Goswell Manor [HALO Plot]

[FireFox]

Somewhere in the England countryside there is a large mansion with a sprawling estate, home of billionare Norman Goswell. It's a large mansion, and tastefully blends old style with modern security measure.
Right now, one wing has a large hole through it and there are people running all over the east half of it. These people are in two groups, armed terrorists and undead warriors that freeze whatever they touch.
The west half is currently defended by the Manor's security team, members of the SAS, and Sam Goswell.

If HALO members teleport in here using the coordinates given, they will appear on a teleporter pad in a wrecked room in the eastern part.

[Volug]

... Somehow a clone of Kiba gets there >.>

Even though he's in human form, it doesn't stop him from looking around and sniffing a few things in the wrecked room.

[FireFox]

Thereis the muffled sound of gunfire further to the west, and an overall stench of Evil and death hangs in the air.
the room itself looks like it may have at one point been a nice room, with maps, atlases, and a few computers in it. There are also two other teleportation pads.

[Volug]

Kiba wonders what the computer is.

He kicks it.

And then tries to see if there is anything to take a look at what's going on to the west.

[FireFox]

There is a door, hanging skewedly on its hinges. And muffled gunfire coming from that direction.

[Volug]

Kiba tries to open the door as best he can, though it may just fall off...

[FireFox]

It opens into a hallway. The whole building is... well, it's a manor of an eccentric billionare...

[Volug]

Kiba's curious.

He might break some $1000 vase or something on accident before he decides to keep looking/scouting around.

[FireFox]

Up to you, there are a few... To Kiba's left is a bust that is completely destroyed... This part of the house has a few bullet holes and gouges in it...

[Volug]

Now that I have time...

Kiba tries to find his way to the... Area where the sounds are coming from, and keep hidden >.>

[FireFox]

The sounds have stopped now, but he can easily get into the west wing undetected. Oh, he probably smells blood, burned flesh, and other wolves...

[Volug]

Kiba sniffs around still in human form, trying to keep quite quiet now.

He takes priority and goes to find where the wolf smell is coming from.

[FireFox]

There's a wolfpack savaging what used to be servants in the kitchen...

[Volug]

Kiba debates wether or not they would be hostile or not, but chances are is that they already know he's somewhere around...

So Kiba takes a quick look around the kitchen and tries to find an easy way to escape the area in case the wolves aren't friendly.

[FireFox]

Well, there's the door behind him and a door behind them. And they're all looking at him if he's in sight.

[Volug]

They can look in his general direction, he's somewhat hidden...

He of course freezes.

[FireFox]

They start walking forward towards him...

[Volug]

Kiba transforms in wolf form.

[FireFox]

When they get to where they can see him they growl.

[Volug]

Kiba runs towards the nearest door.


And I'm deadtiming.

[FireFox]

They chase him.

[Quinsar]

Vegarius tries to teleport in...

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy also tries to teleport in.

[FireFox]

He can... he'll probably be in the teleporter room mentioned in the first post.
Same with her.

[Quinsar]

He coughs, looks around, and smiles at Sorcy.
Good evening, Maddam Sorcy....

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy smiles back.
Ah, hello... Vegarius, is it?
She looks around a bit.
Well, something interesting is certainly going on.

[Quinsar]

Vegarius does a scan for humanoid life forms....

[FireFox]

All the humanoid ones are in the west wing, spread out through a couple rooms. It's deathly quiet where they are though.

[Quinsar]

Maddam Sorcy. All identifiable life forms are to the west of our current position.
Please follow.
He begins to walk westward...

[A Rainy Knight]

She follows him, and draws the Scholar's Spear in case she needs to use it in a hurry.

[FireFox]

Everything seems deserted, until they turn a corner and come face to face with a wolf.

[Quinsar]

He just walks straightat the wolf, as if ignoring it.

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy nervously follows behind him.
Nice doggie?

[FireFox]

It snarls at them, then turns around and runs.

[Quinsar]

He continues Westward.....
Do not worry, Maddam. I will safe guard us.
Save your spells for the true threats that lie ahead.

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy lowers her spear a bit and keeps going, but she's still on guard.

[FireFox]

Several jagged icicles appear in front of them and fly towards them.

[Quinsar]

Vegarius raises his hand and the ice should meet a wall of dragon fire and lightning....

[FireFox]

The icicles melt and a mage steps out in front of them.

[Quinsar]

Yes? May I help you?

[FireFox]

The Black Fox? :smallconfused: He looks over the two and scowls, raising his staff.

[Quinsar]

He might find a blue drake snapping at his neck. The mage, that is.

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy sits back and waits to see if some carnage starts unfolding.

[FireFox]

The mage tries to bat the drake away while casting a spell.

[Quinsar]

The drake is pretty strong.
And tries to shoot some lightning at the mage...

[FireFox]

The mage gets hit and cries out, dropping his staff.

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy walks over, picks up the staff, and examines it a little.

[Quinsar]

Vegarius examines the mages robes...
Color, pattern, if it has a hood or not....

[FireFox]

The staff seems to be made of cold iron with a glowing saphire at the top.

The robes are a light blue with a navy trim. silver embroidered runes on the trim. No hood. The mage grimaces.

