Dresden Files: The Charlotte Story

[Tegu8788]

Charlotte. The Queen City. A rapidly growing city, it's an old city. Wouldn't like it though, it's a modernized city. That's the thing about a modernized city. You never know where you might be standing. The city is older than the country it's in, and today, it's known for several things, top above them is banking. Money flows in and out of the city likey nothing else. And where money flows, power goes. And not just the power of the mortal kind. For there are more things in heaven and earth, friend, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

The city has seen many changes over the years. Massive towers of steel and glass have risen from the dirt towards the sky, and inside them, thousands of people spent their days and nights. One such tower of glass and steel has been named the Vue. A 600-foot tall skyscraper, it is 50 stories tall, and well known cared for, with a 24-7 staff, and some of the best views of the city that can be bought. On one of the upper levels, one particularly fancy lady owns a 3 bedroom unit, though, depending how you see things, see treats every room as a bedroom. For this is the home of one Anna Raith. She was not the Queen of the Uptown, not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but if you looked her in the eye, you could see that one day, one day she would make herself Queen.

[Tegu8788]

Vue Tower - All

Having received a call, or summons, depending on how one sees things, from Anna Raith. A number of her girls and had recently found number of grisly suicides among their clients. So far, suicide notes had been left, and the method of death had varied. The beat cops didn't have much difficulty seeing those in their high towers secretly miserable. But Anna's girls new these clients better. They were vibrant, full of life, and most important, had a line of credit lasting from another month to an entire year ahead. People don't buy things this far in advance, at those prices, if they plan on offing themselves. Anna was also certain that the writing in the notes her girls had sent pictures to her of did not match their previous writing samples.

So far, 4 people had been found by Anna's girls. But it was the 5th one that made things clear to Anna that these were not just suicides. Because it had taken on of her girls. She had been bright, lusty, alive. Someone with that much lust for life does not end it in a murder-suicide pact using throwing axes. Those details, and others, can be found in innocuous manilla envelopes on the great room table.

http://vuecharlotte.com/assets/images/cache/PH4D-d-efd8f265183aeed2b86dbfcd24d4f7ae.jpg

[Jasminenocturne]

Diane rides her bike down to Vue Tower, which is always awkward in a skirt and heels. Actually, everything was awkward in a skirt and heels. Diane was more a jeans kind of girl, and much more a converse high top type, but this was Anna's place. Since everything about Anna just oozed sex, Diane always felt a hundred times less sexy, feminine, and beautiful around her. And it wasn't like she had that much going on to begin with. So she wore shoes that she could hardly walk in, and a skirt that left an embarrassing amount of her thighs bare.

She managed to make it across the lobby to the elevator, and she felt the eyes on her. Was she walking that badly? Or was she walking that well? She glanced at the man in the suit and wished she could go wolf. Then he'd have something to stare at. She pushed the button, and waited, and wondered whether it was a bad thing that she felt more comfortable as a beast than in a skirt. On the bright side, she thought. It isn't affecting my love life: still completely non-existent.

The elevator dinged and she got on, pushing the button for Anna's floor.

[Eldest]

Violet walked. It was maybe a 40 minute walk, but her bike was in the shop after she'd hexed it accidentally and she told herself she needed the exercise. By the end of it, she was miserable from heat, but hey. She sold out slightly and took the elevator when she saw Diane getting on it as well, prompting a "Heyyy!" and a hug once they're both on. Did you get called by Anna too?

Once upstairs, she sobers quickly as she reads the envelope with her name on it in looping cursive. She looks at Anna. Know if this is hitting anybody other than your clients?
And now one of your girls?

[Frosty]

Anna relaxed (as much as she could under the circumstances) in her nice, climate-controlled top suite. She made the calls out to her allies, the ones both with the skills to survive and enough loyalty to see things through. Once the doorbell rang, she rises to meet her guests. "Welcome, my friends! Please come in, and be my guests." With that simple phrase, the threshold of her home is no longer any impediment for those of her allies who haven't been here before. For those that know Anna, they can tell that today is dead serious. How can they tell? Anna isn't nude at her own place. In fact, she is sporting a off-the-shoulder shirt that she somehow manages to make look good even if the shirt itself doesn't seem like anything special.

http://girlshue.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Simple-Stylish-One-Shoulder-Off-The-Shoulder-Shirts-Tops-For-Girls-5.jpg

However, she is still bottomless, and her shirt isn't *that* long. She hugs Diane and Violet, offering European-style face kisses. "Diane, you look good today! You know, you really should let me shorten that skirt for you. You'll have a boytoy in no time! But, that can wait. I've got an emergency I need your help on. Each of these envelopes contain information on one of the victims, including one of my girls." She explains what she knows.

"This makes no sense. My girls found them, and all but one client had died before the girls arrived. One apparently must have blown his brains out a minute before one of the escorts arrived. Regarding my girl that died, she and her John apparently killed each other by throwing axes into each other. She took two to the chest, but got one in his head, so she won, before she bled out in the penthouse. I put this together with a combination of photos taken by my girls and from police reports I've read. This is so terrible. Besides people getting killed, this is giving the Silvertail Ranch a bad name. I wonder if it's the other White Court houses messing with me again."

The vampires gestures to the fridge and to the various chairs. "Where are my manners? Feel free to get something to drink, and to be seated if you want. Anyone with magic I would appreciate you sitting further away from my TV, X-station, and Playbox thank you very much."

Anna herself walks over to a chair and eases herself down. The chair has two fairly large, phallic-shaped objects sticking up from the seat. She looks at the others expectantly. There are some chairs that are normal, of course, in addition to the special chairs.

[Acheron]

Devlin got some strange looks when he entered the Vue Tower, probably looking way out of place casual as he was dressed, but dropping that he was called by Anna opened doors. Literally. If he was the kind of guy, he might try using it more often. Just to see what would happen, but he kind of didn't think it smart. The elevator took him up and — a low whistle left him as he looked around, stepping deeper into the apartment.

So, this was what it looks like when you had money galore? Nice!

"Huh, hello." He called out uncertain before catching sight of other people. Women, mostly, so he made his way over into the grand room and, hearing the proclamation about standing away from technology as much as possible. The elevator might have survived, but that wasn't saying much and he really didn't want to have and replace anything. Pretty sure it'd bleed him drier, financially, than he already was most of the time.

Waving at the women present, only Anna being someone he actually knew — sort of — he went to get one of the envelope's and read over the contents with a curious noise in his throat.

He kind of stared at the chairs, then glanced into the direction of the fridge and whether it'd be worth to raid take a look at what she got in there. Then he shook his head and just hovered away from the consoles and tv.

Devlin looked at the information from the envelope again, frowning at the photos. "Did he say anything?" He asked, glancing up again. "You know, the guy who didn't die before one of yours found him?"

[Etherion]

James wanders in from from one of the side rooms, taling a seat in one of the normal chairs.

Honestly, I'd agree on the white court rival idea if it weren't for the most recent one. Despair vampires driving people to suicide makes sense, but a throwing axe suicide pact? Seems too... Exotic. Not a plan a regular person would think of an execute, know what I mean?
James pauses as Devlin walks in, recognizing him from a recent incident.
Um, yes, well, uh let's take a look at the case files, see the details in the less extreme cases.

[Frosty]

The fridge contains all sorts of standard drinks, alcoholic and otherwise. Anna replies to Devlin, "Let me rephrase. I believe my girl went to the client, and then they began throwing axes at each other. They were dead by the time one of the other girls went to look for my dead girl."

She bounces a few times to settle in properly on the chair. "We should look for any similarities between the victims, besides the fact they're clients of the Ranch. We also need to find out what's in their wills. Usually, if you follow the money, you can trace the crime. Lastly, I've heard of certain magicians or talented individuals that can...do...what's the word..." She gestures with her hands circularly as if it'll help jog her memory. "...do psychometry on corpses. You know, touch a corpse and experience the last moments of the person before its death? We'd need to find one and hire one from the magical community, then go to the morgue and convince the Emm-EEE there to give us access to the corpses."

The vampire also replies to Violet, "I don't know if anyone else is being hit in this fashion. I haven't seen other upticks in suicides lately, but that's something we should pay attention now."

[Etherion]

I have a feeling experiences the last moments of someone who committed suicide would end poorly. As for money, I doubt that would be the primary motive here, again because of the throwing axes. You want someone's money, you have them take a handful of pills or use a knife. No, the motive would probably have to be more personal to make a spectacle of it.

[Eldest]

Violet picks out a bottle of Coke that was made with real sugar (she'd requested it once, and Anna had remembered) and tosses it from hand to hand as she walks over to "her" beanbag in the corner, curling up on it as far as possible from the electronics. Bonus, it had a great view of the city, as Violet stared out over it, mulling. I can look at the dead people. In theory, at least. It might be better to look at the murder scene, see if I can look for something there. But question, would, uh, the angry white court and the sad white court possibly be working on this? The axes sound like it was rage induced, possibly.

[Etherion]

You know, the rage family could explain the axe throwing, but the suicides don't fit their style. The reverse is true for despair.
Unless they happen to be working together, I'm don't think that fits.

[Acheron]

"Oh." Devlin nodded. Would have been too easy to have something like that, he guessed. "...I guess you don't usually offer the service to throw axes at your clients, so..." Or did she? Sado-masochism, maybe. But fatal stuff wasn't good for any business. "It's more likely that they were compelled to do this, though why they didn't have them write the suicide note instead of faking it badly seems a bad oversight on their part."

If he did something like that, he'd have them write it. Which...he didn't, of course. He was a good guy. Sort of.

Noticing the new arrival — and unfortunately recognizing him, Devlin scowled momentarily before looking embarrassed. At the memory and letting it bother him. He looked away and listened to the others talk some more.

Devlin stared for a moment as Anna bounced on her...chair. Raith vampires were really weird.

"Nothing personal about having clients die and your girls to find them," he shrugged. "Did you...uh, consider it's someone who works for you? I mean, it can't be easy to make sure one of your girls finds the victims...or to become one herself. It's not like appointments are posted on twitter or something?"

"If convincing doesn't work to get us into the morgue or crime scenes, we can just break in. Even without anyone to take a glimpse at what happened, if there was anything unnatural on the victims it should have been noticed. And checking out the crime scenes can't hurt either."

[Frosty]

"Violet, you always take the bean bag! I know it's comfy, but try other things for once." Anna doesn't seem to think anything is weird as she bounces up and down, causes her jugs to move as well. "I mean, if it's personal, then it's probably Skavis and Colere working together, trying to take me down. The other houses have tried this before. Not sure if this is the same, since Skavis usually targets people already...emotionally vulnerable, shall we say. I'm not sure why someone who works for me would want to get my clients killed. And I don't have despair and rage types working for me, as far as I know. It's not the kinds of personality we want at the Ranch. Still, going to the crime scene could help a lot. I know some mortal wizards have this special ability...I call it the Third Eye. I hear other call it The Sight. Is that anything any of you can do?"

[Eldest]

She snorts. Some of us don't think of sex as for business meetings. Can we tone it down to, say, a 5? By mortal standards? Besides, far enough away from your playbox. She stays on the beanbag, and shakes her head at the Sight comment. Don't have any sort of sight?

[Jasminenocturne]

I do a little divining, Diane said, still blushing, and also looking at her compact in a strangely vain gesture for someone generally so unconcerned with her appearance. Then again, Anna had that effect on her. I think our first move should be to dig up what we can on these victims. You might think it's just for fun, but I do actually do a lot of real investigation for my channel. I can see what I can find out. What can you tell us about your people? Right now, the common thread is that they were all four d by your people. Can we talk to them, Anna?

[Frosty]

Anna just gives Violet a knowing grin. "Oh, but you were game for *anything* during your time as an undercover dancer." The curvy vampiress lifts herself off the chair with a wet *schlick* and sits herself on the couch next to Violet, her legs crossed. "Better?"

She looks over to Diane, "Oh, stop fussing over yourself. You look great. Hot, even! And yes, we can talk to the 4 girls. I gave them some time off to recover from seeing these horrible things, but I can get them all to come in again to the Ranch later today or tomorrow."

[Etherion]

Having learned by now how to ignore Anna's antics, James manages to focus on the business at hand.
I doubt they'll know anything, but interviewing them might be worth a try. First priority though, should be looking at whatever's left of the various scenes. Maybe some of the magic types can pick something up, maybe there'll be some physical clues, but the longer we wait the worse our odds of finding anything useful get.

