All Roads/Session 3
Storyteller: Kenan, Isis and Neb are attending a Guardian-hosted recreation of the events that took place a few days ago, where an abyssal incursion in the midst of a sleeper protest caused a full-scale riot.
Storyteller: Wickerman has just given his speech concerning the nature of the event and the spell the gathered mages are about to witness.
Storyteller: A soft murmuring rises in the hall as Wickerman finishes and exits the stage. There is a tension in the air as the ritual participants ready themselves to release the spell.
Isis: Isis fingers twist the blacksmith puzzle in the pocket of her jacket as she prepares her mage sight and then with a small gesture as if she was holding up a small set of scales with one finger she invokes the Scales of Ma'at.
Kenan: Kenan casually makes himself comfortable, and begins to chew a gum
Isis: Her posture is tense, her expression grim as she tries to prepare herself for the awful scene they are going to see.
Nebuchadnezzar: Neb watches with a dour expression, his hip flask now returned to his jacket. He twists the wedding band on his finger distractedly with his attention on the scene ahead.
Storyteller: You all feel as a spell of considerable power is suddenly released, washing over the hall.
Storyteller: The sound of the crowd's murmuring is slowly drowned out by the growing sound of a second, much larger crowd. The room fades away, replaced by blurry images and indistinct shapes that sharpen into a chaotic scene.
Isis: (to clarify, does that mean we can't see the room we're in and our fellow mages anymore?)
Storyteller: You all stand on a street in middle-London that some of you might recognise as Orchard street. The road is utterly packed with protesters, crammed in like sardines as they push forward towards a police blockade further ahead. The illusion is superimposed over the hall itself, so you are still vaguely aware of the layout and routes to the exits.
Storyteller: The sound is deafening as people shout slogans and obscenities, waving placards that protest government austerity measures.
Storyteller: It's very disorientating to be suddenly thrust into such a situation, and while the crowd doesn't jostle you the situation is extremely claustrophobic.
Storyteller: It is late in the day at the time of these events, and the setting sun casts the road in an deep orange light.
Isis: Uncomfortable even with much smaller crowds Isis closes her eyes for a moment reminding herself that the vision is not reality, that she is but a ghost from the future watching events unfold. No one of these people can see her or otherwise affect her. She breathes in a calming rhythm. She is one of the Wise, she has to be better than this.
Isis: To distract herself, to look with analytical eyes rather than emotional ones, as much as to help the event's purpose Isis turns her Pathfinder's attention to the movements of the crowd. Symbols, not people. Meanings, not voices and gestures.
Kenan: Kenan, even though familiar with crowds, feels a little uneasy, but tries to keep his cool
Isis: So many people, such anger ... Isis is glad she has shielded her mind, even if it is irrational. Such a concentration of dark emotions can have its own power.
Storyteller: The tension in the air is palpable, despite this only being a reflection of the past. Disquietening signs of violence litter the place. Shops and public facilities, phonebooths and bus stops have all inevitably been vandalised. Youths with paint cans spray crude symbols, and from where you stand its easy to spot a number of people cradling injuries.
Nebuchadnezzar: Neb looks around, used to crowds and used to London Protests, at least the Met wasn't present yet. Bloody Met, useless bunch of thugs.
Storyteller: Over a short time the atmosphere turns more and more sour.
Storyteller: The worst of the shouting can be heard near the front, where the protesters face off with the police blockade. From the back an endless tide of people push in, cramming everyone tighter and tighter.
Kenan: Kenan, semi-consciously, raises his hand, but stops himself before uttering any slogans and looks rather sheepish
Isis: Such emotions can feed on themselves, she knows, but they can also be inflamed by outside influences. Isis tries to keep lookout for such influences, be they magical or mundane, as much as the chaos allows.
Isis: She concentrates hard to keep herself distanced, to keep the events as something she is observing from afar - and across time - rather than something that is as immediate as the vision makes it seem.
Nebuchadnezzar: Neb concerns himself with looking around, remembering the protests of the past. At first his eyes are keen, determined to spot something but as he watches he notices little things that remind him of the protests of his youth, marching back with his friends Harry, Mary and... Rebecca.
Nebuchadnezzar: His attention wavers as he is half watching, half lost in what should be pleasant memories, instead to him they are ashes of another life. Again he twists the wedding band, so focused on the past that the present eludes him.
Storyteller: The chaos suddenly stops, and everything is left utterly still and silent. Your ears ringing you vaguely make out a voice a distance away in the scene.
Storyteller: "Gents, Ladies." You see a hand raise above the crowd. "Direct your attention here, please."
Kenan: Kenan focuses his attention on the place in which the hand is pointing
Storyteller: The gathered mages seem ghost-like as they pass through the crowd, towards the Guardian herald Eidolon.
Nebuchadnezzar: Shaken from his revee, Nebuchadnezzer glances up. Pointing his head towards the voice and begins moving through the crowd.