[Quinsar]

Vegaruis tries to make him sleep.

[FireFox]

He resists. Who... are you? :smallannoyed::smallconfused:

[A Rainy Knight]

I think an even better question would be, "Who are you?"

[Quinsar]

Vegarius, sir. Now, please sleep.
He tries to force the spell on him.

[FireFox]

I'm a Selini- and he falls asleep...

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy tugs at Vegarius.
I think we should just get moving.

[Quinsar]

As do I maddam...
She might notice his eyes are now reptillian.

[FireFox]

They might hear footsteps running towards them.

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy picks up on this.
Say, uh, do you have any, hmm, how do I put it politely, lizards in your family tree? If you don't, then "please don't hurt me" in advance.

Meanwhile, she doesn't notice the footsteps.

[Quinsar]

Half dragon.
He shrugs.
Let's get going, maddam.
He continues Westward.

[FireFox]

The footsteps stop just ahead. Kinda near where the hallway turns...

[A Rainy Knight]

Sorcy blindly walks around the corner to whatever is on the other side.

[Quinsar]

Vegarius sighs as he was about to throw a fireball around the corner.
He folows Sorcy.

[FireFox]

... Yeah, unless Sorcy is quick enough to leap back, she may be shot at by two goons with assault rifles...

[A Rainy Knight]

Hell!
She quickly puts up a force barrier to protect herself, but she is struck in the arm a few times before it's up.

[Quinsar]

Vegarius throws a big fireball at the goons.

[FireFox]

They are hit by the fireball and go down, but one of them manages to throw a frag grenade.

[Quinsar]

He swears and tries to shield himself and Sorcy, more concentration on Sorcy, though.

[FireFox]

Thre grenade explodes, probably not doing much against whatever sheilds he has.

[A Rainy Knight]

At the very least, Sorcy keeps herself safe with her barriers. She gingerly feels at her wounds and groans.
I'm sorry... I'm a fool. Here I am, certainly in dangerous territory, letting my mind wander like this...

[FireFox]

((Quinsar deadtimed, you want to wait until the next time we three are all on?))

[A Rainy Knight]

((This sounds fine to me. I'm deadtiming now anyways. Until later!))

[Volug]

I'm not sure wether or not I'm in this plot still, so I'll just... Wait...

[FireFox]

Erin, Dingo, and the five other PS men appear in front of the Manor, which is all repaired by now. Dingo leads her in and up to Mr. Goswell's study.
The armed men Erin sees here have a different shoulder patch than Dingo and his men, by the way.

[The Bushranger]

Erin notes the different patch, and ponders it, but decides it's probably the Praetorian Guard versus the troops. :smalltongue:

"Did Mr. Goswell say anything about what this job might entail?" she asks of Dingo, while trying to get her hair straightened out.

[FireFox]

Oh Lord no. The Boss share the inner machinations of his mind with someone like me? He gives her a wink, then ushers her into the room and closes the door behind her.
Mr. Goswell, rather old and tired, looks up from some papers and nods to her seriously. Erin.

[The Bushranger]

Erin chuckles and returns the wink, then composes herself as she enters, and gives Mr. OsborneGoswell a serious look and returning nod. "Norman," she greets, returning the first-name basis.

[FireFox]

Have you had the opportunity to read through some files my daughter sent your... brother?

[The Bushranger]

Erin will take a seat if there's one available.

"Your vigilance is...commendable," Erin says, dryly. "And yes, yes I have."

She refrains from Force choking himfurther comment, waiting to see what else he has to say first.

[FireFox]

You should know that there are two things the reports leave out. He is probably feeling some emotion at these old, painful memories, yet he keeps his face and voice composed. First, that Tobias... he volunteered to have tests run on him. He said to me, "how can I grow up to help people if I don't even know what I'm capable of?". He sighs and stands up, leaning heavily on his cane. Yes, there was a chair for Erin to sit in, but getting comfortable clearly was a waste of time. Let's go for a walk.

[The Bushranger]

Erin bites her lip a little at hearing that. "He always acts so much like...well, a jackass. But sometimes you can see...he cares. It's almost as if he's scared to show it."

Nodding, she moves to follow Mr. Goswell on his walkabout.


http://public5.tektek.org/img/av/1004/d21/2032/cba6289.png (http://tektek.org/avatar/36292929)

[FireFox]

Only twelve years old, and ready to sacrifice so much to help others... He walks down and out of the building, then through the large backyard towards a wooded area. His security detail follows, but out of earshot. Do you see that holly tree? A long time ago I buried something there, and kept it secret from everybody. Now I believe it's gone, but I can't check for myself. In a bit, you'll dig it up for me...

Trivia time! Did you know, a long time ago in HALO, back when Tobias was more a DnD Druid, he wore a sprig of holly on his tunic for his material focus? :smalltongue:

[The Bushranger]

And now you know. And knowing is half the battle! :smalltongue:

Erin raises an eyebrow, wondering what was buried, but not pressing the point (yet). "You've raised a pair of strong, and good-hearted children," she says. She still questions the means to that end, of course, consented to or not, but... "And their children are the same way."