[OneFamiliarFace]

A knock on the door of the apartment signals the usual last arrival. By now, everyone is tired of the joke about the racer who is late for everything. Darren feels uneasy as he waits for Anna to open the door. He wishes they were meeting at the bookstore or literally anywhere else but the lair of a Raith. He likes Anna well enough, but he knows that his relationship with her puts a strain on Striahl at a time when he is trying to make amends. He does like one thing though: going to the Vue lets him dress like he is going to the Vue. He is in a blue 3-piece with a gold tie and golden pocket square, hair slicked back, and shades still on. His brown, leather shoes are polished to a shine, and he is still wearing his sunglasses, night-time be damned. When Anna opens the door in only a t-shirt, he curses under his breath.

When he is caught up on what is happening, he sighs heavily. "I remember when 'weird' was just Violet's preference in movies." He shrugs and adds, "Well, I brought the Rover in case ya'll want to pile in to go check out some gruesome sights."

[Acheron]

Devlin saw weirder things than Anna's current activity. He did nod at her excusing her people, it had just been an idea. Still, questioning them can't hurt any.

"I can't do any of that Sight business either," he shook his head after Violet, rubbing the back of his neck as he did. Probably for the best, given his nature. He really didn't care to open his third eye and just see stuff.

Devlin waved at the new arrival in greeting, leaning back against the wall while talking was going on.

"I'm with Mirror Man, we should get going and head to the scenes quickly. The girls can be questioned later, too, or we can even split up and do that." At 'Mirror Man' he pointed with his thumb at James, then grinned at Darren. "Either way, sounds like we got us a way to get around town so." Devlin pushed himself away from the wall again. "So...I'm for let's go."

[Frosty]

Anna welcome Darren to her abode. "We should head out soon yes, but we need to do some prep work. I won't say I have *extensive* contacts within the police force, but I've had a few clients here and there. Let me make some calls and see if I can't get some detective to let us into the crime scenes. If any of you have any strings you could pull, now would be a good time."

Ok, so should I just roll my Contacts skill to see if I can get a cop to grant us access?

[Jasminenocturne]

Let's head out, then, if we're all ready, Diane says, and then turns to Anna with a grin. Maybe you should put some shorts on or something, if you wanna keep fighting evil today.

[Etherion]

Ha, does she even own shorts? Can't agin ever wearing anything that long.

[Eldest]

When he is caught up on what is happening, he sighs heavily. "I remember when 'weird' was just Violet's preference in movies." He shrugs and adds, "Well, I brought the Rover in case ya'll want to pile in to go check out some gruesome sights."

Darren gets a pillow to the face and an angry huff. Princess Bride is a classic.

[Frosty]

The strip club owner/dancer scoffs. "Pay Darren no attention, Violet. He thinks the Fast and the Furious is the highest form of cinema art."

She stands up and stretches before looking for an outfit to wear. "Yeah, I own shorts. Sometimes my clients request I wear one for...their special scenarios and preferences. Overall, skirts and dresses are much more comfy though. Now let's see what to wear to ask a favor of some police pals..." Anna ends up grabbing a pleated denim micro miniskirt that was draped over the couch, and also a matching color zip-up crop top. She casually strips off her shirt, not embarrassed in the slightest, letting everyone see just how *unfair* White Court vamps have it in terms of looking like a goddess yet never needing to work out or watch what they eat. The crop top is worn first. Then Anna slips on the pleated skirt, not bothering with even a thong or G-string.

For the finishing touch, she grabs her favorite pair of high heels. Silver in color. Stiletto heels at least 6 inches high (how does she maintain balance in that). When she's standing straight, the bottom of her ass cheeks are just peaking out from under the skirt. However, the vampires bends over at the waist without bending her knees to secure the straps, and literally everything is shown.

"So, how do I look?" she asks as she gets up twirls around once.

https://staticfs.nexgan.com/images/201607/source_img/P_source_2247324TB2vOCxsVXXXXctXpXXXXXXXXXX_!!2485 411048.jpg

[Etherion]

It's very you. Need backup when you talk to the cop?

[Frosty]

Anna smiles as she is complimented. "Yeah, I could use you to get a read on the detective and see what's making him tick today."

[OneFamiliarFace]

The strip club owner/dancer scoffs. "Pay Darren no attention, Violet. He thinks the Fast and the Furious is the highest form of cinema art."

"Hey, Vin Diesel is a genius!"

Walking down to the car, Darren absentmindedly flicks his keys around his finger as he follows Anna. She could be a little more inconspicuous, he thinks unironically before beeping the giant Range Rover unlocked.

[Tegu8788]

Myers Park - Double Hatchet Crime Scene

When everyone arrives, they find the very fancy home cordoned off with police tape. A few uniformed officers stand outside the residence waving traffic along, while more in hazmat style onesies can be seen carrying out a pair of wheeled carts from the side door of the large house. The detective on the scene is one that Anna and Diane know. Detective Ryan Bishop is chewing the tip of a pen, staring at his notepad, reviewing several pages of notes, nodding and directing the occasional officer around the large premise.

http://article-images.movoto.com/940cc007-63ea-4ebc-8316-031221968390/myers-park-real-estate-featured-featured.jpg
https://lgbtqnation-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/2016/10/Deuntay-Diggs-500x281.jpg

[Frosty]

While Annahas a limo and a driver, perhaps using that today would be just a bit too conspicuous even for Ann. Seeing detective Bishop, Anna puts a big smile on her face and sashays over to him and gives him a big hug. "How are you doing, darling? Thanks for being so...accommodating. These grisly events has shaken all of us."

[Jasminenocturne]

With Anna pulling attention like the Death Star's tractor beam, Diane strolls casually around to the back of the house. She walks with purpose then, adopting the air of someone who belongs, following the flow of personnel to the scene of the crime.

Once she's in, she scans the area closely, using her camera to take video of anything that seems important or unusual.


[roll0]

[Acheron]

Devlin snorted at Anna's question about how she looked. "Like we'll be having to keep the cops from arresting you for incident display in public," he commented. "Though should we meet any hormonal teenagers you'll help them for some time through the hardship."

With a shrug, he added, "Vin Diesel's fine. I mean, I wouldn't go call him a genius, but he plays a good Riddick," as he piled into the rover and they made their way to the crime scene. Anna meanwhile working her special kind of unmagical magic to get them inside without anyone needing to be knocked out or anything needed to be broken to get them in.

Which was good. Boring, but good.

Devlin did seem a little uncomfortable with this many cops around, not exactly having had the best experience with the men in blue in the past, but started looking around as well. He might not be a detective, but he did know one or two (or more) things about being not exactly a law abiding citizen. Of the mortal world. He rather avoided breaking any Laws.


Burglary: [roll0]
Notice: [roll1]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Once Anna is done with Detective Bishop, Darren approaches to talk to him. "Hey, man, did you see the race the other day? I didn't think Gebhardt was gonna pull it off!" Darren just kind of talks about the race with Bishop for a while to get both their minds off being at a murder scene. After they get done or it becomes clear that everyone else has moved off, he claps Bishop heartily on the back and wishes him luck.

He mostly follows Violet around, talking with her absentmindedly, but his eyes are on a swivel, like he's about to hit the turn with someone on either side of him.

Drive (Shop Talk): [roll0]
I'm going to use Drive as Rapport for Bishop with no intent other than making him feel more at ease. I don't think talk about cars can loosen a cop's lips, but it's good to see Bishop again and Darren wants to be nice.

Notice (Eyes on the Road): [roll1]
Aspects I will create if successful: It Rained Earlier Today and There Are Three Glasses on the Table
Notice to create advantages on the scene. He almost absentmindedly mentions them to others, allowing the others to tag them for free. Eyes on the Road lets me create two advantages if I succeed.

Will: [roll2]
If I see the crime scene, just trying to keep my lunch inside of me.

[Etherion]

James steps out of the car, and while Anna and Darren talk to the detective, he takes a walk around the house seeing if he can sense anything odd.

[Frosty]

Anna tries to find out what she can from detective Bishop before she has Darren talk cars. "Hope this one isn't too much paperwork for you, Ryan." says the vampiress with a note of sympathy. "Can you tell me what you've found so far? Anything unusual?"

Anna uses Diplomacy Rapport to put the detective at ease and to get him talking: [roll0]

[Eldest]

Violet wanders about the house aimlessly, looking for any sign of magical interference with a lens-like crystal out and examining anything of note.

[roll0] Lore check, tagging It Rained Earlier Today for a +2. After all,
that washes away the background magic very well, leaving what's here pretty well defined.

[Tegu8788]

Myers Park - Double Hatchet Crime Scene

Signing deeply, Detective Bishop closes his notepad and looks Anna up and down. It is one of the least gratifying look over's that Anna has ever had. "Ah, Lady Raith. We meet again. I'm certain that the victims were, friends, of yours, but this is odd enough that I'm willing to let you look in once we are finished. We have taken care of everything we can, and the cleaners are on their way. Check in with the officers before you leave, and you will owe me one, Raith."

Bishop let's the group into the house, which has already been gone over thoroughly, but the cops aren't looking for the same thing that you all are. Shaking Darren's hand, it seems Detective Bishop is a fan, and mentions to Darren that there have been several other high class deaths in the last few days, and if this does in fact end up being connected somehow, the FBI will get involved. "I don't want to alarm you, but I think there may be a serial killer in the city. But don't you worry, I'm on the case." He looks askew at Anna, almost as if he sees her as butting into his conversation. "Aside from the axe murder? Well, otherwise it's all mundane, doors locked, nothing broken, nothing stolen, and no prints but the victims' to speak of."


Diane looks around the crime scene with a trained eye. Several items had been knocked onto the floor and broken, she is able to follow the wreckage to reconstruct the deceased's actions. They had run from a bedroom, down a flight of stairs, and into the living room where they fell. Numerous antic weapons can be found discarded or half pulled from a wall display. Looking at the blood splatter, Diane notices that one of the books on the extensive bookshelf has an unusual binding, and with a sly look, and determine that there is a lens embedded in it.

Devlin can look quickly and see that all the doors and windows are intact, and that the security system is top notch. While it could be hacked, it would be quite a task. He can clock several rather expensive pieces of art left hanging untouched on the wall, and there are no obvious gaps where something could have been taken from.

Darren manages to make a tiny bit of small talk once inside, but when shown the main room covered in dark red blotches, he finds that a trashcan in a nearby kitchen is very handy.

Violet can sense that a Way has been opened and closed, but to and from where, or by whom, she can't be certain. Something has crossed over, from within the house. And that alone is very worrying. Either something was able to overcome the Threshold on this old home, or someone invited this horror inside.


James seems distracted, like there's a sweet smell in his nose. Which really doesn't fit with the scent of iron in the air. He is drawn to the main room, where he can smell fear intensely. Something made the two victims incredibly scared. Something caused a tremendous amount of fear, so much so that he can smell it hours later. Each bloodstain reeks with fear. Whatever happened, these two died in absolute terror.

It tastes delicious. Like the best chocolate cake wafting just past your nose on it's way to another table.

[Etherion]

Upon realizing what he was smelling, James immediately tenses up. He moves quickly towards Violet, knowing that she was checking for anything supernatural.

I don't like this. You notice anything odd?

[Jasminenocturne]

Diane looks around quickly, making sure none of the police are in the room, and then slips the book with the lens off the shelf. Being something of a tech geek herself, she is careful not to damage whatever it is she finds.
not sure what I've found, exactly. I assume it's a camera, but unsure if it's wired or wireless, if what it recorded is stored on it or remotely, etc. Going to roll investigate again,
If that's the wrong skill, adjust accordingly.
4d3-3

[Frosty]

Anna gives detective Bishop a winning smile despite the disappointing look-over. "You're the best, Ryan. You know I'm always willing to help you out with anything you need. In this case, I'm *very* motivated to get to the bottom of this. Under the assumption that there is a third party involved that caused all of this, do you know of anyone who might benefit from this? Do we know who is in the will?"

[Eldest]

Upon realizing what he was smelling, James immediately tenses up. He moves quickly towards Violet, knowing that she was checking for anything supernatural.

I don't like this. You notice anything odd?

Somebody opened a Way. I'd need to open one myself to find out what's on the other side, and not doing that without Anna and a few others and being invited inside. Backup is good when going into the Nevernever, and can't do it with the power block from the threshhold. She walks the house, trying to figure out where the way was opened and closed from. That might help narrow it down.

[roll0] Lore to locate where the crossover happened.

[Tegu8788]

Myers Park - Double Hatchet Crime Scene

Bishop flips through his notepad. "Well, we haven't gotten word back from the lawyers. However, I have to suspect that much of it will likely be held up in trusts and lawyer dues. The estate will likely be passed onto the family, and who knows from there. Maybe another winter home or something."