Isis: follows Nebuchadnezzar, careful to meet no eyes no in the illusionary crowd
Storyteller: He gestures towards a man you recognise from the picture you were presented with earlier in the day. "Take a good look at him." His voice is gruff, "Anyone recognise this man?"
Storyteller: There is a chorus of negative responses from those gathered.
Isis: Isis' eyes narrow and her awareness expands as her attainment takes in every smallest detail about the man, throws them into the air like a cloud of puzzle pieces only for them to fall into place to form a picture.
Kenan: Kenan briefly looks at the man but, having seen the photograph before, he instead looks around, trying to spot anything else of interest
Isis: If someone or something is controlling him she will see the infinitesimal telltale signs. If someone here in the room is lying about not knowing him she will see the sympathetic connection nonetheless.
Nebuchadnezzar: Neb glances vaguely at him and then focuses his attention at the gathered mages, more interested in the reactions than the scene in front of him.
Isis: Isis twitches as she sees something that makes no sense and shouldn't be, and takes a quick step to the side.
Isis: Surely it's just her imagination ...
Storyteller: (Wits and composure please, all)
Isis: "What's with this ..." Isis lifts one hand to point, then hesitates.
Storyteller: (Except Rob)
Kenan: (okay, it's still 2 total: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3178193/)
Isis: "Why are you not frozen in time?" Isis asks quietly.
Kenan: "what? what do you mean?"
Isis: Her eyes narrow then. "Ah, phantasm." Her Mind's Eye opens wider as she tries to pick apart the spell's resonance.
Nebuchadnezzar: ( 4 successes, woo two 10's which became two 8's: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3178208/)
Storyteller: Neither of you see what Isis is looking at, but you both hear a soft choking sound coming a little way away. The image of the crowd makes it very difficult to see.
Kenan: Kenan begins to move through the phantom crowd in the direction of the sound
Storyteller: At the edge of the crowd stands a Guardian mage by the name of Alastair, he stands hunched over with one hand to his mouth. His body heaves as he takes desperate breaths through his nose.
Kenan: Kenan looks around, trying to find the source of whatever is causing Alastair's difficulties
Storyteller: (You have sight up, yeah?)
Isis: walks in small half circle around an empty space, her expression one of concentration and triumph.
Kenan: (if Kenan isn't able to spot anything without it, he will turn it on)
Nebuchadnezzar: Neb traces his way through the crowd shortly after Kenan moves, arriving behind him. Glancing at Alastair he glances around, seeing if he can spot any other willworkers nearby.
Nebuchadnezzar: (I have prime sight on)
Kenan: (time and fate sights, in that order)
Storyteller: He's suffering the effects of a powerful spell. Tears stream down his cheeks, and when he notices you he suddenly straightens up.
Nebuchadnezzar: (Any idea what arcana?)
Storyteller: His mouth opens to speak, but you don't hear it.
Nebuchadnezzar: "Kenan, fetch Isis now. I'm going to try to counterspell." He whispers as he passes Kenan.
Storyteller: A sudden burst of low pressure staggers you all.
Storyteller: Everyone in the hall gasps, followed suddenly by the gut-wrenching feeling of paradox.
Storyteller: The crowd scene animates again suddenly and this time the sound is unbearable. A cacophony of voices, grinding into one. The people move as formless blurs, the effect seeming to break down.
Storyteller: People panic, and this time not in the vision. Barely over the din you hear Eidolon's voice calling for calm.
Storyteller: (Initiative, James and Kenan)
Isis: There's a small smile of triumph on Isis' lips just before the pressure shift hits, quickly wiped away as she just barely remains on her feet. She looks up and around. "What ...?"
Kenan: "Are you all right? What happened?"
Isis: She claps her hands over her ears as the malfunctioning vision grinds and screeches through the hall.
Kenan: (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3178239/ in which case 12)
Storyteller: Both Kenan and Neb are towards the edge of the room, faced with one of the Guardian mages.
Storyteller: Isis is towards the centre, near everyone else.
Isis: Instinctively she crouches down, making herself small, and looks around for familiar faces. Diana, Neb, Kenan, Tiferet, anyone.
Nebuchadnezzar: (13 on init from me)
Kenan: Kenan tries to make his way towards Isis as fast as he can
Storyteller: Alastair's face has turned to grim determination as he looks at the both of you. He reaches into his suit jacket.
Storyteller: (James, you're up first.)
Nebuchadnezzar: "Sorry Alasdair", Neb says twisting the ring on his ringer deliberately this time. "I hope this doesn't hurt too much."
Nebuchadnezzar: (I turn Alasdairs clothes from cloth to a heavy type of rock. One of the Volcanic ones)
Nebuchadnezzar: (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3178257/, 3 successes on Clothes to Heavy Rock)
Storyteller: (You're in a demense, but curiously paradox still creeps in at the edges of your spell.)