Well, except for Chaos!Matt, of course. :smalltongue:

[FireFox]

Mr. Goswell chuckles. I don't think it would be prudent of me to say anything negative about my granddaughter in your presence, hm? Then he becomes somber, turning to look at her carefully. You have not asked about the second thing those files didn't say.

[The Bushranger]

"Probably a good idea," Erin chuckles as well, before returning to seriousness herself. "I haven't asked, because I believe that you will answer when the time is, in your opinion, right, and not before. Therefore, as long as we are here and talking, I will wait for you to tell me."

She pauses.

"Everything."

[FireFox]

In 1964, after a year of medical studies and tests... I pushed Tobias too hard.
Erin may remember Tobias saying that he ran away from home when he was thirteen.
Mr. Goswell stares at her, his voice starting to waver, then gazes at the base of the holly tree.
46 years ago... Tobias died.

[The Bushranger]

Erin starts to nod, indeed remembering...
...then the words she's hearing sink in.

"Wait, what? I...that's...how? I mean..."
She shakes her head.
"But if you died, and...I presume you buried him...then who...?"

[FireFox]

I buried him here, and nobody knew... I told Samantha recently. She is convinced that the Tobias you know is a fake. You may have wondered about the... hostility she shows him. Like shooting him. However, I believe that he is truly my son. Perhaps he was... raised from the dead, as seems to be usual in your world. I suspect that he had learned some of that magic by then, and he may have used it to fake his death, or put himself in a death-like state for awhile... He takes a deep breath and meets her eyes again. I would like you to help me find out the truth.

[The Bushranger]

Erin bites back her intial reaction, which is to ask, 'why didn't you check the moment you knew he was 'back'?', and takes a deep breath.

"That...does explain a lot, about how she acts torwards him."
She meets the older man's eyes, and nods slowly.
"I'll help. Just tell me where to dig."

[FireFox]

Partly because he was scared to find out the truth, partly because by then he was too old to dig up a coffin by himself, and trusted noone else.

The old man wordless points to a spot beneath the holly tree.

[The Bushranger]

Erin nods, and silently crosses to the tree, kneeling next to the indicated spot...

And, turning her arms intangible, reaching into the ground.

[FireFox]

There's a coffin under there, and Erin can pull it out.

[The Bushranger]

And through careful use of Intangibility Abuse, Erin slowly raises the coffin to the surface, setting it on the ground under the holly tree.

[FireFox]

If Erin can actually feel weight through that, she'd be able to tell that the coffin's not empty. Something's in it.

Mr. Goswell watches in apprehension.

[The Bushranger]

Sort-of. It's...spoooooooky physics.

Erin frowns a bit, then carefully goes to open the coffin. Taking things slowly so as not to damage it...

[FireFox]

With the groaning of the nails through the old wood, Erin is able to finally get the lid off the coffin, and the light of the moon reveals that she is face to face with the decomposed corpse of thirteen year old Tobias.
Technically, it just reveals a dead body the size of a kid. I'm sure it's just a skeleton by now.

[The Bushranger]

Erin gasps, leaning back in shock, and some horror.

"How...?

Or is it even him? It could be somebody else..." she quickly says.

[FireFox]

Mr. Goswell looks down into the coffin, his carefully composed mask having given way to a plethora of conflicting emotions. Leaning more heavily on his cane than he was earlier, he bends down and takes a signet ring with the family crest from the skeleton. He studies it, as much as he can with his hand shaking. Y-you... He clears his throat and starts again. You will have to take a DNA sample for comparison at HALO...

[The Bushranger]

Erin nods, silently, and produces a pocketknife, carefully scraping some of the gunk off the bottom of the coffin. Presuming there'll be DNA to test there, and not wanting to make the skeleton angry by removing material from it.

Then going to close the coffin back up again.

[FireFox]

Yeah, she can test that.

He stares at the now closed coffin, seemingly having aged another few years in the last few minutes.

[The Bushranger]

Erin, were she to look, would completely understand why...

As it is, though, she's concentrating on further Intangibility Abuse, carefully lowering the coffin back to its resting place underground.

And then standing, and staring at the spot of ground under the holly tree.

[FireFox]

Mr. Goswell appears to be lost in thought, or even worse, in memory.

[The Bushranger]

Erin reaches out to put her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry."

[FireFox]

He sighs, then collects himself and nods at her in thanks before starting to walk back to the Manor.

[The Bushranger]

And Erin follows in respectful silence, many questions on her mind, many things she could say...but choosing not to.

[FireFox]

Mr. Goswell starts to go back to his study, and Dingo appears at Erin's side, ready to take her back.

[The Bushranger]

"I'll let you know as soon as I find out anything, alright?"
Erin nods to Mr. Goswell as he heads for his study.

[FireFox]

He just nods back in reply and closes the door.
Dingo offers his arm and preps his teleporter. Everything go all right, then?

[The Bushranger]

"Honestly? No, not really." Erin sighs. "Although I did...learn quite a few things."

She reaches to take his arm for the teleport.

[FireFox]

He shrugs, realizing not to press the issue, and teleports her back to HALO.

[The Bushranger]

And off they go!