Diane finds the book has a self contained video system, with a data card and dead battery inside, but no sign of any manner of transmitter. Whatever was being recorded, it will be tricky to get it back. There is a whiff of something acidic from inside the book. When she opens the book, a tiny puff of blue smoke. Darren searches the house, casually, so as to not draw attention to himself. Nothing was broken on the exterior of the house, no windows or locks. He finds a third cup set aside from two others. A pair of fine wine glasses are set on the coffee table, and several feet away, a Starbucks cup. It definitely does not seem to fit with the rest of the house, next to a swiffer stick and a pair of cleaning gloves.

Violet, after a little walking around, can tell that someone definitely opened a Way inside of the home. It appears to have come from the master bathroom.

[Jasminenocturne]

Diane looks at the camera, and frowns. Blue smoke, acidic smell, dead batteries. Whatever is on the camera should be worth retrieving. She detaches the battery and leaves it on the shelf, then she slips the camera and the book into her backpack. It'll be easier to recover the data if she can get some of her geeky friends on it.

Then she goes outside to find Anna still handling the detective. She walks behind him and catches the succubus's eye.

"I have something. Going to need to some help with it," she mouths, and then she takes out her phone and looks for the one guy she knows can do this. She shakes off the sickly feeling she gets when she thinks about having to talk to the troll, but she takes a deep breath. People are dying. She can surely face her 300lb hacker ex. She dials his number.

"Hey, um, your pwnliness, it's Diane. I kinda need your help with something. I need you to retrieve some data for me off a camera. It's, uh, kind of like the ones you hid in my apartment, so.... Anyway, I think it's all sex and violence, so you'll probably like it."

[roll0] With permission, I will self compel Anything for the Truth (representing calling her horrible ex) and use the fate point to invoke Inside with the Outsiders to bump her contacts roll up to +4

[Acheron]

Devlin hummed thoughtfully at what he saw. Whoever did this probably didn't do this for the money, otherwise something would be missing. And nothing was missing.

Maybe it was some sort of...assassination? Anna's girl just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Still, there'd be better ways to kill someone as have them lop axes at each other. Either way, it definitely wasn't about any theft. No burglary happened here.

Rubbing the back of his head thoughtfully, he decided to join the others and see what they found. With Diane having moved outside, he walked over to Violet and Shatter Boy.

"Doesn't look like anything of value was taken, the security system is top notch as well and not hacked or anything, as far as I can tell." He offered to the two, looking sideways at the cops around them before quickly averting his gaze again. "Did I hear something about a way?"

[Eldest]

Violet nods. One was opened in the master bath. I could open up a copy of it,
see where it goes, if I can get invited into the house properly. Can't do much magic without that.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Darren asks Bishop about the cup and cleaning supplies, "Any idea about this stuff? If my dad's staff left stuff like this out when he had company, he'd have a fit."

Darren is going to stay away from any Way openings because, well, his bones and organs are fragile.

Can he invite Violet in to the home though? If so, he will walk to the door with her and do the awkward ritual. "Oh, hello! We've been expecting you. Come in! But do wipe your feet!"

[Etherion]

His eyes go wide and he goes deathly pale as James hears Violet say where the Way was opened.
He runs to the master bathroom, and looks around to confirm his suspicions.

Invoking paranoia aspect, not sure where to record current number of fate points though. Also, his suspicions are that fetches are involved. OOC, at this point I'm inclined to say his parent knows who is protecting him, and wants to convince her it's a mistake.
[roll0]

[Tegu8788]

Myers Park - Double Hatchet Crime Scene

"Hey sweet-tits. You gots anoda hot vid fo' me? Gnar! Send it ova, and I'll give it a looksie."

Detective Bishop flips through his notepad. "Ah yes, that belongs to the cleaners. She's the one that found the scene. We've cleared her, fortunate enough she already had her cleaning gloves on before she arrived, so no prints to contaminate the scene. She walked us through what she'd done. Came in from the kitchen, started cleaning before checking the rest of the house of possible dishes that needed washing."

Not sure which skill you're using, but assuming it's Investigation, James can find, with his ability to smell fear, a piece of paper in the toilet. It's soaked, and whatever was written on it, James can't read it.

[Jasminenocturne]

Diane throws up in her mouth a little. He was an absolutely repulsive reminder of how little self esteem she used to have. That had all changed when she became a werewolf. Except the Troll could still make her feel like the awkward geek girl everyone laughed at.
"It's on the way," she says. "Thanks."
At least he was nearby
Diane sighed and went to Anna.
"Hey," she said, interrupting at a convenient moment. "I have a... friend a couple of blocks from here. Remember how my camera got jacked up? I'm just going to drop it off to see if he can do anything to get the files off of it." She hopes Anna will remember no such camera, and will understand she's talking about what she found in the house.
We can either playthrough bringing him the thing or we can look away and see what he comes up with.

[Acheron]

Devlin hmm'ed and nodded, looking back at the house for a moment before eyes moved back to Violet. "Maybe the guy in charge of the investigation can give you that permission? I mean, he runs the show, so to speak, and he should have the ability to allow people involved in the investigation to enter the property properly."

Whether that actually warranted stepping through the threshold without consequences, though, Devlin wasn't all to sure to be honest.

[Eldest]

It... might work? She looks puzzled, brow scrunched up. Can't hurt, at least...

[Frosty]

Diane throws up in her mouth a little. He was an absolutely repulsive reminder of how little self esteem she used to have. That had all changed when she became a werewolf. Except the Troll could still make her feel like the awkward geek girl everyone laughed at.
"It's on the way," she says. "Thanks."
At least he was nearby
Diane sighed and went to Anna.
"Hey," she said, interrupting at a convenient moment. "I have a... friend a couple of blocks from here. Remember how my camera got jacked up? I'm just going to drop it off to see if he can do anything to get the files off of it." She hopes Anna will remember no such camera, and will understand she's talking about what she found in the house.
We can either playthrough bringing him the thing or we can look away and see what he comes up with.
Anna, having heard Diane talk about the 300-lbs ex before, knows the basics of the situation. "I'll walk with you. I think I need some...fresh air anyways." Assuming Diane is fine with that and that Diane gives Anna all the details , Anna will say, "You know, I can understand why you feel so squicked about this. If you want, I can...take care of this for you. Make it so he probably wouldn't want to ask you for anything like this again."

[Jasminenocturne]

Diane looks up at Anna, her eyes wide. Is she offering what... well, what she always offered? The thought of the insanely hot succubus pleasuring the Troll was somehow even squickier than the troll alone. Diane shakes her head.

"It's OK," she says. "He knows there's nothing... physical between us anymore. He's actually super helpful with technology. He just needs his ego stroked first. I'm sure you could have him get on all fours and bleat like a goat if you just let him touch you, but I think we have a witness, and we need his help. So behave, ok?"

[Frosty]

Anna shrugs. "I was just going to feed off him to get him addicted to me so he'd forget about pestering you. This can be done with or without actual sex. He would then want to do everything I asked, including helping you. But I, I defer to your wishes on this. I'll be a good girl."

Anna grins as she last the last sentence.

[Etherion]

James, worried by his discovery, goes to find Violet.

I found this, I think it might be important. Think you can get anything off of it?

[Jasminenocturne]

Accepting the offer to handwave the troll scene with a will defense roll.[roll0]

Diane still gets the willies thinking about what Anna does. It's a toss up whether she or the Troll is creepier, though the succubus definitely has looks and charm on her side. But how to explain to her that, just because he's an a-hole, doesn't mean he deserves to be enslaved by a being that feeds on lust, when she is that being?

"Thanks," she says, finally. She can't explain it. Not now. And Anna said she'd be good, so there was no need to get into it any deeper. "Let's get this over with."

[Eldest]

James, worried by his discovery, goes to find Violet.

I found this, I think it might be important. Think you can get anything off of it?

She nods. I can try. Going outside to where they parked, she pulls a piece of chalk out of her pocket and draws a circle on the sidewalk. Drawing a few sigils, she seals the circle with a snap and focuses, muttering in Egyptian.

Thamaturgy to try to place the (Re)Legible aspect on the note, by removing the damage the water did.
Tagging Fey-Bound Witch for this.
[roll0] Will

[Acheron]

Devlin pointed with his thumb in the direction of the detective. "I'll come with you, might not be a bad idea for you to have some backup around. Never know what might be waiting on the other side of the Way, after all." Considering it was probably used by whoever did these murders, it couldn't exactly be a Way to some happy place full of love and cheer.

Well, maybe it was — but that didn't mean it was a good place. More like a facade. Anyway.

"What you got there?" He asked when James came over.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Darren - Myers Park

Stuck between a Way and a troll's place, Darren wavers on where to go. On the one hand: faeries, demons, magic, and things that are deadly to humans. On the other: a nerd who is deadly to humans. Normally the investigation takes a while to build to this stuff. Darren decides to stay with Violet. Southern male gentlemanliness aside, Anna and Diane have proven that they are at home walking in the night.

Instead he talks to Bishop. "Hey man, I've been thinking about it. You said there might be a serial killer earlier, but how do you figure? There isn't any sign of forced entry. All the people who were here are still here and dead. Have there been other ax murders? Or are you just referring to the circumstances between this stuff being the same?"

[Frosty]

Accepting the offer to handwave the troll scene with a will defense roll.[roll0]

Diane still gets the willies thinking about what Anna does. It's a toss up whether she or the Troll is creepier, though the succubus definitely has looks and charm on her side. But how to explain to her that, just because he's an a-hole, doesn't mean he deserves to be enslaved by a being that feeds on lust, when she is that being?

"Thanks," she says, finally. She can't explain it. Not now. And Anna said she'd be good, so there was no need to get into it any deeper. "Let's get this over with."

Anna - on the way to Diane's ex

Anna probably understands more than she lets on. She just...doesn't care as much about silly human moralities. Diane is her friend. She protects her friends against people that might hurt her friends. Like this 300 pound creeper ex.

"Yes, let's. I'm sure this will go smoothly."

[Tegu8788]

Myers Park - Double Hatchet Crime Scene - Violet, Darren, James, Devlin

Bishop signs, flips through his notepad, then looks Darren in the eye. "No, there's no sign of forced entry, on any of the locations. But, given how close in time they occurred, I'm suspicious. There's no evidence yet, but I got a feeling in my gut. There's something about these deaths that I just can't put my finger on."

Violet draws her circle, channels her magical energies. With the aid of Devlin and James, Violet is able to pull the water out of the paper, reversing the capillary action, and drawing the ink back to where it original set. It doesn't take much skill to recognize the circle surrounded sharp lines, it's a summoning circle. It would not be difficult for even a novice to sketch this out. It is also pretty clear that there is nothing on this circle about containing or restraining anything with this circle, just opening a Way. There also isn't much for calling, either a True Name would have had to have been used, or whatever was summoned wanted to cross. The other thing of note, the few instructions written on the page appear to be written in Spanish.

Midwood Plaza - Troll's Apartment - Anna, Diane

The two ladies make there way to a slightly seedier, but also more hipster, part of the city. The Troll's apartment is a well known spot for Diane. She had spent far more nights there than she would care to recall. To Anna, this might as well be Mars. This part of town was far from her preferred brand of clientele, not to mention how many of the residents were believers in true love. If was, unpleasant, to say the least.

Diane can guide Anna into the home of the Troll easily. And Anna makes it not difficult to get them invited inside. Despite several attempts at getting a rise out of Diane, the Troll fails to worm his way back into her life. With that failure, he returns to his computers, and proceeds to mess around with multiple keyboards, before turning back, and with disappointment, declaring he could only get about 25 seconds of video back.

Anna and Diane are able to see the video playback. It's not great quality, but the two of them can see the deceased pair run into frame, each one holding a pair of hand axes, swiping them wildly at apparent air. The John hurls one behind him, before they both turn and seem to stare at the air between them. Fixated, they scream in terror, before hurling their axes towards that central point between them. With nothing there, the axes fly, and embed themselves into each other.

Static is abundant, and several frames freeze for a second or three before continuing, before going to total snow. The Troll overs to try and do more, but Diane can tell he's just trying to get an excuse to spend more time with her, and Anna can tell exactly why.

For a couple frames, Diane can almost see static that looks like a person moving throughout the room near where the frightened couple looks. She can't be certain, looks like either a corruption in the data, or a bad Ring impersonation.

[Jasminenocturne]

"You're the best," she says, and pats the troll on the shoulder. She would give him a hug, but she doesn't want cheet-o stains all over her butt, and that's what happens when you get too close to the pwninator. She brings the camera with me, and the recovered video on a thumb drive, and gets out of there as quickly as possible.

Outside, she takes a deep breath, glad to be out of the miasma of his apartment. She looks at Anna, and blushes.