Isis: From her position near the center of the chaos now unfolding in reality as well Isis moves in the direction of the nearest wall, still crouched down, one hand gripping something under hidden under her jacket.
Storyteller: Alastair's cheap suit solidifies into heavy rock, trapping his hand inside his jacket pocket and completely preventing his from moving. He snarls in frustration as he looks up at the two.
Nebuchadnezzar: (2 success on Paradox, I take it as damage)
Nebuchadnezzar: Neb's nose begins to bleed, he wipes it away with one hand as he looks down at his handy work. "Really Alasdair, you Guardian's can't comment on Vulgar magic after this trick here." He says with some amusement knowing it has nothing to do with the situation.
Kenan: (for simplicity's sake, let's assume Kenan is too baffled by what's going on; if it seems like he'll be attacked directly, he'll withdraw. alternatively, if he's close enough to isis, he'll grab her and move away)
Storyteller: A number of people in the hall have rushed for the door at this point, though they seem to be struggling to open it.
Storyteller: The lights in the hall burst suddenly, plunging the room into darkness. It is difficult to see anything at all of the real world, as blinded as you are by the chaos of the malfunctioning vision.
Storyteller: A real, and chilling, scream erupts from the far end of the place. Another follows, which seems to set off the whole room.
Storyteller: (Wits and composure)
Kenan: "I should've seen that coming", Kenan mutters to himself as he's trying to use whatever Time and Fate spells he can to avoid harm
Kenan: (2 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3178306/)
Isis: (1 success http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3178307/)
Isis: Isis grits her teeth to keep from reacting too badly to the screams - you don't make yourself known when predators are on the prowl - continuing to make for the relative safety of the nearest wall. Or at least in the same direction she was going before the lights went out.
Kenan: "what the hell?" Kenan shouts and points in the direction from which the first scream came
Storyteller: In the direction that Kenan points is something horrific. The silhouette of something entirely unnatural. About the size of a small car its all spindly limbs and joints, its features are obscured but you can see it move suddenly.
Storyteller: It leaps and attaches itself to the wall. Unfortunately, it seems someone else saw too as your unseen senses flare. A ball of roaring fire erupts from the crowd.
Storyteller: (The thin light streaming in through the covered windows silhouettes it)
Kenan: "abyssal manifestation" Kenan yells, backing away from the creature
Nebuchadnezzar: Nebuchadnezzar glances round as the lights pop and go out. "That isn't good." He mutters fubling for a pocket torch on the end of his keys. "And I gues I shouldn't leave you alone, eh Alasdair? Wouldn't want to upset Wickerman." He says quietly.
Storyteller: The ball misses, striking the wall nearby in a savage burst of embers that shower down to the ground. In the split second it is lit you see the creature's immensely deformed body. Man-like, through its proportions stretched obscenely. A head of bulging white eyes and bristling fangs is supported by a long, snaking neck. White flesh is stretched taut over its form. It lets out a screech, and scurries up the wall to the ceiling.
Storyteller: (Isis is up)
Isis: "This shouldn't be happening, this shouldn't be happening," Isis repeats under her breath even as she turns around, her back safely to the wall now. Kenan's exclamation and flashes of the manifestation's - or whatever it is - horrifying appearance, the background of screams, the situation is nightmarish. But Isis has visited the Abode of Demons, has suffered a harsh education even before that. Standing up slowly she calls down Pandemonium to grant herself a clear view. First, assess the situation.
Isis: (casting Spatial Map, 2 sux - http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3178337/)
Isis: Now perceiving objects not indirectly by the light the reflect but immediately by how they shape the space all around Isis can see with unmatched clarity.
Isis: "Shattered Heavens," she breathes tonelessly as she sees that the entity is moving vaguely in her direction. But her hand shakes only slightly as she draws her athame from under her jacket.
Nebuchadnezzar: After a quick check on Alasdair, Neb takes greater stock of the situation. "Abysal entity, a definite problem. Fortunately one that is unlikely to notice me if I attack it subtly. Don't you think Alasdair, oh right you unconscious."
Nebuchadnezzar: With a flick of his will, he places the pressures of his mind on the creature. Attempting to slow it, stifle it, crush the will from it. An all together unpleasant sensation.
Nebuchadnezzar: (Level 3 Mind Fraying. Whatever the spell is called)
Nebuchadnezzar: (Does Bashing Damage, isn't obvious who is doing it)
Nebuchadnezzar: (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3178355/ 2 success)
Storyteller: The creature howls, the spell seeming to have some effect.
Storyteller: (For now though, we'll end there.)
Isis: (Cliffhanger - will we all die in the third session? ;) )
Nebuchadnezzar: Well Syn will be ok
Isis: (heh, true)
Nebuchadnezzar: He was elsewhere
Nebuchadnezzar: Next week IRC?
Kenan: should be good
Isis: #AllRoads on irc.magicstar.net
Storyteller: But yes, 3xp all round
