the article will be written down. All in all, mentioning of how it seemed like the river swallowed it whole. Possible trivia tidbits on the side regarding of how the boat was being decommissioned. Probably some dead-end notes regarding the people on board the boat.

[RdMarquis]

Shirley slowly read through all of the notes. Then, she looked up at Ami. "You definitely have something, here. Only, I'm not sure what. She placed a hand over her mouth, thinking. "There must be a connection," Shirley said, mostly to herself. The most obvious guess would be that the boat got too close to whatever was up the river and had to be destroyed.

Alvarez could be responsible, or an earlier victim. If only they knew how long ago the chest was planted there.

"What do you think, Ami?"

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura


Ami shrugged non-committedly, her fingers continuing to toy with the tuft of hair that she had started to torment while waiting for Shirley to finish reading. "I thought it sounded like one of those tomb-curse things you see in movies." she said, thinking out loud. "You know, ancient artifacts in some sort of burial grounds. Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-American explorers ignoring a series of unfortunate coincidences. Karmic comeuppance toward the end. Lead Male and Lead Female escape in ambiguous ending. Roll credits."

Ami's hair was granted a reprieve as she grabbed another small pile of papers out from her stack."I copied the manifest, too. Not really sure if there's anything that screamed 'cursed is thou who disturbs my rest'."

[RdMarquis]

Perplexed as she was, Shirley smiled. "But not the original movie. Maybe an aquatic themed sequel. With sharks, giant octopi, and an ancient temple at the bottom of the ocean, like Atlantis." She picks up the manifest and looks through it. Shirley is looking for anything that would be out of place for a ship like the River Queen, although she isn't hopeful that it specifically reports "ancient artifacts" in it's cargo.

She also hopes to find Joseph Alvarez's name.

Anything I should know about in this one?

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

"Hey, wait a second!" Ami said, managing to spot Alvarez's name on the passenger manifest despite her upside down view and stabbing a finger in the general vicinity. "This is the guy you're looking for, right?"

[RdMarquis]

"Yeah, that's him, all right." Shirley looks at the name for a few seconds. "Only, I don't know why we're looking for him. All I know is that he was hanging around the area." She wondered if it was time to tell Ami about her contact. "Do you think we can find out more about Alvarez if we check at a cemetery or something?

[IonDragon]

He stopped pacing and turned back to the fire and smiled broadly. "Which would, of course, be you as far as I can recall. Damn my fickle memory, it mixes things up so often."

The little flame roars and lashes out at the barrier once again. He shouts something in a language you don't quite understand, it sounds old. Old and violent. It conjures images of angry molten stone being thrown hundreds of feet into the air, of choking ash covering the horizon. It reminds you why man once feared the elements, but he stays locked. Held in check behind your potent barrier. The Onyx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyx) Marble (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble) slab supporting the circle, painstakingly coaxed from the earth from Knoxville gives a groan. Something subtle, someone not so trained may have missed it, but you can hear it's pain. Double my usual! And we will speak of this matter no further once we are concluded here.

Meanwhile, back at the farm cafe, a barrista headed to refill the creamer by the condiments comments to you: You've got to go up to the counter to order girls, we don't keep enough people on to come around and take orders, she sounds a bit southern and gives you a friendly smile before walking off.

[ninja_penguin]

Ami Nakamura

Ami shrugged. "I don't know. If they never found a body, would he even have a grave?" Ami twirled her fingers on the coins on the table, counting out two dollars, and sliding the remaining coins into her hand to deposit back in her pockets. "But right now, I'm thinking its hot chocolate time. What are you thinking?"

[RdMarquis]

The other girl stands up. "I'd prefer a regular cup of coffee with plenty of milk and sugar." Shirley pulls out some money. "Probably not a cemetery then. But there has to be some record of his death. The big problem would be getting the right documents and stuff." She thinks for a moment. "Maybe one of the others knows how to get access."

[Aagon]

James smiles inwardly but doesn't let any of it show. "Very well. Tell me what you know."