"Freshman year, I was a little overweight and had skin problems and, well, he hacked the University's website and put naked pictures of Congressmen on all the brochures. OK, I know what you're thinking, but at the time, I thought it was really cool. He really is a genius when it comes to this stuff." She realizes she's babbling, and changes topics abruptly.

"Did you see that video?" she said. "There was... something there. In the static, did you see it? Something that they could see, but the camera couldn't. They were terrified, and trying to kill it, not each other. What kind of creature could do that?" She frowns in thought. After so long investigating the supernatural, she has learned a great many things.

[roll0]

[Frosty]

Anna has kept mostly silent, instead musing to herself internally about how easy it would be to just take total control of the Pwninator. Oh well. "Yes, the best indeed. Thanks a bunch!"

Outside, Anna sniffs. "I think I'm going to develop a rash just from being inside his squalid pig sty. Well, you know what, you don't need to be beautiful to have confidence. Still, you're *very* beautiful now. While that doesn't necessarily give you a license to be an ass to others, you shouldn't be shy or settle for anything less than you deserve either."

She recalls what she saw in the video. "Yeah, the video was strange. Either there was something there invisible to cameras, or perhaps someone had messed with their minds so they THOUGHT there was an attacker there. And the camera was so finicky. Isn't that what happens when mortal spellcasters get near technologdy?"

[Jasminenocturne]

"That's exactly what happens when magic gets near technology," Diane said, nodding, excitedly. Her mind is racing, and she is geeking out, getting a little babbly, losing that veneer of feminine cool that she usually tries to hang onto around Anna. "Casters do make that sort of thing happen, but with big magic, it would be more likely to kill the camera entirely. This would have been pretty big magic for a caster, I think. They were obviously scared of something, and they could clearly see it. They saw it well enough that they threw axes at it, right, so they thought it was there. Now, it could have been an illusion, but did you catch that burst of static that had a humanish shape? That is exactly what you get when there's a ghost. There's a great example in my piece of the Cajun Queen on Seventh, you can see a perfect silhouette of an old lady in the static, and I've seen a ton of videos with similar things. And, a ghost fits what we know. It's scary, and incorporeal, so if you threw an ax at it, you'd hit whatever was behind it. The odds are crazy high that you would get this kind of double killing out of that. It can't have been planned. I think this is where the ghost goofed. It was supposed to be just the guy got killed. It was supposed to look like a suicide, not a mutual ax murder. Shoot, I should be recording this. We have to tell the others, and try to figure out why this ghost is killing dirty old men."

She is a little out of breath by the time she stops. She gives Anna a slightly embarrassed smile.

"I mean, I know I'm not hideous, but beautiful?" she laughs in disbelief. "Thank you for saying so."

Just a throwaway, trying for a little local color. I blame this (https://clclt.com/charlotte/charlottes-most-haunted-places/Content?oid=2141228) site.

[Frosty]

Anna - returning to the crim scene from the Pwninator's hovel

The vampiress thinks hard. "Wait, so is it a wizard or a ghost? Or both? A ghost of a wizard with enough magic left to make technology fizzle?" She hits her fist on her palm as a lightbulb goes off in her head. "Would an ectomancer who is controlling ghosts to go assassinate people cause technology to shrot out? Like, the magic that remains on the ghosts to compel them to do his or her bidding is enough to wreck havoc even if the ectomancer isn't there? Hmm, do we know if ghosts have to deal with thresholds?"

As Diane fidgets a bit when talking about her own beauty, Anna reaches out and runs a hand through Diane's red hair. "I'd never lie to you about something like this. I'll put it to you this way...if you weren't my friend, I'd be seeing you as competition and wary that you'd steal my clients! Certainly you'd be very popular if you worked at the Ranch long term."

[Acheron]

Devlin looked at the note that was restored through teamwork, though beyond knowing that the circle on it was probably instructions how to open a way, he couldn't really make anything out. Since he dropped out of school early, he never really learned any other language.

"Any of you speak Spanish? Maybe the Spanish there gives a hint where the Way was leading to?" He asked those present, though it might be quicker to just open the Way and investigate that way. "If not, I guess we could make Way and check that out."

[Etherion]

I uh, I don't think we want to see what's on the other side of this Way.

[Jasminenocturne]

"I am almost positive it's a ghost. Ghosts make things get staticy just that way. A ghost would be enough. I don't see any evidence of it throwing spells around, but then again, I'm not sure I would."

Diane smiles at Anna's compliments and, after a moment or two trying to think of some clever reply, she just says "Thanks," and wonders what shade of tomato her chest are turning. Competition? For miss walking sexbomb herself? It's hard to believe, but Anna does seem to mean it.

for whatever reason, I can't get my phone to do colors, I will edit next time I'm at a computer sorry.

[Eldest]

Violet starts going over the note with her high school Spanish, muttering to herself as she tries to translate.

Academics roll!
[roll0] to place the aspect [Translated Instructions] on the paper.
Edit: used the wrong numbers on this, it should be a 3 not a 7 <.<

[Frosty]

"I am almost positive it's a ghost. Ghosts make things get staticy just that way. A ghost would be enough. I don't see any evidence of it throwing spells around, but then again, I'm not sure I would."

Diane smiles at Anna's compliments and, after a moment or two trying to think of some clever reply, she just says "Thanks," and wonders what shade of tomato her chest are turning. Competition? For miss walking sexbomb herself? It's hard to believe, but Anna does seem to mean it.

for whatever reason, I can't get my phone to do colors, I will edit next time I'm at a computer sorry.

Anna - Just about back at the crime scene

"I see, well I defer to your expertise on that, but I still say it's strange. I thought thresholds can keep away ghosts? Someone must've opened a path for the ghost or ghosts."


Anna does indeed mean what she said. "The biggest difference between us is confidence. You're a walking wet dream to many people, trust me." She thinks and then adds, "Well, if we aren't counting the whole wolf and vampire thing, that's the biggest difference. But I feel the confidence is the most important factor. Anyhow, you think our friends found any other clues?"

[Jasminenocturne]

Diane looked utterly flustered at Anna as the two of them returned to the house. "Walking wet... um... I guess I'll... defer to your expertise there. So, er, shall we compare notes with the others?"

As they walk in, she follows the sound of Violet's and Devlin's voices.

"So, we're looking for a ghost," she says. "And someone would have had to get it past the threshhold or brought it over from the nevernever inside the house."

[Eldest]

Somebody brought it over. This note gave out nice instructions on it. In Spanish.

She racks her brain for details on the name. Had she read it before?

[roll0] Lore roll.

[Etherion]

James noticeably relaxes as the nature of the attacker is revealed.
Ah, so it's just a ghost then? So what are we looking at, possession or something?

[OneFamiliarFace]

Darren - Myers Park

Darren rolls his eyes at the phrase "just a ghost." "I am highly opposed to seeing what is on the other side of that way if it in anyway makes us want to throw axes at each other."

[Frosty]

Anna frowns. "Do we even have any way of dealing with a hostile ghost? What can work on them? We know what NOT to bring of course. None of us own axes anyways"

Man, the Sight would come in handy here...

[Jasminenocturne]

"Ghosts are usually pretty personal. If we knew this one's name we could start figuring out who it is and maybe what it wants. We should also try to figure out why this time the girl got killed, too. Is it going to be possible to look at the other crime scenes? There might be ... more old books." She says this last with a significant look around, and then realizes nobody knows she found the camera in an old book. "That's where the camera was hidden."

[Frosty]

Anna frowns. "I already owe the detective for having access to this crime scene. Are there any other leads we can follow up on first?"

[Eldest]

Violet peers at Diane. A camera inside a book? They can do that?

[Etherion]

Ghost may tend to be personal, but isn't this one getting summoned? Really, we need to look at people with a grudge against the victims, either looking for connections beyond Anna's business or figuring out who might be targeting her. As for why the girl was killed, my guess is it was tragic timing: she got here before the ghost left, changing how the murder was done. Also explains the change in MO. Actually, hold on, here's a thought: are there any connections between the girls scheduled to visit the victims?

[Acheron]

Devlin wasn't pouting. Much. He would have really liked to see what was on the other side of the Way, but since people didn't seem to be as eager as he was...

"Well, I guess the ghost was called to specifically cause the murder, they might not...affect us." Maybe. Maybe not?

Okay, might not be a good idea to open the Way just yet.

"Since the instructions were found inside the house, whoever did it probably called it from the Nevernever. If so, it could have been someone.." He made a thoughtful noise. "Maybe he got a guest before his appointment with your girl or got some person cleaning for him that would need Spanish instructions?"

[Frosty]

"Let's look around then. Is there some sort of appointment book we may have missed? If not, I say we start researching the man's enemies."

Can Anna think of any special connections between the different girls that went to these clients besides the fact they all work for Anna?

[OneFamiliarFace]

Darren - Myers Park

Darren sighs and runs a hand through his hair, messing up its style. "I mean, if the thing had to be summoned, and we don't see any reason why the two victims would do it, then the only other person we know that was in the house tonight was the cleaning lady. Maybe she was the same person or from the same company at the other scenes?" He looks hopefully at Bishop to see if he knows.

[Tegu8788]

Myers Park - Double Hatchet Crime Scene

Bishop flips through his notes. "From what I can tell, each site used different services, but honestly, we know that they will occasionally hire illegal immigrants to help work. It lets them keep prices down, provides employment. It's illegal, but since it keeps wheels spinning, nothing much get's done about it. Raids happen every now and again, but very little comes of it. It's possible that someone worked multiple sights, but if so, we aren't going to get any records of it. Everyone is paid in cash, off the books."

[Jasminenocturne]

Diane looks to Violet and nods. She digs through her purse and holds up the camera, which is roughly the size of a bottle cap.

"Hidden in the binding of an old book, yeah," she explains. "This is what you can get retail from a specialty electronics store. You don't even want to know what the government has." A thought occurs to her. "We might be able to find something out if we can find out who bought this. It's not going to be common. I can look into that later on. Could I see the note?" She looks around the house for a good mirror.

Given her background, I assume Diane will have some ideas about where to start asking about the camera.

[Eldest]

Violet, Double Hatchet Murder Scene

Violet nods and hands over the note, tapping the name on it. That one's supposed to be dead, if I remember right.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Darren - Myers Park

To Bishop, Darren asks, "So is the cleaning lady still around? I assume she checks out as far as you are concerned?" Then, just to be thorough, he adds, "I can ask Hector about the hiring practices around town. I know he sometimes needs to hire extra help for dad."

If there is nothing suspicious about the cleaning lady, then I will step away to call Hector on my cell phone. Gotta keep the darned thing off around Violet.

Can I just spend a Fate Point to say my dad's head of household has to hire extra help for parties sometimes and might know how/where to find more info? If not, here is a roll to that same effect!

Contacts: [roll0], If I got a 0 or higher, then I'll spend a fate point on "Son of a NASCAR Magnate" to talk to Hector, my dad's head of household to see if he might know more about hiring practices and where to find specific people.

[Frosty]

Violet, Double Hatchet Murder Scene

Violet nods and hands over the note, tapping the name on it. That one's supposed to be dead, if I remember right.

Anna feels that Darren is asking the right questions, and let's Darren handle following up on the housekeeper. She is interested in the name on the note. "Violet. Perhaps there might be some musty tome in your bookstore that can shed some light on Syriotirax? And if not, do we know of any other occult libraries

[Jasminenocturne]

"Syriotirax? At least it's not John," Diane says, frowning, and trying to think if that name has any meaning. "It rings a bell."

[roll0]

[Tegu8788]

Myers Park - Double Hatchet Crime Scene

Bishop flips through his notepad, copies a number, and tears out a page for Darren. "Here's the number for the cleaning company. We've already spoken with the woman they sent out this morning that found the bodies, but she's already back at the station giving a full statement. Look, we're almost done here, and I'm going to have to ask you all to move along in a bit. We'll need to clear the scene until the cleaners arrive to finish their job." Detective Bishop flips his notepad closed, and slips it into his breast-pocket.

[Frosty]

Anna clasps Bishop's hand as she bids him goodbye. "Thanks, dear. You've been great. Call me anytime you need something."

She turns to the rest of the group to discuss next steps as they depart the house. "So, we've got some broad objectives that need to be further separated into different tasks." She summarizes the following.

A) Do more research on Siriothrax.

1. Talk to our contacts about possible new cult in town worshipping or invoking the name of Siriothrax

2. Look up more lore and history about Siriothrax. May need to gain access to an appropriate library first. Do we know any local resources other than our own bookstore, which isn't focused on the supernatural?

3. This is a long shot. Talk to the knight of the cross who killed Siriothrax. See if the dragon is REALLY dead.

B) Figure out the hidden camera's origin. We need to convince the person who sold the camera to divulge the info we need.

C) Go talk to the cleaning person.

"We might want to split up for the next portion. Who wants to do what? Oh, also, divination magic will be useful here I'm sure."

[Eldest]

Violet pauses and scratches at her head in thought. I can work on A and B, but I don't think I'm the best person for talking to people, or, uh. Electronics. She winces, casting a worried eye at the car they drove in and all it's beautiful, expensive electronics.

[Etherion]

James thinks for a moment, then says "Well, I suppose I'm good at talking with people. I could talk to the camera seller, if the rest of you are worried about damaging electronics."

[Acheron]

"Well, I should probably stay away from the electronics as well," Devlin commented after they prepared to move on to the next stage of their investigation. Far less worried about the car he was currently traveling inside with. "I could go along and talk to the cleaning staff? Though...I don't speak Spanish, if that comes up. But I can look menacing to, y'know. Get lips loose."

Devlin crossed his arms, shifting a little uncomfortably. "I'm not sure how much help I'd be when talking to the Knight guy." Half-demon and all, that he was. Also, ****ing holiness. And holier than thou. "I could go along when talking to any contact, or point me at any book and I'll be researching." Somewhat.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Darren - Merry Maids, The Next Morning

Having acquired a photo of the cleaning lady from Bishop, Darren decides to head down to the service that Hector most often uses for picking up extra help on party days. He'd have asked Hector come with, but he is never too sure how much the man knows about his dad's operations or the weird crap that happens in this city. He drives down to the strip mall that contains the austere looking, flat box of a building. He steps out of his SUV "dressed down" in a pair of designer jeans, leather boots, and a plain, white T that he could sell to pay for a full day of house cleaning. The door squeaks as he enters, and a pleasant, round-faced woman with a name-tag reading "Tabitha" greets him at the counter.

She doesn't respond well to his flirtations, and seems to clam up on being shown the picture. "<Spanish> Do you know this woman?" Tabitha shakes her head no, but her whole body says otherwise. "<Spanish> She might be in trouble. I want to help." He notices a Guatemalan flag on her desk and switches tact, talking about her home country.

I didn't want to give her no voice in this scene, but I'm busy at work and wanted to get some exposition out. If I have time later, I will come back in and give Tabitha some actual dialogue. She is supposed to be

I rolled a 1 on Investigate in the OC thread. I'm going to say that I'm using my "Well, when I was in Europe..." to have gone backpacking through Guatemala (i know that isn't in Europe, but the intent is sparse world knowledge) to try to explain that I know a bit about her homeland.

The 0 on my rapport check maybe gives her a boost of "Just not interested in this guy"

[Eldest]

Violet nods and steers Diane towards the nearest Target (Walmart had banned her long ago for aiding an attempted union). Time to pick up ritual supplies.

[roll0] Resources roll to place the aspect Well Supplied on us.

Then to the bookstore, and her apartment above it. Her ritual workspace was big enough for two people, as long as nobody needed to move around too much. Ready to go?

[Frosty]

Anna Raith - Silvertail Ranch, The Next Morning

Anna struts through the main entrance of her glamorous establishment, wearing the standard female uniform for the Ranch: Nothing but her high heels. With her teats jiggling impressively with every stride, even before saying a word, she already commands the attention of the room. The vampire moves forward with purpose, and speaks to a young woman practicing her pole-dancing without turning her head to look at the woman. "Kandi, gather all the girls currently here to the back meeting room. We have urgent business to discuss."

Anna goes straight to the back room, trusting her girls to gather quickly . She stands at the head of the conference table instead of sitting down, to communicate the seriousness of this meeting. Once everyone is there, she says, "As you all know, one of our own was taken from us recently. Violently, too. She died from an axe. I know many of you were friends with her, and I, too, was fond of her. I pledge to you all that I *will* find the killer and bring justice, but I can't do it alone. I will need help along the way, and right now, I need someone with good computer skills."

She explains what she needs someone to do, regarding finding the store the camera was sold from so that investigations can continue from there. "So if any of you can do that, or can get me someone who can do that, I would be very appreciative. Appreciative both in spirit and in cashey-cash. There is a bonus that you can ALL share if someone can produce results. This isn't a competition. This requires teamwork."

Good (+3) Resource - [roll0]

[Tegu8788]

Darren, Devlin - Merry Maids

Tabitha was less than enthused to say the least, having two gringos bothering her at the office. Darren's accented Spanish doesn't seem to thrill her, and when Devlin walks in, she crosses herself, and kisses a set of rosary beads.

Anna Raith - Silvertail Ranch

Half the girls around the immediately slap their thighs, as if instinctively reaching for phones that are not there, due to the lack of pockets. The other half moves to console each other. Rumors had spread, but none so clear. At the offer of cash, more than a comfortable number of the girls stop being crying and immediately glare at each other, until told that it would all be shared, at which point they sit back, arms crossed, and look to Anna to see if they are free to go get their phones.

Violet, Diane - Last Word

Having had less than ideal luck gathering materials, the two ladies make their way back to Violet's apartment. Plenty of chocolate sauce, ice cream, and cheese puffs were purchased, but useful components were less forthcoming.

So, not the best start, but you can still get this done. Basically, Cheer-saving method is to see how far you're willing to got make sure that the ritual goes well. Additionally, just for fun flavor, please describe what you've got set up as a ritual space.

Feel free to either insert James into one of the existing scenes, or start one of your own.

[Eldest]

The apartment is laid out in a line: the ritual space is the last door off the hallway before the bedroom, which Diane had seen only once (with a mild need of brain-bleach afterwards). Inside her "workroom", a large circular rug with a pentagram dominates the floor, dead-center, with a table shoved against the wall, mismatched shelving covering most other wall space with neatly labeled tupperware containing everything from a baby's sigh to a lion's eye. There are candles strategically placed for light everywhere, since the lightbulb burns out so often it's not worth it to keep replacing it. They are most dense around an overstuffed beanbag chair that serves as Violet's meditation/nap corner: it's there that she sits now, mulling over their options. I'd rather not give out a spike. She gestures to a silver-studded belt that was conspiciously missing about half of it's spikes: each was worth a favor from Violet, and she had routinely traded them to the Ashlingsidhe for power and knowledge when she was younger, along with a few given as gifts or in trade to lovers, friends, and contacts. I will if I have to, but I'd rather go with the minor fae first. Hopefully they've seen something that the rest of us missed. Want to start with brownies? See if any of them lived in that house and could tell us what happened?

[Frosty]

Anna plants her hands on the conference table as she leans forward. "This is top priority for me. Go and get on your communications devices, and talk to your contacts. I hope to have something by the end of the day. If you have anything for me, come see me in my upstairs office. I will be there all morning. That is all."

The vampire heads back up to her office after answering any questions her girls may have. She boots up her computer, and starts messaging and even video calling her friends and family in the Raith family. With how many cousins she has, surely SOME of them like her and may wish to help. But this time she is looking for info on Siriothrax. She hopes someone will have heard of any new cults and major sacrifices to the dragon.

. Contacts roll reaching out to her family and friends of family: [roll0]

[Etherion]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

Leaving a note in Anna's apartment telling her to let him know if she found anything about the camera seller, James decides to see if he can find any leads on the various victims. Looking in his evidence envelope from earlier, he searches for addresses, emergency contacts, etc. On his way to the next of kin of the first of the victims, James sets up a glamour to make himself appear to be a police detective, including a hopefully convincing badge. He also brings the envelope, hoping it will facilitate questioning.

He knocks on the door, and after it opens up says "Hello, I'm Detective Greffeth. I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but I had a few questions I needed to ask you.

[Tegu8788]

Anna Raith - Silvertail Ranch

After several calls and messages with her extended family, it takes lots of time to deal with the maneuvering of her cousins. In the end, while she now has lots of information about former dragonic cults to Siriothrax, how he was finally cut low by a Knight of the Cross, and that rumor has it one of the former cultists became the Knight's wife, but no word on any recent cultist activity. Not real activity anyway. A couple attempts have been made, but they have all either been subsumed by other more powerful cults, or killed by Wardens.

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

Finding himself before another very fancy house, James is greeted by a dour looking butler. "Hello sir. Was there something further you needed?"

[Acheron]

Devlin followed along with Darren to question the made, though he didn't need to be a genius to interpret her reaction to them approaching them. Even less when she went to kiss her rosary, which he eyed a little warily but didn't try to show too much reaction to it. No reason to make this any worse.

The Half-Demon put on his most harmless face as he looked at the woman, offering an equally harmless but friendly smile. "Doesn't look like she's all too happy to talk to us. Well, you." He murmured to Darren, pretending not like she was wary of him just as much. He looked around the room they were in to see if there might be anything worth noticing that might help making her talk if Darren wasn't having any luck.

Deceive: (I'm Harmless) [roll0]
Notice: [roll1]

[Etherion]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

Yes, I was wondering if you're familiar with any of these men.

James shows him the pictures of the other victims.

[Tegu8788]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

The butler looks down his nose at the photos, before stopping at one in the middle. "Ah, yes. Mr. Mintz. He and his wife are no longer allowed on these grounds, after an incident were Ms. Mintz insulted Ms. Ogle. Officer, you should have a report you can review at the station of the event. It, unfortunately, required the services of your organization to bring it to a close. The Mintz's actions were, dramatic, unfortunately. They left a great deal of chaos when they left."

Darren, Devlin - Merry Maids

As Devlin looks around, a few things jump out to him. For one, there are fair number of religious items around the room, including those beads currently clutched in the hands of several of the other women in the store. There is also a board filled with schedules, written with dry-erase markers and covered in post-it notes. It would seem that business is very busy.

[Etherion]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

And would you be able to reiterate your viewpoint of the incident with Ms. Mintz? Sorry, I have to cross all the t's, dot the i's, and so on.

[Tegu8788]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

"Understandable, officer." The butler takes a deep breath, almost as if he is breathing into his head. He then goes into a very droll tale of the incident. James is certain that there would be more interesting ways to tell the story, but that is not the butler's strength. Apparently Ms. Mintz and Ms. Ogle had gotten into a debate, one that apparently was unfinished from a previous brunch, and by the butler's estimation was drawing on things left unsaid from previous disagreements between the two ladies. That day they were polite, as only southern women can be polite. After half an hour of remarks and counters, Ms. Ogle said something less than kind about the dogs that Ms. Mintz kept, and in return Ms. Mintz threw her mimosa all over Ms. Ogle's new summer dress and outdoor cushioned adirondack chairs. In return Ms. Ogle threw a shoe, and it all rather well went down hill from there. By the end, several hundred dollars worth of damage had been done to the furniture, a number of shrubberies had been broken, and both ladies, their husbands, and several dogs, had all ended up in the outdoor pool, along with several of the reclining chairs used for tanning.

Lawyers had sorted it all out, and it had lead to a formal split of the gaming software company that Mr. Ogle and Mr. Mintz had founded. Mr. Ogle had continued to enjoy revenue from their previous game, and had found success in new projects. The butler knows less about Mr. Mintz fortune, but assumed it to be good enough. "Is there anything else that you need, officer, or shall that be all."

[Etherion]

Interesting. And do you know anyone else from these pictures?

[Tegu8788]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

"To my knowledge sir, there is none. The Ballentynes are a much older family. They were not in the same circles. And I do not Not believe that any of the Mintz or the Ogles ever had any meaningful contact with the others. I can't say there was never a meeting at a party or conference of some manner, but they were certainly not in contact with any regularity. I'm sorry I can not be of more help officer."

[Etherion]

James Sharpe: Visiting The Victims - Ogle Estate

Don't worry, you've been extremely helpful. One last thing, if I may: would you mind if I took a quick look around the house?

[Tegu8788]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

"I am sorry officer, but without a warrant, I am not authorized to all you entry at this time. If you return with a warrant, it would be my pleasure to allow you in."

[Etherion]

Reaching into the envelope with the case details, James glamours a paper to appear to be a warrant, and shows it to the man.
Will this suffice?

[Tegu8788]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

Surprised to see the warrant so late into the conversation, the Butler steps back, and ushers James into the house.

[Frosty]

Anna Raith - Silvertail Ranch

The vampire considers doing research on this knight of the Cross, but decides she has called in enough favors for now. Instead, she calls a few influential clients who have been trying for some time to schedule...quality time with her. She lets them know that she's available this morning and afternoon, expecting she can build up some good will and favors for later. God knows she'll need it.

Anna likely spends the next hours in the VIP rooms, dancing and doing what she does best, as she waits for her girls to come up with what she needs.

[Etherion]

Rolling for investigation!

[roll0]

Add 2 if there's sources of fear to be smelled.

[Eldest]

After a few minutes prep work, Violet catches Diane falling asleep and sends her home, then starts to summon progressively stronger spirits, stopping before she got to one she couldn't dismiss easily, asking each the same question: who was the third person in the building last night in Myer's Park?

[Tegu8788]

James Sharpe - Visiting the Victims

James is able to look around, but it's clear that this space has been cleaned both by time and by bleach. There is a faint whiff of fear from several rooms, surely once an intense event, but time makes all things fade. He is able to find some bagged trash outside waiting to be taken away, with a familiar lipstick smudged starbucks cup.

Anna Raith - Silvertail Ranch

Anna finds a number of, gentlemen, who are more than happy to sit and let her vent her frustrations on the stage, and on chairs, and on the occasional pole.

Violet and Diane - Last Word

After several spirits that either lack the information or simply have no interest in aiding the ladies, before finding a small owl-like wyldfae. It has the knowledge that is sought, but asks for something in return. An offering, a trade, knowledge for knowledge.

[Etherion]

James Sharpe Visiting the Victims

After taking the starbucks cup, James thanks the butler for his time and goes back to Anna's to leave the cup there with a note. Afterwards, he goes to visit the next on the list of victims.

Found at the house of one of the other victims, scene was too old to find anything else beyond faded traces of fear.

[Eldest]

Violet, The Last Word

She sighs and sits down, cross legged outside of the rug-circle. "What do you wish to know, little one? And, if I may make a counteroffer, I am able to give you a weapon of your great bane that, when wielded correctly, will not harm you. Would you be interested in that?"

[Frosty]

Anna Raith - Silvertail Ranch
Anna finds a number of, gentlemen, who are more than happy to sit and let her vent her frustrations on the stage, and on chairs, and on the occasional pole.


And beds as well. By the time she is done, in the afternoon, she needs a shower. Luckily, there are multiple showers in the establishment. After she is done cleaning herself, she wonders what's taking her girls so long. Was her incentive of money not enough? She goes off to look for them.

[Tegu8788]

Anna Raith - Silvertail Ranch

After blowing off a great deal of steam, Anna walks back through the changing rooms to find her girls. Several are hunched over a laptop, working together and comparing notes on cell phones. One looks up from her glowing screen in time to signal to the other girls. "So, um, Madame Raith, we searched around, and after a lot of looking through a number of sellers, including those that we purchase from, and we figured out who sold the camera. But that's the good news. The bad news, if we are right, that brand was sold and resold across a number of different companies. And, the original seller is no longer in business. Turns out, the CEO was caught cheating with one of his own cameras, and took his money and went to the Bahamas. They are good cameras, but because of that, they have been sold and resold many times. We might be able to trace it back, but it could have been through any number of pawn shops or other third party sellers." The girls don't look particularly pleased with themselves, and several attempt to hide behind their glowing screens, pretending to research further.

Violet and Diane - Last Word

The owl ruffles it's feathers, and shuffles itself slightly back. "I've no interest in your mortal weapons! Knowledge is always more valuable. And to trade for this knowledge, well, I require something of similar value. I desire a secret of yours for a secret of hers."

[Eldest]

Violet - The Last Word

Violet frowns back. Any secret? Of my choice? She frowns. My first kiss was with a girl. She was curious. I was, well, by that point I was pretty sure. It was pretty awkward: we were cloistered up in her room. Supposed to be doing homework, but we were just goofing off instead. And it was... magical. She smelled of lilacs and spring and fresh air. It didn't last of course: her parents were very religious, and they found out. I wasn't allowed to talk to her, and they moved away at the end of that year. She smiles sadly. Haven't heard from her since.

[Tegu8788]

Violet - The Last Word

Owls are not known for having the most expressive of beaks, but it appears to mimic Violet's frown quiet successfully. "Lilacs, fresh air. A teenage girl smelled pretty? If this is what you have to offer, then there's not much I can offer in equal exchange. Who was the third person? She was the mortal taking revenge. Now, unless you are prepared to truly deal, release me, our business is done."

[Eldest]

Violet nods, breaking the binding and releasing the spirit. "My apologies for wasting your time."

[Etherion]

James Sharpe Visiting the Victims

After taking the starbucks cup, James thanks the butler for his time and goes back to Anna's to leave the cup there with a note. Afterwards, he goes to visit the next on the list of victims.

Found at the house of one of the other victims, scene was too old to find anything else beyond faded traces of fear.

Reposting cause it seems it went unnoticed the first time.

[Frosty]

Anna sighs. "I haven't heard from the rest. Looks like we haven't had a breakthrough yet. Maybe there were other recording devices in the home we missed. There might be more than 1 hidden camera..."

The vampire informs the girls that they can go back to their normal activities, and that there will be a bonus in their paychecks at the end of the week.

Those that have working phones, Anna will send a text to, asking for a status update.

[Tegu8788]

Vue Tower - All

Each group having gotten in contact with again, everyone returns to Anna's apartment. The evening is setting, and with it white clouds cover the city. The lights from the sky scrappers flush the clouds with a soft glow, where despite the late hour, the Anna's apartment needs little help to be easily seen thanks to it's large windows.

[Frosty]

Anna has gotten back to her apartment first, and put some snacks out for her compatriots. She lounges around wearing a pair of tight pink hot pants as she waits.

[Eldest]

Violet skulks in next, claiming her usual spot. "No dice with summoning an answer up."

[Etherion]

James wanders in, and is surprised to see Anna and Violet waiting within.

Was going to leave a note, but since you're here:

He puts a Starbucks cup on the table.
Found this at another victim's house. Scene was old, but there were still traces of fear. I did manage to find a connection between two of the victims though: the Mintz' and the Ogles' co-owned a company, but split after an argument between their wives escalated. Nothing on the other victims yet, as I've only had time to visit the one house, although it's worth noting that the butler didn't know any of the others.

[Frosty]

The Raith rolls her shoulders to work out a few kinks, doing interesting things to her bare chest. "Well, my end has turned up zilch as well. I had my people look into it, and finding tracking the record for a specific purchase of a spy camera, almost certainly paid in cash, is just not gonna happen. It's a dead end, but we do know the deceased had a desire to hide extra recording devices in his home. Either he was paranoid that something was out to get him, or he didn't want his girlfriends, wife, or whores to know they were being recorded as they had their fun. Speaking of which, it's against company policy. So we might have some legal standing to go back over there and search for more hidden recorded devices if we needed to. But for now, I think we should check out that co-owned company."

[Eldest]

You said co-owned. Was it a corporation or a partnership? The latter is easier to track. She blinks, and then shrinks in on herself. Had to do research for opening the bookstore...

[Etherion]

I believe it was a corporation that the two of them founded together.

[Frosty]

"Alright, what's the name of this corporation? I'll have the people in my payroll look into this."

Need me to make a resources roll?

[Frosty]

After a few calls, the group settled in to wait a little while for the information to come in.

===An hour later===

"This was pretty easy to dig up for my accountants. Here's what they found." Anna prints out a copy of the summary of the information found, and hands it out. "So, what do we think happened here? One of these two families hold a grudge, and seek out supernatural forces to exact revenge?"

They had made a video game company together, focusing on historical fiction. Basically, they had figured out an even better way to make Zombies in famous time periods. Best game was basically a combat simulator, roughly thematic anti-zombie team throughout history, fighting back zombie after zombie horde over time. So instead of a WW2 game with a zombie level and a Western game with a zombie level and Samurai game with a zombie level and Spartan game with a zombie level, instead it's just a game full of zombie levels.

The game was very successful, following a family of zombie killers as they killed zombies historically. It was a commercial success, but when the founders split, the gameline ended. The company is not just a shell, funneling residual checks to the founding families.

[Etherion]

But then why would they target their own family? No, I think it's a third party doing this. The question is who, and what link the third party has with all the victims.

[EarthenRite]

The nondescript hybrid car pulled up outside of the building and idled for a few moments before the car engaged into park. The driver looked into the rear view mirror with curious intensity, though in many other ways it was absent at the same time. A moment later, the moment pregnant with a longing look from the driver, a booted foot slipped out of the back door, leading up to pale skin, a short dress and a sweater of the perfect tautness.

The owner of all of the pleasant accoutrements belonged to the very tall woman with long brown hair, which she gently moved as she tucked the errant strands behind her ears upon which were perched black glasses. She leaned in the window, giving a kiss just off the lips to the driver and looking demurely down for a moment.

“I...think we are good for the payment for my ride, aren’t we, sir?”

She smiled, throwing her bag over her shoulder which caused the neckline of her sweater to spread delicately before closing again.

The man reddened,’and then smiled. He responded that the money was no problem and asked if he would be able to see her again, if she happened to be free. She thought for a moment and then said,

“Maybe. I put my number in your phone.”

She smiled winningly and started to walk towards the lobby, the smile becoming satisfied as she turned away from the hired car. At the same moment she let go of his mind with what she always envisioned as cat paws of energy. His lustful emotions would subside soon and he’d realize where he was. What he might have said. He would leave soon enough, and quickly.

She walked in and found the directory, asking whether she might perhaps speak to Anna, saying only that her name was Lisa and waiting to be allowed up to the penthouse.

[Frosty]

"Alright, any suggestions on next step?"

Anna receives a message from the person at the front desk. "Lisa, she said? Thank you. Please let her come up." Once she hears the doorbell ring, the bottomless brunette gets up off of one of her special chairs with a *squelch* and goes to open the door. Upon seeing her sister, she has a big smile and welcomes her with a warm embrace! A hug, immediately followed by a French kiss! "It has been too long, Lisa. How have you been?"

[EarthenRite]

Lisa feigns shock for a moment as she walks in and is kissed deeply by her sister but after a moment appears to slip deeper into the embrace, her hands slowly lifting up to wrap around Anna’s back.

When they finally break from the kiss, Lisa is breathless. “I’ve been alright. You seem...fantastic. You seem to be doing well here.”

She turned, her hand still resting low on Anna’s back and smiles at those in the room, appearing to blush deeply.

“Anna...who are all your friends? Are they here for dinner? I’m so embarassed; I didn’t see you there.”

[Eldest]

Violet tilts her head, raises a hand, and a small ball of molten fire, glowing with a painfully pure light, flickers to life. I am not here for dinner, lest you want third degree burns across your unmentionables.

[Etherion]

You should be careful with your threats. That might make her want you more. But to answer your question, no we are not food.

[Frosty]

"Down, dear sister of mine! No feeding on my Guests." The elder female vampire playfully and lightly spanks her sister's cute behind once and gestures towards her guests already here.

"The tall man with the 'je ne sais quoi' but in a weird way look is James Sharpe. One of my trusted employees. He plays the baaaaaaad cop really well, and I don't just mean in the bedroom. And over there, on the beanbag, with the micro-sun in her hand, is my friend Violet. As you can see, the pretty punk girl with the tats is Active. She also runs a moderately successful...quaint...bookstore. Very smart."

She drags Lisa into the room, and closes the heavy door. "And let me reiterate, they are NOT food. Besides, I prefer Chinese." She walks a few steps back towards her chair, turns her head, winks, and adds, "I was referring to chow-mein."

[EarthenRite]

“You’re no fun,” she pouts as she is brought into the room. She looked at the man and the woman in the room.

“It’s nice to meet you, James. And Violet. There’s no need to burn anything, I promise. I can follow my sister’s rules.”

Her eyes fell upon some of the special chairs in the room and she laughed.

“You still have those chairs? I think I should probably stand. I don’t want to get...too excited. Besides I don’t even know if I should stay. I mean, you look very busy here with all this...well, whatever this is.”

[Eldest]

Violet smiles. On the other hand, another twisty-minded person might be just what we need, if she thinks you can help. She gestures to Anna with the fire-hand, the burning sphere slowly dying away.

[Frosty]

Anna laughs as she puts her hands on Lisa's shoulders and gently guides her towards one of those fancy, $9000 massage chairs. "Yes, I do think she can help, Violet. And her mind works best when she is...relaxed. And as her sister, I know *exactly* how Lisa loves to relax at home. Yes, Lisa, mi casa, su casa. You can be yourself here."

She set the massage chair to massage the lower back of Lisa.

"To answer your question, dear sister, no, you are not interrupting. We'd love you here. Maybe you can help us with a mystery we have. See, some of my clients have been getting murdered, and in one instances, one of my girls was a victim too..." She tells Lisa of what has happened so far.

[EarthenRite]

Lisa sunk down onto the chair and relaxed into it, closing her eyes for a moment or two while she listened.

“I think the murders are personal. Your clients getting killed could be accidents of dangerous business. Some of the people that can afford these services get their money in some dirty ways. An employee though...feels personal. An attack on your reputation.”

She frowned as she crossed her arms in front of her.

“Or, it was the other way around. Did the girl who died have any problems you knew about? Maybe she was the killer. What’s your next plan?”

[Doomboy911]

Zeus strolled through the hallways of another penthouse, the smell of potpourri filling his nose. Knocking upon the door he waited for a response, a smile on his face.

[Tegu8788]

Vue Tower - All

As dusk turns into the dark of night, a storm rolls in. Like many in this part of the country, is moves fast, and violently. Lightning flashes, thunder roars, and for several seconds, the lights in the Vue darken, before emergency power is restored. In the moment, there is a knock on the door. This is not the kind of place for knocking. Calls are made, appointments set up. And yet, in the moment of still between the bolt and the boom, a knock hit the White Court's door.

[Doomboy911]

Zeus knocks upon the door a bit harder, the lights seemed to be on and it wasn't too late in the night.

[Eldest]

Violet tilts her head. You appear to have a visitor. Perhaps it's, well. Your version of room service. She hops up, crossing the room well away from the electronics clustered about the TV, and opens the door.

[Doomboy911]

Clad in bright crimson red and shining white is a man with a big poofy white beard and red cap, his belt is clad with jingling bells and a his face sports a joyful smile. "Seasons greetings and Merry Christmas, I'm collecting for the homeless and Santa knows that you're all very nice." he laughs jiggling his belly.

[Eldest]

Violet
Anna's Apartment

Violet blinks, and facepalms. You have got to be kidding me.

Contacts roll to know if I know him okay?

[Doomboy911]

"Santa rarely jokes when it comes to helping the home.... his head tilting to the side to look inside thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him only to realize he had seen what he saw. "Um, what's with the two naked gals? You crazy kids having a party?"

[Etherion]

James raises an eyebrow
What? I'm sorry, what's going on here?

[Doomboy911]

James raises an eyebrow
What? I'm sorry, what's going on here?


Managing to not stare the very pretty ladies for a moment "Oh right, I'm collecting money to help fund building a new homeless shelter. A lot of folks are being snatched off the street under rather strange circumstances and in this season of giving we're trying to make a difference."

[Etherion]

So, is the costume meant to be ironic? What with how you want to take our money and all.

[Doomboy911]

So, is the costume meant to be ironic? What with how you want to take our money and all.

"I"m not taking your money, I'm helping you give it to the less fortunate. Santa's given as much as he can as well working triple shifts to make sure the people are safe. The community needs help and every bit helps but if this family with a house this extravagant doesn't have the heart to spare a bit then I can see bigger troubles in the community... not counting homeless people disappearing ."

[Eldest]

Violet
Anna's Apartment

Violet freezes, and lets out a laugh. You think I can afford to live here? That's hilarious. No, it's the nude lady's place. I am just helping her out on a personal matter. In fact... She hands the Santa a business card. Call me in a few days, and I'll see what I can do.

[Doomboy911]

Violet
Anna's Apartment

Violet freezes, and lets out a laugh. You think I can afford to live here? That's hilarious. No, it's the nude lady's place. I am just helping her out on a personal matter
In fact... She hands the Santa a business card. Call me in a few days,
And I'll see what I can do.


"Help is always appreciated but I'm more interested in alternative workers than alternative books." he spins the card in his hand before making it disappear in his hands. "I don't suppose you know anyone who walks along a different path." making a blank card reappear in his hand and then a crackle of lightning races across the sky and the card begins to fizzle and burn turning black. "My card" handing back a blackened card written in white upon it


"Mr. Z
Master Electrician."

[Eldest]

Violet
Anna's Apartment

Violet gives the showoff a look and holds her hand up, palm facing the ceiling. A small orb of true, Summer fire appears in her hand, as her face goes cold. So, first you want money, now you want magic. Cut the crap and tell us what you really want, or leave. Take your pick.

[Etherion]

James sighs, then stands and walk over to the doorway.

Well, thank you for showing our hand.

He looks at the charred business card, then says

At this point, you may as well come in, as I'm afraid I can't allow you to leave without knowing why you came here expecting "alternative workers", "Mr. Z".

[Doomboy911]

"Oh awesome, magic people. I swear the community needs to invent a secret handshake or something.To be honest I just didn't really need books , some money would go towards a noble cause but people would help with the real problem."

[Etherion]

Excuse, but could you answer the question? Why did you come here.

[Doomboy911]

Excuse, but could you answer the question? Why did you come here.

"Same reason I knocked on every other house in the neighborhood, looking for money to help improve the security at the homeless shelters until we're able to build another in a safer neighborhood. Are you honestly paranoid enough to think that I tracked down this one particular house and put up a phony front all to see that your friend has some fey magic as a ruse to.." he says throwing his hand up confused. "I dunno steal your invisibility cloaks or something? After I'm done collecting money for the homeless I'm going to check out these disappearances myself. I'd appreciated help but I expect as much help as I expect White court vampires and Red Court vampires to be able to fuse into Pink court vampire. Which I know sounds like a gay joke but I have gay friends so I'm going to say that Pink Court vampires suck out breast cancer or something. I dunno I'm tired and I have more work after this.

Mr. Z walks in non chalantly surrounded by powers beyond his knowledge and bearing a genuine smile on his face unafraid. "So what are you all doing, the lovely ladies denote some kind of party but the sour faces make me think either a wake or it's game night and the only game was monopoly."

[Etherion]

With a frown, James replies
And why should we be telling you anything?

[Doomboy911]

Mr. Z lays his bag down and throws his red coat and hat over it and sits down. "I understand your reason to be concerned, I've seen time and time again people hurt by the world we live in and the only smart thing to do is to harden yourself. It's not easy to trust people and it's not safe but that's why I do the job I do. People need someone in their corner who will be on their side and be there to help them up when the world is cruel and knocks them down. I'm not saying that you should trust me but I am saying that I want to help but again I have absolutely no clue what's going on."

[Etherion]

Ah, so we should just trust you with our lives and secrets, after you show up mysteriously bypassing a not unimpressive number of guards and locked doors, because... You're dressed as Santa? You're the living embodiment of goodwill and generosity? Or is there an actual reason?

[Doomboy911]

Ah, so we should just trust you with our lives and secrets, after you show up mysteriously bypassing a not unimpressive number of guards and locked doors, because... You're dressed as Santa? You're the living embodiment of goodwill and generosity? Or is there an actual reason?

"Well yes and no, I'm not asking you to trust me with your lives and secrets I hardly know you and you barely know me I'm asking you to let me help either you won't have a problem or you can call me an idiot both seem like a win to you. Also if you must know the guards let me by because I am dressed as santa and was collecting money for charity they have a heart after all. And no I'm not the living embodiment of good will I'm dressed as santa claus not Mr. Rogers."

[Etherion]

*Sigh* You truly have no idea how fortunate you are that I chose my own path. Although, I suppose that had I not, this test would not be necessary. In any case, should you prove trustworthy, i do sincerely apologize for this.
With that, James stares directly into the eyes of Mr Z

[Frosty]

Anna Raith - Anna's residence

Anna has mostly kept quiet, thinking about the clues, when the completely unexpected visitor in a ridiculous costume comes a-knocking. Granted, one could argue that wearing only high heels is ridiculous as well, but at least she is relaxing in her own home. She lets Violet answer for now.



Violet blinks, and facepalms. You have got to be kidding me.

Yep, that about sums up her reaction as well. She has heard of a soul gaze, but hasn't actually witnessed one before. Curious, she observes, likely to be disappointed.

[Doomboy911]

"No need to apologizzzzzzzzzz" Zeus trails off as the soul gaze begins.

A world of darkness forms cold and metallic when suddenly lightning races across the sky before striking a tower in what seems to be the center the energy spreading across the darkness lighting up various bulbs as more and more bolts strike the tower. Then the chaos of the storm seems to develop a pattern almost like music and then silence the world returns to darkness.

"To dream the impossible dream, a voice emanates from atop the tower as energy seems to coalesce
"To fight the unbeatable foe" the lightning beginning to strike more coordinated.
"To bear with unbearable sorrow"
a hum runs across the bulbs in different tones blending together.
"To run where the brave dare not go" the voice growing louder over the symphony of sound.
"To right the unrightable wrong" the sound growing more triumphant.
"To be better far than you are" the lightning growing louder and louder before suddenly going silent.
"To try when your arms are too weary" the voice becoming the only sound in the darkness.
"To reach the unreachable star" the lightning comes together into a ball of energy atop the tower.
This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far the ball of energy begins to lower into the tower as the voice grows from a hushed whisper to a joyful shout.
"To be willing to give when there's no more to give
To be willing to die so that honor and justice may live" thunder begins pouring out like beating drums.
And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest" the world falling silent again and then building into a grand crescendo as the ball of energy glowing like a star strikes the tower.
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star. and then it ends as swiftly as it began.

[Etherion]

You are suddenly in the center of a snowstorm so intense that were you to hold your hand in front of your face, you'd be hard pressed to see it. The cold bites deep, but worse are the insubstantial shapes flitting through the flurry. You know not what they are, but they fill you with a sense of dread.

You wander through the blizzard, the cold sapping at your strength, and the shadows seem to draw closer. Eventually, however, you stumble upon a small fire, that looks like it is barely clinging to life in spite of the storm's fury. Still, small as it is, it appears to have driven away the jauntiness apparitions, as they can no longer be seen. Next to the fire, you see James, the man you just met, but he looks... Different.

His face is haggard, as if he hasn't slept for days and you see his eyes frantically scanning his surroundings. More than that, every so often the fire seems to flicker, and when it does, shadowy figures return, although they seem to flow outward from James himself.

Each time this happens, in a fit of panic James feeds to the fire whatever is at hand, anything to keep it going, sacrificing anything to keep it alive. Anything to drive the shadows away.

You suddenly return to yourself, still feeling the chill of the storm, and the inexplicable horror of those indistinct horrors fresh in your mind.

[Doomboy911]

Mr Z is quick to hug James after that experience, "I know not the shadows you have seen but I promise you a life of light as long as I can draw breath." his eyes growing serious as his voice looses it's joyful tone.

[Etherion]

Please remove yourself.

James steps back and takes a moment to compose himself after the Gaze.

Well, it seems he's harmless enough. Probably read one too many fairytails as a child, seems obsessed with being the heroic knight in shining armour, riding in to save the day. A melodramatic soul that wants to uphold honour and justice and all that nonsense. Anyways, I imagine we can trust him.

[Frosty]

Anna blinks. “What, we’re HUGGING now? But him first? I’m kind of insulted...have you not SEEN this?”. She gestures to her naked, and very huggable body.

“But in all seriousness, really, that’s it? You two stare lovingly into each others’ eyes for 2 seconds and you’re suddenly you’re intimate enough for hugs and trust? Man, if I knew it’s this easy, I wouldn’t have bothered with training my mojo all these years...”. She shrugs in a “oh well” kind of way as she walks towards Mr. Z. “Anna Raith. Charmed, I’m sure.”

Of course, with a white court, that phrase takes on a totally new meaning.

[Etherion]

Well, I suppose the problem is that I've seen "this" enough that I don't really notice anymore. James responds dryly.

[Eldest]

Violet
Anna's Apartment

Violet watches the soulgaze happen, letting out a low whistle. You 'gazed him? Okay. You do you. She steps back from the door, obviously inviting him in with body language, if not verbally.

[Doomboy911]

"Gah, you're not allowed to stare into my soul and judge I'm pretty sure that's against social ettiquete or you're supposed to buy me dinner first. at the lady's response to not getting a hug Mr. Z seems a bit blushed and surprised. "Quite frankly man I'd hope you'd put some clothes on it is awfully cold out and most folks don't like getting hugs when naked. then hearing the name Raith he pauses and pulls a little black book out of his pocket and takes a moment to flip through it "Raith, Raith Raith, Rakshasa, here it is." he mutters to himself.

Mr Z then lifts his hands above his head then brings them down as hard as he can in his lap.

[Eldest]

Violet
Anna's Apartment

Violet just shakes her head. Men.

[Frosty]

Anna Raith
Anna's Apartment

Anna just laughs as Zeus expresses concern about the temperature. "Honey, you don't know me very well if you think the weather being a bit chilly affects me or my sister." As Zeus looks up the Raith name and then puts his hands on his lap, Anna licks her lips and shivers a bit. "Delicious." It's a like a buffet being thrown her way. All she had to do was open her mouth, metaphorically speaking, to get a meal.

"So, you say you are here because of some missing people?" asks the vampire as she heads back to her seat and sits down. "I wonder if that has anything to do with our investigation..."

[Doomboy911]

"No, he moans out grabbing the afflicted area in pain "for like the third time I was hear collecting money for the homeless but you guys need help so who am I not to help"

[Etherion]

It seems you misunderstood. She was wondering if the missing homeless has anything to do with what we're looking into.

[Doomboy911]

It seems you misunderstood. She was wondering if the missing homeless has anything to do with what we're looking into.

"Probably, I mean what are the odds that something is picking off people and two different groups are looking into it."

[Frosty]

Anna gestures for Zeus to sit down. "Look, the Silvertail Ranch will be happy to donate money to a good cause regardless. After all, it's good PR, and there's tax deductions. But why don't you tell us all that you know about the missing homeless so maybe I can do something on a personal level? Maybe we can help each other."

[Doomboy911]

"There's the christmas spirit, I'm actually getting ready to go to work I can explain along the way if you two want to put on some clothes." Mr. Z says trying to avert his eyes a bit from the ladies.

[Frosty]

"Oh? I don't see you as a desk jockey type. What do you do for a living?"

Anna starts mentally going through the clothes available, sorting them by appropriateness by type of employment and environment.

[Doomboy911]

"Eh, in life things are broken and often lost a lot of folks forget and move on. I just have trouble with that though." Mr. Z reaches into the santa sack he was carrying around and watches everyone to make sure they don't think he's drawing a weapon before slowly pulling out a lightbulb. "I've found in my walk of life I'm good at fixing things. Sometimes that means fixing bad attitudes, sometimes that means fixing for a fight and sometimes it means just being there for those who need me." he places the bulb down next to a lamp on the desk. "She's gonna burn out soon, you'll need this." he says gesturing to the nearby light.

[Eldest]

Violet whistles. Handy trick. You do hearts too?

[Doomboy911]

Mr. Z pauses at her words and then a smile begins to creep on his face. "That depends... a deep chuckle beginning to form "Is this your card?" with a flash and flicker producing...the ace of spades.

[Frosty]

Anna quickly puts on a violet mini-dress she had laid out nearby, as well as her trademark silver high heels. "Well, I am all for banter while we move. Sister, will you be dressing as well?"

[Tegu8788]

Mr. Z's shelter - All

As the various members of the group follow Mr. Z, he eventually leads them to a run down abandoned warehouse. Several homeless people can be seen hanging around, moving about and trying to be inconspicuous. The flair and opulence of the Wraith's clothing are drastically out of place. What little they wear likely cost more than the clothing of everyone else in the shelter.

[Doomboy911]

Mr. Z's attitude immediately perks up around the others "Lester!, Charlie, Helena you're looking lovely as per usual. Friends, welcome to La Mancha." he waves his hand at a nearby garage door as it begins to rise, "Observe the magic of... remote technology" he says pulling garage door opener out of his pocket . "Come on in gang, this is my casa my place where I can simply unwind and work, now lets get down to murders."

He claps his hands and lights fill the room, the warehouse is warm but not too hot with furniture spread around with a nary a concern for feng shui. Strolling in he tosses his santa suit and bag over a coat hook before giving it a light kick, "My own invention a coat rack with wheels on the bottom so you can slide it wherever you want without the hassle. It's pretty much the only thing not really nailed down around here though lot of the folks around here just crash where they like on their journey." There's almost a distinct smell of magic but it moves and weaves all across the place with no rhyme and reason like a thunderstorm. Above hanging from the ceiling is a small office with stairs leading up to it, the walls are clad in runes and christmas lights.

"Yo Barbara, I've got guests be sociable. " the curtains flicker open for a second before shutting again and a woman walks out "That's Barb she's my oracle, my eye in the sky and the only one who can get the wi-fi to work. I'm sure if you're nice she'll be willing to share what we've gathered on the big screen." he motions to a large white screen and a projector hanging from the ceiling.

[Eldest]

Violet waves shyly at Barbara, peering curiously. How do you get wifi to work... that'd be amazing in my store.

[Tegu8788]

Mr. Z's shelter - All

Barbra stands beside the white-ish board. Dressed for cold weather, the sky lights above provide illumination, but it doesn't do much to keep in the heat. On the board, scraps of newspapers are held together with old stickers. On it are several back page obituaries, small and brief, several of which are Jane and John Does. "From what we can tell, these were not natural deaths. Out here, things. Happen. To people. But not like that. It wasn't cold, or drugs, a knife or a bullet. They didn't just give up. Something killed them, we are sure.

We just don't know what. Or how. Or why. But Mr. Z, he says that he will find a way. Are you that way?"


How do you get wifi to work... that'd be amazing in my store.

"Honey, the wifi isn't hard, we just wait for him to leave. As long as our tap on the power line holds, and we can keep finding an open connection, we can have some data. It's not much, but enough for us to know when the worst of the weather is coming, and when the shelters are open."

You can notice a pair of large men with a crank near the garage door, appearing to have manually opened it when Mr.
Z approached. Additionally, while there are holiday lights all over the wall, none of them are actually on. It would appear as if someone had arranged this room based from a viewing of modern technology, without having actually experienced it themselves.

[Doomboy911]

"Give me a week, I can run some wiring through any little shop and get it purring like a kitten. And yes these folks might not be "The way" but they might be along "the way". I heard talk from around the area about various folks going missing, I was prepping to investigate it myself but I was busy equipping myself and it would've taken me about a week to get set up but with more people it should take less preparation." Mr. Z tosses himself up onto a couch and begins fiddling with a hunk of metal and wires on the table.

"We've got little to do though except wait for catastrophe, unless we can figure out what this thing is after we've got little in terms of bait but all the nasty stuff likes to come out at night as I'm sure Mr. James can attest to. For now we can rest and chat I wouldn't mind spending some time off my feet and tinkering."

[Etherion]

So, how long have these disappearances been happening?
James asks his question, wondering if the timing coincides with the "suicides" they've been investigating.

[Tegu8788]

Mr. Z's shelter - James

A quick check confirms, that each date of the murder of a homeless person matches up with one of the high profile "suicides" that he has been investigating.

[Doomboy911]

Tossing the hunk of metal and wires aside "Tell you what little lady I'll make you a trade of knowledge, I'll give you a rough idea of how I do what I do and even share with you some of my magic as I haven't gotten a chance to actually show any off and in exchange..." he rises and looks her in the eyes as a smile creeps on his face. "...is show me how to run in heels, I want to be taller but I keep breaking them." Mr. Z says his shoes having a notable platform to them to at least give the illusion of height.

He fetches a battery from one of his piles and begins to channel all the electrical energy out it and then release it in whatever a puny spark it produces.

[Eldest]

Violet winces as the new angle is uncovered. That's... bad. I'm going to make a couple of guesses. One of the other White Courts, or maybe a rogue mage, is using the homeless as sacrifices for some kind of ghost or spirit, and that's being used as a hit... thing. She looks around, and shrinks in on herself a bit. But it's only a guess. And I don't wear heels. She gestures to her foot, which is currently shod in kickin' leather boots.

[Frosty]

Anna Raith, at Mr Z's shelter

As Anna follow's Zeus into this old warehouse, her clothes and high heels really do seem out of place. "I had not expected this place to be so...well-used." She tries to make sure she doesn't step in any of the dirty puddles that may be nearby. "And yes...remotes...how...revolutionary. Well, I guess for your kind, it actually is."

Looking at the white board, the vampire pays attention to the newspaper scraps. "So, you don't know what is taking and killing the people, but can you identify problem areas where the attacks happen more often? Hmm...maybe the killing of the homeless in the area are just a means to an end. The ultimate targets are those high profile "suicides", and these people here just happen to be killed because that is how the killer gets some sort of connection or avenue to attack the targets? Maybe we can be the bait, if we walk around in those areas..."

At the mention of running heels, she smiles at Zeus. "Gladly. Why, I think you have the thighs to pull off heels! See, it all starts with thinking of your heels as an extension of your feet, and embracing a fundamental shift in body balance..."

[Etherion]

Hmmm... I suppose I could disguise myself as a homeless man, but what should we do should someone take the bait? We have no real information about who or what is doing the kidnappings, so a direct confrontation may not be in our best interests.

[Doomboy911]

Zeus' eyes light up at this knowledge, Well madame would you like to know how I do what I do with my magic? he pulls another whiteboard out with what could only be described as the writings of a madman fine mesh between what looks like computer programming The top of the board reading The unified field theory but with magic, rename before showing off don't forget.

"Don't worry Jamesy if you're homeless and on the streets then you've got me watching your back, we can have the fancy dames watch from a distance. Before any of that though I want to try and work on a little something something." Zeus reaches into the bag he brought in "Which would you say hurts more a tennis ball or a dodgeball" pulling them out.

[Eldest]

I can probably be there, in a different form. She peers at the nonsense on the board, tapping on a few characteristics. That's formal logic. But that's an energy conversion ratio... and that's... is that pig latin? She puzzles over the board, trying to decipher it.


Violet has a scholarship of 2, and reads a lot.

[Doomboy911]

"Huzzah a fellow acolyte of logical pursuits, so here's the idea there's mechanically no difference between magical lightning and normal lightning unless I'm exerting my own will upon it and I dunno making it shaped like pitchforks or something. With that in mind I can draw electricity from an object and convert it into magic." he pulls out a couple Double D batteries and focus before a small ball of fire coalesces in his other hand before dissipating "I'm just here working as a machine, with that in mind why not try and do the inverse and draw ambient magical energy and convert that into like lightning or even energy. So with that that in mind I could work out magical sigils or runes or whatever to make it so machines draw magical energy out of the air to power a machine like a car or a pace maker or a computer not a time machine though I got a phone call about that it's not allowed. But they didn't say anything about spying into the future." he seems quite excited to finally have someone that has enough knowledge of technology and such and have knowledge of magical energy.

Hey I got scholarship 2 as well Twinsies.

[Eldest]

Her eyes shoot open wide. Don't you dare break the laws. Don't.

[Doomboy911]

"I didn't you think I need a bunch of sword wielding psychos breaking down my doors to cut my head off, I need my head for now.

The rules says I ain't allowed to travel against the flow of time but there's nothing saying against going the other way."

[Frosty]

"Well, if someone takes the bait, we capture and interrogate with extreme prejudice! We might want to think of the common types of creatures we may have trouble capturing. For example, wizards are of course difficult. Ghosts probably can't be captured without specialized equipment or magic. Summoned demons may just be pulled back to their own world after a time. But, let's see what your little time-diving experiment yields first."

[Doomboy911]

"Well, if someone takes the bait, we capture and interrogate with extreme prejudice! We might want to think of the common types of creatures we may have trouble capturing. For example, wizards are of course difficult. Ghosts probably can't be captured without specialized equipment or magic. Summoned demons may just be pulled back to their own world after a time. But, let's see what your little time-diving experiment yields first."

"Yeah no I don't have the juice for that unless I can hook up to Odin's left nut or like eastern and western seaboard , you girls are white court right do you have the connections for uh either of those." he looks a bit concerned he had heard the name Raith after all and the things they could do with a snap of their fingers was just as terrible as what he could .

[Etherion]

...
Anyways, if possible I'd prefer to avoid a fight. Maybe you'd be able to talk down an assailant before things get out of hand?
He addresses the question to Anna.

[Doomboy911]

"Well for once I have the element of surprise and I fully intend to use it." he whistles to his guys working the garage door instructing them to pull back a carpet and then throws a curtain back revealing a mountain of mish-mashed junk here and there ."Sorry about the mess I had a filing system and it's at the bottom of the pile." he begins flinging various items out umbrellas, few bottles of black sand, the odd sword or two and two halves of separate waffle irons.

"Bingo" pulling out a red leash with spikes around the collar, a nametag reading "Bingo" a gag toy of an invisible dog.

"I can whip up a little diddy to search for this bad boy. Then we can hit they he or she where the proposed entity sleeps. sliding down from the pile, with the carpet pulled back he tosses the leash into the center of a golden metal ring with runes laid all across. Working feverishly he grabs a mess of extension cords and plugs one end into a blackened and bruised outlet and then holds onto the other.

"Alright guys while I'm working on this bit of magical hoo-doo check through the pile, I need a salt lick for ghosts, a mirror for white court and a super soaker not one of the big ones something pocket sized and try and grab some chalk."

[Eldest]

Violet just... coughs. And... what exactly are you making?

[Doomboy911]

"My dear lady I am making magic" he says turning and smiling a bit of sparks trickling across him "but to be less showy and more specific I am currently building a magical bloodhound in the sense that it will hunt for magic and be powered by magic. I'm also blending in a bit of my magical theory and making it so the device I'm building doesn't have to draw magic just from me but from electricity in the surrounding area, just in case you folks need it and aren't as magically inclined."

[Eldest]

Violet shrugs. Alrighty. I'm going to try to solve a murder then, I suppose. Who wants to pose as the homeless person? I can if I have to...

[Etherion]

With a sigh, James says "I suppose I would be the safest choice."